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From Selena Gomez to Keanu Reeves: Nine performances universally panned by the public

EL PAÍS reviews the roles that have caused the big headaches for major Hollywood stars, be it criticism for a fake accent or for failing to learn their lines

Jan 17, 2025 - 13:13CET

The French musical Emilia Perez, the most controversial film of the season, features one of the most talked-about performances — though not always for the right reasons. Selena Gomez, who shared an acting award at Cannes with fellow actresses Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldaña, and Adriana Paz, has become the focal point of criticism for her alleged subpar performance. Despite the mounting disapproval, often from viewers who admit to watching only parts of the film, critics have praised her work. She earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes (which was ultimately awarded to her co-star Zoe Saldaña) and has now been nominated for a BAFTA, positioning her for a potential Oscar nomination. Although without much fanfare, Selena Gomez’s film career has been consistently successful. She gained prominence with 'Wizards of Waverly Place,' charmed audiences in Woody Allen’s 'A Rainy Day in New York,' showcased her range with director Harmony Korine in the daring 'Spring Breakers,' and made a successful return to television as part of the amateur detective trio in the delightful 'Only Murders in the Building.' Yet, none of these accomplishments seem to ease the criticism aimed at her portrayal of Jessi in 'Emilia Perez,' the wife of narco Manitas del Monte. Gomez has been receiving an unusual amount of backlash on social media, though many argue her seemingly dazed performance fits the helplessness of her character. Her imperfect Spanish is also defended, as she plays an American living in Mexico rather than a native. Despite these justifications, the memes and criticism continue, especially on social media. (Pictured: Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Adriana Paz at Cannes last May).JB Lacroix (FilmMagic)

The controversy began when Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez, during a chat with influencer Gaby Meza, called Selena Gomez’s performance “indefensible.” He went on to describe it as “laughable,” adding that it was not only unconvincing but also “uncomfortable.” Both criticized the musical numbers, remarking, “I don’t know why she agreed to sing that,” with a chuckle. However, the growing nominations for the film's songs, particularly 'Mi Camino,' the track sung by Gomez, along with the success of the soundtrack, don’t seem to support their critique. In this case, critics and audiences appear to be at odds, though there have been many instances where both have come together to tear down a performance. Here, we take a look at some notable examples that also caused headaches for performers, including some huge stars.Amy Sussman (Getty Images for Netflix)

Hayden Christensen in 'Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones' and 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith' — The toxic criticism of 'Star Wars' fans is not a new phenomenon, though social media has certainly amplified and globalized it. In 2002, Hayden Christensen became a target of this backlash, which ultimately had a lasting impact on his career. His role was a challenging one: the Canadian actor was tasked with bringing Darth Vader to life — the most iconic villain in cinematic history. Darth Vader's adult face had never been seen at the height of his power, and his personality was the most complex and enigmatic in the 'Star Wars' saga. George Lucas chose Christensen after auditioning hundreds of actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio, believing he possessed both the innocence and the dark streak required for the role. Yet it seems only Lucas saw these qualities. Fans reacted with immediate backlash, flooding the countless forums dedicated to Lucas' work with angry complaints about the actor's portrayal. The criticism was harsh and relentless. Christensen was labeled "snotty, petulant, and whiny" and even described as an "inexperienced crybaby." Fans argued that he resembled more of a member of a 1950s teen gang or a boyband than the dark, menacing galactic leader he was meant to portray. Laughable lines like “I’m haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me” and his lack of chemistry with the more seasoned Natalie Portman did not help his case. In 2007, a survey of 3,000 moviegoers named them “the couple with the least chemistry in the history of cinema.” The Razzie Awards also weighed in, awarding him Worst Supporting Actor for his roles in both 'Attack of the Clones' and 'Revenge of the Sith.'KMazur (WireImage)

Russell Crowe in 'Les Misérables' — When singer Adam Lambert remarked that the 'Les Misérables' score “suffered massively from great actors pretending to be singers,” everyone knew exactly who he was referring to. Surrounded by vocal professionals like Hugh Jackman and Amanda Seyfried, Crowe’s voice sounded flat and underwhelming. It was impossible to ignore. While the rest of the cast shone, Crowe's performance was criticized as monotone, dispassionate, and lacking in emotional depth. “When 'Les Misérables' is good, it's very, very good, and when it is bad, it's usually because Russell Crowe has opened his mouth,” wrote journalist Kimberley Jones. This criticism was especially paradoxical, as Crowe did have previous experience as a singer — not only was he the frontman for the rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, but he had also begun his career in musicals like 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' That didn’t stop Crowe's portrayal of Javert, the relentless pursuer of Jean Valjean, from being considered the weakest link in Tom Hooper’s box office hit. However, the director was delighted with his choice. “I thought, for this story to work, you need a guy who could get the better of [Jackman],” Hooper said. “It had to be a very formidable actor, and Russell immediately sprung to mind. I mean, in Wolverine versus Gladiator, I'd probably put my bet on Gladiator!" This opinion, however, didn’t sit well with fans of the musical and was partly undermined by Crowe himself, who admitted that during filming, they had even considered using Auto-Tune to “clean up” his performance.Dave M. Benett (WireImage)

Colin Farrell in 'Alexander' — “Alexander the Boring,” “Alexander the Inarticulate,” “Alexander the Weak.” These were just a few of the unflattering headlines about Oliver Stone's adaptation of the life of Alexander the Great. Despite the star-studded cast, including Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, and Colin Farrell — the Irish actor known for both his talents and his infamous excesses — the film quickly lost steam. Farrell's peroxide blonde hair, which drew disapproving looks, was the first sign that critics' doubts were well-placed. One review noted, “Farrell, a remarkable actor on most occasions, is fatally miscast. His Alexander is a petulant crybaby, and it is hard to imagine anyone — let alone armies and nations galore — bending themselves to his will.” 'The Washington Post' went even further, saying, “Alexander, as expressed through the weepy histrionics of Colin Farrell, is more like a desperate housewife than a soldier.” Farrell, who had hoped for an Oscar nod, was left humbled by the critical backlash. “I'm a crap actor. I've been found out,” he admitted in an interview years later. From imagining himself at the Oscars to escaping the city after the premiere, he had a steep fall to reality at just 23 years old.Steve Schapiro (Corbis via Getty Images)

Jesse Eisenberg in 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' – “Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor: Miscast or inspired choice?” asked 'Variety' when news broke that the 'Social Network' star would take on the role of Superman's arch-nemesis. Fans of the iconic Metropolis hero quickly made up their minds: miscast. Eisenberg’s Luthor lacked the imposing stature of the original comic book character, and his portrayal was nowhere near the wacky charm that Gene Hackman had brought to the role in Richard Donner's 'Superman.' Nor did he channel the darker, more menacing presence of Kevin Spacey in 'Superman Returns.' Instead, Eisenberg’s Luthor came across as closer to the sycophantic and calculating Mark Zuckerberg he had played under David Fincher's direction, leaving many fans disappointed with the casting choice. Fans of the character disavowed the “eccentric and neurotic” Luthor, feeling that his portrayal was a mockery of the iconic villain. Critics said Eisenberg lacked the character's imposing presence, and criticized his distracting tics. “Luthor intimidates, not unnerves,” they emphasized. “Eisenberg is a good actor; he did a great job as the character he played, but that character just wasn’t Luthor,” they argued. The blame didn’t rest solely on the actor; many also criticized director Zack Snyder for the character’s disjointed portrayal and the comic, erratic touch that seemed out of place in the otherwise serious tone of the film. Despite having an Oscar nomination under his belt by then, the backlash took a toll on Eisenberg. “I was in this Batman movie and the Batman movie was so poorly received, and I was so poorly received,” he admitted recently. “I've never said this before and it's kind of embarrassing to admit, but I genuinely think it actually hurt my career.”Michael Stewart (Getty Images)

Keanu Reeves in 'Dracula' — The actor's portrayal of Jonathan Harker in the Francis Ford Coppola movie became a major point of criticism, despite the film’s overall success. The adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel received four Oscar nominations and was widely praised by audiences and critics, but Reeves’ performance stood out for the wrong reasons. The primary issue wasn’t his typical stoic acting style, which had become his trademark, but his forced British accent. Critics found it unconvincing, with some calling it "overly posh and entirely ridiculous." The criticism was harsh: "Reeves' performance is as painful as it is hilarious," they said. Coppola, recognizing the actor’s struggles, later admitted in an interview with 'Entertainment Weekly' that Reeves had difficulty mastering the accent. “We knew that it was tough for him to affect an English accent. He tried so hard. That was the problem, actually — he wanted to do it perfectly and in trying to do it perfectly it came off as stilted. I tried to get him to just relax with it and not do it so fastidiously,” said Coppola. "So maybe I wasn’t as critical of him, but that’s because I like him personally so much."Rue des Archives (©Rue des Archives/RDA / Cordon Press)

Marlon Brando in 'The Island of Dr. Moreau.' The actor's performance in the film became infamous for all the wrong reasons. While he could have echoed Michael Caine's response about his involvement in 'Jaws: The Revenge' —“I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it was terrible. However I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific” — the adaptation of H.G. Wells' science fiction novel turned out to be more than just bad; it was a slow-motion disaster. The film featured Brando alongside the unpredictable Val Kilmer, and their notorious clashes created a spectacle as much off-screen as on. Brando was the big star of the movie that also starred the unpredictable Val Kilmer, and the chaos between their egos made for a disastrous result. But what no one anticipated was how unprofessionally Brando would act. He refused to memorize his lines, instead having them fed to him through an earpiece, resulting in a performance that was deeply disconcerting. Perhaps Brando's bizarre performance in 'The Island of Dr. Moreau' was a silent protest for not being allowed to rewrite the script as he’d hoped, a demand he had made clear multiple times. Those who managed to stay sane during the production describe Brando as absent, capricious, and seemingly more focused on sabotaging the film than preserving his dignity as an actor. The director, the experienced John Frankenheimer, did give in to one of Brando's demands: Moreau’s character would be covered in a white cream to supposedly protect him from the sun, a move that allowed Brando to disengage from the film entirely. His stand-in was the one who endured the long hours, while Brando floated in and out of the production. Despite the absurdity of his performance, it wasn't the most laughable in his career. That dubious honor belongs to his portrayal of a Japanese character in 'The Teahouse of the August Moon' — a role that epitomized the 1950s' golden age of political incorrectness. New Line Cinema (Getty Images)

Madonna in 'Swept Away' – Critics couldn't have been more blunt: "There is only one person who believes that Madonna can really act: Madonna." This harsh verdict followed the release of the film, a remake of Lina Wertmüller's 1974 classic, directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie. While Madonna’s film career has been a mix of highs and lows — ranging from her charming role in 'Desperately Seeking Susan' to the infamous flop 'Shanghai Surprise' — she also found unexpected success in 'Evita,' which won her a Golden Globe and praise from critics. However, when it comes to acting, her career has often been marred by criticism. Her portrayal of a privileged, unbearable wreck in 'Swept Away' stands as the most scathing example of this, with reviews deeming the film a "shipwreck" in itself. While Ritchie was trashed, it was Madonna's performance that drew the most intense scorn. "As awful as you've heard and as bad as you've imagined," wrote 'The Washington Post.' 'The New York Daily News' gave it an unprecedented score: zero stars, declaring it a "new career low." Critics had a field day with the film, using it as their favorite target of the season. "Madonna has persisted in making movies despite all evidence that this is one medium in which no one wants to see or hear her," one reviewer remarked. Another added, "I wouldn't wish the stupefying dialogue of 'Swept Away' on any actress, but to watch Madonna flounder through it is more punishment than I can bear." 'The New York Post' even questioned whether the film was some sort of inside joke between the couple. The public this time said nothing — they simply didn't watch it.Daniel Smith (Getty Images)

Ben Platt in 'Dear Evan Hansen' – For musical lovers, 'Dear Evan Hansen' is a sacred name, one of the biggest hits of the genre and a major award-winner. This made the announcement of its film adaptation a highly anticipated event, almost on the same level as 'Wicked.' The main issue it faced, however, was paradoxically the very thing that contributed to its success: its star, Ben Platt, known for his roles in 'Pitch Perfect' and 'The Politician.' Platt played the role on Broadway and was the driving force behind its success. The problem came when it was to start filming. Though Platt's character is meant to be a 17-year-old high school student, the actor was 27 at the time of filming, and it was painfully obvious. On stage, his portrayal worked within the context of the theater, but on screen, it came across as a poor joke. While musicals have certainly seen older actors playing younger roles — John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John famously played Danny and Sandy in 'Grease' — the key difference here is that in 'Dear Evan Hansen,' the protagonist’s youth is central to explaining his toxic behaviors. The makeup department tried to make Platt look younger, the results were even worse: the close-ups became a parody. “Whatever they tried to do to Ben Platt to make him look 17 instead of 27 in 'Dear Evan Hansen,' it went so wrong that he looks like a 40-something math teacher going through a divorce,” one Twitter user quipped. The film's intended audience quickly turned their backs on it, repulsed by the trailer, and what was expected to be a success instead became one of the biggest flops of the season. “It was definitely a disappointing experience, and difficult, and it definitely opened my eyes to the internet and how horrific it can be,” the actor reflected in an interview with 'The New York Times.' The silver lining? Someone learned from the experience.Walter McBride (WireImage)