# Actors that are considered good, but really aren't? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935 "2008-04-18T19:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/81 "2008-04-20T05:26:34Z")
[QUOTE=mswas] Tom Hanks is an overrated hack. It’s funny that people said that he plays different characters, but I disagree. There is always something of the same character involved. Always that sort of slow halting voice. The best he ever did was Forrest Gump, but he was the same character in Saving Private Ryan, Castaway, as he was in You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. The quiet brooding but capable everyman. Forrest Gump is the only role I can think of where he was challenged as an actor. [/QUOTE] He was hardly brooding or very capable in Big or Splash! I’ve admired his range, moving from goofy comedy to his more serious roles. You must admit, from Big to Philadelphia is quite a range. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/82 "2008-04-20T05:35:25Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] Has Jimmy Stewart played any character other than Jimmy Stewart? Start with **It’s a Wonderful Life** (if that’s the name of it) and fast forward. Always the same. \*\* Rear Window\*\*? Nah. **The Rope?** You tell me. But I liked him. Still do, I guess. I hope you hit on a title that redeems him. [/QUOTE] He certainly wasn’t his usual “aw shucks” likable self in “Vertigo.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/83 "2008-04-20T05:40:28Z")
I agree; Tom Hanks is a definite veto-factor for me in most movies. He sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/84 "2008-04-20T05:46:07Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] I agree; Tom Hanks is a definite veto-factor for me in most movies. He sucks. [/QUOTE] What I want is to see him play a really evil villain. He’s always the hero, or at worst a flawed but fundamentally good person. I would love to see him play a serial killer or a Nazi or something. To me, if you can’t or won’t play a compelling villain, you haven’t truly expressed your range as an actor. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/85 "2008-04-20T06:03:12Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] What I want is to see him play a really evil villain. He’s always the hero, or at worst a flawed but fundamentally good person. I would love to see him play a serial killer or a Nazi or something. To me, if you can’t or won’t play a compelling villain, you haven’t truly expressed your range as an actor. [/QUOTE] He played a villain in _The Ladykillers_. That was a comedic baddie, though, not a seriously evil, dramatic one. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/86 "2008-04-20T06:09:08Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] He certainly wasn’t his usual “aw shucks” likable self in “Vertigo.” [/QUOTE] The Philadelphia Story? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/87 "2008-04-20T06:10:47Z")
I never thought Greer Garson was especially good- particularly in Goodbye Mr Chips. However I acknowledge she fitted the part well In Mrs Miniver. And I don’t know if anyone thought he was good, but George Raft certainly wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/88 "2008-04-20T06:39:39Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] He played a villain in _The Ladykillers_. That was a comedic baddie, though, not a seriously evil, dramatic one. [/QUOTE] I didn’t even think of that one because he was a real mustache-twirler in that one, if I recall (and I might not). I’m thinking more like Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List, or Gerald McRaney in Deadwood, or Robin Williams in Insomnia, or even Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd. Play really strongly against type as an evil monster. Wouldn’t it be cool to see Tom Hanks play a role that scared the crap out of you? I can’t take seriously the contention that he’s The Best Actor Ever until he does that. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/89 "2008-04-20T06:41:48Z")
Derek Jacobi. Every time I see him I am reminded of the character he played in [Frasier](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0582551/), which it seems to me was only an exaggeration of the truth. Somehow he got an Emmy for it. No justice. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/90 "2008-04-20T08:54:45Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Brash badass would sum both of them up, though. He plays a lot of brash badasses who are against tough odds for the big win, whatever that might be. I just don’t like Russell Crowe. I think he choses a lot of ego epics and then overacts through them. He’s overrated, bigtime. [/QUOTE] If you still want to give him a chance in something different, there’s [The Sum of Us](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111309/). I’m not all that fond of him, but he was good way back then. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/91 "2008-04-20T11:35:23Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] I think Kevin Spacey was pretty good until he got the memo about how good he was. Now he just comes off as unbearably cocky to me. He always looks like he’s on the verge of bursting into laughter and telling the audience how inferior they are. [/QUOTE] I saw Kevin Spacey on stage a few years ago in a production of The Philadelphia Story he directed at the The Old Vic. He played the Cary Grant part and was just amazing. He had genuine stage presence, which is very rare - he electrified the atmosphere on stage the moment he entered - and lived the character from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. Everything, right down to the way he moved, was pitch-perfect. I’d taken my mum, who’s a huge Spacey fan, to see it as a birthday present, but a few days before had read that he’d actually finished his run and his part was being played by an understudy. I broke the news to mum, who was very disappointed, but we decided to go along anyway. Cue our astonishment and my mum audibly and breathily gasping “Kevin!” as he walked on stage, and my :o ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/92 "2008-04-20T11:47:22Z")
[QUOTE=Jennyrosity] I saw Kevin Spacey on stage a few years ago in a production of The Philadelphia Story he directed at the The Old Vic. He played the Cary Grant part and was just amazing. He had genuine stage presence, which is very rare - he electrified the atmosphere on stage the moment he entered - and lived the character from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. Everything, right down to the way he moved, was pitch-perfect. I’d taken my mum, who’s a huge Spacey fan, to see it as a birthday present, but a few days before had read that he’d actually finished his run and his part was being played by an understudy. I broke the news to mum, who was very disappointed, but we decided to go along anyway. Cue our astonishment and my mum audibly and breathily gasping “Kevin!” as he walked on stage, and my :o [/QUOTE] Such a happy ending right at the start! How wonderful!! 🙂🙂🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/93 "2008-04-20T13:42:12Z")
A few thoughts: **Al Pacino** ’s Lt. Col. Frank Slade in _Scent of a Woman_ wasn’t all that great. He played “Blind Al Pacino.” He was the same crass loudmouth as he usually is. What made that movie was the excellent story told. Al started changing into this screaming buffoon almost immediately after _The Godfather, Part II_; his characters in _Dog Day Afternoon_ and \*…And Justice For All \*were younger versions of what we have today. \*\*Matthew McConaughey \*\*makes my skin crawl. We get it Matt, you like yourself with your shirt off and you’re a gen-u-ine southern lady-killer. Watching _Two for the Money_ (starring them both) made me twitch for two weeks. (Don’t ask why I saw it – all you need to know is I had to for other people) I think possibly the best performance I’ve ever seen was by **Anthony Hopkins** in _Silence of the Lambs_. But what’s interesting, I watched _Red Dragon_, and he didn’t have the same handle on the Hannibal Lecter character. He was a lot more excited and animated, which I thought detracted from the urbanity and overall creepiness of the good doctor. What about **Morgan Freeman**? Do he ever have a role where he doesn’t play the Wise Old Black Man? I think **Tim Robbins** is a good actor; his Nuke LaLoosh was spot-on as well as his Andy Dufresne – two very different characters. I also think **Jodie Foster** and **Ed Norton** have well-developed acting skills. **Robin Williams** is a great actor when he’s trying to act. His stand-up these days is cringe-worthy (see his [Idol Give Back](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BKUAvFjx-M) performance – some people liked it, I found it annoying, repetitive and embarrassing), but his dramatic performances are something to behold. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/94 "2008-04-20T13:53:26Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] What about **Morgan Freeman**? Do he ever have a role where he doesn’t play the Wise Old Black Man? [/QUOTE] Ever see [Street Smarts?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094056/) He got an Oscar nom for that. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/95 "2008-04-20T14:20:42Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Ever see [Street Smarts?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094056/) He got an Oscar nom for that. [/QUOTE] No. Tell me what kind of character he played. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/96 "2008-04-20T14:30:22Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] What about **Morgan Freeman**? Do he ever have a role where he doesn’t play the Wise Old Black Man? [/QUOTE] To me, Morgan Freeman is the epitome of The Magic Negro. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/97 "2008-04-20T14:37:53Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] No. Tell me what kind of character he played. [/QUOTE] He is a pimp. Not the nice Huggy Bear kind. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/98 "2008-04-20T14:44:53Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] No. Tell me what kind of character he played. [/QUOTE] A pimp. Beaten to it by **Loach**. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/99 "2008-04-20T14:49:39Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] […] but if his Howard Hughes wasn’t good enough for you, you’ve got your “nuance” bar set way, way too high. [/QUOTE] That may be, but we couldn’t judge it by my opinion of _The Aviator_. Being neither a fan of DiCaprio or biopics, I skipped that film. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935/100 "2008-04-20T14:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] No. Tell me what kind of character he played. [/QUOTE] [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3_cEZXiziU) is a clip. Look especially at around the 5:00 mark. He also wasn’t playing the Wise Old Black Man when he was Easy Reader on the Electric Company. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-that-are-considered-good-but-really-arent/445935.md?page=6)