Dealing in hypotheticals narrows broad discussions. For example, it's easier to debate which NBA player you'd take first in a league wide draft than it is to answer, straight up, 'who's the best.' Hypotheticals give the argument direction by introducing guidelines to the question at hand. So instead of trying to figure out who the most bankable person in Hollywood is, let's instead deal in a hypothetical…

I'll bet Pattinson takes a horror film where he gets premonitions of death via text messages.

But the bottom line is that, though you want your choice to deliver significantly in one category, the ideal pick will still contribute to the other one.  I mean, sure there are a handful of 'sure bets' or safe picks; you're not going to strike out with Matt Damon, DiCaprio or Johnny Depp. But, from a strictly business point of view, I'm going to argue the 'right' choice: Meryl Streep.

She is really one of the only people in Hollywood that produces both quality content and hits at a 50 / 50 rate. She has an unheard of 13 Oscar nominations, two wins, the biggest movie in U.K. box office history, and she's only getting more dependable and bankable with age. She's one of the few 'guaranteed acclaim' picks that works more than once a year – she's done 10 movies since '06. Daniel Day Lewis has done one. It's like she can't stay away from work. She's always relevant and, more importantly, always for the right reasons. And though she's one of the most successful actors going, she's not polarized by her celebrity the way Jolie, Pitt, Clooney, Aniston, and others are. She's only discussed in terms of her craft; she exists as 'Meryl Streep, actress.' Her name doesn't stand alone the way the aforementioned ones do. And that's a good thing.

Unfortunately, hypotheticals are supposed to be fun, and logical answers make for dull debate. It's like the guy who takes Tim Duncan with the first pick. It's boring. It's not necessarily original, but it makes total sense. Meryl Streep is the Tim Duncan of Hollywood; only a hundred times more likeable. For the most part, she makes the actors around her and picture as a whole better. But most importantly, she automatically fills a hole not many people in the business can plug. Consider this, the Portland Trail Blazers basically drafted Greg Oden over Kevin Durant because a true center is harder to come by than a scorer. This is exactly why I go Streep. Why sign Christian Bale to a three year deal when there are several other actors out there that 'do' the same thing? I can find an action hero or and bankable male star anywhere. Name one other actress that delivers as frequently as Meryl Streep?

So, if we're circling back and using this hypothetical to figure out the 'most bankable person in Hollywood,' than I think you can absolutely make a fair case the Streep's the one. And if this wasn't fantasy and I actually signed her to a multi picture deal, you can bet your ass you'll be seeing The River Wild 2 fairly soon. Frat.

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