Would you use big name actors? When I watch a film that uses a really famous actor (unless their performance is really, really stellar like Eric Bana in Chopper) I tend to think of the actor first and character second. So Im watching a film like Cast Away for example, and I am totally unable to absorb myself into the story and feel any empathy for the character because to me, he is Tom Hanks pretending to be some guy.

I can understand what you're saying, but I've been watching movies for so long now that I don't give it a second thought. I would want to cast the best person for the character, so that doesn't mean I'd WANT a star unless I thought that person was the character to me. I wouldn't refuse a star just because they're too BIG, unless they weren't right for the role.

You might not believe this, but I don't have actors I hate like everybody else does. If I see a lousy performance, it sticks out to me, but I don't automatically think a performance sucks because so-and-so is doing it.

I have a good example....As an actress, Charlize Theron was one I dispised. Whenever she starred in a movie I wouls stay away from it. Then Monster came along. After seeing the trailer, I did not know that she was in the movie, THEN advanced clips were saying this was the performance to beat last year. Well, I went to see it first weekend in limited release, and was blown away. Not only the best acting of last year, I beleive that was one of the best (male and female actors) EVER!!
It just goes to show you that with any actor it is how that actor is committed to the role, that makes it or breaks it. If I was making a movie, you have to make sure the actors involved are on the same page and are hungry for portraying their art.

Same with the men actually...Didn't Gweneth win?? I know what you mean, but it's those darker, sadder, madder roles of both sexes that usually rise to the top. It's that depth that sticks out in the role. Halle Berry wasn't dolled up, but she still looked good. It was the truth in her poor, black background that won it. It's never the looks that win, it's what is behind the mind...

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Originally posted by storm_chaser:
Thank you.

That notion never sat comfortably with me, and you have made me understand why.

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In what way did it not sit comfortably??