ACTOR TRIAL: Robin Williams

Its the turn of Mork. His work is plentiful, but is all of it good. Two sides of the argument below, because here we're about impartiality you know.

Prosecution: Because you've seen Patch Adams, right? and Bicentennial Man and Jack and all the other thousands of crimes against film that this guy has been involved in. And aside from dumb comedies, which he does every time he needs a big paycheque, a lot of his dramatic work often hits that painfully earnest, oscar-baiting note. The kind of film that seems to care more about being rewarded then finding the work reward in itself. Dead Poets Society, What dreams may come and to a certain extent Good Will Hunting can all be counted under this category. He is entertaining comedian but can you really call this guy a great actor. Not unless he makes a lot more great movies very quickly.

Defence: Very few comedians can successfully make the transfer to 'dramatic' acting. Just ask Jim Carrey. But the Oscar winning Robin Williams seems to be one of the exceptions to the rule, and while the Oscars don't make great actors, Williams most definately is one of those even if you forget it from time to time. He can be hyperactive and over the top, but even at his absolute worst he is highly entertaining. And if you look at Insomnia and in particular One Hour Photo, he can underplay roles to supremely chilling effect. People still seem to see Williams as The Genie from Aladdin, all shouting and flash with no substance. But anyone who watches his films no that this is not the case. Look at what he brings to his role as a crazy homeless person in the Fisher King, aside from the crazy and the laughs there is a great deal of heart and he ends up stealing the film. Watch this film and you'll see that William is capable of more then you've seen him do in Jumanji.

Verdict: A tough one. Williams has made some bad films and given some bad performances, and they probably out-number the times he's been good. But when he's good he is a very distinctive actor and gifted comedian. So, although close I'm going to have to go with not guilty

Actor Trial: Nicolas Cage

Another feature thingy has sprung forth from my highly inactive brain, the lazily entitled ' Actor Trial'. Every Monday I will argue the case of an actor who either pisses me off or pisses other people off unrighteously. Up first....

NICOLAS CAGE

The Prosecution: He's a Coppola coat-tail riding bad movie machine, and if he isn't going over the top then he's probably not breathing. A recent movie CV that includes such classics as Next, Bangkok Dangerous, two National Treasures and Ghost Rider. The goodwill he's earnt from a couple of good performances in the early 90's has well and truly worn out its welcome. Then there's the Hamming. Come on Y'all have seen it. The wide eyed, Joker mouthed nutjob face, the indiscrimanate yelling of lines. Youtube ' The Wicker Man' and see all you need to see.
Subtelty and Mr Cage certainly do not go hand in hand. Similarly he has awful taste in film. His rut hasn't just started in the last 5 years, there's all sorts of crap throughout his career and Cage seemingly his little to no interest in subtler roles where he doesn't get to steal the show. All in all, the worst kind of actor, all flash no substance.

The Defence: Erm, no. Cage may be on a bad run right now, but to say he is an actor without merit is to simply be an idiot. The guy has at least 5 truly great performances under his belt and has made films he wants to make rather then just chase Oscars like Sean Penn, Brad Pitt or George Clooney. An actor as comfortable in Con Air as he is in something like Leaving Las Vegas, he has shown a variety not present in many of the other 'movie stars' going today. And as for the argument that he is a spent force, one need only to look to excellent recent output like Lord of War or Adaptation. Fine he may have had a couple of bombs in a row, and yes he can go over the top every now and again. But considering the amount of people that let the same crime slide when its perpetrated by say, Al Pacino. Who has with one or two exception's done only eye-goggling mania since the early 90's. As for the family connection thing, ask Talia Shire if it guarantees you breeze to the top. That may have been his springboard, but Cage would have vanished long ago if he had nothing to offer, and his longevity as a leading man speaks volumes as to how good he really is. Just go watch Adaptation and Shush.

Verdict: A few duds don't make a great actor into a bad one. Cage is profoundly not guilty.