Ian McDairmid is mostly consistently good in the awful Star Wars prequels. Yes, he's chewing the scenery, yes...he's basically camping it up as a Hammer Horror villain and yes his "Power...UNLIMITED POWAH!!!!" scene is just painful, but he's very watchable and delivers a better performance than any of the rest of the cast.
I personally have only sat through the original trilogy, which I absolutely hated. But Ian McDairmid’s few precious moments onscreen in episode six almost made the whole thing worthwhile.
And the story behind him taking that role brings a tear to even this cruel bastard. I can't watch that without remembering it's his goodbye performance to his children. The only Gomez Adams there will ever be for me.
"Wimbeldon" with Bettany is a quite good film for it's genre. The best actor in bad films is Peter Cushing, who always gave it all in serious interpretations in silly films, like all the weird dracula films, many starring cristopher lee
Worst performances in great movies: Keanu Reeves in both Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Point Break. Love Keanu...but he is beyond awful in both of those films.
Best performance in a bad movie; Mark Strong in Revolver Worst performance in a good movie; Mark Hamill in A new hope and Diane Keaton in Godfather 1......Although they both redeem themselves in the following movies.
@TankMacnamara81 Hold the bus a minute!! While I agree with nearly all your choices there I have to ask if you're taking the piss with the inclusion of Margot Kidder as one of the worst? She was fuckin deadly as Lois Lane and I doubt any other actress will ever bring the ballsyness to that character again.
Julian Sands probably deserves a lifetime achievement award for good acting in bad movies. It's practically all he does. I can't agree with the Tron sequel, by the way - I enjoyed it a lot.
I don't think Love Actually is a bad movie at all, I love it and have seen it more than once. Troy is far from terrible either, liked it a lot more the 2nd time I saw it!
Although I loved Ryan O'Neal's understated performance in Walter Hill's "The Driver", I thought he was bland & hopelessly miscast in "Barry Lyndon", my favourite Stanley Kubrick film. I'm genuinely shocked Malcolm McDowell wasn't cast as the lead. Sure he's best known for shocking roles in films like "A Clockwork Orange" and "Caligula, but watch McDowell's comparatively reserved performance as HG Wells in Nicholas Meyer's "Time After Time" for a hint of what might have been.
I love tron legacy, yet I find Michael sheen totally over the top, is it a great movie? No, is it visually stunning? Absolutely, and the soundtrack is fantastic Its just a shame the plot is lame
best performer bad movie: Daniel Day Lewis - gangs of new york, the man carries the film which only really has his performance and the set/costume design going for it. or jim carrey in the Grinch, again his performance is the only good thing about the film cant think of a bad performance in a good movie which stands out atm
@DarkProf1 Couldn't agree more. 'The Matrix' and 'Much Ado about Nothing' represent the ultimate polar opposites of casting decisions. What was Kenneth Branagh thinking giving Keanu Reeves a role requiring acting?
@bodieofci5 Totally agree with ye but I could totally forgive her because of the "must you?" retort in Bronco Billy. Two words in a so so comedy that still kill me everytime I see it
There are far far too many bad performances in so many great films but one that comes screaming to the fore for me is Andie MacDowell's excruciating performance in Robert Altman's Shortcuts. Anyone remember her confrontation with Lyle Lovett's chef? "You, you....basturrd" I always have to fast forward through that bit. How on Earth did she get that part?
2:18 I never realised it before but Paul Bettany looks a hell of a lot like Robert Webb. There's a comedy sketch in there somewhere. Perhaps an episode of Peep Show involving a long lost brother or twin?
Gary Oldman in The Darkest Hour. It’s as if every ounce of energy that went into making the movie was sucked up by Gary Oldman, and as result he put in a fantastic performance, but everything else seemed a bit limp.
To me the mark of a great actor is transforming trashy into something meaningful through the sheer power of performance. I cite Henry Fonda in “The Swarm”. Not only is it a stinker of a film, but Fonda is only in it for about 5 minutes and really doesn’t have much to work with. In his hands the statement “This feels bad” as he’s dying becomes compelling viewing and he gives 100% total commitment to a piece of Irwin Allen schlock.
Has to be Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love! Fortunately the movie is THAT good that even her unwavering awfulness won't stop me watching it again and again.
The appropriately named Stephen Lack in David Cronenberg's SCANNERS. His acting is so awkwardly stilted, it's as if the original lead actor dropped out at the last minute and Cronenberg just dragged some hobo off the street to replace him. Despite this, the film is a masterpiece of body horror thanks to the gruesome special effects, a career defining performance by Michael Ironside, and David Cronenberg's deft direction.
@KotowTV I totally agree. Infact I'll go the opposite of what was said in this video and say the the WORST thing about it was Michael Sheen's preposterous hamming..
That's why he was perfect. He was playing a guy who'd spent his whole life essentially dreaming, then waking up to reality. His dopiness is entirely fitting.
Bill Nighy plays exactly the same character in every film he makes, and that character is Bill Nighy. he has built a whole career on being charismatic enough to saunter onto any film set, mumble his lines, do that thing he does with his mouth, then bugger off. nice work if you can get it. Name me one film where he doesn't play himself.
Julian Sands?! Noo!! How dare you say that! I loved him in Tale of a Vampire. One of my all-time fave movies! And yes, Laura Dern is wonderful. I thought worst performance in a great film: Anthony Hopkins in Bram Stoker's Dracula and Tom Cruise in Interview with a Vampire. I started yelling at the TV both times.
Edward Furlong (John Connor) in Terminator 2, mostly for his voice. I know it's not a great reason to dislike a performance, but I've never been able to get over how annoying it is.
I must say, I adore Joe Pesci, but I thought he was quite poor in JFK (one of my favourite films). I saw the film after reading several books on the assassination and therefore, went in expecting a more quiet, somber portrayal of David Ferrie. However, I thought that Pesci brought too much of his “DeVitoness” to the role. Rather than the “sad clown” reputation of which the real Ferrie was known for.
Walken has also been an AWFUL actor in awful movies - when he's giving his A-Game he's hard to touch, but he's done a LOT of check-cashing parts over the last few decades.
Worst performance in a great movie? If we accept your view that Godfather III is actually a good movie, then I suppose it would have to be Sofia Coppola in Godfather III!
@QuatermassMan And what makes it even worse is that movie around that steaming pile of middle fingers to the audience is the talent surrounding him: Director Blake Edwards, writers Truman Capote and George Axelrod, and Audrey, my love. But Mickey as Mr. Yunioshi is a blemish you can't ignore.
My vote would be for best performance... 1. Val Kilmer - The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) 2. Michael Caine - Jaws: The Revenge (1987) Worst performance.... 1. Keanu Reeves - Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) 2. Andie McDowall - Four Weddings & a Funeral
@TankMacnamara81 Ha Ha! Its a matter of taste at the end of the day. I like the chain smoking quality of her voice, it gives her that extra bit of sass. I'm also biased as I'm extremely attracted to her ha ha! Now Kate Bosworth was a TERRIBLE choice for Lois in that last Superman abortion. I
Stephen Lack in Scanners. Patrick McGoohan and Michael Ironside gave great performances as supporting roles Stephen's Lack of acting chops in a lead role is cringe worthy. Should be No.1
@skinwalkerxxx I completely agree with the first part. But still, I like his films somehow very much. I think you can feel a sort of love for moviemaking.
