8 Polarizing Celebrities

Don't mistake the concept of polarization, with people who are hated or extremely controversial figures. These are not the whores or jerks of Hollywood. We're not talking about Team Angelina or Team Jennifer. We are not discussing Scarlett Johansson or Kanye. They have their place in the world of pop-culture blogging, but this post is not for them.


These are those celebrities that come up in casual conversation when you are among friends. Maybe you are trying to decide what movie to see and someone will mention one of these actors that stars in the latest chick flick or action film. Suddenly, you find yourself in a somewhat unfounded but passionate debate that seems to be dividing your group of friends right down the middle.


The conflict with these celebrities is that they have all starred in something that you love. Maybe they have even been the most redemptive part of an otherwise doomed movie. Maybe you have always tried to style your hair like theirs. Maybe they are just genuinely good actors. But on the other side of the coin, they have all starred in something that you hate. Maybe they have played a particularly despicable character. Maybe they have messy personal lives. Maybe they just have a crooked smile. Love 'em or hate 'em, here are 8 celebrities that can divide my friends faster than you can say "yes we can!"




LADIES First....

I'm never gonna be Jell-O.

Cameron Diaz-She may not be a bad girl, but she sure comes off as one. Her movie roles from Something About Mary to Bad Teacher present her as clueless and apathetic. And who can forgive The Mask or The Box? But her roles in In Her Shoes and The Holiday, give me pause for judgment. My friend Joni insists that personally Cameron has it together. That she's a "real girl." This might be true, but for no reason other than her role in My Best Friend's Wedding, I have to say that I am not a fan of Cameron Diaz. No one steals Julia Roberts' love interest.
Verdict: HATE HER.

I'm not Josie Grossie anymore!

Drew Barrymore-While Diaz might present as a bad girl, Barrymore, a fellow Charlie's Angel actress, has actually been a bad girl. It doesn't help her case that we have watched her grow up as the cute little girl in ET through her awkward alcohol induced adolescence. And yet, she seems to have herself together now. On any given week, SNL likes to impersonate her by exaggerating her lisp and the fact she talks out of the side of her mouth. My friend Julie hates her lisp, and all others for that matter. But some people think it's endearing. I am one of those people. She also won me over with her roles in The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, Ever After, the best cameo of all time in Scream, and her recent directorial debut, Whip It. Oh, and maybe the biggest reason I like her, we share a birthday.
Verdict: LOVE HER!

If this were a cheerocracy, I might stand a chance.

Kirsten Dunst-Kirsten makes good movies. But the roles she plays in those movies almost always have her portraying a little sister type. She is best when she is a brat. Interview with a Vampire, Little Women, Jumanji. The complication with Kirsten is that she is in my all time favorite movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And her role in the movie, though small, is pivotal. She got on my good side for a while after that one. I also respect her for expanding her acting chops. She has gotten away from the Spiderman movies and has taken some more artsy parts in Marie Antoinette, Melancholia and On the Road. I can appreciate that, but recently I saw her in an interview and I wanted to punch her in the face just for talking. She sounded stupid, aloof, like Nicole Kidman meets Kristen Stewart. Up until that point, I had at least given her credit for brains. That night she changed my mind. Well, that, and she is another one who went up against my favorite leading lady, Julia Roberts, in Mona Lisa Smile.
Verdict: HATE HER.

Have a little Faith in me. 

Eliza Dushku-It's surprising that she is the only brunette I have mentioned so far. People underestimate just how polarizing hair can be. Her acting history is not as long as the above actresses, and it is mostly rooted in television. In fact you might not even know who she is. But you probably already don't like her face. It's got that hard, almost masculine but overtly sexy look to it. She kind of looks like that mean girl in high school. You might feel jealous, or you might just feel that she fits into a predetermined group of people you don't like even though you have no idea why. If you're a Buffy/Angel fan though, you know Dushku well. And her role as Faith is one of the most redemptive that has ever been written. I think we will see more of Dushku, and so I'm not willing to judge quite yet.
Verdict: STILL OUT.


Hey GUYS....

I'm not so Picture Perfect.

Jay Mohr-Sure, he's been in a lot of stuff. And sometimes I look at Mohr and think he's kind of cute. But then he has that "hr" together in his last name and that's annoying. I recently saw him on Leno. He was okay funny, and as he told jokes about his kids, I found myself pleased to know that he is a dad. But his son's name is Meredith. His SON is named MEREDITH. Who am I kidding, it doesn't matter. If I'm honest, there's nothing he can do at this point to make me change my mind. He lost me at Jerry Maguire.
Verdict: HATE HIM.

I always win, one way or another.

Billy Zane-I know, I know, he was the living worst in Titanic. Even though the way he spits words out when he talks is really quite awesome acting, it's still gross. And he does it in every movie he's in. Yes, he has been in other movies. Lots of them. Have I seen them? No. How do I know he spits his words in them? I don't. I never claimed to be an expert. I don't avoid Zane's other movies because I have something against him, but simply because they are obscure. And I like to remember him as the irrational Cal. In my own irrational twist, I can tell you that I have only one reason for liking Billy Zane. I am almost ashamed to admit this, but I think he is so sexy.
Verdict: LOVE HIM.

I am the Zodiac killer.

Mark Ruffalo-Peer pressure is a bitch. Two of my best friends think that Ruffalo is the sexiest guy around and so about twice a year I really try to like him. Aside from the fact that he played practically a porn movie, In the Cut, with Meg Ryan, (excuse me, my prude is showing), Ruffalo is generally cast as a fun loving, shy, almost stuttering love interest, or a best friend/side kick who ends up with the girl. But he's no Greg Kinnear. Ruffalo sounds lazy when he talks and looks lazy when he smiles. His eyes and hair always look like he's just woken up, but my friends think he is so sweet. Like Dunst, he is also in my very favorite movie. Though his role is not as crucial as hers, he is still there, making Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind happen. And so I appreciate him for that. And for a few other things...that I can't seem to remember right now. I haven't seen him as the Hulk in The Avengers, but let's face it, that's more computer than him anyway. I don't want to come across as apathetic here, I have a definite opinion. But for now, I will refrain from giving it so strongly.
Verdict: At the risk of losing friends, STILL OUT.

I always thought it would be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody.

Matt Damon-He's a great looking guy, no debating that. And he played the unfortunately named love interest, Carol, for Liz Lemon on my favorite TV show, 30 Rock. Don't tell me that you managed not to swoon when he had "to go see about a girl" in Good Will Hunting. Damon has seen some good days. This self-made actor (can you be a self-made actor?) from Brooklyn lets his temper fly in the political realm, and he even has a fairly diverse list of films on his resume. His earlier work was some of his best. But his most defining role is Jason Bourne, and if there is one trilogy that can split up a party of friends, it's the Bourne movies. And unfortunately, Damon is at the heart of them. Here's a clip of Matt Damon acting. 

That smile at :37 almost made me like him. But he's Jason Bourne, and I just can't forgive that.

Verdict: HATE HIM.

What's your take on these celebrities? Love 'em or Hate 'em?