A few of this site’s commenters like to toss hate bombs at me because I thought Justin Timberlake was the only good part of Alpha Dog and that I had the singer-turned-actor high on my list of early Oscar contenders earlier for his role in The Social Network. Of course, ever since The Social Network hit theaters I haven’t heard from said individuals regarding the matter and I can only assume it’s because other people are now high on Timberlake after his performance as Sean Parker in Fincher’s latest film as well, and perhaps even they were impressed. Go figure.
Of course, none of this is to say I think Timberlake is necessarily an Oscar-worthy actor. Don’t confuse predicting what the Academy will nominate with my actual opinion. Though I do think Timberlake is a perfectly fine actor and he’s chosen roles that fit his style, not to mention his frequent cameos on “Saturday Night Live” are typically spot on.
At the same time, I can’t help but wonder what everyone else thinks of him, especially since a friend recently told me she has a rather negative opinion of Timberlake, getting a vibe as if he is an ego maniac that demands all eyes be on him. I don’t share her opinion, but I can see a little of where she’s coming from. I’ve never interviewed Timberlake and haven’t been able to get that one-on-one read that makes it easier to tell, but if this is what other people think of him just how far can he go with an acting career?
Timberlake, along with his Social Network co-stars Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg, were featured on the recent Entertainment Weekly cover and the industry rag asked him about his future in music and perhaps Timberlake has pushed his musical roots aside for the upfront payday acting provides:
Are there people you work with who are telling you that you should put another record out sooner rather than later?
Timberlake: Does a painter make a painting because he has to make it by December 21st? No, he doesn’t. It happens when it pours out of him. That’s how music is for me…
Do you think it’s dangerous to wait so long? Christina Aguilera waited four years between albums, and her fans don’t seem to care about her right now.
Timberlake: If you’re asking me, no. I never stop making music. I don’t know what else to tell you, except that I just don’t know [in] what capacity I want to be involved anymore.
That sounds very final.
Timberlake: No. All I’m saying is, in very simple terms, I’ll know when I know. And until I know, I don’t know.
Perhaps he doesn’t know because he’s already lined up a trio of upcoming films beginning with Easy A director Will Gluck’s next film Friends with Benefits, Bad Teacher for Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) and the once titled I’m.mortal, which is now being referred to as the “Untitled Justin Timberlake/Amanda Seyfried Thriller” for writer/director Andrew Niccol (Lord of War). Those three films alone pretty much take care of 2011 and I highly doubt this is the end of the acting road for Timberlake.
This is a guy that’s already collected six Grammys not to mention two Emmys for his “SNL” appearances and he continues to keep entertaining people with appearances such as his “History of Rap” segment on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” alongside Fallon and The Roots.
A recent interview with NPR has him talking about everything from his time on “The New Mickey Mouse Club” up through his performance as Parker in The Social Network. He’s 29-years-old and will turn 30 in January and somehow managed to shake the boy band label from his time with N’Sync to working with Timbaland and performing alongside Madonna on her latest album. Now he’s acting in a sure-to-be Oscar-nominated film directed by David Fincher and instead of putting out an album every couple of years he’s about to turn out three movies in one. Are you all aboard or are you yet to be convinced Timberlake has what it takes?
