Who do you seek out/avoid in films?

[Backdrifter]

Are there certain actors who make you either want to see a film or give it a wide berth?

I'm drawn to films featuring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, and Johnny Depp.

Based on experience, I try to steer well clear of ones starring Julia Roberts, Andie McDowell, Jamie Lee Curtis or Tom Arnold.

Sometimes certain actors just annoy you for no clear reason. There are quite a few of those, but I can't get away from the fact that I don't think I've ever liked a Julia Roberts film. Pretty Woman is one of my most hated films ever. Although wasn't she - and Andie McDowell! - in Short Cuts? That would be the exception. The reverse of that is Practical Magic, which stars Kidman, and is one of the worst films I've ever seen.

McDowell's an odd one. I really like 3 films with her in - Short Cuts, Groundhog Day and Sex Lies - but I can't stand her!

[Backdrifter]

helpfulguy - in threads asking for actors you hate you can be rest assured that large numbers of people will list Tom Cruise. He seems to inspire such bad feeling. I'm neutral on him and like a couple of his more recent outings, Minority Report and War Of The Worlds, both Spielbergs.

So far, at 20 posts, Cruise leads the "avoid" field. In joint 2nd are Jim Carrey and Andie McDowell, joint 3rd are Meg Ryan and Hugh Grant. Everyone else gets just one mention.

On the plus side, Morgan Freeman is the clear leader, Johnny Depp 2nd and Sean Penn/Samuel L Jackson joint 3rd. Everyone else gets a single mention. Woody Allen and Meryl Streep are the only 2 to appear in both lists!

Come on in all you Cruise lovers and Freeman haters to balance things up a bit. (Unlikely, though).

In the "avoid" list I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Madonna yet. I'm a big fan of her music but am objective enough to recognise her film career hasn't exactly sparkled.

[Backdrifter]

Just thought of another one I tend to look out for - Tim Robbins. Also, Jeff Bridges is quite watchable.

With the exception of Kidman, I'm studiously avoiding mentioning all the actresses whose films I'll watch just to drool, regardless of the quality of the film. Perhaps that's a separate thread - "people whom you'll watch in any old crap just to ogle them."

[missjef]

i love films with Johnny depp in them as he always seems to star in films he thinks are good and he likes, i avoid any film with renee zelwegger in as i cant stand her.

not an actor but i try to see films that Tim Burton has done.

[Mysterina]

Brittany Murphy- Riding in Cars With Boys, Don't Say A Word, Sin City... amazing films.

avoid anything with anyone from Lost in it (apart from Brick with Emille de ravine)

[claireyfairy]

Madonna was great in " A league of their own" and I actually thought she was quite comical in "Swept Away"

[Backdrifter]

As a matter of fact clairey, I agree that League Of Their Own apart from just being quite a good film anyway does feature possibly her best performance, and I think it benefited from her just being a cast member and not having the film revolve around her. She probably should have tried more films where she wasn't the lead. And by the way whatever happened to Lori Petty? She was SO cute (going to IMDB her now).

Swept Away, like all these films that are supposed to be one of the worst ever, isn't actually that bad. It's not very good, but there are lots of films - not made by celebrity couples - that aren't very good either. In the context of the lame film it is, her spoilt-b*tch performance isn't too bad.

[Carinthea]

I avoid absolutely everything that Tom Cruise has done, his weirdness just freaks me out - as someone said here earlier on "it is as though he asks the directors to make him look good". I don't think that he is talented and his recent antics off screen have put me off him even further. I also tend to avoid Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman.

I will go and see films with Johnny Depp (not only is he good looking but he is a versatile actor who you can tell puts his all into the roles he plays).

[dot.hawkes]

I avoid Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as neither can act, (though brad as pikey is of course another issue).

I go to the cinema alot, and always go for any new bruce Willis, never disapointed, any new Mel, even went to see Million Dollar Hotel lol, anything Johny Depp,

My son usually talks me into going to watch anything Denzel does but since Training Day I have protested.

John Cusack i adore and have for years and years .

I have lots of John Wayne films here but seem to watch them on TV more.

I cannot stand natalie Portman, bland or what.

Could not appreciate LOTR, Star Wars or Harry Potter, but loved Troy.

I think we go to the cinema 2 or 3 times a month and many films do not transfer to a 32" screen well.

[Backdrifter]

Pitt is pretty bad but I think it's a bit extreme to say Cruise "can't act" - especially when you then go on to say you look out for Mel Gibson films! (I'm assuming by "Mel" you mean Gibson). But then, that's partly the point of this thread - sometimes certain actors just irritate you. Someone earlier said they avoid Nicole Kidman films and it was like a dagger in my heart.

[natalie_1982]

Just thought of another one....sorry guys (namely backdrifter knowing how you feel about Nicole Kidman who I would happily slap).....

Sarah Michele Geller

She actually makes me violent. I can't bear to even watch a trailer with her on it.
I tried and watched two films with her in it (Cruel Intentions and The Grudge) but they just made me more angry. She is painful to watch.

[natalie_1982]

Oh, and I like Brad Pitt films but would like to put Mel Gibson on a desert island. Forever.

[Backdrifter]

Natalie, despite your unfair and unwarranted remark about Kidman, I had to laugh at your posts above. I'm neutral on SMG but can see why she'd rile people to the point of notional violence! People who act through their noses... The one plus point about Cruel Intentions I can think of is that she looked better as a brunette. Fair to say you weren't an avid Buffy viewer then?!

Gibson left on an island... that I like. Pitt kind of mars Seven for me, he starts off okay but then seems to lose it and by the end, when he's in the car with Somerset and Doe, he's totally unconvincing. But perhaps the drool factor kicks in for you? That can get me through the occasional bad film, depending on who's causing me to drool.

Sorry, I can't let this go! How can you want to slap Nicole Kidman?! She's so inoffensive! AND she's a damn good actor.

[natalie_1982]

I don't know, she just annoys me. I imagine her to be really phoney, but underneath be a complete b*tch. And I don't think she is that great an actress. She's just one of those people I guess.

[Backdrifter]

I shouldn't let myself get into these discussions, I'm getting all riled now. Suffice it to say - you're wrong on all counts! Not that I know her, of course, maybe she is a b*tch but I can't see it somehow. Anyway, let it go... let it go...

[natalie_1982]

I think we shall have to agree to disagree backdrifter; you can keep Kidman and I can take Pitt home and 'take care' of him ;-)

Everybody's happy (apart from Angelina Jolie and Nicole's redneck cowboy hubby of course, but who cares eh?)

[fatcat]

Calm down, calm down! (wearing shell suit and dodgy tache) I'll put my two pennarth in. Ok, actors I would go to see are William Fichtner (yum!) and Edward Norton (yum again!) Hot and very talented, double whammy!. I also quite like Sean Penn too.

Can't really think of any I dislike at the mo but never have seen the appeal of Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt.