Books, Movies, Music & Entertainment - What actors /actresses always gets you to the movies...

It's hard to find a review one trusts.. Seems actors/actresses get pegged into character roles one likes.. What actors /actresses always gets you out..?..
.. High on the list, For me
Actors... Adrien Brody and Matt Daymon..
Actresses... Cameron Diaz, Julie Roberts , and Charlize Theron..

I don't go "out" to the movies any more.

And while very few actors or actresses can get me to watch a film purely by virtue of their name, I've noticed in hindsight that I am rarely disappointed in films that, coincidentally or not, happen to star Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Tom Wilkinson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Charlize Theron, and Signourney Weaver. [edit: AND BEN KINGSLEY!]

So I guess them.

for a while there, anthony hopkins, robert de niro & al pacino were
the blue-chip safe bets for actors. much of their stuff in the last decade
though has been "fluffy." loved pacino in the insider & scent of
a woman but haven't enjoyed watching him in anything since.
in the last decade, i've probably enjoyed watching ben
kingsley more than anyone since he's stretched his repertiore and
refused to be pigeonholed over that time. big movies, indie stuff,
he's done it all. not that he's a young buck or anything...
for the younger guys, matt damon, edward norton & michael cera.
absolutely loved daniel craig in casino royale (thought it topped
connery in goldfinger as the best bond ever) and munich.

for the ladies, it's a tougher call. absolutely love watching audrey
tautou & scarlett johanssen and their performances are usually
pretty good but the movie vehicles they appear in are inconsistent
in quality. natalie portman has (arguably) appeared in better movies
consistently. the professional, garden state, &
v for vendetta come to mind. for the established ladies, judi dench,
cate blanchett & helen mirren are wholly reliable. thought that notes
on a scandal (2007 ?) with dench & blanchett was way underrated
and one of the better movies of that year.

in the last decade, i've probably enjoyed watching ben
kingsley more than anyone since he's stretched his repertiore and
refused to be pigeonholed over that time. big movies, indie stuff,
he's done it all.


Oh, crap, how could I forget Ben Kingsley? Yes, absolutely, he goes on my list too. Unbelievably transformational actor. Almost without peer. I'm editing my original post to include him!

I agree with all the ones already mentioned and would also include Russell Crowe, Tim Robbins, Laura Linney, Morgan Freeman.

(un)fortunately, i'm too young to have appreciated faye dunaway & ali mcgraw on the big
screen but to see them now in bonnie & clyde & the getaway on dvd respectively...
i can only dream...

I really dig Angelina Jolie. Not her acting, just looking at her.
Since she was mentioned, Ali was hot in Convoy, only movie I think I saw her in.
Matt Damon is sooo much a better actor than Ben, wish he would be in more flicks.
Last movie I saw in the theater was Angels & Demons. I just hate paying so much ($11.50 fo that) to see a movie.
My favoite actors/actresses can vary like the winds.
Some of my recent favs have been Gladiator and Shawshank.
Always have loved Bond as well. Sean is the best Bond.

Several new entries furthered my original list.. Like Emma Thompson, Morgan Freeman, and Meryl Streep..
One actor that really disappoints us.. His original scripts were incredible.. Was Tobey Maguire. He can and was a serious actor.. Of late he's doing summer fluff stuff, but can't blame him. That is where the bucks are..
oh yes. another incredible actress..Judi Dench
Serious actors/actress' do get to be type cast. That is usually one reliable indicator to tell us whether a movie might have merit.

alan arkin in little miss sunshine was a hoot! if he keeps playing more roles like that,
i'll gladly pay to see him!

not to hijack thread or anything but favorite actor/actress of all time:
actor: cary grant/de niro/pacino/hopkins with peter sellers, harrison ford,
gene hackman & clint eastwood as honorable mention

actress: easy-ingrid bergman

i love sean penn

i love sean penn

When Sean Penn played the Dad with Disabilities...... === An incredible performance.
Mostly, guess what gets us out are dramas.. Something with substance.

When Sean Penn played the Dad with Disabilities...... === An incredible performance.
Mostly, guess what gets us out are dramas.. Something with substance.

i'm with you, i'm having a more and more difficult time watching fluff.