BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 May 08 - 03:52 PM

I should have been more specific: a well-reasoned argument, presented by anyone, will catch my attention. I may disagree with it, but it will catch my attention. On the other hand, if fame were a guarantee that the person or thing shilled for was the ne plus ultra, Satan would be in charge (and perhaps he is).

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: CarolC
Date: 06 May 08 - 03:39 PM

Cate Blanchett doesn't seem to be endorsing anyone, heric. She's an amazing actress, though. Or maybe you were saying you would like to vote for her for president.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: heric
Date: 06 May 08 - 03:31 PM

okay Obama it is. But. . you know - I may be slightly susceptible to Cate Blanchett.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:53 PM

Oh, I can think of actors who would turn me AGAINST a candidate by endorsing them (those religious nuts Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson come to mind...) but not of any who would change my mind FOR someone...

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:47 PM

A performer's support of a candidate or issue is only meaningful to fans of that performer. Personally, I don't care what Tom Hanks says on the political spectrum because I don't think he's that great an actor. He's competent. He gets high profile roles because of his popularity, not his talent. If I cared what any actor had to say, it would be Sean Penn. Not because his views are any wiser or more valid than Mr. Hanks, just because I think he's a far better actor.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:29 PM

Not a chance, Jack. William Shatner is the most influential actor. Any fool knows that.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:18 PM

Rapaire told us:

But I no more let an actor influence my vote than I would let an ex-athlete influence my choice of a rental car.

If Tom Hanks, or Donald Trump, or Michael Jordan, or Oprah, or Tom Cruise, or Michael Jackson (etc. etc. etc.) endorsed a candidate, the mere source of the recommendation, however famous or good (or bad)at what he/she did, wouldn't influence me in favor of the candidate.   Or against the candidate.

The outstanding exception would have to be George W. Bush, who would poison my attitude toward the candidate. (Yes, I know that last is an argumentum ad hominem, but I'm afraid I would be susceptible to it.)

On the other hand, if a celebrity (you supply the name) used his/her prominence to put forward a convincing case for "Candidate X", I'd be willing to be swayed by a well-thought-out argument. But no "positive argumentum ad hominem, thank you.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: john f weldon
Date: 06 May 08 - 12:45 PM

Since Pete Seeger is a writer as well as a performer, and is person who puts his opinions into song, one can take him more seriously than one who only performs the words of others.

In film-making, the creative "pecking-order" is Writer, followed by Director, followed by Actor. Logically, one should weight their opinions accordingly; however, in practice, the order is usually reversed.

There is no reason to think that the opinions of an actor are wiser than those of a plumber, but they do have more influence.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 08 - 10:23 AM

Brad Pitt is an example of a(still relatively) younger actor who is at least trying to exert some influence as an environmentalist, etc.

For more solid and useful environmental activism, look to Edward Norton. He has the credentials for it.

Hanks has done a lot of important work. I haven't watched his war movies (I don't generally watch war movies). He was the brains and the power behind the recent HBO production of John Adams that seems to have been uniformly well-accepted.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 May 08 - 09:55 AM

Can the same thing be said for folk singers? Would an endorsement by Pete Seegar or Joan Baez influence anyone here?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 May 08 - 08:53 AM

I was just funnin'. I knew Tom Hanks was an actor.

But I no more let an actor influence my vote than I would let an ex-athlete influence my choice of a rental car.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: john f weldon
Date: 06 May 08 - 08:51 AM

Tom Hanks is pretty good, but I can never forgive him for Forrest Gump, the worst movie ever made.

Robert Downey has a few minor personal problems, but may be the best male actor these days.

But why does anyone care what actors think?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 May 08 - 08:51 AM

I think that George Clooney has eclipsed Tom Hanks. Don't forget Big when listing Tom's great performances, though!

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: frogprince
Date: 06 May 08 - 08:40 AM

I've been paying so little attention to what actors have been doing politically, I probably shouldn't bother to comment, but: : }

I haven't really seen anything of Hanks trying to push politics.

Clint Eastwood could probably still influence at least a significant segment of the population.

Brad Pitt is an example of a(still relatively) younger actor who is at least trying to exert some influence as an environmentalist, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 06 May 08 - 07:57 AM

I am going to endores Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks for..er?..for whatever.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Amergin
Date: 06 May 08 - 03:53 AM

Well let's put it this way....Tom Hanks thinks he is the most influential actor....However everyone knows this is just not so....the most influential actor is really Mel Gibson....he after all speaks to god.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: CarolC
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:05 AM

Eddie Vedder is endorsing Obama, heric (Google "Eddie Vedder" Obama).

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Teribus
Date: 06 May 08 - 12:19 AM

No

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: heric
Date: 06 May 08 - 12:17 AM

I'm just gonna look up whatever Eddie Vedder says to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 May 08 - 12:10 AM

Apollo 13,
Philadelphia,
Saving Private Ryan,
Band of Brothers (Producer)
Da Vinci Code

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 05 May 08 - 11:16 PM

It's hard to believe any actor's endorsement would mean much to a candidate's chances. I would hope people would base their support for a candidate on more solid grounds. But, of course, based on the past 8 years, I suppose that might be a hopelessly naive stance.

It's ironic that people talk about Obama as an empty suit--he's the opposite. And we've had quite a bit of recent experience with a real empty suit. As long as the empty suit is somebody you can imagine having a beer with at the bar, it seems to be fine with a lot of voters.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 08 - 11:06 PM

Splash, Forrest Gump, Toy Story, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 08 - 10:23 PM

I dunno who Tom Hanks is.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 May 08 - 10:14 PM

Tom Rice?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 08 - 10:11 PM

Didn't he play fullback for Texas A&M? Or was it Rice?

Subject: BS: Is Tom Hanks the Most influential Actor?
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 May 08 - 10:04 PM

All those awards and war movies and documentaries? Is he at the the top? Would a Tom Hanks endorsement help a candidate?