Spring Break
Hollywood's most overrated
Paresh Jha
Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: Focus
For every good actor, there is an equally bad actor. For every underrated actor there is a grossly overrated actor. Hollywood is funny like that. Some actors who do not necessarily garner critical acclaim get more exposure than those who really deserve the attention. Let's take this time to examine some actors who are severely overrated.
Nicolas Cage
Why is he so popular? No idea. He acts the same in nearly every film. Whether in "Gone in Sixty Seconds," "Ghost Rider," "National Treasure," or "Face-Off," no one character stands out. His voice stays static and monotone, his mannerisms are subdued and lazy and his face simply looks disinterested. The only thing that has changed over the years is his hairline. "Adaptation" and "The Weather Man" are his so-called good movies, but I just do not understand it. Neither of those films are capable of keeping anyone's attention and Cage just makes things worse. He should've quit while he was ahead with "Con-Air."
Halle Berry
If everyone labeled someone a good actress based on one good role then Eddie Murphy might be considered a good actor. Somehow Halle Berry, in combination with her good looks, reached the status of great actress because of one good movie. "Monster's Ball" was good - maybe not Oscar good, but good nonetheless. However, before and after that film she has not done anything that even resembles good acting. Her acting in movies like "Catwoman" and "Die Another Day" are close to unbearable. She should either do something good once again or retire before someone takes away that Oscar.
Tom Cruise
Scientology aside, this guy has done some good stuff like "Minority Report," "Tropic Thunder" and "The Last Samurai," but like Cage, he carries too much of himself in his characters. "War of the Worlds" was probably the peak of his mediocrity, with a role that was reduced to screaming and running away. In the recent "Valkyrie," he portrayed a German and yet he still maintained his American accent. He could have at least resorted to the default British-esque intelligent accent they use in films, but he couldn't even do that.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
"Chicago" was not that good, ladies and gentlemen. That just happens to be the musical film that gave Jones her Academy Award. Like Berry, she is a pretty face who just fails to impress with her acting skills. "Intolerable Cruelty" showcased her in one of the worst performances by an actress in recent memory. It also did not help that the film was terribly boring. Somehow she has made a career for herself with "great" movies like "Entrapment" and "Ocean's 12."
Keanu Reeves
While likeable, this guy is one of the most overrated actors in the history of Hollywood. After a promising start to his career, it began to get obvious that he really does not have very much to offer. His lifeless style of acting was perfectly suited for the emotionally dead character of Neo in "The Matrix," but he really can't do much more than that. It seemed his career was all downhill after "The Devil's Advocate."
Nicolas Cage
Why is he so popular? No idea. He acts the same in nearly every film. Whether in "Gone in Sixty Seconds," "Ghost Rider," "National Treasure," or "Face-Off," no one character stands out. His voice stays static and monotone, his mannerisms are subdued and lazy and his face simply looks disinterested. The only thing that has changed over the years is his hairline. "Adaptation" and "The Weather Man" are his so-called good movies, but I just do not understand it. Neither of those films are capable of keeping anyone's attention and Cage just makes things worse. He should've quit while he was ahead with "Con-Air."
Halle Berry
If everyone labeled someone a good actress based on one good role then Eddie Murphy might be considered a good actor. Somehow Halle Berry, in combination with her good looks, reached the status of great actress because of one good movie. "Monster's Ball" was good - maybe not Oscar good, but good nonetheless. However, before and after that film she has not done anything that even resembles good acting. Her acting in movies like "Catwoman" and "Die Another Day" are close to unbearable. She should either do something good once again or retire before someone takes away that Oscar.
Tom Cruise
Scientology aside, this guy has done some good stuff like "Minority Report," "Tropic Thunder" and "The Last Samurai," but like Cage, he carries too much of himself in his characters. "War of the Worlds" was probably the peak of his mediocrity, with a role that was reduced to screaming and running away. In the recent "Valkyrie," he portrayed a German and yet he still maintained his American accent. He could have at least resorted to the default British-esque intelligent accent they use in films, but he couldn't even do that.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
"Chicago" was not that good, ladies and gentlemen. That just happens to be the musical film that gave Jones her Academy Award. Like Berry, she is a pretty face who just fails to impress with her acting skills. "Intolerable Cruelty" showcased her in one of the worst performances by an actress in recent memory. It also did not help that the film was terribly boring. Somehow she has made a career for herself with "great" movies like "Entrapment" and "Ocean's 12."
Keanu Reeves
While likeable, this guy is one of the most overrated actors in the history of Hollywood. After a promising start to his career, it began to get obvious that he really does not have very much to offer. His lifeless style of acting was perfectly suited for the emotionally dead character of Neo in "The Matrix," but he really can't do much more than that. It seemed his career was all downhill after "The Devil's Advocate."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
potty mouth
posted 3/04/09 @ 6:28 AM EST
Don't know about Haley, but everyone else on your list belongs there! Might I add Brad Pitt too? Even in Benjamin Button he relies on special effects to compensate for lackluster performing. (Continued…)
BigMike
posted 8/20/09 @ 3:50 AM EST
Nicholas Cage--come on, you really don't know why he keeps getting acting jobs? It's certainly not looks or talent. The answer is NEPOTISM, plain and simple. (Continued…)
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