Is John Cusak the most underrated hollywood movie star?

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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71
he seems to just keep pumping out decent movies, he was in at least 2 films with cult type followings, he is in a lot of decent comedies and he seems to have range.

is he the most underrated actor in hollywood today?
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
Underrated? Range? He has no acting talent. He has one character that he applies to all his parts. From Say Anything to Grosse Pointe Blank to High Fidelity he is always the same angsty but lovable guy who talks too much and cares too much.

404 Talent Not Found
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
52,107
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I don't really like John Cusak. Only thing that was okay was that semi-recent jury movie. He's kind of typecast like that guy who plays Neo in the Matrix, but I like the Matrix guy better...
 

pulse8

Lifer
May 3, 2000
20,860
1
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Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: CrazyHelloDeli
No. Christian Bale.
Same goes for him. Always plays Billy Badass with a chip on his shoulder. Bad actor.

You obviously haven't seen The Machinist, Laurel Canyon or American Psycho.
 
Oct 4, 2004
10,515
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Clive Owen > John Cusak

:thumbsup:

Clive Owen was amazing in Closer.

I like John Cusack the same way I like Hugh Grant: fine actors that a lot of people like but almost never make it to any Top 10 lists. That being said, Hugh Grant > John Cusack.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,084
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Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Clive Owen > John Cusak

:thumbsup:

Clive Owen was amazing in Closer.

I like John Cusack the same way I like Hugh Grant: fine actors that a lot of people like but almost never make it to any Top 10 lists. That being said, Hugh Grant > John Cusack.

Have you seen Derailed? Great flick.
 
Oct 4, 2004
10,515
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Nope, didn't see Derailed. I will check it out soon - I saw Closer around 2 weeks ago and I really, really respect this actor now.
 
Feb 10, 2000
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John Cusack is a decent, B- actor with a significant following. I'd be hard pressed to see why anyone would consider him underrated. Ironically I think some of the more underrated actors include some huge stars, like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, both of whom are movie stars but arguably don't get enough credit for their acting ability IMO. I also think, say, Robert Duvall and Gene Hackman are underrated, in that they get a lot of respect but not as much as arguably inferior actors like Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
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Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Nope, didn't see Derailed. I will check it out soon - I saw Closer around 2 weeks ago and I really, really respect this actor now.

Interestingly Clive Owen has played both of the male leads in that movie onstage in London. It's impressive to me given how different the characters are - I can't imagine Jude Law (who I do like and respect as an actor) playing the Clive Owen role at all.
 

13Gigatons

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
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Most of the top stars suck at acting. They are always the same character over and over agian. Gene Hackman comes to mind, he has a formula for his characters and he always says "fella ", I watched three movies with him in it on a Sunday once and I was amazed that it was always Gene Hackman.

With that said only Arnold could have played Terminator and he is the worst actor in Hollywood.

 

biggestmuff

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2001
8,201
2
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Underrated? The dude has been Johnny Average his entire career. I don't dislike him or his films, but they aren't my favorites either.
 

ShadowOfMyself

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2006
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Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
Most of the top stars suck at acting. They are always the same character over and over agian. Gene Hackman comes to mind, he has a formula for his characters and he always says "fella ", I watched three movies with him in it on a Sunday once and I was amazed that it was always Gene Hackman.

With that said only Arnold could have played Terminator and he is the worst actor in Hollywood.

But you cant help but laugh at his joke lines... One thing you KNOW will be in an Arnold movie is great joke lines, because hes good at saying them, specially with his accent
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
he seems to just keep pumping out decent movies, he was in at least 2 films with cult type followings, he is in a lot of decent comedies and he seems to have range.

is he the most underrated actor in hollywood today?

two dollars!
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
The problem with Cusak is that he has only ONE style of acting. If John Cusak is in a movie, it's because they needed someone with his style. I like John Cusak, but you'll never see him in a movie where he doesn't play a partialy depressed, emotion ridden middle-ager that just can't seem to break his ways... that, or the movie sucks.

 

Horus

Platinum Member
Dec 27, 2003
2,838
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Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: CrazyHelloDeli
No. Christian Bale.
Same goes for him. Always plays Billy Badass with a chip on his shoulder. Bad actor.

You obviously haven't seen The Machinist, Laurel Canyon or American Psycho.


He played quite the believable psycho in American Psycho. Typical of one of Bret Easton Ellis' books.
 

cmv

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
3,490
0
76
I like him but I don't think he is under/over rated. I agree he tends to have the same type of roles but he still has something to offer as an actor in my opinion so thumbs up for him.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
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Eric Bana comes to mind, I was surprised at how talented he was after watching Troy.

Don cheadle seems to be far under the radar, he's really good.

And as of recently, I had a lot more respect for Leo Dicaprio.

edit: Forgot to give a little plug for my favorite actor, Edward Norton.