Are actors truly acting?

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Are actors truly acting?; or is it mostly themselves?
Topic Started: Dec 26 2007, 04:15 AM (508 Views)
Yo-Tai-Keizuke	Dec 26 2007, 04:15 AM Post #1
H.O.T's Wu Jiok Posts: 8,472 Group: Advanced Members Member #18 Joined: June 23, 2003	Most actors you see in movies simply play themselves instead of playing the role they were given. One prime example of that is Shia Labeouf (Disturbia, Transformers). I mean can anyone notice the difference of his acting role in both movies? No, he's playing the same kid who gets scared by the neighbor killer the same way he gets scared when he first meets the transformers. Even Denzel Washington seems to be playing himself in all his movies or playing almost the same role in most of his movies. Now whether he's a corrupted cop in Training Day or a bodyguard in Man on Fire he seems to be giving almost the same performance which is great yes but it doesn't show if he can pull off another side to his acting. But it's not mainly their fault. A lot of times Hollywood type casts it's actors into the roles they know they can pull off and bring big money. Also the it' hard to find characters in movies nowadays and the problem lies in directors specifically making movies for a certain actor. I mean a lot of times you'll see in the poster "Nicholas Cage The Ghost Rider" or "John Calude Van Dan's Street Fighter" and i'm fine with promoting movies whichever way possible but it shows that they're advertising the movie more because of the actor and not the title itself. Still if there's any salvation with finding actors really playing characters is in TV. A great example is Heroes and the fact that Tim Kring himself chose to go with many unknown and not that known actors because if he had then the show would've been known as Heroes the show with 1 big actor. So because the Heroes are mostly unknowns plays perfectly into the characters. Still there are movie actors who can really get into character like Heath Ledger, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams, and Emma Thompson and there's more i'm sure just can't think off right now. That's how short the list is. What do you have to say?
	"though the ocean is big...but it can wave and do a lot of tricks." -Val- Xbox Live Gamertag credits: Thanks to Jess (Shouling) Caliente like a volcano But beautifully bright as the sun She's my angel sistah Her name is lady Madison Yo-Tai-Keizuke Ukaji A.K.A (Also Known As) Edwin Express Love: (Kuai Ti Ai Qin) Hurry now Don't wait for time to pass you by Find a way to keep the sparks, alive alive Hurry now Don't let that someone pass you by Make the passion esscalate


Angus Mac	Dec 29 2007, 08:04 PM Post #2
Resident Watchdog Posts: 2,761 Group: Global Moderators Member #6,231 Joined: January 3, 2005	I dunno. Johnny Deep and Helena Bonham Carter seemed to be stuck in Tim Burton movies. Think Johnny Deep is typecast? I guess so, since all his roles are quirky. I haven't seen Emma Thompson in anything but something British and literature. My favorite is that Remains of the Day with Anthony Hopkins. But how about that guy who was a hobbit in the Lord of the Rings movies going on to play the guy on Lost? What about Tom Cruise? Jack Nicholson? Tommy Lee Jones? They all have their character traits that define all the roles they play, but have played a fairly big range of roles anyway. Arnold even tries to vary between comedies and action star roles, and that really helps his range. Will Smith has a really nice range since getting away from Fresh Prince / Men in Black and taking on roles like Pursuit of Happy-ness and all those big action movies like I am Legend. Jim Carrey attempted a bunch of serious roles to escape his In Living Color / Ace Ventura days; that seemed to work too. I guess I'm not worried, although yes some folks just can't escape their type. It took Keanu Reeves a big time movie like The Matrix to break out of his Bill and Ted role. Van Damme, Jackie Chan, and Chuck Norris haven't really changed their martial arts / fighter typecast. Madonna, Britney, Beyonce, and Jessica Simpson haven't either.
	Woof!


Angel	Dec 30 2007, 02:55 AM Post #3
C_Beyond ((chunsa oppa)) Posts: 10,993 Group: Admin Member #8 Joined: June 22, 2003	if you want true acting thats not based on the actor themself, you'd most likely find it in live theater. movies, especially big budget ones like you've mentioned will at least in some part look for profits cuz they are a business...show business. big name actors, whether they can completely transform themselves to a role or not, will have an effect on sales, profit, distribution, etc. so thats what they go for. every now and then, you'll find an actor that will totally transform or BECOME the role, like jamie foxx in RAY, and thats refreshing to see. most may not even get the chance like that, like angus said..jackie chan is a good example, BUT...even he was great in THE MYTH, tho it had martial arts in it, it was a love story, and different than what he usually does. hopefully he will do more like that. but theres also that fanbase that wants to keep doing what he is best known for. bleh...its complicated >_<



Yo-Tai-Keizuke	Jan 3 2008, 03:00 AM Post #4
H.O.T's Wu Jiok Posts: 8,472 Group: Advanced Members Member #18 Joined: June 23, 2003	Helena Bonham Carter is stuck with Tim Burton cause that's his wife. lol But, Johnny Depp definitely deserveds to be among those actors who truly get into characters. Cause if you watch Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Pirates of The Caribbean you see two tottally different characters. And i see you calling me out bout Emma Thompson huh, Angus? lol Well, she was in Nanny Mcphee and In Stranger Than Fiction doing two completely different roles. There! haha Jack Nicholson has had his fine share of roles but he's always known for the same characteristics in almost every movie. The same can be said about Tom Cruise and Tommy Lee Jones. Will Smith completely changed himself for Ali but it wasn't as good as Jamie Foxx's Ray or Collateral. Jim Carrey to me hasn't shown that one role where i couldn't distinguish who he was and i think that's what all actors should strive for. And Keanu Reeves may have broken from Bill and Ted but now he can't brake from The Matrix... lol But, yes, like Angelo said true acting is found imostly in theater. And you can tell those who have done theater and later become TV stars. Another thing, the actor who did LOTR that is now doing lost definitely changed his character to portray someone completely opposite of his playfull and silly hobbit role. It isn't a big stretch but a nice welcome.
	"though the ocean is big...but it can wave and do a lot of tricks." -Val- Xbox Live Gamertag credits: Thanks to Jess (Shouling) Caliente like a volcano But beautifully bright as the sun She's my angel sistah Her name is lady Madison Yo-Tai-Keizuke Ukaji A.K.A (Also Known As) Edwin Express Love: (Kuai Ti Ai Qin) Hurry now Don't wait for time to pass you by Find a way to keep the sparks, alive alive Hurry now Don't let that someone pass you by Make the passion esscalate


Angus Mac	Jan 6 2008, 09:16 PM Post #5
Resident Watchdog Posts: 2,761 Group: Global Moderators Member #6,231 Joined: January 3, 2005	Helena's Tim Burton's wife? That explains things. Well her role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was fairly minimal. I just saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Nanny McPhee this past week, so I still say that Emma Thompson in Nanny McPhee still has that Literature and Matriarch connotation. Guess I'd have to see Stranger than Fiction. Johnny Depp still plays quirky characters though; I haven't seen him play a straight-up action star since 21 Jump Street. But yes, he does have range. And I hear that whole Demon Barber thing is a musical. At least Jack Nicholson is doing roles appropriate for his age. I don't know if anyone is going to buy into George Clooney's playing a developing pro football player. Will you? Oh, and talk about typecasts, I have to mention everyone's favorite romantic comedy mom actor: Diane Keaton. and the prince of romantic comedies: Hugh Grant.
	Woof!


Yo-Tai-Keizuke	Jan 10 2008, 02:15 AM Post #6
H.O.T's Wu Jiok Posts: 8,472 Group: Advanced Members Member #18 Joined: June 23, 2003	You're right about Hugh Grant. lol About Diane Keaton, i've only see her as a mom in Something's Gotta Give and Because I Said So. So, aside from that i don't think she's that typecast. Has she done other mom roles that i haven't seen? Emma Thompson is still almost the same in Stranger Than Fiction but she did brake out of herself to play Nanny Mcphee. Dakota Fanning may be the greatest child actor ever lived but she's also doing almost same amount of performance in every one of her movies. Again, not bad, is just that she doesn't have range like you mentioned.
	"though the ocean is big...but it can wave and do a lot of tricks." -Val- Xbox Live Gamertag credits: Thanks to Jess (Shouling) Caliente like a volcano But beautifully bright as the sun She's my angel sistah Her name is lady Madison Yo-Tai-Keizuke Ukaji A.K.A (Also Known As) Edwin Express Love: (Kuai Ti Ai Qin) Hurry now Don't wait for time to pass you by Find a way to keep the sparks, alive alive Hurry now Don't let that someone pass you by Make the passion esscalate


Angus Mac	Jan 12 2008, 01:18 PM Post #7
Resident Watchdog Posts: 2,761 Group: Global Moderators Member #6,231 Joined: January 3, 2005	Father of the Bride (both movies) The Family Stone and supposedly: First Wives Club Mama's Boy Town & Country
	Woof!


Yo-Tai-Keizuke	Jan 17 2008, 11:15 PM Post #8
H.O.T's Wu Jiok Posts: 8,472 Group: Advanced Members Member #18 Joined: June 23, 2003	Ooh that's right! I forgot.
	"though the ocean is big...but it can wave and do a lot of tricks." -Val- Xbox Live Gamertag credits: Thanks to Jess (Shouling) Caliente like a volcano But beautifully bright as the sun She's my angel sistah Her name is lady Madison Yo-Tai-Keizuke Ukaji A.K.A (Also Known As) Edwin Express Love: (Kuai Ti Ai Qin) Hurry now Don't wait for time to pass you by Find a way to keep the sparks, alive alive Hurry now Don't let that someone pass you by Make the passion esscalate


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