Hilary Duff Doesn't Like the NY Times
Filed under: Disney, Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand
Hilary Duff doesn't care what critics think of her movies, and she especially doesn't care what New York Times critic Stephen Holden has to say. The actress/singer made a statement Elle against Holden's claim that she is "talent-challenged," saying that, "he doesn't really fit the demographic. So I could really care less." She has a point, doesn't she? I personally think it's pretty useless for critics to give a bad review to someone like Duff, since it won't matter to either those who expect little from her anyway or those who are fans of hers. It is different when we give a surprisingly good review to a movie like She's the Man and its star, Amanda Bynes, because that discussion is more notable.
If Duff ever crosses over into a broader range of roles, particularly if she takes on serious roles, then it might be more in Holden's interests to address her contributions at that time. But according to her, a cross-over isn't likely any time soon. She commented on the possibility, saying, "Suppose the next thing I did was this super-edgy independent movie where I was pregnant or shooting up? What would that do to my fan base?" Now, as much as I think that would be amusing to see, I applaud Duff in knowing her place. We don't need another teen star attempting to become a real actress before she's ready. Too many films are ruined because of young starlets without proper talent being cast in serious roles. I'm thinking of Dunst, Lohan, Holmes and maybe Mandy Moore most recently, but it is certainly something that has been going on for years. Anyone remember when Bertolucci had to go and cast Liv Tyler? Yeah, I've been trying to forget it, too.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-16-2006 @ 9:59PM
HavePh8 said...
slow day, huh?
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6-16-2006 @ 11:31PM
GC said...
Maybe you have some specific performance in mind, but I really wouldn't throw Kirsten Dunst in the same category as Lindsay Lohan, Hillary Duff, and Katie Holmes. One of these things is not like the others...
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6-17-2006 @ 2:07AM
Amanda said...
What more can we possibly expect from Hil? She's filling the void while Lindsay is out parting and making bad music. Someone's gotta be and easy hit!
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6-17-2006 @ 2:13AM
patrick p said...
Hilary duff is a very good performer just the way she is. she is full of love and family values and shares her gifts to all.
she has alot of love within her and she knows how to Believe in herself and stay focused.
her beutiful voice and the songs always inspire me.
For she has the making of a true performer because when ever her songs are played, and if the touch the heart of just one person each time with the melody and the meaning, then the song is a success. and thats what hilary does. not by how many it sells persay but by the quality and love hse pts into each and every song or thing she does
She is also a love and caring person which alot of entertainers lack.
she has the drive, spirit, and love. and thats why she is a true performer and a dear friend.
and Hilary is strong and wil not let the critics of the world interfer with her career. and the love she has within helps her to Focus.
Two words she teaches us to live by: believe, and Focus.
to Hilary from Patrick
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6-17-2006 @ 8:10AM
Bob said...
And how cruel is it that homecoming queen Duff gets a Teen Choice Award nomination for two perfectly wretched movies, and working actress Bynes, the far superior human being in every way to Duff (especially as an actress), is not even close to being nominated for "She's the Man"?
Duff isn't even close to being ready to do a "Hairspray". Bynes is.
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6-17-2006 @ 8:35AM
charli said...
personally I can't stand hilary duff. She can't act and she definatly cant sing so she should just quit all together!
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6-17-2006 @ 10:34AM
Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout said...
Frankly, I find Hilary's acting, high-school-production-of-Annie-intollerable. So her attempt at labeling someone else as talentless, contains a high level of irony. As is her mangling of the phrase COULDN'T care less. What she meant to say, is that her films' demographic make them critic proof (like Vin Diesel's) and are a bit futile to write. But to resort to petty name-calling through the press just shows how shallow and self absorbed she really is.
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6-17-2006 @ 10:39AM
Christopher Campbell said...
I don't have any specific performance in mind, GC. I haven't found her appropriate for any role since Crazy/Beautiful. I think it was Cat's Meow that really started it for me, against her.
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6-17-2006 @ 10:57AM
Phil M. said...
I take it you didn't care for Liv Tyler's perfomance in "Stealing Beauty". I've seen the film 3 times now, which I almost NEVER do for any film, and I'm at a loss to understand how she deserves a slam for that role. She also did very well in Heavy, Cookie's Fortune, and Onegin. But if you have your mind made up about someone, I guess everything they do falls short in your estimation. My wife is like that re: Jack Nicholson, Keitel, and a couple of others. She misses some good work they've done because of a closed mind about them. Her loss; maybe it's your loss re: Liv Tyler, a perfectly likeable and not self-absorbed young actress whose done some good things.
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6-17-2006 @ 11:12AM
Christopher Campbell said...
Well, I kind of enjoyed Tyler in Lonesome Jim, but that is it. I'd also like to add Anne Hathaway to the list. I found her quite laughable in Brokeback Mountain.
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6-17-2006 @ 12:08PM
patrick p said...
I liked hil in all hr movies, because she plays characters with good values, and she is a good actrss as well.
she is a god example to all of us and has gifts of talent that she loves to share with the world.
her best movie is "raise your voice" about a girl who wants to go to a music academy for a scholarship.
the best song is from that movie called someones watching over me,
a song that always touvhes my heart because of her beutiful singing and the meaning of the lyrics. about teaching us to beleive in ourselves and remain strong.
I am so proud of her
Patrick
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6-17-2006 @ 12:46PM
Regina said...
I love Hilary Duff's singing, and I would much prefer her to a pop star then movie actress. Her acting is okay, but it doesn't suit her. Maybe she should just stick to singing. =]
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6-17-2006 @ 12:50PM
John Paige said...
Kirsten Dunst? Go watch her at the age of 12 in "Interview With a Vampire," which also featured Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and then put her in that category. This cat is crazy.
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6-17-2006 @ 1:23PM
SeanJohn said...
I know that Christopher Campbell is NOT talking about A Walk To Remember... That was an excellent movie, and Mandy Moore did the part better than most actresses would have done it. I just want to make sure that we are speaking on different movies here. Mandy is not the best, but for that part, she did a really good job. But I must concur. When young actresses know their places in Hollywood, cinema is better because if it. Moreover, it sustains cashflow, makes me proud to spend my 10 dollars, and creates the atmosphere that the script was intended to have... Unlike Bow Wow in The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift... Come on... Stop putting people in serious roles just to sell tickets... Thats where cut scenes add places for "money makers" to be placed in.
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6-17-2006 @ 5:55PM
farahan said...
hey hillary is hot
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6-17-2006 @ 9:22PM
Joey said...
Duff, Duff, voice so rough,
thinks "acclaim" means being in the buff,
but Amanda proved it ain't so tough
to show some talent; your turn, Duff!
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6-18-2006 @ 12:27AM
GC said...
"I haven't found her appropriate for any role since Crazy/Beautiful. I think it was Cat's Meow that really started it for me, against her."
Hm, that's funny, because I was going to use "The Cat's Meow" as an example of a performance that I thought was really good. I guess it's a tricky thing to assess, I suppose, kind of how I banged my head for years whenever anyone praised Winona Ryder as one of the greatest actresses of her generation.
Out of curiosity, are there any actresses in that age range of Duff, Dunst, Holmes, Hathaway, Lohan, and Moore that DO strike you as worthy of praise or notice?
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6-18-2006 @ 10:05AM
Michelle said...
Please don't lump poor Kirsten Dunst in with this group. (Why did you anyway, because she's cute and blond?)
She was a real dramatic actress, and a good one, in some of her earliest roles (think Interview with a Vampire, Little Women).
She's the type of child actress who SHOULD and CAN be doing these edgier roles.
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6-18-2006 @ 10:53AM
SF said...
Personally, Hillary duff is right, her demographic the pre-teen, ppl hitting puberty would obviously love her squeeky clean image. NOw i think Lindsay has more edge and i think she deserves some credit, after all landing a role opposite Ms. Streep isnt easy, also Amanda Bynes needs more credit, she is a great actress with a lot of potential, i think she deserves more than she is getting right now. The rest of them ehhh who cares, they come and go.
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6-18-2006 @ 11:25AM
Christopher Campbell said...
First of all, I'd like to comment on John and Michelle's points: Dunst is one of many actresses who were great when young yet have not grown up into adulthood roles so well. My least favorite of these is Anna Paquin, who ruins a movie for me better than anyone. Maybe it has to do with their having grown up in the movies that somehow makes their talents not progress with age? I don't know for sure. Even with those who go on to college and/or further study their craft, there are actresses who don't make the transition well. I think Winona Ryder began the transition okay, but now she's not interesting to me anymore (and she was my complete favorite while I was growing up). I thought Julia Stiles and Claire Danes and Christina Ricci would succeed, but they haven't impressed me post-20, yet. I also don't completely believe in Natalie Portman. I'm having trouble thinking of young women who I think are doing it right. Michelle Williams, definitely. Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel might have the skills if they work with the right director. I am a big admirer of Zooey Deschanel. Others that I'm keeping an eye on include Alison Lohman, Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Rachel McAdams and Keira Knightley.
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