Michael J. Fox explains the lack of talent in modern entertainment

[TheNarnHomeworld]

https://people.com/michael-j-fox-ref...lusive-8629978

When asked if being famous in the ‘80s was “harder” than it is now, Fox replies, “Well, you had to be talented. That helped.”

“We used to bust our ass, our acting muscles and watch other actors and sit around with other actors and talk about acting and talk about it,” he adds. “And now you've got people who just go like, who's your sweater? What's your sweater you're wearing? And what's that dance step? And you're the most famous person in the world.”

[s2mikey]

He’s not totally wrong. There is talent out there now for sure but a lot of people are getting by on JUST their looks. How can you tell? Easy, they can’t act worth a shit. If they didn’t look how they did they’d be working at Dollar General.

[apricissimus]

This feels like an "old man yells at cloud" take.

[NARMAK]

There's a reason we currently have no actors that instantly stand out as a leading man or woman in cinema. They're all generic and redundant with a slight "look" to them to please the Instagram aesthetic.

Unfortunately social media has blasted out the "Pretty Privilege" bias to the most extremely visible levels with a brain rot level of single digit IQs gifting their "followers"/fans etc. to make a quick buck and unfortunately actors are not immune to that either.

Although i do think there's still a significant amount of nepotism in the industry that's been maintained and they try to keep hush, hush about.

[NI-Gunner]

Can't be overstated that the glitz and glamour has been washed away by social media.

Hollywood now has a more of a reputation for being a weird, vapid, sordid place with a bunch of deviant scum running around like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Bryan Singer etc. In the past that stuff was easier to hide. Artistic types tend to be more sensitive and there's probably lots of talented people who deciding against pursuing that dream after learning what the industry is really like.

Not to mention, people can now be "stars" or "influencers" (vomits) in other ways with less work, more independance, significantly less talent and still make good money. TikTok, Youtube, Instagram, Twitch etc.

[GaragePoet]

a lot less effort going into nurturing and honing a skill and all the focus gone to "going viral"

[filmbuffTX]

It sounds like he's conflating two things and just complaining that there's more ways to be famous now. Which is true. It has nothing specifically to do with acting. I don't really see it as a bad thing. Even though you have social media and reality TV stars today, a popular or critically acclaimed actor or musician is still a much bigger star and more revered than a person who's famous on Tik Tok or a Real Housewife. There's different types of "fame".

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

It sounds like he's conflating two things and just complaining that there's more ways to be famous now. Which is true. It has nothing specifically to do with acting. I don't really see it as a bad thing. Even though you have social media and reality TV stars today, a popular or critically acclaimed actor or musician is still a much bigger star and more revered than a person who's famous on Tik Tok or a Real Housewife. There's different types of "fame".

These are also not new things, there is just a different delivery method. Before the internet there were plenty of proxy "stars" LaToya Jackson, Frank Stallone etc. There was also shows about people doing silly things with video cameras. There was also the large amount of people who got famous with shock tv.

New Day, New Way.

[wonderer99]

All I will say is I miss the days when we had movie stars. Now we worship someone dancing for 20 seconds on an app. Whether he is right or wrong regarding talent there is little denying you don't have to do much these days to be celebrated.

[Patient Leech]

Originally Posted by apricissimus

This feels like an "old man yells at cloud" take.

Yeah, there seems to be a lot of talented people. Maybe I don't watch enough shitty movies and TV shows, though. 🤷

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by wonderer99

All I will say is I miss the days when we had movie stars. Now we worship someone dancing for 20 seconds on an app. Whether he is right or wrong regarding talent there is little denying you don't have to do much these days to be celebrated.

How would you define a movie star?

[levcore]

Burt Reynolds!

[TheNarnHomeworld]

Originally Posted by mwynn

How would you define a movie star?

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by levcore

Burt Reynolds!

[Michael11]

As soon as we figured out that you can become super famous without having any talent at all, that signaled the end.

Computers create music now and AI creates art. Apparently humans still write books but if you've read any mainstream novel in the last 5 years then that's clearly bullshit.

I'd be fascinated to see the human race in 100 years time. Zero skills, zero compassion, zero control. Just nothing.

Was that too bleak?

[wonderer99]

Originally Posted by Michael11

Was that too bleak?

Yes, but wholly accurate.

[apricissimus]

I don't begrudge MJF and any of the work he's done, but aside from the Back to the Future trilogy, is anything he's been in still worth watching?

Every generation produces talented, creative, smart, and interesting people. And the previous generation gets cranky and grumbles about the good old days.

[Wernski]

Originally Posted by apricissimus

I don't begrudge MJF and any of the work he's done, but aside from the Back to the Future trilogy, is anything he's been in still worth watching?

The Frighteners!

[SteelbookCat]

the one hit wonder of hollywood with BTTF shouldn't talk about others talent

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by apricissimus

I don't begrudge MJF and any of the work he's done, but aside from the Back to the Future trilogy, is anything he's been in still worth watching?

Every generation produces talented, creative, smart, and interesting people. And the previous generation gets cranky and grumbles about the good old days.

Family Ties
Casualties of War
The Secret of My Success

Any actor would wish one of these things.

And MJF has the right to grumble anytime he wants. He’s way more than earned it. Also his career being cut short and still working through it.