Jeremy Renner. One word - sharp.
He was sharp in "The Hurt Locker". He was sharper in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol". And he is certainly looking sharp in the upcoming "The Avengers" and "The Bourne Legacy".
There's just something unique about Renner, each time he walks across the screen. His presence oozes charisma. Not the Brad Pitt or Keanu Reaves kind of charisma, more of a George Clooney like charisma.
He is actually not quite new. He has been seen on screen since 1995, be it on the big screen or the small screen. But they were all mostly run of the mill stories and nothing that warrants people's attention. He was often a bit player and he was largely being offered then a minor role.
It was not until the movie "The Hurt Locker" that made people stood up and took notice of this unheralded talent. In the hands of Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" never became just another war movie. It became a selfless exploration of human emotions underneath the war and preceding violence. And under the expert tutelage of Bigelow, Renner displayed a range of emotions and he shone brightly like an A-list movie star. In a movie where cameo appearances of superstars like Guy Pierce and Ralph Fiennes were lauded and much appreciated, Renner astoundingly held his own. The movie eventually won the coveted Oscar for Best Picture in 2009, beating the likes of Avatar, Up In The Air and Inglorious Basterds. Renner himself landed an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Sergeant William James. His excellent interpretation of a bomb squad specialist under intense pressure were applauded by many in Hollywood and thanks to his rugged demeanor, he was offered several leading roles thereafter.
He landed another Best Supporting Actor nomination for Ben Affleck's directorial work, "The Town", and that only cemented his status not just as a respectable thespian but also as the new leading man in Tinseltown.
When he was offered the role as Agent William Brandt in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol", he was touted to be the probable replacement for Tom Cruise, should there be any future plans for the successful franchise. Indeed, he gave Cruise a run for his money, as he looked sharper than Cruise in many instances. He even got to carry out a typical "Mission: Impossible" stunt in the movie, hinting to audiences a tinge of possibility that he might be the "New Ethan Hunt".
He would soon be seen as Hawkeye in the hugely anticipated "The Avengers". Let's see how he fares in the midst of loads of talents (and egos) like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johanssen.
He has also taken over the "Bourne" mantle from Matt Damon in the upcoming "The Bourne Legacy". The trailer was every bit as saucy and spicy as the build-up of the story.
Here's an actor whose worth has been duly recognized and approved by his peers, and a soon-to-be action star whose talent could only shine brighter as time goes by. We'll just have to wait and see...
