Underrated / Overrated Actors / Actresses

[HM Murdock]

Who do you think are overrated or underrated in the movie industry? There are loads of people out there who get a ton of praise for doing not much at all whilst others who are amazing on screen don't seem to get the reckonition they deserve. Here are a few that I can think of on the top of my head:

Underrated:

Rutger Hauer
Viggo Mortensen

Overrated:

Catherine Zeta Jones
Ben Alfleck
Ben Stiller

[Moviefan02000]

Underrated would definetely have Laura Linney, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall.

Overrated ... Jamie Foxx, 'nuff said.

[jaw2929]

Over-rated: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, JULIA SKANK ROBERTS

Under-rated: Ed Norton, Jason Lee, Keira Knightley

[Cronos]

Underrated

Rutger Hauer
Ed Norton
Anna Farris


Overrated

Orlando Bloom
Catherine Zeta Jones

[shawn-o]

Underrated: Viggo Mortensen, Eric Bana, Peter Greene, Karl Urban, Paul Walker, Jason Lee is a good one, LL Cool J, Chris Klein he can be in good movies sometimes I mean look at We Were Soliders and American Pie.

Overrated: Ben Affleck, Orlando Bloom, Jennifer Lopez

[morricone]

Underrated:
Willem Dafoe
Clint Eastwood
Paul Giamatti (that's two fucking years in a row he's been screwed over)

Overrated:
Christian Bale
Denzel Washington
Johnny Depp

[scottish-movie-freak]

Underrated:

Patricia Clarkson
William H Macy
Audrey Tautou (most people think she's just a pretty face)
Emily Watson
Cameron Diaz
Mark Wahlberg
Sarah Polley
Paul Giamatti

Overrated:

Hilary Swank
Julia Roberts
Angelina Jolie
Sean Penn
Jack Nicholson
Brad Pitt

[morricone]

Originally posted by scottish-movie-freak

Overrated:
Jack Nicholson


:mad:

I doesn't like you much no more.

[zeppelin]

I don't see what's so special about:
John Cusack
Edward Norton
Renee Zellweger
Hugh Grant
Ewan McGregor
Julia Roberts

I don't think these people get enough respect and/or recognition:
Tim Roth
Paz Vega
Samantha Morton
Hope Davis
Catherine O'Hara
Campbell Scott
Dylan Baker
John Goodman
Patricia Clarkson
Javier Bardem
Antonio Banderas
Nathan Lane
Steve Martin
Henry Winkler

[scottish-movie-freak]

Originally posted by morricone
:mad:

I doesn't like you much no more.

Oh, you never liked me much before ;)

I don't know, I just think that Nicholson plays all his parts the same, especially now as he's gotten older. The mischievous rascal look can only get you so far.

[Hannibal21]

I don't see what's so special about the following:
Orlando Bloom
Owen Wilson
Gwyneth Paltrow
Angelina Jolie
Ben Affleck
Jennifer Lopez
Tom Hanks (good actor, but not THAT good)
Sandra Bullock

I don't think the following get enough respect and/or recognition:
Gary Oldman
Paul Giamatti
Tim Roth
Harvey Keitel
Hope Davis
Patricia Clarkson
Philip Baker Hall
Julianne Moore (that's right)
Bill Paxton
William H. Macy
Don Cheadle
Michelle Pfeiffer

[Rufus]

We must remember that awards are not everything. Just because someone has not won an Academy Award, in my book, does not mean shite.

Paul Giamatti, for example, I love him and so many others share that feeling, but I in no way think he's underrated at all. People rave about him all the time. They have since Private Parts. He's been nominated for an Academy Award, that proves he's highly rated among the big wigs. I, personally, didn't think he should have won. He was good but not the finest, my oppinion.

The same thing with Harvey Keitel. One of my all time favorite actors and I've heard that from numerous critics, actors, directors, etc. He's recieved a lot of praise over his long career. Not that underrated if he is at all.

I'll agree with Tim Roth, Catherine O'Hara, Henry Winkler, Julianne Moore, and Phillip Baker Hall.

Some people I don't think are necessarily underrated but have yet to hit the superstardum recognition that is sure to come because they're just now starting to become recognized. These would include:

My favorite actor of all time John C. Reilly
Don Cheadle
Chloe Sevigny
Benicio Del Toro
Phillip Seymore Hoffman
Clifton Collins Jr.

and more that I can't remember right now. All of these have been around for a while but haven't yet been recognized by the mass, but are sure to be huge. Those who say, "We don't have a Deniro or a Pacino" aren't really looking in the right places.

Overrated:

I would have to agree that Denzel Worshington is overrated. He can be great, but he's not the best and has done some shit.

John Wayne. Same deal. He got his bottom kissed. He's good, but doesn't have half the charm or acting ability as say a Paul Newman or a James Caan.

I can't think of anymore overrated. I'm sure there's more, but everyone has their fans and a lot of people considered overrated really aren't that highly rated among everyone.

[morricone]

Originally posted by scottish-movie-freak
I don't know, I just think that Nicholson plays all his parts the same, especially now as he's gotten older. The mischievous rascal look can only get you so far.

Robert Dupea and Warren Schmidt are not the same! Jack Torrence and Jake Gittes are not the same! R.P. MacMurphy and George Hanson are not the same! Melvin Udall and Garrett Breedlove are not the same!

[shawn-o]

I must add Peter Stormare to the Underrated list

[scottish-movie-freak]

Originally posted by morricone
Robert Dupea and Warren Schmidt are not the same! Jack Torrence and Jake Gittes are not the same! R.P. MacMurphy and George Hanson are not the same! Melvin Udall and Garrett Breedlove are not the same!

He has had varied parts, I'm not denying that but what I'm saying is that he plays them all the same. No matter what he does, there's always the cheeky grin and a slight wink to the camera. I never truly believe the characters he plays and now I'm beginning to dislike him after the piece of shit that was Something's Gotta Give.

[Pulp_Joker]

Posted by Rufus
Paul Giamatti, for example, I love him and so many others share that feeling, but I in no way think he's underrated at all. People rave about him all the time. They have since Private Parts. He's been nominated for an Academy Award, that proves he's highly rated among the big wigs. I, personally, didn't think he should have won. He was good but not the finest, my oppinion.


When was Giamatti nominated? Just nick-picking, that's all.
I think Giamatti is underrated for the fact that 95% of America has not heard of him. When I tell people that he should have won for best actor this year and last year (that's right, I have the balls to say it), the response is always, "Who the hell is that?' So, IMHO, i do believe he is underrated.

[Beatrix Kiddo]

Originally posted by morricone
Underrated:
Paul Giamatti (that's two fucking years in a row he's been screwed over)

AMEN! As for mine:

Underrated: William H. Macy, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Liam Neeson,

Overrated: Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts, Sean Astin, Tobey Maguire, Mel Gibson, Will Smith, Helen Hunt, Adam Sandler, Nicole Kidman

[ilovemovies]

Originally posted by scottish-movie-freak
He has had varied parts, I'm not denying that but what I'm saying is that he plays them all the same. No matter what he does, there's always the cheeky grin and a slight wink to the camera. I never truly believe the characters he plays and now I'm beginning to dislike him after the piece of shit that was Something's Gotta Give.

Disagree with you there. About Schmidt, The Pledge, The Crossing Guard. Where is that "cheeky grin and slight wink to the camera" you say he always has?

And those are completely different characters and I COMPLETELY believed them. Plus, nobody plays a psycho better than him.

Plus, I didn't mention his great work in As Good as it Gets, A Few Good Men, Wolf and, of coarse, Batman. Plus, he was hilarious opposite Adam Sandler in Anger Management!

The only movies and performances of Nicholson's I didn't care for was in Mars Attacks! and the overrated The Shining.




There are WAY too many names for me list in the underrated section. But in the overrated section there is:

Christian Bale (though maybe The Machinist and Batman Begins will change my mind)

Milla Jovovich - she's not terrible, but she's not particularly great either

Penelope Cruz - Awful in Gothika, and though she's done quite a few movies I've loved (All the Pretty Horses, Vanilla Sky, Blow) she never really left much of an impression on me even in those movies

[Hannibal21]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Disagree with you there. About Schmidt, The Pledge, The Crossing Guard. Where is that "cheeky grin and slight wink to the camera" you say he always has?

And those are completely different characters and I COMPLETELY believed them. Plus, nobody plays a psycho better than him.

Plus, I didn't mention his great work in As Good as it Gets, A Few Good Men, Wolf and, of coarse, Batman. Plus, he was hilarious opposite Adam Sandler in Anger Management!

The only movies and performances of Nicholson's I didn't care for was in Mars Attacks! and the overrated The Shining.

Get to the video store as quick as you can and rent One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Chinatown, and Five Easy Pieces IMMEDIATELY! They feature Jack's three greatest performances EVER!

[Donnie_Darko]

I'll keep this "new", or it'll be all "classic" actors...

Under
John Cusack - One of the best, and never gets props
Ryan Reynolds - Okay, I dig this guy. He's funny as hell, and I look forward to seeing what he can do in Amityville.

Over
Hilary Swank - and it's not just cause she won another undeserved Oscar, it's cause she's NOT that good.
Heath Ledger - He's "pretty" and that's all. He's a weak, weak actor.

[Gian-Sergio]

Underrated:
Gael Garcia Bernal, John Cazale, Lee Van Cleef, Klaus Kinski, Takashi Shimura, Goya Toledo, Joe Spinell, Noami Watts, Leonardo DiCapiro, David Carradine, Bencio Del Toro, and Bruno Ganz

Overrated:
Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, Sean Connery, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Keanu Reeves, and Arnold Schwarzenegger

[ilovemovies]

Originally posted by Hannibal21
Get to the video store as quick as you can and rent One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Chinatown, and Five Easy Pieces IMMEDIATELY! They feature Jack's three greatest performances EVER!

Yep. I really need to see those movies. As well as Easy Rider, Reds, The Witches of Eastwick, Terms of Endearment, Prizi's Honor and Hoffa among others.

[Terror Australis]

OVERRATED:
Jennifer Lopez
Hillary Duff
Gwyneth Paltrow


UNDERRATED:
Philp Seymour Hoffman
Sean Astin
Bruce Campbell
Emily Watson
Rachel Griffiths
Toni Collette

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Overrated:
Johnny Depp
Halle Berry
Gwyneth Paltrow
Nicole Kidman


Underrated:
Paul Giamatti
Peter Sellers (never got the recognition he deserved in life)
Clint Eastwood (I know it sounds stupid, but you can't give this man TOO much recognition)

[morricone]

Originally posted by Brando @$$ Fat

Underrated:
Paul Giamatti
Peter Sellers (never got the recognition he deserved in life)
Clint Eastwood (I know it sounds stupid, but you can't give this man TOO much recognition)

It doesn't sound stupid. It's very true. Clint is underrated as an actor.

[brndyprince]

underrated : heath ledger! I think it's absurd that some here think he is overrated when he is not . i believe heath ledger does'nt get enough recognition . .he is one of the most talented young actors around . and he has both good looks and great talent . he's far from being a weak actor . so give him a chance .overrated: ashton kutchter ! i dont see what the big fuss is about him . now he is one that's a weak actor he coudn't act out of paper bag . he's not even attractive looking.

[wyodebbie]

Underrated ones not mentioned:
Kevin Bacon
Kathy Baker
Tom Berenger
Gabriel Byrne
Brian Cox
Joan Cusak
Willem Dafoe
Matt Damon
Ralph Fiennes
Bridget Fonda
Andy Garcia
Barbara Hershey
Bob Hoskins
Anthony LaPaglia
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Alfred Molina
William Petersen
Amanda Plummer
Aidan Quinn
Stephen Rea
Miranda Richardson
David Straithairn
Tilda Swinton
Lil Taylor
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Fred Ward