Great Performances From Actors Not Highly Valued

[Smash Adams]

I had a hard time thinking of how to word the title but it will make sense with my examples I hope
I think Robin Williams' performance in Good Will Hunting, along with Jim Carrey's performance in The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, is remarkably restrained for someone who wouldn't normally be classified as restrained, in fact I'd say quite the opposite.
After a lot of these types of performances, I know I'm not the only one who's like "wow you can act, why don't you do that more often?"

[marrost]

So... is this thread about comedians that have been in slapstick comedies, but have also taken more serious roles?

I guess you'd be forgetting Dead Poet's Society and The Birdcage up there for Robin Williams...

[dissident]

robin williams has always been known for being dramatically gifted, so i don't get that one. but i agree with jim carrey.

also adam sandler in reign over me

[dissident]

So... is this thread about comedians that have been in slapstick comedies, but have also taken more serious roles?

I guess you'd be forgetting Dead Poet's Society and The Birdcage up there for Robin Williams...

yeah that's honestly the only way to go with this thread IMO, usually actors aren't well regarded for a reason.

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

I'm not generally a fan of Ben Afflek but his roles in movies like Changing Lanes or Hollywoodland surprise me. Also maybe Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction? I expect him to be a big doofus in just about every role he plays but that one was pretty good.

There was another one but now I can't think of it.

[Blakebear]

Original Post makes me think of Adam Sandler in something like Reign Over Me or Punch Drunk Love (which I haven't actually seen).

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

robin williams has always been known for being dramatically gifted, so i don't get that one. but i agree with jim carrey.

also adam sandler in reign over me
Also in Punch Drunk Love.

Edit: Blakebear beat me to it.

[dissident]

I'm not generally a fan of Ben Afflek but his roles in movies like Changing Lanes or Hollywoodland surprise me. Also maybe Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction? I expect him to be a big doofus in just about every role he plays but that one was pretty good.

There was another one but now I can't think of it.

ben affleck did his best work in chasing amy IMO

[dissident]

Also in Punch Drunk Love.

yeah, i just went with my favorite one.

[dissident]

i also think sandler was great in click, he showed his range from being solid comedically to breaking my heart in the last half.

[Smash Adams]

So... is this thread about comedians that have been in slapstick comedies, but have also taken more serious roles?

I guess you'd be forgetting Dead Poet's Society and The Birdcage up there for Robin Williams...
I think it leans in that direction but it doesn't necessarily have to be that if I'm making any sense at all, and I wasn't trying to mention every dramatic Robin Williams role
robin williams has always been known for being dramatically gifted, so i don't get that one. but i agree with jim carrey.

also adam sandler in reign over me
I guess I just think of him as the Genie from Aladdin or Mrs. Doubtfire since that's what I grew up with as my impression of his work
I'm not generally a fan of Ben Afflek but his roles in movies like Changing Lanes or Hollywoodland surprise me. Also maybe Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction? I expect him to be a big doofus in just about every role he plays but that one was pretty good.

There was another one but now I can't think of it.
I think I can agree with Stranger Than Fiction, it's not a sports movie!

[CTMarshall]

Mark Walhberg was pretty good in The Departed, but he sucks in pretty much everything else.

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

ben affleck did his best work in chasing amy IMO
Yeah, I enjoyed that role too. I personally kind of feel like he's at his best when he plays an asshole like in Boiler Room or a washup like in Hollywoodland.

[dissident]

mark wahlberg was mark wahlberg in the departed. the dude has 0 range.

[dissident]

Yeah, I enjoyed that role too. I personally kind of feel like he's at his best when he plays an asshole like in Boiler Room or a washup like in Hollywoodland.

i don't get the hate on the guy, he's not great or anything but he certainly can hold his own and be quite good.

[Blakebear]

mark wahlberg was mark wahlberg in the departed. the dude has 0 range.

Thats kind of how I've always felt about say... Daniel Day Lewis. He only plays psychopaths....



kidding... sorta

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

i don't get the hate on the guy, he's not great or anything but he certainly can hold his own and be quite good.
I agree. I think maybe it's the "pretty boy" persona he has attached to him or the overwhelming distraction of his substandard films like Bounce, Gigli, Pearl Harbor, or Daredevil.

[marrost]

Mark Walhberg was pretty good in The Departed, but he sucks in pretty much everything else.
mark wahlberg was mark wahlberg in the departed. the dude has 0 range.Boogie Nights to both of you.

[Adeniz19]

i'd say robin williams is a HIGHLY valued actor, especially in GWH, seeing as he won an academy award for his performance.

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

Will Smith is highly valued now but back in the day he was pretty much the Fresh Prince and that funny guy in those alien movies. I feel like Ali was probably the movie that changed that opinion.

Edit: I've never seen it but I have heard that Vin Diesel's performance in Find Me Guilty is a pleasant surprise.

[Smash Adams]

i'd say robin williams is a HIGHLY valued actor, especially in GWH, seeing as he won an academy award for his performance.
I knew he won the Academy Award for that, I was I guess saying that most people's perception of him is as a comedic actor
Will Smith is highly valued now but back in the day he was pretty much the Fresh Prince and that funny guy in those alien movies. I feel like Ali was probably the movie that changed that opinion.

Edit: I've never seen it but I have heard that Vin Diesel's performance in Find Me Guilty is a pleasant surprise.
He was good in Six Degrees Of Separation which came out in 93, 8 years before Ali came out

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

I knew he won the Academy Award for that, I was I guess saying that most people's perception of him is as a comedic actor

He was good in Six Degrees Of Separation which came out in 93, 8 years before Ali came out
No I know, but I don't think that movie was very big in the public eye. Ali was.

[dissident]

Thats kind of how I've always felt about say... Daniel Day Lewis. He only plays psychopaths....



kidding... sorta

but daniel day lewis really isn't a psychopath, mark wahlberg really is just a moronic boston meathead

[claimshouldecho]

i think wahlberg is a solid actor..hes good in mostly everything he does and also one of the co creators of entourage..the guy is a gifted and respectful actor

[Blakebear]

but daniel day lewis really isn't a psychopath, mark wahlberg really is just a moronic boston meathead

Haha, nice.

[prlyknitswtr]

L.L Cool J. in Deep Blue Sea..."deepest, bluest, my hand is like a shark's fin!"

[dissident]

Boogie Nights to both of you.

which he's not very good in. great movie, average performance.

[dissident]

i think wahlberg is a solid actor..hes good in mostly everything he does and also one of the co creators of entourage..the guy is a gifted and respectful actor

lol

[stayillogical]

Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road

[marrost]

which he's not very good in. great movie, average performance. I suggest you re-watch it, because you're far from right. He was great as both the wide-eyed kid and as the guy who lost everything in that movie.

[prlyknitswtr]

which he's not very good in. great movie, average performance.

But his movies are great! He is probably one of the cheesiest actors out there the tone of his voice when he whines doesnt help much haha.

The best thing of that movie was the characters names, the cheesiness, and the "You got the touch!" scene.

[dissident]

I suggest you re-watch it, because you're far from right. He was great as both the wide-eyed kid and as the guy who lost everything in that movie.

in every single movie he's either a tough guy or a little whiny girl. i've seen the movie over a dozen times, no need to re-watch it thanks. he's not glaringly bad or anything, but far from great in that film. i'll go as far to say that's his best performance and that's saying not saying much about him.

[marrost]

in every single movie he's either a tough guy or a little whiny girl. i've seen the movie over a dozen times, no need to re-watch it thanks. he's not glaringly bad or anything, but far from great in that film. i'll go as far to say that's his best performance and that's saying not saying much about him.He's obviously overshadowed by Molina's and Reynold's performances, but he holds his own amongst the stars and is neither "a tough guy or a little whiny girl" here, until he gets coked up.

You said he had zero range. While he didn't deliver an Academy worthy performance, Boogie Nights still proves you wrong.

[Adeniz19]

i'm not a big walhberg fan but he was awesome in boogie nights

[dissident]

He's obviously overshadowed by Molina's and Reynold's performances, but he holds his own amongst the stars and is neither "a tough guy or a little whiny girl" here, until he gets coked up.

You said he had zero range. While he didn't deliver an Academy worthy performance, Boogie Nights still proves you wrong.

it doesn't prove me wrong if i don't think he was succesful at what he was trying to pull off in boogie nights, i will never understand the respect mark wahlberg gets. you won't change my mind on that, every time i see him in a film he's either whiny and needs his ass kicked or he's acting like a toolbag and still needs his ass kicked.

[dissident]

this is taken from wwtdd but it describes what my problem with wahlberg, and especially his role boogie nights role better than i can

"Actually a Mark Wahlberg impression seems pretty easy. All you have to do is make your voice go up and down and up and down all the way through the sentence"

[marrost]

You called it a great movie and then said that the person with the most screen time gave a performance that was average at best. So, quote any hollywood nonsense blog you want; it won't disguise the fact that you're full of shit.

[dissident]

You called it a great movie and then said that the person with the most screen time gave a performance that was average at best. So, q]uote any hollywood nonsense blog you want; it won't disguise the fact that you're full of shit.

it's beautifully directed, has wonderful performances from everyone else (who collectively have more screen time than wahlberg), and a great script. the story arcs of all the other characters in that film are heartbreaking and wonderful, i can easily overlook an average performance from wahlberg. calling me full of shit won't disguise the fact that wahlberg is a one trick pony and you know it.

[marrost]

I guess I should have known what to expect from someone who's favorite movies include Terminator 2, Lethal Weapon and Die Hard.

[dissident]

so because three favorite films of mine from my childhood are action films i must not know whit about film? that's bullshit and you know it. terminator 2 was a groundbreaking movie on many levels and quite possibly the best action/adventure film ever made, and the same could be said for die hard. lethal weapon is just a personal favorite. would i list these under the best films? fuck no, but they can sure be my favorite. why don't you come up with a reasonable argument instead of insulting someones favorite movies that have NOTHING to do with our current argument, and while you're at it pull your head out of your ass



we'll see he does in the lovely bones but i fear this is just another horrible miscast by jackson.

[Thomas Balkcom]

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-new-cult-canon-punchdrunk-love,2360/

I've always enjoyed that description as to why Adam Sandler works so well in Punch-Drunk Love.

In Punch-Drunk Love, all those qualities that comprise the Sandler persona—the simpleton's innocence, the pained inarticulateness, the propensity for violence—have been sharpened and magnified.

[Ailite]

Will Ferrel in Stranger Than Fiction

[domotime2]

ashton kutchner in butterfly effect? haha i dont know if you'd call it a GREAT performance...but it was a great movie.

oh wow, if people pay attention to my posts you know what im going to say...

Sean William Scott, The Rock in Southland Tales. Game over. haha.

[Kyle Huntington]

If people enjoyed Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction, a little less known film he was in called Winter Passing, with Ed Harris and Zooey Deschanel, shows a performance that doesn't follow his usual forthright "tomfoolery" style of acting. Still not amazing, just him doing something a tad different.

Steve Carell and Greg Kinnear in Little Miss Sunshine. Normally Steve Carell is kinda funny but I find him funnier when he isn't acting, just in interviews etc. but in this film I think he just gave a solid portrayal of the character, I believed it, same with Dan in Real Life actually, and I don't think I can name any other Greg Kinnear films I actively like/enjoy. I'm aware that's more a personal stand point as opposed to the majority's view of the actors, but oh well.

Definitely agree with Sandler posts though.

[marrost]

so because three favorite films of mine from my childhood are action films i must not know whit about film? that's bullshit and you know it. terminator 2 was a groundbreaking movie on many levels and quite possibly the best action/adventure film ever made, and the same could be said for die hard. lethal weapon is just a personal favorite. would i list these under the best films? fuck no, but they can sure be my favorite. why don't you come up with a reasonable argument instead of insulting someones favorite movies that have NOTHING to do with our current argument, and while you're at it pull your head out of your ass



we'll see he does in the lovely bones but i fear this is just another horrible miscast by jackson.i did come up with a reasonable, argument-ending fact: that mark whalberg's character in boogie nights was different than the other roles that he usually plays. this was a direct response to your claim that he had 0 range. so there you go. argument over. it may be an isolated indecent, but it still happened. you choose to ignore this fact, and thus you are stupid and deserve to be insulted.

[dissident]

i did come up with a reasonable, argument-ending fact: that mark whalberg's character in boogie nights was different than the other roles that he usually plays. this was a direct response to your claim that he had 0 range. so there you go. argument over. it may be an isolated indecent, but it still happened. you choose to ignore this fact, and thus you are stupid and deserve to be insulted.

i concede he does in fact have more range than none, but not much, and just as little talent.

[Basketcase]

Casey Affleck as Robert Ford in the Assassination of Jesse James

[under0ath]

By the way, best action movie ever made = best steaming pile of dogshit ever found.

[FstFtsVsFences]

Chris Evans in Sunshine.

[chronomic]

L.L Cool J. in Deep Blue Sea..."deepest, bluest, my hand is like a shark's fin!"

I will never forget the first time i heard that lyric...I was 9 and the shit was still hysterical

[chronomic]

and I always felt that the dude who played sam in LOTR went unnoticed. he played the role perfectly.

[prlyknitswtr]

and I always felt that the dude who played sam in LOTR went unnoticed. he played the role perfectly.

Thats Sean Astin, but havent you seen Rudy or Encino Man?

That LL song has got to be the WORST song made for a movie.

[popdisaster00]

Reign over me was a great role for sandler, but he was much better in PDL

[popdisaster00]

Casey Affleck as Robert Ford in the Assassination of Jesse James
he's not really underappreciated though

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Chris Evans in Sunshine.

I'll definately agree with this.

[prlyknitswtr]

I'll definately agree with this.

what about Cillian Murphy? he has been good in everything he has been in...

also surprised no one mentioned Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Ryan Gosling

[gilatron5000]

what about Cillian Murphy? he has been good in everything he has been in...

also surprised no one mentioned Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Ryan GoslingGosling and JGL are not undervalued, though. Gosling is an academy award nominee and JGL has had a lot of really good performances, himself.

But on topic, while I wouldnt call it a "great" performance, I thought Paul Walker was much better than I thought he COULD be in Running Scared.

[prlyknitswtr]

Gosling and JGL are not undervalued, though. Gosling is an academy award nominee and JGL has had a lot of really good performances, himself.

But on topic, while I wouldnt call it a "great" performance, I thought Paul Walker was much better than I thought he COULD be in Running Scared.

Paul Walker is a bit too "figity" for me in movies. He always does the same thing in each of his movies....points a gun at someone....talks...then YELLS...and the whole time he is like moving back and forth looking like a tweaker.

[Kyle Huntington]

Gosling and JGL are not undervalued, though. Gosling is an academy award nominee and JGL has had a lot of really good performances, himself.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[chronomic]

Thats Sean Astin, but havent you seen Rudy or Encino Man?

That LL song has got to be the WORST song made for a movie.

haha encino man doesn't count, although i fucking love it. but i ment specifically for his role as sam in lotr

[prlyknitswtr]

haha encino man doesn't count, although i fucking love it. but i ment specifically for his role as sam in lotr

i just thought it would be funny to make it seem like Encino Man was anywhere close to the caliber of Rudy haha. Frickin Sam Wise from LOTR kind of got on my nerves with his crying all the time. BUT he is better than Elijah Wood.