November 4, 2004

12:08 PM

HollywoodFilter: Who are the Most Overrated Stars in ShowBiz?
Full Disclosure: This is research for a paid writing assignment on the subject. (And I'll be sad but accepting if Matt chooses to delete) I usually rely on my own opinion and depth of knowledge, and have been Google-fishing this like crazy, but this topic is so general that I want as many outside suggestions as I can collect.
NOTE: I am not looking for the latest teen queen lip-syncher or reality show discovery, I'm looking for candidates with a longer, more successful showbiz career than their obvious level of talent deserves. Actors, singers, comics, 'personalities', maybe even writer/creators. William Shatner (IMHO) is my poster boy. (And no dead people, please)
posted by wendell to (112 comments total)

TOM CRUISE TOM CRUISE TOM CRUISE!!!! Gah!!!!

By the way, Wendell: hi! :)
posted by scody at 12:14 PM on November 4, 2004

Any Baldwin
posted by dirtylittlemonkey at 12:18 PM on November 4, 2004

Well Emilio Estevez has lasted surprisingly long considering the mediocrity of his output, but Shatner out-overrates him by far.

Are you looking only for actor names, or are famous directors, etc. eligible too?
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 12:18 PM on November 4, 2004

Madonnah has no real singing or acting skills.
posted by callmejay at 12:19 PM on November 4, 2004

-h
posted by callmejay at 12:19 PM on November 4, 2004

Never mind. You already answered the question.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 12:20 PM on November 4, 2004

Meg Ryan. Good Lord, that woman is completely talent-free.
posted by donnagirl at 12:20 PM on November 4, 2004

Marisa Tomei: Wins Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "My Cousin Vinny"? WTF?
posted by naxosaxur at 12:23 PM on November 4, 2004

...oh yeah: Mel Gibson is the suck.
posted by naxosaxur at 12:23 PM on November 4, 2004

affleck, kutcher, most famous TV actors (like the redhead woman and the gay guy in that sitcom, the entire sex and the city cast, all of them), cameron diaz, madonna, jenna elfman, vince vaughn, jennifer love hewitt
posted by matteo at 12:26 PM on November 4, 2004

Steven Soderbergh
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:35 PM on November 4, 2004

Kevin Costner -- I can't watch him.

Second Tom Cruise. So many of his characters are the same (at least in the first half+ of his career).

Bob Dylan
Gwenyth Paltrow
Sandra Bullock
Beck

may be back with more.

can't. focus. on. work.
posted by evening at 12:37 PM on November 4, 2004

just heard a song by Aerosmith. They've sucked for so long, I don't understand why they get airtime. Same with Rolling Stones (worse in my book).
posted by evening at 12:38 PM on November 4, 2004

Joel Schumacher, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack, Jim Carrey, TOM SHADYAC!, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Jessica Parker, Joss Wheadon, Sting, Robin Williams, Rob Schneider, SNL (why the fuck is this show still on TV?), Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, JUDE LAW, Rene Zellweger, Mel Gibson, Ann Magnuson, Roger Spottiswoode, Kevin Costner, any Culkin, Taylor HACKford, John Landis, Harrison Ford, Bob Redford (unfortunately), and Joel Schumacher... should I continue?

I'd watch/listen to Shatner over any of the above. Especially if it's this.

PST, you're nuts. :P
posted by dobbs at 12:40 PM on November 4, 2004

Harrison Ford.
posted by Doug at 12:40 PM on November 4, 2004

Hey, I hear that Shatner's new album ain't half bad!

Helen Hunt.
Helen fucking Hunt.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:41 PM on November 4, 2004

James Caan.
posted by Khalad at 12:46 PM on November 4, 2004

Brad Pitt. Juliette Lewis. Marilyn Manson (his talent for business is not over-rated, his talent for music definitely is). Steven Spielberg. JERRY FUCKING BRUCKHEIMER.

And William Shatner is not over-rated, Hollywood needs many more people who can laugh at themselves as much as Shatner can.
posted by biscotti at 12:47 PM on November 4, 2004

I guess it's a matter of opinion. Shatner is such a jokey persona that I don't begrudge him his fame.

What I fail to comprehend is how anyone could give Joan Rivers a job. Or Colin Farrel. Or David E. Kelley, who somehow manages to keep getting work making awful overwrought "comedies" and "dramas"?

There's also Dianne Warren, who has authored a veritable mountain of shitty hit songs. Of course you could argue she is talented, and that I simply can't stand her.

You should also check Fametracker, which is all about mocking-yet-embracing celebrity.

On preview: Schumacher! How could I forget him?
posted by O9scar at 12:47 PM on November 4, 2004

Hasselhoff?
posted by trharlan at 12:49 PM on November 4, 2004

Seconds to Kevin Costner and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Bob Dylan, as a singer. I won't dispute that he's one of the greatest songwriters ever, but I don't know how anyone can bear to listen to him sing.

Renee Zellwiger (or "Squinty," as she's known in my circle of friends)

Most of the male SNL cast members for the past five years or so. Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz especially come to mind.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:50 PM on November 4, 2004

A strong second on Soderbergh.
posted by Krrrlson at 12:53 PM on November 4, 2004

Nicolas Cage
posted by Tenuki at 12:54 PM on November 4, 2004

Sean Connery. Keanu Reeves. Neither of them can act. Oh, and another vote for Kevin Coster. John Travolta. Roger Moore.
posted by NsJen at 12:54 PM on November 4, 2004

Two people who used to be good, but who either ran out of ideas or starting buying their own press too much: Steven Spielberg (AI and Amistad were both terrible, terrible films) and George Lucas.

I don't buy that Shatner is completely laughing at his own inflated persona. I think he's just adapting so he can get work. I don't know that I get the impression that he fully understands what's going on. Hell, I don't. People are seriously in love with his new album and I have no idea why. He's somehow found a tear in the Kitsch Continuum and has escaped into the Dimension of Cool.
posted by picea at 12:55 PM on November 4, 2004

I wuv ooo, dobbs, but Soderbergh is to movies what Michael Tippet is to orchestral music.

Rebecca Pidgeon and Ricky Jay (except for the card tricks), neither of whom would have acting careers without David Mamet's questionable taste in casting and wives.

Hell while we're at it, the second half of Mamet's oeuvre, starting with Oleana and omitting Wag the Dog.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:57 PM on November 4, 2004

This many comments and no mention of Jennifer Lopez? She sucks in TWO fields! Her music blows donkeys, and she hasn't been in a single good movie. Why the fuck she is famous is still beyond me.

DevilsAdvocate, in my circle of friends, Renee Zellweger is known as "Princess Squinchy-face".
posted by emptybowl at 12:59 PM on November 4, 2004

BTW, the Fametracker site is run by a person who also writes for MSNBC.com, so I'm making a point to NOT duplicate their "Fame Audit" feature...

And, HI, SCODY! [waves widely] Don't let those pics of me with all those MonkeyFilter-ettes make you think I've forgotten you! [flutters eyelashes flirtingly]
posted by wendell at 1:08 PM on November 4, 2004

PST, we're gonna have a throwdown over this. If we were on the blue I'd be writing an essay. ;)
posted by dobbs at 1:09 PM on November 4, 2004

Cuba Gooding Jr. Not that he's well rated, just can't stand him.
posted by trillion at 1:10 PM on November 4, 2004

Desperately awaiting the AskMe follow-up: how many people listed in this thread are actually quite talented and just the victim of a well-placed opinion?
posted by yerfatma at 1:11 PM on November 4, 2004

dobbs, I tried to watch that Shatner link. I got 7 words into Shatner's interpretation of Rocketman ("pre-flight"), and I had to close the window. I mean, it's just that powerful.
posted by bachelor#3 at 1:14 PM on November 4, 2004

DevilsAdvocate, in my circle of friends, Renee Zellweger is known as "Princess Squinchy-face".

Heh. We call her "Squinty McPinch."

Oh, and I can't believe I forgot this one: Andie Fucking McDowell, who is incapable of acting her way out of a wet paper bag.

I concur re: Rebecca Pidgeon (awful, just awful), but the dissing of the Mighty Mighty Cool that is Ricky Jay had best be stopped this instant.

(On preview: Wendell, be careful with those monkeys!)
posted by scody at 1:14 PM on November 4, 2004

Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Macintosh.
posted by juiceCake at 1:16 PM on November 4, 2004

George Clooney, Matt Damon, Tom Cruise, Winona Ryder, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey
posted by smich at 1:17 PM on November 4, 2004

but the dissing of the Mighty Mighty Cool that is Ricky Jay had best be stopped this instant.

Hee! To clarify:

Ricky Jay the magician/historian= Awesome+

Ricky Jay the actor= crappo
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:18 PM on November 4, 2004

David Cronenberg. Cheap provocation mistaken for art. He's not even a very good director from a technical/craft point of view.


Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell might be worth taking another look at. I couldn't stand him for the longest time, but he's been growing on me recently. If only he had some decent material...these have been dark days for comedic films.

Andie Fucking McDowell

Oh my god yes. Just awful.

Jim Carrey

Didja see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? He really won me over there. I never thought I'd be referring to a Jim Carrey performance as "subtle".
posted by mr_roboto at 1:22 PM on November 4, 2004

I hope you differentiate between those who have done good work in the past only to later become parodies of themselves: Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Jack Nicholson, etc...

From those who have always been terrible and chosen terrible projects to work on: Carrottop, Micheal Douglas(I still can't believe he produced Cuckoo's Nest), Demi Moore, James Spader, Warren Beatty, Etc...
posted by mortisimo at 1:24 PM on November 4, 2004

Seconded on Sara Jessica Parket and J.Lo. And I'll repeat what I said on Monkeyfilter: Cher.
posted by briank at 1:24 PM on November 4, 2004

Al Pacino has one character.

Philip Seymour Hoffman makes my skin crawl.

Bill Paxton just plain sucks ( Excluding Chet in "Weird Science")
posted by remlapm at 1:29 PM on November 4, 2004

SECOND, THIRD whatever: ADAM SANDLER
posted by Jikido at 1:29 PM on November 4, 2004

Hugh Grant.
posted by normy at 1:31 PM on November 4, 2004

and I hate to say this but Robin Williams always plays Robin Williams.
posted by Jikido at 1:31 PM on November 4, 2004

Sara Jessica Parakeet. Ha!

I fourth both Tom "Shut Up Little Man" Cruise and Li'l Squinty Zellwegger.

Andie Macdowell can't help that her IQ is in the low teens, so stop making fun of her! Oh, okay, go ahead. She won't notice.

And the Marisa Tomei hate must stop immediately. Herbest work has not happened in big movies, but her low-budget work is incredible. Place all that derision instead at the feet of Mira Sorvino.

Don't dis Philip Seymour Hoffman. Just let him only work on the stage. Mkay? Aight.

And Geena Davis (and this breaks my heart a little, but really) can return her Oscar, in its original case, back to the Academy, where it will be repurposed to a more worthy home.
posted by chicobangs at 1:33 PM on November 4, 2004

I thought Robin Williams was very good in One Hour Photo. The movie wasn't, but he was.
posted by normy at 1:34 PM on November 4, 2004

Oh. I just wanted to add, because it'll never be mre relevant than right now, that Zelwegger looks like there's always an invisible person about 18 inches from her face, screaming at her for something she obviously did wrong. That's the only way I can explain that permanent facial expression.
posted by chicobangs at 1:35 PM on November 4, 2004

YES to Cronenberg and any other famous English-Canadian director (especially Don McKellar, Atom Egoyan, Bruce Macdonald, Patricia Rozema...)
posted by dobbs at 1:36 PM on November 4, 2004

Can't say that I watched One Hour Photo...I stopped watching his films after Goooood Moooooorning Vieeeetnam!
posted by Jikido at 1:39 PM on November 4, 2004

Denzel Washington.
posted by loquax at 1:39 PM on November 4, 2004

YES to Cronenberg and any other famous English-Canadian director (especially Don McKellar, Atom Egoyan, Bruce Macdonald, Patricia Rozema...)

If Guy Maddin is beyond that elipse, I'll take you up on that throwdown.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:39 PM on November 4, 2004

And Rebecca Pidgeon isn't that bad, but she's a much better singer.
posted by normy at 1:41 PM on November 4, 2004

so I guess I'm not the best judge of his stuff (Robin Williams)
posted by Jikido at 1:41 PM on November 4, 2004

Atom Egoyan

Egoyan has technical chops, at least.
posted by mr_roboto at 1:45 PM on November 4, 2004

Keanu Reeves and Tom Cruise always come across as Keami Reeves and Tom Cruise to me. I've always wondered why they get top billing, since it's obvious it's them. I mean, like we don't know?
posted by tommasz at 1:52 PM on November 4, 2004

[limiting myself to well-known "actors"]

Tom Cruise - That boyish grin is all you've got? (Sorry, I just saw Collateral and hated it)

Jennifer Lopez - Can't sing ("Baby I love you" made me go insane) and can't act either.

Keanu Reeves - Master of the One Expression Kung Fu Style

Jerry Seinfeld - Even an extra on his show might have had more talent. [Seinfeld voice]: Talent? What's that all about?

Ray Romano - Everybody certainly does not love Raymond.

I have more, but it's sleep time in my part of the world.
posted by madman at 1:54 PM on November 4, 2004

While it doesn't mean they aren't over-rated, I hope you also take into account that almost everyone on this list has done at least *some* good work.

I find myself at odds with almost every name mentioned because of one or two efforts. Just off the top of my head:

Jennifer Lopez: Out of Sight

Robin Williams: Good Will Hunting

Mat Damon: Good Will Hunting

Tom Cruise: Born on the Fourth of July

Michael Douglas: The American President

Tom Hanks: Philadelphia

Warren Beatty: Wag the Dog

I'm sure others will disagree, but it's worth mentioning.
posted by o2b at 1:57 PM on November 4, 2004

Warren Beatty: Wag the Dog

You mean Bullworth, maybe?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:58 PM on November 4, 2004

I disagree that Warren Beatty was even in Wag the Dog. He's good in plenty of other things though (splendor in the grass, bonnie and clyde, mcabe and mrs. miller, ishtar, reds, heaven can wait, shampoo, parallax view, and maybe bulworth). Perhaps you're thinking of Dustin Hoffman or Bobby De Niro. And Cruise was good in Magnolia and Color of Money.
posted by dobbs at 2:02 PM on November 4, 2004

Tom Cruise definitely. Also John Malkovich, Glenn Close (she's no Meryl), Ray Romano, Demi Moore, Michael Douglas definitely, and the Titanic director-Cameron?
posted by amberglow at 2:02 PM on November 4, 2004

James Lipton.
posted by LimePi at 2:02 PM on November 4, 2004

o2b, it's not your fault.
posted by yerfatma at 2:02 PM on November 4, 2004

PST, no comment on the Guy Maddin thing.
posted by dobbs at 2:03 PM on November 4, 2004

and Matt Damon (the 2nd-rate Cruise).
posted by amberglow at 2:03 PM on November 4, 2004

I'll loudly second robocop's suggestion of Helen Hunt. Watching that whiny, squint-eyed hack 'act' gives me hives.
posted by saladin at 2:06 PM on November 4, 2004

Yes, sorry sorry, I meant Bullworth.
posted by o2b at 2:22 PM on November 4, 2004

dobbs' right, Beatty was very good in the 70's
posted by matteo at 2:43 PM on November 4, 2004

I'll get my ankles gnawed by fanboys, but Kevin Smith must be stopped.
posted by Skot at 2:50 PM on November 4, 2004

John Travolta.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:15 PM on November 4, 2004

Robin Williams as a comic = bad
Robin Williams as an actor = doesn't always suck
Robin Williams as a Tour de France commentator = bad
posted by probablysteve at 3:20 PM on November 4, 2004

Julia Roberts.

I totally and completely DO NOT GET IT when it comes to her.

Plus her knees are too sharp.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:41 PM on November 4, 2004

Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Kenneth Branagh, Robin Williams (apart from Good Will Hunting o2b :-)).....hmmm, and most people who play cockney gangsters it would seem ("I'm ganna break yooah faaackin' neck mate!") ('specially Vinny Jones)

oh....I swear, on preview: snap mr crash!
posted by SpaceCadet at 3:43 PM on November 4, 2004

Affleck, JLO and Travolta
posted by Frank Grimes at 3:43 PM on November 4, 2004

Nora Ephron. NORAEPHRON NORAEPHRONNORAEPHRON!!!!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggh!! teh suck!

And Ethan Hawke. Unwatchable.
posted by contessa at 3:52 PM on November 4, 2004

Guy Maddin... I don't "get" him, I've seen a couple of his films (Heart of the World and Archangel) and they were both an ordeal. Even Cronenberg and Etgoyan at there most indulgent are more interesting.

Colin Farrell... why why why?

And Scarlett Johannson, like she's done some great films that would have been better with someone else.

Keanu Reeves is awesome though...
posted by bobo123 at 4:23 PM on November 4, 2004

Jennifer Lopez...hasn't been in a single good movie.

Out of Sight was great, and she was pretty good in it.

Why the fuck she is famous is still beyond me.

I'm pretty sure this explains it.

I thought Robin Williams was very good in The World According to Garp.

Al Pacino has one character

He's been in his Hoo-Hah Period for a long time now.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:40 PM on November 4, 2004

Quentin Tarantino.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 4:44 PM on November 4, 2004

I have to disagree with about 75% the names posted so far. Tom Hanks? He IS the Jimmy Stewart of today. Harrison Ford? Are you Fucking kidding me? Keanu? Hugh Grant? George Clooney? Julia Roberts? Charisma up the wazoo, damn it!

But a lot of people mentioned have had their ups and downs.

Pacino: Godfather--up Scent of a Woman--Down
Tom Cruise: Risky Business, Rainman--up Vanilla Sky--down
Kevin Costner: Bull Durham--up Everything else--down
Glen Close and Robin Williams were both excellent in World According To Garp
Andie McDowell was perfect in groundhog Day

As to Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Spader, and Bill Paxton-- you are all just plain wrong-- they bring interest to every role. Like Christopher Walken, they are usually better than the movies they are in.

Now you want pure, unadulterated suckiness? I give you:
Leonardo diCaprio. Aside from What's Eating Gilbert Grape, he has single-handedly ruined every movie he has ben in. Watching Gangs of New York, I wanted to weep with frustration every time the camera left Daniel Day-Lewis to focus on diCaprio.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:58 PM on November 4, 2004

Kirsten Dunst
posted by invisible ink at 5:26 PM on November 4, 2004

Glenn Close - Watch the updated version of Lion of Winter - she did great trying to follow Katherine Hepburn.

While I agree with most of what Secret Life of Gravy & o2b said...

just because Andie McDowell was perfect in one movie does not make her good.

And Tom Cruise - my beef is that until recently, all his characters had the same progression (jerk learns a lesson in life). And the rest isn't like he's all that. So he's ok to look at, big deal.

Jimmy Fallon - I just don't think he's that funny.

Uma Thermon - just never been impressed, and she's not hot like she's made out to be!

A lot of people won't like me for this one, but I never understood the interest in the Grateful Dead.
posted by evening at 5:35 PM on November 4, 2004

overrated is being thought of here as a mismatch between "talent" and popularity, but what if, for some of these people, their "talent" is simply being popular (or alternately, remaining popular once they have been lucky enough to have reached the public eye)?

as many people above have mentioned, a lot of these actors and actresses are popular simply for playing/acting as one character: themselves. and if that happens to be considered likeable by the public at large, isn't that in and of itself a talent?
posted by juv3nal at 6:08 PM on November 4, 2004

Harrison Ford made one good movie in his life. One! And no one saw it: The Mosquito Coast. (Fine, he was passable in The Conversation as well.)

Tom Hanks? He IS the Jimmy Stewart of today.

It's official: you're crazy.

Jimmy Stewart was the people. Jimmy Stewart made you care. Jimmy Stewart was a humble, honest, heroic common man.

Tom Hanks is the most overrated actor of the last 20 years. He is boring. Boring! Boring! Boring! He has no charisma, screen presence, humility, or talent. His characters are LIFELESS. Please, name one of his characters who you yourself admire or who possesses ANY qualities whatsoever that you would want for yourself. With the exception of Gump and the characters he played who were real people, I cannot even recall the name of a single character he played. (For Stewart, off the top of my head: George Bailey, Elwood P. Dowd, Scottie Ferguson, Jefferson Smith, Mike Connor, LB Jeffries, and Rupert Cadell).

Tom Hanks is a monkey in a suit.
posted by dobbs at 6:37 PM on November 4, 2004

I understand, juv, like nobody would say John Wayne was much of an actor, he played the same character in every movie, but he did it right... So, I'm trying to avoid actors like that in favor of those who had one decent charactar in their repertoire, but insisted on trying (and failing) at others, but still kept getting work... I'm putting Keanu in that category, but maybe not Travolta.

And why hasn't anybody mentioned Governor Arnold?

I'm still looking for more potential Musical Overrateds. I didn't expect the Stones to get so many votes...
posted by wendell at 6:43 PM on November 4, 2004

I'm still looking for more potential Musical Overrateds.

James Taylor: it's all one long boring sedated song.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:10 PM on November 4, 2004

If I can one time in my life create something as emotive, artful, and well put-together as an Atom Egoyan movie, I will die happy.

And even with that being said, calling him 'overrated' is quite a stretch by any margin, as he is, unfortunately, completely unknown to most people.
posted by bingo at 7:36 PM on November 4, 2004

Coldplay. Sorry.
posted by loquax at 7:37 PM on November 4, 2004

Bingo, you obviously don't live in Canada. Atom Egoyan and the other filmmakers I mentioned are on the covers of major newspapers and magazines over and over again (and I don't just mean film magazines). You'd think they were the only people in the country who've ever made movies. If I never see another Egoyan movie (or even his face) again it'll be too soon. Overrated doesn't begin to cover his exposure in this country.
posted by dobbs at 7:44 PM on November 4, 2004

Whoopi Goldberg
P. Diddy
Donald Trump
posted by donth at 7:44 PM on November 4, 2004

I make a distinction between actors and movie stars. Actors play characters, movie stars play themselves.

Kevin Costner: Bull Durham--up Everything else--down

He was a lot of fun in Silverado, and excellent as the corpse in The Big Chill.

Harrison Ford made one good movie in his life.

The Fugitive is a great movie.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:58 PM on November 4, 2004

Celine Dion
posted by invisible ink at 8:05 PM on November 4, 2004

Wow, I didnt know there was so much Tom Cruise hate out there. He's one of the few Hollywood types who can act and has played a variety of characters. Not a great actor or an actor's actor, but he's not deserving of being put on that list.

I'll mention Charlton Heston. I'm not sure if he peaked in Ben-Hur or Apes, but he wasn't much of an actor in either. From there he's just an embrassament and the Omega Man is so bad its make the rest of the 70s look good.

I'll second Whoopi Goldberg. Seriously, how does she keep getting work? In in the "stand up is teh new hotness 80s" she was bad. She's a walking reminder of every hackneyed "At the Improv" standup act. Take her partner in art crimes, Bobcat Goldthwait too.

Jennifer Love Hewitt - no noticable talent

Johnny Knoxville - same as above

Vin Deisel - same as above

Justine and Jason Bateman - same as above

Pauly Shore - should be obvious
posted by skallas at 8:48 PM on November 4, 2004

I'll second Aerosmith. Uber-formulaic 70's androgynous cock-rock that lasted this long should violate some federal law.
posted by skallas at 8:50 PM on November 4, 2004

Meryl Streep.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:48 PM on November 4, 2004

Sorry, but Jason Bateman is brilliant on Arrested Development.
posted by smich at 9:53 PM on November 4, 2004

And why hasn't anybody mentioned Governor Arnold?
Because, for the most part, he stuck to what he was good at: Bigass, strong super-hero who shall crush all (think Jet Li with more muscles)...though, there was that whole Batman incident which made my cringe in pain and fear.
I like Tom Cruise...I personally think he could be one of the few to pull off the main role in The Great Book of Amber even if it'de be the longest movie trilogy ever.
posted by jmd82 at 10:23 PM on November 4, 2004

Nobody mentions BEN AFFLECK?? Surely this is an oversight.
posted by NekulturnY at 12:13 AM on November 5, 2004

Paul McCartney.
posted by monkey closet at 1:03 AM on November 5, 2004

Steven Seagal.
posted by Tarrama at 1:20 AM on November 5, 2004

John Lennon. His solo stuff I'm on about, not his contribution to The Beatles. I'm not saying I hate his music, but I just think it's been way over-rated. Perhaps the problem may lie with it also being way over-played. If I hear Imagine one more time I'll....
posted by SpaceCadet at 4:34 AM on November 5, 2004

Surely this is an oversight.

Only on your part. He's here twice already.
posted by yerfatma at 4:48 AM on November 5, 2004

He's here twice already.

Well he deserves three mentions, (hell, BEN AFFLECK deserves five) and the others weren't in bold caps, which BEN AFFLECK also deserves.
posted by NekulturnY at 5:52 AM on November 5, 2004

Some of the people mentioned are at least likeable or appealing in persona, or easy on the eyes, and don't outright always suck so bad (even if they play themselves) that it explains their successes. Here are a few I just. . .don't. . .get on ANY of those levels:

Tim Allen
Carrot Top
Rob Schneider
Yeah, Andie McDowell (although we don't really have to deal with her anymore and please, please, please never show me a Darryl Hannah comeback)

I don't get Tom Cruise either, but I assumed others did. . .I feel liberated.

Finally, he doesn't meet the question's criteria, but why is Chris Collinsworth on my TV?
posted by rainbaby at 6:13 AM on November 5, 2004

Steven Seagal.

Is he really overrated though? How highly do people generally rate him? Not very I would suggest.

On the other hand I worship him as a living God.

The fact that Ben Affleck wasn't mentioned earlier and more often is a disgrace to our entire species.

I'm also fed up of hearing Edward Norton described as the best actor of his generation.

And Will Ferrell, the film magazines over here love him. Frankly he's not that funny.
posted by biffa at 6:37 AM on November 5, 2004

radiohead. radiohead is teh suck and yet nobody seems to be able to admit that a cd full of high-pitched squeals and random whining is not worth listening to. i submit to you that if any unknown band had sent the current radiohead release out as a demo tape it would have neded up in the trash can in record time.

aerosmith i agree with, but the stones? no friggin' way. the stones are not overrated because their back catalog holds up, and they know it - it's essentially all they play in concert, the new album is an excuse to go on tour and play the old stuff, 'cause they like doing it.

aerosmith on the other hand seems to think that they are still relevant, and that makes them totally overrated, because the last solid album they had was pump, and even that was MTV'd to death. the second they started doing love ballads for movie soundtracks they were over, but they haven't been able to admit it yet. they need to go back on the drugs.

and anyone who thinks dylan can't sing needs to listen to nashville skyline. sure he has a quirky voice, so i can understand why some may not find it appealing, and yes his singing sucked in the 80's due to health and other issues... but he's redeemed himself lately. not many older singers can point to a recent album and confidently say "that's some of my best work".
posted by caution live frogs at 8:22 AM on November 5, 2004

I'm going to be the one person to defend Affleck, who I do think is a solid actor and a solid guy, in spite of his recent string of bad choices and worse failures. I thought he was more than capable in "Good Will Hunting" (and on the writing side, William Goldman or no William Goldman, he certainly contributed to a script that I thought was pretty solid). He also made a good Jack Ryan in "Sum of All Fears" (though the movie could have been better). And I think he was great in pretty much everything he did with Kevin Smith (forgetting "Jersey Girl," of course, as everyone in the world should do).

A great deal of my respect from him comes from this article originally published in Premiere Magazine. While, yes, it included this picture, it did so in a sarcastic fashion and I still think it's among the best pieces of celebrity journalism I've ever read, if not the best.

It's de rigeur to pile shit on the handsome leading man who seems to ends up in the tabloids, but I'm not convinced that that's entirely his choice. The crap movies he's been involved with ("Reindeer Games," "Changing Lanes," "Daredevil," "Gigli" and "Jersey Girl" off the top of my head) essentially are, though, which means he needs to get his head right and/or fire his agent and/or take a year off from dating.
posted by Sinner at 12:06 PM on November 5, 2004

Better-formatted version of above-mentioned article.
Page 1
Page 2
posted by Sinner at 12:39 PM on November 5, 2004

queen latifah, eugene levy, steve martin
posted by bob sarabia at 12:49 PM on November 5, 2004

Smile, kids, we're on Defamer!
posted by scody at 12:51 PM on November 5, 2004

Coldplay are the natural successors to Radiohead. Warning to US, the band 'Keane', professional miserablists and future beloved of Q magazine are on their way.
posted by biffa at 4:22 PM on November 5, 2004

It breaks my heart to say this: Martin Scorsese, post-Goodfellas. Don't believe me? How 'bout this track record: Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York. Most of these were mildly entertaining, in parts. But not worthy of the title "Best American Filmmaker."

Note: This comes from someone who believes Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, and even The Last Temptation of Christ were masterpieces.
posted by pardonyou? at 6:41 PM on November 5, 2004

queen latifah, eugene levy, steve martin

Sorry, I just could not let this pass. I love each of those guys. The Queen was the only thing that made Chicago bearable to me. Eugene Levy...fucking brilliant. Did you see A Mighty Wind? Best in Show? Waiting For Guffman?
And Steve is always a pleasure a watch. He has one thing few comics have-- sexual zing.

I guess I am out of synch with the rest of you on Andie McDowell though. I loved her in Four Weddings And A Funeral, Sex Lies & Videotape, and Unstrung Heros. But she is hardly "an overrated star" because she isn't even close to the $ 20million catagory of Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck, Leonardo diCaprio, Michael Douglas, or Al Pacino.

Tom Hanks is the most overrated actor of the last 20 years. He is boring. Boring! Boring! Boring! He has no charisma, screen presence, humility, or talent. His characters are LIFELESS. Please, name one of his characters who you yourself admire or who possesses ANY qualities whatsoever that you would want for yourself.

Captain John Miller, Saving Private Ryan

He is not boring to me in the slightest-- nor to the millions of others who turn out to see him in movies like Castaway in which he carries the whole movie. Tom Hanks may be the only big Hollywood star that I still find Watchable. I rarely bother with anything that is not an independent film or a foreign film, but a Tom Hanks movie is always something I want to see.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:57 PM on November 5, 2004

Atom Egoyan and the other filmmakers I mentioned are on the covers of major newspapers and magazines over and over again (and I don't just mean film magazines).

This sounds like a country that I would be happy living in.
posted by bingo at 9:04 PM on November 5, 2004

I expected huge steaming piles of Sharon Stone hate and I found none.

So I made my own.

Because Sharon Stone is a blight upon all.
posted by Dagobert at 12:24 AM on November 8, 2004