Worst Actors

[Dmitri]

As for actresses, any mildly attractive female that's put into a role because she's a mildly attractive female. See Jessica Simpson (as Corry pointed out), Paris Hilton, any female in the never ending supply of spoof movies, Carmen Electra, Jennifer Garner, Helen Hunt, etc etc.

 

[Helen B]

I am likely to meet some resistance on this one, but I truly think that Christopher Walken is capable of playing exactly one role. Himself.

But does he try to play anyone else? I see nothing wrong with knowing your limitations - many great movie stars only ever played themselves. They could stand there doing nothing, and radiate everything. They are backed up by great character actors, who are great at playing characters, but who don't always carry the movie.

The problem for me comes when the actor can only play themselves, but tries to play someone else.

Best,
Helen
PS Petra says that Kevin Spacey is top of her list of bad actors, without question.

PS Just a small point, but for many people in film and theatre nowadays there is no gender implied in the word actor. We are all actors.

 

[bdv1973]

Nick Cage
Russell Crowe
Leonardo DiCaprio
Tom Cruise
Al Pacino
Kevin Spacey

Not a big fan of the first 4 but
Al Pacino...The Godfather, Scarface, Serpico, Scent of a Woman, Donnie Brasco, Any Given Sunday

&

Kevin Spacey...American Beauty, LA Confidential, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Usual Suspects.

These 2 guys did some of the best acting in movie history in these movies. Now I know they have had some bad performances but who hasnt.

Will Smith did "ALI" but he also did "Wild Wild West".

 

[MarcusM]

PS Just a small point, but for many people in film and theatre nowadays there is no gender implied in the word actor. We are all actors.

Thanks for clarifying, that was my intention - I meant both female or male.

Al Pacino? He's one of my all-time favorites. Of course not all of his roles have been the greatest, but you can't tell me he didn't do a great job in Carlito's Way, just to name one (my favorite of his movies)

 

[nanny32]

 

[Alpha]

I think people who get typecast as themselves are generally terrible simply for lack of versatility. Seems to happen a lot with comics. Rob Schneider and then later Will Farell. Samuel L Jackson takes the cake for being typecast as himself. Al Pacino is up there but at least he puts on a good show.

Bruce Willis is horrible.

 

[Mitica100]

I am likely to meet some resistance on this one, but I truly think that Christopher Walken is capable of playing exactly one role. Himself.

Since people rave about him so much I have to think I was just seeing the wrong movies. What would a CW fan consider to be his best work?

I agree! But there is one role that stands out. The one in Deer Hunter,

 

[bdv1973]

I think people who get typecast as themselves are generally terrible simply for lack of versatility. Seems to happen a lot with comics. Rob Schneider and then later Will Farell. Samuel L Jackson takes the cake for being typecast as himself. Al Pacino is up there but at least he puts on a good show.

Bruce Willis is horrible.

I know what you mean about Will Farell. He was the exact same guy in Talladega Nights as he was in Old School as he was in Blades of Glory as he was in Anchorman. While they were all funny all I saw was Ron Burgandy driving a NASCAR...then Ice Skating.

But I have to disagree about Samuel L Jackson. While he has played roles that were very similar he has played some very different roles.

Black Snake Moan, 1408, Freedomland, Coach Carter, Changing Lanes, Unbreakable, Rules of Engagement, Eve's Bayou, The Long Kiss Goodnight, A time to Kill, Pulp Fiction.

 

[Alpha]

Oh man Kevin Spacey's impersonation of Christopher Walken in the SNL Star Wars Auditions was amazing!

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/31791/detail/

Eddie Izzard's impersonation of Walken performing Shakespeare in the park was also amazing. I'll see if I can dig up the video.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMraego-25o[/ame]

 

[bdv1973]

The one actor I really do not like is Quentin Tarantino.

I think he is one of the Greatest Directors/Producers out there (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill 1 & 2, Resevoir Dogs, Four Rooms, True Romance, Death Proof) but when he gets in front of the camera he is horrible.

 

[Big Bully]

What about the entire cast (except Frank Caliendo) of Mad TV! They are terrible!
I totally agree about Paris Hilton. She either needs to take acting classes or stick to modeling.
I think that Keanu Reeves is good if he has a role suited to him. I loved him in the Lake House, and Replacements.
Soap Opera actors aren't all they are cracked up to be either.

 

[Phranquey]

I kinda like Christopher Walken. He has that Captain Kirk monotone & dramatic pause, but he knows how to make fun of himself, which I think is great.

The one I cannot stand is Bill Paxton. Yes, he has had some good roles (Apollo 13, Tombstone, Titanic), but something about him is like nails on a chalkboard to me.

 

[Corry]

DiCaprio? Really? I think he's a great actor.

Ug . . . I can't believe I'm saying this . . . but I . . . agree.

I can't stand him, but at the same time, he was amazing in The Aviator, as well as What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

 

[Phranquey]

Ug . . . I can't believe I'm saying this . . . but I . . . agree.

I can't stand him, but at the same time, he was amazing in The Aviator, as well as What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

And he also gave decent performances in Catch Me If You Can & Man in the Iron Mask.

As much as he can come off as an arrogant little pr**k, he's not a bad actor.

 

[Hawaii Five-O]

I don't like those actors that star in some dorky comedy and then star in some other film as this serious WWII officer or something