CRACKED ACTORS

Cross-posting from thewhyfive. This week’s category: Top Five Overrated Actors!

METHODOLOGY: I stuck to actors who have either won awards in their career or otherwise tend to make a lot of people’s “Best Actors” lists – which is why people like Keanu Reeves, Orlando Bloom, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hilary Duff/Lindsay Lohan/Whoever aren’t here (how can you be overrated when no one has ever accused you of being good? Which, incidentally, isn’t the same as “big box office draw”). I’m also assuming that the term “actor” refers to both males and females.

DISCLAIMER: “Overrated” doesn’t necessarily mean “bad”. But sometimes it does. I’ll let you work that out for yrself.

TOP FIVE NON-DEF ACTORS

1. Julia Roberts
For all the accolades she gets, I’ve never understood what’s so great about her – either as an actor or a screen star.

2. Tom Hanks
Ditto. I don’t think he blows chunks, but I don’t get the fuss, either.

3. John Wayne
Silver screen/pop culture icon? No question. Great actor? Not a chance. And yes, I have seen True Grit. What’s yr point?

4. Gwyneth Paltrow
Either she overdoes it, or she doesn’t do enough. Either way, not impressed.

5. Robert Redford
I can understand his movie star status, and as a director he’s made some really good films, but as an actor, he’s stiff as a board.

Unconvinced,

This is dF

BAD COVER VERSION 009: SEE HOW DEEP THE BULLET LIES

Clive Davis recently said that singers should leave songwriting to the professionals. He may or may not have been including people like Kate Bush, who was the first woman ever to top the UK charts with a self-written song. That was in 1978. It would be the mid-80s before she recorded anything that would make America pay attention. By no coincidence, this week’s song is arguably the best thing she’s ever written.

THE SONG: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”

THE ORIGINAL: Kate Bush

COMMENTS: In some ways Bush’s version is very much a product of the 80s, but it’s also daringly experimental for a pop song, and probably one of the best love songs ever.

THE COVER: Placebo

COMMENTS: I have to say, this version really knocks me out. Placebo effectively brings out the dark side of the song, and where Bush sounds passionate in her desire to switch places with her lover, Brian Molko sounds emotionally drained, as if this is his last chance to patch things up before it’s too late. Hypnotic and devastating.

WINNER: This is a tough one, but I’m giving it to Kate Bush by a nose. It’s still her song, though she’s officially endorsed Placebo’s version. Plus, she’s the one who had to endure a lot of resistance to get the song out at all (her label made her change the original title, “A Deal With God” to avoid being banned from US, French, Irish and Italian radio, and MTV refused to play the video because she didn’t lip-synch the voice), so she’s more than earned it.

Next week: Status Quo vs Camper Van Beethoven!

Thunder in our hearts,

This is dF

52 RATS (#10 OF 52): REV THIS SUCKER UP

This week’s rat: Rat Fink, by the legendary Ed “Big Daddy” Roth!



You could get these in the bubblegum card/sticker format when I was a kid. I was into drag racing at the time (thanks in part to living within driving distance of Beech Bend Park, as well as the famous Don “the Snake” Prudhomme/Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen rivalry). I plastered my lunch box with stickers like these.

I also wanted a motorcycle like this.



Naturally, my mom disapproved.

FUN FACT: The Rat Fink character was inspired by Roth’s hatred of Mickey Mouse. Which may be another reason I liked him at the time.

Start yr engines,

This is dF