Cillian's Rising Star

[Pisces]

About a year and a half ago, I began a thread named Cillian's Star... Fading?, in which we discussed the downward direction his career had taken. At that time, we were in the middle of a painfully long drought of Murphy movies, and some of us were concerned that this illustrated a scary possibility - that his film career had stalled...or worse.

However, since Inception became a hit and gave Cillian extremely wide and much-needed exposure, things are looking up for him, which many of us had wished for, and in fact, predicted. So - how do you feel about the new direction of his career? Are you happy with the projects Cillian has signed on for recently? If so, which are you most excited about? And what sort of movie would you like to see him become involved in next?

Discuss!! ;D

(PS- I am still gritting my teeth over him passing on 127 Hours, which is now hitting theaters. I know Punctuator wasn't keen on that one, lol, but I thought it was a great story and that Cillian would have been fantastic in it. I do like James Franco though and know he has done a marvelous job. Just can't help envisioning Cillian in the role.)

[emylie]

I do like Cillian's career. But i wish he'll be making more independant movies... He's not the kind of actor i'd see in a big production. It's great for him of course, but I hope that he'll continue making films a bit weird and not just for the big screen. He was good in Batman or red eye but these are not the reasons why I loved him at first. I really love his 2000 to 2003 career. Sunburn, Disco pigs, On the edge, 28 days later ...Those to me are the best times (Again, if my english sounds a bit weird sometimes it's normal I speak french.. so I don't have a lot of vocabular in english;))

[razzthekid]

No need to apologize Emylie. Your English is great.

I'm happy with most of the films so far, still not sure about I'm Mortal but we'll see what happens as time goes on and i learn more and trailers are released etc.

I love the sound of The Retreat. I know, in description it has similarities to 28 Days, but that film is one of my personal favourite so i'm not complaining. I know it's not Danny Boyle and no-one can make films quite like he can, but it sounds interesting.

And no matter how many mainstream, Hollywood films Cillian does i don't see him becoming an A-list Hollywood star. I think the fact that he's so private about his life outside movies, that will always give him some anonymity. That's just who he is and i don't see it changing. I also think he will continue to make indie films because he always says that he chooses movies for the script and the character. Lower budget movies tend to focus more on that stuff than the comedy and the special effects that the Blockbusters use.

So yeah, overall i'm very happy with the diraction Cillian's career is taking right now. And i'm extremely excited about all these new movies that he has in the pipeline- especially this very mysterious(well mysterious for me because i'm not reading anything about it! Trying to keep it veiled for now) one involving Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro.

[emylie]

Danny Boyle of course ! He's very talented and unique!..And yes the new movie looks great, but i'm still waiting for that Hippie Hippie Shake ! With Sienna Miller that i HATE so much !!! ...

[disarm79]

Hippie Hippie Shake! I'm still waiting too! What is going on with that? It seems it might never be release. I'm excited about all of the movies Cillian has signed on for, even "i'm.Mortal"/"Now". Remember in that Total Film article of this year he says " As I get older, I realise that I know less and less about this game..." So I just wonder if maybe he's looking at scripts differently now. But I agree with razz, I dont think he will become an A-list Hollywood star.

[lightbulbhalo]

Cillian's star IS rising! But I guess, as many already have said, he won't become a "celebrity" as long as he keeps choosing parts because of the script and not popularity.

[rukia888]

Great thread, Pisces! ;D I agree. Even though Cillian's role in Inception wasn't his biggest role ever, it DEFINITELY gave him more exposure due to the movie's success. He seems to be doing movie after movie now -- which is AWESOME. I love the direction that his career is going, for sure.

The Retreat sounds reminiscent of 28 Days Later, but I agree, Kim, it's one of my favorite movies of his, so I don't mind. ;D It sounds like an intriguing project, and I'm already excited about it just from the stills that have been released. Also, I can't wait to see him work with Thandie Newton -- love her.

Now sounds interesting -- I'm just not too keen of having Justin Timberlake cast, that's all. LOL. I like the other cast members though -- Amanda Seyfried, Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, etc.

And can't wait to see him work with Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver in Red Lights!!!!!

Eh, I kinda don't care about Hippie Hippie Shake anymore -- it sounds like a hot mess. If it ever gets released, I'd watch it for sure... only for Cillian.

Pisces, I wasn't too keen about 127 Hours like Punctuator, but I kinda wish that he'd gotten the role now. I haven't watched it yet, but it's been getting a lot of great reviews and buzz. It would've been incredible for Cillian. But I love James Franco, too, so I'm happy for him.

I don't see Cillian becoming a 'big blockbuster' actor at all... but I don't mind him doing big blockbusters as long as it's good and worthwhile. I want him to do a good mix of mainstream blockbusters and indie films. I don't want him to just strictly do indie films -- they aren't always necessarily 'good' -- it all just depends. Mostly, I just want him to nab a role that's Oscarworthy... he's been long deserving of an Oscar nom.

As for the movie I want him to do next -- I'm a huge fan of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy books (it's a YA series, but I highly recommend it -- it's amazing!), and a movie of the trilogy is in the works right now, and I'd love for him to be part of the cast. ;D I want him to be Cinna, one of the books' characters. He's even caught the eye of Entertainment Weekly as a cast pick for the movie... thank you, Inception, for putting Cillian out there! ;D

[ashleyrose09]

I am really happy an excited about Cillian's career right now. I can't wait to see all the new movies he has in the works right now. I think it's good cuz it gives us all something to look forward too! ;D

[Kizuna]

I agree, I'm glad Inception's thrust Cillian back into a limelight and reminded more people of just what makes him so great. I am personally excited most for Red Lights and Now.

[emma286]

What I'm personally thinking isn't as positive as some of the other responses in here. So hoping in advance it doesn't sound like I'm trying to put a dampener on things for everyone else.

I'm personally not convinced at this stage the current state of things with Cillian's career is going to be more than a short term temporary thing. Sure, as with his role as Dr Crane in Batman Begins, the small role he had in Inception has got him plenty of extra attention - for now. But if he goes back to just mainly doing indie films, as he's been doing in recent years, then I'd say it's a likely bet that attention will soon die down and again alot of people will start forgetting about him. Especially with newer fans who may not have known anything about him before Inception.

In any case though, I'm very glad his part in Inception has currently led to such a good outcome for him. And there's no telling what the future will hold for certain. Admittedly, beyond a few basic details, I don't know much about the movies he's working on right now. But hopefully either they'll do very well - or else further opportunities will come up for him further on down the line - and things will continue to work out positively for him! *crosses fingers*

[Crane]

well i'm just pleased as punch to see him in new roles. any new roles.
i know most people have concerns about I'm Mortal (i forget what the new title is) but I like the sound of his character in it. I think that will make for good eye candy, mainly because I imagine he will be moody and cold and wear a suit or something equally smart (here's hoping!) and i just love moody cillian!

As long as he keeps working and giving us new stuff to watch then i'm happy.

BTW I hope they never release Hippy Hippy Shake, as 1) i dont like Sienna Miller and 2) I am not a fan of men with long hair. especially not on him. and the snps i've seen do nothing for me!

[disarm79]

I'm really looking forward to "Now"/ "I'm.Mortal" I think it will turn out fine. There are a lot of very beautiful people in this film!

Those pics of Cillian on set (Hippie Hippie Shake) with that wig are funny. I'm not a big fan of that hairstyle but sometimes find myself "a little" attracted to it. He kind of looks like an elf:)

I havent seen many movies with Sienna Miller. Only Camille, Gi Joe(which i didnt like), and of course The Edge of Love. I like her somewhat but I'm sure as hell jealous of her. Being in two movies with Cillian and being friends with him

[Pisces]

I semi-agree with you, Emma. It could very well be a temporary 'bump' that Cillian has been enjoying from Inception. But what makes me optimistic is that he has been offered - and more importantly, has taken - some roles that certainly will keep him in the public eye for the next year or so. Im Mortal/Now is going to benefit from the fact that Justin Timberlake has had a lot of positive attention for his role in The Social Network (who woulda thunk it?!), and that will buoy this project, and Cillian along with it. Plus, I am personally crossing my fingers that Cillian's character in this movie is something of a baddie - at any rate, it looks interesting, and that will add to his Inception momentum. After that, he has an apparently large role in Red Lights, which may well attract a bit of attention as well - major movie, major stars (Robert DeNiro and Sigourney Weaver), all spell potential wide exposure for our man, which is what he needs most.

To me, these are all components of a carefully crafted move in the right direction, and I could not be more pleased with the choices that have been made. I was very much in doubt when projects like WTD and Hippie were all we had to look forward to, but the current trajectory of his career is looking much more hopeful. Exciting, even, at least for me! I admit it will be hard to duplicate the summer of 2005, when both Batman Begins and Red Eye were released nearly back to back - which was, I believe, the time period when the majority of Cillian's fans discovered him. He was so prominent in Red Eye, being onscreen nearly every moment, and he took advantage of that time quite well. Those sort of roles don't come along every day, but they may again for him. I hope they do. I think it's possible, and more likely now than it has been in several years. Kudos to Cillian for turning things around before it was too late. ;D His talent is far too great to let lie dormant.

(Still seething over 127 Hours - this looks like it was so well done, and Cillian could have capitalized on that Inception bump sooooooo well if he had signed on. The timing would have been perfect. This is precisely the sort of film he could shine in - one where he carries the entire film by himself. Not that I don't like James Franco. I do, he's adorable and I know he has given a great performance. Plan to see it anyway. And will stop venting about it now. LOL.)

[jazzylady]

I think Cillian is playing a game of strategy with us and the industry. Currently gaining notoriety in blockbusters, rubbing elbows with the elite, befriending the up-and-coming and all the time learning priceless tid-bits about how this machine called fame works.
He will gain the skills and connections that he needs and move on to directing.
I hope I am wrong and that he stays in view of us, his adoring fans. I personally want to see him on the screen til he is as old as Sean Connery, and then some. Of course, he could always direct AND act!

[disarm79]

Cillian becoming a director... been wondering about that too. It does seem like that's his master plan.