I'll suffer through bad films for these actors
Posted: Thursday, June 26, 2008 6:00 AM by Anna Chan
Filed Under:
Movies
OK, I admit that I no longer see movies in the theater as often as I used to (bills -- and a cute-shoe addiction -- eat up a lot of what used to be my "fun" money). I go to the movies maybe two or three times a year. But there are a few actors who can usually compel me to shell out $10 a ticket -- or at least time my Netflix returns to make sure I get their latest DVD right on its release date.
First, it was Eddie Furlong. After I saw him play John Connor in "Terminator 2" (he was sooooo dreamy!) his face stared down at me from every inch of my bedroom walls. If my friends couldn't (or wouldn't) go see his latest, I'd drag my dad and my brother with me and pay their way. I watched the good along with the bad -- especially the bad. "American History X" was amazing, but I still question my fondness for "Pet Semetary 2." All right, so I haven't seen "The Crow: Wicked Prayer" yet. But that's because I've grown up and he's no longer on my list.
Nowadays, the stars who can usually get me to fill a theater seat are Edward Norton (hmm ... this may explain why "American History X" is my all-time favorite movie), Christian Bale (he's set to play John Connor in the upcoming "Terminator" film; am I sensing a theme here?) and Anne Hathaway, whom I've loved since her days on the ill-fated but incredibly good Fox show "Get Real" (no ties to Furlong, as far as I know).
Yes, I "suffered" through (but secretly enjoyed) Bale's "Newsies" and Hathaway's "Princess Diaries." Come to think of it, I even sat through Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You" just to see Norton. Painful. Ben Stiller's on my must-see list too, though I'm more likely to rent his DVDs than shell out hard-earned cash.
So why these actors and not other accomplished thespians? Bale and Norton can swing from charming good guys to deliciously evil in the blink of an eye. And when they star in the rare, tragically bad film, it's forgiveable simply because their performances are often the most enjoyable thing about those movies. Oh, and did I mention that they're pretty easy on the eyes, too? (Please refer to "American History X"-- again -- and "American Psycho.")
As for Hathaway, she's darn cute, but she has a very endearing quality that I find sweet, honest and relatable. Besides, a girl needs a good chick flick now and then, and Hathaway always delivers.
Stiller I can't really explain because he's been in a number of panned films. He just makes me laugh. Every. Single. Time. Well, maybe except in "Duplex" and "Envy." Those were just bad.
There are plenty of actors who have a solid roster of good films. Which stars can always put you in line for their next movie? Who's a guilty pleasure?
