Anyone else not notice anything amiss about Beltran's performance?

[sonak]

I wasn't on the internet much when watching Voyager in early seasons. I didn't know the whole story about Beltran being unhappy with the way his character was used and the writing of the show in general. I feel like I obviously have a horrible eye for acting to not notice that a guy basically was deliberately phoning in performances for the last few years of a show's run.

I thought the character of Chakotay was an interesting one, and that if Beltran's performances was a little subdued, it could be chalked up to the intended stoic, peaceful nature of the character.

Are there others here who didn't think Beltran was giving lousy performances for the last few years of the show?

 

[Anwar]

Beltran showed he COULD be good at his job when he felt like it, like in "Living Witness" and he was allowed to show off a more brutal side/over-the-top side.

Either the character needed to be better conceived, or Beltran just didn't take his work seriously most of the time.

 

[lurok]

Without knowing anything about behind-the-scenes problems, first time I watched VOY I put Beltran's 'subdued' performances in later seasons (5-7) down to poor writing and character being marginalised by the Doctor/Seven show (ditto for Neelix). Felt to me he rarely got anything good to do. 'Timeless' is one of few exceptions. Of course, rewatching with new knowledge does put more interesting spin on it...

 

[Mage]

Saw a clip online a few days ago where Beltran comments about 'f***ing Star Trek fans" that need to go see his show because of all the things he had to go through to please them.

Don't really care about the man really. Voicing his opinion about the show is one thing, I can kinda agree on it. But lashing out against fans for it?? Not cool.

 

[Markira]

Without knowing anything about behind-the-scenes problems, first time I watched VOY I put Beltran's 'subdued' performances in later seasons (5-7) down to poor writing and character being marginalised by the Doctor/Seven show (ditto for Neelix). Felt to me he rarely got anything good to do. 'Timeless' is one of few exceptions. Of course, rewatching with new knowledge does put more interesting spin on it...

This. I'm almost done with my first watch of VOY, and I'm not sure I would have noticed anything if I hadn't signed onto the bbs and read all the negative comments. Either reports of Beltran's horrible performance/lack of acting prowess have been exaggerated, or there are other reasons to dislike Chakotay (such as the aforementioned ill-conceived character and writing).

 

[Markira]

Saw a clip online a few days ago where Beltran comments about 'f***ing Star Trek fans" that need to go see his show because of all the things he had to go through to please them.

Don't really care about the man really. Voicing his opinion about the show is one thing, I can kinda agree on it. But lashing out against fans for it?? Not cool.

Pretty sure this was actually a joke (though you're well within your rights to find it tasteless at best).

 

[Shon T'Hara]

I wasn't on the internet much when watching Voyager in early seasons. I didn't know the whole story about Beltran being unhappy with the way his character was used and the writing of the show in general. I feel like I obviously have a horrible eye for acting to not notice that a guy basically was deliberately phoning in performances for the last few years of a show's run.

He was phoning in his performance from quite early on. People started calling him "The Wooden Indian" halfway through the first season. Everyone just assumed he was a bad actor until he said he was doing it on purpose.

 

[lurok]

He was phoning in his performance from quite early on. People started calling him "The Wooden Indian" halfway through the first season. Everyone just assumed he was a bad actor until he said he was doing it on purpose.

Wow, that's seriously harsh Never heard any of those criticisms, even from people who don't care for actor/character. Can you cite where "people calling him 'the wooden indian'" (which is pretty offensive). Phoning it in? Hyperbole. methinks. But if it's your personal opinion, I just think expressions like "everyone just assumed he was a bad actor" are a bit OTT, even for a 'fun' Trek forum

 

[BlobVanDam]

I never noticed any differences between his earlier and later performances. He was wooden the whole way through. I haven't seen him in anything else, so I just assumed he was a bad actor.

 

[lurok]

I never noticed any differences between his earlier and later performances. He was wooden the whole way through. I haven't seen him in anything else, so I just assumed he was a bad actor.

Bad and wooden, so he gets leading role in major TV series? Actually, may be right: certainly applies to Sirtis, Crosby and McFadden. But then they may have been cast for other reasons I can accept Beltran may not be great actor or not liked, but to call him emphatically bad or wooden is, as said before, just unsubstantiated hyperbole. Unless, IYHO

 

[Markira]

I never noticed any differences between his earlier and later performances. He was wooden the whole way through. I haven't seen him in anything else, so I just assumed he was a bad actor.

Bad and wooden, so he gets leading role in major TV series? Actually, may be right: certainly applies to Sirtis, Crosby and McFadden. But then they may have been cast for other reasons I can accept Beltran may not be great actor or not liked, but to call him emphatically bad or wooden is, as said before, just unsubstantiated hyperbole. Unless, IYHO

lurok, you are speaking my thoughts!

 

[BlobVanDam]

I never noticed any differences between his earlier and later performances. He was wooden the whole way through. I haven't seen him in anything else, so I just assumed he was a bad actor.

Bad and wooden, so he gets leading role in major TV series? Actually, may be right: certainly applies to Sirtis, Crosby and McFadden. But then they may have been cast for other reasons I can accept Beltran may not be great actor or not liked, but to call him emphatically bad or wooden is, as said before, just unsubstantiated hyperbole. Unless, IYHO

Ok, bad actor wasn't the right term. He wasn't bad, I just found his emotional range very limited to the point of what I would call wooden. In many situations, that worked just fine for a cool headed character, but in other situations it fell far too short for me.
And of course that's just my opinion. And I base my opinion only on Voyager, as I haven't seen him in anything else. And he's alongside Harry Kim, so it's not such a stretch that they cast a bad actor in a role

 

[Mage]

Saw a clip online a few days ago where Beltran comments about 'f***ing Star Trek fans" that need to go see his show because of all the things he had to go through to please them.

Don't really care about the man really. Voicing his opinion about the show is one thing, I can kinda agree on it. But lashing out against fans for it?? Not cool.

Pretty sure this was actually a joke (though you're well within your rights to find it tasteless at best).

Oh I know it was a joke, but still....

See, I'm not one of those high-end Trekkies that feel that everythine that the actors and writers and directors do is for them and them alone. We're talking about people that are doing their jobs and we happen to be people that really like what they're doing.

I just felt that, even as a joke, it was tasteless indeed, since the fans had nothing to do with this issues with the writing staff. So yeah, I kinda have some issues with that.

 

[Shon T'Hara]

He was phoning in his performance from quite early on. People started calling him "The Wooden Indian" halfway through the first season. Everyone just assumed he was a bad actor until he said he was doing it on purpose.

Wow, that's seriously harsh Never heard any of those criticisms, even from people who don't care for actor/character. Can you cite where "people calling him 'the wooden indian'"

Just search google groups for the phrase.

Examples:

Dull is right! Chakotey gives new meaning to the term "wooden Indian".

On Voyager the most inhuman alien character is the wooden Indian. Go fig.

Yes, like finding out whether or not Beltane has the ability to do anything besides the "wooden Indian" that's his specialty.

(which is pretty offensive).

Just an acknowledgment that Beltran never did anything but stand in the background and look stolid like the wooden Indian statues that used to advertise cigar shops.

Phoning it in? Hyperbole. methinks. But if it's your personal opinion, I just think expressions like "everyone just assumed he was a bad actor" are a bit OTT, even for a 'fun' Trek forum

Since Beltran himself admitted that he was phoning it in, I don't see how the criticism is over the top. Really, dig through the old Voyager review threads on rec.arts.sf.tv to see how much crap people gave Beltran before he started trashing the series.

 

[exodus]

Saw a clip online a few days ago where Beltran comments about 'f***ing Star Trek fans" that need to go see his show because of all the things he had to go through to please them.

Don't really care about the man really. Voicing his opinion about the show is one thing, I can kinda agree on it. But lashing out against fans for it?? Not cool.

Pretty sure this was actually a joke (though you're well within your rights to find it tasteless at best).

You know what's ironic, if Patrick Stewart had said it (IMO) we'd be laughing and it wouldn't even be an issue.

 

[lurok]

Just search google groups for the phrase.

Thanks for citations Those few examples of 'trekfans' (VOY fans? - can't seem to get actor/character name right) eminently reveal couple of others who share that jaundiced/illiberal view. Wouldn't mind a few recognised critics though...(no, please don't)

Still can't see any evidence or objective criticism Beltran was phoning it in from early on, which was your point (will concede may have later on for reasons stated). But can't be arsed to discuss further. Think both our opposing positions clear ...

 

[RyuRoots]

You know what's ironic, if Patrick Stewart had said it (IMO) we'd be laughing and it wouldn't even be an issue.

Uh, no. Not really. It'd still be obnoxious and in bad taste. It'd just be obnoxious and in bad taste from a GOOD actor.

As far as Beltran, he gave substandard performances right from the start, and it's extremely rare that he puts on a good one. It does happen, but not nearly often enough.

 

[exodus]

You know what's ironic, if Patrick Stewart had said it (IMO) we'd be laughing and it wouldn't even be an issue.

Uh, no. Not really. It'd still be obnoxious and in bad taste. It'd just be obnoxious and in bad taste from a GOOD actor.

That's right.
Trekkies didn't get the Shatner "Get a Life!" joke either.

 

[RyuRoots]

You know what's ironic, if Patrick Stewart had said it (IMO) we'd be laughing and it wouldn't even be an issue.

Uh, no. Not really. It'd still be obnoxious and in bad taste. It'd just be obnoxious and in bad taste from a GOOD actor.

That's right.
Trekkies didn't get the Shatner "Get a Life!" joke either.

"That is a joke. I get it. It is not funny, but I get it."

You must've missed the part where Mage pointed out that, too.

 

[T'Girl]

Uh, no. Not really. It'd still be obnoxious and in bad taste. It'd just be obnoxious and in bad taste from a GOOD actor.

That's right.
Trekkies didn't get the Shatner "Get a Life!" joke either.

That is a joke. I get it. It is not funny, but I get it."

Should check out Stewart's old performance on SNL sometime. .