Hollywood prides itself on reinvention. After all, it has plenty of experience in
neatly packaging such tales of underdog uplift, personal transformation
and professional rebirth, selling them to the public in compact,
pre-formed celluloid patties 12 months a year.
The career trajectory of
Mark Wahlberg, though, has been a particularly unusual one, and a
lesson in the art of the makeover. From successful if unlikely Bahs-ton-born hip-hop musician to roughneck (and allegedly homophobic) Calvin Klein underwear model to hipster Entourage
producer and, now, Oscar nominee, Wahlberg’s acting career might best
be described as a blue-collar shooting star. It’s been characterized by
a solemn, hard-edged determination, commitment to professionalism and
incremental betterment. So it’s no surprise that
Shooter, his latest film, finds him playing an idealistic ex-military man who has to take matters into his own hands. Whether in Boogie Nights, Rock Star, Four Brothers or I Heart Huckabees, Wahlberg is at his best when he’s able to showcase his convictions, to convey the depth and strength of his beliefs. For the full interview feature, from FilmStew, click here.