Better Actor: Michael Keaton or John Travolta (1 Viewer)

[Charlie Steiner]

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.

Absolutely agree with the bolded. If the question is which is the better entertainer, it's definitely Travolta since he sings and dances circles around Keaton. He's the hands-down preferred choice for the remake of Singin' in the Rain, while Keaton is the first choice for the remake of High Noon.

 

[Jayrod]

If you just read the comments, you'd think this vote was 50/50.

Then you look at the poll results and the truth is evident.

Keaton is an actor and a very very good one.

Travolta is an entertainer. He's closer to Will Smith than Daniel Day-Lewis. Keaton is the opposite of that.

 

[bagger]

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.

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.

3 Men and a Baby down?

 

[Anarchy99]

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.

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.

3 Men and a Baby down?

Neither Keaton nor Travolta was in Three Men and a Baby (which was from 1987). Do you mean Look Who's Talking? That came out 35 years ago. Not sure what you are trying to point to as a notable Travolta effort from the past 25 years.

 

[bagger]

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.

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.

3 Men and a Baby down?

Neither Keaton nor Travolta was in Three Men and a Baby (which was from 1987). Do you mean Look Who's Talking? That came out 35 years ago. Not sure what you are trying to point to as a notable Travolta effort from the past 25 years.

Oh yes Look Who’s Talking.

 

[SWC]

john travolta is totally annoying and a scientoligist so maybe it wont matter when the aliens come and pick him up and take him to his home planet of fartron or whatever while old mike keeton just keeps on kicking butt take that to the bank brochacho

 

[KarmaPolice]

If you just read the comments, you'd think this vote was 50/50.

Then you look at the poll results and the truth is evident.

Keaton is an actor and a very very good one.

Travolta is an entertainer. He's closer to Will Smith than Daniel Day-Lewis. Keaton is the opposite of that.

Whoa, I got fired up reading this one for a second. I read that as "and".

 

[KarmaPolice]

Keaton is a far more versatile/talented actor.

My answer for the poll is Keaton because if I had to choose now a movie to watch and and the only info I get is the 2 actors, I will go Keaton. Also, Travolta hasn't had anything I've liked or would want to watch tonight in more than 25 years. Keaton has had a really good late era run.

However, my answer is probably more like why these two side by side because they do different things well. Travolta couldn't pull off Mr. Mom and Keaton couldn't do Grease. Both are cool but in different ways. Keaton couldn't do Vincent Vega and Travolta couldn't pull off Ray Nicolette. On the drama side I've seen both bring it. The stuff I love of Travolta is Carrie and Blow Out era from him.

Long story short, I don't think the versatility or the talent is the issue or as far apart as it might seem.

 

[Grahamburn]

Swordfish!

 

[higgins]

Keaton is a far more versatile/talented actor.

Long story short, I don't think the versatility or the talent is the issue or as far apart as it might seem.

Everyone knows both actors pretty well. My stance on versatility comes down to Keaton’s villain roles in Desperate Measures and Pacific Heights. Keaton scared me in those roles — Travolta would draw unintentional laughter in those roles.

 

[Nipsey]

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.

I guess the question is how do you define "actor"?

 

[supermike80]

Yeah I'd pick Keaton. I generally like whatever he does on screen. Travolta is OK. Pulp Fiction of course and Get Shorty. But when I see Keaton in a flick, I generally wanna see it