Well, actually, I should say that I prefer his films of this era, because I still think he’s pretty terrific as a person.  He seems like a good guy: affable, likable, decent, and any time I’ve seen him on Ellen he’s been game for pretty much anything.  As a matter of fact, he’s probably the best celebrity I’ve seen play Humdinger, so there.  I’m just not crazy about the movies he’s made lately.

It all started with his breakout role in Swingers, and Trent, of course.  He’s ballsy, a natty dresser with a cool car (a 1964 Mercury Comet), and the best cheerleader of a friend any fella could ask for.  He’s got so many great lines that, at least for me, never get old:

” Baby, you’re so money and you don’t even know it!”

“You take yourself out of the game; you start talking about puppy dogs and ice cream, and of course it’s going to end up on the friendship tip.”

“I don’t want you to be the guy in the PG-13 movie everyone’s *really* hoping makes it happen.”

Then, in what I consider his best year of film, he played what I now realize is kind of the serial killer version of Trent in Clay Pigeons.  He’s Lester Long (the name does have a killer ring to it), a guy’s best friend, with an edge, though he’s decked out in western wear gear this time (come square dancing!).

In A Cool Dry Place, he’s divorced and raising his son in a small Kansas town when life gets complicated by a new romance, a life changing job offer, and the return of his ex wife. 

Return to Paradise pairs him with Joaquin Phoenix again (he’s the Clay of Clay Pigeons), in a rather sad tale of good times gone bad.  A trio of men meet in Malaysia, do a lot of partying and drugs, before two return home.  Unfortunately, they leave their drugs and the third, played by Phoenix, is accused of drug trafficking as a result.  Two years go by and they are contacted and asked to go to jail in order to prevent the third from being hung for his “crime.”  It’s a beautiful tale, one that asks some pretty interesting questions, too.

So Vince, since I know you read my wildly popular blog, how about some more 1998?  It would make this fan very happy!