Deserted Island Decision - Movie Choice

[QuikSand]

So, you're stuck on a deserted island, with all the standard trimmings that come with it according to legend. Well, this isn't [i]Lost[/o] so there won't be a population of six thousand different factions and monsters or anything - you're just here, on your own, for as long as you can imagine.

You find the inevitable magic lamp, and soon the genie appears. Great. But he's a union genie, and his work is subjected to a series of restrctions resulting from the latest Intergalactic Brotherhood of Embottled Omnipotents #136 CBA. So, here's his "make a wish" offer to you, complete with provisos and what-have-yous befitting a tedious negotiation:

You may be entertained during your interminable stay here by viewing the catalog of films including one actor. You get to choose the actor. However, your only option is to watch each and every film, with full attention, start to finish, in chronological order -- you don't get to pick and choose your favorites, you don't get to skip over your dislikes -- you simply watch them all, over and over again, forever.

So, given that setup... you choose...?

[rkmsuf]

Easy one.

Kenneth Burritt

[Bee]

Jenna Jameson

[kurtism]

Intriguing premise... On first blush, if variety is your goal, perhaps Kevin Bacon (or some other prolific performer) is a good choice. However, having to sit through Footloose seems too cruel a punishment to me.

I am having a hard time thinking of a modern actor whose entire ouvre I'd be willing to sit through. At the moment, I think I would go with Humphrey Bogart. I'm sure there are a few dogs in the mix, but the ability to watch To Have and Have Not, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, Key Largo, The Big Sleep, The African Queen, and The Treasure of Sierra Madre multiple times would easily make up for the bad points. (At least, so long as I am not "treated" to any of the Turner colorized abominations...)

[panerd]

It's gotta be a porn actress. Chasey Lain, maybe.

[mrsimperless]

Johnny Depp

The Ninth Gate is gonna be a bitch...

[MJ4H]

John Cusack

[Ben E Lou]

How many Star Wars movies would I have to watch if I said Harrison Ford? Was he in all three of them?

[Barkeep49]

I think Kevin Bacon is a good suggestion. There are a lot of HORRIBLE movies in there but you'd get variety and some good movies thrown in for fun. Robert Deniro seems like another good choice as there would be, especially with his most recent films, some comedy and a lot of good drama.

However, I think I'd really think about somebody like Charlie Chaplin. If I'm going to be abandoned on a deserted island I think I'd want something fun and upbeat and his movies are mostly good and there are quite a few films.

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

How many Star Wars movies would I have to watch if I said Harrison Ford? Was he in all three of them?

Yes. Harrison Ford isn't a bad thought either.

[Ben E Lou]

I'm kinda leaning toward Samuel L., the more I think about it though. He had some nice quick appearances in stuff like Coming To America and Jurassic Park...

[Bee]

I like the Johnny Depp suggestion, Tom Hanks wouldn't be a bad choice either.

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I'm kinda leaning toward Samuel L., the more I think about it though. He had some nice quick appearances in stuff like Coming To America and Jurassic Park...

Ok you certainly get variety with Samuel L, but there is a whole lotta crap in his early career.

[kurtism]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I'm kinda leaning toward Samuel L., the more I think about it though. He had some nice quick appearances in stuff like Coming To America and Jurassic Park...

How long before you've had it with Mutha-effin' snakes on the Mutha-effin' plane, though?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Tom Berenger

[Tigercat]

Kevin Spacey

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Tigercat

Kevin Spacey

Ugh, you'd have to sit through The Big Kahuna. Yikes.

[Barkeep49]

Hey Genie is there anyway I can chose a director instead? I'd much rather see the collected works of some directors than actors.

[SplitPersonality1]

It's a tossup between two great supporting actors in Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman........

I'll go with Freeman. I don't think I could sit through Superman IV again... shudder



Great thread by the way QS. I am going to ask a few friends this question and see what they come up with.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

Hey Genie is there anyway I can chose a director instead? I'd much rather see the collected works of some directors than actors.

I thought about that, but I thought it might get too easy that way. No, the genie's CBA restricts you to selecting a performer, and using all of his oer her works in that capacity.

Maybe a new thread later on directors or producers or the like.

[Draft Dodger]

I think I'd probably pick Harrison Ford. You'd have the obvious Star Wars and Raiders trilogy. Apocalypse Now. American Graffiti. Blade Runner. Witness. Frantic. Presumed Innocent. Two of the Tom Clancy movies. The Fugitive. That's 15 movies right there that would be relatively varied and entertaining, with about 40 or so others ranging from decent to good.

2nd choice would probably be Eastwood, but I think there'd be too much crap there to sit through. Actually, after thinking on it, I think Hackman would be my 2nd choice, although, again, there's some bad movies in there

[Barkeep49]

Ok so I'm also trying to think if there are any ways around this provision. For instance, if I had wanted David Mamet, I could have chosen Ricky Jay to get the same effect. I'm wondering if there is any such actor for somebody like Robert Altman.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think Tom Hanks is a very good suggestion. Going through some other actors in my head, before I make a final decision.

[TroyF]

Deniro or Pacino I think. Probably Deniro.

[QuikSand]

I thought Harrison Ford was a solid choice... I don't know how many times I'd be able to live through Regarding Henry, though. And the cop flick he did a couple years ago looked like a rotten tomato, too. He was the guy who inspired this little twist, though... even though he might still be a respectable choice.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by kurtism

Intriguing premise... On first blush, if variety is your goal, perhaps Kevin Bacon (or some other prolific performer) is a good choice. However, having to sit through Footloose seems too cruel a punishment to me.

I am having a hard time thinking of a modern actor whose entire ouvre I'd be willing to sit through. At the moment, I think I would go with Humphrey Bogart. I'm sure there are a few dogs in the mix, but the ability to watch To Have and Have Not, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, Key Largo, The Big Sleep, The African Queen, and The Treasure of Sierra Madre multiple times would easily make up for the bad points. (At least, so long as I am not "treated" to any of the Turner colorized abominations...)

""

And, to add something to the list, I thought about Alfred Hitchcock, which would, I assume, pretty much give me the universe of "itchcock Films" and very little else. However, I think that, as amazing as Hitchcock is, there were quite a few dogs in his prolific career, and I would want a bit more variety in the end.

I can't, right now, think of anyone better than Bogart. Though, before I made the final choice, I'd imdb Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant.

[QuikSand]

I was thining that Toshiro Mifune might be a clever choice, until I saw that he has done somethnig like 180 films. There has to be some thoroughly unwatchable garbage in that set as well.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I can't, right now, think of anyone better than Bogart.

Not bad.

[MJ4H]

Hmm maybe William H. Macy

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

John Cusack

I agree

Class (1983)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Grandview, USA (1984)
The Sure Thing (1985)
Better Off Dead (1985)
The Journey of Natty Gann (1985)
Stand By Me (1986)
On Crazy Summer (1986)
Hot Pursuit (1987)
Broadcast News (1987)
Eight Men Out (1988)
Tapeheads (1988)
Elvis Stories (1989)
Say Anything... (1989)
Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)
The Grifters (1990)
True Colors (1991)
Shadows and Fog (1992)
Bob Roberts (1992)
Roadside Prophets (1992)
Map of the Human Heart (1993)
Money for Nothing (1993)
Floundering (1994)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
The Road to Wellville (1994)
City Hall (1996)
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Con Air (1997)
Anastasia (1997)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
Chicago Cab (1998)
This Is My Father (1998)
The Thin Red Line (1998)
The Jack Bull (1999)
Pushing Tin (1999)
Cradle Will Rock (1999)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
High Fidelity (2000)
America's Sweethearts (2001)
Serendipity (2001)
Max (2002)
Identity (2003)
Runaway Jury (2003)
Must Love Dogs (2005)
The Ice Harvest (2005)

45 movies, with about a 65% - 70% hit rate of titles that I really like.

[rowech]

I'm going with Jimmy Stewart. I get Mr. Smith goes to Washington along with It's a Wonderful Life. In addition, I get several Hitchcock movies along with one of my favorite movies, The Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant and Hepburn in there as well. While I'm not a Western fan, I get those as well.

[Drake]

Cusack's _Better Off Dead_ is one of the best movies of all time.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Drake

Cusack's _Better Off Dead_ is one of the best movies of all time.

You and Mrs. Q on this train. I guess it was just lost on me. *shurg*

[Critch]

Steve McQueen.

Never So Few, The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Soldier in the Rain, The Cincinnati Kid, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, Le Mans, Papillon, Towering Inferno.

Some classics in there and looking through the IMDB list the only bad one I remember is The Blob. And it wasn't that bad. If he'd been in The Dirty Dozen I wouldn't even have to think about my choice.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

""

And, to add something to the list, I thought about Alfred Hitchcock, which would, I assume, pretty much give me the universe of "itchcock Films" and very little else. However, I think that, as amazing as Hitchcock is, there were quite a few dogs in his prolific career, and I would want a bit more variety in the end.

I can't, right now, think of anyone better than Bogart. Though, before I made the final choice, I'd imdb Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant.

Jimmy Stewart came to my mind too...right after thinking about Hitchcock.

(don't know if he'd really be my choice though)

[cuervo72]

Jack Nicholson might be good.

edit: though I guess there is a good deal of crap in his list too...

[thesloppy]

A surprisingly strong case could be made for Bill Murray

[albionmoonlight]

Other than porn actresses, we don't have any women on our list.

I wonder why. I know that my short list is all men. Interesting.

If I had to pick a woman, one that comes to mind is Parker Posey. I find her totally hot (which certainly helps). I think that she is a very good actress, and I would get to see all of the Christopher Guest/SCTV movies, all of which I love.

The only thing that gives me some pause is the fact that she probably has quite a few HORRIBLE and pretentious art house/independent movies on her resume from early in her career.

But I can't think of anyone else right now who I would pick as an actress.

What about others? Who would you pick out of non-porn actresses?

[thesloppy]

I considered Faye Dunaway, who is in a bunch of excellent flicks, but her bloated IMDB resume scared me off. Shelley Duvall also has a good number of classic flicks to her credit, despite the fact that she scares the bejesus out of me.

[cuervo72]

Well...do workout videos count?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Any answer that doesn't include Tom Berenger is invalid.

So, out of non-porn actresses, I'm going with Tom Berenger.

[kurtism]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Other than porn actresses, we don't have any women on our list.

I wonder why. I know that my short list is all men. Interesting.

If I had to pick a woman, one that comes to mind is Parker Posey. I find her totally hot (which certainly helps). I think that she is a very good actress, and I would get to see all of the Christopher Guest/SCTV movies, all of which I love.

The only thing that gives me some pause is the fact that she probably has quite a few HORRIBLE and pretentious art house/independent movies on her resume from early in her career.

But I can't think of anyone else right now who I would pick as an actress.

What about others? Who would you pick out of non-porn actresses?

Actually, I'd much rather have Parker Posey's early arthouse flicks than suffer through crap like You've Got Mail and Josie and the Pussycats. (Posey would definitely be a consideration for my list of actresses as well.)

As for other actresses, I'd have to consider either of the Hepburns (although I'd hate to suffer through some of Audrey's musicals), Lauren Becall, Ingrid Bergman (although that would no doubt include a number of incomprehensible foreign films), and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

I have to admit to having a much harder time listing actresses...

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sigourney Weaver maybe? You get the first to "Alien" movies, though you get the last two as well. "Annie Hall", "Ghostbusters", "Dave", "Galaxy Quest", "The Ice Storm", "Death And The Maiden". A decent mix of comedy, drama, and action. . .

That was the first name that popped into my head as far as actresses go. I will think harder.

I agree with Albion about Parker Posey. I can't take my eyes off her when she's on screen and she's in a lot of great stuff, but there are quite few that leave something to be desired.

[cuervo72]

Hmm...I might consider Lois Maxwell.

[Kodos]

As much as I dislike him personally now, Tom Cruise would probably be a good option. I've liked just about every movie I've seen of his.

Or Tom Hanks.

Ingrid Bergman?

Billy Crystal?

[Coffee Warlord]

Tom Hanks subjects you to a LOT of chick flicks, remember.

And Joe vs the Volcano.

Depp or Cusack are two good ones.

[Alan T]

For me I would need to have one of my two favorite movies make the list (either Shawshank redemption or The Natural).. both of those are movies I can watch repeatedly, 50-60 times a year if I had the chance. Shawshank Redemption was one of my earliest DVDs, and I still stop and watch it any time I see it come on TNT.

So I then looked at the list there to find an actor who would get me that movie plus a bunch of other good ones I liked. I don't mind suffering through bad movies if I can get alot of good ones I liked.

So I would pick Morgan Freeman.

I would get movies I enjoy such as Lean on Me, Glory, Robin Hood, outbreak, Seven, Kiss the Girls, Amistad, Sum of all Fears, Batman Begins, Dreamcatcher, Million Dollar Baby, Bruce Almighty.


He is in a decent number of ok movies that I neither hated but also don't go jumping to see.. but I wouldn't mind sitting through his stuff like Hard Rain, Driving Miss Daisy, War of the Worlds, Deep Impact, etc.

I don't see too many of his movies that make me think I would want to put a stick in my eyes or anything from being forced to watch it. I am not familiar with alot of his early stuff however.

[cuervo72]

Jeff Goldblum could be an interesting choice.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Alan T

For me I would need to have one of my two favorite movies make the list (either Shawshank redemption or The Natural).. both of those are movies I can watch repeatedly, 50-60 times a year if I had the chance. Shawshank Redemption was one of my earliest DVDs, and I still stop and watch it any time I see it come on TNT.

So I then looked at the list there to find an actor who would get me that movie plus a bunch of other good ones I liked. I don't mind suffering through bad movies if I can get alot of good ones I liked.

So I would pick Morgan Freeman.

I would get movies I enjoy such as Lean on Me, Glory, Robin Hood, outbreak, Seven, Kiss the Girls, Amistad, Sum of all Fears, Batman Begins, Dreamcatcher, Million Dollar Baby, Bruce Almighty.


He is in a decent number of ok movies that I neither hated but also don't go jumping to see.. but I wouldn't mind sitting through his stuff like Hard Rain, Driving Miss Daisy, War of the Worlds, Deep Impact, etc.

I don't see too many of his movies that make me think I would want to put a stick in my eyes or anything from being forced to watch it. I am not familiar with alot of his early stuff however.

My reaction when I saw the thread title was Shawshank Redemption but it never really crossed my mind to think about Freeman.

[Bad-example]

Sean Connery.