What is your least favorite Gerry movie?

[phoenixgirl]

I'll reiterate the caveat from the Mods when I started the first one ... this poll and all discussion must be kept respectful to Gerry, his co-stars, directors, etc. and to each other! The first thread (that was lost in the upgrade) had a good discussion going so let's keep it up!

Most everyone knows I hate One More Kiss, but it's for personal reasons not because of anyone's performance. My choice in the poll is Dracula 2000. I think it was a waste of Gerry's talent (and Christopher Plummer's), and I can't even look at Gerry in that role. I don't think anyone's performance was particularly good, but it is fun to watch and see Omar Epps and "Hyde" in early performances.

[Catwoman]

Gamer: I guess I just didn't "get it". I've never been big on computer games or the online gaming craze, so the underlying culture was lost on me. I also didn't think the character Kable was very well developed. I came away with the feeling that the movie just didn't come together at all. Now, that said, the movie would have been a total loss if not for Gerry. I might not've caught on to the plot, but I certainly felt for Kable, a man trapped in a situation over which he had no control. I think I'm going to have to get the DVD and watch the movie again...~~

[Lady Elissa]

My least favorite is "One More Kiss". The only likable character in the movie was Frank, the dad. I just couldn't work up any sympathy at all for Sam, his wife, or his girlfriend. I bought it so that my collection of Gerry movies is complete, but I've only watched it once. That was enough.

[patsueb]

My least favorite is "One More Kiss". The only likable character in the movie was Frank, the dad. I just couldn't work up any sympathy at all for Sam, his wife, or his girlfriend. I bought it so that my collection of Gerry movies is complete, but I've only watched it once. That was enough.

I agree wholeheartedly. It was the second movie of GB that I saw after seeing PS I Love You. and was very disappointed. I was unable to empathize with anyone except for the father. It was poorly directed, edited and casted. I could say more but I don't want to break any rules. Thank heavens, my next film that I bought was Dear Frankie and I was hooked for life!

[MareksLadyD]

actually my least favorite isnt listed here, and that's Fast Food. but he was a much more minor role. It was bloody awful imho. but One More Kiss is what I voted for here, although I waffled between that and Gamer (have zero desire to see it again, but MIGHT fast forward to see G's ummm parts ). For me it's a question of whether or not I want to see it again. None of those three call my name when I reach for a dvd. I have watched and rewatched ALL of the others.

[Texas gramma]

Out of the movies LISTED, Shooters was my least favorite. My totally least favorite was "Tale of the Mummy". Not only was Gerry's character killed off in the first 9 minutes, the rest of the film totally sucked! They made the mummy look like strips of fly paper waving around in the wind! PALEEEEASE!!

Suzie

Edited December 31, 2009 by Texas gramma

[Jeb]

Liked OMK a lot. Loved Gamer. Fast Food is a hoot. Shooters is dreary (shoot them, please!) but Gerry's part is prime.

Cannot stand Tomb Raider 2. Not a big Jolie fan and this film was designed solely to highlight her as an action heroine. Her fight scenes, as designed here, were laughable. Her supposed physical prowess, as demonstrated in this film, is only evident because the other characters keep telling us how wonderful Croft is. The plot is slow and without logic.

Gerry's part was gutted and reduced as much as possible to highlight La Jolie, to the point there is absolutely no reason to have Terry in the film at all. I don't think the buzz cut is GB's most flattering look and except for a few fleeting, if prime, images of Gerry, there is just too much movie to wade through to get to him. You could easily cut out Terry altogether and it wouldn't impair the plot much at all. I will admit that the handcuffs and kisses are worth the price of admission - once - but now that they have been plagiarized in fan vids I never watch the film and prefer to watch the clips set to music. Much more satisfying.

jane

[AngelofMusic]

I`ve seen One More Kiss and did not care for it at all. However, I must say, my least favorite movie is Gamer. I just hated the whole futuristic video game concept. I don`t feel Gerry was utilized well at all, that he was just kind of there to blow a lot of crap up in some uber violent rendition of the Sims. The acting was not very good imo, nor was the writing. The visuals were also way too over the place for me. JMO though.

The other movie I just didnt care for at all was Shattered, which is a bummer b/c I thought it would have been great, but I figured out what was going on half way through my first viewing of it. It wasn't like LAC where I really was in suspense, and left guessing the whole time.

[jojo23]

I haven't seen a couple of these yet, so I will vote for what I have seen.

I had to go for D2K. I just didn't get that movie at all. I didn't like any of the characters in it, and Gerry was so under used. It was showing on TV here late one night, and I couldn't see it through to the end. I had to switch off.

By the by, I actually quite liked Gamer although I really didn't expect to. Granted, it's not the type of movie I could watch over and over. I couldn't stand POTO at first (shock horror!). I first saw it long before Gerry fandom and couldn't sit through more than 10mins. Now, it is one of my favourite Gerry movies, and favourite movie in general.

[raynbow]

I had to vote for One More Kiss. This is his least sympathetic character, although his Sam is so pathetic, you want to take him and shake him! He's so dense! Drac 2000 may be just a stupid horror/gore film, but if it weren't for that one, he wouldn't have gotten the Phantom, so it's one film I hold dear. And I love watching him -- the way he moves and looks at Mary. Shooters is a waste of time, but his character in that is supposed to be a loser. Sam, on the other hand, is just lost.

Thanks for this thread, Lisa! It's fun to have a civilized discussion about what we like/don't like.

Rayna

[Swansong]

I wish I could reconstruct what I posted in the first thread. I gave an overview of my opinion about several of Gerry's films. Of all his films, my least favorite is TIMELINE. I found it tedious with the 2 lead actors unwatchable. I really disliked the juvenile bickering between characters, most of which was obviously unscripted. The script and direction was very uneven, and while the story had potential, the only thing good about that movie IMO are Gerry and the actress who played Claire.

Here is a list I posted on the first thread :

Butterly On A Wheel: Film and Gerry's performance uneven

Shooters: Haven't seen

Dracula 2000: Bad movie, good performance by Gerry

Nim's Island: Children's film, Gerry okay

Gamer: Saw 1 time. Interesting movie

Mrs. Brown: Good film, Gerry memorable

One More Kiss: Great potential, needed more editing. Too choppy, but Gerry great.

Timelilne: BAD movie with BAD performances and script. Gerry great

Reign of Fire : Stupid film. Gerry the best thing in it

Phantom of the Opera: Brilliant performance by Gerry, beautiful film

PS I Love You: Beautiful film, Gerry wonderful

Dear Frankie: Gorgeous movie with brilliant script, direction and performances by all

RocknRolla : Not my favorite genre or Gerry character

Beowulf & Grendel: Some brilliant moments for Gerry but poor direction

Attila: fun movie, bad acting, Gerry unforgettable

The Ugly Truth: entertaining and fun but not memorable

Game of Their Lives/Miracle Match: haven't seen it

300: outstanding production. Gerry brilliant as Leonidas

Tomb Raider 2: Bleh

Law Abiding Citizen: had potential but did not live up to my expectations. Gerry's acting okay but could have been so much more with better script.

[phoenixgirl]

I wish you could, too, Swannie. But this works. Thanks so much for sharing your views on the movies. It's so interesting how we can all have such differing opinions and likes, but yet we ALL love GERRY.

Shows to go ya ... he's an amazing man

[Knight Phantom]

I know that Lisa could not have listed all of Gerry's movies in this poll, but of the ones listed I like them all!

I defense of OMK, I liked it. I watch it quite often actually, and I don't want to start any trouble by getting into particulars. We will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

On to my least favorite movie: The Cherry Orchard! Yasha's kiss was the best part about it! It took me THREE tries to get through it, it was soooooooo boring! I also own, but never will watch again Tale of the Mummy and Reign of Fire.

[discoveringme]

Great thread, Lisa! Of the films listed, my least favorite was One More Kiss because the I wanted to strangle most of the main characters including darling Sam. They all needed a bit of a slap like in Moonstruck, "SNAP OUT OF IT!" But I'll admit to playing it just to hear the high-pitched heavily Scottish-accented Gerry. What a cutie even if a bit irritating.

Tale of the Mummy would probably be 1st if I'd watched it beyond the first few minutes. What I saw of it made me roll my eyes and I was afraid they'd stick to the top of my head.

[Swansong]

actually my least favorite isnt listed here, and that's Fast Food. but he was a much more minor role. It was bloody awful imho. but One More Kiss is what I voted for here, although I waffled between that and Gamer (have zero desire to see it again, but MIGHT fast forward to see G's ummm parts ). For me it's a question of whether or not I want to see it again. None of those three call my name when I reach for a dvd. I have watched and rewatched ALL of the others.

That's how I feel, Dawn. If I love a movie, I will watch it over and over again. I saw GAMER and enjoyed it the one time, but I have no desire to see it again. I saw TUT 3 times, and I did really enjoy it, but it's not a movie that stuck with me. As I've mentioned previously, I will purchase the LAC DVD and may watch it one time, but that movie did not impress me at all.

The films of Gerry's that really stay with me are:

POTO

PSILY

Dear Frankie

and 300

I guess overall I prefer dramas to other genres, and those are the movies I can't forget.

Swannie

[phoenixgirl]

I could have put them all, but I figured things like Fast Food and Cherry Orchard really aren't high on anyone's list anyway.

I LOVE Reign of Fire! I saw it in the theater a couple of times, and it's one of my go-to movies when I need background AND Gerry. However, I do turn it off after Creedy walks off set.

Shooters is a TERRIBLE movie, but it's good to watch simply because Gerry looks amazing in it. And yeah ... the Yellow Towel has a mind of its own.

I agree that Timline isn't the best acted movie, but Gerry was fantastic in it. Whoever cast that chick as Kate must have owed her a favor or something because she's terrible. I thought Billy Connolly actually UNDERacted. He could have done so much better.

I have to admit something about B&G. It took me THREE TIMES to watch it the first time. I hated it, and I still think it's not the best acted. However, I LOVE it now. Gerry looked OMG beautiful, and he did a really good job for what he was given.

I'm trying to think if there are any movies (post FF and CO) where I thought Gerry didn't act his best ... and I can't think of one! There are scenes that I thought weren't very good ("oh ye gods" in Attila is the first one that comes to mind), but on the whole I think Gerry has always given 100% of himself in every role, and it comes through. He's always so good.

[AbandonThought]

I chose Dracula 2000 from this list. I SO expected to like it. I love horror movies, I loved Scream (which was by the same director), I love Gerry (obviously...), and it was set in New Orleans, where I live. I also thought that the plot twist about who Dracula really was was intriguing... But, the whole thing never seemed to come together.

I LOVE One More Kiss, just as an aside. I understand why lots of people disliked it, but I identified so much with Sarah's pain. I also thought it was beautifully done (showing the meaning behind simple activities like a father and daughter getting the car washed, for example). That's

Love this poll; great discussions!!

Steph

[discoveringme]

The films of Gerry's that really stay with me are:

POTO

PSILY

Dear Frankie

and 300

I guess overall I prefer dramas to other genres, and those are the movies I can't forget.

Swannie

Add in The Jury with this group and that rounds out my top 5 of my all time Gerry Faves.

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Cherry Orchard. Now if THAT one had been listed, I would have marked it off 12 times. Outside of Gerry's Yasha, who absolutely cracked me up everytime he entered a room, that movie is nails on a chalkboard to me. By the end of the movie, I wanted to push all the characters off a bridge.

Well, except Yasha. That boy, I'd take on a picnic instead.

Steph, you bring up some great points about OMK. The kind of regret that Sarah must have had to walk back into Sam's life like that makes you sad. I loved the scenes with her father, though. I was glad that they found their way back to each other.

[Swansong]

There are some strikingly beautiful shots in OMK. The color palette and the use of red is stunning. I found the story intriguing and brutally honest, with each character deeply flawed. I just feel that the movie needed a lot of editing.

I still have not seen The Jury.

For me, Gerry's weakest performances are:

Nim's Island: (scenes as Jack especially)

BOAW: (some good moments, but overacted in the quieter scenes)

GAMER: (did what he could with the physicality but the role could have been played by any action star)

and believe it or not, LAC: (can't put my finger on what was missing in Gerry's performance here.)

Swannie

[phoenixgirl]

Take off Jack and I would have to agree with you. In defense of Gamer, there wasn't a whole lot of chances for him to "act". I thought the scene when he's pushing his wife away and trying to get her to see him while she's in SIM mode was excellent.

Okay, he had one bad moment as Jack.

I have to watch Shattered again. I honestly thought he did a pretty good job, especially on top of the building scared to death. Maybe I'll watch that tonight.

[Swansong]

Lisa, in BOAW, Gerry's most dramatic scenes are pitch perfect. It's in the more subtle moments that he needed to reign things in.

He's still learning.

You know, Gerry has been blasted recently for choosing poor scripts and for acting in bad films. His last 3 films were ripped to shreds by critics.

I saw a great Bio with Tom Hanks last night and when asked if he regrets all the crappy movies he did in the early 80's, he said he does not regret and is not embarrassed by any of his film choices because they were each a valuable learning experience for him. He said there was a time in his career when he was so afraid of failure that he would take ANY role he was offered. He said the worst feeling was when there was nothing on his docket for months at a time, so he would jump at any film.

It's only now that he is an established actor that he is more selective. Hopefully, Gerry is reaching the place in his career where he can pick and choose his roles too.

Swannie

Edited December 31, 2009 by Swansong

[phoenixgirl]

I have this quote by Gerry on my FB: "I'm driven by a fear of being crap."

I think Gerry chooses his roles based on what he wants to do, experience, learn, etc. I think he has the chance to turn down scripts that he doesn't want to do. I have always wondered if Gerry listens to critics or solely chooses his roles based on his desires.

Gamer is the only one I wasn't "thrilled" with since my fandom began. RocknRolla is another one that I watch all the time. There are those moments, again, but overall Gerry hasn't disappointed me.

[Jeb]

Totally disagree with the reviews of Gamer - I think Gerry's performance here is HIGHLY underrated. Job in an obscene world. It's not perfection, and Heaven knows the N&T are not subtle, but Kable entering the seventh ring of Hell over and over to get back to his family just gets to me. And so many elements of this film have been picked up in assorted TV plots and other films (that critics somehow seem to let pass) that I see 'cult film' in its future. It is a very subtle performance, where every line of Kable's is significant, and I find his part almost poetically perfect. (LOL I'm going to set myself up as a professional critic someday!)

OMK is about so much more than a wronged (and wronging) wife I can't begin to understand why so many look no further into it.

LAC I thought Gerry was terrific. The film itself didn't get to me although there are specific scenes that I love.

BOAW It's the quiet moments I think he's at his best. The overwrought ending pushed the limits but Gerry's reaction shots are spot on. And his projection of tension is what gives the film it's best push. Pierce, who I have a sympathetic salute for, doesn't really shine til the very end. He's just not particularly threatening, to me, til then.

Cherry Orchard - Well, hard to defend that one. It is a slow mover and one does fight the impulse to take an ax to the whole family and let the trees be, but if I'm in a particularly lazy and inert mood I can manage it about once a year. Yasha is a pleasant relief and exactly what the fading aristocracy deserve. LOL

Critics savaged TUT and LAC and let much worse, and lesser, films slide by with a pass. Personally, I feel it has little to do with the merits of the films and a lot to do with wanting to bring GB down a peg. How they can praise The Hangover to the skies and then complain that TUT is sexist, misogynistic and crude is beyond me. Or that LAC is too violent and brutal but Inglourious Basterds (which I did enjoy) is perfection makes me go "Huh???" (Besides, do they never watch TV??? Criminal Minds, Criminal Intent, CSI - any of those would have had blood and brain matter ricocheting around the room.) Even with a critic there should be logic. Besides, critical opinion changes in time just like everything else. What was lauded sometimes sinks in time. What was ignored becomes a classic. I doubt TUT will enjoy a revival but it made people laugh everytime I saw it and what else was it supposed to do? Critics get cranky when people don't listen to them and like a film anyway. LOL If you depend on critics to confirm your taste you will be disappointed as often as you are reaffirmed.

LOVE RNR and pray, somehow, they'll make a second. I find Jack Rusoe endearing. It's a kid's movie with a different dramatic requirement. In fact, I almost always find Gerry the one good thing no matter what I think of the film itself. He leads with his heart and his head and I understand what he's trying to say and how he's trying to do it. Or I think I do. So I always respond to his portrayals and can see the logic and intent. He is always fully invested and 'there' in every film he does. That is more than half of making a great performance. Sincerity and commitment count bigtime with me.

I also find most mainstream films lacking in the script department so I don't think it's just Gerry's films by any means. And, unfortunately, I think he still fights the battle, as so many other actors do, to find decent scripts and chooses to work with the best he's offered. There is absolutely no benefit for an actor to sit back until the 'perfect 'script comes along. None of us, in our work, only get to do the best and most meaningful bits. There's a lot of routine stuff we have to do day to day and make the best of. We find the meaning for ourselves that gets us through - actor's are no different.

He chooses things to keep proving that he can do something other than swing a sword even if the material may not be award worthy. Sometimes it's the people you want to work with, or the genre you want to prove yourself in, or because you just want to entertain. Actors who only seem to make 'award worthy' films give me cramps. How on earth do you decide what's award worthy ahead of time? Sophies' Choice is award worthy. So is Some Like It Hot. I respect and admire both but one I saw once and will never see again. Just too much. The other I watch every so often because it makes me feel good and gives me a giggle. And either one could have ended up a disaster but lucked out.

It's so easy to say he should do something else, but what? Where are the gems he's refusing? I wish him well in the New Year and hope he gets the work he wants to do whether the critics approve or not. He gives me pleasure everytime he's on the big screen. And I can enjoy films that don't have one scrap of award buzz to the same degree as those that the critics have dubbed 'worthy'. I have enough ego to know that my opinion is as good as any critics (and often more educated than some I read) and I (usually) don't have an ax to grind with any of the participants.

Thus endeth my New Year's Eve soap box. I've had my fill of bone headed 'critics' carping about things they can't do. There is nothing easier on earth than to sit on the sidelines and criticize. Snark is easy. Performance is hard. LOL

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody! Even if you don't like what I like I reaffirm your right to exist!!!

jane

[framolamdu]

This is a hard one especially with Gerry's earlier films as they may not have been great but he was IMO the best thing about them. I will say and I dont know why you can all of a sudden like something but I remember seeing POTO when it came out and felt it was so over the top and hammily acted that I did not care for it much but when I started to like Gerry and saw interviews where he talks about the Phantom I could appreciate his performance and totally change my attitude to it.

I agree with what alot of you say about Timeline - Paul Walker is a good looking guy but he was out of his depth. Gerry and Anna Friel were the best things in that movie. I still love seeing when he gets is ear cut off and realises he is the person in the grave. I still get choked up when they translate what is on the tomb about him having had a wonderful life.

While Dracula is an OK film I still think his entrance thru the Virgin Megastore was breathtaking. I find it weird seeing it now as he looks nothing like the Gerry I know today. I guess because I like more manly men than pretty boys is why it took me til 300 to get all things Gerry. I agree he was so beautiful pre 300 and still is but he was pretty beautiful before now he is manly beautiful .

I actually liked Shooters but it was a very British film so i can appreciate why it may not be everyones cup of tea. I can't honestly say I hate any of his films and trust his judgement - even with Gamer - I am sure the film he signed on to do did not turn out how he envisioned. While LAC may not have been a mega success I am glad they brought it forward because if Gamer was the last film between Sep and Mar it may have damaged him career wise. He did have great arms in it though

RocknRolla is one of my faves because he showed so much of the Gerry we have come to know and love and did not have the worry of perfecting an accent so could concentrate on his acting. I also think Law Abiding Citizen will be one of these movies that in years to come people will realise it is actually a great movie and Gerry was superb as Clyde.

I dont know if I'm wrong in saying this but i expect some long time fans have maybe been disolusioned by his later career choices and love the "real" Gerry more than any of his characters/films??.

Moira

[phoenixgirl]

So what did you choose, Moira?