Frankly ridiculous films starring iconic actors (Part 1)

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Every great actor who is admired by tens and hundreds of thousands of people today has had its ups and downs. And it's not only about the fact that they starred in rather strange films at the beginning of their careers, but also about the fact that even after their overwhelming fame they deliberately chose ridiculous and sometimes frankly absurd roles. Therefore, here is a list of actors who are not lucky enough to be in this or that film.

1. Helen Mirren - Caligula

Helen Mirren is a woman who, even at an old age, remains attractive enough for both men and girls who want to be like her inside and out. Thanks to her achievements and stellar career, Helen, in principle, can shoot whatever she wants, even if a completely absurd idea comes into her head. Especially if the idea is absurd.

However, this was not always the case. And you can understand this on the example of the movie "Caligula" 1979 release. All you need to know about this movie is that the founder of Penthouse has been nominated as one of the producers. The film had a terrific cast, starting with the likes of Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Malcolm McDowell and of course the inimitable Helen. The script was developed by Gor Vidal, however, this did not save the film, since it was all based on fairly mature and explicit scenes. Obviously, the film about Caligula should be super interesting and even a little strange, but at the same time, none of the audience thought that a real orgy would take place there with a naked Mirren in the title role. Helen herself speaks of this film with a smile and, it seems, is not at all disappointed in its failure.

2. George Clooney - The Return of the Killer Tomatoes

There was a time when George Clooney was just one of the actors trying to break into Hollywood and become popular. To this end, he starred in various small and cameo roles in films such as "Facts of Life" and "Roseanne". And one of the most notable roles was his role in the movie "The Return of the Killer Tomatoes" in 1988, which became a sequel to a very obscene horror movie, which was watched by a very small number of people.

There were several main sequels to the killer tomato saga, only one of them was remembered for the fact that it starred a man who would later become the most popular actor and the so-called Cary Grant of his generation. It makes little sense to talk about the plot, since it is quite simple and even ridiculous: genetically created by a mad scientist, humanoid tomatoes get out of control and begin the extermination of the human race. Clooney himself, probably looking back, chuckles in embarrassment, recalling the very start of his career, which helped him become mega rich and popular at one time.

3. Marlon Brando - Dr. Moreau's Island

Speaking directly, Marlon Brando, even at the very start of his career, could already boast that he was well known as a very repulsive person with an unreasonably large ego. However, even with such a quarrelsome reputation, Marlon was and remains one of the greatest actors that ever existed. Therefore, many are surprised that he became the one who helped create an absolutely terrible film about Dr. Moreau in all respects.

Based on the book of the same name, it was rather strange, tedious and very confusing, telling about a scientist who was engaged in the crossing of humans and animals. This film became one of the worst, which got to the Golden Raspberry Award in six nominations at once. Brando himself received the title of "Worst Supporting Actor", and his character and one of the assistants became the prototypes of the characters Kevin and Alfonso Mefesto for the cartoon "South Park".

4. Tom Hanks - Bonfire of Vanity

Before Tom became a comedy star, and long before he became an outstanding drama actor and an Oscar winner, Hanks tried to break into the world of drama cinema with all his might. And to do that, he used an adaptation of Tom Wolfe's 1990 book The Bonfire of Vanity. He co-starred with Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith as Sherman, a successful Wall Street broker who accidentally witnessed his mistress hitting an African American teenager in a car, leaving him in a coma.

The film was supposed to be one of the first to show racial relationships between people and their true nature. Many also argue that it was this picture that became the progenitor of the later film "Collision". Therefore, the cast in the form of Morgan Freeman and Murray Abraham certainly could not have thought that they would face such an ambiguous reaction from critics and viewers, who, in general, found the film ridiculous.

5. Anthony Hopkins - Immortality Corporation

Hopkins was once an actor who was highly revered in England, but he was not very popular in American cinema. Then, of course, the painting "Silence of the Lambs" appeared and everything changed. Suddenly, thanks to her, he became the most recognizable actor on the planet, able to choose his roles in such a way as to consistently receive the approval of both viewers and critics.

However, at one time he decided to take a chance and star in the film "Immortality Corporation" by Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger, just a year before he won the "Oscar" for the role of Hannibal Lecter. This sci-fi film told about a future in 2009, where time travel became a reality, and all rich people were eager to gain such desired immortality. Estevez got the role of a racer who got into the future shortly before he was supposed to crash to his death, and Hopkins, of course, played the villain. After its release, the film received predominantly negative reviews, but was also nominated three times for Best Science Fiction, Best Costumes, and Supporting Actress.

Continuing the topic - around which there is a constant debate.