I haven't been to a movie in months. This is mainly because I get uncomfortably cold in the theater, but also because no movies appeal to me enough to plunk down the big bucks and then run the risk of some morons A) talking during the entire film; B) allowing their cellphones to go off or actually taking/making a call; C) kicking my chair constantly. I've also noticed that most of the movies are just kinda crappy. Or, they star actors that, frankly, I'm not too enamored with. Here's my list of:
Actors That Are Way Overrated
1. Tom Cruise
2. Tom Hanks
3. Julia Roberts
4. Leonardo DiCaprio
5. Cameron Diaz
1. Okay, please. I cannot take him seriously, period. He's always Tom Cruise. I'll admit he was pretty good in Magnolia, but that was ten years ago. He's icky.
2. This guy is ... like a piece of white bread toast. I mean, he's okay in a pinch, but there's nothing to him. Unless you dress him all up and give him a lot of accoutrements, he's nothing.
3. Horrifying.
4. What does anyone see in this person? He chews up his words and spits them out like bubblegum. When he was in Gangs of New York and played a gang banger leader opposite Daniel Day-Lewis's badass Bill the Butcher, it was laughable. I wouldn't have followed this chubby little guy to a candy store, let alone in an all-out gangland slaughter against a killer who said, "You tell young Vallon I'm gonna paint Paradise Square with his blood. Two coats. I'll festoon my bedchamber with his guts." The last thing I saw Leo in was the outstanding film Revolutionary Road with Kate Winslet who outshone him so badly that he might as well have been in another film altogether.
Actors That Are Way Overrated
1. Tom Cruise
2. Tom Hanks
3. Julia Roberts
4. Leonardo DiCaprio
5. Cameron Diaz
1. Okay, please. I cannot take him seriously, period. He's always Tom Cruise. I'll admit he was pretty good in Magnolia, but that was ten years ago. He's icky.
2. This guy is ... like a piece of white bread toast. I mean, he's okay in a pinch, but there's nothing to him. Unless you dress him all up and give him a lot of accoutrements, he's nothing.
3. Horrifying.
4. What does anyone see in this person? He chews up his words and spits them out like bubblegum. When he was in Gangs of New York and played a gang banger leader opposite Daniel Day-Lewis's badass Bill the Butcher, it was laughable. I wouldn't have followed this chubby little guy to a candy store, let alone in an all-out gangland slaughter against a killer who said, "You tell young Vallon I'm gonna paint Paradise Square with his blood. Two coats. I'll festoon my bedchamber with his guts." The last thing I saw Leo in was the outstanding film Revolutionary Road with Kate Winslet who outshone him so badly that he might as well have been in another film altogether.
5. All this individual seems to want to do is grin and find a reason to shake her derriere at whichever camera is closest. She is a nightmare.
Who tarnishes the Silver Screen for you? (OR--horrors!--do you find yourself needing to defend anyone in my Five?)
7 comments:
oh, horrors... I agree with you on all of them except Tom Hanks. I don't think he's great, I just don't think he's nearly as bad as the others.
My instant pick for most overrated actor is Meryl Streep. She's like the kid who learns all the rules to write a good composition, takes it over the top with some sophisticated techniques... but doesn't reach the reader somehow. It's all artifice without the art. Heartfelt without the heart. The tawdry woman without the tart. (Hey, 3 rhymes in a row!)
Here's one that I considered vastly overrated who has redeemed herself somewhat: Sally Field. Two Oscars, and I was never convinced. I think one of her worst roles was as Forest Gump's mother. Maybe because she was too young for the part of the aging mom (or because she had a dozen variations of a southern accent all in one sentence). I have come to enjoy her, however, in the T.V. show *Brothers & Sisters*. I think that role fits her like a glove, and she has the maturity to carry it off. And she doesn't seem like she's trying too hard to be liked, lol.
I agree with Ortizzle about Tom Hanks. He isn't that bad is he? And I do love Forrest Gump. I watch it every time it's on. He's wonderful in that movie.
I don't even know what I think about Tom Cruise any more. I do like him in action moveis, the mission impossible ones especially. But he went all coo coo after he and Nicole spit and is hard to tolorate now.
I don't care about Julia Robers or Cameron Diaz too much either way. I guess I've never thought about it.
I have never understood what all the hype was about when it came to Leonardo Dicaprio. He's not even that cute :) But I will say that I LOVED LOVED LOVED him in The Departed. Or maybe I just loved the movie. Or maybe he was just surrounded by people who made him look good. Who knows, but I loved that movie!
My overrated list? How about Ben Stiller? Yes, he's funny. But he is pretty much the same in every movie he does. I'm not much of a movie person at all, really.
What this list shows is that certain actors get on "the list" and people keep watching them even though they don't merit such devotion (and in some cases, never did).
I was so extremely disappointed when I heard that Julia Roberts was playing Elizabeth Gilbert in the Eat, Pray, Love movie. Horrid choice. I don't see how that book can translate well to a movie anyway, so whatever, I guess.
Tom Cruise is totally ridiculous. I haven't watched a movie of his in years. He was good in Risky Business, but what cute "kid" wouldn't have been?
Cameron Diaz ... you picked a good one there, Nance! How did she even get to be a big star? She's not even attractive. Her hair is always awful, blah, blah, blah.
I thought Leonardo was really good in the Howard Hughes movie, but have not watched any of his other movies. Again, he's like Tom Cruise ... how do they get these roles and even win acclaim for them?
I do like Tom Hanks, but mostly because he seems to be a nice guy. I haven't watched any of his stuff in a long time either. The Angels and Demons movie that's out now ... no interest. And, I thought its predecessor was awful, too.
It's amazing how many of these actors really play one role over and over again. Have you seen the previews for the new Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds movie? Who in their right mind wants to see that? Even the trailer looks abysmal. And, there are so many more of those movies out there ...
Somebody out there must really like these folks.
Shirley
I see your Tom Hanks and raise you Jack Nicholson. Although I've only seen some of his more recent works, he is the most one dimensional actor out there. He always plays a character with a moderate personality disorder that enables him to use his crazy voice.
Mikey--Good one. I totally agree.
Shirley--You know, Leo was good in Gilbert Grape,and he had some Indie Cred awhile back (Basketball Diaries), but once he did Titanic, it was downhill from there. Yet, Scorsese loves him. I don't get it. He was downright horrid even in the new Romeo & Juliet where Claire Danes just blew him off the screen. He acted like he had no idea what the words he was saying even remotely meant. AWFUL.
Nina--Tom Hanks isn't even acting, and that's my issue. How long ago was Forrest Gump? The guy cannot simply hang his entire career on a role he did fifteen years ago.
Ortizzle--Well, I respectfully disagree about Meryl, I have to say. I Netflixed "The Devil Wears Prada" and I thought she was perfect in it. It was a tough role to do without completely caricaturing it and going over the line, and she carried it off. And she was incredible in "The Hours." I also like how she's so blase about herself and genuine in interviews on television. Unless she's really THAT GOOD...! LOL.
You know, when I was little, I remember Sally Field as The Flying Nun. I always wanted to look just like her. We're both short, dark hair...now I'd just like to be that close to Rob Lowe that often. LOL.
I do like Leo. I thought he was absolutely brilliant in The Aviator. I agree entirely, though, that Kate Winslet outshone him in Revolutionary Road. Off topic--that movie put my stomach in a knot that I don't think went away for at least a week. Oye. Too much for me.
Also--hi! I've been lurking your blog and this one for months, but have yet to comment. It isn't that I haven't been moved to do so. I was feeling a little shy about it, that's all. I hope EHS is treating you...humanely.
Tiana--Welcome to Stuff. Rev. Rd. was an incredible film. I saw it all alone--literally--one Tues. afternoon in a theater and I was incredibly moved. For a variety of reasons I won't share here. (Or anyplace, actually.) But Leo...feh.
My email link is available at the Dept. Please use it.
Post a Comment