toddly6666

For many years, the "comedian-turned-serious actor" (Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Jamie Fox, Queen Latifah, MoNique) was a surprise. But now, people are pretty much aware that most comedians have the potential to be good actors. I already expect that up-and-coming comedians, Danny McBride and Zach Galifianakis, will probably pull some future respectable performances in their careers. If Anna Farris didn't get so plastic, then I would think that she could pull off some serious performances in the future.

But what about bad actors? Which bad actors that you love would you want to see succeed and surprise the shit out of everyone and all the film critics?

For example, we all loved Mickey Rourke the other year in The Wrestler. (well, his scenario would technically be "good actors turning into bad actors that turn back into good actors"). Also, Kal Penn surprised me in The Namesake, Superman Returns, and tv show 24. Before that, I thought he was just one of those annoying actors. And of course, John Travolta surprised everyone with Pulp Fiction.

Megan Fox is a horrible actress according to her current film portfolio. But she's hot and she has tons of presence (maybe the presence is just due to her hotness). I would just love to see her surprise everyone with an Oscar-worthy performance in some respectable good film in the near future, while she's still hot, young, and not too plastic. I can't wait to see which director has the balls to cast her in some Holocaust, genocide-type film.

I would have also said Jessica Alba, another pretty bad actress, but I've seen her potential - she can act - she was great in THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY, a film that hasn't really been seen by people that actually like Jessica Alba. I know she can act, it just that she chooses to be in bad films and act poorly in them.

Which bad actors would you like to see succeed by someday pulling off an Oscar-worthy performance?

Solid Snake

that's an interesting question but...usually if they're bad in their first roles...I usually don't want to see them again unless they're under some good director that can "make" them good. Though...to be honest...Scorsese couldn't make Diaz a top tier playing in Gangs of NY so wtf do i know?

toddly6666

Diaz is an actress I hate as well, but like you said, "good directors can literally make a bad actor turn into a good actor." I thank Spike Jones for seeing Diaz' potential in BEING JOHN MALKOVICH.

Solid Snake, there aren't any bad actors you like? Keanu? Van Damme?

PopcornTreeCt

Danny McBride --now I don't think he's a bad actor per se... he should've won an Emmy for Eastbound & Down... but I'd love to see him in some sorta "Wrestler"-esque role where he gives a tearjerking performance

Sylvester Stallone --okay... if Robin Williams got an Oscar... then Stallone deserves one... again in a "Wrestler"-esque role

Scarlett Johansson --she's a bad actress now... I'd like to see her play an actress/singer who's hot... then does drugs/porn... then makes a comeback... I think Scarlett has the potential to be a decent actress but she needs to get rid of the blonde hair

Solid Snake

Oh shit..well...well....I don't' expect an Oscar perfromance from Van Damme (though I hear JCVD was good). I just want him to kick ass well in a good movie. Actually you use that for Arnold too. Most action actors in fact. You just need them to play their and be believable. I'm not saying HK or any action flick has be a low acted piece...just be believable. Jackie Chan for example does fine acting for his style of action/comedy.

Do I think Van Damme is a bad actor for a normal Drama film?...yeah, I'd say yes. For an action film...he can be good in that.

I've never really felt much for Reeves. I think he does his job well. I don't think he's a bad actor. I think he's alright. Though in general his roles are very....dry in a way. Even in Point Break it's still kinda mellowish but I like him in that. I like him in the Matrix. Can I believe that he can act to an Oscar type of performance sure...give him a script that's that good and director that can make him act differently and remember I still don't know why directors don't take command of actors' styles...ex Reeves is always criticized for playing as Neo since The Matrix...so why don't they make him change? Of course...his style worked absolutely fine in The Day The Earth Stood Still, I even chuckled about it and i'm not one to criticize his acting. I just don't follow his work or care to cuz he's the same.

I just think directors need to get an actor and whip them into shape. This doesn't work always but in some like Alba yeah...depending on the film I can see her being great..she can act ok....she just needs to act better in a better film.

Numanoid

Funny, I was thinking of this very thing a couple of days ago as I watched Jeff Fahey in yet another craptastic direct-to-cable type movie. I've always liked him, and don't think he's a bad actor at all, but seems to have been stuck in that C-movie rut for decades now. Every now and then he pops up and reminds me that I wish someone would give him a Travolta/Pulp Fiction opportunity to break out. (For instance, I thought he was the best part of Planet Terror.)

mgbfan

Johnny Knoxville!

JumpCutz

Lee Majors is the Fallen Guy. Summer 2011.

whoopdido

Didn't Stallone already do his "Wrestler-esque" role in Cop Land?

Fist of Doom

Paris Hilton, in an adaptation of Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

Cellar Door

I was thinking Jeff Fahey, too. He's great on LOST.

Michael Corvin

Fahey is awesome on Lost. Perfect pick for this thread.

toddly6666

It seems that Jeff Fahey has a big role in Rodriguez' MACHETE with Danny Trejo. On a poster I saw online, it's only Trejo and Fahey's names on the poster...

MrSmearkase

+1 for McBride

I love his comedic roles, but he was quite effective in a subdued role in Up in the Air.

Brack

Sylvester Stallone was Oscar-nominated for his acting in 1977. His performance in Rocky made him a star, so I'd hardly call him a bad actor. He's just a guy who's done way too many bad movies.

Groucho

Michael Parks. He was great in From Dusk til Dawn 3.

Solid Snake

Michael Parks is great in any and all Tarantino/Rodriguez flicks. Unrecognizable in Kill Bill Vol. 2 for sure.

foofighters7

Well, I don't think he is a bad actor, but would fit into the funny guy turned serious.

Jim Carrey

Had a close shot with Man on the Moon or Truman Show but I think will be in the running again down the road.

As far as a bad actor- I dont know...maybe Jennifer Lopez at some point

toddly6666

And Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Addi88

It would be awesome to see Andrew "Dice" Clay play this pissed off, anti-hero father figure or something along those lines and start creating oscar buzz.


Oh, and this guy we'll have to watch out for too.

foofighters7

I personally would put his performance in Eternal Sunshine as his best or 2nd best, but he didn't get talked up for that film as much as he did for Truman Show and Man on the Moon.

I think he was great in all 3, and at the time thought he was the best actor that year for Man on the Moon.

MrSmearkase

In addition to Truman, Man on the Moon, and Eternal Sunshine, I'll throw in The Majestic. Loved that movie, and thought Carrey was terrific.

He could certainly do something down the road that would bring him attention.

Solid Snake

I actually think that's his best acting role yet.

FantasticVSDoom

Ill 3rd McBride and add Vin Diesel to the list...

BJacks

Cuba Gooding, Jr. I'd like to think he has another one in him, but it seems every week I get sent another shitty DTV movie starring him, so I'm not holding out hope.