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Rising stars that never quite made it...

Sophia Williams · 2004-03-05T19:11:57+00:00

I’m just sitting here waiting for some kind of breakthrough—kind of like waiting for Frank Sinatra from Run Lola Run to finally make his move... Has anyone els…

Started by Sophia Williams · Mar 5, 2004 · 👁 7 views · 55 replies

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Justin Howard58 Member

11 messages
joined Apr 2004

#21 · Mar 8, 2004

diadora said:Christina Ricci is pretty well-known around here—she mostly blew up because of The Addams Family.
Wait, didn't she play a lesbian in Monster Inc.—wait, I forgot the actress's name (but everyone knows she gained 30 pounds for the role and then dropped it right after)—did she win an Oscar for that? Sometimes I get the feeling—even though I haven't actually seen the movie—that she only snagged an Oscar because of that whole transformation from beauty to beast and back again.

you mean Charlize Theron
Yeah, I also think she won the Oscar literally just for the "effort."🙄
Honestly, if we're talking Oscars, Naomi Watts should have taken it for 21 Grams.
She was incredible.🙏
Thanks for the info on Christina.😁

Jose Chase2 Active Member

196 messages
joined Sep 2008

#22 · Mar 8, 2004

Rachel Hughes49 said:If you ask me, Naomi Watts deserved an Oscar for 21 Grams.

Exactly.

Brian Gonzalez7 Member

35 messages
joined Feb 2004

#23 · Mar 9, 2004

It feels kind of weird to me that Bruce Campbell hasn't really broken into the massive Hollywood blockbusters.
In Evil Dead, he was seriously such a legend. Since then, I feel like I've only caught him in From Dusk Till Dawn 2, where he actually kicks the bucket in the very first scene, or in Xena where he just pops up here and there... honestly a huge bummer because the guy is a total icon

northernfalcon30 Active Member

90 messages
joined Sep 2003

#24 · Mar 9, 2004

diadora said:Sometimes I get the feeling—even without actually sitting through the movie—that she only snagged that Oscar because of that whole "beauty to beast" transformation thing.

It’s on everyone's tip of the tongue, honestly... but if we're playing by the rules of actual film culture, you're supposed to actually watch the damn thing before you start disqualifying people. 🙂

mistyfox812 Regular

295 messages
joined Mar 2004

#25 · Mar 9, 2004

lonemarlin40 said:When I first saw this thread, I honestly thought you guys were talking about those young talents who just ran out of steam before they even started. The people you listed might not be in the spotlight right now, but that doesn't mean there won't be new faces stepping up soon.

To me, the real tragedy is when someone had everything going for them—like, a guaranteed superstar career—but then it's just... over. Because they aren't even around anymore.

So, yeah, I have to bring up River Phoenix.

Man, seriously! 'Dogfight' was such an incredible movie.

Emily Torres2 Member

28 messages
joined Feb 2004

#26 · Mar 9, 2004

Man, reading what lonemarlin40 posted just reminded me of one of my favorite "what could have been" actresses from her early days.

To me, the ultimate "young talent gone wrong" is Nastassja Kinski!
Sure, she’s done a ton of movies and isn't exactly "young" anymore—but for me, everything she did back then was gold.

Aside from Cat People and Tess (and yeah, Maria's Lovers, Paris, Texas)
this brilliant Actress never actually landed any major acting awards, let alone an Oscar!

In my head, she'll always be that young, untapped talent who showed so much promise.

Guess she just didn't get the right breaks. Poor Nastassja Kinski.

northernfalcon30 Active Member

90 messages
joined Sep 2003

#27 · Mar 9, 2004

And honestly, who even knows what her actual priorities were? Not everyone gives a damn about chasing Oscars and all that other nonsense...
Anyway, Nastassja is seriously incredible!👍

Emily Torres2 Member

28 messages
joined Feb 2004

#28 · Mar 9, 2004

northernfalcon30 said:Who even knows what her priorities were? Not everyone gives a damn about acting awards and all that crap...
Honestly, Nastassja Kinski is incredible.👍

Yeah, well, if you don't have an Oscar, you're basically nothing in this industry.😁
Actually, there's another one—way less of an Actress, just way more unfulfilled potential:

Winona Ryder. Poor Winona.👎

George Cruz65 Member

12 messages
joined Apr 2004

#29 · Mar 9, 2004

Back in the 90s, Juliette Lewis was practically in every single movie coming out. These days? Not so much to see her in.

nimblemarlin17 Regular

459 messages
joined Mar 2004

#30 · Mar 9, 2004

Jose Miller17 said:it takes exactly two clicks of the mouse to find that out😁...truth be told, look at his weight...😁

Hmm, I still think this is a step backward for him, especially since he’s showing up so many years later. He used to be the lead in the best kid's movie ever made, and now he's just a side character in what's supposedly the most award-winning film out there (even if it's nothing like The Goonies 👍 )...

Daniel Wells4 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Sep 2007

#31 · Mar 9, 2004

Brian Gonzalez7 said:It’s honestly kind of wild to me that Bruce Campbell hasn't broken into the massive Hollywood blockbusters.
He was absolutely incredible in Evil Dead, wasn't he? Since then, I feel like I've only caught him in From Dusk Till Dawn 2, where he gets taken out right at the start, or those little cameos in Xena... it's such a shame because the guy is a total legend.

Honestly, though, maybe it's actually better that he stayed under the radar like this, don't you think? Because now he'll always be an absolute icon—the ultimate superstar of B-movies.

lonemarlin40 Member

41 messages
joined Nov 2006

#32 · Mar 9, 2004

nimblemarlin17 said:I don't know, I still feel like this is a total step backward for him, especially since he’s showing up so many years later. He was the lead in the greatest kid's movie ever made, and now he's just some side character in a movie that's won a ton of awards (even if it isn't anything close to The Goonies 👍 )...

Totally agree. Sean Astin was incredible in The Goonies. If he hadn't put on so much weight, he might've actually been a better Frodo Baggins. 🙂

lonemarlin40 Member

41 messages
joined Nov 2006

#33 · Mar 9, 2004

northernfalcon30 said:And who even knows what her actual priorities were?! Not everyone gives a damn about chasing acting awards and all that other crap...
Honestly though, Nastassja Kinski is freaking incredible!👍

Uh, I totally thought you were talking about me. 😁

Ethan Martinez11 Member

23 messages
joined Apr 2007

#34 · Mar 9, 2004

Everything you’re saying about her applies just as much to my long-time crush, Michelle Pfeiffer.

She is a brilliant Actress and as beautiful as an angel, yet she has never quite had any luck when it comes to awards and accolades. Her only truly striking performance, in my eyes, was in Dangerous Relationship. I am referring specifically to those festival circuit films and the kind of projects favored by the Academy. So, if we aren't counting her brilliant turn as Catwoman—since Batman isn't exactly an Oscar contender, despite the genius of Tim Burton.

Emily Torres2 Member

28 messages
joined Feb 2004

#35 · Mar 10, 2004

Ethan Martinez11 said:Everything you guys are saying about her applies just as much to my long-time crush, Michelle Pfeiffer.

She’s a killer actress and looks like an angel, but she’s always been screwed when it comes to awards and recognition. Her only truly standout role is in Dangerous Relationship. And I’m talking about those festival flicks and the kind of stuff the Academy loves. So, if we aren't counting her brilliant Catwoman... I mean, Batman isn't exactly an Oscar contender, even with the genius Tim Burton behind it.

Yeah, she could too, but her last TV thing (The Age of Innocence, with Daniel Day-Lewis) was great... but screw acting where you have to be repressed! What is there even to show off (besides sensual lips?)

Ethan Martinez11 Member

23 messages
joined Apr 2007

#36 · Mar 10, 2004

The issue, I suspect, is her lack of discernment when it comes to selecting roles. If the director and the rest of the cast are subpar, it hardly matters that she’s essentially carrying the entire production on her (lovely) shoulders. For a film to truly leave a lasting impression, a multitude of elements must align perfectly. And yet, she never seems to catch that elusive break.
Besides, she’s well past her prime, and it will be difficult for her to pivot at this stage. It’s quite unfortunate.

Jose Miller17 Active Member

162 messages
joined Sep 2003

#37 · Mar 10, 2004

Looks like we've moved on to the "could have been" list... Speaking of which, I can't help but think of Mira Sorvino. If I recall correctly, she actually has an Oscar, so that’s one less for this category.

Jose Chase2 Active Member

196 messages
joined Sep 2008

#38 · Mar 10, 2004

Ethan Martinez11 said:Even with Tim Burton's genius behind the scenes, Batman just isn't an Oscar-caliber movie.

Yeah, yeah, and yeah—it’s definitely Oscar material. Plus, it’s way better than the first one.

lonemarlin40 said:I agree. Sean Astin was fantastic in The Goonies. If he hadn't put on so much weight, maybe he would've been an even better Frodo Baggins. 🙂

Honestly, forget LOTR—the guy was in The War of the Roses. Speaking of which, let's talk about Kathleen Turner. Look, she's older now, sure, and she used to be huge, but when you weigh her massive acting talent against where she stands in Hollywood today? It's clear her potential went largely untapped. If she didn't earn a nomination for Cast Prizi, then I don't know who did.

Btw, for me, she's the number one actress of our time.👍

steelstag4 Active Member

99 messages
joined Dec 2002

#39 · Mar 10, 2004

I was just thinking about Anna Paquin—that kid actually snagged an Oscar for a supporting role in Piano when she was, what, maybe 12 years old? And since then, she’s basically vanished from the radar (well, at least from MY radar, anyway)😁
I was absolutely floored when I saw her in the end credits of 25th Hour and realized she was... you know, a high schooler😁 she's actually...

Jessica Nguyen85 Active Member

162 messages
joined Jul 2003

#40 · Mar 11, 2004

So, there was this nineteen-year-old girl who basically landed the role of a lifetime... playing the daughter of a certain mafia boss in the third installment of The Godfather... In the first two films, she was just sort of filling up the frame, nothing substantial, just one of those background extras you barely notice... and then, silence. You didn't hear a peep about her career as an actress for years. Now, suddenly, she’s resurfacing, supposedly some kind of "prodigy" writing these totally incomprehensible scripts and even more nonsensical movies... anyone know who she is? 😉

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