Film Feature: The Top 10 Celebrity Photos of 2014, By Joe Arce

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Star5. Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz
Anderson’s Bookshop Sponsored Event, North Central College (Naperville, Illinois), January 9th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Starting off 2014 as Forbes Magazine’s highest paid actress over 40 – while her health and fitness guide “The Beauty Book” parked itself at number two on The New York Times best seller list – the A-list former model. and voice of Shrek’s Fiona. likewise turned me into a smitten believer, about 30 seconds after entering the room. Diaz would star in three films in 2014, “The Other Woman,” “Sex Tape” and “Annie.” Sure, she may have racked up a couple Razzie nominations for the effort, but that dubious distinction never hurt the careers of Halle Berry or Sandra Bullock. Just five days into 2015, and the confirmed bachelorette was making headlines again – this time for landing a husband, musician Benji Madden. With “Bad Teacher 2” set to go into production, it’s a good bet that 2015 will see Diaz remaining firmly at the head of her class.

Star4. Oliver Stone

Oliver Stone
The 50th Chicago International Film Festival, October 12th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Unlike the always media-friendly Michael Moore, who I also photographed again this year, the equally controversial Director Oliver Stone – by his own admission – has a strained and cantankerous relationship with the press. Capturing the cinematic legend smiling in a killer shot practically requires some stealthy positioning…perhaps best hidden away on some distant grassy knoll? I managed to nail the Oscar winning director of “JFK” on the third shot – literally – “back and to the left.” “Back and to the left,” indeed.

Star3. Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr.
The 50th Chicago International Film Festival, October 5th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

The Oscar-winning comeback kid, and Ironman of revenue generating leading men, Robert Downey Jr. once again topped Forbes Magazine’s list of top earning actors in 2014. Is it a worthy portrait? You be “The Judge.”

Star2. Woody Allen

Woody Allen
’Magic in the Moonlight’ Red Carpet in Chicago, July 19th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

If you had told me that Woody Allen would be posing for a portrait before my lens in my hometown of Chicago early last summer, I would have thought I had a better chance of being handed a winning Powerball ticket by a leprechaun riding a unicorn. This was the legendary recluse that avoided the media like the plague, even during the best of times. Allen has made an infamous point of  not showing up to accept even one of his four Academy Awards, or any other honors for that matter. 2014 brought Woody Allen the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes by Hollywood Foreign Press – which he naturally blew off as well.

What he could not so easily blow off was the non-stop media firestorm that surrounded him after the resurfacing of the 21-year-old allegations brought against him by adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. Perhaps escaping to the third coast to do press for his film “Magic in the Moonlight” brought him some much needed temporary distraction. What it brought to me was a once-in-a lifetime chance to capture a rare portrait of the iconic director, who I had practically worshiped since I was a kid. Seriously. who is a bigger get than Woody Allen, especially last year? No one, according to Amazon Prime, who just signed him to write and direct his first TV show. “The Untitled Woody Allen Project” is to premiere online this year.

StarNumber One. Former President George W. Bush

George W. Bush
Anderson’s Bookshop (Naperville, Illinois). December 1st, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Politics aside. the 43rd ex-leader of the free world – since leaving office – has reclusively shunned the limelight. preferring to spend his retirement painting and writing “41: A Portrait of My Father.” His book tour appearance at Anderson Bookshop had all the pomp and security of a still sitting president. Getting the media-weary “Dubya” to pose for a portrait, flanked by Secret service agents, put me at the risk of being water boarded if I held up his schedule further. Well, just call me a patriot, in my fearless attempt to reach across the aisle in pursuit of the “Great American” photographic dream.

StarOne to Watch in 2015. Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk
Backstage at the Up Comedy Club in Chicago, November 7th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Bob Odenkirk’s star is about to go supernova. His “Breaking Bad” character – the ethically challenged ambulance chasing attorney Saul Goodman – has spun off with his own series, that is led by “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan. Already green lighted for a second season by the AMC Network, “Better Call Saul” is premiering on February 8th, and is the most anticipated new series in years. If the successor to “Breaking Bad” lives up to the hype, Odenkirk is all but guaranteed to become the next big thing. I made sure to capture “Saul” backstage last year, during Odenkirk’s book tour appearance at the UP Comedy Club, before he gets the chance to change his number.

StarOne that Got Away in 2014. Joan Rivers

Sadly, I never got the chance to photograph Joan Rivers, despite being a life huge fan. When the book tour for her last book “Diary of a Mad Diva” was announced, I immediately contacted her long time agent and publicist – and was given the green light to photograph her during her Chicago date. Unfortunately, I didn’t get clearance from the local venue, who had an iron clad no- press-cameras-allowed-on-their-premises policy. Joan River’s publicist assured me that her hands were tied, but promised me that next time Joan was in Chicago, she would gives us a full sit down interview, in addition to my portrait. 44 days later, Joan Rivers passed away. RIP.

To directly access all of photographer Joe Arce’s Exclusive Portraits, click here.

© 2015 Joe Arce, HollywoodChicago.com

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