The 10 Biggest "Sellouts" In The Biz
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Written by: The Film Frat staff
Sometimes it's the lure of obscene amounts of money. Other times, it's just poor role selection. Whatever the case, talented actors sometimes fall into a rut, appearing in one lame flick after another. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of the 10 Biggest Sellouts in the movie business. Some of the selections are former indie standouts who have graduated to big budgets with poor results; others are established stars whose solid reputations have disguised the mediocrity of their recent performances. If you're upset that one (or more) of your favorites actors is on the list, take solace in the fact that many of the actors listed below are among our favorites as well. But these talented thespians are still guilty of marching out an array of subpar films in recent years, and it's time to call them on it: |
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| 1. |
Ben Affleck
Mr. Affleck was recently crowned the Sexiest Man alive, he's engaged to J. Lo, and we'll admit we admire his work with Project Greenlight. But let's face it: His recent role selections suck. Affleck has talent; he co-wrote Good Will Hunting and made his name with great work in indie flicks like Dazed and Confused and Chasing Amy. But lame Hollywood fare like Armegeddon, Forces of Nature, Reindeer Games, Pearl Harbor and Daredevil simply aren't cutting it.
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| 2. |
Robert Deniro
Mr. DeNiro has our unending respect for turning in some of cinema's greatest performances (The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, etc.). But recent roles in such mediocrity as Analyze That, 15 Minutes, City by the Sea, and Flawless suggest an actor who's coasting. Where's the actor who made movie history with his blazing risk-taking? Certainly not in the hapless Showtime. |
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| 3. |
Vin Diesel
He started out writing and directing his own indie projects (Strays, his first feature, played at Sundance), then moved on to solid supporiting roles in Saving Private Ryan and Boiler Room. But since breaking out with The Fast And The Furious, Diesel has churned out one mindless testosterone action flick after another (Knockaround Guys, XXX, A Man Apart). With sequels (XXX2, Pitch Black 2) and more action fare (Riddick) on the way, Diesel looks to be painting himself into a one-dimensional Sly Stallone corner. |
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| 4. |
Morgan Freeman
Few actors are as talented as Mr. Freeman. From the late '80s through the mid-'90s, he delivered one astonishing turn after another: Unforgiven, The Shawshank Redemption, Glory, Seven, Driving Miss Daisy. Lately, though -- with occasional exceptions like Nurse Betty and Under Suspicion -- Freeman seems content to play it safe. Films like Hard Rain, Deep Impact, High Crimes and Along Came A Spider started the trend, and this year's Dreamcatcher and Levity continue Morgan's cold streak. |
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| 5. |
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Who knew the catch phrase "Show me the money" would prove so appropriate? He blew us away in Boyz in the Hood, and five years later he scored an Oscar for Jerry Maguire. But his recent roles have ranged from fair (Men of Honor) to middlin' (Rat Race, Instinct) to downright embarassing (Snow Dogs, Chill Factor, Boat Trip). Please Cuba, before long we'll be showing you the money to not appear in any more movies. |
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| 6. |
Samuel L. Jackson
He left his mark in a handful of Spike Lee flicks, then exploded as the baddest motherf---er on the planet in Pulp Fiction. For a while, he epitomized cool, and we can't blame him for taking the dough to appear in the two most recent Star Wars installments. But lately (with the notable exception of Unbreakable), his act is getting a bit stale, and lackluster turns in Basic, The 51st State, Shaft and XXX suggest that Jackson needs to tighten up his game.
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| 7. |
Angelina Jolie
Sizzling turns in T.V. flicks George Wallace and Gia scored Jolie a slew of awards and accolades, and her stellar performance in Girl, Interrupted won her an Oscar. With killer looks and a solid acting resume, the sky seemed the limit. No dice. Instead, Jolie has chosen roles in abysmal action fare (Tomb Raider, Gone In 60 Seconds) and equally lackluster dramas (Pushing Tin, Original Sin, Life Or Something Like It). | |
| 8. |
Tommy Lee Jones
After a decade-plus of acting, Jones scored his first Oscar nomination for his gutsy turn as Clay Shaw in 1991's JFK, then followed up with his career-capping, Oscar-winning performance in 1993's The Fugitive. Soon after, though, he started coasting with one Fugitive-type role after another. Recently, we've seen a barrage of sequels and generally unremarkable fare from Tommy Lee: The Hunted, Men In Black II, Double Jeopardy, U.S. Marshals, etc. Perhaps a reunion with equally slumping director Oliver Stone is the answer? |
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| 9. |
Jason Lee
A legendary skateboarder, Lee proved himself a comedy natural with hilarious turns in Mallrats and Chasing Amy (for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination). A promising supporting role in Almost Famous followed, but recent attempts at becoming a Hollywood leading man (Stealing Harvard, Heartbreakers, A Guy Thing) have proved painfully laugh-free. Jason, we're begging you -- return to your fearless indie roots immediately and remind us how funny you can be. |
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| 10. |
Winona Ryder
In the early '90s, Ms. Ryder was arguably the most promising young actress in the biz, appearing in cult faves like Heathers and Reality Bites and scoring Oscar nominations for The Age Of Innocence and Little Women. But legal issues aside, Ryder has been in some major trouble lately, delivering up utterly forgettable performances in Lost Souls, Autumn In New York, Mr. Deeds and S1MoNE. Did we overlook an actor you consider a sellout? Drop us a line and tell us which selections you agreed with, and which actors you think we missed (or unfairly included on the list). All actor head shots are courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, where you can read actor bios and filmographies. |
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