Just like with people every day, sometimes I just take an instant, visceral dislike to an actor, like I did with Nicholas Cage and Jennifer Love Hewitt. I've grown to dislike some actors over the years mostly due to hubris, like Gibson, Travolta, Hanks, etc. Some actors, I'm just 'meh' on, some I like, and others I adore.

Signed,
Cannot Channel-Surf Past a Paul Newman Movie to Save Her Life

For some reason I'm not a big fan of Sarah Jessica Parker. (I've never seen Sex and the City so I'm judging from her movie roles.)

I love the fact that all of David's Mel Gibson movie loves came out before I was out of junior high. I think there should be a statue of limitations for giving people a pass.

Some careers go sour. Just to be clear, the "pass" doesn't mean I reserve judgement about their craptacular work - I just can't muster a hate on for them. Though I kind of hate Mel for his whacko right wing views. But it doesn't impede my enjoyment of his early work. What was it Godard said? [spoiler for The Searchers] "I hate John Wayne and his politics. But when he picks Natalie Wood up at the end of The Searchers I love him passionately, unreservedly."

People like Costner and Hanks get in trouble playing Good Guys. Not just protagonists or heroes but Good People. They wind up picking up a sanctimonious tincture. But Hanks was spot-on as the hardass hustler manager in That Thing You Do. He wasn't cruel, but he wasn't nice either. He exploited people, but he didn't try to destroy them either. It was a very honest performance.

He wasn't cruel, but he wasn't nice either. He exploited people, but he didn't try to destroy them either. It was a very honest performance.

Well, that's the thing. I think people piss me off more when I know they can do good work and they just don't.

I think people piss me off more when I know they can do good work and they just don't.

Val Kilmer might be in this category for me. Because when he's on - Real Genius, Tombstone, Top Secret - so fucking charismatic and funny and enjoyable. But he's got a really low batting average and seems to do a lot of highly indifferent work.

Val Kilmer IS Moses.

What's your opinion of Joey Lauren Adams?

I don't think I've seen her in anything other than Chasing Amy but I remember loving her immediately and wishing I could replace Renee Zellweger with her.

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 wa

In this way, I am Robin. Most of the actors who have been listed have been good in some things and bugged me in others. Also, I don't see movies if the trailer doesn't suck me in, so I can happily love Chasing Amy without having to think about how bad Ben Stiller was in Pearl Harbor, or whatever.

The exception is, I'm not sure I've liked Meg Ryan in anything except When Harry Met Sally and Joe Vs. the Volcano.

Val Kilmer might be in this category for me.

He definitely is for me. I hate watching talent be wasted.

without having to think about how bad Ben Stiller was in Pearl Harbor, or whatever.

Affleck, I hope, not Stiller.