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I don't watch a movie to get confused as I may in real life. The director is confused if they don't understand the fundamental rules of cinema - speak clearly and face the camera.

No matter the size of the screen, bad acting is bad.



> the fundamental rules of cinema - speak clearly and face the camera

You're literally describing the fundamental rules of cinema... in the 1940's. Back in the studio system, that was exactly with they did, so clearly they even used a fake "transatlantic accent" with heightened enunciation to do it.

And these rules (minus the accent) are still followed to a large degree in middlebrow TV fare like what you watch on ABC or the CW Network. It's also more present in comedies.

But if you're watching a prestige drama on HBO or Netflix? If you're watching The Wire or Succession? If a drug dealer or cop suddenly starts speaking clearly and facing the camera, all believability is instantly shattered.

Your rules for "bad acting" are outdated by about seven decades. In fact, "method acting" in the 1950's was precisely a reaction to the stilted "speak clearly and face the camera" acting of the 1940's. By your standard, Marlon Brando would be a bad actor, since "speak clearly and face the camera" is the polar opposite of what he did.


...fundamental rules of cinema...

This is a matter of taste. Does anyone really expect to enjoy every movie?

I love subtitles, but I accept that not everyone is comfortable using them.


The subject was about how it's all going to the dogs. So no, not every movie. But some movies


The wonderful thing about having old-fashioned tastes in cinema is that there are already thousands of old-fashioned films available to watch. b^)




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