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1 year ago
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We recently asked members of our BuzzFeed Community, "Who is an actor that gave such a wonderful performance in an otherwise 'bad' movie that they almost (emphasis on almost) saved the whole thing?" and the responses were equal parts excellent and true!
So, with that in mind, here are just a few of the most popular responses shared:
1. Adam Driver, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)
"That man's back must be destroyed from carrying that dumpster fire for two and a half hours."
2. Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge! (2001)
"For me, that movie feels like an exhausting fever dream, but Ewan's singing is what stood out. 'Watch it just to hear Ewan McGregor sing!' is how I keep recommending this movie."
3. Oscar Isaac, Sucker Punch (2011)
"The movie was kind of pervy, so Oscar acted accordingly. Also — that porn-stache."
4. Raul Julia in Street Fighter (1994)
"If ever there was an actor who truly loved what he did, it was him. He embodied every role he performed. 'For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday.' It's fucking iconic."
5. Halle Berry, Moonfall (2022)
"The movie was an interesting concept for the first half, then it turned. The only major takeaway for me after watching this on an airplane was that I just wasted three hours of my life — except for every moment that Halle Barry was on that screen."
6. Val Kilmer, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
"The movie is absolutely wild, and he somehow matches that energy, but grounds it at the same time."
7. Alan Rickman, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
"Without Rickman, that movie would have been a straight-to-video release, and a forgotten footnote in Kevin Costner's career."
8. Eddie Redmayne, Jupiter Ascending (2015)
"You could tell he knew what that movie was. He played his character so beautifully over-the-top and with such conviction that it made the film's absurdity all the more enjoyable. Despite the mixed reviews for the movie, Redmayne's performance was widely praised for its commitment and intensity. He fully embraced the nature of the character and brought a unique energy to the role that made him stand out in a movie filled with eccentric characters and visuals. Love it or hate it, Redmayne's performance was undoubtedly one of the most memorable aspects of the film."
9. Pedro Pascal, Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
"He is one of the big reasons I liked the movie. I think he played Max Lord so well (a little over-the-top, but it works). Lord was a villain who wasn’t being malicious or maniacal, he just wanted to succeed, took a shortcut, and that shortcut corrupted him. I think he captured that 'desperate man who makes a huge mistake' vibe so well that you can sympathize with him in the end. He wanted a better life for himself and his son, who doesn’t want that?"
10. James McAvoy, Split (2016)
"The movies were overall disappointing, but his performance in this and Glass really were Oscar-worthy. The accents, the subtle changes in demeanor, etc. He didn't even need costume changes to transform into entirely different characters, and he changed on a dime."
11. Elizabeth Banks, Power Rangers (2017)
"Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa in the version from a few years ago — you could tell she had no history with the role, but she did not have to go that hard for it. I enjoy rewatching the movie just for her."
12. Mads Mikkelsen, Clash of the Titans (2010)
"It's a terrible movie for the most part, but Mikkelsen's performance caught my eye, and he was the only thing that made the movie watchable for me. But, then again, Mikkelsen is amazing in pretty much anything he does!"
13. Florence Pugh, Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
"The movie was a hot mess — complete style over substance— but Pugh was the only compelling part of it. She could pull off any role in any time era with any cast, and she’ll always be the standout that makes it better: This movie was clear proof of that."
14. Domhnall Gleeson, Crash Pad (2017)
"All in all, a very mediocre movie that would have been bad if anyone else had been cast as Stensland. Domhnall really brought a lot of charm to an otherwise pathetic character and made him very lovable."
15. Dwayne Johnson AND Cedric the Entertainer, Be Cool (2005)
"It's a terrible movie, but when either of them are on screen, there's silly magic."
16. Minnie Driver, The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
"Minnie Driver in Phantom of the Opera. She was the only person who knew exactly what movie she was in and ate up every scene. 'Primadonna' is easily the best scene in the whole movie, and it's because of Minnie Driver."
17. Jake Gyllenhaal, Bubble Boy (2001)
"The movie itself was so campy and dumb, but he gives a funny and sincere performance in it."
18. Jennifer Garner, Daredevil (2003)
"She was the only good thing about it. The 'Bring Me to Life' scene!"
19. Tom Hiddleston, Thor: The Dark World (2013)
"Look — I love Marvel, but most of this movie was just boring. Tom as Loki is the most entertaining and most engaging part of the whole movie. He's there bringing more to his character while everyone else was treading water."
You've read their responses, but now, it's your turn! Who's an actor you believe gave an A+ performance in a D- movie? Share your pick in the comments below!
Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity.
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