Worst Actors Ever To Prove A Commercial Success?

[Pete Cash]

Just on what spring said regarding McGregors reaction to general grievous that's also a problem with the prequels. George was far too controlling. A good director will allow his actors some breathing space. Take Harrison Ford ad libbing "i know" in response to I love you. Much better than what the script said.

McGregor basically was reacting to the concept of a monster that he couldn't see. If he'd have been acting with a real life person I doubt he would have stood there smirking. It just looked dumb. Why didn't this evil robot twirling a bunch of swords around just cut him down while he was smirking like an idiot.

I could rant on why the prequels are soulless bores for hours. Compare Luke wailing on Vader like a lunatic with obi wan flipping around like a street dancer after he watched his master and friend die. I know which one captured the mood of the scene and it ain't obi wan flipping about. We at the end of the day aren't watching for the duels we are watching for what they add to the story. Luke is angry with Vader and Vader is weak to it. Luke realises he is about to cross a moral line and stops. Obi wan is angry and flips around like a cartoon showing no humanity at all.

That's why I think you underestimate actors springs. They can't save a bullshit mess like Lucas created but they are the window in which the audience watches the film.

 

[Springs]

I think that's why everyone else overrates actors so much. It's all the audience has to rate. They have no idea what goes into the writing, directing or editing process. Along with the special effects and score it is the only thing they can really comment on. I don't underestimate actors at all. I know exactly what they bring to a movie. I am not saying that actors don't contribute anything I am saying they don't deserve the praise and the fame they are given. It's all about star power, not about talent. If it was about talent Daniel Day-Lewis would be the biggest celebrity on earth, and stage, musical and opera actors would be bigger stars than these action heroes and comedians we see on the screen. Unlike films, actors carry plays and musicals. Apart from the director the actors are the only thing that brings the stage to life. In films there are so many important factors and so many thousands of people that have to do their job at the highest level to make the film work, yet in most films the only contributors we know the names of are the actors. I watched the Exorcist a few nights ago and while I was watching it I couldn't have told you who directed it, but I already knew that Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn and Max Von Sydow were in it years before I watched it. And they are not even big stars. I couldn't tell you who adapted the script, I couldn't tell you who created the amazing make-up effects, I couldn't tell you who created and worked the harnesses and things that had people being thrown about but I could tell you that Father William O'Malley was on screen for about 10 minutes. In the upcoming Pacific Rim the special effects look amazing but I couldn't tell you who created them, but I can say Idris Elba is in it just from the trailer. He is probably a more well known name than Guillermo Del Toro and he is not a big star. And so Idris Elba will get more publicity than all those who worked on the special effects put together.

Even in voice acting now the stars are given more credit. The animation in Kung Fu Panda is amazing but Jack Black is what it's most associated with. And the only reason these actors are given big credit is because they are big stars, in fact that's the only reason they are even in the film. Professional voice actors are much more talented but because having Jack Black on the poster will lead to more ticket sales he gets his name up there in lights. Before Robin Williams worked on Aladdin voice actors were not well known and celebrities rarely lent their voices to an animated film. And unlike most big stars Robin Williams is very good at changing his voice like the old pro voice actors (Mel Blanc, Dan Castallaneta etc.) are able to.

A lot of actors are talented yes but most of them get credit for the wrong things or are given credit undeservedly. Hugh Jackman's talent shines through a lot more when he is doing the Boy From Oz yet Wolverine is what he is known for. And have a look at the old Star Wars even. Apart from Harrison Ford most of the actors did not go on to be big stars. That doesn't make the movies any less good. Hamill is more impressive voicing the Joker than he is as Luke, yet Star Wars lives on. Alec Guiness absolutely hated the films, didn't like the director and didn't like his performance. Yet people will praise him no end for Obi Wan. Frank Oz probably contributed the most of any actor with his puppeteering and voice than any of the other actors yet he is probably the least well known.

In the old days of film actors were not these pampered, self centered, overpaid people. They often had to help with setting up the sets and such and taking them down. It was only after people who went to see the movies were more interested in knowing who these people onscreen were that the whole Hollywood star power thing kicked into gear and execs started pushing for big name bankable stars to be attached to film. It is rare now for movies to come about without a big name star attached, as a studio will rarely give the go ahead if they don't think the film will make money, and stars are the best way to make money. Hence DiCaprio being the star of nearly every film he's in, or films being labelled as a 'Tom Cruise movie' or 'Adam Sandler movie' or god forbid 'Channing Tatum movie' rather than the people who actually made the movies.

I myself was pushed to go into acting schools by my drama teachers, but after seeing the industry being dominated by overpaid and overrated onscreen actors while those trying to make a living onstage in an industry with a 95% unemployment rate are being overlooked, I thought who the f**k would ever want to get into that.

 

[Pete Cash]

That's the studio system not the craft of acting. It goes back to what I was saying about screen actors being cast for how they look rather than on screen presence. The fact that a bunch of bland terrible movies are being led by bland actors isn't really an argument against acting but the way Hollywood is run. Look at breaking bad. Bryan Cranston isn't exactly good looking but he owns every scenes he's in. Someone who looks like him would struggle to be cast in a leading role in a film.

 

[Springs]

Screen actors often do have to be cast on how they look. Onscreen presence is created through a number of things not just acting. All of the actors in Band of Brothers were cast according to their resemblance to their real life counterparts, not on ability. It's not surprising that kind of attention to detail turned into one of the best things to ever be put on film.
Tom Hanks couldn't exactly be called good looking either, yet has been cast in many leading roles.

And yes I clearly criticised the studio system in my post. I wasn't arguing against acting I was arguing against screen actors being given so much credit and fame compared to stage actors. And it's not just Hollywood it's by all fans and critics. It's probably the thing I hate most about both the movie industry and the music industry.

TV is a different medium. Unlike film the directors are the ones that come and go. Actors are more actively involved in the direction their character takes as well. Bryan Cranston does a fair bit behind the scenes as well, including directing a few episodes.

 

[Eelementary]

This is the thing. Sure, he can't act for shit, but that was never his job. You can't make a martial arts movie with people that can't fight. Seagal was absolutely the f**king man with his mastery of aikido. Who else could ever have made the movies Seagal made? And let;s face it, the first decade or so of his career he made some cracking movies.

Obviously he is now fat and slow, but back in the day ... and I don't even care that he runs like a girl!

I never thought he was that bad an actor, tbh. He had some charisma about him IMO.

But he absolutely kicked so much arse! I loved Steven Seagal!

Now, though, he's a shadow of his former self. I mean, I'm sure he could probably still kick MY arse, but still...

 

[Xfactor1979]

You want the worst actor to actually make any money at all from acting?

Here's a bit of truth->

A terrible actor! I watched him on a surprise guest spot on "The X-Files", and he was as wooden as it gets!

Why did I bother with him?

^ Because I share the same birthday as him! :lol:

 

[Springs]

You should be kicked off the forums for talking shit about Ash

 

[Xfactor1979]

Im entitled to

Mr bruce campbell and I share the same birthday

 

[neutralsupporter]

Has to be Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Andrew Garfield surely.

 

[elyod138]

Has to be Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Andrew Garfield surely.

Andrew Garfield is an excellent actor.

Watch Boy A.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

I think that's why everyone else overrates actors so much. It's all the audience has to rate. They have no idea what goes into the writing, directing or editing process.

I agree with the rest, but thought I'd put more emphasis on this.

A great actor can't save a shit script, a great script can't save a shit director, and so much of the "great acting" is because the editor is f**king good at his job.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

half past dead was on the other night so ill throw Ja Rule into the mix

 

[mongoose]

Paul Walker anyone?

Has the charisma of a stump and definitely can't act.

Hayden Christiansen is god awful as well.

Channing Tatum

Any faceless pretty boy like that is always bad.

 

[Pete Cash]

I agree with the rest, but thought I'd put more emphasis on this.

A great actor can't save a shit script, a great script can't save a shit director, and so much of the "great acting" is because the editor is f**king good at his job.

I quite like the tv show monk but lets face it most of the stories are pretty nonsense the shows carried by Tony Shalhoub.

 

[Pete Cash]

You should be kicked off the forums for talking shit about Ash

He is also quite fun in burn notice.

 

[Springs]

I quite like the tv show monk but lets face it most of the stories are pretty nonsense the shows carried by Tony Shalhoub.

If the stories are nonsense the show is nonsense.

 

[Pete Cash]

If the stories are nonsense the show is nonsense.

No

 

[Xfactor1979]

Not to be literal, but to look into the world of Sam Raimi... his son!

Appears on Xena and also Seaquest DSV

^ No doubt Ted got a gig out of nepotism!

 

[Brutus]

Tony Danza, Kirk Cameron and ALF

 

[Springs]

No

yes