How do you explain George Clooney's popularity? Maybe because he's from an older generation but I don't recall him being in many critically acclaimed movies in recent years, except for maybe producing Argo?

NEGI RK Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Setting aside the charisma overdrive he has successfully employed for over two decades, George Clooney is a multihyphenated creative force.

Clooney has been nominated in the following categories at the Academy Awards (Wins indicated in Bold):

Best Lead Actor (Michael Clayton, Up in The Air, The Descendants)
Best Supporting Actor (Syriana)
Best Picture (Argo)
Best Director (Good Night and Good Luck)
Best Original Screenplay (Good Night and Good Luck)
Best Adapted Screenplay (The Ides of March)

That’s eight nominations across six separate categories. There is nobody else who has been nominated in all those six categories.

And only two others have been nominated in six separate categories – Walt Disney and Alfonso Cuaron.

We can glean a couple of things from that impressive feat. One, Clooney is undeniably talented. Two, he is liked and respected by his peers.

His ‘popularity’ then, is a result of his versatility, longevity and of course, his successful career as a charismatic leading man.

The questioner states that Clooney hasn’t appeared in critically acclaimed movies in recent years. And that is because Clooney hasn’t appeared in many movies in the recent past, period.

Before last month’s The Midnight Sky, Clooney last acted in a movie back in 2016’s Money Monster.

The second half of the 2010s weren’t as prosperous for Clooney. He appeared in and directed several underwhelming efforts – Tomorrowland, The Monuments Men and Suburbicon.

But he has racked up an enviable catalogue of work, so even though he isn’t riding the highs right now, it’s understandable that his popularity hasn’t faded away.

I have read several criticisms about George Clooney, the actor.

Most of them centred on his supposed lack of versatility and the fact that he seemingly “plays himself” in most of his roles and generally coasts by on his charisma.

I’d challenge anyone to watch the following movies back-to-back and re-examine both those claims – Michael Clayton, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The Descendants, Burn After Reading.