In 1997, Roberto Benigni’s “Life Is Beautiful”, re-opened our eyes to the horrors of WWII, portraying it in a way that is so simple, it is hauntingly clear, the message is unmistakable. Roberto Benigni became a beloved directorial icon.
People looked forward to his next film, which he withheld for five long years, making it the most awaited film of 2002. Benigni’s following creation was a live-action Pinocchio adaptation. Unfortunately, his ambitious project proved anti-climactic. The screening itself was not released to the press in advance, leaving it with an unheard-of 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While it has clawed its way up since then, it still occupies the lowest echelons of the review aggregator site.
Neve Campbell in Wild Things
When Neve Campbell went to the US to find an agent, she ended up auditioning for "Party Of Five". The next thing she knew, she was packing up her things to move from Canada to start an acting career in the States. She also became known for the Scream franchise.
Not wanting to be typecast, she tried to change her style, taking on a racy role in "Wild Things". The reviews weren’t particularly bad, and her acting wasn’t really sub-par, but she’s never made the best out of her career since. She had a bit of a rebirth in "House of Cards", in 2016. However, that series was destined to come to an abrupt close, thanks to a whole different controversy.
Halle Berry and Catwoman
Halle Berry scintillated silver screens with her bikini-clad role in "Die Another Day". James Bond could hardly take a sip from his cocktail just watching her emerge from the beach and slink up the shore. She also won an Oscar for her role in the intense and gritty film, "Monster’s Ball"; and was consistently impressive as Storm, in "X-Men".
Her role as Catwoman, back in 2004, however, was so horrible, that she won a Razzie as Worst Actress for it. From there, her career continued to sink. Her failure to impress as Catwoman made it hard for her to get back on track. She resorted, as so many stars do, to TV instead. But her appearances in "Extant" and "Kidnap" were reviewed as being mediocre at best.
Bruce Willis in Precious Cargo
Bruce Willis has become synonymous with all-out-action, especially after his Die Hard franchise. What makes him interesting, is his ability to mix in some humor in all the thrill, even while being shot at and surrounded by villains.
But, in "Precious Cargo" reviewers found his performance flat and boring. The movie got only 1 star on Roger Ebert's website. Perhaps, he merely needs to be inspired once more and not get too content with past achievements. It can tarnish a legacy.
Natalie Portman as Padme
If money were the only measure in determining success, Natalie Portman should have all the accolades for her role in "Star Wars" as Padme. It was, after all, the highest-grossing movie of the decade. But she had none of it. In fact, she thinks that even though it got her name out there in the universal marquee, she unfairly got branded as a bad actress.
She feels that she was too young for such a huge role, and it stymied her performance and limited her success. What’s important is that she’s learned from it, and is now known for more mature, deeper roles. Her haunting performance in "Black Swan" certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon.