Or that you believe are overrated.
First let me say that I like Russell Crowe, Javier Bardem, sometimes Sean Penn and others.
But these critic's darlings I don't get:

1. Brad Pitt - seems like a nice guy, but as an actor he has never moved me. Pitt can breath in a serious film and get nominated for an Oscar. But his "cool" in films like the "Oceans" series, "Fight Club", seems like he's trying to mimic Steve Mcqueen, rather than exuding real charisma and cool.
2. Leonardo Dicaprio - seems to take himself too seriously, and again, has never moved as an adult actor. (and it pains me that Scorsese is in love with this guy)
3. Johnny Depp - another nice guy, but the weirdness, quirkiness is too cute and getting old. Besides that, when he's not playing an over-the-top "character", he's kind of bland.
4. Matt Damon - seems smug, nuff said. And he's never moved me.

These guys actually make me appreciate someone like Cruise: i know, I know, he's goofy, but the thing about Cruise is that he's maligned in Hollywood, a bit of an outsider and if anything, is overlooked as an actor. And, Cruise has moved me in "Minority Report" or "Collateral". The others are royalty and yet, leave me cold.
I really miss the bad boys like Rourke, Eric Roberts of the 80s. They got in trouble, made bad choices, destroyed their careers, but Ill take one of each before I take 10 Damons. They were characters. Guys like this wouldn't have a chance today. Everyone is so well-behaved.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-19 01:37 by stupidguy2.

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stupidguy2
Or that you believe are overrated.
First let me say that I like Russell Crowe, Javier Bardem, sometimes Sean Penn and others.
But these critic's darlings I don't get:

1. Brad Pitt - seems like a nice guy, but as an actor he has never moved me. Pitt can breath in a serious film and get nominated for an Oscar. But his "cool" in films like the "Oceans" series, "Fight Club", seems like he's trying to mimic Steve Mcqueen, rather than exuding real charisma and cool.
2. Leonardo Dicaprio - seems to take himself too seriously, and again, has never moved as an adult actor. (and it pains me that Scorsese is in love with this guy)
3. Johnny Depp - another nice guy, but the weirdness, quirkiness is too cute and getting old. Besides that, when he's not playing an over-the-top "character", he's kind of bland.
4. Matt Damon - seems smug, nuff said. And he's never moved me.

These guys actually make me appreciate someone like Cruise: i know, I know, he's goofy, but the thing about Cruise is that he's maligned in Hollywood, a bit of an outsider and if anything, is overlooked as an actor. And, Cruise has moved me in "Minority Report" or "Collateral". The others are royalty and yet, leave me cold.
I really miss the bad boys like Rourke, Eric Roberts of the 80s. They got in trouble, made bad choices, destroyed their careers, but Ill take one of each before I take 10 Damons. They were characters. Guys like this wouldn't have a chance today. Everyone is so well-behaved.

I was just about to put down Cruise when I read you positive comments about him. Although I think he is a very skilled actor, I think there is something quite soulless about him that is somewhat creepy.

For recent actors I rather liked the guy who played Marky Mark's crackhead brother in "The Fighter" though his name escapes me. The woman who played the mother was also great, though she scared the bejeezus out of me at the Oscars.

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71Tele

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stupidguy2
Or that you believe are overrated.
First let me say that I like Russell Crowe, Javier Bardem, sometimes Sean Penn and others.
But these critic's darlings I don't get:

1. Brad Pitt - seems like a nice guy, but as an actor he has never moved me. Pitt can breath in a serious film and get nominated for an Oscar. But his "cool" in films like the "Oceans" series, "Fight Club", seems like he's trying to mimic Steve Mcqueen, rather than exuding real charisma and cool.
2. Leonardo Dicaprio - seems to take himself too seriously, and again, has never moved as an adult actor. (and it pains me that Scorsese is in love with this guy)
3. Johnny Depp - another nice guy, but the weirdness, quirkiness is too cute and getting old. Besides that, when he's not playing an over-the-top "character", he's kind of bland.
4. Matt Damon - seems smug, nuff said. And he's never moved me.

These guys actually make me appreciate someone like Cruise: i know, I know, he's goofy, but the thing about Cruise is that he's maligned in Hollywood, a bit of an outsider and if anything, is overlooked as an actor. And, Cruise has moved me in "Minority Report" or "Collateral". The others are royalty and yet, leave me cold.
I really miss the bad boys like Rourke, Eric Roberts of the 80s. They got in trouble, made bad choices, destroyed their careers, but Ill take one of each before I take 10 Damons. They were characters. Guys like this wouldn't have a chance today. Everyone is so well-behaved.

I was just about to put down Cruise when I read you positive comments about him. Although I think he is a very skilled actor, I think there is something quite soulless about him that is somewhat creepy.

For recent actors I rather liked the guy who played Marky Mark's crackhead brother in "The Fighter" though his name escapes me. The woman who played the mother was also great, though she scared the bejeezus out of me at the Oscars.

Yeah, but Cruise is not rated in Hollywood, that's my point. Hollywood doesn't like him. He's the guy who doesn't fit in with the cool kids, and I like that aspect.
Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, great actors, but I don't think of them as "stars". They just do their thing. The names I mentioned, to me, are ubiquitous and part of the Hollywood elite.
Cruise: I have a soft spot for people who are maligned, and Cruise definately is. Scientology has eaten him up and that's sad. I remember reading an article in Rolling Stone in the mid-80s, before mega-fame, and he was just a kid from New Jersey hanging out at a Jerry Lee Lewis concert. ANd unlike the others, while they act brooding, Cruise comes from a genuinely troubled background and I think that plays into his manicness and religious fanaticism. His image is white-bread, but this guy has real issues that go back to his alcoholic, abusive dad. I guess Im intrigued by the backstory.
Pitt - prom king in high school. Damon - president of the something or something club. Dicaprio - mom was an agent and he was a kid in commercials.
That shouldn't be held against them, but my point is that while Cruise comes from the bottom, kicked out of school for fighting, dyslexic and a mom on welfare......the others always been the popular kids in school. Cruise has genuine moments of letting go in a film and its fleeting, but it does happen and it moves more than academic acting.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-19 02:01 by stupidguy2.

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stupidguy2

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71Tele

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stupidguy2
Or that you believe are overrated.
First let me say that I like Russell Crowe, Javier Bardem, sometimes Sean Penn and others.
But these critic's darlings I don't get:

1. Brad Pitt - seems like a nice guy, but as an actor he has never moved me. Pitt can breath in a serious film and get nominated for an Oscar. But his "cool" in films like the "Oceans" series, "Fight Club", seems like he's trying to mimic Steve Mcqueen, rather than exuding real charisma and cool.
2. Leonardo Dicaprio - seems to take himself too seriously, and again, has never moved as an adult actor. (and it pains me that Scorsese is in love with this guy)
3. Johnny Depp - another nice guy, but the weirdness, quirkiness is too cute and getting old. Besides that, when he's not playing an over-the-top "character", he's kind of bland.
4. Matt Damon - seems smug, nuff said. And he's never moved me.

These guys actually make me appreciate someone like Cruise: i know, I know, he's goofy, but the thing about Cruise is that he's maligned in Hollywood, a bit of an outsider and if anything, is overlooked as an actor. And, Cruise has moved me in "Minority Report" or "Collateral". The others are royalty and yet, leave me cold.
I really miss the bad boys like Rourke, Eric Roberts of the 80s. They got in trouble, made bad choices, destroyed their careers, but Ill take one of each before I take 10 Damons. They were characters. Guys like this wouldn't have a chance today. Everyone is so well-behaved.

I was just about to put down Cruise when I read you positive comments about him. Although I think he is a very skilled actor, I think there is something quite soulless about him that is somewhat creepy.

For recent actors I rather liked the guy who played Marky Mark's crackhead brother in "The Fighter" though his name escapes me. The woman who played the mother was also great, though she scared the bejeezus out of me at the Oscars.

Yeah, but Cruise is not rated in Hollywood, that's my point. Hollywood doesn't like him. He's the guy who doesn't fit in with the cool kids, and I like that aspect.
Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, great actors, but I don't think of them as "stars". They just do their thing. The names I mentioned, to me, are ubiquitous and part of the Hollywood elite.
As for Cruise, I have a soft spot for people who are maligned, and Cruise definately is. Scientology has eaten him up and that's sad. I remember reading an article in Rolling Stones in the mid-80s, before mega-fame, and he was just a kid from New Jersey hanging out at a Jerry Lee Lewis concert. ANd unlike the others, while they act brooding, Cruise comes from a genuinely troubled background and I think that plays into his manicness and religious fanaticism. His image is white-bread, but this guy has real issues that go back to his alcoholic, abusive dad. I guess I like the backstory.
Pitt - prom king in high school. Damon - president of the something or something club. Dicaprio - mom was an agent and he was a kid in commercials.
That shouldn't be held against them, but my point is that while Cruise comes from the bottom, they've always been the popular kids in school.

I don't know, I don't have a real dog in this fight, but Cruises' "outsiderness" seems to be of his own making. Scientology deserves suspicion, and there is also a big element in Hollywood who believes Cruise is a closeted Gay man, and who feel that he is dishonest. That's my take anyway.

Thanks for refreshing my aged brain about Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.

So what about Charlie Sheen, same generation as Cruise, and definitely a 'bad boy', as you seem to like him.

not sure if she's an A-list actor, but i nominate Cameron Diaz. i've never liked her from the get-go.

Russell Crowe,.....

Can't hack the guy .... another one of them Aussie tough guy
actors following in the path of Rod Taylor .......Don't look at me or I'll punch ya mate..Yawnnnnnnn



ROCKMAN

I pretty much agree with ya on most of your points except Dicaprio. His Titanic fame and the Leomania it touched off, turned a lot of people sour on him, but I think his thespian chops are a cut above the others you mentioned. I'd much rather be Brad Pitt in real life than Tom Cruise, but Cruise has been in more great movies. Not when he is carrying them though, that is when his faultlines show up big, he is best as a second fiddle to real talent Like Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, or when with powerful directors like Oliver Stone or in Magnolia.

I'm with you on all these guys SG2, but I will include Tom Cruise also. I see them as pin-up boys for the female audience. They are male sex symbols that's about it.

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71Tele

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stupidguy2

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71Tele

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stupidguy2
Or that you believe are overrated.
First let me say that I like Russell Crowe, Javier Bardem, sometimes Sean Penn and others.
But these critic's darlings I don't get:

1. Brad Pitt - seems like a nice guy, but as an actor he has never moved me. Pitt can breath in a serious film and get nominated for an Oscar. But his "cool" in films like the "Oceans" series, "Fight Club", seems like he's trying to mimic Steve Mcqueen, rather than exuding real charisma and cool.
2. Leonardo Dicaprio - seems to take himself too seriously, and again, has never moved as an adult actor. (and it pains me that Scorsese is in love with this guy)
3. Johnny Depp - another nice guy, but the weirdness, quirkiness is too cute and getting old. Besides that, when he's not playing an over-the-top "character", he's kind of bland.
4. Matt Damon - seems smug, nuff said. And he's never moved me.

These guys actually make me appreciate someone like Cruise: i know, I know, he's goofy, but the thing about Cruise is that he's maligned in Hollywood, a bit of an outsider and if anything, is overlooked as an actor. And, Cruise has moved me in "Minority Report" or "Collateral". The others are royalty and yet, leave me cold.
I really miss the bad boys like Rourke, Eric Roberts of the 80s. They got in trouble, made bad choices, destroyed their careers, but Ill take one of each before I take 10 Damons. They were characters. Guys like this wouldn't have a chance today. Everyone is so well-behaved.

I was just about to put down Cruise when I read you positive comments about him. Although I think he is a very skilled actor, I think there is something quite soulless about him that is somewhat creepy.

For recent actors I rather liked the guy who played Marky Mark's crackhead brother in "The Fighter" though his name escapes me. The woman who played the mother was also great, though she scared the bejeezus out of me at the Oscars.

Yeah, but Cruise is not rated in Hollywood, that's my point. Hollywood doesn't like him. He's the guy who doesn't fit in with the cool kids, and I like that aspect.
Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, great actors, but I don't think of them as "stars". They just do their thing. The names I mentioned, to me, are ubiquitous and part of the Hollywood elite.
As for Cruise, I have a soft spot for people who are maligned, and Cruise definately is. Scientology has eaten him up and that's sad. I remember reading an article in Rolling Stones in the mid-80s, before mega-fame, and he was just a kid from New Jersey hanging out at a Jerry Lee Lewis concert. ANd unlike the others, while they act brooding, Cruise comes from a genuinely troubled background and I think that plays into his manicness and religious fanaticism. His image is white-bread, but this guy has real issues that go back to his alcoholic, abusive dad. I guess I like the backstory.
Pitt - prom king in high school. Damon - president of the something or something club. Dicaprio - mom was an agent and he was a kid in commercials.
That shouldn't be held against them, but my point is that while Cruise comes from the bottom, they've always been the popular kids in school.

I don't know, I don't have a real dog in this fight, but Cruises' "outsiderness" seems to be of his own making. Scientology deserves suspicion, and there is also a big element in Hollywood who believes Cruise is a closeted Gay man, and who feel that he is dishonest. That's my take anyway.

Thanks for refreshing my aged brain about Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.

But there are also those in Hollywood who think he's homophobic etc...Cruise is conundrum, maybe the most unknowable "star" in Hollywood. Scientology is nuts, and borderline criminal and I think Cruise has become their tool. I can't call myself a Cruise "fan", I used to think of him as the root of all evil in Hollywood, but Im just saying that I find his backstory quite human and downtrodden. Even more sad is that he seems to have lost himself to Scientology. If that had been Pitt in Minority Report, he would have been nominated for an Oscar, so there is a bias against him. Which makes me kind of root for him. I think every step he makes in his public life is dishonest because he keeps his real self at bay....he's unknowable.

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Koen
So what about Charlie Sheen, same generation as Cruise, and definitely a 'bad boy', as you seem to like him.

Great in Wall Street, but then nothing.....he always seemed to be just loafing around.

I don't know if he's a-list, but I do know he's an a-hole....will ferrell.

Charlie Sheen .... never recovered from Platoon



ROCKMAN

and lets not forget that boob Ben Affleck , the least talented of all the above by far but still gets A- list credit, mind boggling

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doubledoor
I pretty much agree with ya on most of your points except Dicaprio. His Titanic fame and the Leomania it touched off, turned a lot of people sour on him, but I think his thespian chops are a cut above the others you mentioned. I'd much rather be Brad Pitt in real life than Tom Cruise, but Cruise has been in more great movies. Not when he is carrying them though, that is when his faultlines show up big, he is best as a second fiddle to real talent Like Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, or when with powerful directors like Oliver Stone or in Magnolia.

Leo was good in "The Departed", the only time I believed him in a role. But sometimes an actor's persona can cloud judgement and i admit that. The guy takes himself so seriously. ANother thing that turns me off about Pitt and Dicaprio: they both carry themselves as these serious actors above commercial success etc....and yet both make zillions from Japanese commercials. Leo even as a clause that if a website shows one of his commercials, he can sue. In other words, they don't want to appear to sell out in the U.S., but they do it for the money in Japan. Hypocrisy! I'll agree about Cruise. He's not a natural actor, but he can shine in certain roles and when great directors like MIchael Mann know how to get something out of him.

Sacha Baron Cohen. This decades Tom Green.

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melillo
and lets not forget that boob Ben Affleck , the least talented of all the above by far but still gets A- list credit, mind boggling

That's another one. And what grates is that these guys seem to have a monopoly on good films. Great agents can really make a big difference. DOn't think for a minute these guys are just that much better than everyone else. They've created a persona, a public face of seriousness. That's part of the game in Hollywood.
The Rourkes, ROberts, they were not savvy enought to survive on the A-list. It's not all about talent. For example, Matthew Mcconaughey ran his career into the ground with stupid, generic romantic comedies - and yet he had more effortless cool in "Dazed and Confused" than Pitt has ever had. But too many bad choices can @#$%& you up in Hollywood and you fall out of favor very quickly. WHereas, someone like Damon never takes a false step because he's savvy. But he's boring.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-19 02:30 by stupidguy2.

Let's face it, Hollywood movies are made for underachieving American college kids. We get the films and idols (and politicians) we deserve. Apparently we have been into a long period of intellectual regression. And it's getting worse... .

Leonardo is great and if you are still on the fence, watch his performance in Gilbert Grape when he was still a teenager (I think). That's when I realized how talented he was.

It's not is fault he's popular.

Brad Pitt was gorgeous when he was young, but now he and George Clooney act like they own Hollywood the way Beatty & Nicholson do - it makes me puke. Brad is a really crappy actor, just terrible.

Christian Bale in The Fighter knocked my socks off. His performance was flawless.

He might not be all over the tabloids, but he's A list all the way.

Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

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Stoneage
Let's face it, Hollywood movies are made for underachieving American college kids. We get the films and idols (and politicians) we deserve. Apparently we have been into a long period of intellectual regression. And it's getting worse... .

A lot worse.

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CindyC
Leonardo is great and if you are still on the fence, watch his performance in Gilbert Grape when he was still a teenager (I think). That's when I realized how talented he was.

It's not is fault he's popular.

Brad Pitt was gorgeous when he was young, but now he and George Clooney act like they own Hollywood the way Beatty & Nicholson do - it makes me puke. Brad is a really crappy actor, just terrible.

Christian Bale in The Fighter knocked my socks off. His performance was flawless.

He might not be all over the tabloids, but he's A list all the way.

I like Leo in his younger days, "Basketball Diaries", "Gilbert Grape", but he started hanging out with Scorsese and started taking himself too seriously. He's talented, but in certain roles he doesn't work, like the being the twerpiest Howard Hughes ever. ANd while Beatty and Nicholson think they own Hollywood, you can't argue with "Chinatown", or "Shampoo", those guys are of a different breed. Pitt and Clooney don't come close.

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stupidguy2
ANd while Beatty and Nicholson think they own Hollywood, you can't argue with "Chinatown", or "Shampoo", those guys are of a different breed. Pitt and Clooney don't come close.

Regardless of if they have the right, I don't want to see them acting like they have it.

Sorry, I do have to argue with Shampoo though. I thought that was a crap movie, he just had a dumb look on his face the whole time (i know he's not supposed to be a genius, but still - very one dimensional IMHO).

I couldn't see a movie with Affleck,A.Sandler,Pitt, Cruise,Diaz, even Deniro's recent efforts, and K Costner....there's no shortage.....

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Bingo
I don't know if he's a-list, but I do know he's an a-hole....will ferrell.

BINGO!!!! (pun Intended) Thank You, I refuse to watch any of his movies He is a skit Player at best and he keeps getting lead roles in comedies. I don't GET IT

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MKjan
I couldn't see a movie with Affleck,A.Sandler,Pitt, Cruise,Diaz, even Deniro's recent efforts, and K Costner....there's no shortage.....

You guys are reading my mind tonight, loving it. Deniro has not been in a good movie in 15 years if not more.

Tele71, the actor who played Wallburg's brother is Christain Bale. He great! And his first role, Empire of the Sun showed that he is a talented young actor with a lot of depth. Then to move onto do things like The Machinist. A true and pure method actor.
I have to disagree about quite a few of the big name actors that were listed. Dicaprio is a very talented actor. As was stated above What's Eating Gilbert Grape showed a young teenager with a lot of soul and talent, so much so he was nominated for an Oscar. Then to do Total Eclipse, playing the gay poet Rambue, with full on torrid love scenes, that could have torpedoed his career. Titantic wasn't his fault, and is best left passed over. But then The Basketball Diaries, Blood Diamond, The Departed, Shutter Island, and Inception. All fantastic roles that were played very well.
Damon as well is a great actor. Just watch the Informant, and see another side of the man.
I am not a Afleck fan, but I will admit lately he has been doing quite well. The Town (which he directed and stared in)was quite good.
Will Ferral is TERRIBLE. That guy recently made the list of the top payed actors that are overrrated. And he is. What has he done that is really funny? Well the Sat. Night Live skit with the cowbell! And that is about it! All his films are just horrendous.
Another terrible actor that no one has mentioned yet is Kenau Reeves. That guy must have really been on his knees in a lot of offices to get the studio support he has had. He is one of the most forgetable and wooden actors there has ever been.

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virgil

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Bingo
I don't know if he's a-list, but I do know he's an a-hole....will ferrell.

BINGO!!!! (pun Intended) Thank You, I refuse to watch any of his movies He is a skit Player at best and he keeps getting lead roles in comedies. I don't GET IT

definitely add W. Ferrell to my list.

Julia Roberts does not act. She simply wears different clothes & smiles.

Christian Bale is excellant, always does a nice job. Another good actor who doesn't get the credit is Bruce Willis. Bruce's day as an A-lister may be over but he is a great character actor. I suspect he will find employment in supporting character roles for a long time to come, something like Michael Cain.

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Bingo
I don't know if he's a-list, but I do know he's an a-hole....will ferrell.

Why do you see this about him? Just curious...