This document discusses several examples of films directed by actors that were critical and financial failures. It provides details on films directed by Tom Green, Alec Baldwin, Louis CK, Nicolas Cage, Marlon Brando, and Tim Allen that were panned by critics and deemed financial flops. The document suggests that while celebrities want to direct, successful actors should remain in front of the camera rather than take on the challenges of directing, as evidenced by the poor reception and performances of the films from these actor-directors.

1. Not All Actors Should Be Directors
Celebrities are never satisfied. Singers want to play lead guitar, painters want to be
sculptors and actors want to be directors. This list of actor-directed films suggests
that successful actors should stay in front of the camera and spare themselves the
misery of the directorial experience.
• Tom Green’s timeless bomb “Freddy Got Fingered” is a great example of a star
with too much power and too little direction on a project. Green must have
depleted his stash of trademarked gross-out, shock-rock humor. This film seems
like it was stolen from Green’s very own MTV series and his film “Road Trip.”
Numerous film critics and groups of movie buffs have deemed this film among the
worst of all time.
• Alec Baldwin hated “Shortcut to Happiness” so much that he had his name
removed from the directorial credits. After suffering financial problems, the film
was purchased from a bankruptcy court and finally completed. Eight years after it
was filmed, it was finally released. This adaptation of Benet’s beloved short story
“The Devil and Daniel Webster” is a classic example of the movie not being as
good as the book.
• How low can comedy go? “Pootie Tang” dares to ask the eternal question.
Apparently, the answer is quite low. You asked for it, you got it. Director Louis
C.K. also wrote the film that Roger Ebert called “a train wreck.” Another critic
said it was akin to abuse of the audience. Louis said it didn't turn out as he had
envisioned it. But since "Pootie tang" received its harsh critique from the
mainstream press, it has popped up as a cult favorite among fans of alternative
comedies.
• Nicolas Cage directed and co-produced the 2002 bomb “Sonny.” Although it was
blessed with stars like James Franco, Harry Dean Stanton and Mena Suvari, the
film didn’t catch on with movie-goers. The brothel-based plot was jumbled, lacked
suspense and didn’t make sense. The ending was so vague that it left the viewer
wondering what was going to happen next--but not caring very much. Don’t expect
to see “Sonny II” anytime soon.
• Marlon Brando’s attempt at directing was the western “One-Eyed Jacks.” Based
on the Charles Neider novel “The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones,” the script for
this film went through writers Rod Serling, Sam Peckinpah, Calder Willingham
and Guy Trosper before Brando himself worked on the final draft. All four writers,

2. however, claim their work is the bulk of the film. With cooperation like that, it’s
no wonder the film meanders as it does. Too many writers, like too many cooks,
spoil the script.
• Despite being packed with A-list stars like Sigourney Weaver, Ray Liotta, Jeanne
Tripplehorn and Kelsey Grammer, few critics were crazy about Tim Allen’s
directorial effort “Crazy on the Outside." The film received only eight percent
positive reviews and was deemed “Rotten” by the Rotten Tomatoes film aggregate.
Allen must have called in a few markers to get his friends to co-star with him in
this stinker.