Should Actors be required to Act?

[heyheysg]

I'm seeing a lot of one trick ponies this generation, most noticiable offender would be Michael Cera, I loved Arrested Development, but this guy has only 1 shtick.

Come to think of it, those protoges of Judd Apatow all seem to only be able to act in the same roles. James Franco an execption.

Another one is E from Entourage, don't know his name, seems to be a poor mans version of Michael J Fox

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

I don't understand what you're saying here? You want us to discuss if actors should be able to act? One would think as seeing as it's part of the name of the job ("act") that they should be able to.

 

[Jirlond]

Albeit none of todays actors have the screen presence of Charlton Heston, Pat Boone or Gregory Peck. My understanding is that movies are no longer the same. When actors required skill movies were dialogue intensive. Modern cinema is very light hearted, or at least tries to bag people with average looking people being funny.

James Franco sucked in every movie except pineapple express. Michael Cera I agree with - the kid had a good run but outside his own personality he can't act!

I like the other people who were in superbad/knocked up. The people in Fanboys/Tropic Thunder/Zack & Miri make a porno were all good at filling various roles.

 

[GamerPhate]

The one's in video games don't seem to have to, evidently.

 

[badgersprite]

Don't blame the actors, blame the people who are stupid enough to keep giving them squillions of dollars for not doing a damn thing.

I swear, Hollywood is like a welfare program for the pretty and talentless. <_<

 

[Scrittore]

An actor is doing his job if the audience believes that he's the character, his range isn't important.

 

[DeadpanLunatic]

I have removed my words from this site.

 

[SmartIdiot]

Dunno, should a doctor be required to heal people?

 

[Space Cowgirl]

Of course he/she should be required to act! I agree with Joethekoeller on this one, an actor is only limited by themselved I think. Speaking from one who has been inducted into the Thespian society, I truely do believe that Hollywood's full of people that are pretty to look at but are good for absolutely bloody nothing. It's like owning a cheetah, sure it's nice to look at but the eff are you going to use it for?

 

[heyheysg]

I think Paul Giamatti has a pretty wide range, Edward Norton maybe.

James Franco was believable as Green Goblin despite being pigeonholed into stoner roles, he could have been a good Darth Vader if he was taller.

Think Spiderman came out around the same time as the prequels.

 

[Ultrajoe]

I think you're looking through rose-coloured glasses at the actors of yesteryear, some of the greats had an incredible range, yes... but that's why they're greats. Actors today on the whole are no less capable than those of the past, if anything they're only getting better. I mean, if you wanted to see range of character then look to TV-only actors and the shit they do for a living. Movies allow for typecasting, but on the smaller screen they tend to warp for the roles they do.

 

[axia777]

Act you say? Keanu Reeves gets by on his shit. Lots of other morons are eqwually as crappy.

But then lots of today's actors have surprised me. Brad Pitt is one that is frankly amazing. The performance he did in 12 Monkeys was easily on par with Jack Nicolson's performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Edward Norton is another one. His performance in Fight Club and American History X were Oscar worthy. Robert Downey Jr. owns as well.

As for females I would say Kate Winslet is one that has grown and expanded her skills to a great level. Cate Blanchett is another who is frankly amazing in her ability to display emotions on command.


So I don't know where you are coming from but there is tons of acting skills to be seen in these generation actors and actresses.

 

[purplelion]

Actors shouldn't need to act... that's just silly.
All they need to do is stand infront of explosions and look pretty.

 

[S-Unleashed]

Um it's in the title so yeah.

 

[ethaninja]

Apparently not in today's standards of film.

 

[BeeRye]

So you're saying actors shouldn't be allowed to pigeonhole themselves?

That's stupid.
Yeah, it often seems like an actor is just playing one character (or themselves,) but so what?
If they're good at it, let them be.

Amen. What would Keanu Reeves do otherwise.

 

[bcponpcp27]

Some great actors only play very similar characters. They may in fact be capable of more, but they are mainly type casted. A great example of this is Jack Nicholson. It doesn't matter if he is supposed to be scary or funny, he is always at LEAST a little insane (or very very insane, depending on the role). Robin Williams is another example. Always has to play really loud zany characters that do impressions. Then he wins a best supporting actor Oscar for Good Will Hunting in a role that defies his previous cliches.

In summary, an actor can be a great one trick pony, or a great actor that is forced to play the same person again and again.

 

[axia777]

Amen. What would Keanu Reeves do otherwise.

Serve gas or burgers. That guy could not act his way out of a wet paper sack.

 

[Iron Criterion]

Amen. What would Keanu Reeves do otherwise.

Serve gas or burgers. That guy could not act his way out of a wet paper sack.

Don't you talk that way about "Ted" Theodore Logan!