Worst Julia Roberts Performance Ever? - Michael Collins (1996) Discussion

[–] angelsluv 16 years ago

Finally... Someone brought this up...

I definately agree with you there...

Even when the film was released and I saw it in a theatre, I couldn't stand her in it.. Problem now is that it's always playing on Starz, and I keep on cringing when she's in a scene too.. Also, I still don't understand why they even had to the character her in the movie, it's all just fluff....

Then again.. I have not understood for all these years why anyone thinks she is a good actress.....

*************
"I am a donut" (Eddie Izzard as JFK in Berlin)

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[–] Judger 14 years ago

I could not agree with you more.
While it is a true story, they overplayed the love triangle with Boland.

BTW- The real life Kiernan was very attractive, at lease from the photos I've seen. I would take her over Roberts any day.

I was born in the house my father built

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[–] saavik-girl 15 years ago

I think she's just a terrible actor. Why was she selected for this film ?

"It tickles!"

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[–] NarcissaM 15 years ago

Why couldn't they find an Irish woman with a real accent? There are plenty of beautiful women in Ireland.

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[–] siobanphotogirl 13 years ago

Amen... Julia's Irish accent was terrible. I haven't seen Mary Reilly but I've seen more than I need to. The trailer has her speaking in her bad Irish accent as well.

I'd say Maria Doyle Kennedy would have been a much better choice, not only for a real Irish accent but she also looked more like her.

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[–] siobanphotogirl 11 years ago

Yeah, no kidding. I think Maria Doyle Kennedy would have been a much better choice and she probably could have done a much better accent even though she'd have to change hers a bit. Perhaps Deirdre Donnelly (Ballykissangel) could have done it more authentically as well.
Apparently Mary Louise Parker was all ready to do it. I think she looks more like Kitty than Julia did.

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[–] iCode_v2 11 years ago

Simply put, big brand name.
At the time, Roberts was one of the biggest names out there.
Names sell tickets, unfortunately.

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[–] bsteward-2 15 years ago

I find it strange that everyone on this particular thread thought that Julia Roberts did such a horrible job in this film but then they turn around and say that they hate her as an actress. My question to those people is... HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF SHE DID WELL OR NOT??? I mean, come on. If I hate baked beans then how could I possibly tell someone that their baked beans really suck? You should not be allowed to judge the quality of something or someone that you have never liked. Personally I think these opinions all just stem from jealousy towards Julia anyway.

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[–] NarcissaM 14 years ago

Why is it when someone doesn't like another it's jealousy? I don't find her pretty. I find a lot of women beautiful, she is not one of them (except her hair. I admit she has stunning hair. But the mane on the horse's head still frames a horse's face). Men like her because she has a very large mouth and well... this board is sensored, but men have their imaginations and fantasies.

She really was a terrible actress in this film. When she said "trousers" it seemed so forced. They chose her for the big name, probably to draw in more viewers.

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[–] boolingallee 14 years ago

I hear you on the trousers thing. Awful. I guess she tried to be versatile.

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[–] siobanphotogirl 12 years ago

The trivia section on IMDB says they were considering Mary Louise Parker for the role until Julia Roberts (more star power, of course) expressed interest. She should have gone to a dialect coach to practice an Irish accent or at least gone back to Ireland to immerse herself in the Irish accent to see if she could do it properly.. IMDB indicates that she did Mary Reilly before this but clearly what was meant to be an Irish accent ...well..it had its moments but mainly it was a fail. The highlight of her performance in this was at the end when she was reacting to Collins' death.

I think they should have gotten Maria Doyle Kennedy to play Kitty.

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[–] RockOn979 15 years ago

YES!!!!
a) ANY Irish women would have been better
b) for Roberts, this was a terrible performance
c) not a big fan anyway

every time she came on screen, I booed and lost interest in the scene... what a poor casting job...

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[–] pjglynndoora 15 years ago

She wasn't in it that much anyway.

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[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Eire_abu 15 years ago

Yeah I totally agree, it was completely unnecessary to put an American actress in her role. Her terrible accent distracted me in every scene she was in.
My granny knew the real Kitty Kiernan and gives out stink every time Julia Roberts comes on the screen!

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[–] bcibiblack 15 years ago

Give her points for trying.
Unfortunately she has the charisma of a doorknob. I dislike her as an actress in general, so I may be slightly biased there.;)
Worst performance ever? Nah, I reckon that particular accolade goes to the intolerable Pretty Woman. That one comes complete with a rather questionable message for the young laydeez out there: Become a whore, and you'll eventually be taken care of by a rich man forever and ever.
Meh.

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[–] BobStage 15 years ago

She's been a very overrated actress over the years.

But lucky for us the rest of the cast overshadowed her. Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Alan Rickman, Brendan Gleeson, Jon Rhys Meyers, all of them were great.

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[–] lambrettaguy200 15 years ago

I think she only became famous for that trademark laugh/smile which they wringed out of nearly every performance ! God knows why sh was in MC unless it was trading on her Hollywood status.

Jimmy Johnstone - one of the "Lisbon Lions" of 1967 - first British team to win the European Cup

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[–] Maniac-9 15 years ago

Her role probably could've been played by any number of actresses since it really wasn't that evolved of a character. But I assume her taking part in the movie helped get the movie greenlit is why she was cast.

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[–] Maniac-9 15 years ago

And I wouldn't go as far to say that the performance was bad by any means, it was nothing special but I don't see anything about it that was outright terrible. I much prefer her in this then something like The Runaway Bride.

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[–] SsmittenKitten33 14 years ago

Oh wow your granny knew Kitty? Does she or you have any suggestions as to who would have been a better actress? A real Irish woman for starters, I know, haha. I really disliked Julia's performance and from what little I read of Kitty she seemed like an interesting woman.

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[–] ukforever 15 years ago

I agree with uk6strings-1. I actually enjoy Roberts as Kiernan- she looks like her, and since Roberts and Neeson were previously in a relationship, you can tell there are all sorts of things unsaid between them. It works extremely well for me.

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[–] landser-2 15 years ago

I completely agree. Every scene she is in, my inner child yearns for a temper tantrum. Fantastic initiative on editing her out of the film, as well! Its too bad the filmmakers didn't do that in 1996.

I don't know if its her worst performance, but it certainly is horrible. Terrible actress aside, this film is great.

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[–] SataiDelen 15 years ago

Why in the world was she cast in this movie? I don't get it. I LOVED this movie (I'm a HUGE Alan Rickman fan) and so I watched it for him, and I was really getting into the movie and then she comes on the screen with that HORRIBLE accent and the movie was pretty much ruined for me after that.

She really should NEVER have been in this film.

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[–] mikeyg24 15 years ago

I am one of the biggest critics of poor representations of the Irish accent but this isn't the worst by a long shot, in fact it was a damb sight better than Pierce Brosnan in any Irish role I've seen him in. I think Julias reputation preceded her and people jumped to the conclusion that she was going to be crap.

Awe Skinny you got blood all over my trousers! Jeez I'm real sorry sorry Frank

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[–] stepstograce 15 years ago

...except that Pierce is actually Irish (and a fantastic actor) as opposed to Julia Roberts, who is neither Irish nor a good actress.

I'm sorry, but I agree with the OP. This is one of Julia's worst performances. I truly do NOT understand why they couldn't have gone for an Irish actress or someone who could pull off the accent better. Julia can't act, she really can't. She's fun to watch in some romantic comedies (all right, the only one I can stand her in is 'Notting Hill') but her laugh grates and her smile is... scary? Anyway, I shouldn't be ragging on her because that's not what 'Michael Collins' is about... but, really, I cringed every time she spoke.

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[–] mikeyg24 15 years ago

...except that I'm Irish, which is why I chose that wanna be Brit as an example, and he is an average actor at best (considering he is considered as one of the weaker Bonds by many). When I saw him in Evelyn I cringed everytime he spoke...but what do you expect from someone who wants to forget where he comes from?

Awe Skinny you got blood all over my trousers! Jeez I'm real sorry sorry Frank

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[–] annathedub 14 years ago

I didn't think she was that bad really. Her accent was a bit ropey at times, you could hear the American coming through, but she did get some of it right. Of course, the only reason why she was chosen was so that American audiences would attend the film. I mean, if some relatively unknown Irish actress was chosen, how many Americans would have gone to see a film about Irish Independence, with no real actors they could identify with (Liam Neeson was not all that well known then)? Probably a lot less than did with her in it.

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[–] Man_in_the_Top_Hat 13 years ago

you just claimed to be an irishman, and said julia roberts was given unfair treatment in this film. Unbelievable.

So what the *beep* are ya, enyway?

-------------------------------
"Its too bad she won't live........but then again who does?"

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[–] mikeyg24 13 years ago

What I meant was I think if any other actress performed the same accent she wouldn't get as much hate as Julia Roberts. She's not getting the hate because of her accent it's because it's who she. Was it perfect? Of course not but it wasn't the same Seamus McFly prop department top o the morning cringe that Hollywood spout ad nauseum.

Your's sincerely, General Joseph Liebgott

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[–] zimmedc 14 years ago

Hers was a superfluous role that she added almost nothing to it. The love triangle among Neeson, Quinn and Roberts added nothing to the movie. Like others, I assume that Roberts was chosen for star power.

I didn't think much of Quinn either. On the other hand, Neeson was outstanding as Collins.

In her defense, Roberts was great in Erin Brockovich - a much, much better role.

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[–] goddessnemesis234 14 years ago

As a descandent as Michael Collins, I believe that most people in that movie were properly cast except for Julia Roberts.

She obviously did not research on this Kitty Keirnan. Also, the love triangle? Both were smittern with her but she made her choice which was Collins. Only added in to make more money.

Kitty Kiernan was a brave young nationalist who risked her life time and time again to collect information on the British by boarding the boat and stealing the letters being sent to Dublin Castle. In the movie, she looks like something else and you can guess what I mean.

Julia Roberts only did as she was told and never brought the real Kitty Kiernan to life, the Kitty that Michael "The Big Fella" Collins was in love with and wanted to marry.

Also, Kitty made the prophecy that Collins was going to die in the Civil War!
Julia Roberts butchered Kitty Kiernan, absolutely butchered her!

Worst decision by Neil Jordan. Too bad his son is in my class or else there would be even more.

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[–] cleome24 12 years ago

Just returned from Dublin where I heard about this movie on a number of tours. The Irish people say Julia Roberts had the worst Irish accent ever in Michael Collins and wished that the role of Kitty had been given to an Irish actress. I don't blame them! For all they went through to gain their independence, they deserved to have their historical figures portrayed with authenticity.

Meryl Streep's accent on the other hand in the movie Dancing at Lughasa was described as perfect!

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[–] vronsk 14 years ago

To be honest, the only thing I noticed was that Julia Roberts was extremely beautiful on this movie. She was so elegant and young. I think that she gave charm to the movie. Yeah...they could have casted an irish actress, but in the end she wouldn't be able to light up the screen, the way Julia did.

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