# Actors/resses that makes you NOT want to see a movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 23, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077 "2024-08-23T01:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Strenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Strenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strenger)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/161 "2024-08-26T04:53:27Z")
Forgot to grab a transfer to the Bullock bus when I first boarded. No, no idea why…she just insists on herself, somehow. Whatever it is that made her a big headliner for a number of years, I never figured out. Small town aw shucks gal made it to the big time? Was that her shtick? Whatever it was, I’m glad it’s gone now. Matt Damon as well…he’s done some formidable movies and roles, I suppose, but all I see is “mouth breathing chunkhead” pretty much every time. Seems like a decent fella IRL, though, IIRC, so, that’s good. One that’s sure to be a brace of unpopular choices: Jeremy Irons. Incredibly mannered and affected. I don’t avoid his movies, but I try to avoid pondering the decisions he made as an actor. Tim Robbins, as well. Has been in any number of outstanding pictures, and even some OK ones. But it seems as though he has but one facial expression (slackjawed doughy-faced rube) and one physical stance (slouching, weak shoulders, often wearing a suit which is cut wrong for him). ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/162 "2024-08-26T16:39:01Z")
Interesting, I had the completely opposite impression of McConaughey in True Detective. It felt to me completely artificial, like he was calling upon every theater-school trope possible to conflate ‘character’ with artificial acting tics. Weird restless postures, dramatic exaggerated smoking gestures, melodramatic stares and inflections. I used to have some theater-major friends in college, and it all felt to me like the same aping of Brando and other noir that seemed to be an obligatory phase for all male dramatic actors to go through. Harrelson in comparison gave an astounding performance and distinct believable character. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/163 "2024-08-26T17:16:23Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Interesting, I had the completely opposite impression of McConaughey in True Detective. It felt to me completely artificial, like he was calling upon every theater-school trope possible to conflate ‘character’ with artificial acting tics. I can certainly see that interpretation, too. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/164 "2024-08-26T19:21:46Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I’m not a big Tom Cruise fan, but I thought he was very good in _ **Rain Man** _. I love that movie! I love that movie as well. It was one of the first movies I showed when I began working as a projectionist. With 9 theaters running, I rarely watched much of any of the films, but whenever I had some time I’d go see what scene was showing in Rain Man and would watch it for ten or fifteen minutes. It wasn’t until decades later that I realized that Tom Cruise’s character straight-out _used_ his brother. Still, I love the movie. (We also ran _Days of Thunder_ and _Cocktail_…both forgettable Tom Cruise films) ---
**Author:** ![FS65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@FS65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FS65)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/165 "2024-08-27T15:56:39Z")
My feelings about Robin Williams were that his standup act was vastly overdone and overrated, but I think he was great as an actor, including roles in Good Will Hunting (amazing performance), The Fisher King, 24 hour photo, the one where he was a HS teacher (forgot the name of the movie–but very well done. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/166 "2024-08-27T16:00:21Z")
> [@FS65](#): > > 24 hour photo, the one where he was a HS teacher (forgot the name of the movie–but very well done. He was a HS teacher in _Dead Poets Society_. (and it’s _One Hour Photo_ 😉) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/167 "2024-08-27T16:03:44Z")
> [@FS65](#): > > The Fisher King I _love_ this movie. But I am a Terry Gilliam fan. Robin Williams also had a nice uncredited bit in _Dead Again._ This one is a scenery-chewer by most of the cast, but, dang, it I find it completely watchable. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/168 "2024-08-27T16:30:34Z")
> [@FS65](#): > > My feelings about Robin Williams were that his standup act was vastly overdone and overrated, but I think he was great as an actor, including roles in Good Will Hunting (amazing performance), The Fisher King, 24 hour photo, the one where he was a HS teacher (forgot the name of the movie–but very well done. I was a big fan of his standup when he first came out. I was a kid and loved _Mork and Mindy_ as well. As an adult his comedy annoyed me. People laughed at his pace and delivery even when the jokes didn’t make any sense. His joke hit rate was probably about 25%. On film it worked better because he had an editor when he improvised. As an actor I don’t hate him but he is hit or miss. _Awakenings_ good. _Patch Adams_ bad. And so forth. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/169 "2024-08-27T20:01:20Z")
Nicolas Cage for me. Leaving Las Vegas is the only time I’ve ever left the cinema before the end. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/170 "2024-08-27T20:10:54Z")
Robin Williams, Matt Damon ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/171 "2024-08-27T21:50:28Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > He was a HS teacher in _Dead Poets Society_. He’s a wrestling coach at the end of _The World According to Garp_. I assume it’s high school, and he may be a teacher in addition to a coach. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/172 "2024-08-28T08:49:48Z")
Yeah, that was a high school. A boarding school for boys. That movie was the first time I saw him in a non-comedy or non-comedic performance. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/173 "2024-08-28T09:00:05Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Robin Williams also had a nice uncredited bit in _Dead Again._ And a very small part in _To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar_, where he played John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt in the first ten minutes. I cannot remember if he was credited or not. But he did just fine. Williams is one of those ones whom I am on the fence about. He could handle dramas just fine (_Awakenings_), but he did a lot of films that started with “Robin Williams Wackiness” and then became dark and gloomy dramas (_Good Morning, Vietnam,_ _Patch Adams,_ _Dead Poets Society_), and he never seemed to handle those well. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/174 "2024-08-28T09:43:40Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > So, I won’t watch some Carrey/Sandler films precisely because they’ve got Carrey/Sandler. Others, I’ll happily rewatch, precisely because they’ve got Carrey/Sandler. The trick seems to be _finding those films_ - specifically how do you get over the hump of dislike for a particular performer, to discover their hidden gem performances? Jim Carrey was pretty solid in _The Truman Show_; Will Ferrell was pretty good in _Stranger than Fiction_ (Which also contains a quite watchable performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal); Ryan Reynolds is a truly mixed bag, so for me, it’s worth a try; Adam Sandler is probably good in _something or other_, but how to find it? It’s not as simple as taking recommendations from other people, because the popularity of these actors in general means there is much enthusiasm in general for all of their works. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/175 "2024-08-28T13:19:22Z")
Adam Sandler was terrific in Hotel Transylvania. Functional in the Longest Yard remake - otherwise … ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/176 "2024-08-29T05:42:55Z")
Was it _ **World’s Greatest Dad** _? Robin plays a high school English teacher in this film written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. I’m curious what anyone who saw it thought about it. I enjoyed it. But, what do I know, I liked _ **Waterworld** _. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/177 "2024-08-29T18:06:23Z")
Any thing with Jim Carrey in it. Can’t stand his constant mugging. Anything with Will Ferrell or Chevy Chase. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/178 "2024-08-29T18:12:57Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > I’m curious what anyone who saw it thought about it. I enjoyed it. But, what do I know, I liked _ **Waterworld** _. I saw it in the theater, but don’t have much of a memory. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/179 "2024-08-30T02:15:35Z")
I did too, when it first came out. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077/180 "2024-08-30T14:16:31Z")
I’ve been reading along, and mostly agreeing. I mentioned Tom Hanks first, I think, and was pleased to see many others dislike his movies. I was disappointed to see Jennifer Tilly. She played a sultry lesbian and made _Bound_ a great movie. (But Googling just now it appear that’s the ONLY Jennifer Tilly movie I’ve ever watched! 😃 ) I love Steve Buscemi and Harvey Keitel movies. Joe Pantoliano (costar of _Bound_) makes good movies. I agree Nicolas Cage “over-acts” but also agree with Si\_Amigo: “other [Cage movies] are great for his overacting abilities.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-resses-that-makes-you-not-want-to-see-a-movie/1006077.md?page=10)