Robert Downey Jr. - His Career in Brief

Robert Downey Jr. has appeared in quite a number of films in recent years. His career has reached a pinnacle that few would have imagined. His talents have never been doubted. In the 1990's, Robert Downey Jr. was hailed as something of a genius of dramatic acting.

A bump in the road knocked Downey's career off course and that bump was a drug habit which forced the actor into rehab for a while. Due to his fame and promise, Robert Downey Jr.'s trip to the rehab center was big news. The news was played as "big disappointment" to his fans and to Hollywood and to the cinema in general.

Of course, Downey emerged from rehab clean. And it didn't take very long, really. But he had a reputation to rebuild. This is where his career, for me, becomes particularly fascinating.

Robert Downey Jr. went into rehab as a genius dramatic actor, one who, by his reputation, seemed to elevate film acting to new heights - almost to the vaunted heights of stage acting.

When he stepped back into the limelight, he did not continue his string of impacting, gritty roles. Instead, he became Iron Man and appeared in Tropic Thunder, two films that have little or nothing to do with dramatic acting or drama.

Why didn't Robert Downey Jr. continue to stun audiences and peers with skilled acting? Why did he deign to don the Iron Man mask?

* What changed?

To characterize Robert Downey Jr.'s transition as a "high film to low film" trajectory would be to oversimplify. The most likely explanation for the changes in Downey's role selection is tied to his increased (and increasing) fame.
The notoriety and name-recognition of Robert Downey Jr. are not to be beaten. Not even Brad Pitt is more widely recognized.

However, contrary to the careers of Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr. does seem to be taking on blockbuster film projects in lieu of hard-hitting drama when other actors of his (loosely defined) generation are transitioning into more difficult and deeper acting projects. Where DiCaprio has found films that highlight his acting abilities (Blood Diamond; The Departed), Robert Downey Jr. has elected to take the big money roles.

Who can blame him? In light of the public tongue lashing that he received when he did the responsible thing and straightened out his life in rehab, I find it impossible to question any decision Robert Downey Jr. might make that would put him back on top of the acting heap, make him some dough, and put the past in the past.

* Robert Downey Jr. as dramatist:

Chaplin was the peak of Downey's dramatically acclaimed roles. He portrayed Charlie Chaplin and didn't say much, but really lived the part.

He was nominated for a best actor Oscar for this role, but Robert Downey Jr. was not selected as the winner. Al Pacino won that year (1992 ) for his role in Scent of a Woman, where he famously said something like "choo-ahh" with super-bravado and charisma. And he was blind.

* The way things could have gone:

Robert Downey Jr. had some major ups and downs in his twenties. Should we have expected the actor to eschew his depth of experience in favor of shallow action-figure roles?

I can't say that I had any particular expecations for Robert Downey Jr. In retrospect, however, I am surprised to see an actor of his clout, potential, and history take the blockbuster path. Again, I'm not in a position to judge his decisions. He is a grown man and he can do what he wants. The movies he is making now are better because he is in them. And he is making millions in the process. So, ok, he is doing something right.

I am, I suppose, wrong to think he would have chosen to cry more and dig deep into his personal experiences as an artist. Who wants to cry more when studios will pay you millions to put on a cool suit and yell?