# Great Movies Marred By One Bad Performance
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** movies
**Created:** [May 7, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360 "2020-05-07T22:21:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/41 "2020-05-08T20:49:44Z")
_Saratoga Trunk_ (1945) – English actress Flora Robson is in blackface as a mulatto servant, making all of her scenes conspicuously awkward, to say the least.
_Scanners_ (1981) – Any film that opens with a bald guy’s head exploding certainly has a claim on greatness, imo, but it is squandered because leading man Stephen Lack severely lacks charisma and talent as an actor.
_The Keep_ (1983) – Great set-up before Ian McKellen shows up, overacts like a high school amateur and taints every scene in which he appears.
_Death and the Compass_ (1992) – Peter Boyle is miscast and bad in this otherwise interesting low-budget adaptation of a Borges story directed by Alex Cox.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/42 "2020-05-08T20:54:58Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> Quintin Tarantino as Jimmy in \*Pulp Fiction \*.
Yes, this. He was completely miscast as someone who wasn’t in the life, but was adjacent to it. It should have been a tougher less whiny guy, and a better actor.
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### Author:  [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/43 "2020-05-08T21:00:41Z")
> [@Dropo](#):
>
> Some not-so-great movies marred by one bad performance that come to mind:
> _Lilith_ (1964)
> Warren Beatty, unemotive in reaction to Jean Seberg’s institutionalized vixen. He is even worse in _Shampoo_ (1975), a superficial performance playing a superficial character; and he is godawful in _Bugsy_ (1991) where he actually tries to act.
>
> Most films starring Woody Allen (and not retroactively, he has always been irritating as an actor).
Beatty is fantastic in Heaven Can Wait. In both the roles he plays. And he’s certainly acting in both.
And Tarantino is fine in several roles. In a world of super-models…its nice to every once in a while see a weird schlub.
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### Author:  [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/44 "2020-05-08T21:25:12Z")
> [@Dropo](#):
>
> (snip)…_Breakfast at Tiffany’s_ (1961)
> Mickey Rooney, offensively miscast…(snip)
I saw this thread earlier and was going to mention this because it’s a commonly cited example in threads like these. On further thought though, I suspect Rooney delivered exactly the performance he was hired and made up to give. I think the blame has to go to the director. Sure, the role was and is offensive and Rooney played that stereotype for all it was worth. And it is a huge blemish on an otherwise interesting movie. It was the directors choice to have the portrayal in the film and I assume saw the finished film after editing and chose to keep it in the film for release so I blame the director.
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### Author:  [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/45 "2020-05-09T00:01:45Z")
> [@Bayaker](#):
>
> I agree with this eleventy thousand percent. Ali McGraw immediately comes to mind any time the words ‘worst performance’ are uttered. I really rooted for the Nazis in every scene she was in.
There is no truth to the rumor that she starred in the stage production of _The Diary of Anne Frank_, and in the scene where the Nazis were searching the house, the audience yelled, “She’s under the bed!”
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/46 "2020-05-09T01:30:05Z")
It’s Russell Crowe in Les Miserables, for sure. I mean, I don’t know if there is a TVtrope for this already, but it could be named after him in that movie.
[Listen to this song all the way through.](https://youtu.be/OktB-qEOiXA)
They released that. Into theaters. Without re-doing it or using any autotune at all to adjust it.
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### Author:  [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/47 "2020-05-09T01:30:06Z")
Simon Langton should have told Alison Steadman, who played Mrs. Bennett in the 1995 **Pride & Prejudice** , to tone it down a bit; although the character is meant to be foolish and grating, I don’t think she should be quite that grating.
And Jennifer Coolidge’s mugging in **Lost in Austen** is very distracting.
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/48 "2020-05-09T02:57:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Or in Reservoir Dogs or anything else. Like Mel Brooks, he should stick to directing.
In \* Reservoir Dogs\*, his role is so minimal and unimportant that he doesn’t really get the chance to ruin his scenes. The opening scene he does fine in.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/49 "2020-05-09T06:06:25Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#):
>
> Blazing Saddles. Whenever Mel Brooks is on camera his mugging vaudeville schtick stops the story’s momentum cold.
Could not agree more. He is the reason for the ‘30 second skip’ button on the remote.
I guess we don’t need to mention Jar…
eh, nevermind.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/50 "2020-05-09T16:52:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> And, continuing down the list of non-singers in singing roles, **Man of La Mancha** gave us Peter O’Toole and Sophia Loren as the totally miscast leads. Great actors. Non-singers. Howard Kiel and Joan Diener, for the original NY cast were still available. So were lots of other, more recognizable leads.
Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter in **Sweeney Todd**. Neither has a strong enough singing voice for a lead in a musical. I much prefer the George Hearn/Angela Lansbury version I also have on DVD.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/51 "2020-05-09T22:47:16Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> I guess we don’t need to mention Jar…
>
> eh, nevermind.
Hey, he was great in other more dramatic roles. I put all the blame on Lucas for his slapschtick.
ETA: Like Natalie Portman. Since \*Leon/The Professional \*she’s shown she has the acting chops. Ol’ George just had no idea how to use them.
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### Author:  [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/52 "2020-05-11T14:57:53Z")
Here’s mine. The Holiday. Potential to be a great rom-com if you like that sort of thing. Great cast. Great angle. American movie trailer producer from LA ( Cameron Diaz) and English publisher Kate Winslet have romantic disasters and go to a house swap agency, and holiday in each other’s houses across the World. CD falls in love with Jude Law. KW falls in love with…Jack Black. Now don’t misunderstand, I think JB can be a great entertainer. But not a romantic lead. Eli Wallach was a more credible romantic lead. JB had to pull off Hot Mess; all he managed was the Mess. Insipid, pathetic and whipped. Sucked me right out of the movie, and despite the genre, I was prepared to give it a go. He was such a schmuck that he actually detracted from KW’s character as you fought to see what she saw in him. It was as if they made Star Trek with Liberace playing Scottie.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/53 "2020-05-11T18:40:57Z")
Kate McKinnon in Yesterday.
Her agent is just over-the-top evil, narcissistic, etc., and the performance isn’t even believable. Every time she’s on the screen, my suspension of disbelief goes out the window - I can’t believe she’s real.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/54 "2020-05-11T19:47:41Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#):
>
> **Guys and Dolls,** 1955.
>
> “Brando sings! Sinatra acts!”
No, they both work well there, but I dont know why. Great direction is one theory. That film is a classic.
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### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/55 "2020-05-11T20:10:23Z")
While not exactly ‘marring’ Bullitt, the scene where Steve McQueen meets his snitch Eddy at a restaurant is cringy because the actor that plays Eddie, Justin Tarr, was wooden and the only reason he got the part was because he was McQueens buddy.
> **[Pictures of Justin Tarr](https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrity/justin-tarr/pictures/justin-tarr_2865421.html)**
>
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/56 "2020-05-11T21:07:18Z")
Even as a kid, wooden acting stood out to me. I named it after the first actor I noticed doing it, and still mentally refer to it as The Bruce Dern Effect.
As someone pointed out, wooden actors can work well, if written and directed within their wheelhouse. But don’t expect a Keanu or Costner to be able to play a range of characters.
For instance, I would’ve loved the Robin Hood re-re-remake (I mean, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman)! If only Costner had been sequestered with a virus…
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### Author:  [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/57 "2020-05-11T21:26:45Z")
> [@digs](#):
>
> As someone pointed out, wooden actors can work well, if written and directed within their wheelhouse. But don’t expect a Keanu or Costner to be able to play a range of characters.
Costner was perfectly cast in The Big Chill.
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### Author:  [@wanderer2575](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wanderer2575)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/58 "2020-05-11T23:08:17Z")
Matthew Broderick was horribly miscast as Professor Harold Hill in the 2003 made-for-TV remake of _The Music Man_, especially when compared to the golden standard that is Robert Preston. No way could one suspend disbelief to buy into the idea that Broderick’s character was an experienced, authoritative smooth-talker and con man. He looked and sounded like one of the kids he was conning. Edward Guthmann’s review in the _San Francisco Chronicle_ said Broderick was “about as dynamic and intimidating as Winnie the Pooh,” and I agree.
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### Author:  [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/59 "2020-05-11T23:26:53Z")
> [@digs](#):
>
> Even as a kid, wooden acting stood out to me. I named it after the first actor I noticed doing it, and still mentally refer to it as The Bruce Dern Effect.
What movie was this? I usually associate Bruce Dern with bugged-out batshit crazy characters rather than wooden ones.
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### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360/60 "2020-05-11T23:28:03Z")
Ive been blocking this one for a while. I loved Daniel Day Lewis in The Gangs of New York. He was charismatic and exuded danger. abut…but…Leonardo DiCaprio was absolutely not believable as DDLs’ foil. He exuded no danger. He was slapable. And I felt the same way about Cameron Diaz. Scorsese sabotaged a film that should have been Goodfellas good.
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