The Music
There's a man who used to be known as that hot blonde guy from that hip boy band. That guy was Justin Timberlake, and that band was *NSYNC. That was where Timberlake first came to fame (Mickey Mouse Club doesn't count). He was the front and center of one of the hottest music acts in the world, producing 4 albums, with their second album, No Strings Attached, being the highest grossing album of 2000, ultimately selling over 11,000,000 units. This doesn't even include the millions of teenage girls that had fallen in love with him. He was a star.
In 2002, the band went on a break, which basically became the end of *NSYNC. Timberlake had decided it was time to move on and do his own thing. In that same year, he released his debut album, Justified, which went on to sell more than 7 million records worldwide. But it wasn't until 2006 that Timberlake finally rid himself of the boyish connotations that came with being a member of *NSYNC after the release of his second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, a mature and groundbreaking collaboration with rapper/producer Timbaland. It was a commercial success as well, selling a worldwide total of 10 million copies. His music has also caught on with awards groups too as he has won 6 Grammy Awards and has earned several more nominations.
After achieving such phenomenal success, Timberlake decided to focus on creating music for others, helping to produce songs for major artists such as Madonna, Ciara, and Leona Lewis. But he started making a change in his career path. After making multiple appearances on a hit Saturday night comedy show, his transition from superstar singer to actor, had begun.
The Acting
A number of people relate Timberlake's first acting experience in the straight-to-DVD Edison Force, but it was actually in the Disney Channel original movie, Model Behavior, that he first displayed his acting chops. However, it wasn't until after his hosting and guest appearances on Saturday Night Live, that his acting career was truly ignited. Timberlake exhibited great comedic timing and natural charisma, proving to be entertaining and a joy to watch. The Emmys noticed too, handing him two awards, including one for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. This opened up the door to several more television and film opportunities, which included his wonderful hosting gig of the ESPY Awards in 2008 (why haven't the Oscars gotten him yet?).
But Timberlake was proving to be more than just a funny guy. In 2007, he starred in two films, Alpha Dog and Blake Snake Moan, where he displayed dramatic and heartfelt performances, upstaging the top-billed names in each. But the majority of critics failed to take notice. They saw a decent performance from a singer trying to act. That was it.
It wasn't until last year that Timberlake finally started gaining critical recognition with his appearance as Napster founder Sean Parker in the Social Network, a film that came close to winning an Oscar for Best Picture. It doesn't hurt that the film made almost $100 million either. He's already appeared in a main role in a successful R-rated comedy this summer with Bad Teacher inching closer and closer to the $100 million mark domestically. But Cameron Diaz was the main attraction for that film. Can Timberlake pull off another hit, except this time with his name in the spotlight? It may be difficult since a film with the same theme of friends having sex for fun was already released this year. That film was No Strings Attached (would've been funnier if Timberlake's film carried this title), and it starred much bigger actors in Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman but only managed to bring in around $70 million, which is respectable, especially for a January release, but it's not exactly a major hit.
Timberlake has a couple things working in his favor: 1. The film is being released in July instead of the doldrums of January. 2. The film's advertising is promoting it as a straight comedy instead of the romantic comedy angle that No Strings Attached went for. 3. R-rated comedies have been ruling the box office this summer with The Hangover Part II, Bad Teacher, and Horrible Bosses already proven hits.
If Friends With Benefits does end up becoming a hit, then it may just propel Timberlake to full-fledged movie star.
Facts obtained from www.imdb.com and www.grammy.com.
Nicholas Fowler - My name is Nicholas Fowler. Writing is my passion. It is my goal and wish to inform and entertain my audience to the utmost capacity.
