I am a massive movie fan and nerdly read endless movie review books. Occasionally, usually when a film is spectacularly bad but stars a well-known actor, the actor is said to "phone in their performance", or sometimes "sleepwalks their performance". Can anyone tell me exactly what is meant by this phrase? Is it reflection on the actor, or the script he/she was given?
2006-08-30 22:26:09 · 5 answers · asked by gromitski 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
Basically means the actor in question isn't needing to put much effort into their performance. They can play the part in their sleep, so they say the lines and take the money then probably do the publicity and forget they ever made that movie. Harrison Fords' latest film firewall is a good example of an actor phoning in their performance.
2006-08-30 22:31:21 · answer #1 · answered by paul m 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it means that they haven't exactly exerted themselves when they were performing. I would say it is probably a reflection of both the actor and the script. OK, so the script might be crap, but if it was a truly dedicated actor they would put their best into it anyhow.
2006-08-31 05:33:36 · answer #2 · answered by Daisy the cow 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It means that they put no effort into it.
2006-08-31 05:31:47 · answer #3 · answered by Paul P 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means they didn't try very hard.
2006-08-31 06:22:04 · answer #4 · answered by Movie Guy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that they sucked.
2006-08-31 05:31:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋