I haven’t seen all of the above. Pleasantville didn’t do much for me - I thought it was a very obvious movie. She didn’t stand out… it’s really been a long time since I’ve seen it. I kinda though Election was overrated too, though she played a very one-note character. And her choices since then have been what… Legally Blonde (1 & 2) and Sweet Home Alabama?
I have to disagree with Tori Spelling, not because she’s talented, but because she isn’t attractive.
Apart from that, I can only think to mock those who have already been mentioned, especially Keanu Reeves. Julia Roberts really is just sort of coasting, though, isn’t she?
I should hope not. “Clarissa Does it All?”
Strongly disagree. This is a guy who knows what he’s doing. He plays to his strengths, picks interesting projects, and always seems to “get it.” He played Mike Brady exactly the right way, not too ironic or campy but still enough to be in on the joke. He played the bad guy in that “American Gothic” series with the right level of menace. He does a great job as a voice on the “Kim Possible” animated series. And of course, he gets the ultimate street cred for playing the bad guy in Office Space, and nailing it.
It would’ve been nice to give some reasons instead of just listing names, but I’ll go ahead and disagree anyway. She probably wouldn’t be as big as she is without her looks, but she’s got a lot more talent than people give her credit for. She’s the most talented people on the cast of “Friends,” that’s for sure: she’s got perfect comedic timing and doesn’t need to resort to the same gimmick or mannerisms or catch phrases over and over again to get laughs. She finds what’s funny in the material and then plays to that.
Sheesh, people, how can we be on the second page of this thread and not have already gotten Ted McGinley?
Like somebody said in a MARRIED thread I was in once, “Ten times the looks of David Garrison [Steve], one-twentieth the acting chops”.
Sexist? You seem to be suggesting that, regretably, for a woman, sucess in Hollywood is still based solely on her looks rather than her talent. So you sound more feminist than sexist.
Hope I haven’t insulted you :D.
There are plenty of ‘ugly’ actresses, which is why “their looks” should be replaced by “a good lighting crew” (not to mention personal trainer, cosmetician, etc.).
I’m gonna go with Sam Stone and say most of them.
Britney spears has a great voice? You have GOT to be kidding. It’s downright terrible.
I disagree with the characterization by tlw that Matthew Modine isn’t talented. Have you seen Full Metal Jacket? He’s great in that movie.
I have to disagree.
If you ever watch Friends, she is the only one ALWAYS in character…even when she is in the background.
Her recent film, The Good Girl, was really quite good, despite the fact that they stupidly tried to market the film as a comedy (and it was not.)
I predicted in a previous thread she will be the only person from the cast of Friends who will have a film career.
Neve Cambell and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
They both habitually used this wincy, squinty, surprised/confused look on Party of Five.
Everything each of them does seems insincere to me.
Definitely Melanie Griffith though lately she’s been looking like her face is beginning to melt off of her skull. She couldn’t act her way out of a cardboard box.
And then there’s Jenny McCarthy and Sandra Bullock who are both lovely but not very talented.
Sam Stone is right on. I’d say a good 95% of Hollywood types are where they are because of how they look. It’s frustrating- can you imagine how great movies could be if their stars were hired on talent and ability as opposed to “looking right”?
I’m going to have to say that most actresses are basically hair and breasts that can talk. There seems to be a near endless amount of blonde generically-attractive young women lining up for roles. And they’re all getting hired. I have a theory there’s really only one of them at a time, changed every two or three years, and they change her appearance with different hairstyles and color of eyeshadow. That or there’s a big warehouse somewhere in Hollywood filled with them and everytime a director needs one he just calls up the supplier and orders a girl.
It seems to be affecting the males as well, although they have a longer shelf life. There’s an army of basically similar sturdy young fellows with spiky haircuts in some indeterminate shade of light brown with a penchant for wearing single-striped t-shirts. Their warehouse is conveniently located next-door to the Blonde Girls™. I’m thinking this is so they can breed and 1) create a super-race of cute folks without any distinguishable talent or personality, and 2) ensure a crop of “actors” for future generations.
Melaine and Antonio, a match made in heaven.
Two “actors” who can’t.
Well, I’d have to go with Robert Redford. Of course his looks now are more along the lines of “aging with character.” I have a life-long grudge with him for playing Denys Finch-Hutton in Out of Africa.
Should have been Jeremy Irons. Hey, wasn’t there a thread about correcting mis-castings? I wonder where that went…
Okay, I’ll put my foot in my mouth over Ms. Spears voice. I was still distracted by…well everything. But I have to stick up for Christina, that girl can sing.
She has a very tight rear in a sport that involves a lot of bending over in short skirts. As for blondness, I don’t see it either, though I’m powerless while watching a few, such as the woman I started the thread about. Maybe it olden days blondes were a rarity in most of Europe (it is a recessive trait). Rare=hot, generally. Maybe that has followed us up to today, even though it can be bought in a bottle. Just a WAG.
An addition:
Every female porn star- duh.
RRRR…They stole my Keanu Reeves answer before I could get to it. Although I do like Point Break, the boy cant act for peanuts.
Claire Danes
I’d rather have a root canal than watch her pitiful excuse for acting in “Romeo and Juliet.”
Speaking of, has anyone mentioned Leonardo yet?
Ditto for Kate Winslet, who would be nowhere without her big boobs and red hair.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! She was great in “Elizabeth.” Thank you for Leo, though. Ms. Danes, err, my jury’s still out.
Sarah Silverman. I saw her live at school and she really wasn’t that funny. Hot, but not funny and she had terrible stage presence.
I want to say Anne Coulter, but I’m very split. Liberal that I am I know a great set of gams when I see them; however, after seeing her live at school I came to the conclusion that she was very bright, quick-witted, and articulate. Even if she wasn’t hot, I can’t think of anyone else on the conservative side who would replace her on the political shows. So let’s say the jury is out on her too.
I definitely need to go with Freddie Prinze Jr. I liked SMG on Buffy but have not been terribly impressed with any of her film work. I don’t think she’d have much of a career without her looks. I also think Katie Holmes needs to be on this list.
I’m gonna disagree with Brad Pitt being mentioned. Watch him in Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, and Snatch, and any suggestion that he’s just a one note actor or pretty boy should fairly well be put to rest.
Of the actors who I actually know of, Andie MacDowell and Melanie Griffith are about the only actors I’ve seen mentioned here that are pretty short on talent, though they’ve both had a role that they were good in - Sex, Lies & Videotape, and Something Wild, respectively.
David Schwimmer is either a pretty shallow actor, or he’s a master at playing people who annoy the fuck out of me.