|
Post by Derrick on Dec 23, 2010 12:24:26 GMT -5
...can one bad performance ruin an entire movie for you?
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Dec 23, 2010 12:46:09 GMT -5
It can certainly be a strike against the film, but I don't know if one has ruined a film for me.
|
|
|
Post by grubl on Dec 23, 2010 16:43:19 GMT -5
Certainly. A bad performance can ruin a film, but a great performance (though worth watching in itself) cannot save an otherwise bad film.
|
|
|
Post by Eddie Love on Dec 23, 2010 18:07:48 GMT -5
Damn, I used to have an informal running list of candidates for this, but I can't think of all of them off hand. THE GODFATHER PART III is the obvious answer, marred not so much a bad performance as the presence of someone who seemly can't act. And I don't mean this maliciously, there's just someone with no skill, no training. (I thought the same thing recently when Nicole Ritchie guested on CHUCK.)
Another prominent of one of mine is Jennifer Jason Leigh in MRS PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE. An excellent production of a fascinating subject with a terrific cast (Campbell Scott positively channels Robert Benchley) and at the center of it is a performance so forced and mannered and actor-y as to render the whole thing completely ineffective.
Another example (and a sub-category of this whole group) is Danny DeVito in HOFFA representing the director who insists on casting himself. (See also: Spike Lee in MALCOLM X and Quentin Tarrentino in...anything.) But I can't think of another example that torpedoes the project as much as DeVito.
Some other names I'd throw out: John Cussack in THE GRIFTERS and Rock Hudson in GIANT.
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Dec 23, 2010 22:56:25 GMT -5
Certainly. A bad performance can ruin a film, but a great performance (though worth watching in itself) cannot save an otherwise bad film. Why one and not the other?
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Dec 23, 2010 23:15:17 GMT -5
Damn, I used to have an informal running list of candidates for this, but I can't think of all of them off hand. THE GODFATHER PART III is the obvious answer, marred not so much a bad performance as the presence of someone who seemly can't act. And I don't mean this maliciously, there's just someone with no skill, no training. Another example (and a sub-category of this whole group) is Danny DeVito in HOFFA representing the director who insists on casting himself. (See also: Spike Lee in MALCOLM X and Quentin Tarrentino in...anything.) But I can't think of another example that torpedoes the project as much as DeVito I've long ago learned to live with the fact that I'm apparently the only person on Earth who didn't think Sofia Coppola was that bad in GODFATHER III. I guess I'm the only one willing to cut her some slack in her first major motion picture role and considering the talent she was up against. I actually like HOFFA a great deal even though it's about as accurate about Jimmy Hoffa's life as STAR WARS is about space travel. The Danny DeVito character, for instance, is an entirely fictional character. And as a director, DeVito is way too much in love with the overhead shot. And yeah, I firmly believe that DeVito cast himself in the role so that for once he could be a badass and get to talk shit, smack taller guys around and bang beautiful blond Amazonian bimbos since other directors would never even think of casting him in a role like that. Spike Lee should never have cast himself in MALCOLM X. Especially when he ruined that utterly amazing dance scene with the slide through the legs of a dozen dancers ending up with his face filling the entire screen. When I saw this in the theater, the audience groaned, sucked their teeth in annoyance and shouted out interjections.
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Dec 24, 2010 2:04:14 GMT -5
...Entertainment Weekly named Taylor Swift as Entertainer of The Year. Does that say more about Taylor Swift’s talent or about what we look for in entertainers today?
...You’re given the greenlight to do a remake of THE ODD COUPLE. Who do you pick to play Felix Unger and Oscar Madison?
|
|
|
Post by tombitd on Dec 24, 2010 7:05:40 GMT -5
...You’re given the greenlight to do a remake of THE ODD COUPLE. Who do you pick to play Felix Unger and Oscar Madison? I can tell you who Hollywood would want... Ben Stiller IS Felix Ungar Owen Wilson IS Oscar Madison The Audience IS Not Going To Go...
|
|
|
Post by Eddie Love on Dec 24, 2010 9:21:23 GMT -5
Certainly. A bad performance can ruin a film, but a great performance (though worth watching in itself) cannot save an otherwise bad film. Help me out, what's an example of a great performance in a bad film?
|
|
|
Post by Eddie Love on Dec 24, 2010 9:28:37 GMT -5
...Entertainment Weekly named Taylor Swift as Entertainer of The Year. Does that say more about Taylor Swift’s talent or about what we look for in entertainers today? I don't hate on Taylor as she's cute and a talented songwriter (if not the best singer) and it's something for the kids to listen to that's not just product and is reasonably thoughtful and serious that they could relate to and feel passionate about. Um...but you know what? The grown-ups don't have to play along so much. Entertainer of the Year? Album of the Year?
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Dec 24, 2010 14:00:26 GMT -5
...Entertainment Weekly named Taylor Swift as Entertainer of The Year. Does that say more about Taylor Swift’s talent or about what we look for in entertainers today? I don't hate on Taylor as she's cute and a talented songwriter (if not the best singer) and it's something for the kids to listen to that's not just product and is reasonably thoughtful and serious that they could relate to and feel passionate about. Um...but you know what? The grown-ups don't have to play along so much. Entertainer of the Year? Album of the Year? Oh, I don't hate on her. Like you, I think she's actually kinda cute and sweet and her music is harmless. I'm just wondering if her popularity is due solely to her talent or if it's a beneficial side effect of her becoming America's Sweetheart after the stunt that jackass Kanye West performed. And for the love of Odin can somebody PLEASE make him go away?
|
|
Dino
Full Member
Tai-Pan
Posts: 166
|
Post by Dino on Dec 26, 2010 0:23:09 GMT -5
Certainly. A bad performance can ruin a film, but a great performance (though worth watching in itself) cannot save an otherwise bad film. Help me out, what's an example of a great performance in a bad film? Off the top of my head, Daniel Craig in Quantun of Solace, Liev Schreiber in Wolverine, Christopher Walken in The Prophecy sequels, Laurence Fishburne in The Matrix films, Johnny Depp in The Astronaut's Wife.
|
|