Why Do People Hate John Turturro?
John Turturro is an acclaimed American actor known for roles in films like Barton Fink, Miller’s Crossing, and The Big Lebowski.
However, despite his success, Turturro has faced some criticism and disliking from certain audiences over the years. There are a few potential reasons why.
Acting Style and Roles
One factor is that some view Turturro’s acting style and roles he takes as being overly intense, flamboyant, or even annoying. For example:
Intense, Dramatic Roles
Turturro has played various intense, dramatic roles that demand a lot of strong emotion. For some, his immersive acting comes across as over-the-top.
Barton Fink
His lead role in Barton Fink required a bombastic, anxious, and hammy performance that many found grating.
Miller’s Crossing
Similarly, his role as Bernie Bernbaum in Miller’s Crossing was portrayed as high-strung and neurotic in a way some perceived as irritating.
Comedic Roles
Additionally, even some of Turturro’s comedic roles like Jesus Quintana in The Big Lebowski have an insane, over-the-top edge to them that rubs certain viewers the wrong way.
Forthright and Blunt
Another contributing factor is that Turturro has a reputation for being very direct, opinionated, and blunt in interviews when discussing his career or views on the film industry. Some quotes over the years have come across as peremptory or dismissive, contributing to dislikes.
Associations With Controversial Directors
Finally, Turturro’s frequent collaborations with directors who themselves court controversy and criticism – like Spike Lee and Michael Bay – lead to him being perceived negatively by association among detractors of those filmmakers.
So in summary, while a talented performer, Turturro’s intense acting style, comedic flamboyance, blunt public persona, and ties to divisive directors have bred a subset of moviegoers who simply do not care for his onscreen work or media profile.
Do Critics Dislike John Turturro’s Acting?
Despite a vocal minority of movie fans who may have issues with his acting style or roles, overall John Turturro remains a very well-regarded and respected actor among professional critics and reviewers:
- He has received multiple Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe, and Emmy award wins and nominations
- His performances regularly earn critical praise – Barton Fink, Miller’s Crossing, and others appear on many “Greatest Acting” lists
- Major critical consensus is that even when not liking certain films, his talent shines through
- He has an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and scores very high on critic aggregate sites
So while his portrayal of characters with intense, bombastic, or flamboyant energy may grate on some audience members, experts in film analysis typically consider Turturro to be a gifted talent. Any dislikes are more casual moviegoer-driven rather than stemming from serious critical analysis.
What Do Critics Say About Barton Fink?
Barton Fink, which features one Turturro’s most intense and arguably annoying lead performances, actually earned him global critical acclaim:
| Metric | Feedback |
|---|---|
| Best Actor Awards | Won Best Actor awards from Cannes Film Festival, London Critics Circle, and more |
| Oscar Nomination | Earned Turturro Best Actor Oscar nomination |
| Review Aggregates | 95% Rotten Tomatoes critics rating |
| Individual Reviews | Roger Ebert called it “a masterpiece” and praised Turturro’s work |
So from a critical perspective, his acting in films like Barton Fink is outstanding. Any dislike stems more from individual taste among casual movie watchers as opposed to any professional critical negativity toward his abilities.
Is John Turturro Underrated As an Actor?
While John Turturro has sustained a very solid acting career spanning over 30 years, some cinephiles argue he still doesn’t get enough widespread public appreciation:
Wins Awards But Lacks Household Name Fame
Despite his acting awards and compelling performances, he doesn’t have the same household name fame as contemporaries like John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John C. Reilly or others.
Praise From Peers & Critics But Not General Public
He receives lots of praise from fellow respected actors and top critics but much of the general public are still unaware of his extensive filmography.
Impressive Range Lacks Mainstream Notoriety
Additionally, while boasting an impressive range from dramatic leads to offbeat comedy roles, many of his most acclaimed performances are in smaller independent films that mainstream audiences either overlook or do not even access.
So in summary, despite being cherished among cinephiles and critics for films like Miller’s Crossing, Do The Right Thing, O Brother Where Art Thou, and Transformers, some still see the balance between his talent/range and his mainstream notoriety as being skewed – arguing he merits even greater public appreciation.
Is John Turturro Underappreciated As a Director?
In addition to acting, John Turturro has amassed an impressive filmography as a director – primarily on smaller independent projects that let him showcase his creative voice:
Directorial Debut With Mac
His directorial debut Mac garnered strong reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival back in 1992.
Additional Well-Reviewed Indie Directors Projects
He has written and directed several more well-regarded indie films since including Romance & Cigarettes, Fading Gigolo starring Woody Allen, and most recently The Big Lebowski spin-off Going Places.
Displays Directorial Promise
Critics feel these efforts display great directorial promise with style, humor, and attention to character.
However, as with his acting, some argue his directorial work deserves more mass public appreciation – that the indie scale and limited distribution of many of his films have prevented them from reaching wider notoriety among casual moviegoers. But within the independent film realm, his directorial abilities are very respected.
What Films Best Display John Turturro’s Talent?
While perhaps underappreciated by the general public, cinephiles widely agree John Turturro has delivered fantastic performances in many films – here are 5 roles perceived as best showcasing the full extent of his acting talent and range:
Barton Fink
His lead performance as the struggling screenwriter earned him copious acting awards and praise for its fearless, chaotic energy.
Miller’s Crossing
His volatile Bernie Bernbaum represented a peak comedic performance that stole many scenes.
Do The Right Thing
His early career turn as the radical Pino displayed tremendous raw intensity that grabbing critics’ attention
The Big Lebowski
His outrageous, bowling obsessed Jesus Quintana left an instantly iconic comedic mark.
Brother, Where Art Thou
His hilarious Petey in this Coen Brothers hit showed immense comic timing.
These five roles span drama and comedy while highlighting his ability to absorb himself in unique, attention-grabbing characters. For audiences, they represent prime entry points to experience his talents.
Is John Turturro Underused As an Actor in Hollywood?
When surveying John Turturro’s extensive 30+ year acting career in Hollywood, a case can be made that he is an underutilized talent relative to his abilities:
Capable of Being Leading Man
He has proven abilities as a dynamic lead actor based on his transformative performances – yet rarely receives those big leading man opportunities.
Pigeonholed Into Character Actor Roles
The industry tends to pigeonhole him into intriguing but supporting character actor turns.
Infrequent Casting in Big Films
Additionally, while a consistent working actor, his appearances in major studio films and blockbusters are more sporadic compared to peers.
So while always contributing strong supporting or co-starring work, some argue scripts featuring him more prominently in central leading roles may lead to his undisputed acting gifts shining even brighter for bigger audiences.
How Is John Turturro Perceived Politically?
When examining public perceptions related to John Turturro, politics do shape some audience’s views of the actor:
Public Supporter of Many Liberal Causes
Turturro has been a vocal and public supporter of many liberal social causes through the years. He champions positions that polarize portions of the population.
Frequent Collaborator With Activist Filmmakers
Additionally, he frequently collaborates on socially conscious films with progressive directors like Spike Lee whose work also draws political divisions among movie fans.
Provocative Public Comments
Finally, Turturro occasionally makes somewhat provocative comments related to politics or social issues that stir negative sentiments with ideological opposites.
Conclusion
In closing, while beloved by critics and cinephiles for his immense talents and range, John Turturro faces dislikes from some audiences due to factors like his acting intensity, bluntness, collaborations, and politics. However, his skills continue to earn him critical praise and acting awards.
For those who connect with his blustery energy or offbeat humor, his performances leave lasting impressions.
Yet he remains underappreciated by the general public relative to his gifts. Still, with unforgettable roles across an impressive spectrum of indie and mainstream films, Turturro has cemented himself as one of the most compelling, if divisive, actors of his generation.
His directorial efforts also display great promise in translating his creative passions to the screen.
So moving forward, while perhaps never destined for universal acclaim, for those who celebrate his unique talents, John Turturro remains an acting treasure – whether playing anxious straight men, volatile schemers, or flamboyant oddballs.
FAQs
Why do some people find John Turturro’s acting annoying?
Certain audience members find Turturro’s intense, over-the-top acting style in films like Barton Fink and Miller’s Crossing to be too aggressive, hammy, or grating on the nerves – infringing on enjoyment of the movies.
Is John Turturro underappreciated as a director?
Yes, while his small indie directorial efforts display great creative voice and visual style, they tend to fly under the radar with mainstream audiences – leaving his technical talents behind the camera underappreciated.
What was John Turturro’s breakout film role?
His turn as Pino in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing brought him initial Hollywood attention and acclaim for his fiery, intense performance.
Why doesn’t John Turturro get lead actor roles?
Despite proven talent in lead roles, the industry tends to cast him in colorful supporting character parts instead – failing to provide consistent starring vehicles that many argue he has earned.
Is John Turturro a liberal politically?
Yes, Turturro is quite public in championing many liberal social causes which contributes to negative perceptions of him among segments of the population opposed to those positions.
