# The Harry Dean Stanton Law **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432 "2001-07-13T23:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2001, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/41 "2001-07-16T22:01:53Z")
And to think I had respect for you three. šŸ™‚ Actually, jarbabyā€™s point is well taken. I donā€™t recall particularly disliking Kevin Kline in that movie, so his Stantonhood probably stands. To be honest, it was mostly the score that had me frothing at the mouth and yearning to commit horrible crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/42 "2001-07-16T23:33:57Z")
John Cusack is my HDS. Not much range, but heā€™s always lovable. And his habit of casting his sister Joan in all his movies would annoy me if I didnā€™t think she was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/43 "2001-07-17T03:30:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tequila Mockingbird \* > \*\*Turbo Dogā€™s choice is Tommy Lee Jones. He even liked Double Jeopardy and Blown Away. \*\* But sadly, there was Batman Forever. Although Tommy Lee Jones was better than pretty much all of his cast-mates in that movie, I still think he could have done way better. John Cusack and Kevin Kline are both good choices, but I think Iā€™ll nominate John Malkovich just to be different. And **Suo Na** suggested Janeane Garofalo to me, since there havenā€™t been many women mentioned, but when we checked the IMDB to be sure we found such things as Titan A.E. and Romy and Micheleā€™s High School Reunion, so sheā€™s out. Thereā€™s also William H. Macy; letā€™s hope Jurassic Park III doesnā€™t knock him out of contention. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/44 "2001-07-17T14:40:58Z")
Butā€¦butā€¦butā€¦I **liked** ā€œUp Periscopeā€ā€¦ _cringe_ **adam yax** , a friend of mine loaned me that book once, so now I canā€™t see the name ā€œHarry Dean Stantonā€ without thinking of it. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/45 "2001-07-17T15:32:50Z")
What about Alec Guinness? If heā€™s ever made a true howling-at-the moon stinker, I have yet to see it. Maybe this is because he took more stage than movie roles? ---
**Author:** ![Venkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ec9cab/32.png) [@Venkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venkman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/46 "2001-07-17T16:27:23Z")
John Cusack and Ed Norton, for actors that are still alive. Either one of them being in a movie is enough for me to watch it at least once. They may each have some clunkers in their careers, but Iā€™ve not seen them if they do. In the dead actor category, Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Even if the movie stinks I always enjoy watching them. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/47 "2001-07-17T17:41:28Z")
Humphrey Bogart? ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/48 "2001-07-18T00:07:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kayT \* > \*\*Humphrey Bogart? \*\* Have you seen _The Return of Dr X_ ? Of course that was before _The Maltese Falcon_. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/49 "2001-07-18T19:07:13Z")
One more word on Bruce Willis: _Moonlighting_. Sure, itā€™s not a movie, but damn, folks, thatā€™s gotta count against him somehow. My HDS would probably be Harrison Ford, Sean Connery or John Cussack. Sure, theyā€™ve made stinkers, but Iā€™ll check something out based on their involvement alone. Check that: add DeNiro and Pacino (except for that one w/ Keanu \) ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/50 "2001-07-18T19:17:15Z")
John Wayne was never in a bad movie. And Iā€™ll whip any of you Pilgrimsā€™ behinds if you so much as say otherwise šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/51 "2001-07-18T20:33:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wartime Consigliori \* > \*\*John Wayne was never in a bad movie. > > And Iā€™ll whip any of you Pilgrimsā€™ behinds if you so much as say otherwise šŸ˜‰ \*\* [http://us.imdb.com/Title?0049092](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0049092) Sir, I await you with non-bated breath. The Duke as Genghis Khan, fa chrissakes? This is also (allegedly) the movie where the cast was exposed to high levels of radiation from nuclear tests. Notable mainly for (as IMDB points out) some of the worst casting ever. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/52 "2001-07-18T21:33:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by katiekilldare \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > > \*\*Speaking of _Dracula_, Gary Oldman is another actor who seems constitutionally unable to give a bad performance. > > \*\* > > Here, here! Gary Oldman can make a movie good, too. > > I guess _The Fifth Element_ is debateable as a good movie, though. But heā€™s still fabulous in it. \*\* Wow. Rarely have I seen a post (outside of religious and political threads) that I disagree with more strongly. I have never, ever, at any point other than his very brief appearance in ā€œTrue Romanceā€ seen Gary Oldman give a good performance. I canā€™t understand what his appeal is. His delivery is always stilted; he seems to be just a hair out of synch with the other actors in the production (and Iā€™m eeven including Rozencranz here) and he just alwyas seems to me that heā€™d rather be doing anything else than appearing in his role. I understand Iā€™m in a definite minority here, and all comments are made solely IMHO ---
**Author:** ![tobytobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@tobytobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tobytobe)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/53 "2001-07-18T22:13:15Z")
I am trying to see all of Harvey Keitelā€™s films since I ā€œdiscoveredā€ him after having seen him for years. He is such a great actor and is in such a variety of roles. He takes ā€œwhat would beā€ risks but since he is so established they are not risks. He is the absolute BEST!! This is a great thread BTW. ---
**Author:** ![jabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@jabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabe)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/54 "2001-07-18T22:46:44Z")
Iā€™ll have to second De Niro and Edward Norton on one condition- stick to drama! No more comedies ever, promise! ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/55 "2001-07-18T23:03:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by False\_God \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Wartime Consigliori \* > > \*\*John Wayne was never in a bad movie. > > > > And Iā€™ll whip any of you Pilgrimsā€™ behinds if you so much as say otherwise šŸ˜‰ \*\* > > Sir, I await you with non-bated breath. The Duke as Genghis Khan, fa chrissakes? This is also (allegedly) the movie where the cast was exposed to high levels of radiation from nuclear tests. Notable mainly for (as IMDB points out) some of the worst casting ever. \*\* Dude! That was a **joke** , fercryinoutloud! I love John Wayne movies, but I know heā€™s done his share of stinkers (especially back in the day when they had him as a singing cowboy). Thatā€™s why I attached the wink smilie on the end. Letā€™s move on, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/56 "2001-07-19T01:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wartime Consigliori \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by False\_God \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Wartime Consigliori \* > > > \*\*John Wayne was never in a bad movie. > > > > > > And Iā€™ll whip any of you Pilgrimsā€™ behinds if you so much as say otherwise šŸ˜‰ \*\* > > > > Sir, I await you with non-bated breath. The Duke as Genghis Khan, fa chrissakes? This is also (allegedly) the movie where the cast was exposed to high levels of radiation from nuclear tests. Notable mainly for (as IMDB points out) some of the worst casting ever. \*\* > > Dude! That was a **joke** , fercryinoutloud! I love John Wayne movies, but I know heā€™s done his share of stinkers (especially back in the day when they had him as a singing cowboy). Thatā€™s why I attached the wink smilie on the end. Letā€™s move on, shall we? \*\* Dude! I know, I just love bringing that up whenever anyone mentions the Duke as ā€œone of tha Guureatest Amurrican actorsā€. I still have (apparently) no opposition to my offering of Sir Alec, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/57 "2001-07-19T05:04:24Z")
\*\*Tom Hanks \*\* does the HDS thing for me. I count up 30 movies that heā€™s been in, from 1980ā€™s ā€œHe Knows Youā€™re Aloneā€ to the upcoming ā€œRoad to Perdition.ā€ Of the lot, my only quibble is his first one, 1989ā€™s ā€œTurner & Hoochā€ and 1990ā€™s ā€œBonfire of the Vanities.ā€ (And before you jump, yes, I did indeed like ā€œJoe vs. The Volcanoā€) That gives him 27 out of 30 for a 90% good rating. Thatā€™s batting .900 in anybodyā€™s book. Give him extra points for the fact that a full third of his movies have not just been good but outstanding: Splash Big League of Their Own Sleepless in Seattle Philadelphia Forrest Gump Appolo 13 Saving Private Ryan The Green Mile Cast Away And a few more points for picking roles that make you think. He could have made comedies or romantic comedies forever, but he has more sand than that. Oh, and a few more for being solidly married and seemingly unaffected by the Hollywood nonsense. Dang, heā€™s good - and would be good to have a beer with, too. ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/58 "2001-07-19T06:38:24Z")
frances mcdormand? ---
**Author:** ![FarmerOak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@FarmerOak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerOak)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/59 "2001-07-19T09:54:12Z")
Mandy Patinkin. And donā€™t gimme any CRAP about Dick Tracyā€¦ YES, it coulda been better, but it had redeeming values. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/60 "2001-07-19T10:46:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tobytobe \* > \*\*I am trying to see all of Harvey Keitelā€™s films since I ā€œdiscoveredā€ him after having seen him for years. He is such a great actor and is in such a variety of roles. He takes ā€œwhat would beā€ risks but since he is so established they are not risks. > > He is the absolute BEST!! > > This is a great thread BTW. > > \*\* Heā€™s been in some stinkers. One time me and a dumb friend went to the video store, we each picked a movie. I got ā€˜Bad Lieutenantā€™. She got ā€˜Monkey Troubleā€™. Watched ā€˜Bad Lieutenantā€™ first, then we pop in ā€˜Monkey Troubleā€™ - and I discover that Keitel is in BOTH movies, as an evil monkey trainer in the second. That was weird, seeing him in a childrens flick immediately after Bad Lieutenant. Jodie Foster comes pretty close, though Nell is pretty questionable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432.md?page=4)