# What's the big deal with Renee Zellweger? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 18, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491 "2001-03-18T19:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/21 "2001-03-19T02:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\* It’s her job to make me believe I’m watching a mother of a dying son, not Helen Hunt saying the words that a mother might say. \*\* Well, it works for me. And a whole bunch of Acadamy voters. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\* > Oh and Stoid? Welcome back to the Pit. > \*\* Never left. Try reading what I said a little more carefully. stoid ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/22 "2001-03-19T02:05:54Z")
I think she’s a great actress. She was adorable in _Jerry McGuire_ and incredible in _Nurse Betty_. She’s cute too. I just get annoyed when she does interviews. She’s 100% giggly, googly, girly and gross. I mean, I understand the girl-next-door appeal, but Sandra Bullock has that arena mastered and she’s smart, too. Hey, whatever blows your hair back. I like Sandy better, but Renee is cute too. I do have to say that anyone who could date Jim Carrey gets infinite respect from me for their patience, but it also makes me question her sanity a bit. Oh, and brunettes do kick ass, Kate Winslet can act, and Helen Hunt has only ever played one character, and she didn’t do it that well either. The awards show in question is also the same one that nominated _Gladiator_ for screenwriting, so I take it all with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/23 "2001-03-19T02:23:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\* It should have gone to Judi Dench for Mrs. Brown. > She WAS Queen Victoria. > \*\* I agree completely. stoid ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/24 "2001-03-19T04:40:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nacho4Sara \* > \*\*Hey, whatever blows your hair back. I like Sandy better, but Renee is cute too. \*\* Oh my God. I can see it now. A movie with **Renee** _and_ **Sandra**. . . You’d never get me out of the theater. . . I’m, uh . . . Gonna go take a cold shower now. . . Tripler ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/25 "2001-03-19T04:42:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, it works for me. And a whole bunch of Acadamy voters. The same Academy voters who thought “Shakespeare in Love” was a better movie than “Saving Private Ryan” Like Sara said, take what they think with a large grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/26 "2001-03-19T04:59:49Z")
> [@](#): > > The same Academy voters who thought “Shakespeare in Love” was a better movie than “Saving Private Ryan” Are you saying that “Shakespeare In Love” wasn’t a good movie? I can see Pepper leaving the theater now… “It stinks! It stinks! It stinks!” ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/27 "2001-03-19T05:15:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Triskadecamus \* > \*\* > > Kate Winslet? > > Acting. You know, thespian arts? It’s a talent thing. > > \*\* Yes, and exactly what is your point, **Tris**? I can only assume the only Kate Winslet performance you have seen is _Titanic_. If this is true, then I can overlook this statement. Otherwise, I have no idea what to think. But I certainly won’t be taking any recommendations from you on which films to see. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2001, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/28 "2001-03-19T06:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Well, it works for me. And a whole bunch of Acadamy voters. > > The same Academy voters who thought “Shakespeare in Love” was a better movie than “Saving Private Ryan” > Like Sara said, take what they think with a large grain of salt. > \*\* ‘Saving Private Ryan’ was OK, it had some great special effects and decent acting, but the story was weak. ‘Shakespeare in Love’, though probably not the best movie that year, was much better, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/29 "2001-03-19T12:53:20Z")
> [@](#): > > (The Oscar should have gone to Judi Dench for Mrs. Brown. She WAS Queen Victoria. Aaah, I _love_ that move. “Long live the quin.” ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/30 "2001-03-19T13:47:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > The same Academy voters who thought “Shakespeare in Love” was a better movie than “Saving Private Ryan” > > Are you saying that “Shakespeare In Love” wasn’t a good movie? > > I can see Pepper leaving the theater now… “It stinks! It stinks! It stinks!” \*\* Yeah…because that’s her opinion. And I would be there with her, which is my opinion. FTR, I didn’t think either of the movies was “Oscar quality”. These are rational, non-threatening opinions is all. Except for the need to curse by a couple, this really should belong in IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/31 "2001-03-19T13:47:29Z")
_Saving Private Ryan_ was a maudlin, manipulative piece of shit. As to the OP, if you saw _Nurse Betty_ or _A Price Beyond Rubies_ I bet you’d revise your opinion of Renee. She’s got the freshy-freshy, as the song says. Regarding blondes, they’re popular for the same reason as any product: scarcity. The vast majority of women on this planet are _not_ blonde, and things that are rare are more cherished. QED. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/32 "2001-03-19T16:49:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\*Uh, Helen Hunt cannot act. (Neither can Kate Winslet) > As far as I can tell, it came down to whoever turned the most tricks got the Oscar. Hell, that’s probably what their whole careers are based on. Do you have a more plausible explanation? > \*\* Pep, this is exaggeration of the highest order. I’ve seen you also accuse other professionals of having “no talent” when I think even their harshest critics would agree they have some. Perhaps not enough for our tastes, but that’s different than saying they have none. I don’t think those are defendible statements, not even in the pit. I realize I sound like a big nitpicker, but I think you’re smarter than this. You don’t have to rely on hyperbole and absolutes to make a point. I wanna take your posts seriously, but then you throw this sort of thing out there! Argh! Having a really strong opinion is not the same as having a really smart, on-the-money opinion. I know you know this, but you seem to turn that switch off when you get going! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/33 "2001-03-19T23:14:40Z")
Cranky, point taken. However, I will say this. Helen Hunt is one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, and I don’t think she deserved that Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/34 "2001-03-19T23:40:46Z")
I agree with you on Hunt, pepper. The woman cannot act. But Kate-no way. She’s very talented, and very intelligent and smart. She’s my hero, because of her fight against Hollywood’s stereotypical views of weight. She’s just so cool. Kate RULES. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/35 "2001-03-20T00:21:46Z")
Did anyone see \*\*Dr. T and The Women \*\*? Not a great movie at all, but I did love the politics of it, and I loved Hunt’s character. The scene where she and the doctor finally get together was excellent… it stuck with me for days because of how unusual it was and how well it was played. Very cool. stoid ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/36 "2001-03-20T02:00:26Z")
Glad to see I’m not the only one who was happy to see Shakespeare in Love beat the over-rated, under-written Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg knows how to frame a shot, but he oversells the emotion. I’m surprised he doesn’t have subtitles telling the audience how to feel for each scene. “They killed Bob!” \. “We beat the Germans!” \. Yes, the combat scenes were very realistic, very likely the most realistic ever filmed. Yet somehow, five thousand gallons of karo syrup doesn’t equal good movie for me. Shakespeare in Love, on the other hand, was smart, witty, well-acted, original. What’s not to like? Oh, yeah… The OP. I like Zellwegger. She’s a good actress, chooses interesting films. I think sh’es got a lot of potential. Julia Roberts, on the other hand, is a swirling vortex of anti-talent. She’s got all the range of a springer spaniel. I will say, however, that she is an excellent match for Richard Gere, whose acting has recently forced the UN to rewrite certain portions of international law concerning Crimes Against Humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/37 "2001-03-20T02:58:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nimune \* > \*\* Julia Roberts, on the other hand, is a swirling vortex of anti-talent. She’s got all the range of a springer spaniel. \*\* A bit harsh, I think…although understandable. What Julia’s got, I fall for: gallons and gallons of star power. Charisma. Charm. Beauty. I will watch her do anything, she slays me. It’s a visceral thing. And pretty much undeniable, even if you don’t fall for it personally. It exists, to the tune of, at last count, a billion dollars in just the last few years, I believe. And it had nothing to do with the brilliance of the films. But as much of a fan as I am of her sheer wattage, I will be so incredibly irritated when she wins on Sunday. I havent’ seen Laura Linney, but I HAVE seen Ellen Burstyn, and Julia will be stealing it from her. Then again, she got hers for “Alice Doesn’t Live Here” 20 years ago, which was nearly as fluffy as EB. So maybe it all balances out… ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/38 "2001-03-20T03:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > The same Academy voters who thought “Shakespeare in Love” was a better movie than “Saving Private Ryan” Which proves my mother’s saying that “Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.” I love _Shakespeare In Love_ - it’s my most favorite movie. I just watched it for the 20th time (at least) on Sunday. Frankly, I lost all respect for the Oscars when Titanic won every last one of them (even the one for Best Foreign Documentary! Go figure!). They have their redeeming moments (Roberto Benigni winning for _La Vita E` Bella_, for instance) but I don’t understand why people act as though they are the be all and end all of awards. They’ve made so many blatantly stupid choices that have nothing to do with opinion, but fact (fact: Gladiator was a great movie, but not because of the script. The dialogue sucked), that I cannot possibly respect them. I hate them for the same reason I hate the Grammies: very rarely do I see the most inventive, creative, talented artists take home the awards. They both cater to what sells, or the lowest common denominator, and that has nothing to do with talent. And stop talkin’ trash 'bout Julia Roberts. That’s my girl. She may play the same part over and over again, but she just has to smile and all is forgiven. I also own _Notting Hill, The Runaway Bride,_ and _Pretty Woman_ - I love a good shlockfest as much as the next hopeless romantic. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/39 "2001-03-20T06:02:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Triskadecamus \* > \*\* > You could shave Helen Hunt bald and it wouldn’t help Kate in the comparison. > \*\* I’ve had the opportunity to see Kate Winslet in person. (Okay, just an introduction. I didn’t get to date her.) Fat, they say? Trust me, the screen does her no justice; she has an AMAZING body, or did when I saw her. She’s stunning. What looks good or bad on screen does NOT look the same way in real life. Winslet is attractive and can actually portray more than one character; Hunt is skeletally skinny and haggard - in fact, I cannot think of an uglier female romantic lead working in Hollywood today - and has one on-screen persona: “Jamie Buchman.” ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491/40 "2001-03-20T09:11:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Jomo Mojo** _ > > I have just two words to say to you: **Sophia Loren**. That says it all. No, the fact that the **Gay Guy** has admitted sprouting a woody for her in “Pret a Porter” - _that_ says it all. Mmm, Sophia - make me straight, baby! Esprix [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-with-renee-zellweger/58491.md?page=3)