What the Hell Happened to John Travolta? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

hatwink · 11-04-2015, 11:40 AM

Right now, like mentioned before, I think John can be choosy in his roles. Also, I think the whole John-is-gay thing may play a part.

TMC · 09-24-2016, 03:18 AM

I just thought about this the other day in light of the recent passing of Curtis Hanson. I wonder if Kim and her “comeback” to w/ LA Confidential and dramatic fall back down to earth could be considered the closest female equivalent to John Travolta? Let me explain, in the early ’90s both Kim Basinger and John Travolta had saw their once A-list careers seriously on the ropes.

Kim, after peaking w/ the 1989 Batman movie soon saw her career in serious danger due to her ego problems (which I don’t feel that I need to once again elaborate on), financial issues, and a string of box office duds that really questioned her bank-ability as a leading lady. By the start of the ’90s, the best that John Travolta could do (after peaking w/ Saturday Night Fever and Grease back in the late ’70s) was appear in a talking baby movie. But then out of nowhere, Travolta makes Pulp Fiction is suddenly a respectable, A-list star again in one fell swoop.

Of course, both Kim and John couldn’t for whatever the reasons, keep the momentum going. Kim for whatever the reasons, doesn’t release another movie following her Oscar winning triumph for three years. And the movies that she finally appear in, immediately bomb and disappear without a trace. With John Travolta, well…Battlefield Earth (which like Kim's I Dreamed of Africa was a project that John Travolta fully backed) is really all that I have to say! Both of them had a really lousy year 2000.

Now, it seems like both Kim and John are more known for their messy personal lives than their movies/acting skills. Besides his continued ties to the Church of Scientology, there was the unfortunate and rather shady passing of John and Kelly Preston’s son, Jett. And of course, there’s the going rumors and allegations regarding John’s true sexual preference(s). With Kim, we all know about her nasty divorce from Alec Baldwin and the just as (if not more) nasty custody battle over their daughter, which culminated with Alec’s “Rude, thoughtless little pig” tirade.

king of comedy · 09-24-2016, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

One of my favorite movies is a John Travolta movie from the 80s- Blow Out, written and directed by Brian De Palma, who of course directed Travolta in Carrie, and Carrie co-star Nancy Allen stars alongside John. Also features John Lithgow, and Dennis Franz. Fantastic, underrated thriller.

I want to find that one.

Anna Karenina · 09-24-2016, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I loved him in Urban Cowboy! I think it was one of his best roles. I loved that movie!

I agree with you Bonnie.

For me that was the absolute peak of John and his hotness. His character behaved despicably at times but because John was so gorgeous and charming you could kind of forgive him.

Debra Winger and he had so much chemistry, I loved her character Sissy and the movie made her a star.

Also the soundtrack was so memorable, I love classic country music!

But getting back to John. He just won an Emmy a few days ago for co producing the OJ miniseries so his career has definitely made a resurgence. He was very entertaining as Robert Shapiro. The whole movie with its inspired cast was fantastic and they took home a boat load of awards the other day. I did think Cuba Gooding Jr. was miscast however, he was the wrong physical type and if anything gave that psychopath, Simpson way too much dignity.

Peppermint Patty · 09-25-2016, 08:19 PM

I think John Travolta has had an amazing career and for one that many actors and actresses can't say it has spanned many decades. Sure there have been some dud movies thrown in there, but I really can't think of one actor that hasn't had a movie in a career that has been as long as John's that hasn't had a bad movie that includes Jack, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert De Niro. As for being a homosexual or not I don't think that affects his acting career one bit and really I could care less one way or the other what his sexuality is. His decision to be in The Church of Scientology may not be something that I support or believe to be true, but apparently he puts his beliefs in it and has for sometime now so he must be dedicated to something.

TMC · 07-23-2018, 09:23 PM

Based on John Travolta's film choices, he seems to be irked that the Vinnie Barbarino role type-cast him as an arrogant idiot so he's tried to play roles where he was hyper intelligent (see Phenomenon, Perfect, Basic, etc.).

Chocolate Moose · 07-24-2018, 09:40 AM

He did The Boy in the Plastic Bubble too. He got a lot handed to him.

king of comedy · 07-31-2018, 05:13 PM

My all time favorite movie from him Pulp Fiction.

Schmoopie · 08-28-2019, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's not a religion, it's a cult.

That's a good word for it!

TMC · 03-24-2024, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Ever since John Travolta tore up the dance floor in 1977's Saturday Night Fever, his career has been all over the place. He went from being nominated for an Oscar, to getting a Worst Actor of the Decade nomination, to another Oscar nod with Pulp Fiction, to tons of Worst Actor wins. So today we wanted to take a look at the rise, and fall, and rise, and fall of John Travolta.

With iconic performances in Grease, Blow Out, Pulp Fiction, Face Off, Get Short and Hairspray, he somehow matched these with some of the worst performances in film with Battlefield Earth, Old Dogs, Gotti and The Fanatic. It's a fascinating career, and one very difficult to pinpoint. How one of the hottest actors of the '70s managed to stay relevant 5 decades later with such weird career...

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Rise ('70s)
03:01 - Fall ('80s)
05:47 - Biggest Hollywood Comeback ('90s)
08:20 - Worst Film Ever?
10:29 - Fall Again ('00s)

TMC · 04-18-2024, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatwink

I respect the hell out of John, but probably he wasn't totally focused on his career choices in the 80's as he should have been.I do agree that his son Jett might be still alive today if he wasn't mixed up in Scientology, but there are probably others things as well.Personally, i have always hoped the gay rumors are not true.He's a great talent and performer.

Somebody on Reddit recently suggested that the Church of Scientology didn't appreciate John for telling the truth about Jett being autistic.

king of comedy · 04-23-2024, 10:55 AM

I loved Blow Out. It was very underrated and deserved more credit. I think John should have won the Oscar in 1995 not Tom Hanks. Face Off is another favorite of mine from the 90s.

DEH55 · 02-22-2025, 10:58 AM

he looks so weird with a bald head. i guess its better than the horrific wigs and hair pieces he wore for decades.

09-24-2016, 03:18 AM	#17
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,587	I just thought about this the other day in light of the recent passing of Curtis Hanson. I wonder if Kim and her “comeback” to w/ LA Confidential and dramatic fall back down to earth could be considered the closest female equivalent to John Travolta? Let me explain, in the early ’90s both Kim Basinger and John Travolta had saw their once A-list careers seriously on the ropes. Kim, after peaking w/ the 1989 Batman movie soon saw her career in serious danger due to her ego problems (which I don’t feel that I need to once again elaborate on), financial issues, and a string of box office duds that really questioned her bank-ability as a leading lady. By the start of the ’90s, the best that John Travolta could do (after peaking w/ Saturday Night Fever and Grease back in the late ’70s) was appear in a talking baby movie. But then out of nowhere, Travolta makes Pulp Fiction is suddenly a respectable, A-list star again in one fell swoop. Of course, both Kim and John couldn’t for whatever the reasons, keep the momentum going. Kim for whatever the reasons, doesn’t release another movie following her Oscar winning triumph for three years. And the movies that she finally appear in, immediately bomb and disappear without a trace. With John Travolta, well…Battlefield Earth (which like Kim's I Dreamed of Africa was a project that John Travolta fully backed) is really all that I have to say! Both of them had a really lousy year 2000. Now, it seems like both Kim and John are more known for their messy personal lives than their movies/acting skills. Besides his continued ties to the Church of Scientology, there was the unfortunate and rather shady passing of John and Kelly Preston’s son, Jett. And of course, there’s the going rumors and allegations regarding John’s true sexual preference(s). With Kim, we all know about her nasty divorce from Alec Baldwin and the just as (if not more) nasty custody battle over their daughter, which culminated with Alec’s “Rude, thoughtless little pig” tirade.
	Last edited by TMC; 09-26-2016 at 04:26 AM.

07-23-2018, 09:23 PM	#21
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,587	Based on John Travolta's film choices, he seems to be irked that the Vinnie Barbarino role type-cast him as an arrogant idiot so he's tried to play roles where he was hyper intelligent (see Phenomenon, Perfect, Basic, etc.).
	Last edited by TMC; 08-01-2018 at 12:13 AM.

07-24-2018, 09:40 AM	#22
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	He did The Boy in the Plastic Bubble too. He got a lot handed to him.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

11-04-2015, 11:40 AM	#16
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	Right now, like mentioned before, I think John can be choosy in his roles. Also, I think the whole John-is-gay thing may play a part.

09-25-2016, 08:19 PM	#20
Peppermint Patty Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2016 Location: TV Land Posts: 53	I think John Travolta has had an amazing career and for one that many actors and actresses can't say it has spanned many decades. Sure there have been some dud movies thrown in there, but I really can't think of one actor that hasn't had a movie in a career that has been as long as John's that hasn't had a bad movie that includes Jack, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert De Niro. As for being a homosexual or not I don't think that affects his acting career one bit and really I could care less one way or the other what his sexuality is. His decision to be in The Church of Scientology may not be something that I support or believe to be true, but apparently he puts his beliefs in it and has for sometime now so he must be dedicated to something.

07-31-2018, 05:13 PM	#23
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	My all time favorite movie from him Pulp Fiction.

04-23-2024, 10:55 AM	#27
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I loved Blow Out. It was very underrated and deserved more credit. I think John should have won the Oscar in 1995 not Tom Hanks. Face Off is another favorite of mine from the 90s.

02-22-2025, 10:58 AM	#28
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 319	he looks so weird with a bald head. i guess its better than the horrific wigs and hair pieces he wore for decades.