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Michael Sheen Is Our New Acting God

I Think I Just Worked Up Another Man Crush / Dustin Rowles

Trailers | January 29, 2009 | Comments (49)

This man crush just snuck up on me, out of nowhere. I liked Michael Sheen as David Frost in Frost/Nixon. He was, in a word, fantastic; it’s kind of a shame his name never even entered the awards conversations. He also played Tony Blair in The Queen, and he’s apparently been in nearly everything made over in the UK for the last five years (I haven’t seen Bright Young Things yet, but I will, soon). And then, over the weekend, he popped up in Rise of the Lycans, which allowed me to put the dots together a little on his relatively short career so far. And you know what? Dude is fucking versatile. And it’s not like he’s the same guy playing different characters — he looks similar in most of his roles (save for Underworld), but he inhabits those characters so well that he’s nearly unrecognizable from one role to the next.

In short: Michael Sheen fucking rules. He’s kind of like the British version of Downey, Jr., and I look forward to having the guy around for a while. He’s got four movies in various stages of production now. Among them, he’ll play the Cheshire Cat in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, and opposite Sam Jackson in an FBI thriller, Unthinkable. Next up is The Damned United, set to hit theaters in the UK in March. I have no idea if this movie will ever make it stateside — it’s about soccer, and Americans (myself among them) have no interest in soccer. But I’d watch the hell out of The Damned United. Like both Frost/Nixon and The Queen, it’s a historical piece, and like both of them, it was written by Peter Morgan. In it, Sheen plays Brian Clough, apparently one of the greatest soccer managers in the history of England. The movie only focuses on the 44 days he coached Leeds United, after which he was fired. Apparently, he hated the city and its players.

Anyway, here’s the trailer; those of you in the UK have probably already seen it, since it debuted before the FA Cup last week. Here in the U.S., we can only dream about some day seeing it, probably on DVD. But the trailer sure does make me appreciate the hell out of Sheen.

And just for comparisons sake, for those who haven’t seen Rise of the Lycans, or won’t see it, just check out the trailer for Sheen. Pure goodliness.









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Comments

Dustin, you are turning into a woman. A woman with discerning taste in men, but a woman nevertheless.

Posted by: AM at January 29, 2009 10:03 AM

I'm tellin ya, there seems to be some creepy Sir Guinness going on with that guy's face. The imdb gallery is a cognitive trainwreck. Alec's voice was usually recognizable though, don't know about Michael Sheen.

Posted by: Jay at January 29, 2009 10:11 AM

Nothin' wrong with that, AM. Embrace the boobies and the paycut.

Posted by: Marra at January 29, 2009 10:13 AM

Er, by the way, what's up with you writing all the reviews these days? Not that I don't love it, but it's something that just occured to me. Did everybody else get fired or something?

Posted by: AM at January 29, 2009 10:13 AM

Listen Rowles I think you are a stand guy, and you seem to have compassion for people. In my mind I picture you a certain way, but every time you start talking about your man crushes it makes wonder if I'm backing the right guy.

Posted by: Pookie at January 29, 2009 10:14 AM

Dustin, he's absolutely heartbreaking in Bright Young Things. Then again, the whole movie is for the most part. That's what happens when the Tenth Doctor plays an asshole...someone's heart is gonna get broken. Well, either that or a sparkley vampire's gonna die.

Oh right...Michael Sheen...um, he was also good in Laws Of Attraction. Almost completely unrecognizable under all the rock star makeup.

Posted by: Mike R. at January 29, 2009 10:24 AM

"makes [me] wonder if I'm backing the right guy"

[snort, chortle]

I just bet you wonder, Pooks. [wink wink, nudge nudge]

Posted by: Stella at January 29, 2009 10:25 AM

'Tis indeed a heavy burden being a woman, Marra. Tell you what: I'll lend a hand (or two) by embracing half of your load.

Posted by: bucdaddy at January 29, 2009 10:28 AM

Does your wife ever tell you this man-crush thing is getting out of hand?

Umm ... yes. -- DR

Posted by: Cindy at January 29, 2009 10:30 AM

I'll tell you a true story, when i saw the first Underworld, thinking there was a potentially decent idea going on that could be worth investigating, my exact train of thought ran 'god this is fucking shit, Beckinsale can't fucking act, what's wrong with her mouth, it's not just the fangs, what the hell is going on, wait they used that big dramatic jump before, that was like the whole stunt the film hinged on and i've now seen it 800 times, wait Bill Nighy, awesome, god damn it its still going, Nighy is WEARING that coat, well at least that Lucian dude is pretty good,is that the dude from Popular, wow thats a lil fro he's got going on, good lawd its not over yet, Beckinsale,stop talking, Nighy, woo, wow, this Lucian dude is actually really good WOW Lucian owns the film, what the fuck is this guy doing is this shit, god its over, nooo LUCIAN NOOOOO, wooo Nighy, wait thats the hybrid?? Really? That pussy killed NIGHY?! who the fuck wrote this crap? Oh FINALLY it ends...hmm suggestion of a sequel, no thankss, man that was a screaming pile of crap, Nighy can do what he likes because he's God, that Lucian guy needs a better agent though'

more or less verbatim.

I think the RDJ comparison is perfect, he's definately the best we're producing at the minute and if he doesn't get some awards notice soon i'm gonna start stabbing people.

I'll tell you what just occured to me though, he isn't half the spitting image of John Simm of Life On Mars Original Flava fame (as well as Human Traffic, the best episodes of Cracker ever and many, many many other incredible things)

I want to see them play brothers. But. Possibly gay incestuous brothers who make out at my command.

Posted by: nadine at January 29, 2009 10:31 AM

The Damned United looks really good. I love soccer movies because, unlike the real game, something actually happens in them.

Holds it, HOLDS It, HOLDS IT!

Posted by: admin at January 29, 2009 10:35 AM

WHO THE FUCK IS JOHN SIMM??

(sorry, Boosh reflex)


Also Doctor Who, 24 Hour Party People and Spaced!

Posted by: Jay at January 29, 2009 10:38 AM

HA!

Good one Stella.

Posted by: Pookie at January 29, 2009 10:38 AM

Mmmm..... John Simm.... yes, Master... I will help you torture Captain Jack... hand me that ballgag...

Uh, sorry, where was I? Oh, ok. Michael Sheen. He was bloody good in that Kenneth Williams tv bio I saw last year.

Posted by: Tarn at January 29, 2009 10:40 AM

I saw Michael Sheen in Wilde years ago and I was definitely impressed. He gets dumped in the movie for Ioan Gruffudd, but I was rooting for him.

Posted by: Brie at January 29, 2009 10:45 AM

Jay, you just brought a smile to my face =D

and Tarn you brought even ruder thoughts to me noggin >=)

Posted by: nadine at January 29, 2009 10:49 AM

Now here's a man crush of yours I can get behind. Unlike the Ryan Reynolds Man Crush.

*runs and hides from Dustin*

Posted by: stardust savant at January 29, 2009 10:51 AM

You have to do a list of your male crushes. Who's the number one? Reynolds or Bale? will your head explode in the making?

Posted by: mario at January 29, 2009 11:12 AM

How's that vagina working out for you, Rowles?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at January 29, 2009 11:22 AM

Brie, he gets dumped for Jude Law.

Posted by: Alice at January 29, 2009 11:23 AM

he stars in "dirty filthy love", a british indie film about a guy with tourette's and OCD following a breakup with a bitch of a girlfriend.

oh, it's good stuff!!!!

Posted by: glittergirl at January 29, 2009 11:33 AM

I wonder if he'd make a good Eddard Stark.

Posted by: Stella at January 29, 2009 11:35 AM

Am so pleased I'm not the only one who's developed a huge crush on (SIR!) Sheen. Once I realized that the guy in Bright Young Things was the same guy in Laws of Attraction (holy hell, terrible movie, but he's hot in it) and managed to make Tony Blair kind of... attractive, well, damn. I was lost.

And then he turned out to be Welsh, too. That was just too much awesome to bear.

Posted by: MoJo at January 29, 2009 11:40 AM

I will totally see The Damned United. Looks like good fun, eh? Brilliant.

That said, the man has teeth like a Cadillac grill. Fantastic casting that for the Cheshire Cat. His grinning mug in The Queen underscored Blair's penchant for discomfort.

Jim Broadbent is a goddamned chameleon. Seriously, I don't even thinks he's human anymore. The man looks so different in each role I wonder if his family recognizes him.

Posted by: amanda47 at January 29, 2009 11:47 AM

Oh yeah, Sheen is one of those guys who is insanely attractive although it's a bit to difficult to quite define why at times. Awfully hard to believe he was married to Kate Beckinsale though - a truly boring actress and didn't she recently compare her vagina to a tomb? Odd woman.

I really loved him in Dirty Filthy Love with Shirley Henderson a few years back. Damn, now I've got to go and try to hunt down a copy. This is my brain on televisual drugs.

Posted by: Mrs Walker at January 29, 2009 11:48 AM

He was in Bright Young Things too? Damn, everyone in the world is in that movie. Excuse me while I go bump it up my netflix queue.

Posted by: claire at January 29, 2009 12:43 PM

Dustin, just wanted to say it is quite awesome that you and I have the same taste in men. Right on.

Posted by: Ginger at January 29, 2009 1:52 PM

BTW, he won't play the Cheshire Cat in Burton's "Alice." He's denied it in several interviews, although he has confirmed that he's in the movie. Apparently he's contractually bound to reveal nothing. The latest unconfirmed rumor is that he's playing the White Rabbit.

Posted by: Ginger at January 29, 2009 2:07 PM

I can safely say that I only watched Underworld for Sheen. And a little of Nighy. But mostly Sheen.
My interest in Alice in Wonderland just shot up. Cheshire Cat or White Rabbit I'm there. As long as its not Twiddle Dee or Dum. I hate those fuckers. And I always recognise his voice. *Ahem*

Posted by: CarpeJugulum at January 29, 2009 2:49 PM

There is definitely something strangely attractive about him...I love that he's so into his roles. I watched Underworld and thought "Man that guy is into his role..." Then I saw the Queen and did not connect the dots. It wasn't until I saw Frost/Nixon did I think "That dude looks really familiar" And my little sis was like, He's Lucian. And I said NO, went back and watched it and now all I see is the Prime Minister.

I'd love to sex him up though. He's got three sexy characterizations to play with. Yes Prime Minister...Make me confess, Mr. Frost...oh ravage me Lucian...ahem Um...fantasies are fantasies for a reason I guess.

Posted by: NotBlonde at January 29, 2009 2:57 PM

Dustin! thank you for realizing the greatness of michael sheen! It's always so exciting to find others with Crushes on intelligent men...

Posted by: RedHead at January 29, 2009 3:17 PM

nadine, those were exactly my thoughts during Underworld too. Sheen and Nighy were the only decent things abut that flick.

Posted by: s. pisaster at January 29, 2009 3:56 PM

He was like a 1920's Boy George in Bright Young Things. So hot right now.

Posted by: coveredinbees at January 29, 2009 4:10 PM

Imagine Sheen and RDJ in something together. My head might explode. And my pants.

Dustin, you have good taste in men.

Posted by: Nadha at January 29, 2009 4:47 PM

Bright Young Things has everyone who's anyone in it, but it's just not a very good movie. There are better films to drool over Sheen in.

Posted by: BWeaves at January 29, 2009 5:00 PM

I want to see them play brothers. But. Possibly gay incestuous brothers who make out at my command.

nadine, I like the way you think! If you can get this movie made I will be the first in line at the theater to see it.

Posted by: docsmartypants at January 29, 2009 5:04 PM

Technically, Alice, poor Michael got dumped for both guys. Ioan was one of Wilde's first "boys" and was the inspiration for Dorian Grey, and then Jude Law entered the scene and he was Wilde's lover for the remainder of the film.

Back to the topic.

Posted by: Brie at January 29, 2009 5:56 PM

He's the shizz. He was good in "The Queen" (heh heh). Probably a better Tony Blair than Tony Blair is.

He's kinda hot with long hair... I do think he made Underworld better. I didn't hate it as much as others, but he definitely improved it.

Posted by: Slash at January 29, 2009 7:05 PM

Hey, did i just see Joe Dempsie (my beloved Chris from Skins) in the tailer for Damned United? I might have to check it out.

Posted by: MK at January 29, 2009 9:19 PM

Thank you, BWeaves. 'Bright Young Things' is one of those movies where the performances range from acceptable to fantastic (Sheen falls into the latter category, along with James McAvoy, who plays such a pitiful character that he just kind of tears your heart out), but the movie as a whole is uninteresting and...just doesn't work.

Posted by: Mimi at January 29, 2009 9:46 PM

Saw Sheen at the donmar warehouse in frost/nixon and lost my pants. If he'd like to give them back I'd be happy to pay interest

Posted by: catag at January 29, 2009 9:47 PM

I loved Sheen in "The Queen." Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do on his awesomeness.

Posted by: Empress of All the Russias at January 29, 2009 9:47 PM

Admin....

holds it...Holds It...HOLDS IT!!

Awesome! A nice Simpsons reference. Now all we need is for an insane Scot Groundskeeper to break out a pipe and start smashing heads.

Too sweet.

Posted by: Eric at January 30, 2009 12:47 AM

Sheen rocks my underworld parts. He's hot and sexy in a way that makes me think I should adopt an African refugee;.

Posted by: Iwantsprinkles at January 30, 2009 5:13 AM

You should have seen his Peer Gynt..... wowzers.

Posted by: Emma at January 30, 2009 8:48 AM

He's from Newport, and so has quite a thick Welsh accent, which adds an additional layer of excellence to every performamce.

Posted by: Craig at January 30, 2009 12:40 PM

I can't say how much I love Michael Sheen. I mean, I can - but I want to keep this post relatively clean.

I think he can do anything - he was perfect in The Deal, and especially in Dirty Filthy Love with Shirley Henderson (who I think is his alter ego in British cinema - she can play anything and anyone, and does).

Posted by: Caspar at February 1, 2009 9:28 PM

Posted by: Ginger at February 2, 2009 9:45 PM

Oooh, thank you!

I've had a crush on Sheen since The Queen. I love seeing his outrageous versatility. This was really fun - keep us updated on his upcoming stuff. :)

Posted by: Mars at February 3, 2009 3:43 AM