# Hey, xxxxxxxxxx is in it - so it must be OK! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891 "2006-03-18T12:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/1 "2006-03-18T12:55:33Z")
Some actors never seem to choose a role in a movie that is utter crap - if you see their name in the cast you just assume that the movie is worth watching. However they are not always the biggest names - for instance: \*\*Sam Neill \*\* - brings a solid, real human core to everything he is in; improves anything he touchs and has never been in anything I have seen that I have hated. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/2 "2006-03-18T13:27:23Z")
I don’t know if Roger Ebert originated it, but he surely helped spread the word that if Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh were in the cast, the movie wouldn’t be all bad. I can’t think of any exceptions to that rule. Others that I seem to find as sure bets, with very few exceptions: Strother Martin Jack Elam Gene Hackman Tommy Lee Jones And, sad to say, Meryl Streep is the only female I can think of offhand. I should be flogged. So how about: Vanessa Redgrave Judi Dench Virginia Madsen Now that I’ve listed 10 actors, I can recall at least one movie each one was in that was not a jewel. I guess that’s what rules like this are all about. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/3 "2006-03-18T13:36:15Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > \*\*Sam Neill \*\* - brings a solid, real human core to everything he is in; improves anything he touchs and has never been in anything I have seen that I have hated. Avoid _Event Horizon_ and your streak of unbroken disappointment will continue. My loves-bad-SF-movies husband wanted to walk out of it in the theater at not long after the halfway point but was vainly hoping it would redeem itself, while I spent most of that period wondering whether the scriptwriter had died partway through writing it. I know there have to be actors out there that I’d nominate, but none are coming to mind right now. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/4 "2006-03-18T14:13:21Z")
I like Pete Postlethwaite, and I used to trust Martin Landau until the _X-Files_ movie. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/5 "2006-03-18T15:47:38Z")
I’ve yet to be disappointed by anything I’ve seen William H. Macy in- and that includes Mystery Men. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/6 "2006-03-18T15:51:04Z")
I used to believe the OP topic until Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman and Sean Connery did a movie of a great campy adventure show from the 60’s, called- oh, The Retributors or something like that. It couldn’t have been The Avengers, because that would have been great! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/7 "2006-03-18T15:52:22Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > I’ve yet to be disappointed by anything I’ve seen William H. Macy in- and that includes Mystery Men. How could anyone be disappointed by \*\*Mystery Men[/b? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/8 "2006-03-18T16:36:04Z")
I like most everything that **Jeff Bridges** has been in. His panoramic photo book is pretty cool, too. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/9 "2006-03-18T16:39:36Z")
I’d like to nominate Emma Thompson- can’t think of a single flick that wasn’t at least watchable that she’s been in. Same for Alan Rickman, Ben Kingsley- just listening to either one talk makes up for anything negative about the movie… ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/10 "2006-03-18T17:02:06Z")
Don’t get me wrong, I think Sam Neill is fantastic, but it seems like he’ll do anything. Snow White: A Tale of Terror, after all, was one of his. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/11 "2006-03-18T18:12:31Z")
Several years ago, Dustin Hoffman said he didn’t consider himself a star. He said he was in a cab with his mom, and they passed by a theater marquee. Audrey Hepburn was in a new movie, and Dustin’s mom said she’d have to see it because Audrey was in it. Dustin Hoffman said, “ **That’s** what a star is!” ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/12 "2006-03-18T18:19:54Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > How could anyone be disappointed by **Mystery Men**? You know, for years I laboured under the impression that I was the only person in the Southern Hemisphere who liked that movie, but at last I see I’m not alone! Hurrah! I mean, who hasn’t secretly wanted to whack someone over the head with a shovel? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Analogue\_Skywalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Analogue\_Skywalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Analogue_Skywalker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/13 "2006-03-18T18:32:27Z")
> [@Smokinjbc](#): > > Same for Alan Rickman, Ben Kingsley- just listening to either one talk makes up for anything negative about the movie… Have you seen A Sound Of Thunder with Ben Kingsley? ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/14 "2006-03-18T18:38:42Z")
I was going to mention Don Cheadle, then I remembered those turds Ocean’s Twelve and Volcano (which would also take Tommy Lee Jones out of the running). Hmmm, I’ll have to think about this some more. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/15 "2006-03-18T18:39:41Z")
I’ll see basically anything with Ed Norton in it. Admittedly, i haven’t seen his whole _oeuvre_, but i’ve seen most of it, and i generally really like the movies that he’s in. And even when the movie itself isn’t perfect, Norton’s performance is usually good enough to make it worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/16 "2006-03-18T18:48:30Z")
AskNott writes: \> Several years ago, Dustin Hoffman said he didn’t consider himself a star. He \> said he was in a cab with his mom, and they passed by a theater marquee. \> Audrey Hepburn was in a new movie, and Dustin’s mom said she’d have to see \> it because Audrey was in it. \> \> Dustin Hoffman said, “That’s what a star is!” Given that Hepburn died quite a while ago, and she hasn’t been a star for a while longer than that, I suspect that you heard or read this story quite some time ago. In fact, I remember reading almost precisely the same story a bit more than 25 years ago, except that it was Richard Dreyfuss who told this story. It would make sense for Dreyfuss to tell the story at that point (about 1980). He’d had a couple of hit movies at the time, but he wasn’t really a star who could sell a movie purely on his name. On the other hand, Hoffman’s first burst of popularity was a decade before, so it would no longer make as much sense for him to tell this story. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/17 "2006-03-18T19:13:47Z")
I’m not sure that I would go see a movie just because xxxx is starring in it, but I would probably go see a movie because xxxx is directing it… The Coens, for example. However, there are certain actors that I love to see showing up in movies, just their appearance puts a big smile on my face. Bruce Cambell for one. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/18 "2006-03-18T19:15:18Z")
Stephen Rea? He’s always good. Right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/19 "2006-03-18T19:29:30Z")
Parker Posey. This is a bit biased since I’ve only seen a few of her films (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, House of Yes, Clockwatchers, a few others) and I see she’s got quite a few credits on IMDB. But man, Parker Posey is HAWT with an “A-W”! And hilarious! The knockout combination! Oh, how I want to marry Parker Posey. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891/20 "2006-03-18T19:45:46Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > And, sad to say, Meryl Streep is the only female I can think of offhand. I should be flogged. So how about: > > Vanessa Redgrave > Judi Dench > Virginia Madsen My first thought was Jodie Foster. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-xxxxxxxxxx-is-in-it-so-it-must-be-ok/348891.md?page=2)