Christian Bale at “Exodus: Gods and Kings” Paris Photocall

Wipe that look off your face, sir. You have nothing to be smug about.

PinChristian Bale attends photocall for “Exodus: Gods and Kings” at Hotel Bristol in Paris, France.

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We always get some pushback when we come down like a ton of furious bricks on the guystars for not putting the effort in. And yet it’s impossible to deny the shitstorm the average ladystar would get for showing up at an official event dressed like this. Even if you ignore the unequal gender expectations that hold that a woman of the same stature attending the same event would be expected to wear thousands of dollars of borrowed merchandise, as well as professionally made-up hair and makeup (or suffer enormous backlash), consider the business aspect here.

This movie, when all is said and done, will have a cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 million dollars to produce and promote. A not-insignificant portion of that budget paid his salary. No movie is considered a sure bet in the modern marketplace so promotional considerations are of the utmost importance. Not only that, if this movie fails, several people will take the hit to their careers; not just him. The only reason a movie star stands in front of a scrim with the name of the movie on it is because he’s ostensibly giving entertainment web sites and publications a reason to publish his picture and to remind the public that the movie exists. Not only does a showing like this send the message that he doesn’t give a shit about the product he’s there to promote, but it results in a set of pictures far less likely to be bought and circulated by the entertainment press. The only reason we paid for them is because we have taken it upon ourselves to do God’s work here on earth and call out the guystars for their laziness. But had he been standing there wearing something remotely stylish or presentable, the resulting pictures would be much more likely to be widely circulated and covered.

Bottom line: promoting his film is part of his job and built into his salary. Entertainment media and mainstream American filmmaking are looks-based, like it or not. He wouldn’t be enjoying the career he has if he was a foot shorter and a foot wider, with bad teeth, a weak chin and a receding hairline. Putting the total movie star package out there is how he makes money and how the industry makes money off him.

So stop being a lazy shit and get back to work, Christian.

[Photo Credit: INFphoto.com]

• Christian Bale
• Movie Premiere
• Red Carpet