Clive Owen, 49, wears an unfortunate sweater in Venice: would you hit it?

Bedhead emailed me about these photos, writing: “Clive Owen has moobs…I repeat … Clive Owen. Moobs.” I told to her to shut her mouth because Clive is a Forever Dong. But then I looked at the photos and yeah… there’s some very small moob action going on. It’s not Gerard Butler-level… more like that awkward phase Tom Cruise went through a few years ago, when he kept wearing terrible sweaters that made his midsection look especially lumpy. What I’m saying is that it’s probably the sweater.

I haven’t written about Clive that much lately, or in the past few years. It’s not for lack of trying, actually. When we do get new photos of Clive, I always look to see if he’s given any new interviews and rarely there’s any kind of story. Clive has turned to premium cable these days – he’s on Cinemax’s The Knick, which is being produced by Steven Soderbergh. It could have been a prestigious series – it’s a period piece about a complicated doctor in a groundbreaking hospital in the early 20th century – but it’s gotten mixed reviews. It did get renewed for a second season though, so maybe it’s a slow-burner. Clive is 49 years old now – he’s no longer the go-to leading man, if he ever was. He probably likes TV work these days because it’s a set schedule and a steady paycheck.

And if you need a palate cleanser from the sweater photos, I’m including some pics of Clive at the Jaeger-LeCoultre gala dinner at the Venice Film Festival a few nights ago. That’s why he was wandering around Venice in a bad sweater – Clive gets paid to show up at these kinds of gigs several times a year. And you know what? That’s fine. Clive reminds me a little bit of Colin Firth – Firth has gone from Mr. Darcy/heartthrob to an older, distinguished, slightly jowly man. I think Clive is phasing into that period too. And YES for the love of God I would still hit it. Forever Dong.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.