I agree about changes in the preferred acting style of late. For some things, naturalistic won't cut it, though and people end up playing a hybrid of sorts. Fight Club is a good recent example. Particularly Helena Bonham Carter's performance.
So this was a good thing that I posted that response. I never thought about a theatrical sytle of acting in movies, I guess I was expecting the 'naturalistic' approach in the 'classics'. Hopefully this new info will make things easier to watch them.