Hugh Jackman is the obvious choice for Man of the Year because, well, he inspired a porn copycat named Huge Jackman.We’re kidding, of course. Jackman is so beloved because he’s a gorgeous action hero who can also sing and dance, as evidenced by his smooth Oscar hosting this year. This year he also pleased fans everywhere by offering his film X-Men Origins: Wolverine to the “hometown” that earned the most votes. Tempe, Arizona won the honors and Jackman led the film's cast at a huge premiere. He ended the year starring opposite fellow Cinematic Crush Daniel Craig in the Broadway hit A Steady Rain. The superstar duo raised more than $1.5 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by literally selling the shirts off their backs each night. Oh, and let's not forget that he looked mighty fine in high definition courtesy of the Blu-ray
for Australia.Hugh began his career on the Australian musical stage starring as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. He then conquered London’s West End when he played Curly in the acclaimed 1998 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (where he even made "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" sexy). It was his flamboyantly fabulous Tony-winning performance as Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz on Broadway that cemented his status as gay icon, not to mention his stylish (and high kicking) hosting of the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
If only all blokes were as charmingly multi-talented as Jackman, the world would be as spangly as a Peter Allen pantsuit!
Honorable Mentions:
As the dapper master of ceremonies for both the Tonys and the Emmys, Neil Patrick Harris was the host with the most in 2009. And sure, Ryan Reynolds battled Hugh in Wolverine and romanced Sandra in The Proposal, but it was a certain magazine cover that provided us with his most indelible image of the year.
By Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.
