Stephen Metcalf observes something peculiar about Tom Cruise's career:
I can't name another American icon who has been so popular, and for so long, and yet so hard to like, and for so long.
That's true, isn't it? Even when he's doing admirable work, he's so hard to like. One senses that there's no there there. I can think of three other A-list actors whom I can't stand, and whose movies I won't see because my dislike of their personae gets in the way of my experience of the film: John Travolta, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jim Carrey.
It's not that these aren't talented actors; it's that there's something so off-putting about the way they ... are that it makes it impossible for me to lose myself in their portrayals (and Cruise, for me, is by far the most palatable of these four). I feel the same way, more or less, about Julia Roberts. I understand the sex appeal, but she's not that great an actress, and I typically find myself watching a Julia Roberts performance thinking, "Oh, look, Julia Roberts being Julia Roberts." She's just not that interesting.
All of which is to say that while there are no movies I'll make a point of seeing because a particular actor is in it, there are movies I won't see because a particular actor is in it. How about you?
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I shall play the opposing side and defend some of the unfairly trashed actors:
I like Nicholas Cage. I hate half his movies, but he personally is a good actor. He just need to stop being in bad movies.
I'm sorta the same way, at this point, with Will Smith, except the problem there is he's in every movie. Request to Will: Stop being in every movie! Give us time to forget about your last four roles! Jeez. Yes, you can make a bad script into a good movie, but why don't you just take the good scripts and let the bad ones fail? Also, pick whether you're an action hero or a romantic lead or a dramatic lead or everyman or what. Yes, that was half sarcastic but, seriously. Take a break, do one movie every two years, and raise your kid(s?). You'll still have work when you get older....I've always figured you for the next Harrison Ford.
And anyone who dislikes Leonardo DiCaprio has confused their dislike of his original fangirls with him personally. When he showed up he had every young girl and woman swooning over him, and Titanic was the most annoying movie ever, although that had nothing to do with him. He's a moderately good actor who pick reasonably good scripts. (Now that he can.) There's really nothing to dislike about him.
Keanu Reeves plays Keanu Reeves. It works when that's the character. It doesn't when it isn't. If, at any point, the character says 'Whoa', it works.
Someone who hasn't been mentioned that I like: Christina Ricci
Love the comments here - I agree completely about Nicholas Cage being in a lot of bad movies - when I want to see a good Nick Cage movie, I watch "Raising Arizona," in which he gives an almost perfect performance. Or "Con Air," which is pop culture cr*p, but entertaining nonetheless, hoisted up by his charm.
He takes risks, too, but has made a lot of bad movie choices.
I think Leonardo DiCaprio is a talented actor, but he is cursed with a rather weak, annoying voice and a baby face - hard to overcome that, since it appears to be genetic. I thought he was totally miscast in "The Aviator," but absolutely first rate in "The Departed."
He was also perfectly cast in "Catch Me If You Can." I like Tom Hanks, though he's sometimes miscast ("Catch Me If You Can," "The Terminal,") he's great in the right film.
I thought I would hate "Forrest Gump" when I saw the previews but his performance won me over. He has the ability to totally commit himself to a performance, so that instead of appearing foolish, he comes across as believable.
Sean Penn bugs me, but he has been terrific in some films - I recommend catching him in "Mystic River," or "Milk," or "Dead Man Walking," and avoiding "All the King's Men," and others such as "I Am Sam," like the plague. He's also a good director - "The Indian Runner" and "Into the Wild" are very well-done, serious films.
As you can probably guess, this is a subject I can talk about for ever. Sorry to go along at such length.
I think you're closed-minded and it's kind of sad. The stars you mention, save for DiCaprio, are a few of my favorite people. Talk about good, decent, generous human beings. Cruise, Carrey and Travolta are three of them.
Good post, but have you thought about Tom Cruise and other dislikable stars before?
Wow, I never knew that Tom Cruise and other dis likable stars. That's pretty interesting...
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