life-sucking actors/performances
Submitted by smi2le on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:17
Tags:
- Movies:
- Andie MacDowell - Four Weddings and a Funeral
- Iben Hjejle - High Fidelity
- Keanu Reeves - Johnny Mnemonic
- Jennifer Tilly - Bound
- Alanis Morisette - Dogma
- Sheryl Lee - Bliss
- Kenneth Branagh - Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
- Anyone in Coyote Ugly
- Anyone in American Pie
- TV:
- Denise Crosby - Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Joan Chen - Twin Peaks
- Jennifer Love Hewitt - Party of Five
- The folks on Survivor
Author Comments:
The kinds of performers who, when they appear on screen, leave behind a big, black hole -- devoid of energy, vitality and/or charisma.
Who did Iben Hjejle portray in High Fidelity? I saw the movie, and Just wanted to compare.... Also, I kind of nominate Keanu Reeves in ANYTHING except Speed as a horrible performance.... A note on Andie MacDowell-- often her voice is dubbed by another actress bacause of a Southern accent. I don't know if this was the case for Four Weddings and a Funeral, but I think that the dubbing process could contribute to general"life-suckingness"
Iben Hjejle was the his girlfriend (the one with Ian). I'm of the humble opinion that her performance was subtle and decent. Not brilliant, mind you, but I could handle seeing her in more movies in the future.
I'm not entirely sure where I heard this or how accurate my memory is working, but I seem to remember hearing that Andie MacDowell was dubbed once or twice at the beginning of her career, but all her major work is done in her own voice.
I don't know where I heard this either, so my accuracy might be as good as my memory... :)
Hmmm, disagree quite a bit with this list. Some great choices, but I loved Tilly in Bound and Morisette in Dogma, and I also believe Chen and Hewitt did just fine on their respective shows. To each his or her own, I suppose.
I especially loved Morisette in Dogma. I believe she perfectly embodied Smith's vision, and I personally found her character and performance quite touching.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I've debated making a list: "Movies in Which Keanu Reeves Sucks" but I avoid most of his movies for that very reason, so couldn't come up with many. I have reluctantly seen a few, and can't think of one that was enhanced by his presence in the least. I agree with Nadine, partially, that Keanu Reeves sucks in ANY performance...I don't believe I've seen one that was even DECENT. I hated him in Speed too--listen to him in one of the last scenes saying "I love you," in his characteristic monotone, devoid of any emotion, feeling, caring, etc. He may as well be a robot (and he's not even attractive--any physical attractiveness was lost a LONG time ago when we found out he couldn't act). I can't believe someone in Hollywood STILL thinks he's an ACTOR worthy of ANYTHING, let alone millions of dollars.
Not much opinion on any of the other choices...Keanu is the biggest "life-sucker" in my book.
Well, I liked him in Parenthood, for what that's worth...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
A movie I vaguely remember...was he the loser boyfriend? Perfect role for him, even if I'm off on his role in Parenthood :-). He's just not leading man material!
has anybody seen Permanent Record? it was post-River's Edge and pre-Bill&Ted's... not a bad movie, actually. and Keanu actually played a decent, somewhat-thinking person. (!)
He was, and sure, it was certainly no great stretch. He is a very questionable leading man. I've yet to see him completely pull it off, although I do think The Matrix managed to work his weaknesses into his character; as a result, I didn't mind him in that film, although he certainly didn't have me reaching for my Oscar ballot!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs