http://lebeauleblog.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/what-the-hell-happened-to -geena-davis/
In 1995, Davis appeared in Cutthroat Island, one of the most notorious bombs of all times.
Cutthroat Island was a 100-million dollar gamble on the pirate movie genre which prior to Pirates of the Caribbean had a spotty track record. The film, directed by Davis new husband, Renny Harlin, had difficulty attracting a male lead.
Originally, Michael Douglas was set to star in Cutthroat Island. But he left the picture claiming that Harlin was beefing up Davis role at the expense of his. After Douglas departure, the role was offered to just about every actor in Hollywood including Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jeff Bridges, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Keaton, Charlie Sheen, Liam Neeson, and Tim Robbins.
No one wanted to play second fiddle to Davis in a pirate movie. No one, that is, save for Matthew Modine. Matthew Modine was the guy you called when absolutely every other actor in Hollywood said, no. And he was about to star in a big budget pirate movie.
Cutthroat Island got horrible reviews. It was such an epic disaster that it contributed to Carlco Pictures filing for bankruptcy. It was a career embarrassment for all involved even Matthew Modine.
Many claim that Cutthroat Island ruined Davis career. While it certainly damaged Davis credibility as a leading lady, it couldnt have ended it. Because the very next year, Davis starred in The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Like Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight was also directed by Davis husband, Renny Harlin. Davis played a seemingly normal housewife who was actually an amnesic super spy. Essentially a female Jason Bourne before that franchise even started.
The film, which co-starred Samuel L. Jackson, got decent reviews and was a modest hit at the box office. There has even been talk of a sequel.
Following The Long Kiss Goodnight, Davis and Harlin divorced. Her next film wasnt until Stuart Little three years later.
In Stuart Little, Davis starred opposite a pre-House Hugh Laurie, a post-Jerry Maguire Jonathan Lipnicki and a CGI mouse voiced by Michael J. Fox. The family film about a mouse who gets adopted got good reviews and was a surprise hit at the box office.
In 2000, Davis retreated back to television with the ABC sitcom, The Geena Davis Show. It was not a hit and was cancelled after one season.
In 2002, Davis returned for Stuart Little 2. Despite solid reviews, the sequel didnt do as well as the first film. Davis would reprise her role again for the animated direct-to-video sequel, Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild in 2006.
Davis didnt appear in another movie until 2009′s Accidents Happen. She returned to TV again in 2005 for Commander in Chief for which she won a Golden Globe. Despite good reviews and decent ratings, Commander in Chief was cancelled after one season.
In 2012, Davis starred in the TV mini-series, Coma, produced by her Thelma and Louise director, Ridley Scott and his late brother, Tony Scott. But these days she seems to be focusing her attention on raising her children and pursuing her activist causes.
So what the hell happened? Well, despite the Oscar and being in a lot of successful movies, Davis was never really a proven box office draw on her own. When she finally had to carry a movie completely on her own, it was one of the biggest turkeys in box office history.
Cutthroat Island didnt sink Davis career. But it certainly hurt. In the wake of Cutthroat Island, Davis seems to have moved on to other things. She continues to work when it suits her.
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