Worst big-name actor working

A lot of people you think of as bad actors have a role or two that legitimizes them. Owen Wilson was amazing in "The Minus Man" -- I don't think anyone could have done that part better. Affleck was good in "Hollywoodland" and also very good in "Bounce," which wasn't a great film but not because of him.

 

Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller are poopy for actors.

 

Wasn't that more or less his role in Pulp Fiction? Minus most of the spasmodic, weeping mass bit?

 

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20217667,00.html

From the Q&A with Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.:

"Once shooting finally began last summer in Hawaii, the film quickly hit a snag. Owen Wilson, who'd been cast as a slick Hollywood agent, dropped out following an apparent suicide attempt. Within weeks, Stiller (who had earlier considered casting Keanu Reeves in his role of Speedman and playing the agent himself) hired Matthew McConaughey to take Wilson's place."

 

McConaughey is downright awful. So is Keanu.

I like Marky Mark, and I also think Cage and Travolta are fine.

Cruise, Robin Williams and even Owen Wilson should be not even be sniffing this list.

 

Gigli was horrid. He'd already played a guy who turned a lesbian once in a movie that might well be a classic. Why do it again? So you can work opposite somebody playing retarded?

That said, I've always though Affleck's biggest problem was that he's a character actor in a leading man's body. He's best when he plays supporting roles (Hollywoodland, Dogma, Good Will Hunting), but he's much too pretty to play those roles according to Hollywood standards.

 

I voted 'Other' with Clint Eastwood in mind. In my opinion the most over rated actor, of the big names, in the last 45 plus years.

My dis of him as an actor doesn't take away from the fact I like some of his movies, I just realize his limited range as an actor, his wooden style and the fact that for the most part he just stands there and says his lines. His character portrayal has changed as he has aged but he has only grown as an actor within the confines of his limited abilities and has never truly had a breakout type role, outside his stereotypical pattern, where he could actually show he had some range.

Clint's an icon for sure but his acting chops don't measure up.

 

That's a perfect description of Affleck's problem and touches on the biggest problem for a lot of the actors mentioned in the thread -- They are doing what the studios want them to do and what they get paid big bucks to do. If somebody wanted to pay me seven or eight figures to write the same kind of story or book over and over... well, you can bet I'd do it. Who cares if a lot of the public tires of it?

 

Watching Matt Damon and Affleck's careers have been interesting. Damon has been amazing, he's done action (Bourne) serious drama (Talented Mr. Ripley, Courage Under Fire) light comedy (Oceans), stupid comedy (Stuck on You). I think it's the difference of Affleck becoming a "movie star" especially with the JLo period, and Damon focusing on being an actor.

 

Sorry you apparently missed "Bridges of Madison County."

 

He basically played Clint Eastwood in that one, too.

I like most of Clint's movies and I think he's a great director, but the nearest thing to "breaking out" he's ever done has been the monkey movies.

He isn't a great actor in terms of versatility, but nobody plays Clint Eastwood roles better. And no way in hell he is anywhere near the "worst actor" list, no matter how you define it.

 

Brad Pitt. "Meet Joe Black." Horrifying.