NFT: Actors that have no business being Actors

but I grew up in the 80s and watched all these movies. When my first son was born, he was baptized at a local church in Brooklyn and Andrew McCarthy was in the church that day as a sponsor for the other child getting baptized with my kid. It was surreal since as I said, I grew up in the 80s watching his movies, I am Jewish (my wife is catholic and we are exposing our children to both religions, and the thought that I would be in a church with my son being baptized with Andrew McCarthy literally across the pew from me was probably not even in the wildest of imaginations. Anyway, sorry for the off topic diversion and if I was going to go with someone who has no business being an actor I would go with Hayden Christensen for totally ruining the Anakin Skywalker character even if he did not have much to work with.

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I know she's pretty and has a bubbly personality, but her acting skills are horrible.

As far as male actors... Nicholas Cage. How he became a big star is a mystery. He's had a couple of good roles that fit his quirky personality, but overall... nah.

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not that he has no business being an actor but that he is highly over-rated. Someone please let me know when he starts acting. Maybe something other than an intimidating character.

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but the movie Class was pretty freaking good in the early 80's.

And yes, he played basically the same guy in St Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, Less than Zero, Weekend at Bernies, (and more?) but most of those were entertaining movies (sort of chick flicks sort of romantic comedies, but not Class, that was a teenage coming of age story I guess Pretty in Pink is too).

But maybe that’s just me.

out for me is Ben Affleck. And he's an award winning actor.

It's even worse when he plays a "Boston guy" with an accent.

Nothing worse than the Cambridge guy, who acts like he's from Southie, and sounds so fake trying to have a Boston accent.

In comment 14926005 EricJ said:

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not that he has no business being an actor but that he is highly over-rated. Someone please let me know when he starts acting. Maybe something other than an intimidating character.

Wow...

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but his Oscars came from writing and directing (Good Will Hunting and Argo). He’s a really good director, wish he just did that full time because he has immense talent making movies.

That said I did like the Accountant. It’s his only starring role that felt like it fit, probably because he had very few lines.

My pick for the worst actor to get regular work in major movies is Darryl Hannah.

In comment 14926016 UConn4523 said:

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but his Oscars came from writing and directing (Good Will Hunting and Argo). He’s a really good director, wish he just did that full time because he has immense talent making movies. That said I did like the Accountant. It’s his only starring role that felt like it fit, probably because he had very few lines.

He has won multiple awards for acting, not oscars, but still. Hollywoodland, Pearl Harbor, and been nominated for more.

which isnt really noteworthy for me. Some really bad movies/performances have won golden globes. In any case my point is I wish he made more movies because that’s what he’s really good at.

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Every role he has ever played is basically Stiffler.

Jerry Ferrara - Horrible in Power...I mean terrible. Not that the cast of that show was filled with great actors but he stood out as the worst of the worst.

Hilary Swank - I dont think there ever was a movie with her in it that I finished or didnt throw up a little bit in my mouth after watching. Its no surprise you really dont see her in anything anymore IMO. I cannot believe she won as many awards as she has.

In comment 14926022 UConn4523 said:

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which isnt really noteworthy for me. Some really bad movies/performances have won golden globes. In any case my point is I wish he made more movies because that’s what he’s really good at.

In fairness he's won more "worst actor" awards than best actor (LOL)

You've got to be kidding

In comment 14926032 Greg from LI said:

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You've got to be kidding

Just shows you how ridiculous those awards are...

In comment 14926032 Greg from LI said:

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You've got to be kidding

well, it was a teen choice award, but it counts for something I guess.

I don’t agree “he has no business being an actor”, but I also think he is insanely overrated outside of his work from the 70s.

And Keanu Reeves was a pretty bad actor, but from what I've read an incredible guy in real life so I dont want to be overly harsh.

Every Keanu Reeves character is just Ted from Bill and Ted Excellent Adventure put into a new environment.

The Matrix is just Ted Theodore Logan trying to save the human race from the Machines.

Constantine is just Ted Theodore Logan fighting demons.

Point Break is just Ted Theodor Logan saying "I am an FBI Agent!" Dude.

into old De Niro and prime De Niro.

He definitely lost his fastball as he got older, unlike someone like Clint Eastwood or Gene Hackman who stayed up to their previous high standards.

IMO.

In comment 14926018 Greg from LI said:

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My pick for the worst actor to get regular work in major movies is Darryl Hannah.

Haha great reference! That’s a great store you have there.

He was also perfectly cast as O’Bannion in Dazed and Confused. Right up to the part where he got a milkshake dumped on his head

I'm not the only one to feel that way about Ben Affleck. Always thought he was terrible. His brother Casey is actually way better of an actor than him.

Except for one horrendous scene that I think anyone who has seen it will know which one I'm referring to.

In comment 14926013 pjcas18 said:

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out for me is Ben Affleck. And he's an award winning actor.

he's the bomb in phantoms.

and James Franco. Just not good at their craft at all. Also, James' brother Dave isn't that much better. Props to whomever mentioned Hayden Christensen. He's probably the worst actor ever to grace any big budget motion picture as a lead.

In comment 14926003 BamaBlue said:

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I know she's pretty and has a bubbly personality, but her acting skills are horrible. As far as male actors... Nicholas Cage. How he became a big star is a mystery. He's had a couple of good roles that fit his quirky personality, but overall... nah.

Uncle Francis Ford Coppola sure helps a bit.

He was abysmal in the samurai movie and that one where he tried to kill Hitler.

In contrast, Brad Pitt has really grown on me.

In comment 14926036 Ben in Tampa said:

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I don’t agree “he has no business being an actor”, but I also think he is insanely overrated outside of his work from the 70s.

Yes.. I clearly stated exactly what you said with the exception of mentioning the 70's. We are aligned.

In comment 14926049 Sneakers O'toole said:

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Except for one horrendous scene that I think anyone who has seen it will know which one I'm referring to.

I have not seen that one yet. I will watch with an open mind.

In comment 14926052 RomanWH said:

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and James Franco. Just not good at their craft at all. Also, James' brother Dave isn't that much better. Props to whomever mentioned Hayden Christensen. He's probably the worst actor ever to grace any big budget motion picture as a lead.

agree on Dave Franco. James Franco is hit or miss to be but he was damn good in the Deuce. Regarding Paul Walker, while he was never going to be nominated for an Oscar, he was perfectly acceptable as the good looking leading man in a crisis.

Affleck sucks too. but they aren't really "BIG". To me the worst of the so-called top stars is Cruise. He sucks and always did. I remember seeing a comedian in the '90s who asked the audience who th favorite actor was, all the girls yelled Tom Cruise. The comic asked "which was your favorite role, when he played the arrogant young guy?"

Agree with those who say Awards are a joke.

Also Megan Fox can’t act at all.

Isn't a good actor is the stupidest statment I ever heard, its the roles, not his acting, he probably rather take shit roles then sit at home, age takes a little off everyones fastball.

what caused you to finally snap at 3am this morning and share your feelings on Andrew McCarthy - 30 years after his 80s movies you dislike?

In comment 14926072 PaulN said:

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Isn't a good actor is the stupidest statment I ever heard, its the roles, not his acting, he probably rather take shit roles then sit at home, age takes a little off everyones fastball.

if that is the "stupidest statement" you have ever heard, then you likely have not been alive for very long.

If you think he is a great actor, then that's cool. We all have our opinions.

For any role other than an italian mobster, I will take Sean Penn over DeNiro virtually every time.

doing serious roles. Keanu Reeves does the exact movies he should be doing and he's great at it, IMO. He also makes movies to give away money so he's one of my favorite actors in the business just due to that (I know irrelevant to the thread).

Dave Franco sucks too but he gets roles specific to that so i don't really count him. I'm more thinking starring roles.

Biggest for my is Ryan Reynolds. He lucked into Deadpool since he can be a shitty actor and get away with it, but man is he abysmal. Everything is Van Wilder, which is fine in small doses but i figured he'd try something new after 20 years.

or 20+ years ago? Huge difference. Sean Penn is 59 and isn't as good as he was in his peak (Mystic River through Milk) which is when he was in his 40's. Gangster Squad was awful and the Gunman was worse.

I will throw in Julia Roberts as well. Some big popular movies but ehh.

How is De Niro on this thread?

is Johnny Depp. After the 1st Pirates (which was actually pretty good) he went right off the deepend. Its like he forgot how to do what he did in Donnie Brasco, Blow, even Edward Scissorhands, etc). Its been largely a shitfest for him for almost 2 decades now.

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In comment 14926090 UConn4523 said:

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is Johnny Depp. After the 1st Pirates (which was actually pretty good) he went right off the deepend. Its like he forgot how to do what he did in Donnie Brasco, Blow, even Edward Scissorhands, etc). Its been largely a shitfest for him for almost 2 decades now.

Depp is extremely talented but he's also nuts. Happens to a lot of these guys. (Cage, Cruise, etc.)

hard to answer

For example: De Niro's calling card is intensity...bound up internal intensity. But you can read his inner monologue better than Eastwoods intensity ( although Eastwood got better and better over the years and always was I wiser chooser of roles and teams that worked). He also worked with the remnants of the studio system for a long time and DeNiro worked with NY and European independents

GoodFellas was a 1990 movie. Remember the scene when you just know he just made up his mind to kill Mortie? Cream comes on the soundtrack? "That's how quick a guy can get wacked?" Watch it. Guy acts without moving a muscle...just his eyes change and you know all you need to know with stunning clarity

Ok...that's a terrible actor since the 1970s? Seriously?

Since 1970:

Mean Streets
Bang the Drum Slowly
Godfather Part 2
Raging Bull
Taxi Driver
The Deer Hunter
The Untouchables
Casino
Heat
Bronx Tale
The Irishman

Now if we want to talk about wtf was he doing in a long list of junk that didn't fit...we agree.

Lets look at Reeves: Laughably wooden and automaton ( without Schwarzenegger's comedic flair for automatons). Did ok for what ever reason in Speed. First Matrix fit. Rest of the trilogy couldn't be rescued by any actor and wasn't.

First John Wick what he can do and the film fit. 2 and 3 are cartoons so the actor doesn't matter.

I understand De Niro's problem easier than Reeves. DeNiro gets offered a lot and lives high with several expensive divorces. Reeves makes choices based on people he likes or feels for.

Cage I assume is a flake who does some movies while mentally being on other planets. And is terrible about managing his money.

Some actors I never got the appeal in any movie: Dustin Hoffman, Kirk or Michael Douglas, Kevin Bacon, McCarthy, Anthony Michael Hall, a very long list of Travolta except Pulp Fiction, etc.

Not sure "Clint," "acting," and "high standards" have anything to do with each other. That said, he's one of the extremely few Hollywood actors where it doesn't matter -- the camera loves him and he's absolutely iconic.

I second the Nic Cage motion -- I just do not understand how he's a working actor. He should have stopped after Raising Arizona (which he was actually perfect for). Cannot stand the guy.

Someone I truly want to punch in the face (although he seems to have thankfully disappeared) -- Tobey Maguire. Hate. Hate. Hate. Every time I see him I honestly ask, "How is THAT guy a movie star?"