And it’s also interesting that Frank Sinatra was originally a performer from the streets. I know that’s not universally true of rappers. But it might suggest that sometimes individuals with gifts for performance are channelled into certain paths depending on what their backgrounds are. And maybe in certain contexts pursuing being a musical artist has more credibility than pursuing being an actor.

It’s also interesting to think about cases when the artist explicitly used their music to gain entry into acting, and cases when they didn’t. Frank Sinatra definitely did, but then he became famous at a time when film musicals made the lines between pop star and movie star even more blurry. (Bing Crosby? He was really both.) Will Smith *sorta* did that, if you think about the singles that came out with his big 1990s summer blockbusters. Marky Mark really didn’t, since he seems to like to pretend he wasn’t Marky Mark ever. Miley Cyrus? Hard to say — that’s more of the old Bing Crosby singer-actor simultaneous fame model.

For instance, I thought Will Smith’s performance in “The Pursuit of Happyness” was great, not just “rapper-turned-actor great.” In “8 Mile,” however, I thought Eminem did a surprisingly credible job for a rapper making a movie. He was, as Laura says, “very, very natural,” and that was all I needed him to be. I wouldn’t say he deserved an Oscar nomination or even a film career, but I’d say he acquitted himself very well.

I realize there’s a little bit of “you throw great… for a girl” in what I’m saying, but it’s warranted in this situation. The skill set that makes you a great country singer or football player or supermodel does not necessarily make you a great actor, anymore than being a great actor makes you a great rock star. I would imagine that few rockers-turned-actors would suggest they’re the next Jodie Foster. I’d imagine that while they know “very, very natural” would be faint praise for a trained and/or full-time actor, it is indeed a high compliment for them. Unless you’re P. Diddy, I think you know when you’re moonlighting.

@Katy… You make an interesting point about rappers. I’m not sure we can call the entire game in their favor just yet—rap’s pretty young, after all, and I’d say Sinatra’s success story is just as well known as Marky Mark’s—but it’s interesting to notice how many rappers end up on screen. L.L. Cool J is the star of “NCIS: Los Angeles,” premiering in just a few weeks, which will give Ice-T a buddy on network television. Eve had her own show for years, and Ludacris pops up in movies all the time.

I feel like it has something to do with rap’s natural affinity with acting. It’s more like talking than singing, after all, so when a rapper wants to emote, he or she has speak rhythmically and with great emphasis. That’s a core skill of acting, too.

(When will you do “Best Acting Performances by Standup Comedians?”)

(i.e. Scarlett Johansson is not a singer in my opinion. She is an actor with an album or two, which provide her brand some security.)

But all in all, the acting crossover is only indicative of which genre of musicians is currently the best produced, the best managed, and the most popular. In the end, I am reluctant to ascribe talent, drive, or genuine capability to any celebrity’s “second” career. Sometimes, the bullseye is scored, and the audience is happy for it, but I still like the idea that there are actors who are trained to act, and then (remarkably) do act. I know they’re a dying breed, and the new kind of celebrity demands this diversified pan-appeal.. but purists still provide the thrill of really knowing the craft and building the role from that skill-set. Giovanni Ribisi is quite exciting for me.

BUT. I like Alicia Keys’ acting a lot, and I think she shows promise if she keeps challenging herself. Also, Jennifer Lopez was always very very natural to me in her pre-twins movies. I think it is safe to say she has de-railed by this point, but I never really understood why her acting was so sharply criticized. The movies were lame and pre-packaged as all hell, but she was not so bad.

Mos Def has also shown some versatility. Remember when he was in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Weird. And how about Ice-T on whatever Law and Order spinoff that is?

Thesis: rappers have made the musician – actor transition better on whole. Marky Mark and Will Smith are, after all, the best known success stories we can think of. Discuss.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134154/

Puff Daddy in Monster’s Ball. Another dead-behind-the-eyes moment unfortunately. What was that? Puff seemed to think acting was another notch on his belt.. but he was never very good at it.

Will wrap up with Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, and Queen Latifah in The Secret Life of Bees. I *really* enjoy Alicia K as an actress, and I think she was literally the only redeeming thing in Smokin’ Aces. But in regards to Bees, all of them are enjoyable even if the movie lacked in a lot of ways.

I like that more often than not musicians who become known for their music are not specifically trained actors (like duh), though they are occassionally useful in acting roles because of their charisma and underlying need to communicate emotionality. I definitely dig.. so long as the material is within the musician’s grasp.

(God. Gwen Stefani was so bad in The Aviator.)