A friend and I were talking about the move The American President, and I said “I like Annette Bening – I really respect her.”
And that got me thinking about actors – or other performers – I respect. I’m not sure there are that many of them, because I’m not talking about “like,” or “enjoy” or “seems like a nice person,” but someone I respect: who makes good choices in material, who comes in and does a good job, and then goes home and minds his or her own business.
Leaving aside the Golden Age of Hollywood, when staying out of the tabloids was a given – which performers do you respect?
U2. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a fan, but they’ve been making good, solid music for two and a half decades now, maintaining their place at the top of the pyramid in a calm, professional manner. The charity work, I can take it or leave it, but they’ve had no scandals, no burnouts, no major flops, and no embarassments, just tuneful, well written songs. They seem to take their jobs seriously, and they seem to see them as jobs - they’re professional musicians who are committed to giving their audience what it paid for. They don’t seem to think of themselves as artists I respect that a lot.
Tom Hanks - I’ve always liked him and his movies, but I just rewatched The Green Mile the other day, and I think it’s just a wonderful movie…sigh…I think I fell in love w/ David Morse in that movie as well, back when it first came out.
I came to say Jodie Foster as well. I don’t know much about celebrity lifestyles, so I can’t back it up with many reasons, except to say that I was overjoyed with her decision not to do Hannibal.
Chao, I like Buscemi too…may I ask why you respect him?
I can’t remember seeing Don Cheadle in anything that wasn’t first class. Every role has had the mark of craftsmanship as well as humanity. Andre Braugher has a similar knack for picking good parts and doing good things with them.
Among women, Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren meet that same level of near perfection, role after role.
I can’t really argue with the names already mentioned in earlier posts.
As for performers whose choices are in the 80-90% range of quality work, with the occasional dud tossed in to convince me that they’re human after all, I’d include:
Tommy Lee Jones
Gene Hackman
Powers Boothe
Keifer Sutherland
James Gandolfini
Robert Duvall
Robert DeNiro
Jessica Lange
Angelina Jolie
Glenn Close
Judi Dench
Kate Winslett
Cate Blanchett
CCH Pounder
Richard Gere’s a real hero of mine. Sting. Sting would be another person who’s a hero. The music he’s created over the years, I don’t really listen to it, but the fact that he’s making it, I respect that.
Neil Diamond. I used to not particularly care for him, but I got roped into going to a concert, and I was darned impressed. He worked hard, really hard, to entertain the audience. Very professional.
Seconded. He lives in Michigan and I got a chance to catch a screening of The Purple Rose of Cairo followed by a Q&A with him. A couple of the questions from the crowd were definite eye-rollers, and he handled them with a perfect balance of wit and attitude. Sort of like “I’m not gonna make a fool out of you in front of all these people, but damn that was a stupid question.” The session was very enjoyable.
I do business with his dad and brother’s company and everything I hear about Jeff is what a class act he is. If his family is any indication then I believe it.
I think one of the things that I always admired about him, even before knowing his dad was that he avoided all the Hollywood glitz and all that other nasty bullshit that actors get involved in. I like that he and his family stay in Chelsea and that I don’t have to read about his personal life in the checkout at the supermarket.
By the way, how was The Purple Rose of Cairo? I’d like to see it.
Not at all. I’ve been in love with JF since I was 6 years old. She is hot. The fact that she has brains and is a great actress makes her all the more desirable.
Hinkley’s level of infatuation was the epitome of disrespect.
Sounds crazy, but you have to admire Will Smith. First he was told that he wouldn’t be a rapper, then he was told he wouldn’t be a tv star and then he was told he wouldn’t be a movie star. But each time he just kept working and trying to get to the next level. Although I’m not really a big fan of his work, he does have two academy award best actor nomination (even though one was a biopic which I hate and the other a heartfelt drama that the academy loves). Plus a quick glance at the top grossing films of all time, he has 4 in the top 100. Not bad for some kid from Phily that wanted to be a rapper.