Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was a nice and relaxed one, being able to watch two movies I had been curious about. These were Ted (which was a tad disappointing), Ruby Sparks (loved it) and Brave (which managed to win me over after I initally wondered if Pixar still had it). I also had the time to prepare a new series I’ve had in my head for a while, which you’ll be able to experience tomorrow.
Of course it wouldn’t be a proper Monday if I didn’t have a question for you to answer, which is about what actors and actresses do when they are not on screen. Back in the days the studios were able to create the way the public would perceive them, but those days are long gone and when an actor or actress makes a mistake or does something shocking you will be able to read about it in a matter of hours. Whether it is news about Tom Cruise jumping on a couch or struggling with a divorce, Mel Gibson or Christian Bale being verbally abusive or another actor/actress being caught behind the wheel with too much alcohol, chances are big you will hear about it whether you’d want to know or not.
My question:
Do the antics of actors/actresses off-screen affect your viewing behaviour when it comes to their movies?
Personally I really don’t care what they do when they are not on screen, in the same way that nobody cares what I do when I’m not at work. As long as they manage to entertain and surprise me on the screen or behind the camera directing I will watch their movies. I can’t think of any actor/actress where I stopped watching because I judged their actions. That’s not up to me.
Do the antics of actors/actresses off-screen affect your viewing behaviour when it comes to their movies?
Usually no. I will say Lindsay Lohans antics have kind of diminished my appreciation for her acting tho(I loved her in Mean Girls). I keep hoping she will make a comeback, but that just keeps getting more and more unlikely to me
Yeah, Lohan does seem to have some controversy each and every week if I can believe what I hear on Hollywood Babble-on.
Mostly no. But if it’s say Mel Gibson abuse/anti-semitism type stuff then yes. If they’re cheating on their boyfriends or doing drugs, that doesn’t affect whether I’ll go see you in a movie. But you know, if you’re engaging in domestic violence, sexual violence or murder or something then yeah, I’m not going to go watch a movie you’re in and give you my money. I also try to keep in mind that we, as the public, only see certain aspects of off screen antics and we’re never getting the whole story. That’s really a tough question to answer…
Yeah it is, isn’t it as you are judging someone on information which might not be complete or where you don’t know the background of.
About as much as their political leanings. While I’ll disagree or disapprove will either, I keep that separate from their work in cinema.
Yeah, I’m like that as well. Someone will still be able to make amazing work despite their personal lives.
It depends the nature of their antics. Drug pasts I can ignore, but if they seem to be bad people I won’t want to support them. Charlie Sheen comes to mind. I find him repulsive in interviews and since now he primarily plays himself, I avoid him work.
Yeah, he does seem to play himself now. There is even a Dutch beer commercial now where he’s starring as himself…
For the most part no, unless they are totally out of control: Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan.
Know what you mean Victor.
Totally agree with Victor up there. In my case, it’s Mel Gibson.
Yeah, he has been controversial. Would you watch any of his older movies?
I have seen many of his movies and I think he’s fairly talented but now I can’t help seeing him and thinking he’s this terrible bigot. I can’t shake it off. So I tend to not watch his movies. It’s fine, though. I don’t miss him.
Alright, I still try to check them out myself…
I’d have to say it’s more about their political leanings that get me. I grew up and lived most of my 20’s passionately involved in politics. I don’t have as much time on my hands now but I find it hard to look past a political stance that I just don’t agree with.
Interesting that that would influence your movie watching. Which actors would that be?
I’ve never taken to the likes of John Wayne and was disappointed to hear of Bruce Willis campaigning for George W. Bush. I still enjoy films that they’re in but my opinion of them lessened. Admittedly, this is a very biased, left wing and socialist perspective though.
Hmm, well when it comes to Bruce Willis I always have to think about the stories Kevin Smith has told about working with him, which supposedly is next to impossible.
Honestly, No. I Could Care Less What They Do Off-Screen. People Are People, They’re Going To Do Some Stupid Stuff Like Anyone Else Would. So I Don’t Hold It Against Them. If They Can Make A Quality Picture, Let ‘Em. I’ll Still Watch It 😀 If I Held Everything Against Everyone, I’d Never See Another Flick Again hehehe
Good point and I’m in the same camp as you. Although I must admit that isn’t the case when it comes to some musicians (R.Kelly and Chris Brown come to mind)
Unless it’s something Mel Gibson-level, I still watch their work (Christian Bale is a good example).
Will you still watch older Gibson movies like Lethal Weapon or won’t you watch newer films?
I can still enjoy Mel Gibson’s old movies but try to avoid his recent work. It’s a shame to see how his career has fallen.
I’m gonna be the shallow one and say, yes.. But not because I choose to but, have you noticed how personal drama affects the work the actors will have in the future. Mel Gibson goes all mad, gets such roles as The Beaver! I won’t watch him for sure now! Same goes with Lindsay Lohan and probably, hopefully with Kristen Stewart though I doubt that her married man fiasco would effect her because somehow she will roll her eyes back to the screen. So, I would say “Yes” because the media will effect the casting process and some of those actors will end up with really bad roles.
Yeah, I think that it is true and that it does affect the roles they get, but if understand correctly you won’t watch them because they will appear in movies with less quality.
Most of the ones I have stopped watching, yes. But I mean, there hasn’t been much big drama anyway.. except Lindsay Lohan but I mean, I’m still gonna watch her upcoming movie with that porn star because it sounds so intriguing. So it depends on the person, movie and impact of the drama. It’s complicated. 😀
So if I would put some scientist to work it would take someone with the knowledge of Einstein to write down the formula for that 😉
Maybe Sheldon Cooper would manage it. 😀
I really don’t care what they do in their personal time. I’m interested in their work and I love to know what movie people are doing but this doesn’t affect my opinion on their projects. I don’t watch a movie because of the political viewings of the actors the same way as I don’t go to a restaurant because the chef supports Obama 🙂
I’m with you on that 🙂
Thank you for commenting!
I try not to, but yeah, once in a while I will skip movies based on an actor’s off-screen behavior. I really cannot stand Mel Gibson as a person, so I have minimal desire to see any of his films that I haven’t already.
Yeah, it seems more people have that sentiment towards him…
As a whole, no. It may bother me, and I may judge them as a human being, but if they make a film that seems interesting or worth watching, I am game to see it. Actually, some of my favorite actors have poor off screen reputations. That shouldn’t take away from the work they do on the screen. Whether it be Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, Christian Bale, or Sean Penn, all four of those actors seem to garner a lot of crap. I know people who won’t see their films because of something they have done. But I get excited when all four of those actors have new films. They put in good work, and I respect the work they have done. More often than not, they put out a good film.
Yeah, those are sometimes controversial, but like you I’m someone who will watch most of what they are in.
I can’t stand Sean Penn, not just off-screen but I also don’t find his acting appealing on screen either. That said, with certain filmmakers/actors, I can separate his films from his real-life shenanigans, like Mel Gibson or Roman Polanski.
Btw, glad to see you enjoyed Ruby Sparks and Brave!
Well, he’s a very unique actor I think and I generally like his performances, but can understand not everyone would.
Yeah, both fun movies to watch, will probably review both of them…
Great question! As a general rule, unless it’s something as extreme as Roman Polanski drugging and raping a young girl, I ignore whatever I hear about an actor’s private life. And yes, I recently reviewed Rosemary’s Baby, so I’m a bit of a hypocrite. 🙂 But generally if it crosses the line from being an ass to being actively evil, I don’t want to support a person’s work. The line occasionally gets a bit blurry.
Steph
That does seem to be the general consensus as there will always be movies that are worth seeing but where one of the people acting in it might be controversial. Should that stop you from checking out something which is very good? I don’t think it should.
I really try not to although I sometimes struggle with it. I’ve really come to terms with the fact that you have to separate the art from the artist. So many will disappoint you for one reason or another. Admittedly Ive found that hard to do with certain actors.
Exactly, because if you couldn’t you’d probably have to cut out lots of forms of entertainment.
Mostly not, thought there are certain actors that rub me the wrong way (not necessarily with how they are in real life) and I have a hard time separating them from my own image of them…If that makes any sense.
Yeah it does…I have that with a couple of actors and actresses…Sam Worthington and Meryl Streep come to mind…
Almost never. I treat actors/actresses like I do politicians: I just assume they’re all jackwagons and jerks and that way, I’m never surprised when they do act like jerks and only pleasantly surprised when they turn out to be decent humans. Polanski might be the one real exception to that rule for me. I also find John Travolta completely insufferable but my disdain for him off screen is equaled by how I feel about him on screen. Good question!
That’s a good attitude!
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