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Better Actor: Michael Keaton or John Travolta (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Nipsey
- Start date
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Keaton
I also think multiplicity is a very underrated movie.
I also think multiplicity is a very underrated movie.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
I voted for Travolta. Maybe Keaton has a better body of work overall -- I don't know -- but Travolta's role in Pulp Fiction is far more memorable than any of Keaton's roles IMO.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
As is his character in Grease and Saturday Night Fever. Beetlejuice is Keaton's best role. I know he was Batman but I don't think he was anything special there. Jack and Tim Burton made that movie great.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Keaton has played Batman, Beetlejuice, and earned an Oscar nomination for Birdman. I remember Travolta from Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Welcome Back, Kotter . . . but since then mostly Pulp Fiction. The only thing I can remember him from in the the past 10+ years is that O.J. Simpson series. It's a tough call. I'd lean Travolta for his most popular work, but his roles in the past 25 years have been pretty underwhelming.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
Interesting pairing.
I feel like because Travolta was pretty much an overnight sensation, expectations on him were high from the beginning, whereas Keaton broke through a little at a time until Beetlejuice and Batman, and with a ton of solid though not iconic roles, expectations for him haven't been as high as they have been for Travolta.
To me, they're only separated by shades of gray in terms of quality, and each does things better than the other. Neither gets truly lost in their roles, and though Keaton seems to have gotten more higher-profile opportunities, Travolta has hit higher points in his career arc.
Both are formidable as comic actors with memorable performances, Keaton has more gravitas, while Travolta is by far the better singer and dancer.
I like Keaton better, but Travolta stacks up well to him regardless.
I feel like because Travolta was pretty much an overnight sensation, expectations on him were high from the beginning, whereas Keaton broke through a little at a time until Beetlejuice and Batman, and with a ton of solid though not iconic roles, expectations for him haven't been as high as they have been for Travolta.
To me, they're only separated by shades of gray in terms of quality, and each does things better than the other. Neither gets truly lost in their roles, and though Keaton seems to have gotten more higher-profile opportunities, Travolta has hit higher points in his career arc.
Both are formidable as comic actors with memorable performances, Keaton has more gravitas, while Travolta is by far the better singer and dancer.
I like Keaton better, but Travolta stacks up well to him regardless.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
If it’s just strictly on acting then I’d probably go Keaton but Travolta does have more memorable characters, including Vinny.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Keaton is great in Pacific Heights, Clean & Sober and Johnny Dangerously. Just to name a few of his lesser known films.
I don’t dislike Travolta and his portrayal of Vincent in Pulp Fiction stands as the most memorable of all the roles of these two combined.
I don’t dislike Travolta and his portrayal of Vincent in Pulp Fiction stands as the most memorable of all the roles of these two combined.
The Dreaded Marco
Footballguy
And though it wasn’t a leading role, his performance in Jackie Brown was also great.
It’s Keaton by a significant margin for me as well.
massraider
Footballguy
Tough call, and really good comp.
The only thing I'll say about Pulp Fiction is being in the best/most memorable movie either one has ever been in, isn't the same as the best/ most memorable performance. This isn't Kilmer/Tombstone level of performance.
I'll take Keaton, much more range, a really good comedic actor, and there aren't really a lot of those.
The only thing I'll say about Pulp Fiction is being in the best/most memorable movie either one has ever been in, isn't the same as the best/ most memorable performance. This isn't Kilmer/Tombstone level of performance.
I'll take Keaton, much more range, a really good comedic actor, and there aren't really a lot of those.
He's had SEVERAL really terrible clunkers.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
From a pure “who is the better actor” (as the poll asks), it is Keaton by a wide margin for me as well.
Would get closer if the poll was asking about which actor has had the most memorable roles.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
I understand, but I think Travolta's performance in Pulp Fiction is genuinely excellent. It would be fair to note that Tarantino consistently gets the very best out of pretty much every actor he's worked with, so maybe that's a reason to discount this a little bit, but still.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
My Life.
Dan Lambskin
Footballguy
No mention if Look Who’s Talking yet?
Encyclopedia Brown
Footballguy
He played an off-the-charts psycho with complete authenticity.
Great comeuppance for his character.
TripItUp
Footballguy
My saddest movie ever. Can't think of one that is worse.
NutterButter
Footballguy
Like the Founder and Keaton's role in it. And obviously there's spotlight.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I think the funniest line I ever heard come from Travolta wasn't in a movie or a TV show. It was from an interview with Howard Stern. They were talking about Pulp Fiction, and Howard asked about the scene where Travolta opened the briefcase and there was a mesmerizing glow and radiance emanating from the case ("Yeah, we happy"). Stern said it always bugged him that we never learned what was inside, and he asked Travolta several times to reveal what was in the case. After multiple requests, he finally relented and spilled the beans . . . it was the script to Battlefield Earth.
matttyl
Footballguy
Surprised it took so long for someone to mention Spotlight. Of course the story was bigger than any individual actor in that movie.
He was also great in Worth more recently, but again you walk away remember the story more than anyone in it.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Travolta owns the most iconic role but Keaton owns the actor designation. Beetlejuice, Batman, traveling milk shake machine salesman. Totally believable in every role and every style.
need2know
Footballguy
That movie was nuts
NutterButter
Footballguy
More of a batman and beetlejuice crowd
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I don’t know if Keaton has been genuinely bad in anything. Travolta has Battlefield Earth and Gotti and other stuff that flat doesn’t work. But Travolta also played the Mom in Hairspray completely straight. He didn’t play her for camp. And I found it surprisingly moving. I like actors that can surprise me. Actors that maybe need the right collaborators to get the best out of them.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Something I might have expected more from Travolta.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Socialism for Dummies
Travolta has charm and charisma that others can only dream of. Keaton is no slouch in the likeability factor either.
Travolta has the best “best” moments, but also the worst ones too.
Keaton wins for consistency and being damn good in just about everything.
Travolta wins, cause when he is great, he is in a class of his own
Travolta has the best “best” moments, but also the worst ones too.
Keaton wins for consistency and being damn good in just about everything.
Travolta wins, cause when he is great, he is in a class of his own
Brunell4MVP
Footballguy
Keaton is a better actor. But I enjoyed more of Travolta's movies. They were entertaining.
I think I'm good with this take. I did run through both actors movies and I find myself streaming a lot more of Travolta's movies
I just think Travolta was really good in 3 - 4 movies, and Keaton is pretty consistently good.
I really liked Dopesick a lot (all of those actors were great). And I can't think of many Keaton clunkers.
massraider
Footballguy
The iconic role is NOT the one that was in the movie that kick-started the entire comic book movie movement?
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Keaton started as Purple Panda on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. He wins. Not close.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Purple Panda > Vinnie Barbarino
Encyclopedia Brown
Footballguy
We can't forget Travolta's epic performance in "The Boy In The Plastic Bubble".
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
And he sang the theme song, something Michael Keaton has yet to be asked to do. All Travolta needs is a movie that needs a good triple-threat man, and he's right back on top.
Travolta has some higher highs but he’s always been more of a movie star than an actor IMO. His lows are unbelievably bad which I think is proof of that. I personally believe great directors can get iconic performances out of mediocre actors like in Pulp Fiction (my goto example of this will always be Mark Whalberg in the Departed or in Boogie Nights.)
Dwayne Hoover
Footballguy
I don't think this is a great comp and both are good
Travolta often is cast like a caricature and his acting is exaggerated for comedic reasons. I think he does that pretty well.
Keaton has always been more understated in his style, a bit under the radar, but certainly effective
Travolta often is cast like a caricature and his acting is exaggerated for comedic reasons. I think he does that pretty well.
Keaton has always been more understated in his style, a bit under the radar, but certainly effective
massraider
Footballguy
If I am producer of that movie, I make Travolta pretend to be Nic Cage for the first 15 minutes, and then Nic Cage could have been the bad guy for the rest of the movie. Always bothered me about that movie.
BlackCrowes
Footballguy
Keaton is one of my favorites
Gung Ho and Multiplicity
Gung Ho and Multiplicity
Encyclopedia Brown
Footballguy
The Beetlejuice 2 trailer looks good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As-vKW4ZboU
Nipsey
Footballguy
I'm a little stunned at the results. I love Michael Keaton but Travolta is a legit 5-tool player. Maybe Keaton has more "dramatic range" but can he do this? Talk abut versatile.
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AAABatteries
Footballguy
I'm a little stunned at the results. I love Michael Keaton but Travolta is a legit 5-tool player. Maybe Keaton has more "dramatic range" but can he do this? Talk abut versatile.
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Iconic!
I think it’s how you asked the question - better actor is Keaton. Also, Keaton has a ton of comedic roles and then throw in Batman and Beetlejuice - I’m not sure Travolta is vastly superior in versatility.
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