Can we change our minds about actors we find repulsive?
Hi Mick: Once again, you're praising Richard Linklater's 'Before' trilogy. Based on your recommendation, I watched all of them — the first one three times — and still can't see the merit. Maybe it's because I don't like the looks of Ethan Hawke. Have you ever found an actor so disagreeable to look at that it ruined every picture he/she was in?
Margaret Schlachter, Mill Valley
As for actors that we find repulsive, I used to have a few, but as a result of having to see all their movies, I got to like everybody I initially disliked. But I can imagine myself being put off if I'm watching a romantic movie and just don't like the actress. I mean, it's one thing for me to think, 'She wouldn't appeal to me,' and something worse to believe that the guy in the movie wouldn't like her, either.
However, I can't leave you in this state of permanently disliking Ethan Hawke. Try him in ' Juliet, Naked.' Read my review first, then watch the movie. If you still can't stand him, give up. The definition of wasting time is watching the same movie over and over and expecting a different result.
Dear Mick: Are you the person who mentioned in a Chronicle column enjoying MollyBoy on YouTube? What a joy he is. Simple but ineffable charisma, his twinkle, the sudden gobsmacked are-you-serious stares at the camera. What a treat he's been.
Cort Worthington, Berkeley
Dear Cort: You're talking about the young English guy who does first-time reaction videos to classic pop songs on YouTube. For some reason, I like first-time reaction videos, and I've seen all of the various people who do them. MollyBoy is the best for all the reasons you mentioned, but also because he seems to be genuinely perceptive as a critic.
He says he'd like to be a movie actor, and I think he could be. The kid's got something.
Richard Kibsgaard, Berkeley
Dear Richard: Well, it's not metaphysically wrong, and it's not a faux pas, like using the wrong fork. So I can't see in what way it can be wrong. However, I can see how it could be inaccurate. That is, you might think you don't care, but if you're spending a lot of time asking yourself this question, then you probably do care. Or you care too much about not caring.
The ideal state is to be uninfluenced in your thinking, while remaining open to being educated if you turn out to be wrong. As for me, I've never cared what other people think when it comes to movies, not because I'm so mellow, but because it doesn't matter. Besides, if you disagree with me about Ethan Hawke you might agree with me about Sydney Sweeney.
But some critics are weird on this score. I once knew a guy — a local critic from a while back — who, if you disagreed with him about a movie, even in casual conversation, he'd turn red and his lips would start quivering. There's a technical term for people like that — nuts.
Good afternoon Mr. LaSalle: I believe my take is the likeliest reason Gene Hackman recommended a particular eatery to your reader. Gene Hackman was part owner of that particular eatery.
Ted Speros, San Francisco
Good afternoon Mr. Speros: You're referring to the now-legendary incident in which Hackman generously suggested a restaurant — or 'eatery' — to a Bay Area couple when they happened to run into him at an art gallery in Southern California. All I can say to your theory is that yours is precisely the kind of reader participation that I applaud. This is teamwork. We pool our collective insights and come up with the most plausible explanations for hard-to-explain events. Nice work.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UFC 317 'Embedded,' No. 1: Jack Hermansson gets new vantage point at Red Rock Canyon
The UFC is back in its "Sin City" home base for International Fight Week and UFC 317, its seventh pay-per-view of the calendar year, and the popular "Embedded" fight week video series is here to document what's happening behind the scenes. UFC 317 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Advertisement In the headliner, the vacant 155-pound title is on the line between former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and ex-lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC). Topuria vacated the 145-pound belt to move to lightweight for a shot at a title in a second division. The co-feature is a flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and challenger Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC). The first episode of "Embedded" follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC's description of the episode from YouTube: Ilia Topuria has an open workout for the media; Charles Oliveira spends time with his family; Joshua Van prepares for his second fight in three weeks; Renato Moicano shows off his new gym; Jack Hermansson goes on a hike; Champ Alexandre Pantoja receives a special video message; Kai Kara-France prepares for his first title shot. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 Embedded preview video 1: Topuria, Oliveira, Pantoja, more
USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC 317 'Embedded,' No. 1: Jack Hermansson gets new vantage point at Red Rock Canyon
The UFC is back in its "Sin City" home base for International Fight Week and UFC 317, its seventh pay-per-view of the calendar year, and the popular "Embedded" fight week video series is here to document what's happening behind the scenes. UFC 317 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the headliner, the vacant 155-pound title is on the line between former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and ex-lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC). Topuria vacated the 145-pound belt to move to lightweight for a shot at a title in a second division. The co-feature is a flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and challenger Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC). The first episode of "Embedded" follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC's description of the episode from YouTube: Ilia Topuria has an open workout for the media; Charles Oliveira spends time with his family; Joshua Van prepares for his second fight in three weeks; Renato Moicano shows off his new gym; Jack Hermansson goes on a hike; Champ Alexandre Pantoja receives a special video message; Kai Kara-France prepares for his first title shot.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Ex-WWE star Shotzi Blackheart gets candid with The Post about signing with MLW
Shotzi Blackheart has had eyes on MLW for years and is finally getting to cross a major item off her wrestling bucket list. The former WWE star, who was released in May, has signed with Court Bauer's company and will debut at Summer of the Beasts at Queens' Melrose Ballroom on Thursday night, which will also see Matt Riddle defend the MLW world championship against Kenta in the main event. (9 p.m., YouTube). MLW, which has teased Blackheart's arrival, has been on her radar as a company to work for even before she had her first indie match in 2014. In her eyes, the promotion has also been 'stacked' with talent and now is no different with Riddle, Kenta, Kushida and Bishop Dyer. MLW is trying to do the same with the women's division, led by Salina de la Renta, which only added its Women's World Featherweight championship in May 2022. Blackheart wants to be a driving force in the division's rise.
