My Two Cents for the Day

The other day, I got into a heated discussion about, what else, but one Miss Julia Stiles. Naturally, I was contending that Julia Stiles is, unfortunately, one of the worst actresses ever. (This obviously excludes her one brief shining moment in "Ten Things I Hate About You." She was good as Kat Stratford. She is only good as Kat Stratford.) I mean, come on, did anyone see the "I want 2 hours of my life back" that was "Down to You"? Or "Save the Last Dance"? Even "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy," which are phenomenal movies, show their weak points when Julia Stiles is in the scene. In the final, climactic scene of "The Bourne Identity," Julia Stiles detracts from the action by bumping into NOTHING! I may not be trained in the theater, but I'm pretty sure that avoiding props and other physical items on the set is pretty standard. I would particularly imagine that you're only supposed to bump into nonexistent props when you're a mime. Julia stiles, as far as I know, you are no mime. (Which is actually something I'm adding to your "pro" list.) Anyway, the heated part of the discussion arose when someone at the table said they had run into Julia Stiles in a restaurant, and she was very nice. I was more than willing to concede that Julia Stiles is nice. But, I also added that "nice" does not make you a good actress. After all, I can be nice, but that doesn't make me a good engineer. Would my being "nice" give you the courage to drive over a bridge I built? I certainly hope not. And, "nice" doesn't mean that I can necessarily stand to pay eight dollars to see a Julia Stiles movie in the theater. (In truth, this last fact is tearing me apart inside. I love the original "Omen" with Gregory Peck and would love to see the remake. There is nothing like a nanny who is literally the bride of Satan and excavated goat carcasses to keep me entertained.) But, like they say: Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. I have made the Julia Stiles movie mistake one too many times. Thank God, I had the courage to miss "The Prince & Me." At least I can hold onto some of my dignity there.