# "Bad" Actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101 "2009-04-06T03:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/1 "2009-04-06T03:38:45Z")
Over in the [“annoying characters in otherwise decent movies” thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512934), much poopy was thrown at Nicolas Cage: he stank in everything, he’s only in Hollywood by virtue of his family name, he eats orphans. I deny these assertions. But before we get to that, the point: This is a thread where I ask you, fellow Doper, to champion your favorite, often maligned actor or actress. Keanu Reeves lovers, show yourselves. Annie McDowell afficianados, stand proud. I want to hear actors who you think are terrible, who you can’t believe get top billing again and again.\* And I’d like to hear people who like them come to their defense. Because, really, when you get down to it, the Cages and Keanus of this world are only in movies because those movies their make money; no amount of clout or name recognition is a free pass for losing a studio tens of millions of dollars. You might think they’re hacks, but they’re doing _something_ right. I want to know what that is. I’ll start with Nicolas Cage. For a while, I hated Nicolas Cage. I thought he mugged his way through movies, relying on a mixture of the “what’s going on here?” face and the “I know _exactly_ what’s going on here” face. Putting aside movies like “Raising Arizona” and “Moonstruck” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” movies I doubt Cage haters would mention, I’ll concentrate on his admittedly shlocky-er fare. To put it succinctly: I simply find Cage _incredibly_ invested in everything he’s in. It’s like Christian Bale in “Reign of Fire”: I think Cage knows that “Gone in 60 Seconds” is crappy, that “Wickerman” is a weakass, pointless remake, but he simply doesn’t show it. He soldiers on in an almost maniacal, crazy-eyed way that I find totally endearing. He drags the movie on to its conclusion, even if nobody else is willing to try (“WIckerman” is a great example of this. He probably has back pain from carrying that movie for two solid hours). There’s no winking aside like Bruce Willis does (“I understand this movie sucks too, movie patron”)—he just goes for it and lets the chips falls where they may. He doesn’t play himself either—he’s no great character actor, certainly, but his parts always have a certain, distinct flair to them—contrary to, say, Tom Cruise. And he plays the “bewildered everyman” really well. The “shithouse crazy bewildered everyman” even better. I just like me some Cage. So, please, defend your favorites, listen to reasoning for your least favorites. I’m curious to see why some actors I loathe and assume everyone else does too are still millionaire box office surethings. - though it’s certainly fine to defend/nominate oft maligned actors who aren’t top bill names—I mentioned Annie MacDowell. In fact, please, help me out on that one. She makes me so sad. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/2 "2009-04-06T03:56:36Z")
My wife used to watch 7th Heaven. Sometimes, for a laugh, I’d watch, too. I nominate the entire cast. Especially the cop-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/3 "2009-04-06T04:13:06Z")
Never liked Chevy Chase in any movie. He was in a couple of good movies but he was not good in them. His constant mugging and poor comic timing bring down every movie I’ve seen him in. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/4 "2009-04-06T04:27:44Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > Never liked Chevy Chase in any movie. He was in a couple of good movies but he was not good in them. His constant mugging and poor comic timing bring down every movie I’ve seen him in. I dunno…I love him in the National Lampoon Vacation movies…or I may just love the movies as a whole and he just happens to be in them…it’s all about Cousin Eddie. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/5 "2009-04-06T09:35:25Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > Never liked Chevy Chase in any movie. He was in a couple of good movies but he was not good in them. His constant mugging and poor comic timing bring down every movie I’ve seen him in. Unclear on the concept? I like Cage, even though I don’t like all his movies. As far as I’m concerned he’s redeemed himself and has had a worthy career just on the basis of (in no particular order) **Birdy** , **Valley Girl** , **Moonstruck** , **Raising Arizona** , **Adaptation** , **Leaving Las Vegas** , **Racing with the Moon** , **The Cotton Club** , **Bringing Out the Dead** , and **Lord of War**. Probably some others too that I can’t think of or haven’t seen but might belong on the Good Cage list (like, maybe, **Wild At Heart** , **World Trade Center** or **Red Rock West** , which I haven’t seen). Hell, his career gets a pass from me just on the basis of **Raising Arizona**. And anyone who thinks Keanu Reeves can’t act hasn’t seen **The Gift**. That’s all I’ll say about that. I really really hate Jennifer Lopez’s music but I think she’s an excellent actress. When her talent is paired with a good movie (rare, unfortunately) she can kick ass with the best of them. She’s got a lifetime pass from me just on the basis of **Out of Sight** and **Selena**. And dammit, I love **Angel Eyes** and her in it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/6 "2009-04-06T09:43:12Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Unclear on the concept? Huh? And to the OP, I think you mean Andie MacDowell? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/7 "2009-04-06T09:57:11Z")
I was thinking about defending Cage in that other thread, but the OP does it so well I’m not going to bother. I know he’s annoying, but he’s also compelling somehow. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/8 "2009-04-06T10:24:05Z")
He does amazing work in ADAPTATION, one of my favorite films ever. It’s a difficult and subtle role(s) he plays, and he does a terrific job of it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/9 "2009-04-06T12:50:03Z")
I have never seen a Keanu Reeves movie I didn’t enjoy. Now, _some_ might argue that this is in spite of Keanu, like _Much Ado About Nothing_ or _Dracula_, but _Matrix_, _Point Break_, _Constantine_, _The Replacements_, _Chain Reaction_, _Speed_, hell, even _Johnny Mnemonic_ - I enjoyed them all. So, even if, as people claim, Keanu is a bad actor, he isn’t bad enough to make me not like a movie. He does the job, and looks likeable and easy on the eyes while doing it. In fact, I’d rather watch a movie\* because\* it is a “Keanu” movie rather than, say, an “Anthony Hopkins” movie or “Al Pacino” movie, to name a couple of his co-stars. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/10 "2009-04-06T12:59:52Z")
Cage has some great performances, as others have mentioned. He’s prolific, and like some other actors, I think he takes roles in blockbusters so he can afford to take on the better roles that nobody will go to see. I’ll see anything Marisa Tomei does, but people still insist its a joke that she won an Oscar. If we’re throwing stones…Kate Hudson can’t act. Neither can Ashley Judd. Each keeps getting roles, and I find it painful just to watch the trailers. Their performances are absurd. ---
**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 6, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/11 "2009-04-06T13:02:29Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Unclear on the concept? I think you missed the concept. I did too the first time. > [@](#): > > I want to hear actors who you think are terrible, who you can’t believe get top billing again and again.\* And I’d like to hear people who like them come to their defense. It is for both the defenders and those that hate the actors. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/12 "2009-04-06T13:03:19Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > If we’re throwing stones…Kate Hudson can’t act. She was pretty fantastic in “Almost Famous”, in my opinion. I’m not sure I’ve ever bothered to see another of her movies but she was great in that one. ---
**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 6, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/13 "2009-04-06T13:32:11Z")
Nicholas Cage can make so good movies. He also makes some fun movies that he doesn’t take too seriously. And he mades bad movies. I don’t think he is a bad actor. I think Keanu Reeves is a decent actor. It just depends on the roles he takes. He can be quite good in certain things. Heather Graham can play dumb blondes. She can because she is blonde and, from what I have heard, dumb as a stump. I think she is horrible. I think David Caruso had the ability to become a good actor but his ego got in the way and destroyed any talent he had. He was decent during his first career as a character actor. Al Pacino became a joke after his subtlety gland was removed sometime around 1980. I still enjoy some of his performances. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/14 "2009-04-06T13:56:29Z")
I’ve often defended Keanu Reeves here. The problem with him is that his best roles were in little-seen movies like _Tune in Tomorrow, I Love You to Death, Leaving Minnesota, My Own Private Idaho_ and _Little Buddha_. _Speed_ was about the only popular film of his where he showed some acting chops. Lately, he’s made some bad choices, but he’s still quite good. The criticism of him reminds me a lot of criticism of John Wayne – who was always criticized as being of limited range and wooden in his acting. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/15 "2009-04-06T14:05:42Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > \ > I’ll see anything Marisa Tomei does, but people still insist its a joke that she won an Oscar. > \ And yet, she has been nominated three times (one of which she won.) ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/16 "2009-04-06T14:50:01Z")
I hear Kevin Costner badmouthed a lot, but I like almost every movie I’ve seen of his. He gets a lifetime pass from me because of **Bull Durham** in the same way Nic Cage gets it because of **Raising Arizona**. A lot of actors have limited range, but they know how to pick the right material. Other actors are very good, but will play any role in any movie, even if it’s crap. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/17 "2009-04-06T15:26:07Z")
For everyone defending Keanu Reeves, I absolutely agree with you, although I have to say unless he’s playing a knucklehead, he’s an awful actor who couldn’t convey shock if you plugged his thumb into a light socket. Still, he’s an asset to movies, and I want to bring him up, because no one ever seems to mention his starring role in **A Scanner Darkly**. If you like Keanu, you absolutely _must_ see this movie. IMHO, it’s by far the best work he’s ever done, and he’s done some good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/18 "2009-04-06T15:37:17Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Huh? > > And to the OP, I think you mean Andie MacDowell? Certainly…face-slapping emoticon. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/19 "2009-04-06T15:42:38Z")
Keanu Reeves has an expressive face. He would have been good in the silent movie era. It’s just his voice that always reminds people of the “Bill and Ted” movies. He was very good in _The Little Buddha_. If you can mentally disassociate the movie _Constantine_ from the comic book _Hellblazer_, he was actually pretty good in that. And when you tally up the many sins of the remake of _The Day the Earth Stood Still_, Reeves’ acting is pretty far down the list. And when he takes a supporting role, such as _Dangerous Liasons_ or _Something’s Gotta Give_, he does not distract from the stars. I like Andie McDowell. I liked _Sex, Lies, and Videotape_, _Groundhog Day_, and _Michael_. And that thing with Bruce Willis, whose title escapes me at the moment. Kevin Costner is good in romance movies. His problem is, he’s a fan of science fiction, and he’s not so good at that. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101/20 "2009-04-06T16:35:59Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Heather Graham can play dumb blondes. She can because she is blonde and, from what I have heard, dumb as a stump. I think she is horrible. I haven’t seen many of her movies, but she did a good turn as Dr. Molly Clock on Scrubs. She wasn’t dumb there, just ditzy, but she played it well. Susan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-actors/492101.md?page=2)