During his lifetime, Sean Connery was hailed by a Sunday Herald poll as “The Greatest Living Scot“. He was arguably the most popular among the James Bond actors, starring in the franchise’s seven films, created between 1962 and 1983. But even the great Connery’s highly extolled reputation wasn’t fail-proof against poor film decisions.
In fact, after starring in the movie “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (2003), Connery’s showbiz career seemed to disintegrate into thin air. In fact, 2003 was the year when Connery retired from acting. His last few performances before peacefully passing away in October 2020 were voice-over cameos.
Babies and Vin Diesel Don’t Mix
Some writers get too creative for their own good, especially when they try too hard to come up with something entirely different for an upcoming movie. The miss-match created in "The Pacifier" was supposed to be humorous, in an odd way. A pairing of irresistibly cute babies with the muscular, action-ready militiaman, a cool undercover US Navy Seal.
While the unexpected can often result in spontaneous laughter, the effect in "The Pacifier" was terrible. A parent even posted a review saying that their kids were so bored, and didn’t even laugh once during the whole movie. It got an average rating of 3% on Rotten Tomatoes, but more reviews reveal it could have been much worse.
Chris O’Donnell in Batman & Robin
Fans enjoyed watching Chris O’Donnell portray the jovial character of D’Artagnan; foolhardy, the life of the party, in "The Three Musketeers." He seemed very promising and got nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance in "Scent Of A Woman." Then Batman & Robin happened.
The 1997 sequel got scolded by critics, and while everyone knew the superhero movie would endure its troubles, Chris O’Donnell wasn’t what his future in acting held. The inimitable George Clooney was easily able to charm his way into new leading roles. However, it took O’Donnell twelve long years to finally find his groove on "NCIS: Los Angeles".
Madonna’s Swept Away
There can be no question about Madonna’s position in the music world, and even to this date, she remains one of the highest-paid musicians of all time. She has been at the top echelon for decades, but at one point, she wanted to crossover to the big screen. The world seemed so small, able to fit neatly into the palm of her hand.
She proved she had the power to carry a film in "Evita". The 2002 hit movie came out blazing, Madonna in full tilt. She followed it up quite ambitiously, with "Swept Away". It was a complete turnaround from the soaring heights of "Evita", failing so badly at the box office, that it tanked the career of her husband and film director, Guy Ritchie, too.
Colin Farrell in Alexander
Despite his thick Irish accent, Colin Farrell is capable of playing various roles. Versatility is one quality that will surely help any actor out in landing major roles consistently, over what they hope will be a long and successful career. Farrell’s name usually reminds us of the action films that made it big, like "S.W.A.T.", "Daredevil", "Phonebooth", and "The Recruit".
In 2004, Farrell accepted a challenge to portray Alexander the Great in the movie "Alexander". The result was a film replete with cringe-worthy scenes and dialogue. Critics couldn’t stand it, and the story itself had many inaccuracies. It failed to make up for the expenses needed to produce the film.