Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
#27
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
He's not quite on the level of Jeff Bridges, but Kurt Russell is just a really solid, underrated performer. I bumped into him in New York like 7 or 8 years ago and he was looking old/haggard back then. I'm sure the level of scripts he's offered these days is pretty poor.
#28
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Vichy America
Posts: 13,533
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#29
#31
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
Where did Kurt Russell go? He hasn't been in a movie 3 years.
I was looking at his list of movies and realized he's been in non-stop entertaining films for 40 years.
Does anyone think of him as a child actor grown up (as with Jodie Foster)? I didnt realize he was in so many live-action Disney films. Was he like the Hillary Duff, Lindsey Lohan, Hanna Montana of the 1970s?
I've seen all of his famous movies, but has anyone seen his lesser well-known films, such as the winter season, swing shift, silwood, and amber waves? I would like to rent all of them.
And was his TV movie ELVIS a huge tv event in the 70s? Kurt Russell must really love John Carpenter for getting hooked up with all his big roles.
I was looking at his list of movies and realized he's been in non-stop entertaining films for 40 years.
Does anyone think of him as a child actor grown up (as with Jodie Foster)? I didnt realize he was in so many live-action Disney films. Was he like the Hillary Duff, Lindsey Lohan, Hanna Montana of the 1970s?
I've seen all of his famous movies, but has anyone seen his lesser well-known films, such as the winter season, swing shift, silwood, and amber waves? I would like to rent all of them.
And was his TV movie ELVIS a huge tv event in the 70s? Kurt Russell must really love John Carpenter for getting hooked up with all his big roles.
He Turned down the Expendables.
#32
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
I'd like for Kurt Russell to be in more movies, but he seems to have almost no box office drawing power. Pretty much everything he's the lead in ends up flopping at the box office, even the good movies.
(Heck, Tarantino couldn't even change that trend!)
(Heck, Tarantino couldn't even change that trend!)
#33
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
I do like Breakdown though.
#36
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
#40
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
I don't believe that for a second. If Kurt Russell wants to work, he'll get roles. I'd assume that he just has money and enjoys the occassional acting role, but isn't out actively getting work. This would explain why the roles that he does take are usually in very entertaining movies.
I'd recommend Sky High to anyone who hasn't seen it. Bruce Campbell, some Kids in the Hall alumni and silly retro-superheroes with some stupid-funny high-energy action/adventure sequences. The movie got overlooked by a lot of people.
I'd recommend Sky High to anyone who hasn't seen it. Bruce Campbell, some Kids in the Hall alumni and silly retro-superheroes with some stupid-funny high-energy action/adventure sequences. The movie got overlooked by a lot of people.
Last edited by d2cheer; 02-15-10 at 11:43 AM.
#41
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
He got ugly and when a formerly good looking actor becomes hard to look at, it usually kills their career. Usually, although Jeff Bridges seems to be some kind of exception.
#42
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
Same thing happened to Ryan O'Neal. He was a damn good looking man, then I guess he had to take steroids, and he got all puffed up in the face. Goodbye career.
#43
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
This is weird.....i was thinking the exact same thing yesterday and checked his profile out on IMDB. I guess it was because i was having a bit of a John Carpenter marathon yersterday ending with The Thing. Kurt is a good actor who has never real hit it as big as he should have. I still long for him to return as Snake Plisskin in a good Escape movie, but looks like that is a no go. Another Thing is being made, but without Kurt. I would love to have seen where another movie after that might have gone. Hell i would love to see another Big Trouble in Little China. The guy is fantastic given the right role. Last year i was vacationing in vegas and a friend took me to place near Lake Meade where Kurt and Spielberg have houses right next to one another. Who is in the driveway when we go past...but none other than Kurt. Part of me wanted to stop and say hi, but we just kept on going.
#44
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Posts: 39,239
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
O'Neal's awesome career begins at Barry Lyndon and ends there. He's never been great after that. Pretty damn generic to me actually.
#45
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
What ever happened to Rob Bottin? He worked on John Carpenter's The Thing. Plus he was originally slated to direct Freddy vs Jason.
#47
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
Either last year or the year before, Glamour magazine produced a handful of short films directed by women, based on stories submitted by their readership. They were free on iTunes at the time, so I downloaded them. I was thrilled to find Kurt Russell playing the dad in Cutlass, which I believe was directed by his daughter, Kate Hudson.
For those who think he's over-rated and mediocre, I would say this: Nobody has ever played Joe Sixpack better than Kurt Russell. Whenever I see virtually anyone else in a blue collar role, they either try too hard to come off as gritty, or they play up stereotypes for laughs and I think, "I know the guy that he's making fun of." Russell has always given us a grounded, believable performance, and I think, "I know that guy." It doesn't seem impressive, until you tally up all the other performances that have missed the mark.
For those who think he's over-rated and mediocre, I would say this: Nobody has ever played Joe Sixpack better than Kurt Russell. Whenever I see virtually anyone else in a blue collar role, they either try too hard to come off as gritty, or they play up stereotypes for laughs and I think, "I know the guy that he's making fun of." Russell has always given us a grounded, believable performance, and I think, "I know that guy." It doesn't seem impressive, until you tally up all the other performances that have missed the mark.
#48
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Kurt Russell: what happened to him?
As for Kurt Russell, he just got "played out." When certain actors reach a certain point in life, they're either endurable despite their weight gain, or they're repulsive. Kurt kind of became repulsive. He tried to be "cool" in Death, but it was borderline pathetic. And films like that Elvis Impersonators with that other washed up actor Kevin Costner. Costner is another actor who lost his looks early in the game (after JFK, he became unwatchable to me).
But look at the bright side: guys like Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner and Ryan O'Neal had their day in the sun! Their movies will be watched over and over and over again, and they are IMMORTAL!! These guys will live forever. Kurt Russell will live forever because of Escape From New York and The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China (and yes, even Unlawful Entry).
He may not be something now. But he was something. And nobody can take that away from him. Nobody.
#49
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
#50
DVD Talk Hall of Fame