# Actors who have done a 180 in your estimation of them **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149 "2008-12-01T05:52:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/61 "2008-12-02T15:05:29Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I have never seen Tom Cruise in a role where I think he gets lost in the role. I always see Tom Cruise “acting”, in fact I feel the same way about his interviews. I admit I have never seen Magnolia so I can’t comment on that one but in Tropic Thunder I saw Tom Cruise trying hard not to be Tom Cruise but still obviously being Tom Cruise. That’s EXACTLY how my dad puts it. I admit there’s a few moments in his career that I really enjoy, but I tend to credit the rest of the production with making that happen. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/62 "2008-12-02T15:19:05Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I have never seen Tom Cruise in a role where I think he gets lost in the role. I always see Tom Cruise “acting”, in fact I feel the same way about his interviews. I admit I have never seen Magnolia so I can’t comment on that one but in Tropic Thunder I saw Tom Cruise trying hard not to be Tom Cruise but still obviously being Tom Cruise. You really owe it to yourself to watch _Magnoila_, then. It’s sort of like Tom Cruise fighting hard to stay being Tom Cruise and gradually having it all torn down around him. That film is the only reason I still believe there’s a human being inside there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/63 "2008-12-03T12:44:42Z")
Rob Lowe- OK as a brat packer in the 80s, stupid sex video tape scandal, Brilliant on _West Wing_. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/64 "2008-12-03T17:33:44Z")
I am going to agree with Brad Pitt, but for me the turning point was _Kalifornia_ Tom Cruise, although I enjoyed him in _Tropic Thunder_, I just have a hard time seeing past his personality. Adam Sandler. I had dismissed him as a one-trick pony until I saw _Spanglish_ and _Reign Over Me_. ---
**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/65 "2008-12-03T17:43:21Z")
Robert Downey Jr. I didn’t know anything about him except that he had a druggie past and a lot of personal issues. Then I saw _Kiss Kiss Bang Bang_, _A Scanner Darkly_, and finally this year’s _Iron Man_. I’m glad he seems to have his shit together finally because he’s just so charming! I can’t wait for his Sherlock Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/66 "2008-12-03T17:59:04Z")
Natalie Portman. The first thing I saw her in was _The Professional_, which she was decent in, but hormone-crazed pubescent isn’t all that hard a role to play, and child stardom doesn’t mean much, so I didn’t give her much thought. The second thing I saw her in was the _Star Wars_ prequels, and I think everyone knows about the quality of acting in those. Then I saw her in _Garden State_, and didn’t even recognize her, since she was a perfectly fine actress. Probably not Oscar material, but a respectable performance. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/67 "2008-12-03T18:11:05Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > How about the other side - from celeb to knob? Cuba Gooding Jr.? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/68 "2008-12-03T23:04:00Z")
> [@jali](#): > > I thought that Brad Pitt was just a pretty face in films that didn’t require much. > > Then I saw \*\*Snatch \*\*- Brad Pitt was amazing. > > I’ve watched his other movies since then with a different eye and he is IMHO a great actor. Came here to say _that_. “I am going to agree with Brad Pitt, but for me the turning point was Kalifornia.” And _that_. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/69 "2008-12-04T00:49:37Z")
The opposite (downside) for me would be Angelina Jolie. I thought she was destined to be our next iconic actress, like Katherine Hepburn, after outstanding perfomances in **Gia** and **Girl, Interrupted**. But although I still think she can act her ass off upon ocassion, she seems to mostly have sold out. As for an upside, Nicole Kidman. Initially she seemed little more than a lucky, pretty girl and then I saw her in **To Die For**. Since then she’s hardly done a less-than-stellar job. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/70 "2008-12-04T01:52:50Z")
Some of mine already mentioned, so I’ll pick one that hasn’t been. Joseph Gordon Levitt. I paid no attention to him at all as the kid on **3rd Rock From The Sun**. Then I saw him in **Manic** and he blew me away. I’ve only seen him in **Stop-Loss** since then, in which he was also very good. Looking forward to seeing him in future roles. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/71 "2008-12-04T02:04:37Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > The opposite (downside) for me would be Angelina Jolie. I thought she was destined to be our next iconic actress, like Katherine Hepburn, after outstanding perfomances in **Gia** and **Girl, Interrupted**. But although I still think she can act her ass off upon ocassion, she seems to mostly have sold out. Mostly, but not completely. Her last film was [Changeling](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/). YMMV, but some people like making an occasional $10,000,000 by taking on an easy acting gig. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/72 "2008-12-04T03:26:15Z")
**Morbo** , you’ve also got to see **The Lookout** , **Mysterious Skin** and **Brick**. He’s the best thing out there today. And I hear you **Lakai**. Like I said, I know she does still do well every once in a while, but mostly she pulls a frown from me these days. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/73 "2008-12-04T04:02:38Z")
Anybody for Tom Arnold? At some point he went from Roseanne Barr-Arnold accessory to really enjoyable-to-watch character actor. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/74 "2008-12-04T10:06:04Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > **Morbo** , you’ve also got to see… **Mysterious Skin** Although if you do you’ll want to have a shower for about three days solid afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/75 "2008-12-04T17:52:08Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > **Morbo** , you’ve also got to see **The Lookout** , **Mysterious Skin** and **Brick**. He’s the best thing out there today. NetFlix, Make it so! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/76 "2008-12-04T17:54:16Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Some of mine already mentioned, so I’ll pick one that hasn’t been. > > Joseph Gordon Levitt. > > I paid no attention to him at all as the kid on **3rd Rock From The Sun**. Then I saw him in **Manic** and he blew me away. I’ve only seen him in **Stop-Loss** since then, in which he was also very good. Looking forward to seeing him in future roles. Rent “Angels in the Outfield.” He is very young and very good in it. ETA: He also had a guest shot in “Roseanne” that made me first notice him. He was playing the most-boring-kid-in-the-universe, sitting at the Conner’s kitchen table and going through his coins on the table with a running commentary. Dan Conner was watching him with a look of total amazement. I guess you had to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149/77 "2008-12-04T18:35:09Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > And the award for Sine Wave riding on a Roller Coaster surely goes to Eddy Murphy. Edgy 80s comedian (48 hours, Beverly Hills Cop), reduced to “will act to food” status (Haunted Mansion, Pluto Nash), Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls and then along comes Norbit. Eddie’s problem is he doesn’t discriminate, show him a bunch of zeros and he’ll do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-done-a-180-in-your-estimation-of-them/475149.md?page=3)