MOST OVERRATED PERFORMANCES?

[urbanlegend23]

What are some of the most overrated performances in movies?

Mine would have to be Naomi Watts for MULLHOLLAND DRIVE, she was quite fucking horrible for most of it. It was only when her character got to be jealous and shit that I started to like her. For the rest of it seemed like she was auditioning for DAYS OF OUR LIVES or something. And that audition scene wasn't that great! What was everybody going on about?

I'm sure I will get shit for this, oh well...

Good tits though :D

[therealjohng]

Every performance in American Beauty. OVERRATED.

[urbanlegend23]

Why do you think that johng? I think all the performances in AMERICAN BEAUTY were brilliant, and I'm not just saying that because it is #3 on my top 10 of all time :)

[Nate6]

A recent one that springs to mind is Academy Award-winner (huh?) Roberto Benigni. His performance in Life is Beautiful was nothing but mugging and clichés. Guh...

[notchreturns]

Kevin Spacey in THE USUAL SUSPECTS.

[freakandgeek]

like the real johng said about american beauty. but i think the whole movie was overrated. erg....also, russell crowe in a beautiful life was overrated in my opinion. he was ok, the movie was ok....it was just ok. also kim basinger in la confidential. she sucked. she was the worst thing in the movie. i was mad when she got her award

[Jasonite]

I got one. Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Overrated.



J

[charliebobo]

Dustin Hoffman- RAIN MAN
Al Pacino- SCENT OF A WOMAN (shame he had to win for this and not for Godfather I, II, III, Dog Day Afternoon, Carlito's Way or Serpico)

[Hannibal21]

Dustin Hoffman's performance in Rain Man OVERRATED? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! ;)

As for me, I'd have to say these performances were quite overrated:
Roberto fucking Benigni in Life is Beautiful!!!
Tom Hanks in everything besides Forrest Gump
Tom Cruise in EVERYTHING!
Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich
Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential
Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love
Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom

[Voodoodoll]

Gwyneth Paltrow in general but especially Shakespeare in Love - that should have been Cate's Oscar grr arg :mad:

I think Maggie Smith is amazing, but I don't think the roles she's had of late lend to good performances (if that makes sense :confused: ). I just think she could phone in things like Gosford Park and no one would really notice. I'd like to see her do something more challenging.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by urbanlegend23
What are some of the most overrated performances in movies?

Mine would have to be Naomi Watts for MULLHOLLAND DRIVE, she was quite fucking horrible for most of it. It was only when her character got to be jealous and shit that I started to like her. For the rest of it seemed like she was auditioning for DAYS OF OUR LIVES or something. And that audition scene wasn't that great! What was everybody going on about?

I'm sure I will get shit for this, oh well...

Good tits though :D

You appear to have missed the point...

The whole first act is supposed to be "Days of our Lives" (at least as far as Naomi Watts is concerned). The Betty character is vanilla, we don't ask to see beyond the vapid (and ultimately naive) exterior. There isn't really anything there, and we know that. We do see traces of Diane every now and again (lesbian embrace, audition sequence), but Betty never actually transcends. Gee, this wholesome young gal wants to become a real-life actress...Okay, NEXT.

What is remarkable is the transformation within the second act. I know my ma' and da' were confused...they didn't even realise that Diane and Betty were being played by the same actress. When we reach this part of the film..."wake up pretty girl", we are HIT with reality. Diane is REAL, and there isn't a single trace of Betty to be found. You can see anxiety etched in her face, but she too seems empty, of course SHE IS...but in an entirely different sense. Diane’s mannerisms are sluggish and self-conscious, and she is almost in a dream-like state at times!?

Was Diane EVER like Betty in any way? Or is this just how she wished to see herself in her final moments? ... Wholesome, insecure, beautiful, talented...and in the first throes of love.

I personally think Naomi Watts is superb in Mullholland Drive, she shows range, spark, understanding...and her overall performance is pretty bloody dynamic.

[Grebdron]

Al Pacino in almost all of his recent stuff, especially The Devil's Advocate.

[idealdiscountdude]

Russell Crowe in Gladiator (decent but far from Oscar worthy)

Denzel Washington in Training Day (decent but not Oscar worthy)

Annette Bening in American Beauty (overacted)

and on these boards,

Samantha Morton in Minority Report (I do not see what the deal is with her very small and really uninteresting performance)

[Razorblade Smile]

Eminem in 8 Mile.

A skanky white trasher rapper hired to play a skanky white trash rapper does NOT equal 'talented' in my opinion.

But what do I know?

[ilovemovies]

I have to agree with Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom. She was good but I don't think she deserved all of her awards and nominations.

My choices:
The whole cast of Natural Born Killers..........ugh, I hate that movie.
Christian Bale in American Psycho...............ugh, I hate this movie too.


That's all I can think of. Be back later for more.

[flowrchild]

Originally posted by Razorblade Smile
Eminem in 8 Mile.

A skanky white trasher rapper hired to play a skanky white trash rapper does NOT equal 'talented' in my opinion.

But what do I know?

Yea seriously. And he also did a shitty job of playing himself. If he is going to win any award, it should be a razzie.

[The Other]

Recently...the entire cast of Chicago!

BAH!

[screamer581]

Originally posted by Razorblade Smile
Eminem in 8 Mile.

A skanky white trasher rapper hired to play a skanky white trash rapper does NOT equal 'talented' in my opinion.

But what do I know?

Hmm, I thought he was the best part of the disappointing 8 Mile, ah well...anyways.. Good call on Annette Bening Ideal, I loved the movie (though if I recall you didn't), and loved all the performances in it...besides the usually great Bening, she definitely overacted, and was not oscar worthy. I am glad that Swank won.

[happy OUT here]

Definately Russell Crowe in Gladiater



I'd have to say Wil Smith in Ali

[Succubus]

Russell Crowe in just about anything post-The Insider. Spectacular performance in that, but the undeserved Oscar for Gladiator did his ego the power of good and all of his performances seem driven by the need for an Academy Award.

Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York. May seem like blasphemy, but he- and the rest of the film- left me cold.

Halle Berry in Monster's Ball. Yes, she was good, but not as amazingly wonderful as that little gold dude may have indicated. Now she's stuck in her "sassy chick with attitude" rut after Die Another Day.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love. If the Oscar was for being out-prettied by your male co-star, then the award was deservedly hers. But for simpering and putting on an English accent (see: Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones), then no way. And Blanchett was far more deserving that year for Elizabeth.

[ColinM]

Benicio Del Toro in Traffic. One of the most overrated ever.

[A.J. Hakari]

Hayden Christensen in LIFE AS A HOUSE. Oh, you're a Goth kid with parental conflicts and a messed-up life...boo friggin' hoo (sorry for the cynicism, but the dude's performance was very overdone and overrated).

[Hannibal21]

Originally posted by Adam J. Hakari
Hayden Christensen in LIFE AS A HOUSE. Oh, you're a Goth kid with parental conflicts and a messed-up life...boo friggin' hoo (sorry for the cynicism, but the dude's performance was very overdone and overrated).

I agree with you completely. Ugh, his performance in LIFE AS A HOUSE was just too fucking awful to sit through, although his performance in STAR WARS EPISODE II was 10 time worse. God I loathe him.

[AE35Unit]

I know I'll be universally hated for this:

James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause".

"Could I get a little mustard with THAT HAM!"

[Giselle]

Russell Crowe: Beautiful Mind and Gladiator

Natalie Portman: Star Wars 1&2

Matt Damon: Good Will Hunting

Madonna: Evita

Tom Cruise: Magnolia

Haley Joel Osment: The Sixth Sense

Anyone in the freakin' Devils Advocate

[Hannibal21]

Originally posted by Giselle
Haley Joel Osment: The Sixth Sense


I cannot agree more, can this kid play anything besides the "sad", "depressed", or "screwed up" type? He was good in A.I. but other than that, I really don't see what the fuss is about.

[El Bracamonti]

Originally posted by Jasonite
I got one. Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Overrated.





i disagree. i thought he gave an awesome performance. as for my opinion, i would have to go with all of haley joel osment's performances.

[Hannibal21]

Originally posted by El Bracamonti
i disagree. i thought he gave an awesome performance.

Ditto. That was one of the greatest performances by an actor I've ever seen.

[Zed]

In the recent past, I don't think that Paul Newman perfomance in "Road to perdition" is Oscar material.

And average performance for a good written character. That's all.

[Sad man]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
You appear to have missed the point...

The whole first act is supposed to be "Days of our Lives" (at least as far as Naomi Watts is concerned). The Betty character is vanilla, we don't ask to see beyond the vapid (and ultimately naive) exterior. There isn't really anything there, and we know that. We do see traces of Diane every now and again (lesbian embrace, audition sequence), but Betty never actually transcends. Gee, this wholesome young gal wants to become a real-life actress...Okay, NEXT.

What is remarkable is the transformation within the second act. I know my ma' and da' were confused...they didn't even realise that Diane and Betty were being played by the same actress. When we reach this part of the film..."wake up pretty girl", we are HIT with reality. Diane is REAL, and there isn't a single trace of Betty to be found. You can see anxiety etched in her face, but she too seems empty, of course SHE IS...but in an entirely different sense. Diane’s mannerisms are sluggish and self-conscious, and she is almost in a dream-like state at times!?

Was Diane EVER like Betty in any way? Or is this just how she wished to see herself in her final moments? ... Wholesome, insecure, beautiful, talented...and in the first throes of love.

I personally think Naomi Watts is superb in Mullholland Drive, she shows range, spark, understanding...and her overall performance is pretty bloody dynamic.


WOW!..You are so right!....I loves Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive(10/10).

Most overrated:

ADRIEN BRODY for The Pianist(7/10).The only thing I liked was how he changed through the movie, but the acting was mediocre.
RUSSEL CROWE for Gladiator(8/10)...What´s the big deal?.

And a lot lot more...

[urbanlegend23]

Hahaha! Sad man, I love your avatar! :D:D

[Tom Samborski]

Kate Winslet in Titanic.

[JCLC11]

Denzel Washington - Training Day

'Nuff said . . .

[Ren Hoek]

Originally posted by Sad man
ADRIEN BRODY for The Pianist(7/10).The only thing I liked was how he changed through the movie, but the acting was mediocre.
Agreed! He has these 'sad eyes' like Haley Joel Osment ...but that does NOT equal brilliant acting. However, a good performance, just not great and not worthy an Oscar nomination.

Most of Al Pacino's performances are also way overrated... like charliebobo said before: he was great in The Godfather trilogy ...but his acting style now doesn't have any more subtlety and has become extremely over the top (his performance in The Recruit was a farce!):(

[Zombie]

JIM CARRY - EVERY MOVIE

[Shockwave]

Halli Berry in Monster Ball! It was good, but not that good.

[MickeyKnox]

Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind"

[eraserhead_99]

Originally posted by urbanlegend23
What are some of the most overrated performances in movies?

Mine would have to be Naomi Watts for MULLHOLLAND DRIVE, she was quite fucking horrible for most of it. It was only when her character got to be jealous and shit that I started to like her. For the rest of it seemed like she was auditioning for DAYS OF OUR LIVES or something. And that audition scene wasn't that great! What was everybody going on about?

I'm sure I will get shit for this, oh well...

Good tits though :D

It was sort of intended to be that way.

[eraserhead_99]

Originally posted by Giselle

Tom Cruise: Magnolia


His performance was friggin unbelievable!!!!

Dustin Hoffman in Rain man was awesome!

[BadCoverVersion]

Tom Cruise - Magnolia
Gwyneth Paltrow - The Royal Tenenbaums

[Annie Hall]

Originally posted by idealdiscountdude
Annette Bening in American Beauty (overacted)


In her defense, I think the character was meant to be over the top. She was meant to be uber-fake, very cutesy, overly nice, overly friendly, overly put together...etc. She'd become so plastic, she didn't know how to actually feel. When she would have small breakdowns, we had this small glimpse of her humanity...and then, in a second, she'd be back to her perky, perfect self.

She was, indeed, a commercial for how normal she was. I thought Bening was stunning.

Just me.

[[Durden]]

Director Guillermo del Toro and Wesley Snipes in Blade 2

[The Sandman]

hehe Tyler Durden from Jeuxpress ;)


for me I think it's also Russell Crowe in Beautiful Mind, biggest overrated movie ever!

[FilmBuff84]

Denzel Washington in Training Day.
No way was that an Oscar worthy perfromance, I was stunned when he received a nomination. He didn't do anything but swear and act superior. Totally overrated.

[johnny2blades]

Helen Hunt in pretty much anything...egads, how can anyone think this chick is any good?

And who thought Bale sucked in American Psycho??? I'm more impressed with him every time I see that.

[Olive]

i think julia roberts in erin brockovich was completely overrated.
what was all hype about???

[RicochetShaw]

Denzel Washington in Training Day - great actor, not great performance, and certainly not oscar-worthy
Russel Crowe in Gladiator - Lol..... don't even wanna talk of this one
Julia Roberts in everything - ugh
and definitely Haley Joel Osment in Sixth Sense - i think we tend to like child performances a bit more and give them tons more grace

and good pick idealdiscountdude
Samantha Morton in Minority Report - okay performance i guess, but why all the praise from so many schmoes?

[Donnie_Darko]

2 simple words...

Denzel Washington in Training Day... my GOD that was a horrible performance!!!