MovieChat Forums > James Spader Discussion > His acting is repetitive, predictable an...

His acting is repetitive, predictable and recycled

posted 10 years ago by the_skipper
10 replies | jump to latest

I just posted this on the Blacklist forums, but I think this will be of interest to most of you and many may share my opinion.

James Spader used to be myh favorite actor but it's getting hard to watch him on The Blacklist. His body language hasn't changed for years.

His mannerism is worn out, he recycles the same things he did from Boston Legal and even The Office. Here's what his "acting" is reduced to on The Blacklist:

-constant mouth twitches. Observe this tick and it will become unwatchable. Playing with his tongue right before speaking and so forth.

-shaking his head, staring with his head on 45 degrees

-Having his hand on his stomach. It's a thing he did back on Boston Legal, then again on The Office.

... and a thing or two I'll need a video to point out. Anyhow:

James Spader's nuanced acting from Boston Legal is gone. The directors of the Blacklist sure don't have anything to teach him, the other actors don't challenge him in any way, but still, doing the same couple of things for months (years, really) isn't even acting. It's habit.

[–] tanncord 10 years ago

I agree on the stomach clutch/pat/whatever it is.

The others I'll watch for.

[–] sherrykearns 10 years ago

go to the blacklist board for differing opinions on this thread.

[–] TimmyAnn 10 years ago

Gee, I'd hate to hear what you have to say about your non-favorite actors.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny!

[–] estester 10 years ago

You do realize iT is his character?
And each actor has iTS body language, you cant take That away.
I think he is one of the best actors on tv.

[–] vmars080 9 years ago

I agree on the stomach clutch/pat/whatever it is.

The others I'll watch for.

Yes, by all means, watch for anything negative.
If "The Skipper" loves James Spader or he is his fave actor (I can't remember, I'n still trying to air out the room after the steam came out of my ears), I would hate to see what he has to say about actors he hates.

Jealous, nasty people. Just no point.

[–] vmars080 9 years ago

You do realize iT is his character?
And each actor has iTS body language, you cant take That away.
I think he is one of the best actors on tv.

You just made my morning, thank you. This site has gotten so hateful and negative, it is getting too rare to find a halfway nice post.

I think Spader is very special - he can play a total jerk and not let it change him. He is still working when a lot of people he started with are sort of flailing - or dead. :( I think he and Rob Lowe were both VERY smart to make at least these two great choices that other actors of both gender have not:

1) Take really good work that is on TV (rather than "I'm holding out for film!"), most of us are watching TV or Netflix and not going to the movies these days) and 2) Be funny! Laugh at yourself, be the butt of the joke.

This is how a guy who was the object of crushes in the 80's is still a working & respected actor 30 years later. The work proves it, not any hateful comment here from someone who is NOT a working actor.

[–] TimmyAnn 9 years ago

>>I am SO, SO SICK OF THIS. I miss the old imdb - when we could safely come here to talk about good film and good television and not play two dozen rounds of "he looks exactly like so and so!".

I know, right? When I started coming to IMDb it was mostly positive. Sure, once in a while you'd get the occasional "This guy is so ugly!" post on the board for one of your favorite actors, but then everyone would reply along the lines of, "You are entitled to your opinion, but we disagree." (Sometimes more harshly worded. ) and that was it. Now it's all, he is ugly, he can't act, and he looks exactly like ________ (which seems innocuous enough until they get pissed off when you say you don't see it...and I almost never do see it.)

>> This site has gotten so hateful and negative, it is getting too rare to find a halfway nice post.

I hear that.  Every board is like that now.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny! 

[–] the_skipper 9 years ago

Actually, you are just bullying me for having a different opinion while pretending to be the victim. You insult me personally, but do not respond to my concrete criticisms on Spader's poor acting nowadays.