What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career change?
10-13-12, 04:31 AM
#1
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What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career change?
I thought of this question with the release of Argo. Ben Affleck's career change by becoming one of the best directors in Hollywood really came as a surprise. I never saw it coming, especially based on the movies he starred in before becoming a director.
In the opposite direction, I never expected Robert DeNiro's acting career to become such a disappointment. The actor who exemplified hard work and taking challenging roles simply gave up 15 years ago and decided to just take the money and run with very little effort.
So who has surprised/shocked you?
In the opposite direction, I never expected Robert DeNiro's acting career to become such a disappointment. The actor who exemplified hard work and taking challenging roles simply gave up 15 years ago and decided to just take the money and run with very little effort.
So who has surprised/shocked you?
Last edited by Jaymole; 10-13-12 at 04:38 AM.
10-13-12, 05:33 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Eddie Murphy - Started out his career as a fearless, controversial comedian, and made some great movies. After a few flops, he started with the bland Nutty Professor and Donkey stuff. Any movie other than those are barely a blip on the radar.
On the other side, who would've figured that Robert Downey Jr. would be an A-List star at this point in his career?
On the other side, who would've figured that Robert Downey Jr. would be an A-List star at this point in his career?
10-13-12, 07:35 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
^Robert Downey Jr. is about as surprising as it gets. Not only that he resurrected his career to become one of Hollywood's A-listers but just the fact that he's still alive is pretty amazing considering the path he was on in the 90s!
10-13-12, 09:55 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Affleck aside for now, Bill Murray...started funny and comical and has now come into his own in the dramatic realm. love him.
10-13-12, 10:21 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Bobcat Goldthwait
From acting doofus to one of the darkest directors I've seen since Todd Solondz started making movies.
From acting doofus to one of the darkest directors I've seen since Todd Solondz started making movies.
10-13-12, 10:52 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
10-13-12, 11:33 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Francis Ford Coppola. Made some of the best films of all time, then hit a rough patch and made some bad films, but he's back on top again in terms of his finances that he's dedicated the rest of his life to making personal 'art films' that he is funding himself. He's already done 3 of them: Youth Without Youth, Tetro, and Twixt.
10-13-12, 11:58 AM
#8
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned already but George Lucas took a turn for the worst. After starting his career out great with films like American Graffiti, the Star Wars trilogy, and working with Spielberg on Indiana Jones he's become loathed by some fans for the prequel Star Wars trilogy and constant tinkering to the original Star Wars trilogy. Plus I think it's reasonable to say that he was a big part of the reason why Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn't quite up to par with the original three.
Ben Affleck is definitely a surprise for the better I agree. He went from starring in mediocre movies for the most part to being a great director. In my opinion he's three for three great films with the films he's directed.
Ben Affleck is definitely a surprise for the better I agree. He went from starring in mediocre movies for the most part to being a great director. In my opinion he's three for three great films with the films he's directed.
10-13-12, 02:09 PM
#10
Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Liam Neeson. I mean, who would have thought he would become an action star in his late 50s, and be believable at it?
Alan Alda did a remarkable job of reinventing himself from one of the most recognizable stars in the world to being a versatile character actor.
Denzel Washington has also undergone a change. Most of his career was spent playing morally upright good guys and authority figures. I could believe him as a military officer more than most actors. But then he did Training Day, against the advice of everyone around him, including his wife. Bingo, an Oscar, and it seemed to free him to start playing more dubious character. Look at his characters before TD and after. Huge difference.
Alan Alda did a remarkable job of reinventing himself from one of the most recognizable stars in the world to being a versatile character actor.
Denzel Washington has also undergone a change. Most of his career was spent playing morally upright good guys and authority figures. I could believe him as a military officer more than most actors. But then he did Training Day, against the advice of everyone around him, including his wife. Bingo, an Oscar, and it seemed to free him to start playing more dubious character. Look at his characters before TD and after. Huge difference.
Last edited by Traxan; 10-13-12 at 02:59 PM.
10-13-12, 04:56 PM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
William Friedkin has distanced himself from big budget films and does more indie type stuff.
10-13-12, 05:31 PM
#12
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Ben Affleck is a good choice. Went from being in dick and fart movies and shit like Bongwater to being one of Hollywood's best directors.
10-13-12, 06:21 PM
#13
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Eddie Murphy - Started out his career as a fearless, controversial comedian, and made some great movies. After a few flops, he started with the bland Nutty Professor and Donkey stuff. Any movie other than those are barely a blip on the radar.
On the other side, who would've figured that Robert Downey Jr. would be an A-List star at this point in his career?
On the other side, who would've figured that Robert Downey Jr. would be an A-List star at this point in his career?
10-13-12, 10:52 PM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Yeah, agreed. I also like the Ben Affleck pick. I've only seen town but I was really impressed that he directed it.
I never thought I would like Leonardo Dicaprio or Justin Timberlake but I think they are both really good actors now and I'm amazed that I look forward to their films.
I never thought I would like Leonardo Dicaprio or Justin Timberlake but I think they are both really good actors now and I'm amazed that I look forward to their films.
10-14-12, 07:31 AM
#16
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Come on guys, Affleck did win an Oscar 14 years ago for off camera work. 
Jackie Earle Haley stands out for me, probably just as much for showing up at all again, let alone being great.
Jackie Earle Haley stands out for me, probably just as much for showing up at all again, let alone being great.
10-14-12, 08:44 AM
#17
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Kevin Smith - was hoping Red State would redeem his downward spiral but it was a big disappointment.
10-14-12, 09:25 AM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Tom Waits started playing in all kinds of good movies. And his music has always been great.
10-14-12, 03:44 PM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
John Travolta--from sit-com actor to credible movie actor to bad-ass movie actor to Battlefield Earth to sit-com actor (Wild Hogs) to movie musical actor to...
10-14-12, 04:00 PM
#21
Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Tom Hanks
One year it was a comedy star doing the famous line: "There's no crying in baseball!"
Next year it was: "I have AIDS" (Oscar)
The year after that, it was: "Life is like a box of chocolates" (Oscar)
Four years after that he becomes the biggest WWII enthusiast in the world.
One year it was a comedy star doing the famous line: "There's no crying in baseball!"
Next year it was: "I have AIDS" (Oscar)
The year after that, it was: "Life is like a box of chocolates" (Oscar)
Four years after that he becomes the biggest WWII enthusiast in the world.
10-14-12, 04:17 PM
#22
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Denzel Washington has also undergone a change. Most of his career was spent playing morally upright good guys and authority figures. I could believe him as a military officer more than most actors. But then he did Training Day, against the advice of everyone around him, including his wife. Bingo, an Oscar, and it seemed to free him to start playing more dubious character. Look at his characters before TD and after. Huge difference.
10-14-12, 05:41 PM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Edward Burns. Dude's written and directed many non-commercial films, but been in some VERY commercial films. I never really cared for him as an actor, but then I watched Brothers McMullen for the first time and was blown away by how cool the film is story/direction wise. He's also not bad starring in his own material.
10-16-12, 03:36 PM
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Christian Bale. After Empire of the Sun he didn't really do anything that good IMO. Wasn't until much later he got some good roles.
10-16-12, 03:41 PM
#25
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Re: What actor/director has surprised/shocked you (good or bad) with their career cha
Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Shia LeBeouf they went from being kind of the weird comic relief kids to big budget action movie leads. In what universe does that happen?