tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

'Celebrating cinema's emerging talents' - That's our new slogan, and I think tMF has come a long way, but of course there is still room for improvement. I think we're lucky that our viewers care enough to tell us both our good and bad points. The October edition of the Top 50 Hitlist will reflect all these... In the meantime, tMF puts the spotlight on today's rising stars - these are the guys who really made a lot of buzz - grabbed plum roles despite intense competition and would be working with the industry's topnotch filmmakers, and more.

Find out who they are - you've certainly heard some of them and a few might be unfamiliar names, but take a closer look - you might be missing some names who are still 'under the radar' but would soon be rockin' the scene!

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As in the past, we're not only featuring the rising stars from Hollywood and the UK, but also included a few names - those acting in foreign language films. So, here goes....
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Jamie Campbell-Bower - [ April 2008 edition rank #50 ] A breakthrough role in Sweeny Todd is followed by back-to-back roles in Twilight and Harry Potter. How can anyone beat that?

Our intro for Campbell-Bower in the first Top 50 Hitlist sounds quite right even today: Expect great things from this guy. With a refreshingly friendly attitude and the absence of any star complex, Campbell-Bower is destined to become a star!

Says Papermag: More straight-up gorgeous than handsome, the 19-year-old British actor has the tall, thin build of a model and full Angelina Jolie-like lips. Add to that: He's in a musical band that grew up listening to Bob Marley and he credits the Libertines as the main influence for his personal style.

On being part of two high-profile movies, here's what Campbell-Bower has to say:

I'd say that they've both got fairly specific fanbases. "Twilight" is more for your 13- to18-year-olds, although there are people who obviously enjoy it - older people - which is great. But I think the main audience is the 13- to 18-year-olds, maybe because of Rob and the fact that they love Edward. [As for] "Harry Potter," it's a bit younger. Although the recent films are a bit dark. I saw [a "Potter" film] the other day, and I thought it was quite scary. You've also got your older audience [there]. - - - When you’re filming anything, you’ve just got to believe in the character and believe yourself that you are the character. [ read more ]

There were some talk about whether the 20-year old British actor can match or even rival the popularity of Robert Pattinson. However, I find such talk to be irrelevant. I think Campbell-Bower wants to be successful in both movies and music, and frankly, I think he has what it takes to do just that.

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Rafi Gavron - [ not ranked ] - He was such a scene stealer when he took on the role of Miro, the young thief in Anthony Minghella's Breaking and Entering. He look so young back then and quite talented - co-star (and friend) Ed Westwick appeared and disappeared in most of the scenes, perhaps no match to Gavron's intensity and screen presence. It was after 2 years that I've seen him again - this time he's playing a gay character - in a supporting role to Michael Cera's and Kat Dennings' in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. As Dev, we're seeing a new Rafi Gavron - matured, showing more skin, still acting intense and there is now a certain machismo - says Teen Vogue:

From indie-rock comedy Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist to the fantastical Inkheart, Brit actor Rafi Gavron shows his range. When Rafi Gavron was fifteen, his drama teacher in London twisted his arm into playing Macbeth. The experience wasn't quite enough for him to stay in school"I left because I hated it, unfortunately," he says, with a customary swaggerbut it was enough for him to seek out an agent. The agent told him that being a professional actor was all about rejection, Rafi recalls, but regardless sent him out on an audition the next day. Surprising both of them, he landed the part of a young thief from Sarajevo in Breaking and Entering (directed by the late Anthony Minghella) opposite Juliette Binoche and Jude Law. It helped that both character and star do a bit of street gymnastics: "I run up walls," the British actor says. "I'll do it off a phone booth if I have to." This past fall, in a complete 180-degree turn, Rafi starred as Michael Cera's gay BFF and band mate in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist . "I have no reservations at all about playing a gay character," Rafi insists. "I'd play a woman if it was a great role."

I'm afraid Inkheart will not further his career, but hey - when will we see him on the big screen again? I simply can't wait!

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Xavier Samuel - [ not ranked ] - I'm very excited that the talented young Australian Xavier Samuel will soon appear on the big screen for a featured Hollywood project - and part of Twilight at that! The young Australian was reported to have bested a number of Hollywood-based actors for the role of Riley in Twilight: Eclipse.

For those who are unfamiliar with the work of Samuel, you might wonder why, but having seen him in 2 previous films (September and Newcastle where his co-star is another rising star from Australia Lachlan Buchanan), I have to say, I'm not surprised at all. In fact, Xavier is quite the professional - with a critical acclaimed role in theater besides his work on the big screen. Reports The Age:

Osama the Hero, by British playwright Dennis Kelly, is a disturbing examination of modern society, where the vacuity and breakdown of social values breeds a climate of immorality and fear - and as Peter Gabriel noted, fear is the mother of violence. - - - and Xavier Samuel is an effectively naive Gary. [ read more ]

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Johnny Simons - [ not ranked ] - I'm going to forgive Mr. Simons for some rather 'silly remarks' he made in a recent interview c/o MovieLine, in which he said the following about Megan Fox:

Everybody likes to give her crap about that, but she's pretty damn good. She had plenty of stories about Michael Bay, which now she's apparently starting to talk about. But she's really good; she gives a lot.

Yeah right... but then he said:

It just goes back to being lucky. I think they selected me. But I really have to think about it. Hotel For Dogs was fun for my family, but it was kind of hard to get in the audition room for Jennifer's Body after that, you know? But I think the roles find me in a way. Maybe I fit into what the person thought when they were writing it? At least with The Greatest - with Shana Feste - I think that's what happened. I stayed up for two nights before going in for that; he's an Oxycontin addict, and also smokes a lot of weed. But I didn't really want do any drugs, so I thought the closest I could get to that would be to stay up for two and a half days and be a little reckless. I had a week off for Jennifer's Body, and I was just sitting in my hotel room. He looked shot, in a way, and I guess Shana really responded to that.

Yup, he got killed in that movie...

I hope he'll do amazing in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. I really think he's destined for bigger, more challenging roles...

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Francois Civil - [ not ranked ] - He's one of 3 French actors on the list and our profile of Monsieur Civil is more than enough to describe his work on French cinema and why he's on this list:

With a signature hairstyle (watch out Robert Pattinson!), Francois Civil is carefully taking all the right steps on his way to acclaim. But he's no longer an up and coming actor to some and the Disney channel (via this show) has something to do with this early brush with fame. If American teens scream for the Jonas brothers, their French counterparts are doing the same for Francois Civil. But apparently, the young French actor wanted something more challenging. Now already 20 years old, he seriously took on some notable roles and made the transition from the small screen to movies. His effort is now getting the kind of recognition he deserves - portraying the rebellious, alienated and sexually-active Martial in Dying or Feeling Better (Soit je meurs, soit je vais mieux) is as good as it gets. [ read more ]

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Emile Berling - [ not ranked ]  - I would advise you to watch Les hauts murs to see Emile Berling in action. I'm pretty sure, you'll find his performance quite extraordinary. Says Philippe Guenot about the film and the author of the novel where it is based:

I have always been in love with Auguste Le Breton's novels. Gangsters, outlaws, adventurers, people in war with society that broke them down. "Les Hauts Murs" was the first book he wrote, but not published. He wrote it with his guts, his rage, his ferocity. Keep in mind that Le Breton was an authentic orphan just after WW1. He was raised by foster parents,escaped and caught before sent in approved school, the cruelest ones, the most terrible. Animal Factories. No more no less. He learned what real life was, brutality, fierce but friendship too.

You can watch the trailer here and more info about the film. Berling also part of the ensemble cast of A Christmas Tale and Dying or Feeling Better.

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Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet - [ not ranked ] - I'm afraid we have failed to recognize Monsieur Leprince-Ringet during the time we've started celebrating Gaspard Ulliel and Louis Garrel. Quite apparently, he is as talented and as personalbe as both actors we've mentioned. He was in Les Egares, when Gaspard Ulliel somehow stole the thunder, as the mysterious Yvan, but then again, as Philippe, he also did quite a good job as the supposedly young master of the house...

In Love Songs, he matched Louis Garrel in both acting and screen presence. A NY Times reader has this to say:

Christophe Honore pushes the envelope one more time - giving us a most unusual musical in which the heroine dies in the first act, the hero is left bereft, but with two real possiblities in the second act and chooses, in the third, the beautiful, intelligent and caring boy. And, believe it or not, the music by Alex Beaupain turns this seemingly troubled story in something very much like a delicious souffle. Louis Garrel and Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet make a highly unlikely and yet memorable pair of lovers. Hey, Monsieur Honore, can I have a second helping?

Monsieur Leprince-Ringet has been nominated 3 times already at the Cesars Awards for Most Promising Actor - Les égarés (2003), Les chansons d'amour (2007) and La belle personne (2008).

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Robert Sheehan - [ not ranked ] - Says Robert Sheehan in an interview by IceCreamMan when asked how similar is he (as a person) to the character he played in Cherrybomb:

I can relate to the following: the love of a good party etc., the love of fashionable clothes - I've always got an eye peeled for a funky tee shirt or blazer! Also, the love of showing off a bit! I cannot relate to the horribly dysfunctional family background: I'm happy to say I have a wonderful, encouraging family who are my best friends. I can't relate to the incessant drug-taking - can't say I'm a fan. And Luke's nasty streak which, when aggravated, motivates him to destroy everything around him, and relinquish control and responsibility for his actions. I must admit I'm more responsible, or more of a wuss maybe! [ read more ]

Robert Michael Sheehan is an Irish actor who is best known for playing King Louis XIV in the short-lived historical fantasy series Young Blades.