Seagal and Statham: A Comparison

Do you think Jason Statham is the Steven Seagal of the new millennium? I read an article on ComingSoon.net, actually an interview with Jason Statham about Transporter 3, and one of the comments came from someone who thinks just that. It got me to thinking. Neither actor has done any work that would be award worthy, but what do they really have in common.

Let’s start with their background:

Steven Seagal:

Firmly rooted in martial arts
Actor
Instills political and environmental messages into his films

Jason Statham:

Olympic diver
Model
Actor
Trained in mixed-martial arts and expert kick-boxer

What about their acting styles:

Seagal has been accused of playing the same character in all his movies. Which is basically the truth. Whether he can stretch his range or not is unknown because his characters all have similar personalities, emotions and problems.

While Statham has made a name for himself in action films he has been in other genres. He’s played the good guy, the bad guy and the in-between guy. If you place his character, Handsome Rob from the Italian Job, next to Bateman of the film London, you get vastly different characters.

What does the future hold for these actors?

You never know for sure what life will bring our way, but at this point in time Seagal is making mostly direct to video movies and Statham is being cast in big-budget films, including The Brazilian Job which is scheduled for 2011 release.

Maybe it’s just my protective streak coming out; I really like Jason Statham and think he is capable of stretching his range. Of Seagal’s films I can think of only one that I liked, Under Siege. I just can’t see him pushing the boundaries of his acting abilities.

In conclusion, I respectfully disagree with the assessment that Statham is the Seagal of the new millennium. He may not be the 21st century’s Tom Hanks but at least he’s stepped outside the box in which Seagal has made himself so comfortable.

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