Just read the Playboy interview and he's very funny although less self-effacing there than in live interviews I've seen.

There are always exceptions

Wonder Boys, Dogma come to mind. I do tend to hate Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner, but the early stuff endears them to me.

Hey. Matt's hatred of John Travolta neatly describes my hatred of Alan Cumming. Dude too much in love with his own self, and needs to quit preening when other people are looking at him. (Whereas, I think the Rock can take off his 'tude when the situation calls for it.)

Michael Douglas just scares me.

I have never been to an ER for my own self. Although I have suffered spectacular calamity, as in the case of falling down the stairs while trying to kick my idiot brother in the butt, it has not yet been bad enough to require the attention of Hot Doctor Luka. Dammit.

I have attended hospitalizations -- Brother was in a spectacular car accident, the source of the third set of stitches in his face -- but I was 2 states away during and immediately after, and did not get to see him till he had his own room in Pediatrics. (He reports reaching up and touching the under-layer of skin on his forehead, thinking that he was touching his own brains, and flipping out; but by the time the ambulance people got there, he was joking and chatting to diffuse other people's tension.)

Wait, you think Travolta is smug onscreen, yet you like The ROCK? Now, I like both of them, but I think they have the same "check me out" vibe.

Maybe, but one of them is actually worth checking out, and the other one is smarmy.

[have to give props to the excellent comeback by Dana here. Made me laugh]

I will always go see a movie if it seems like it's gonna be good, no matter who is in it. Writing/directing trumps actors for me every time. Actually, I kind of like an actor I don't like surprising me in a good way.

Jim Carrey

Ok, I avoid his movies. But I'm not sure if it is the actor or the kind of comedy he does, which is pretty much not my thing.

Writing/directing trumps actors for me every time

True, but so much of my seething hatred of Costner and Gibson has to do with their conviction that they should write and/or direct.

I don't avoid movies for any actor, I just complain once I've seen them.

Travolta is the avatar of smug for me, and recent Hanks is the summation of smarm. No Hanks projects have actually touched me, but it sure seems like that's the love-me, feel-me, I-am-everyman thing he has going.

Oh yeah. But for Get Shorty, and I assume for the new one, it kind of works for the role and seems to be making fun of his own smug. I won't see him in something he's playing straight.

Hanks bugs the crap out of me.

Michael Douglas I dislike, but I think a lot of it stems from the time I notice what a consistent string of anti-woman roles and films he's chosen. It put me off him entirely.

Robin Williams I hate with the passion of a thousand suns. Though I will say that One Hour Photo was a damned good movie - and one I only saw because I couldn't get out of it politely.

Pacino? Pah. Plays himself in every role.

Who else do I hate? Michael Caine skeeves me for some reason I've never figured out.

Jeez. It's a wonder I ever see any movies at all.

[have to give props to the excellent comeback by Dana here. Made me laugh]

Whoo! bon bon props!