George Clooney: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Dodge Connelly & Director - Leatherheads (2008)

Clooney is of course now known as much for his directing chops as he is for his work in front of the camera, but not all of his films have been quite as well received as Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, or Good Night And Good Luck, or The Ides Of March, and while it's a high hit rate, his miss with American football comedy Leatherheads is more notable for that fact. The problem with the film is mostly that it feels like an attempt to make a Coens film, if the Coens made American Football movies, with the fast talking characters, and the strong looking cast - but the film fumbles badly on its premise, and is utterly forgettable. The actor/director is oddly bland and lacks his usual charisma (even from other poor roles) and though there is something admirable in how well he blends classic spirits like that of Clark Gable to his usual persona, there's just not enough of him left. Whether it's because he duel roled, Clooney feels spread too thinly, and while he's got obvious passion for his story, it feels too much like a vanity project with far too few redeeming factors.