History SugarWiki / RuleOfSeanConnery

** '''[[IronLady Maggie Smith]]'''

* '''David Carradine'''

* Creator/RogerEbert has what's called the "Stanton-Walsh Rule" which states that nothing featuring '''Creator/HarryDeanStanton''' (''Film/{{Alien}}'', ''Paris, Texas'', ''Repo Man'' and TV's ''Series/BigLove'') or '''M. Emmett Walsh''' (''Film/BloodSimple'', ''Film/TheJerk'', ''Film/BladeRunner'') in a supporting role can be altogether bad. However when ''Film/WildWildWest'' (Walsh) and ''Dream a Little Dream'' (Stanton) came out Ebert had to recant.

* '''Connor Trinneer''': Even some of the worst episodes of ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' are elevated by virtue his presence. That he managed to be the subject of an [[MisterSeahorse M-preg]] episode and still retain some dignity and even bring some genuine pathos to it is a testament to his skill.
** '''Creator/ScottBakula''', '''Dominic Keating''', and '''Jolene Blalock''' as well, all of whom managed to sell some truly atrocious writing during their tenure on ''Enterprise''. It's safe to say that those four carried the show on their exceptionally talented shoulders, and did such a good job of it that they managed to win over a considerable number of fans despite the extremely shaky storytelling. If any one department on ''Enterprise'' hit their job out of the park, it was the casting department.

* '''Tom Wilkinson'''
* '''Michael Wincott'''. He ad-libbed a lot of his famous speech in ''Film/TheCrow'', and even when the films aren't great, like ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1993}}'', he's captivating. The BadassBaritone voice helps.

* '''Ewen Bremner''': Anytime he shows up in a film, you KNOW he's going to do something interesting (and probably hilarious).

* '''Udo Kier''', who build a career on HamAndCheese.

* '''Patrick [=McGoohan=]'s''' intense presence (in whatever amount) would considerably lift the awesomeness of whatever production he was in and make you take even the most rubbish lines seriously.

* '''Kang-ho Song''', whose quietly commanding screen presence is worth any movie he so much has a cameo in.

** Or, for that matter, her ''Series/StargateSG1'' co-star '''Richard Dean Anderson'''. Stargate series aside, there's also a voice-acting turn as himself on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', a stint in soap operas, and of course his ''other'' most famous role, Series/{{MacGyver|1985}}.

** '''Scott Bakula''', '''Dominic Keating''', and '''Jolene Blalock''' as well, all of whom managed to sell some truly atrocious writing during their tenure on ''Enterprise''. It's safe to say that those four carried the show on their exceptionally talented shoulders, and did such a good job of it that they managed to win over a considerable number of fans despite the extremely shaky storytelling. If any one department on ''Enterprise'' hit their job out of the park, it was the casting department.

* '''Charles Grodin''', one of the most redoubtable [[StraightMan straight men]] in movie history.

* '''Creator/ChrisPratt''', who has become known for starring in [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie insanely]] [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy awesome]] [[Film/JurassicWorld films]] as of late.

** ''Film/MammaMia'' is the one inversion, mostly due to his singing.

* '''Creator/ColinFirth''', who manages to keep his dignity even when working in ''Film/MammaMia''.

* '''Creator/SteveBlum''': From his first line as [[WesternAnimation/{{XMen}} Logan]] to his last sign-off as [[Creator/{{Toonami}} TOM]] and beyond, he's been entertaining children and adults (and oftentimes, the children of adults who watched him as children) for decades. He's not the Guinness World Record Holder for Most Prolific Video Game Voice Actor for nothing, after all.

*** Regarding the film adaptation of ''Film/{{Red}}'', Creator/WarrenEllis, author of the original comic, said any and all changes were okay by him, simply because the movie had Helen Mirren with a sniper rifle.

* '''Creator/KevinSpacey''': Recent controversies aside, even some of the most notable films he's appeared in maintain the praise directed towards his roles.

* "Welcome to ''Film/TheRock''!" One of only two Creator/MichaelBay movies people and critics admit to liking, (the other being Ambulance as mentioned below) and also notable as having wildcard Creator/NicolasCage come out as a positive factor.

* '''Creator/JakeGyllenhaal'', who like the Trope Namer managed to make [[Film/{{Ambulance}} a Michael Bay movie]] critically well-received.

* '''Creator/GeneWilder''': He appeared in a lot of stinkers, but there isn't one that he didn't make better just by being involved. A Good example is the film Start the Revolution Without Me. It could've been horrible, but thanks to his ChewingTheScenery it's something of a cult classic.
* '''Creator/BruceWillis'''. Makes generic action movies more memorable, and contributes hilarious cameos to movies such ''Film/LoadedWeapon1'', ''Film/CharliesAngelsFullThrottle'' and ''[[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's Twelve]]'' (the last one, AsHimself!).

** Worth noting that many people agree that despite his comedy... being vincredibly variable, he is a solid-to-incredible dramatic actor, and when people cite their favorite movies of his, his more serious works like ''Film/PunchDrunkLove'' and ''Film/UncutGems'' are almost always amongst them, with a consistency beyond his comedic fare.

* "Welcome to ''Film/TheRock''!" The only Creator/MichaelBay movie people and critics admit to liking, and also notable as having wildcard Creator/NicolasCage come out as a positive factor.

* '''Creator/MatthewMcConaughey'''

* '''Creator/KevinSpacey''', or at least, he was before he turned out to be...terrible.

* One wonders about the impact on ''Film/DarbyOGillAndTheLittlePeople'' of Sean Connery and his singing, given that Connery's type hadn't yet been established in film.

* ''Film/TheAvengers1998'' Sean ''original Bond'' Connery as an absolutely over the top Bond villain..

** Worth noting that many people agree that despite his comedy... being vincredibly variable, he is a solid-to-incredible dramatic actor, and when people cite their favorite movies of his, his more serious works like Film/PunchDrunkLove and Film/UncutGems are almost always amongst them, with a consistency beyond his comedic fare.

*** You can raise it to the English ''quintet'' to include '''Creator/VanessaRedgrave'''. A well-known film, television and stage actress, she's been active for over 60 years, has won an Oscar for her efforts, and is joined in her talent for acting by her daughters, Joely and the late [[Creator/NatashaRichardson Natasha]], her son-in-law [[Creator/LiamNeeson Liam]], her late brother and sister, Corin and Lynn, her niece Jemma, her granddaughter, her parents, and her ''grandparents''. Seriously, they all qualify as one BadassFamily.

* '''Creator/JemmaRedgrave''', who will turn in a flawless performance no matter what with absolutely everything she is given.

* '''Creator/SandraBullock''' is the only actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress (for ''Film/TheBlindSide'') and a Razzie for Worst Actress (for ''Film/AllAboutSteve'') in the same year. She even [[MedalOfDishonor attended the 2010 Razzie ceremony to collect her "award".]]

** ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', '''Creator/SeanConnery''' as Indiana Jones' ''dad''? AWESOME! And despite he's clumsier and an AbsentMindedProfessor, it doesn't mean he gets [[TookALevelInBadass a few levels in badass]].
** ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober''.
--->'''Captain Ramius:''' We will pass through the American patrols, past their sonar nets, and lay off their largest city, and listen to their rock and roll... while we conduct missile drills.\\

** ''Film/JamesBond'': More than 50 years later, every actor who followed him as 007 continues to be measured by the standard Connery set.
** ''Film/FindingForrester'': "[[MemeticMutation You're the man now, dog!]]"
** ''Film/{{Dragonheart}}'': It's Mr. Connery voicing a huge fire breathing dragon. '''''YESH!'''''
** ''Film/TheUntouchables''. Let's face it, not even [[OohMeAccentsSlipping terrible]] or [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent nonexistent accents]] can diminish his awesomeness multiplier. Oscar voters agreed. (See also ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober'' and ''Film/{{Highlander}}''.)
--->'''Mobster:''' You gotta warrant?\\

** ''Film/{{Highlander}}''... and ''Film/HighlanderIITheQuickening''. If it existed.
** ''Film/TimeBandits'': Agamemnon was never so freakin' awesome. WordOfGod states that the script notes for Agamemnon called for [[PoorMansSubstitute a Sean Connery-looking actor the production could afford]]. After reading the script Connery was so amused by the comment he agreed to do the role at a reduced rate.
** ''Film/{{Marnie}}'' : [[Creator/AlfredHitchcock Good evening. I'm Sean Connery]].
** [[SoBadItsGood Hell, even]] ''Film/{{Zardoz}}''.
** ''Film/ABridgeTooFar'' shows you what happens when you multiply Connery by Hopkins and raise it to the Hackman.
** "Welcome to ''Film/TheRock''!" The only Creator/MichaelBay movie people and critics admit on liking, and also notable as having wildcard Creator/NicolasCage come out as a positive factor.
** [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1552111/ Sir Billi]]... is an exception.
** ''Film/FirstKnight'': Sean Connery as Myth/KingArthur? Forgettable movie, but still awesome.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'': The original director's workprint portrays the titular cobbler Tack as a HeroicMime until the end of the movie. Connery provided vocals for that line.
** For an example of how the absence of Connery can negatively impact a film, see ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier''. Spock's brother, Sybok, was originally to have been played by Connery. When he declined they made do by casting a near-lookalike and naming a planet "Sha-Ka-Ree" as an in-joke. Today reviled by Trekkies as one of the worst ''Trek'' films, one wonders what impact Connery's presence would have had.
** ''Film/TheAvengers1998'' Sean ''original Bond'' Connery as an absolutely over the top Bond villain..
** One wonders about the impact on ''Film/DarbyOGillAndTheLittlePeople'' of Sean Connery and his singing, given that Connery's type hadn't yet been established in film.

* '''Creator/CateBlanchett''': The ultimate [[ManOfAThousandFaces Woman of a Thousand Faces]]. Especially if she's playing a [[TheHighQueen beautiful, powerful]] and [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen occasionally terrifying]] queen, whether that be the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Queen of the Elves]], the [[Film/{{Elizabeth}} Queen of England]] or even the freaking [[Film/ThorRagnarok Queen of the Underworld]].

** Bogart wasn't named the Greatest Movie star of All-Time by the AFI for nothing. Even when he played supporting roles, he elevated mostly forgettable films into must see viewing.

*** You can raise it to the English ''quintet'' to include '''Creator/VanessaRedgrave'''. A well-known film, television and stage actress, she's been active for over 60 years, has won an Oscar for her efforts, and is joined in her talent for acting by her daughters, Joely and the late [[Creator/NatashaRichardson Natasha]], her son-in-law [[Creator/LiamNeeson Liam]], her late brother and sister, Corin and Lynn, her niece Jemma, her granddaughter, her parents and her ''grandparents''. Seriously, they all qualify as one BadassFamily.

* '''Creator/OwenWilson''', who like Ben Stiller can help a mainstream comedy or improve some unusual fare (including the movies he co-wrote with Wes Anderson).
* The variability of whether or not '''Creator/RyanReynolds''' is a positive or a negative is based on only two critical factors; whether scathingly self-aware and -depricating, fast-talking comedy works for the viewer, and whether or not the movie he's in calls for that kind of comedy/performance (as noted is generally the case for this trope below). [[note]]With a few exceptions, like ''Film/{{Buried}}'', where he plays mostly against type to great effect[[/note]]

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... and let's not forget he [[DeadHorseTrope who works in any work he's in, namely]] Creator/ChuckNorris.

* ''Creator/AlanTudyk'', partly getting his boost from ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' and ''{{Series/ResidentAlien}}'' fans and some overlap with the voice work category due to all the voice acting he's done in animated films.

* '''Creator/EddieIzzard''''s been in some objectively bad movies, but you'd be hard pressed to find even one of them that wasn't better for his presence.

* '''Creator/KurtRussell

* '''Creator/VeraFarmiga'' elevates everything she is in. ''Everything''. Think your horror movie is going to be standard schlock? Not with Vera in. She brings total commitment to everything she does.

*** You can raise it to the English ''quintet'' to include '''Creator/VanessaRedgrave'''. A well-known film, television and stage actress, she's been active for over 60 years, has won an Oscar for her efforts, and is joined in her talent for acting by her daughters, Joely and the late [[Creator/NatashaRichardson Natasha]], her son-in-law. [[Creator/LiamNeeson Liam]], her late brother and sister, Corin and Lynn, her niece, her granddaughter, her parents and her ''grandparents''. Seriously, they all qualify as one BadassFamily.

* '''Creator/JeremyIrons''': Even in the godawful ''Film/DungeonsAndDragons'', he was the one redeeming factor.

** ''Film/FirstKnight'': Sean Connery as KingArthur? Forgettable movie, but still awesome.