ChainsawAsh said:Vaderisnothayden said:ChainsawAsh said:FanFiltration said:I don't think William Shatner did that bad of a job directing the actors.
This is true, however Shatner should never be allowed to direct himself in anything ever again. I can't remember which part it was precisely, but there was one moment during the film that made me laugh out loud because Shatner just overdid it so much. I know he's never been known for being a great actor by any means, .
You obviously aren't up to date with recognition he's received for Boston Legal. Won one Gloden Globe for Boston Legal and one Emmy. Nominated for three other Emmies for Boston Legal. Won another Emmy for playing the same character on The Practice. Nominated for Screen Actors' Guild award for Boston Legal.
Um ... I watch[ed] Boston Legal. I enjoyed it very much. And I don't think Shatner deserved any of those awards, as his performance as Denny Crane was just as overacted as anything else he's ever done. That's not to say I didn't love every second he was on screen - I just don't think his performance was award-worthy.
And just because someone wins awards for acting doesn't immediately mean they're a good actor, which is something that's a matter of opinion anyway. That's like attacking me for hating Million Dollar Baby because it won the Oscar for Best Picture.
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And I'm shocked that you defend Shatner's performance while saying Ricardo Montalban's is vomit-worthy. They both over-acted the shit out of their respective roles, but each was enthralling to watch in his own way. I would never have changed a thing about Montalban's performance as Khan, in Space Seed or Wrath of Khan. (I'll never understand how his hair went from black to blonde, but whatever - it's the Saavik eyebrow thing all over again.)
Firstly, I wasn't talking about whether Shatner's performance was good or not. You said he was never known for being a great actor by any means. This is a question of what he's known for, not how good I think he is. So I pointed out the acclaim he got for Boston Legal. Whether you think he deserved that acclaim is irrelevant to the question of whether or not he is known as a good actor. Clearly a good share of people think highly of his acting, so he is indeed known as a good actor. And our opinions on the matter are irrelevant to that question.
Secondly, now that you bring it up, he was good in the role. And no it is not anything like Montalban's excruciating performance. Not everything that's labeled "overacting" is the same thing. Shatner's performance works and is appropriate for the sort of show Boston Legal is. Whereas Montalban's performance was incredibly annoying and makes it impossible to respect the story in the slightest. Shatner's performance isn't just heavy-handed hamming -it's a textured complex performance with subtle elements and with depth and humanity. Montalban's performance is just loud smug hamming beating the audience over the head. Massive difference.
And finally, I'm rather insulted that you seem to feel the need to explain to me the rather elementary principle that awards don't mean a great actor. I gave you no reason to assume I was thinking that way. I merely responded to a claim that Shatner was not KNOWN as a good actor by pointing out the acclaim he's received. So please try to get my meaning right before you assume I'm an idiot.