Five "Great" Actors and Actresses Wasting Your Time at the Movies

It came to my attention after watching a terrible movie last night (Morning Glory) that there are a lot of actors and actresses who are doing some pretty terrible movies.  There are some people who I expect to be in a bad movie.  I don't ever expect to see  or hear the words Academy Award nominee Jessica Alba.  There are actors and actresses who I expect better from, they have shown they have talent, but have also proven to be in some terrible films. 

Here are five current iconic actors/actresses working today that are not doing their best work in film right now. 

1-Robert DeNiro-What a great actor; he brought us nuances in The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Cape Fear, Goodfellas, and of course Raging Bull.  DeNiro is a six time Academy Award nominee and two time winner.  DeNiro won for Supporting Actor in The Godfather Part II and for Lead Actor in Raging Bull.  I love this man and think that he is a great actor but some of his films need to remain on the shelf.  Little Fockers, Meet the Fockers, and Analyze That were pointless sequels. Stone with Edward Norton basically went straight to DVD.  Pairing DeNiro and Pacino in Righteous Kill sounds like an easy sell, but it was a waste of talent.  Everybody Hurts was too sappy, Hide and Seek was his attempt at horror, and even with a stellar cast and director the film What Just Happened (who even really heard about this one) were all epic fails.  I have saved the worst for last; he played Fearless Leader in the live action film The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, nuff said!
The Cure: Mr. DeNiro you are a funny man, you were great in Stardust and 30 Rock this decade, and Jack Burns in Meet the Parents is great.  Wait for a good script, start saying No!!!

2-Diane Keaton-After sitting through Morning Glory last night, Keaton's  is lucky her shrill portrayal portrayal as a vain news anchor, did not land her the top spot on this list.  Diane Keaton is a four time Academy Award nominee (and one time winner) for her roles in Annie Hall (her win), Reds, Marvin's Room, and Something's Gotta Give.  Diane Keaton was always good at playing strong confident women, she is sexy and smart.  I loved her in Baby Boom (not a great film) but it showcases her talents well; she was also  stellar in Woody Allen's film Manhattan.  After Keaton played Annie in the First Wives Club her confidence in her roles seemed to get shot.  Keaton has produced some major bombs in the 2000s.  Mama's Boy, Smother, Mad Money, Morning Glory, and the worst of them all Because I Said So.  Miss Keaton's acting is so over the top in Because I Said So it hurts; she is one of my favorite actresses of all time, but as of lately when I see she is in a movie playing the overprotective mom I cringe and sigh.
The Cure: Move to television!!! There was a pilot in the works for you about playing a Hollywood hot shot, do it!  It worked for Glen Close, it can work for you too.

3-Al Pacino-Stop Overacting!....I will say that again, Stop Overacting!!  You are Michael Corleone, you were Serpico.  You yelled "Attica! Attica!" and  said "Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in." Now lately when it comes to your film career, we want you to stay away from lame movies.  Al Pacino is an 8 time Academy Award nominee (1 win); his nominations include his performances in The Godfather, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon,...And Justice for All, Dick Tracey, Scent of a Woman (his win), and Glenngarry Glenn Ross.  In the 2000s his films include, 88 Minutes, Righteous Kill, Gigli, S1m0ne, The Recruit, Two for the Money, and he was in the worst of the Ocean's movies Ocean's Thirteen.
The Cure: Stick to the roles you have taken on HBO, and stick with Shakespeare it works for you!  Pacino was great in Angels in America and You Don't Know Jack.  He killed in The Merchant of Venice, and doing Shakespeare in the Park in NYC.  This is your future Al, stick with it and your fans will forgive you for your bad film choices.

4-Harrison Ford-Considering Ford a great actor is probably debatable to some, but he is certainly iconic.  Ford brought two of the most memorable characters to film history Han Solo and Indiana Jones (a much better character than the similar written Robert Langdon).  Harrison Ford was the late 70s and 80s with films like Witness (his only academy award nomination), Blade Runner, every Indiana Jones film, every Star Wars film, and Working Girl; he did it all he kicked butt, made people laugh, and swoon.  Now he is starring in second rate films like K-19: The Widowmaker, Hollywood Homicide, Firewall, Extraordinary Measures, and Morning Glory.  Ford's foray as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones in the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a HUGE letdown.  I wonder if like Ford's character Mike Pomeroy in Morning Glory is Ford resistant to television as opposed to film.  Does television represent a lower standard?
The Cure: Ford's time as action star is done, he needs to focus on his humour and wit, and find films that will focus on that.  Morning Glory was an attempt, but a fail.  Keep going you are on the right path!

5-Robin Williams-The Man is funny and can really deliver a great dramatic performance, look at Dead Poet's Society, Good Will Hunting, and One Hour Photo.  The man has range!  I am going to make this one short and simple, don't be desperate!!  Stop taking terrible comedies like RV, Old Dogs, License to Wed, Man of the Year, Father's Day (there is a long list I will stop here).  Williams has four Academy Award nominations, and one win (Good Will Hunting).  His foray into darker material like Insomnia and One Hour Photo were great!  Robin Williams needs to keep using his range, and calm down!  Your Mrs. Doubtfire is classic, you don't need to keep trying to prove yourself so hard!
The Cure: Do some quality animated films, your stint on Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit was alright, maybe find some better written material, and go from there. 

I do not blame these five actors, nor do I hold ill will towards them.  They are of my favorite actors of all time, and I want the best for them maybe the material isn't there, or maybe there is ageism in Hollywood.  I think the five of them can do better, and I want them their careers to have an upswing.  I do not want any of these five people to fall into a Norma Desmond type lifestyle.  As Norma Desmond says in Sunset Boulevard "I am big. It's the pictures that got small"