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.
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.
Rob Lowe-
OK as a brat packer in the 80s, stupid sex video tape scandal, Brilliant on West Wing.
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.
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.
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.
Cuba Gooding Jr.?
Came here to say that.
“I am going to agree with Brad Pitt, but for me the turning point was Kalifornia.”
And that.
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.
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.
Mostly, but not completely. Her last film was Changeling. YMMV, but some people like making an occasional $10,000,000 by taking on an easy acting gig.
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.
Anybody for Tom Arnold?
At some point he went from Roseanne Barr-Arnold accessory to really enjoyable-to-watch character actor.
Although if you do you’ll want to have a shower for about three days solid afterwards.
NetFlix, Make it so!
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.
Eddie’s problem is he doesn’t discriminate, show him a bunch of zeros and he’ll do it.