Yea DSC, I know what you mean. Johnny Fontaine, well that wasn't too much of a big deal to me, everyone knows Martino isn't really an actor, and it was all right for the short part he played.
Mary, (Sofia) had a little bigger role and I kind of feel sorry for her, because I think she tried, but look at it this way. In the final "dad" scene after her shooting, Al Pacino's intensity sort of takes away from her lack of it. Don't ya think??
Besides, from what I hear, it seems that Sofia found her niche in directing and may stick with that. She sure has a good teacher.
TIS