Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?

[Huntn]

Whereas a good actor dissolves into, immerses themselves and effortlessly inhabits a role, and a really good actor is when you forget that an actor is actually playing this part and you simply accept that the role is real, and hardly notice the player who interprets it for you.

Those are the elite ones. My choices would be people like Russel Crowe, Al Pacino, a young Robert Dinero, Meryl Streep, and Johnny Dep although his last movie, Dark Shadows was a bomb.

Elite actors rarely appear at the top of the box office numbers. If you want to look at something disillusioning, look at this list of top movie actors by box office gross, to see Daniel Radcliff at the No.1 position. In fact look at the top 10. A good illustration imo of how an actor can be carried by a film franchise without particularly special acting skills.

 

[twietee]

Those are the elite ones. My choices would be people like Russel Crowe, Al Pacino, a young Robert Dinero, Meryl Streep, and Johnny Dep although his last movie, Dark Shadows was a bomb.

Elite actors rarely appear at the top of the box office numbers. If you want to look at something disillusioning, look at this list of top movie actors by box office gross, to see Daniel Radcliff at the No.1 position. In fact look at the top 10. A good illustration imo of how an actor can be carried by a film franchise without particularly special acting skills.

Never heard of #6 Hugo Weaving.

And did you just call Russel Crowe an actor, Huntn?

 

[Shrink]

Never heard of #6 Hugo Weaving.

And did you just call Russel Crowe an actor, Huntn?

Hugo Weaving was the heavy in "The Matrix".

Generally I agree with you about Crowe. Here is another example of your point about Heston in "Touch Of Evil'...I thought Crowe was excellent in "L.A. Confidential". The right guy for the right role...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ok. Back in the fight: exactly this is Arn. Schwarz. doing in the first movie, embodying his role 100%. Shrink extended the necessary requirements to be able doing so with many different roles and interpretations. And I tend to agree with him (although this is kind of a no-brainer).


See, I can be pedantic, too! [everybody left the thread]



*I'd also like to add Brad Pitt to your list

Yes, I decided to show my face......to drop by and say a brief hello.

Re Arnold, (and indeed Sylvester), I'm not a fan. Not at all. I don't like right wing politics, and I prefer my mindless violence to come styled like a Baroque opera (think spaghetti western).....so no, while I see your point, I take no aesthetic pleasure in any of those movies.

Um. Brad Pitt? Yes, perhaps. Well, ah, yes, a pretty face, granted, but while I don't see him as Hamlet, I must admit that I don't have quite the marked aversion to him that I have to the others......

Those are the elite ones. My choices would be people like Russel Crowe, Al Pacino, a young Robert Dinero, Meryl Streep, and Johnny Dep although his last movie, Dark Shadows was a bomb.

Elite actors rarely appear at the top of the box office numbers. If you want to look at something disillusioning, look at this list of top movie actors by box office gross, to see Daniel Radcliff at the No.1 position. In fact look at the top 10. A good illustration imo of how an actor can be carried by a film franchise without particularly special acting skills.

Oh, I agree completely that elite actors rarely appear at top of the box office numbers. An American actor whom I really like as an actor, is Kevin Spacey; he is so good you have to look for him when he is in a movie.

Never heard of #6 Hugo Weaving.

And did you just call Russel Crowe an actor, Huntn?

Hmmm.

Hugo Weaving was the heavy in "The Matrix".

Generally I agree with you about Crowe. Here is another example of your point about Heston in "Touch Of Evil'...I thought Crowe was excellent in "L.A. Confidential". The right guy for the right role...

Agree re re Russell Crowe and his role in LA Confidential, excellent. However, I get depressed when I read the number of people who regard 'Gladiator' as a great, or their favourite film. Historically, (yes, yes, I'm an historian and a nerd), it leaves......quite a lot to be desired......

 

[Shrink]

Yes, I decided to show my face......to drop by and say a brief hello.

Re Arnold, (and indeed Sylvester), I'm not a fan. Not at all. I don't like right wing politics, and I prefer my mindless violence to come styled like a Baroque opera (think spaghetti western).....so no, while I see your point, I take no aesthetic pleasure in any of those movies.

Um. Brad Pitt? Yes, perhaps. Well, ah, yes, a pretty face, granted, but while I don't see him as Hamlet, I must admit that I don't have quite the marked aversion to him that I have to the others......





Oh, I agree completely that elite actors rarely appear at top of the box office numbers. An American actor whom I really like as an actor, is Kevin Stacey; he is so good you have to look for him when he is in a movie.



Hmmm.



Agree re re Russell Crowe and his role in LA Confidential, excellent. However, I get depressed when I read the number of people who regard 'Gladiator' as a great, or their favourite film. Historically, (yes, yes, I'm an historian and a nerd), it leaves......quite a lot to be desired......

Gladiator not only leaves much to be desired historically, but it's reliance on a great deal of CGI lowers it even more, in my estimation, cinemagraphically. The very brief, judicious use of CGI is OK, I guess. But it's use to totally support a film is way out of hand now.

I'm nuts for Kevin Spacey. First saw him in "The Ususal Suspects" and was blown away. He is one of a group of "lead actors" who are really wonderful character actors. Another Spacey gem (among many) was "Glengarry Glen Ross"

 

[Huntn]

Never heard of #6 Hugo Weaving.

And did you just call Russel Crowe an actor, Huntn?

I did. What should he be called, renowned thespian?

Hugo Weaving was the heavy in "The Matrix".

Generally I agree with you about Crowe. Here is another example of your point about Heston in "Touch Of Evil'...I thought Crowe was excellent in "L.A. Confidential". The right guy for the right role...

He also played Elrond in LoTR and the Hobbit. Oh, Oh, Gladiator is the best! lol. I walked out of the theater saying this should be Best Picture... and I was right!

Oh, I agree completely that elite actors rarely appear at top of the box office numbers. An American actor whom I really like as an actor, is Kevin Stacey; he is so good you have to look for him when he is in a movie.

You mean Kevin Spacey? If so, I liked him in American Beauty, a very interesting film.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I did. What should he be called?



He also played Elrond in LoTR and the Hobbit.



You mean Kevin Spacey? If so, I liked him in American Beauty, a very interesting film.

I don't do multi-tasking all that well - was typing that last post between trying to cook a swift meal and answer the phone. Yes, Kevin Spacey was who I meant - a wonderfully subtle and talented actor.

 

[twietee]

I did. What should he be called?

I don't know, Shrink didn't tell me No, seriously, there are some people one just can't stand, Crowe being one of them for me. Couldn't tell you why, mostly I bet because he's hailed too much. I haven't watched Gladiator, but the last one I've seen was the remake of 3:30 to Yuma and he was way beyond bad imho.

And I don't wanna be the devil's advocate here, especially when the only two movies I own from said 'actors are indeed Terminator and Rambo. But, and I'd like to mention The Texas Chain... here as a prime example, I truly believe they're good movies. The latter is brilliant imho. That said, of course I can understand somebody rejecting these kind of movies, but I don't agree with describing them as mindless violence. Although this is a present / important topic in these movies, especially Rambo and TCSM, it's not shown to please the spectators eyes, so to speak. But we may differ here.

 

[Huntn]

I don't know, Shrink didn't tell me No, seriously, there are some people one just can't stand, Crowe being one of them for me. Couldn't tell you why, mostly I bet because he's hailed too much. I haven't watched Gladiator, but the last one I've seen was the remake of 3:30 to Yuma and he was way beyond bad imho.

And I don't wanna be the devil's advocate here, especially when the only two movies I own from said 'actors are indeed Terminator and Rambo. But, and I'd like to mention The Texas Chain... here as a prime example, I truly believe they're good movies. The latter is brilliant imho. That said, of course I can understand somebody rejecting these kind of movies, but I don't agree describing them as mindless violence, they have more than one layer, although we don't speak about arthouse here.

Not the Texas Chain Saw Massacre?? OMG... However in my defense, I've never seen it. I watched a lot of the Friday13's but out grew them.

Most of the time I get disgusted with actors when their personal life intrudes into their public lives and it effects my ability to enjoy their acting skills, while not thinking what asses they are. Examples? Tom Cruise, look-at-me-I'm-an-artist Robert Redford, Nicolas Cage, maybe even Russel Crowe.

 

[twietee]

Not the Texas Chain Saw Massacre?? OMG... However in my defense, I've never seen it. I watched a lot of the Friday13's but out grew them.

Yes, I think it's highly underrated and a lot of urban legend floating around with that movie - which makes much of its status tbh. I'd rather compare it with Romero's Night of the Living Dead as with Friday, Scream, Saw et. al. But, it's hard to watch, and not because of explicit graphic violence shown. I watch all kind of movies / genres but avoid slasher movies at all cost (bad dreams ) but TCM is just great. Effective plot, multilayered, griping atmosphere, good actors, perfectly shot and edited, beautiful colours, very influential and innovative...all that with almost no budget. It was indexed until early this year in Germany btw.

 

[Plutonius]

I'm nuts for Kevin Spacey.

What did you think of him in "Moon" ?

 

[Shrink]

What did you think of him in "Moon" ?

I haven't seen it. To be honest, I hadn't even heard of it, but I will look for it.

And after I see it, I will submit a pedantic, pretentious incredibly annoying review...as is my normal practice!!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

What did you think of him in "Moon" ?

Come on, Pluto, even the great are allowed a lapse or two (in judgement, standards, choice of movie, sometimes, needs must, after all....).

My problem is with the enduring triumph and endless popularity of the truly mediocre. And my other problem is, having consigned someone to the box, or category, of enduring mediocrity, and assuming that they'll remain securely in place, they occasionally (to my utter stupefaction) break out of it to deliver the performance of a lifetime (usually, it must be said, under the guidance of an unusually enlightened director.....)

 

[Orange Crane]

I haven't seen it. To be honest, I hadn't even heard of it, but I will look for it.

And after I see it, I will submit a pedantic, pretentious incredibly annoying review...as is my normal practice!!

Highly recommended. Also starring Sam Rockwell, another great actor, and directed by Duncan Jones, son to David Bowie. Available on Netflix.

 

[duneriderltr450]

Taking Chance



Cried like a baby.

 

[Plutonius]

Come on, Pluto, even the great are allowed a lapse or two (in judgement, standards, choice of movie, sometimes, needs must, after all....).

My problem is with the enduring triumph and endless popularity of the truly mediocre. And my other problem is, having consigned someone to the box, or category, of enduring mediocrity, and assuming that they'll remain securely in place, they occasionally (to my utter stupefaction) break out of it to deliver the performance of a lifetime (usually, it must be said, under the guidance of an unusually enlightened director.....)

Moon is actually one of my favorite sci-fi movies and I highly recommended it. It was just strange hearing Kevin Spacey's voice coming out of a robot.

 

[tbl]

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

 

[SnowLeopard OSX]

Disney Pixar's The Incredibles.

 

[twietee]

Moon is actually one of my favorite sci-fi movies and I highly recommended it. It was just strange hearing Kevin Spacey's voice coming out of a robot.

Good to hear, it unfortunately gatheres dust since some time unwatched in my humble home, since I always feel too tired after work to watch it (assuming it is a rather slow and quite demanding). Will watch it soon then!

 

[Huntn]

Toy Story 3 for the umpteenth time, highly recommended. I don't think I'd want to be a toy, the abandonment issues are pervasive.

 

[Shrink]

I saw "Double Indemnity" again last night. That is definitely the prototype for film noir...voice over narrative, femme fatale, male lead manipulated by femme fatale, wonderful cinematography and lighting...and everything comes out badly in the end!

Very interesting choice of casting with Fred MacMurray. Usually cast in nice guy roles, this was the beginning of widening the roles he played by casting him as a murderer. And, as usual, Edward G Robinson's relative small, but crucial role, was wonderfully played.

One trivial note...I remember the first time I saw the film I was amazed by the incredibly horrible wig they had Barbara Stanwyke wearing. I couldn't take my eyes off it. I recently read that, somehow, Billy Wilder only noticed how bad it was until he was deep into shooting and it was too late to re-shoot with another wig. One of the studio execs, after seeing the rushes and noticing the wig, supposedly said..."We hired Barbara Stanwyke, and we got George Washington!".

The horrid wig notwithstanding, this is the most wonderful example of film noir...my favorite genre.

 

[twietee]

The horrid wig notwithstanding, this is the most wonderful example of film noir...my favorite genre.

Can't recall the wig, but would agree, it's my favorite genre as well - besides Wes Anderson and David Lynch movies, don't know which genre they 'belong' to.

Saw Les Diaboliques yesterday evening. Very nice mixture of horror/thriller by Clouzot with a perfect pairing of Simone Signoret and Véra Clouzot. The grand finale is quite chilling (although one could see it coming), nevertheless beautifully executed.

 

[Shrink]

Can't recall the wig, but would agree, it's my favorite genre as well - besides Wes Anderson and David Lynch movies, don't know which genre they 'belong' to.

Saw Les Diaboliques yesterday evening. Very nice mixture of horror/thriller by Clouzot with a perfect pairing of Simone Signoret and Véra Clouzot. The grand finale is quite chilling (although one could see it coming), nevertheless beautifully executed.

I saw "Diabolique" many years ago...sounds like it's time for another look. For some reason, I thought Catherine Deneuve was in it. I know there was a remake in the mid 90's, but I'm sure she wasn't in that version.

Ah, well...just another example of the brain cell loss from the ...er...activities of the 60's!

 

[twietee]

I saw "Diabolique" many years ago...sounds like it's time for another look. For some reason, I thought Catherine Deneuve was in it. I know there was a remake in the mid 90's, but I'm sure she wasn't in that version.

Ah, well...just another example of the brain cell loss from the ...er...activities of the 60's!

The remake features Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani, haven's seen it myself but read it doesn't come anywhere near the original from '55.

But since you mentioned Deneuve: reminded me upon a movie I have on my most wanted / watchlist for quite some time now: Polanski's Repulsion. I guess you've seen it and recommend it as well?

 

[Shrink]

The remake features Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani, haven's seen it myself but read it doesn't come anywhere near the original from '55.

But since you mentioned Deneuve: reminded me upon a movie I have on my most wanted / watchlist for quite some time now: Polanski's Repulsion. I guess you've seen it and recommend it as well?

Ah, "Repulsion", that must have been the one I was thinking of and mistook it for "Diabolique"! Thanks for clearing it up for me.

It's another film I haven't seen for many, many years, but I do recall it being worthwhile. Polanski is a reliably excellent director. And just looking at Deneuve is not a chore...such a magnificent face, and a pretty good actor in the bargain.