Editors Note: With Nicholas Cage reprising his role as Ben Gates in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, it's a fine time to take another look at MaryAnn's piece on nepotism in film:

Making it in Hollywood has always been about who you know, who you sleep with, and who you're married to, and so any discussion about nepotism in the industry has to acknowledge that. It's nothing new, and after a century of movies, it's hardly surprising that there are dynasties of celebrity families: parents who introduce their children to the acting life, who use their connections to open doors; and celebs who hold doors open for siblings. Barrymores and Baldwin, DeLuises, and Douglases, and on and one. Everyone's related to everyone else -- did you know that George Clooney and Miguel Ferrer are first cousins? -- so tracing the influence of nepotism could be the work of a lifetime.

It's easy to see that influence, though, when you're talking about directors and their casts, and two films opening this week are prime examples. In Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck, making his directorial debut, cast his brother, Casey, in the lead. But Ben's got nothing on Lisa Comrie, who cast not one, not two, but three of her brothers in her debut movie, Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour. (She also cowrote the script with her uncle.)

Not that nepotism is always a bad thing: some fine actors and filmmakers have gotten their starts thanks to family connections. Nepotism only gets you a job: talent is necessary to build a career. Here's some evidence you can use to judge for yourself who made the best of their lucky breaks:

Of Hollywood families working today, the Cooppla/Cage/Schwartzman clan may be the most notorious for handing out jobs along with DNA. Francis Ford Coppola cast his sister, Talia Shire, in the Godfather movies, and his daughter, Sofia, in The Godfather Part III. All grown up and trying directing instead, Sofia cast her cousin Robert Schwartzman (Talia's son) in The Virgin Suicides (which was produced by Francis) and his more famous brother Jason (Talia's other son) in Marie Antoinette. Francis gave the acting career of his nephew, Nicolas Cage, a big boost when he cast him in Rumble Fish and Peggy Sue Got Married. When Cage made his directorial debut, with 2002's Sonny, he cast his brother Marc Coppola in a small part.

The Estevez/Sheens are another clan that stick together. Emilio Estevez cast his brother, Charlie Sheen, in his 1990 comedy Men at Work; his father, Martin Sheen, and his sister, Renée Estevez, in his 1996 film The War at Home (Renée went on to appear in 43 episodes of The West Wing, starring her dad); and Charlie again in his 2000 cable film Rated X, which also featured Emilio's own son, Taylor Estevez.

Ron Howard casts his brother Clint in almost all of his films, including Apollo 13 and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (and he also gave his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard her start with small parts in those flicks).

And then there's David Mamet, who casts his wife, Rebecca Pidgeon, in everything he directs, such as The Spanish Prisoner, The Winslow Boy, State and Main, Heist ...

Need more? Check out Hollywood Nepotism.net.

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MaryAnn Johanson (email me)
reviews, reviews, reviews! at FlickFilosopher.com

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