Who do you think is the most overrated famous actor?

all of them.

I think jim carrey always delivers as well as will ferrell.

I think Jack Nicholson's performance in "A Few Good Men" needs further review.

Morgan Freeman - great as the "wise old man", but lacks range, or just pigeonholed, I don't know; seems like every character he plays is some variation of the Shawshank character

Jamie Foxx - There was "Ray" and then...

Clint Eastwood - great director, limited range as an actor

Brad Pitt - decent actor who seems to try really hard to be a great actor, but he is Brad Pitt because of his looks

Gwenneth Paltrow - Oscar for Shakespeare in Love?!? Please. Pretty face, decent actor, but not Oscar caliber.

Julia Roberts - decent actor, but not great; star power more than craft

George Clooney - decent actor, seems to be a fun and charming guy, but got a few too many Oscar noms in recent years over other more deserving actors

Tom Cruise

I really enjoyed reading your comments on these seven top stars, donquixote. I thought they were insightful and well-balanced.

I'd throw in Ben Affleck along with Tom, Heather, but I don't think he's ever been "overrated," has he? He's as bland as Pablum. Affleck's so flat and devoid of character that I actually think Arnold Schwarzenneger could deliver a line with more passion.

"RUN TO THE CHOPPER!!!"

Dear Mr. Schwarzenegger: Hope I didn't offend you in the comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Kim Photography:
I really enjoyed reading your comments on these seven top stars, donquixote. I thought they were insightful and well-balanced.

I'd throw in Ben Affleck along with Tom, Heather, but I don't think he's ever been "overrated," has he? He's as bland as Pablum. Affleck's so flat and devoid of character that I actually think Arnold Schwarzenneger could deliver a line with more passion.

"RUN TO THE CHOPPER!!!"

I think Tom Cruise has definitely been over rated. He's been nominated for Oscars, one of which was lead actor in "Jerry Maguire" where is performance was as dull as dishwater but raved about. He's a big box office draw and is on the cover of tons of magazines. He gets tons of face time without even trying.

I do agree with your other two mentions as well.

Like donquixote alluded to so well, many of our "great actors" are more a creation of COMMERCE than anything else.

So many blockbuster features today are merely advertising vehicles for even more lucrative video games and unending sequels. It appears that things like great scripts and great acting have been upstaged by CGI effects and more "bankable" stars. Corporations have replaced the independent producer as sole arbitors of taste and style, and movies have suffered. That's why I believe the salvation of great filmmaking lies in the independent market. Not only is it allowing fresh, new talent to enter the marketplace and actually compete favorably with the major studios, but the independents simply cannot afford the special effects that have so dominated the industry in recent years -- and you're getting great acting performances and powerful scripts in the bargain. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT FILM MAKING.

Julia Roberts BIG TIME
Terrance Howard

OH and I forgot to add P.Diddy for A RAISIN IN THE SUN because for some strange odd reason, the critics thought he was excellent in the role of Walter Lee and I thought he was the worst thing in the film. All, and I mean ALL of the women were spectacular.

Meryl Streep. Not that she's bad, by a long shot, but the idea that she is, as Oprah put it, "the gold standard" is to laugh. She always seems to be, to some degree, tough and defended. I've never been stirred by her as I have by Ellen Burstyn or Marcia Gay Harden (to name just two), or Patricia Clarkson.

I think people are impressed by Streep's accents, which is, acting-wise, is a little like being impressed by a painting with eyes that seem to follow you around the room.

Oh, and ironically, I think people underestimate Julia Roberts precisely because she IS a star. She really does have great reactivity, for lack of a better word.

hollywood tends to find one strongpoint in an actor and then exploits it to the max.

Keanu Reeves is a good example. Whether he is an fbi agent in point break, a cop in speed, or a hero in the matrix series, he always is the same personality.

Someone mentioned brad pitt, he is always eye candy for women although I found him to be quite funny in the mexican and Mr and mrs smith.

The rock is the new arnold

Stallone can't stop being a hero of few words


the funny thing is, that it pretty much works.

Will Smith. He's a likable guy, but he's not in the league of Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright or even Terrence Howard.

quote:

Originally posted by blackpryzm:
he's not in the league of Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright or even Terrence Howard.

Agree about the first two - few are - but I think Smith might be another who's a victim of his own success, reputation-wise. Not the least because he gets steered into certain kinds of roles. But if you saw him in "Six Degrees of Separation", he created a character full of nuance, quite different (and far more disturbing) than the more stock persona used in his blockbusters.

hence the reason I said ALL OF THEM. We are actors, we use our personality as our trade. We can only do so much! I don't think anyone deserves STAR POWER. I think thats all fluff. Actors have gotten big heads over their fame and wealth. Another thing to think about. We always consider drama's to be the well for incredible acting, but comedy seems to get left out when it comes to incredible performances. I may be a little off on that, I don't know. But I honestly think the acting in "Idiocracy" is just as good as the acting in "The Godfather", its just different styles, and different themes. The acting and interpretation of character by the actor's is still there, and the integrity of detail to the work is still as strong. But we tend to assume that dramatic work is "better" in some way, than comedic work. Look at those people that were listed above. yes, they've all been in comedies, but most likely they've been noted as exceptional performers when it came to playing intense and dramatic roles.

Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, George Clooney and Jamie Foxx would have been my choices... but you guys beat me to it!

Also, Josh Hartnett.