Snapshot: April 21-23, 1995

By Joel West

February 25, 2009

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Movie-goers weren't ready to forgive Caruso's egotistical behavior and Kiss of Death suffered with a paltry $15 million. Reviews for the film were so-so, with critical notices going more to Cage and Jackson's performances. Caruso would get another opportunity to prove himself in the fall with Jade, but that film was DOA and finished with an embarrassing $9 million. Movie-star success always eluded Caruso, despite some good performances (Kiss of Death, Session 9, and Jade). While he did find TV success again in 2002 on CSI: Miami, he has unfortunately turned into a caricature of himself (check out his lame one-liners at the beginning of EVERY episode).

DiCaprio learned the hard way what Bullock learned the easy way as The Basketball Diaries ($2 million) never really found an audience. It's important to gain a fan base, and then branch out and do something daring (I am not saying Bullock has ever done anything remotely challenging, just that she has tried serious fare from time to time). Reviews hurt the film's chances as they were mediocre at best (really only praising DiCaprio's performance). In 1996 and 1997, DiCaprio finally played to the mainstream crowds with Romeo + Juliet ($46 million) and Titanic ($600 million) and the rest is history. He has since avoided the cookie cutter roles with risky performances in The Aviator, The Beach, and Blood Diamond and has had a rather admirable career in the process (boasting two more Oscar nominations).

The Verdict: Play to your strengths, become a movie-star, and then do whatever you want. Bullock mapped out her career as such and carved out a rather impressive niche for herself. While Caruso kind of went against type (he played a criminal as opposed to one of NY finest), the bad buzz he garnered over his behavior on NYPD Blue doomed his bid for stardom before it even got started.





And as for DiCaprio, he learned that no good will EVER come from starring in a film with fellow pretty boy Marky Mark. Unless of course you count The Departed a success, what with its Best Picture Oscar and $132 million.

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