Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest?

CaptainCanada · September 21 2010, 03:19 AM

Purely in terms of how far he's fallen, my choice is Robert De Niro. From the 1970s to the 1990s, you could argue there was nobody as consistently interesting and at the top of his game. Now? The last decade has been pretty much nothing but mediocre to bad, varying between coasting or rather shallowly parodying his own past roles. The one notable exception is The Good Shepherd, which he directed (and cameoed in), and which was excellent. But otherwise?

Edit - oh, and he was fine in Stardust, I guess, but that's again essentially a one-note joke (Robert De Niro as a camp gay pirate).

Al Pacino hasn't been all that interesting in the cinema for a while, but he's at least got some good TV projects.

Mr Light · September 21 2010, 03:26 AM

I think the winner will always be Ben Kingsley.

Mr. Adventure · September 21 2010, 03:26 AM

How about Val Kilmer?

Spot's Meow · September 21 2010, 05:18 AM

From an entertainment standpoint, I disagree about De Niro. My favorite films of his have all been from the past decade or so.

I just heard that Florence Henderson is now on Dancing With the Stars. Sad times. Actually, pretty much any actor that ends up on Dancing with the Stars is slumming it.

Venardhi · September 21 2010, 06:17 AM

Mr Light wrote:

I think the winner will always be Ben Kingsley.

Aint it the truth. If there is one man who needs a good serious cable drama to shine in it is the good Sir Ben.

Owain Taggart · September 21 2010, 06:32 AM

Interesting thread. I'll say Eddie Murphy. He used to be legendary and I loved him in his Beverly Hills Cop series, but lately he seems to not even be trying. His movies all seem to be rather bad lately. I think he needs a better agent that will provide better scrutiny with scripts. Same with Robin Williams. Big fan of his, but lately his movies haven't been very good.

FPAlpha · September 21 2010, 01:53 PM

Harrison Ford (because most have been mentioned already)

Disregarding Star Wars and Indiana Jones Ford has made some really great movies such as Witness or Regarding Henry (some of my favorite movies starring him).

He needs to find a good movie again.. either a good thriller like The Fugitive or some quieter piece where he can really show his acting skills.

Asbo Zaprudder · September 21 2010, 02:01 PM

Mark Hamill. Oh, you said "great actor"...

Meryl Streep

Mr. Adventure · September 21 2010, 02:02 PM

Spot's Meow wrote:

From an entertainment standpoint, I disagree about De Niro. My favorite films of his have all been from the past decade or so.

I just heard that Florence Henderson is now on Dancing With the Stars. Sad times. Actually, pretty much any actor that ends up on Dancing with the Stars is slumming it.

Who has she ever been other than Mrs. Brady, though? I don't know if she's really ever been a *star* but I caught her dance and she did all right for someone who was 76.

FordSVT · September 21 2010, 05:00 PM

Great Mambo Chicken wrote:

Mark Hamill. Oh, you said "great actor"...

Meryl Streep

She's been nominated for an Academy Award 5 times in the last ten years, including this year and last, and between Julie & Julia and The Devil Wears Prada alone have profited over 100 million.

"Meryl Streep is slumming it."

Heck I don't even enjoy her movies that much.

Another nod to Ben Kingsley; that man will take any role that pays him.

Agent Richard07 · September 21 2010, 05:05 PM

^ No, that's Samuel L. Jackson. Or maybe Jackson just wants to be in everything.

Aragorn · September 21 2010, 05:54 PM

Mr. Adventure wrote:

How about Val Kilmer?

Seeing as how he's for the most part doing straight-to-DVD stuff now, slumming it would be an A-game in that realm.

Apparently a lot of Steven Seagal's straight-to-DVD movies have required stunt doubles for him. And I came across one movie where he was too lazy to do his own dialog looping.

Kirkman1987 · September 21 2010, 06:43 PM

Owain Taggart wrote:

Same with Robin Williams. Big fan of his, but lately his movies haven't been very good.

He hasn't been terrible IMO, just far less prolific. I loved World's Greatest Dad, which is just dark pitch black comedy.

Asbo Zaprudder · September 21 2010, 07:32 PM

FordSVT wrote:

Great Mambo Chicken wrote:

Mark Hamill. Oh, you said "great actor"...

Meryl Streep

She's been nominated for an Academy Award 5 times in the last ten years, including this year and last, and between Julie & Julia and The Devil Wears Prada alone have profited over 100 million.

"Meryl Streep is slumming it."
Heck I don't even enjoy her movies that much.

I got the impression she'd been slumming it because I tend to notice her roles in 101 Dalmatians, The Devil Wears Prada, and Mama Mia, which all seem pitched far below her considerable talents. However, like Ben Kingsley, I guess she
takes whatever crap she can get to put food on the table and boost her pension plan. Like De Niro, they've got sufficient track record that they don't have anything to prove, so good luck to them.

I forgot about the Academy nominations, but I tend to dismiss such gong ceremonies as mutual arselicking events.

Donald Draper · September 21 2010, 07:51 PM

Christopher Lloyd. He was in so many of my favorite films of the 80s. But I can't even remember the last time he was in a decent film with a memorable role.

I am surprised he has not been utilized better by the generation of newer film makers who grew up on those classics. Nice to see him a supporting role in one of the big superhero franchises.

September 21 2010, 03:19 AM	#1
CaptainCanada Admiral Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada	Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? Purely in terms of how far he's fallen, my choice is Robert De Niro. From the 1970s to the 1990s, you could argue there was nobody as consistently interesting and at the top of his game. Now? The last decade has been pretty much nothing but mediocre to bad, varying between coasting or rather shallowly parodying his own past roles. The one notable exception is The Good Shepherd, which he directed (and cameoed in), and which was excellent. But otherwise? Edit - oh, and he was fine in Stardust, I guess, but that's again essentially a one-note joke (Robert De Niro as a camp gay pirate). Al Pacino hasn't been all that interesting in the cinema for a while, but he's at least got some good TV projects. __________________ "I'm a white male, age 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me, no matter how dumb my suggestions are!" - Homer Simpson

September 21 2010, 03:26 AM	#2
Mr Light Admiral Location: Pennsylvania	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? I think the winner will always be Ben Kingsley. __________________

September 21 2010, 03:26 AM	#3
Mr. Adventure Admiral Location: Mr. Adventure	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? How about Val Kilmer?

September 21 2010, 05:18 AM	#4
Spot's Meow Vice Admiral Location: California	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? From an entertainment standpoint, I disagree about De Niro. My favorite films of his have all been from the past decade or so. I just heard that Florence Henderson is now on Dancing With the Stars. Sad times. Actually, pretty much any actor that ends up on Dancing with the Stars is slumming it. __________________ Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future. And time future contained in time past. —T.S. Eliot

September 21 2010, 06:32 AM	#6
Owain Taggart Commodore	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? Interesting thread. I'll say Eddie Murphy. He used to be legendary and I loved him in his Beverly Hills Cop series, but lately he seems to not even be trying. His movies all seem to be rather bad lately. I think he needs a better agent that will provide better scrutiny with scripts. Same with Robin Williams. Big fan of his, but lately his movies haven't been very good.

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September 21 2010, 01:53 PM	#7
FPAlpha Rear Admiral Location: Mannheim, Germany	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? Harrison Ford (because most have been mentioned already) Disregarding Star Wars and Indiana Jones Ford has made some really great movies such as Witness or Regarding Henry (some of my favorite movies starring him). He needs to find a good movie again.. either a good thriller like The Fugitive or some quieter piece where he can really show his acting skills. __________________ "A control freak like you with something you can't control? No no.. that's gonna be more fun than shark week!" Det. Javier Esposito

September 21 2010, 02:01 PM	#8
Asbo Zaprudder Rear Admiral Location: Chairman of the bored	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? Mark Hamill. Oh, you said "great actor"... Meryl Streep __________________ "It is a lonely life, the way of the necromancer... oh, yes. Lacrimae Mundi - the tears of the world."

September 21 2010, 05:05 PM	#11
Agent Richard07 The Tim Burton Version Location: Defying Logic	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? ^ No, that's Samuel L. Jackson. Or maybe Jackson just wants to be in everything.

September 21 2010, 07:51 PM	#15
Donald Draper Fleet Captain	Re: Which great actor is currently slumming it hardest? Christopher Lloyd. He was in so many of my favorite films of the 80s. But I can't even remember the last time he was in a decent film with a memorable role. I am surprised he has not been utilized better by the generation of newer film makers who grew up on those classics. Nice to see him a supporting role in one of the big superhero franchises.