It drives me absolutely bananas when people choose not to see movies based on the actor's personal life and situation,

I have been a fan of Angelina Jolie since I was in high-school... her humanitarian aid platforms intrigue me SO MUCH....So now, I will pretty much see anything with her in it, just because I adore her.

Whassa difference? You'll go and see a potentially crap film just because Actress A is in it, yet you think people are stupid for not seeing a potentially amazing film just because Actor B is in it. Genuinely, what's the difference?

Mel Gibson doesn't make the kind of films I generally want to watch, but I can't think of an actor that I abhor so much that I would need to boycott - or indeed I don't like any actor so much that I would sit through a crap film just to watch them in it.

I'm picky about the movies I will pay to see. I pick a movie based solely on if I think I will like it or not. Sometimes, I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong. It just so happens that some of the actors I don't like (for whatever reasons) don't do the kinds of movies I like to watch. For example, I've never seen one of Tom Cruise' Mission Impossible movies. But that's mainly because I was such a big fan of the TV series, no one could take the place of Peter Graves for me. Especially not TC. I go to see a movie for more than big explosions and special effects.

I love Leonard Dicaprio but I really didn't like or get Inception. I thought I was going to like Apollo 18 but it turned out to be Blair Witch in Space. I loved the Lost In Space TV show and I loved the actors in the movie, but the movie itself stunk. Wild, Wild, West, too. And I love Will Smith!

I do like to see actors that I like working on new projects, though. It's sad when someone you like stalemates or tanks. When it happens due to their own stupidity, it's super sad.

kk~

I love Leonard Dicaprio but I really didn't like or get Inception. I thought I was going to like Apollo 18 but it turned out to be Blair Witch in Space.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I don't think you saw Inception...

^ I think those are two separate thoughts.

1. She didn't like Inception.
2. She thought she was going to like Apollo 18 but...

^ Correct. Inception is the weird dream within a dream within a dream within a dream movie. Apollo 18 was Blair Witch in Space.

Sorry, disjointed sentences, bah.

kk~

OH! Oh my goodness..

I read: "I thought it was going to be like Apollo 18, but.."

You know, even if she did say that, it's still not the strangest thing that's been said in this thread.

imadanseur wrote:

Do you remember the name of the starring actress in every movie you ever see? Do you remember the face of every actor in every movie you ever see?

Actually yes...especially if it was a MAJOR blockbuster and even more so it was a movie I saw in my teen years. I can usually tell you the major actor and actress of most movies I've seen and a list of support actors.

I really don't understand how someone that lives in the United States couldn't recognize Depp/Crusie/Pitt. My parents are clueless when it comes to pop culture and are 77 years old. I guarantee they'd be able to identify at least one of them. They have all had relevant movie careers for over 20 years and are still plastered on a ton of magazines at the grocery store when you check out. How does someone not see that?

Agreed with Renae. Considering the faces of these people are quite literally all over the USA via magazines, posters and other forms of media It's extremely odd that someone WOULD NOT know who they are.

Do you remember the name of the starring actress in every movie you ever see? Do you remember the face of every actor in every movie you ever see? Just because I have SEEN Top Gun (and recollect the general story...pilots, expensive jets, death of a friend, death of another friend, love interest, and the scene where he flies upside down over the other jet) but I couldn't tell you for sure who starred in it. Know it's probably one of my "Top 3 Hollywood Guys" that I get mixed up, but if asked I could never be more than 60% sure of my answer, which BTW would be Brad Pitt. Second choice Cruise. Third choice Depp. (LOL)

When you really know a face, it's easier to think of the roles associated than knowing a name and thinking of the roles associated. For example, because I know Patrick Stewart's face very well, I can list off tons of his roles, but I don't have that face-with-a-name recognition for Pitt/Cruise/Depp.

Yes, you hit the nail on the head. Not everyone's brain functions the same way and if it did then it would be an awfully un-interesting world!
Some people say "Oh I'm great with names" when starting a new job or in another social situation while others may say "I'm so sorry, what is your name again? I struggle with names."
It doesn't mean that someone is ignorant or oblivious to the world around them. They process information differently.
I will say there are a few actors/actresses that stick out to me. I was stuck on bed rest for quite a long time with a chronic illness and I watched every last DVD box set of Friends and Greys Anatomy from Season 1 to present...and a few others too. I can name some of the actors/actresses from those shows and remember them. However, had I only seen maybe 1 or 2 episodes and didn't really care for their acting skills- then I probably won't remember who they are even if they are INCREDIBLY popular in the main stream of things. I'm okay with that....but I can't quite understand why others are not?

I also think that if you let what a celebrity actor/actress does outside of there movie making, influence why or why not your going to see there film is going to far. For example: I love Tom Cruise, and who cares what he does outside of making movies, its none of my buisness and i don't let what he does judge why or why not i'm going to see his films, if i like it i'll watch it.

And i also do not think it's fair to keep brining up the KKK, that has NO reference to what the original poster has asked. It was about whether or not should what a CELEBRITY does in there personal life influence why you should/shouldn't see there films.

^Which is why I brought up Roman Polanski, a CELEBRITY who committed a crime.

And i also do not think it's fair to keep brining up the KKK, that has NO reference to what the original poster has asked. It was about whether or not should what a CELEBRITY does in there personal life influence why you should/shouldn't see there films.

Actually the KKK is a good example and does reference what I asked. If a celebrity is part of the KKK I wouldn't go support a movie he/she is in. I feel discrimination is wrong and wouldn't support the project because of that.

I feel the anti-semitic comments that Mel Gibson spewed falls into discrimination, the things he said on tape to his wife about her and his daughter, and the things he said he would do to them in addition to him admittedly physically abusing her makes me boycott his films also. Yes, there are other people that work on those films, but if a director knows an actor is tainted and will polarize people from the film maybe they won't use them. Mel's father also has openly said he doesn't believe the Holocaust happened. (WHAT THE WHAT THE??)

I also think that if you let what a celebrity actor/actress does outside of there movie making, influence why or why not your going to see there film is going to far.

So supporting racial/ethnic discrimination, rapists, and child abusers is a good thing? I personally think that is going too far when you don't care at all what someone does. That is like saying, "I don't care if my doctor has been accused of rape. He's a good doctor!" If you'd go see a Roman Polanski movie and support a criminal then you'd do it in your personal life too?!? What's the difference?

^Adding to that... ever since I heard those leaked phone tapes of Alec Baldwin calling his daughter a pig I've never been able to look at him without getting angry. Maybe I don't know the whole story, maybe I'm wrong about him, maybe it's none of my business. But you know what? I don't care how much I love Tina Fey, I've never watched 30 Rock because of Alec Baldwin. Just can't.

^^Yes, yes, yes. Those tapes were awful and I too just can't support someone after hearing that.

The reason I brought up the KKK was because it was the most extreme example I could think of. A lot of people keep saying nothing matters but the movie, and I was suggesting that in extreme cases, ideology would certainly matter. My point is that everyone who says they would never take someone's personal life into consideration really haven't put any thought into answering the question. Somewhere between Mel Gibson and the KKK, most of us would draw a line.

It doesn't mean that someone is ignorant or oblivious to the world around them.

awwww... Sweetie, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it means.

I try to have an open opinion before watching all films the only thing I really want to mention is that the majority of films shows their 'best bits' in the trailers..

No. I see many films, and many times I do not know the entire back story of the actors. I also don't care too much about necessarily supporting or not supporting the actor, because the money doesn't just go to the actor, many people work on films. I do believe an actor's personal life does effect their persona, which in the end does determine what jobs/reviews they will receive in the future. Also, I go to a school that is founded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, so I suppose in a way I support everyone involved there, and they support me.

I find this thread very interesting, because I just wrote a paper on performance and I had to do a bit of research on the persona of my actor, William Powell. In earlier Hollywood days, persona played a great deal in what people would and wouldn't see, but this was also a time when the studios "owned" actors. Now that actors have a lot more freedom, usually their personal lives don't play as big of a role.

As far as the Roman Polanski thing goes, I still think he is a great director. I just recently had to watch Repulsion a few times, and it's interesting to watch knowing what Polanski did later on in his life. I definitely believe knowing the history of people/actors can change how a film is received, but it's not a consideration for whether or not I personally will see a film.

Yes, it does affect me. I will not support them by watching their movies. It's like I cannot watch the movies with OJ Simpson. I cannot watch a murderer and laugh at his antics. If it is mild, stupid stuff, where they hurt themselves, no problem. But if they are law breakers, abusive, etc., no, I cannot watch.

It would be like inviting someone into my home, who had hurt, or abused my family or friends. I can't do it. The man who caused my son's death, even though he was a friend of the family, will never step foot in my home. Maybe not the same, but it feels the same.