2685 replies to this topic

[insomniac57]

Mischa Barton has potential...but just cant bring it on almost every single scene. Her and Julie Cooper arguing (Chrismukkah Episode) is good. And at the CHildrens Hospital Fund raising party, she was pretty good with her whole speech.

But, at the same time, look at (same episode) her talking to Summer. It seems unnatural. "You like him, You like him"...it was jsut really forced.


and the fact that she looks 40 in about half the shots takes away from a potentially good storyline, if not cliche-ridden, with Marissa.

[Teah]

Mischa... doesn't annoy me that much. I really don't care for the scenes between her and Ryan, just because Ryan is a bit boring, at least compared to Seth. If I was a Ryan fan, I would totally be constantly annoyed by her, but as it is, I'm a Seth girl, so Mischa doesn't annoy me.

i totally agree...despite myself being a Ryan fan, i do wonder if this criticism of Marissa infact stems/or is inflamed by those that like Ryan and hence hate the girlfriend that they believe does not deserve him. I doubt that there would be as much complaint about Micsha's acting if she wasn't Ryan's gf.

[Walter]

Speaking as a Ryan fan, I have to say my dislike of Mischa as an actress has nothing to do with Marissa being no good for Ryan. I think Marissa's a fascinating character, and if she was portrayed well, I would be totally enthralled by the relationship between Ryan and Marissa (in fact, I pretty much am enthralled anyway, but only because of Ryan). I love the idea that they're two seriously messed up kids who can't help but be drawn to each other, even if it's the worst thing for both of them. I *like* that Marissa really doesn't deserve him, and I'd enjoy watching each of them come to that conclusion.

But Mischa just can't pull off the character. And as a Ryan fan, I am pretty much constantly annoyed by her because I see so much potential for the drama that could be going on between them.

[Bronwen]

ITA with Walter. Mischa's acting is so stiff and unnatural that, more often than not, I am too busy cringing or rolling my eyes to thoroughly enjoy the scene. I am confident that if Marissa were portrayed by a stronger actress that I would be far more invested in the M/R romance than I am now. As it stands, I am fighting the urge to press fast forward whenever Marissa appears on the screen.

[dahlia]

i do wonder if this criticism of Marissa infact stems/or is inflamed by those that like Ryan and hence hate the girlfriend that they believe does not deserve him.

It's weird, since I'm not that crazy about Ryan. I don't hate him but he doesn't move me much. He's not asked to do much so he doesn't annoy me. Mischa is being asked to do a lot and doesn't seem to be pulling it off too well.

[Nysha]

But Mischa just can't pull off the character. And as a Ryan fan, I am pretty much constantly annoyed by her because I see so much potential for the drama that could be going on between them.

Word, Walter. In the hands of a more capable actress Marissa would be such an interesting character. Unfortunately, Mischa just can't seem to capture her. I think she has the look that the PTB had in mind for Marissa, she just doesn't have the acting ability to make it work.

[hjohnson]

My dislike for Marissa/Mischa's acting has nothing to do with Ryan either. I wasnt too fond of her at the beginning, and my dislike has grown since then. But I don't think it has much to do with Ryan, I think its just because I think the character has too many problems, and she rarely says the right thing, or does the smart thing. And I know she's a teenager and we all do stupid things, but it seems like every single thing she does is just wrong, IMO. And maybe it just seems that way because Mischa cant pull it off. Im not sure. But I havent liked her since the beginning because she pretty much embodies every thing I hate in girls.

[FlippinChipmunk]

The 1st episode I saw was The Outsider, & I thought Mischa did a pretty good job there. Granted, I was talking on the phone most of the time, but still... I've been racking my brain trying to come up with some reason why it seems that Mischa doesn't work for Marissa. I even tried to say that it was because Mischa was so good, it was almost bad. But she's just bad. There are some moments, most moments to me, where she seems fine. But then there are moments that make me want to nail my tongue to the table when I see her. And most of it to me is her voice & line delivery. To me her voice has this nasal, throaty, spitty quality to it. It just sounds like she's trying too hard to get her lines out. But I thought she was the whole way through The Escape. I thought she did a very good job when Marissa caught Luke with Holly. And I thought she did a good job most of the way through the Chrismukka episode, especially when she was drunk. I just think she needs more life experience to give her that edge. She just seems too innocent to me.

[Mardia]

I think Marissa's a fascinating character, and if she was portrayed well, I would be totally enthralled by the relationship between Ryan and Marissa...

Exactly. Walter hit it right on the head. Every time I think about what this character could have been with a really good actress, I want to scream. A capable actress who actually had chemistry with Benjamin (I'm still not seeing it, by the way) would have rocked as Marissa. It's just sad, because after the Chrismukkah episode, you really saw the potential Marissa's character had. You truly got how messed-up these two were, especially Marissa. I want Marissa's character to stay, if only to see the eventual train wreck. But I just cannot stand Mischa's acting. What makes it even worse is that you see these flashes where you think she's actually getting better for a moment...then she reverts back to form or gets even worse. Marissa's an interesting, complicated character, but I don't buy a thing when Mischa's trying to sell this character.

[FlippinChipmunk]

Do you know what would be interesting, if they just couldn't stand Mischa's acting anymore, if they wrote Marissa succeeding in suicide, or at least getting sent to an asylum. I totally would do that, but only as a last resort. 1st I would try to get her some training.

[beastie]

Much as I would like to get rid of Marissa, I get vaguely ill at the thought of what her suicide would do to Jimmy, Julie and Ryan (and Caitlin, but I don't really have a lot of emotional investment in Caitlin.) I wouldn't want it glossed over, and I think a non-glossed-over version would be hard to watch. I like angsty Ryan, but not that angsty.

I vote for some sort of boarding school for troubled teens.

[Nysha]

I vote she goes off to modeling camp or a European tour over the summer and comes back a whole new girl. One who can act.

[SHHS Lancer]

Or... she has a horribly disfiguring accident that will require massive amounts of reconstructive surgery, and voila! a new actress!

(It could happen. Really. This is a "soap" after all.)

[Teah]

Much as I would like to get rid of Marissa, I get vaguely ill at the thought of what her suicide would do to Jimmy, Julie and Ryan (and Caitlin, but I don't really have a lot of emotional investment in Caitlin.) I wouldn't want it glossed over, and I think a non-glossed-over version would be hard to watch. I like angsty Ryan, but not that angsty.

I vote for some sort of boarding school for troubled teens.

i agree...suicide is never an option that anyone should take...sends the wrong message to young viewers...makes me sick just thinking bout it

not sure how a new actress would work though, we've all come to know marissa Mischa, despite your views of her acting...would be hard for new actress.

Edited by Teah, Jan 4, 2004 @ 7:06 AM.

[Red Snapper]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Mischa's *not* getting better, we're just getting used to it. It's getting so if she pulls off one or two lines in an ep, I think she's doing ok. Meanwhile, her castmates are phenomanally talented considering the genre and host network of the show.

This show, this wonderful, awesome, addictive, beloved show of ours is great in spite of Mischa 'Trifecta' Barton, not because of her. And that is unforgivable.

[FlippinChipmunk]

I shouldn't have mentioned suicide. That really REALLY would have sent a bad message to people. But the boarding school for troubled teens idea would work. And she could still come back & stuff, but be just a recurring character. But before that happens, the creators & people in charge have to see that she's the weakest link & needs to be removed. Either that or totally change where her storylines are going so she can act them.

[Rina99]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Mischa's *not* getting better, we're just getting used to it. It's getting so if she pulls off one or two lines in an ep, I think she's doing ok.

I agree with you. Right near the end of the first run, during the Mexico episode, I found myself thinking she wasn't so terrible after all, but she'd just worn me down. Same with the Thanksgiving break. Each hiatus gave me a breather, and allowed me to realize how bad she still was, and is when the show returned.

[emrie]

It's weird. While converting my friend to the OC by watching a bunch of episodes back-to-back, I guess this thread was in the back of my head because I actually noticed a few scenes where I liked the way Mischa delivered a line.

Her hurt, confused, embarrassed "You're welcome?" to Ryan's thank-you (the I love you scene) was spot on. She sounds sarcastic, hurt, and trying to protect herself at the same time as trying to communicate her confusion.

And...

Damn. I know there were a few other moments, but they've all left my head. Oh well.

[Carny X]

Her hurt, confused, embarrassed "You're welcome?" to Ryan's thank-you (the I love you scene) was spot on.

That was good. Of course she'd just spent the whole first half of that scene sucking. She single handily ruined that big ol Russell Crow joke. The pain is so great I have to fast forward over it even though I find the idea funny. She's no good with comedy. Every scene of hers that has stood out as really bad to me has been a comedy scene. I just rewatched the holiday episodes and in the Chrismakkuh episode where she teases Ryan in front of the lockers before they go shopping is so stilted. She knocked me over with her badness. They should have went back and reshot it or SOMETHING. Anything but let on the air the take they used. The only time I think she can pull off comedy is when the scene includes Adam Brody. They're funny together. Which can be an example of the thing that was discussed up thread about whether or not other actors can effect her performance.

[Silver]

I definetely agree that Mischa Barton comes across convincingly the part of a rich party girl. What she doesn't manage to convey is the bright young thing with the 4.0 and the leadership skills. There's a little too much Paris in Marissa's Hilton for that to be believable.

Edited by Silver, Jan 5, 2004 @ 3:02 PM.

[insomniac57]

She's no good with comedy

yea...her good scenes, the ones you remember, were at the christmas party talking to her mom, the car slamming scene, to name a couple i remember off the top of my head.

Which can be an example of the thing that was discussed up thread about whether or not other actors can effect her performance.

on the topic of Julie, Bot really does ok with her...not great of course, but they work well together. At least up to mischas poor ability.

[FlippinChipmunk]

Well, she hasn't totally butchered the current episode. But there's still time left! And I was watching some of the past episodes on tape, & I realized that she wasn't that bad. But then again it was late so it might have been the tired.

[LouisVuittonRULZ]

Anymore, I can't bear to watch her scenes. She is a bad actress IMO, and Marissa and Ryan need to break up, like soon. Ugh.

[nemily]

Word. Hehe. Did anyone notice Mischa's random French-esque accent during one of her scenes with Ryan. They need to ship her away somewhere soon...

[Baby Girl]

It's kinda of amusing that some people think her British accent is popping through. If anybody saw this horrid little movie Tart that gets play on HBO late at night, you would know that she can't do an English accent either.

Edited by Baby Girl, Jan 8, 2004 @ 11:14 PM.

[jess49]

I might be going out on a limb here, but I am kinda glad that Mischa/Marissa is on the show…
Is Mischa the worst actor on the show? YES.
Is Marissa the most loathsome character on the show? YES.
How many jokes and hilarious mockery has she provided me and my friends? ENDLESS.

This is why I enjoy her on the show; she provides entertainment, in the mocking variety.

[MethodActor05]

Here's a quote from Mischa about how mature looks:

"People always guess I'm like 23, and I'm like, 'No, I'm really only 17,' " Barton, who will graduate from the Professional Children's School in New York this spring, mused recently. "Then people sort of insist I have to be older, and I'm like, 'No, I really am only 17.' I think it's funny. I have a 15-year-old sister who I swear to God looks like she's 30. So I mean, who knows? We grow up fast these days, I guess."

I honestly think though that's she's kinda got the Brooke Shields early 1980's thing going on...very young but very mature looking, to the point that she's got this air of innocence and worldliness that makes the media want to seize on her.

It's kinda sick, in a way. She's done shoots with Calvin Klien that looked pretty kiddie pornish, and articles about her constantly mention things like "her 17-year old bod" and just seem obsessed with the fact that she's still a high school girl. I'm sure when Mischa turns 18 in a few weeks she'll now be "barely legal" and all that.

What the hell is up with the Lolita-fication of every single actress between 13 to 20?

Edited by MethodActor05, Jan 11, 2004 @ 12:25 AM.

[BurningInHell]

Can I just say that though I hate Marissa with the fire of ten thousand suns, Mischa Barton isn't that bad an actress. There were times on the show that she was charming and she can emote fairly well. I saw her on that Julio Iglesias video and she had chops. (Julio still sucks ass, but, whatever.)

I think we all find her so unbelievable as Marissa (aside from having no comic timing.) is because she is so incredibly pretty. Now, I know that it's a fallacy that pretty people can't act, but I dunno. I see models trying to act all the time and there's a certain rigidity to the face that's just... blech. It's just not believable I guess. I could cite a ton of examples but I don't wanna offend anyone so I'll just stick with Mischa. She's not believable as a troubled 16 year old debutante with a drinking problem. It's not the writing, or her talent (I think) just that her face is too beautiful.

Am I explaining this well?

[ctoan]

I don't know about her being too pretty. I cringe every time I watch her try to say the line "this may come as a shock to you, but right now I don't want to talk about Oliver". It's just so stilted. I'm not usually a big Mischa hater (I leave that to Red Snapper, she does all my hating for me), but I when I hear her say that line, I realize one reason I liked this episode so much is because Marissa doesn't say a whole lot in it.

[Red Snapper]

Hee. I didn't realize my loathing had gained notoriety. I'll take it. I don't think she can't act because she's too pretty, I think she can't act because she's a talentless hack who's out of her league.