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iconic actors you aren't a big fan of?

posted 8 days ago by filmgeek99 (657)
46 replies | jump to latest

What are some all-time screen legends that you just aren't as crazy about as everyone else seems to be?

For me, Christopher Lee is a largely one-note actor who's given some excellent performances over the course of his career (Horror of Dracula, The Wicker Man, The Man with the Golden Gun) but who mostly just did adequate jobs in most of his films. I know he's cast more for his iconic screen persona than for his range as an actor but still, when you compare him to other horror legends like Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff, for instance, those guys had noticeably more range and depth to them than what Lee had.

I'm not trying to shit on the man as I've never hated any of his performances and from the stories I've heard about him, Lee seemed like quite a honorable, charitable guy. I'm just generally not that impressed by his screen presence as an actor.

What are some iconic actors that you aren't a big fan of?

[–] Valerian (-273) 8 days ago

Is there an official list of iconic actors somewhere?

[–] sadpopcorn (966) 8 days ago

Robert De Niro
Al Pacino

Used to love them both growing up. But it's the same performance in every film.

I didn't realize this until I became an adult. I just worshiped the same choir.

I'll add Leonardo Di Caprio to the list.

[–] filmgeek99 (657) 8 days ago

Both those guys showed a fair bit of range in their early years but once they got super famous, they started being cast just to deliver their trademark screen persona time and time again. They are both immensely talented but I think both became victims of their own success in a way.

[–] sadpopcorn (966) 8 days ago

Fair analysis.

[–] BillHicksFan (10559) 8 days ago

Yeah.. Those first two were in my Top 5 (late 90s when I got into film) but they haven't done shit in 20 years.

[–] jriley555 (8117) 8 days ago

Di Caprio is highly versatile. I don't agree at all with lumping him in with these other mail-it-ins.

[–] capuchin (3182) 8 days ago

Tom Cruise is the first name that leaps to mind. Never been fond. Nothing to do with his personal life. I couldn't care less about that. I've just always found him an irritating screen presence. Admittedly, this works well enough when he's playing obnoxious frat boy characters, but I can't think of a single role of his where I haven't thought the film would be improved by having a different actor.

And... I feel almost exactly the same way about Leonardo Di Caprio.

Both seem very limited to me, which is fine if you like what they do. But I don't.

[–] sadpopcorn (966) 8 days ago

Tom Cruise is a good choice. Although I like him better than the 3 I mentioned above.

I don't like Di Caprio at all.

To me he will always be remembered as the guy who has Hollywood connections with the 2 most infamous directors and delivered a ** performance in his most famous film.

[–] capuchin (3182) 8 days ago

There are films I don't mind Di Caprio in. I don't mind him in The Wolf of Wall Street or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood... But that's about as much as he can aspire to as far as I'm concerned: not being minded.

[–] sadpopcorn (966) 8 days ago

I liked him in Shutter Island.

That was his best performance in my opinion. But even there, he appeared to me as a child actor with an adult face.

Both films you mentioned are good films, back that goes back to directors.

I think anyway.

[–] overseas7 (4233) 8 days ago

Shutter Island and Blood diamond.

[–] Valerian (-273) 8 days ago

He's fine in Oblivion and Edge of Tomorrow. I like sci-fi. Not his other movies.

Nothing to do with his personal life. I couldn't care less about that.

Same here.

[–] zack14 (313) 8 days ago

Humphrey Bogart

[–] CaptBeefBlower (242) 8 days ago

Ooof. Got a reason?

[–] Stratego (30494) 8 days ago

Yes, terrible. Annoying voice as well.

[–] jacotodd47 (1832) 8 days ago

Easy....

Is Nicolas Cage an iconic actor?

If so, he is my #1 choice.

Totally overrated. In fact, some of his work makes me cringe.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21452) 8 days ago

Have you seen Vampire’s Kiss (1988)?

[–] jacotodd47 (1832) 8 days ago

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21452) 8 days ago

I do admit that I’ve only seen a handful of his movies, but I was never a fan until I saw Vampire’s Kiss a couple of years ago. He was so ridiculously campy and over the top in it that I ordered the DVD.

[–] BillHicksFan (10559) 8 days ago

Nicolas Coppola -- i couldn't STAND him.. and I only saw 1 or 2 movies with him.. Just the way he talks.. Bubba is dying in "Con Air" and that nonchalant "we seem to have a situation here"... "How did he die?" - "Well, this fuck was chewing the scene and hamming it up"

[–] Kowalski (75520) 8 days ago

CON FUCKING AIR!@

[–] GolfnGuitars (2886) 8 days ago

Meryl Streep for me. To begin with, her movies don't usually appeal much to me (I thought she was good in "The Deer Hunter," but I can't think of anything else that I watched her in...I have testosterone and love sports, so maybe that's why). But I don't like her real-life personality and maybe that carries over to her on-screen performances also.

[–] blue1981 (7735) 8 days ago

Ryan Reynolds has no range and plays the same character in every movie.

[–] filmgeek99 (657) 8 days ago

Oh yeah, fuck that guy. He's not even that funny most of the time. I think I laughed like 3 or 4 times while watching Deadpool.

In his defense, though, the character was drastically toned down from his psychotic, immoral self that was present in the comics. They made him into just another smartass, wise-cracking superhero (albeit, one who's more profane and crude), just like virtually every character's that's come out of a Marvel film since The Avengers.

[–] blue1981 (7735) 8 days ago

I mean I laugh at Van Wilder but you can tell he's played the same character ever since. Blade He struck out in two comic book movies before getting rich off of Deadpool.

[–] SemiAnimus (2353) 8 days ago

I wouldn't refer to Ryan Reynolds as iconic but for sure he's an annoying douche.

[–] BuckleBilly (1107) 8 days ago

Joaquin Phoenix- he's a good actor... but I don't care if he's in a movie or not.