George Clooney at 50

The LA Times entertainment blogger site noted that George Clooney recently threw himself a 50^th birthday party at an area restaurant. The invited guests were supposedly sworn to secrecy for the run-up to the event and during the celebration itself. Of course, the idea of discretion in Hollywood is elusive to manage. The word did indeed get out, not that anyone east of the San Fernando Valley and west of the Hudson River greatly cared.

The birthday party, however, does provide an opportunity to consider Clooney’s career. He has managed to successfully navigate the small screen (ER) and the big screen, something of a rare event in the entertainment business. I have not watched his TV work; I have seen some of his motion pictures. His best role was the cynical, world-weary legal fixer Michael Clayton. His performances in the flawed, but interesting Syriana, the cautionary tale Good Night and Good Luck, and the curious O, Brother, Where Art Thou? deserved more credit than he received. His skillful touch in Up in the Air showed a willingness for self-effacement that one wishes Clooney would exhibit off-camera.

Clooney also has earned praise for his work illuminating the Western world to the ghastly Darfur conflict and the repellent neo-colonial mineral grab pursued by the world’s principal economic powers.

Yet, Clooney remains something of a pariah among his peers. Why? The words “difficult,” “arrogant,” “abrasive” are too frequently associated with him. Even in a business filled with equally “difficult” and “demanding” individuals,” Clooney stands out near the head of his class. That’s not a competition that’s desirable to win. The reputation has cost Clooney any realistic chance at winning major awards from his peers or from unforgiving movie critics.

In the end, non-insiders don’t care about any of Clooney’s personality flaws. We do care about his next projects, and can only hope he’s made better choices than The American.