There's a lot of great talent out there in movie land, I'm sure there's plenty of fans who've pondered about how many amazing actors who just never seem to be in the spotlight or get the top billing when so many talentless celebs are out there hogging the spotlight. It's definitely something I've thought myself, so here's a selection of actors who I've always felt deserve better.
Rufus Sewell. Whether it's been acting circles around Ed Norton in The Illusionist or hamming it up and chewing scenery in A Knight's Tale, I've felt Rufus has always been a versatile actor with incredible screen presence, and I don't think I've ever seen him in a role where I haven't felt that presence or where he gives a less than stellar performance. Even when he's relegated to fairly poor films like Bless the Child he seems to put in 100%. I first took notice of him in Dark City and always wondered why he hasn't gotten bigger roles, he's always been a minor character or villain.
Kevin J. O'Connor is someone who you should often notice in smaller B-movie roles, such as in The Mummy, and always turns in a funny or otherwise enjoyable performance, but as a serious actor he's absolutely terrific. Most people would recognise him as Henry, Daniel Plainview's 'brother' in There Will Be Blood, where he gives a brilliant and extremely memorable performance alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. I hope that after being in a film of such acclaim that more people start to notice him and he gets bigger and better roles.
Jason Patric is probably best remembered for his role as Michael in The Lost Boys, which is a shame because he really is a fantastic actor, just see him in Sleepers if you want proof. Pity he went on to do the awful Speed 2: Cruise Control after that. The real gem in Patric's resume though, is Narc where he stars alongside Ray Liotta, possibly one of the best cop thrillers of this decade. He's a great actor and I hope to see more from him in the future.
John Turturro, if you're a Coen Brothers fan, is no stranger. Many will remember him as 'The Jesus' in The Big Lebowski, and other small roles, but he's perfectly capable of carrying a film as he proves in Barton Fink. I suppose compared to other actors I've mentioned here, he's much more famous, but still someone who seems always on the edge of fame, someone that people would recognise, but not know his name. A terrific actor, and well worth noting.
Garret Dillahunt is someone I'm keeping a close eye on. He's a tremendously good actor, having played two separate roles in the brilliant TV series Deadwood. While most of his work is on television, he's been doing well on the big screen as well, playing opposite Tommy Lee Jones in No Country for Old Men. He's also in one film upcoming film that I'm really looking out for, The Road, which I think is going to be brilliant.
James Van Der Beek. Seriously, I really do think he deserves better. A two part episode of Criminal Minds turned me into a fan instantly, his performance absolutely blew me away, I didn't even realise it was Van Der Beek at first. Most people know him as Dawson Leery, but look beyond that and you'll find a surprisingly versatile actor. It might be worth taking a look at The Rules of Attraction to see that he's certainly film star material, I'll be looking out for anything noteworthy he's doing in the future.
Cliff Curtis is definitely someone I want to see more of. Any time I've seen him he's been great, from Sunshine to Training Day, and there's no doubting he's got quite an impressive resume. He's definitely got something of a higher profile thanks to Live Free or Die Hard, and acted alongside some of the most prolific actors working today, such as Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Anthony Hopkins to name but a few. Great actor, really deserves more recognition.
Ted Levine. His portrayal of Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs was nothing short of astonishing, possibly one of the most disturbing and utterly creepy serial killers ever seen on film. Most people talk about Anthony Hopkins, but for me, Levine stole the picture. He's had a good career since then, having roles in Heat, Ali and The Manchurian Candidate.
Chiwetel Ejiofor. This man extrudes charisma, I don't think I've seen a baddie that I cheered for as much as I had as his 'Operative' in Serenity, Chiwetel really is brilliant. See him steal the limelight from Clive Owen in Children of Men, or Denzel Washington in American Gangster. He's a very powerful actor, and we really should see a lot more from him if there's any justice.
Paddy Considine is someone who I think should a huge star. In Dead Man's Shoes he was nothing short of chilling, it was a performance strong enough to leave me in absolute awe. He's had some great supporting roles in The Bourne Ultimatum and Cinderella Man, but I can't help feeling that he should be getting better parts, because he's an incredibly capable actor.
18 Oct 2008
10 Actors who deserve better.
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35 comments:
Ted Levine definitely does not get the credit he deserves. Buffalo Bill is just as much of an icon in that movie as Hannibal Lecter.
I wouldn't say that Buffalo Bill is an icon at all. Lecter is an icon, and that's kinda part of the shortcomings with the character, he's too mythic, too larger than life to take seriously.
Buffalo Bill was far more real, he was actually scary in ways that Lecter never was. Hannibal is really a fantasy character, whereas Buffalo Bill could be someone living down the street.
But yeah, I definitely agree with you that Levine doesn't get enough credit.
It puts the lotion in the basket
Levine deserves his due. I hope Dillahunt gets some bigger roles, loved him in Deadwood and in the Sarah Connor Chronicles.
I agree with all your choices, though I was surprised about James van der Beek. He suffers from poor career choices. He was good in a guest spot on Ugly Betty. You're right; he has break-out potential in the right non-Varsity Blues role.
I was kind of on the ropes with Van Der Beek, but I really think he's got massive potential. I'd agree with you that he's had some poor career choice, he's been in a lot of crap that's for sure. Haven't seen him on Ugly Betty though, it's not a show I watch.
Has to be said, Dillahunt is probably one of the best things about the Sarah Connor Chronicles. I don't like that Shirley Manson seems to have taken the lead baddie reigns, she just cannot act.
VDB was only on a single ep of Ugly Betty but he surprised me.
Sarah Connor needs more Dillahunt much less Manson. She's trying but I'm getting a little tired of the influx of future folk & machines showing up every week. Let's just focus on who we got people!
Extrude is not a word... :P
I have been a fan of Rufus Sewell for quite some time now, and it is really a shame that he isn't getting the attention he deserves. I really liked him in Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence - a really good romatic comedy.
Two thumbs up for Rufus Sewell and John Turturro !
Great list, but I'd love to see you do a corresponding list of actresses who deserve better.
I remember first consciously seeing Paddy Considine in Hot Fuzz and then catching a showing of PU-239... I think that is a very good call on your part.
I'm with you on Rufus Sewell. I loved him way back in "Middlemarch", and half the reason I bought "Cold Comfort Farm" is his character.
This article focuses only on MALE actors, and even then it doesn't mention their best roles! Ejiofor--where is Dirty Pretty Things?! Considine--how 'bout In America?! And how dare you mention Patric without his brilliantly offensive character in Your Friends And Neighbors?! If you think the films you did mention are the ones most worthy of noting, then NO WONDER they're njot getting what they deserve--because when they do, it escapes notice!
These are all talented actors, but to be honest the biggest problems seems to be that most of them aren't attractive enough to have a fanbase. Short of Steve Bluscemmi and John. C. Riley there are very few famous actors that aren't conventionally attractive.
Thank you for mentioning Ted Levine! He is truly magnificent and came of as a really intelligent guy who had put much thought into the character.
Brad Dourif is also an underrated actor IMO.
I agree 100% with a lot of this list, esp. Chiwetel and Paddy. One I feel deserves a mention as well is Nathan Fillion. I think we can do better than White Noise 2 for the beloved Captain Tightpants.
Although Jason Patric's role in Narc was amazing, in all honesty it would probably have still been a great movie with a lesser actor in Patric's role, seeing as it was written & directed by Joe Carnahan and co-starred the "11th Actor Who Deserves Better", Ray Liotta (at his seething best!).
But take Jason Patric's role in "Rush". THAT was a role of a lifetime. There is just no way that someone who could so convincingly go from a burnt out cop, to a man who knows EXACTLY what he's setting up his "virginal" partner for (and feels extremely guilty about it, and yet only coveys it with the tone of his voice and his facial expressions), to a man completely addicted to drugs with nowhere to go for help doesn't deserve MUCH better. Fucking amazing role.
Oh, and as for taking the role in Speed 2? Patric has said MANY times that he only took the role to get the recognition and "bankability" neccessary to get "Your Friends and Neighbors" made. Personally, I think it was an extremely noble sacrifice for his craft, as it allowed him to play one of the darkest, souless sociopaths in film history.
But then he had to wait 4 FUCKING YEARS before he was cast in another movie, and it's going on 7 years since he's been given another decent role. Meanwhile, Eddie Murphy STILL gets to make 50 million dollar summer "blockbusters" that return the cost of one day's craft services.
Glad to see JVDB get a shout out.
Fantastic list. Really. All these folks are underrated and under appreciated. I hope they all stumble across this article so they know someone out there appreciates them.
Really great list. I am normally frustrated by these types of lists, but yours is pot on. Thank you!
Two words
Gary
and
Cole
Paddy is AMAZING! He's actually one of my most favorite parts of Hot Fuzz! And when I saw Dead Man's Shoes I was even more impressed with him. He should totally be on your list :)
Don't forget Cliff Curtis's highly nuanced performance in Whale Rider. Easily overlooked because Keisha Castle-Hughes does such a fantastic job, but he delivers as well.
Good choices
Rufus Sewell and Chiwetel Ejiofor are the two on that list that I absolutley agree with. Dark City and DIrty Pretty Things are two of the most amazing films I have seen in my life, and those guys completely carried them.
John Turturro in "Quiz Show"... enough said
Anyone ever see Mimi Rogers in the Rapture? She should have been a star after that.
Another one that comes to mind is the actor who played Wesley on Angel and Buffy. He went from his character being a doofus to a complex and haunted Man. The transition was amazing.
A most thoughtful list. I particularly agree with the inclusion of Ejiofor and Considine. I can't forget how good Ejiofor was in "Dirty Pretty Things" and Considine in "My Summer of Love" and especially "In America." I though he was better in the latter movie than his two costars who got Oscar nominations.
All of these actors you listed are great. Why they didn't get more big roles is because of only 2 things: lack of charisma and lack of ideal phisical beauty and we all know how important is that in todays crazy commercial world especially in Hollywood. I am not so sure that it was the same in the past as it is today. Very very sad!!!
Extrude IS a word, but it's not the RIGHT word. "Exude" is what was meant.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is definitely one of my favorites, especially after seeing "Talk to Me" and "Redbelt" recently.
Thanks for all the comments everyone.
Someone said that it's a list that only focuses on male actors. Well, I didn't intend to exclude females from the list, I guess it was simply these actors who occurred to me, they stood out the most prominently in my mind. That's not a slight against any female actors out there.
I would say that many actors such as Samantha Morton, Laura Linney, to name only a couple, that would certainly be worthy of more recognition.
completely agree with sewell. the man is the reason ive seen several movies. i first saw him in bless the child when it came on the theater, and thought the guy was the only good thing in it. Dark City is a great movie, plenty of good performances with sewell in the lead and to anyone who likes dystopias and this type of story will really like it. he made watching Tristan and Isolde bearable because his King Mark was wonderful. I could gush about him here for a while. he can make you love him and he can make you hate him. turturro is another though im sorry to say i haven't seen as many of his movies but he is another who can shine in anything (mr. deeds comes to mind here). As a final note on the comment on female actresses, linney has some amazing roles, even short one, her part on love actually is one of the most emotionally charged if not the most emotionally charged. another one who im hopeing gets more roles now thanks to winning an award is tilda swinton who is anther who can be great in small roles in movies. there's a big list really of people who deserve more, here's to hopeing movie makers will pick more talented people than names in tabloids.
ROBERT SEAN LEONARD, ETHAN HAWKE
This list is pretty amazing, because I've thought of most of these actors as people who need to be in more good movies. Sewell, Levine, Turturro, Dillahunt, et al.
Somebody mentioned Brad Dourif...Agreed 100 percent. Chris Meloni is another one who needs a breakthrough movie role.
And pretty much any actor in HBO shows, like the Sopranos, Deadwood, Rome, etc.
Okay -- informal list of Underappreciated Actresses
Parker Posey
Zooey Deschanel
Lili Taylor
Jennifer Jason Leigh
have at it.
Garret Dillahunt was also in my favorite of last year, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It was a nice role for him. He's getting a lot of exposure these days.
And nice mention of Paddy Considine, currently one of my top actors. Met him at a screening of Dead Man's Shoes and his own short, Dog Altogether in the IFI a few months ago. Really cool guy.
I recently saw Silence Of The Lambs again, and couldn't agree more about Ted Levine's role being remarkably underrated. A lot of hoopla is given to Hopkins and Foster, and deservedly so. A lot is said about how Hopkins character is scary, I personally find his Lecter more hammy than scary. But, Levine made his character genuinely chilling and disturbing to watch, but managed to give him some depth at the same time, which just makes for uncomfortable viewing. Another actor could of easily made a real hash of it. But he gave a powerful performance indeed, and, dare I say, the most powerful performance of the whole movie.
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