After a year without giving out a “Movie Star of the Month” award I thought it was time to resurrect old award. I’m not sure if at this time if it will again become a regular feature or if it is a one-off for this month. So what made me bring it back? It wasn’t one of the fantastic performances I have seen this month: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, great performances from great actors are to be expected but great performances from none actors is always a pleasant surprise.
Steven Soderbergh’s revenge action thriller Haywire has created a new action star: Gina Carano. Best known from her career as a mixed martial arts fighter and a season on American Gladiators Carano is probably the first credible female action movie star for a long time. She isn’t a great actress in the way Meryl Streep is, and to be honest never will be but that isn’t what being an action star is all about. Haywire (and Carano) seem to polarize opinion, I think you can tell where I stand on it. For those who haven’t already take a look and make your own mind up instead of relying on opinions of others. Not the most conventional of movie stars, but one I hope to see more off, Movie Star of the month Gina Carano: 
Haywire was a fantastic film and I have to say Gina Carano made me question my sexuality for a minute so job well done!
I might be the only hater of the film (check out my review http://www.midnightreview.co.uk/2012/01/12/haywire/ ) and as an actress, Gina Carano did not make it better for me. I dont see her moving anywhere apart from ass kicking roles and because there’s no charisma in her for me, she won’t last long on the market…
nice series and a very interesting read on your blog!
Good choice, Andy. I really enjoyed Haywire – casting Carano was a great choice. Time will tell whether she’ll just stick with action roles or cover all the genres.