What The Hell Happened To ... Cuba Gooding Jr.?

knowingtoast85 on 09-5-2008 04:21 PM

Nicholas Cage has made a litany of terrible film choices recently (and according to the Tomatometer, his worst yet has just been released upon us all) but he hasn't weathered one direct-to-DVD flop yet. Let us take pause to examine the big difference between these two entertaining overactors.

Just sayin'.

*I'm also aware that Ghost Rider and National Treasure 1 and 2 made bank. Note that Norbit cleaned up too.

jjaeggers on 09-5-2008 04:24 PM

1st

halose7en on 09-5-2008 04:32 PM

This says that Snow Dogs and Radio are both "fresh" at 23% and 34%. This must be a mistake.

I feel a little bad for the guy. Some of the movies he's made are decent - I actually liked Men of Honor. But he has done his fair share of crap too. No denying that. Here's hoping he can rebound soon. He needs it.

Vortex&Vertigo on 09-5-2008 04:51 PM

Thre is no turning back. I think that the only way to make a comeback is to star on a hit TV show and then slowly bounce back. And stop doing it for the money.

samjacksonisdaman421 on 09-5-2008 04:57 PM

Cuba needs some good roles because he can act and even in ****ty movies he normally is the best part of it.

CaptainSiberia on 09-5-2008 05:03 PM

It's Boys N the Hood.

CaptainSiberia on 09-5-2008 05:18 PM

How are you going to a "What the Hell Happened To" about a guy who just starred in American Gangster?

jokerboy1991 on 09-5-2008 05:24 PM

He had a small role, but a good one that should have boosted his career. He is a good actor, and I bet he will have a turn around some time soon.

SamRig on 09-8-2008 12:38 AM

"Starred in" I dont think he had any bearing on whether that film was good or not.

SamRig on 09-8-2008 12:45 AM

I think after Jerry Maguire he went searching for his next big role, thinking he was on top of the world and could do no wrong. But after a long list of similiar action flicks with no plot and a couple of terrible attempts at breaking into the comedy section his career is over. It appears now that he will go the way of the likes of Jaime Kennedy(Son Of Mask or Eugene Levy (the later American Pie films). In terms of only appearing in poor sequels to good films that the lead actors, director and writers would not sign on too.

thereign on 09-5-2008 05:35 PM

I think the problem is that as soon as he won the Oscar, too many people started showing him the money, and that's more than likely the exact reason he took certain roles. Or, he could have just been trying to branch out into more diverse roles(you can't get more diverse than going from "Jerry Maguire" to "Snow Dogs"), but his plan backfired so badly it put his career in critical condition, with doctors occasionally predicting it had six weeks to live.

Like Jokerboy said, I'm hoping he'll have a turnaround soon.

AntonChigurh on 09-5-2008 05:38 PM

I want Val Kilmer damnit! I feel cuba has fallen of the map forever. His acting is sub-par, has no bankable roles taliored for him and barely anybody even remembers him.

Jen Yamato on 09-5-2008 05:58 PM

Captain, thanks for the catch. halose7en, the splats were corrected and should be updated soon.

What intrigued me most about CGJr. was that his career hit such extremes, a total rollercoaster - just look at that career Tomatometer chart. He himself in interviews has discussed his troubles with agents over the years (6 agencies and a year without representation??) so to some extent it's not surprising that he had a tough time choosing the right roles. He's also no hack; even in his rotten movies he gave deeply committed and commendable performances. Talent-wise, there's no reason he should have to settle for inane studio comedies (like Eddie Murphy) or direct-to-DVD movies (like Wesley Snipes).

So yeah, I wanted to know what happened to him - check out his upcoming 2008-2009 schedule. Mostly "independently financed" action thrillers (and not "indie" in a good way, like festival films) that will likely go straight to video.

Vortex&Vertigo has a great idea - redemption via TV. It's worked for so many people.

indiefilmfan2 on 09-5-2008 06:12 PM

Cuba is one of the most interesting case studies around. I always liked What May Dreams Come. The unique and (at the time) groundbreaking visuals more than make up for its plot pitfalls.

More Oscar winners need to take the Phillip Seymour Hoffman route.

May I suggest a child actor who has fallen off for a future installment. Molly Ringwald, Macaully Culkin, and Corey Feldman are a few that come to mind.

Jason C Wilkerson on 09-7-2008 02:32 PM

Corey Feldman's doing the TV thing as is Molly Ringwald, and Macaulay Culkin has chosen to fall off the map.

josuepilk on 09-8-2008 09:50 AM

You could say that about the entire of the 80s brat pack. Anthony Michael Hall had been a no-show until The Dark Knight, good way to make a comeback, get a role, any role, on the biggest blockbuster of the decade. Judd Nelson's most memorable role in the last 20 years has been on Family Guy as whom else but John Bender. Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy are pretty much all television now, although McCarthy was in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Demi Moore is getting old (anyone else see Flawless?), Ally Sheedy is mistaken more everyday for Elizabeth Shue and Emilio Estevez still hasn't done anything since Young Guns, unless you include Young Guns II. But you know what? They are still making a hell of a lot more than any of us. Unless one of you is Robert Loggia in disguise, in which case...you wanna hit up FAO Schwarz?

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST on 09-5-2008 06:54 PM

If you mention peeps like Molly Ringwald, it wouldn't be fair unless you also included their Broadway acting.

Jen Yamato on 09-5-2008 07:08 PM

Who knew tomwaitsjr knew Broadway! Good point.

Elfslay on 09-5-2008 07:22 PM

What are you talking about? "Radio" was a great performance by Cuba Gooding Jr. I thought it was a very deep movie, however I very much agree with the other movies you mentioned.

smartmoviekid on 09-5-2008 07:44 PM

Next on this great article in my opinion should be...Ray liotta, and then Val Kilmer. Great read.

v-alexander-the-great on 09-5-2008 08:15 PM

You know you're in trouble when...you're voicing a character named "Loofah" in the TWELFTH direct-to-video sequel to Land Before Time.

Schumacherh8ter on 09-5-2008 08:43 PM

Loofah? Cuba, you've truely fallen. I didn't know they were still milking "The Land Before Time".

JettaJameson on 09-7-2008 08:10 PM

You're joking?! That is awful! Ladies and Gents, I think this may very well be the final nail in the credibility coffin. Stick a fork in him, he's done.

thereign on 09-5-2008 08:36 PM

Smartmoviekid has the right idea: Ray Liotta next! I mean, starring in an Uwe Boll film?("In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale")

Come on, man!!!

Death before starring in a Boll film!

Mono2k6 on 09-5-2008 10:50 PM

All you have to say about him is Boat Trip and you'll know exactly what the hell happened to him. I think he picks his scripts based on the color of the covers or something.

Spermian Jones on 09-5-2008 10:52 PM

Rumors say hes GAY, that says alot

Jen Yamato on 09-5-2008 11:06 PM

Spermian, please be respectful here. Intelligent comments are welcome.

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