I'm sure we've all known of movies that we've felt wouldn't have been worth the film they were recorded on if it weren't for one or more great actors. We've probably all also watched movies that starred someone we had never been that impressed with but the plot, genre, director or something else had attracted us to them and in some cases we've come away with a new respect for the actor or had at least enjoyed him or her in that movie. Then, of course, there are some movies that the greatest cast in the world couldn't save.
What examples can you think of for any of these? It can be something brand new or from years and years ago, it doesn't matter. I'm interested in seeing how differently different people feel about different movies and actors.
Annie
[question posted by anniepa]
responses and comments:
I think the actors make the movie. They bring life to the characters, which is a vital part of the movie. Even if the movie has a great plot, if the actors are bad it won't help much. I would much rather watch a movie with a bad plot and great actors, at least they can bring some character and charisma to the screen. [virusxtreme24]
I agree. A really good actor can make the worst villain a bit more sympathetic. Most characters are complex and it takes a good actor to capture that. Annie [anniepa]
In my opinion the movie makes the actor. I'll watch a movie regardless of who stars in it and I think if a great actor is acting a poor role the movie won't benefit from that actor's involvement. I've seen quite a few good movies where unknown actors have caught my eye due to their excellent role play while famous, well established actors have been very disappointing. [OldhamLXVII]
So there's nobody you'd feel you would be willing to see even if the movie itself didn't sound interesting? Annie [anniepa]
I believe its both, you have to have a good script before you can employ the actors to make it into a movie. Then it takes the people behind the scenes to make it all work together to become a good movie. See to me this is all team work with all that are involved in making the movie, from the original writer to the finished product. It all takes team work to make it what it becomes. [Youreyes4Today]
I absolutely agree it takes team work to make a truly good movie but what I'm saying is a movie that would have basically sucked or been mediocre at best can be turned into a better than average movie with an excellent performance or two. Annie [anniepa]
I cant stand Melanie Griffith, so watching anything that she is in is a labor, I've never liked her in any movie, ever. Will Farrel, just plain ole don't like him, with the one exception of his Hitler in "The Producers". I used to enjoy Jim Carey, but then his roles became so redundant... If I had one way to guarantee I'd love a movie, it would have to be a/any Mel Brooks film. [JodiLynn]
OMG!!! I totally forgot Matt Damon, anything with Matt is a sure bet for me! [JodiLynn]
Usually for me it is the actor who makes the movie for me. I normally do not watch too many movies with completely unknown actors because I can't think of even one where it had been worth my while to bother watching. [whiteheather39]
I don't usually watch many movies with all complete unknowns either and when I do, it's by accident or if I'm with someone else who chooses the movie to watch or go see. Of course I'm drawing a total blank here and can't think of a single example but I know there are movies I've seen with then-unknown actors who have later become big stars and I've been surprised to realize I'd seen them before they were famous. Annie [anniepa]
I'm the type that I rather go to a movie based on actor or actresses that I like. So I think the actor makes the movie more so for me. It could be a great script but if the acting is bad its not going to be a good movie and visa versa. Lets take the movie Casino- The director was Martin Scorsese the actors were Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone the actress good performers but the the movie was horrible in my opinion. [lelin1123]
Thank you for giving a great example! I've been trying to think of some of my own but I kind of went blank but now that you've mentioned it, "Casino" is a good one. I wouldn't actually go so far as to say it was a horrible movie but it definitely wouldn't have had much at all going for it if it weren't for a great cast. Annie [anniepa]
I defeniatly think the actor makes the movie...can you imagine Titanic without Leo and Kate? I don't want to... If someone is a bad actor, or just doesn't fit a certain part, and they are cast as a lead in a movie that doesn't fit them, a role they just can't do convincingly..then that movie isn't going to do good. Actors can make or break a movie. Obviously the movies make us familar with the actors, so movies also make the actor--but actors can be seen as bad or good based on movies. [LilyoftheThorns]
No, I sure CAN'T imagine Titanic with anyone else in those roles nor can I imagine Pretty Woman with anyone other than Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. However, it should be noted that Leo and Kate weren't really "big" stars before Titanic so had they gone with some big "names" of that year the movie may or may not have been as big a hit. Annie [anniepa]
I think it's a little of both. Now there are some movies that have a great plot/script and are blessed with the additional blessing of a terrific ensemble cast...some movies that come to mind in this category are: Steel Magnolias, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Practical Magic and The Man In The Iron Mask. As for the clunkers...when even a great group of actors are it in, couldn't save that film for nothing...can't think of any specifics but there are movies with say Julia Roberts (one of my faves) that have sucked--maybe I forget the name of the movie since they were so bad.lol [pyewacket]
I LOVE movies with great ensemble casts! I've been planning on watching "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" for ages but I somehow keep missing it. I just watched "The Women" which definitely fits in that category. Did you ever see "Short Cuts"? Now THAT'S a classic and has a cast to die for. I've seen some stinkers with Julia Roberts too and I can't think of what they were either...lol! Usually her movies are watchable because of her. I watched "Tape Heads" with John Cusack and Tim Robbins not too long ago and I love both of them but the movie was pretty dumb. Annie [anniepa]
Its definitely the actor that makes the movie. I can't see anybody else playing the role of John Rambo other than Sylvester Stallone or terminator other than Arnold Schwazzeneger. They are some good actors who act in movies that don't suit them at all e.g Nicole Kidman in Golden Compass. I thought she was definitely the wrong person to play that role. If somebody else was cast perhaps it could have been a movie worth watching. So for me it's the actor that will determine whether I watch the movie or not. [jellymonty]
I certainly agree with you about Sly and Arnold but on the other hand, both of them were pretty much typecast in those kinds of roles and never found the same success in other genres. Well, Stallone was Rambo and Rocky. I haven't seen Golden Compass yet but I really like Nicole Kidman a lot. Is she bad in it or just not suitable to the role? Annie [anniepa]
I believe its both. A movie will make an actor and a good actor will make the movie. [katie472001]
Basically,it's actors that make movie vividly.Despite that plot and director are of the essence,actors play a significant part in the movie.If actors act well in the movie,they will be popular and they will stand on the peak of their life.Experiennced actors always make the movie more meaningful.Through the film,they may imply something important to audience. [BREADQUEEN]
Thanks for participating and welcome to myLot! Annie [anniepa]
Hey annie! I think that it depends on the movie sometimes and then sometimes it depends on the actors! Sometimes an actor can just blow a movie out of the water, like Heath Ledger in Dark Knight! I never expected to love him as the Joker and be blown away by his performance to the point of having to watch the movie three times! (That's so not like me!) It really depends sometimes on my mood too! My boyfriend brought some movie called the Transporter and it had this British guy who now I can't remember his name and I fell madly in love with him! And then I saw all the Transporter episodes! Not usually my type of movie, fast car driving, kick boxing, beating the crap out of everyone, but I loved it! So you just never know! [Opal26]
I really loved Dark Knight too and I'm usually not that crazy about "super hero" type movies. I have to admit, I watched it mostly out of curiosity because I'd heard so much about Heath Ledger's performance but it was definitely worth it. Annie [anniepa]
Hi, Annie! Getting a Master's in cinema ruined a lot of movies for me, because I'm so conscious of the direction, production values, etc. Actors don't have much impact, except for those who are really bad, and ruin a possibly good film. Of course, the script, direction and production values have to be really good, or it doesn't matter what the actors do. I guess it all has to work together for me to like it at all. [cobrateacher]
I'm trying to retrain myself so I can enjoy the movies again, instead of their technical aspects! [cobrateacher]
It's a combination of things. I put the most of the onus on the writing. If the writing is lame, then chances are the movie will be lame, too. But a lot of it is left up to the director, the scheduling, the budget, the pressured from the producers. So I think a lot of time it's the outlying factors and not always the actors. I've seen good actors perform horribly in films because the editing ad the directing were terrible. [gowriter]
You raised some great points. I agree without the writers there wouldn't be anything for actors to do. Annie [anniepa]
Actors surely make the movies.But you are also correct that sometimes we are drawn to the theaters not because of the actor but for some other aspect of the movie. But in the end it is acting that keeps the film together.I have hardly seen a good movie with bad acting in it.That will never work.If an actor is new, a big production house or working with a famous director may make him a household name but after all that, his talent is what counts. One of the best examples of movie making actor would be the Harry Potter series.Am I right?? [sagnik42]
I agree, I've never seen a good movie with bad acting either. I can't say if you're right or wrong about the Harry Potter series because I haven't seen any of them. Annie [anniepa]
I think alot of times the actor makes the movie. They have to be able to act very good for the movie to be something people want to watch. there have been many good movies that have actually made an actor become famous too though. [stephcjh]
That's very true. We've written about "unknown" actors but EVERY actor was unknown at one time so obviously people watched them all before they were famous or they'd never have become famous. Annie [anniepa]
First I think actors make the film. Same story can have very different performance from different actors. However good story and good making film also can make actors more appealing and more worthy watching. Personally I just watch the film that has good actors. I think in the world we are not lack of good story,but we don't have enough good actors. [sblossom]
my answer to that question is its the actor who made the movie because if the actor is not that good i think the entire movie will be wasted. [warren06]
Why.I can quote a new movie as an example.The latest moview The defiance is such a bore in spite of the new Bond Daniel Craig.They should not have produced this drab. [balasri]
firstly the movie make the actor and after becoming famous, the actor makes the movie. But for me, usually the actor makes the movie ,as if a famous person is not associated with any pictures then the picture goes down and chances of being a flop increases. for example, If shahrukh Khan is present in a movie then there is 99% chance of for the movie to be a hit. As i only go to theatres knowing that shahrukh is there in the movie. [coolcat123]
I think that the actors make the movie. It all depends on how they do and whether they make the experience enjoyable. The actors have to move the film along and make you say,"Wow! I like these people!" Or something close to that lol. [merlinsorca]
I think it's both. a lot of times we want to see a movie because of who's in it. because "if their in it, it must be good!" but sometimes we see movies where we have never seen any of the cast before, and it's one of the best movies we have ever seen. there has to be a good story behind it no matter what. have you ever seen the movie with Tom Arnold called "The Stupids"? my goodness, that movie WAS the stupidest movie ever. it made no sence and was a HUGE waste of film and a waste of my time to watch it, lol. but I remember going to the video store and renting it just because he was on the cover so I thought maybe this would be funny. Wrong! so I think it's more then just the cast really. the cast helps, but really isn't what makes the movie. [jennifer611]
It depends some actors I cannot forget who they are but others have really impressed me like Brendan Frasier in Crash or the Wayans brother who was in Requiem for a Dream. [bluehibiscus]
hmm.. now that you say it, i can't think of any examples!! i do agree though, sometimes you see a movie so terribly directed, and the only reason it was good was because of the actor. i have one example actually, i never really thought about jake gyllenhaal much, or maggie gyllenhall for that matter, but when i saw donnie darko i just fell in love with him! she's pretty cool too. i think he really made that movie. if his character was played badly the movie wouldn't have been as good as it was. [xsammiex]
I think a lot of times for me it is the actor that makes the movies. Like one I can think of that I just watched the other day is Yes Man with Jim Carrey. His comedy is so incredible and brilliant that I couldn't imagine any other actor in that role. There are also movies that make characters more likable too. I used to not really care for Ben Stiller. Then I watched some of his funny movies and I really started to like him. [ravinskye]
Several years ago, I heard a comedian suggest that a movie automatically became better with Arnold Schwarzenegar in it. He quickly followed that up with the line "Look Auntie Em, a tvister!" (i.e. Arnold as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz) [burrito88]
Let me recall. Let us have the first category- the actors matter but not the movie.The Wax Museum where Paris Hilton is more famous than the movie. Second category-The movie is more important than the actors. Plenty of these as a lot of movies were entry points for new actors or ascending ones. Mad Max was for Mel Gibson as Ben-Hur was for Charlton Heston. True; movies like Ben-Hur got almost all the important awards including Best Film. Third category-good actors yet the movie flopped-Heaven's Gate, the never version of The Appaloosa and Les Miserables. Final Category: Good actors-good films-plenty of them. As I have mentioned-Ben-Hur. Then we have The Deer Hunter,Dances With Wolves,Shane, Bruce Almighty,The good, the Bad and the Ugly, Cat Ballou, Barbarella, Sayonara and the list goes on.............. [jonjee0203]
I inclined to believe that it's the actor that makes the movie, no matter how excellent the script or plot, if it was not delivered well by the actor it's nothing. I mean who would recommend a movie if the actor cannot portray his/her roles. If that would be the case then i rather watched cartoons.LOL.. [jenzai]
I won't watch a movie because some great actor plays in it (even though I do get that excitement like when Christopher Walken suddenly appears in the middle of the movie!), but with no doubt good acting makes a movie. Even if it's a low-budget independent movie, if the actors know how to get in character and create the illusion of reality then that movie is sure to be an enjoyable one. Forget about special effects, big names or cheesy plots, we need good acting! [DawGwath]
I've had it happen both ways. Certain actors I really dislike, or used to, but then I noticed I prefer their movies to others that are similar. The two that come to mind are Arnold Schwarzenneger and Will Smith (I disliked Prince of BelAir and it carried over). But their movies are usually so darn good, I tend to wind up owning them. Even the best actors can't save a bad movie. But just cause an actor is unknown doesn't mean they can't do a great job when they get something to work with. The best ones can even do a creditable job on a bad movie. Sometimes. But even a great actor can't save a truly horrible movie. It just depends on how horrid the plot and scenes are. Now, Ralph Fiennes or Anthony Hopkins could probably save even a truly bad movie. Those two are a class act. I could see them saving a really bad movie. [snowcat46]
I am a big fan of plot and storylines, so those are the big pull for me to go see a movie. There are many movies that I cannot imagine anyone else in the part, and agree that there are a handful of actors that can make MOST parts something I would enjoy watching. I rarely go see a movie just because it stars a certain actor though. For instance, though I am a huge Harrison Ford fan, I have never seen A River Runs Through It, no matter how many people tell me I should. It is just NOT my kind of movie. And I will go see a movie that looks great and exciting even if I have never heard of the actors/actresses staring in it! [quinnkl]
when it comes to "making" me see a particular movie it is usually the actor that makes me go see it. as i have learned anyway some stars, at least the time tested ones, go for certain directors to handle their films so this is a safe guideline for me when it comes to having my money's worth. however, in the end, some directors have names almost as bright as that of celebrities' and sometimes mere mention of their name is almost as effective as a lure for me to see that particular movie happy. [Ritchelle]
nah the movie makes it for me, the actor doesnt really matter but then again am not really someone who follows so caled famous people as the way I see it they are only people doing a job lol. So I dont really follow the actor or actress they are irrelevant to my enjoyment or non enjoyment of the movie. Its the actual movie itself that makes me sit up and say great film or dull film lol, Hope you understand what am trying to say. [benny128]
My best example is my mom.She loved the actor Alan Ladd.She saw every film he wasin , regardless how good or bad it was.Me,I have my favorite actor, Kevin Spacey. But there are films that he has made you could n't pay me to see.Pay It Forward is one.For me,it is too sweet.I prefer action and or suspense.On the reverse, I have a vendetta against George Clooney so even if the movie looked good,if he were in it,I wouldn't watch it.So for the most part it is the plot of the film and not the star that gets me to watch. [sarahruthbeth22]