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Emperor1956 -> RE: Unnerving and Creepy (8/8/2006 7:38:20 PM)
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quote:
What actor has played a role that permanently changed your impression of him/her?
I'm a bit late to this thread. But what fun. OK this gets long. THREE catagories:
1. In the Catagory of Definitive creepy performances by brilliant actors:
Edward Norton/Brad Pitt in Fight Club (yah, usually Pitt can't act his way out of a paper bag...but here...he's great).
Edward Norton in "American History X" (probably the best).
Heck, even Edward Norton as the consummate scummy bad guy in "The Italian Job".
Kevin Spacey in just about ANYTHING. But notably,
in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"
Of course, Anthony Hopkins. Is there any performance that tops his Hannibal Lecter for pure evil?
Nick Cage. He does a lot of shlock, and he's just too damn manly pretty. BUT as a young guy he did "Raising Arizona" better than anyone could, and even the anti creep in "Con Air"..both of which show great range.
John Malkovich. Sure he does some silly period pieces in frilly pants and white makeup, but see his brilliant creepy psychopath in "Con Air."
IN the catagory of Definitive Brilliant performances by creepy actors:
Steve Buscemi. Is there ANYONE who can creep out a movie better? His super serial killer/sweet boy in "Con Air" steals the movie (not an easy feat...see footnote)*
Steve Buscemi again, in "Fargo". shudder. the guy can give me a nightmare with a smile.
William H. Macy. I can watch him all day, in anything. But in Fargo**...sheeesh...nice Norwegian car salesman does murder. In Pleasantville? "Honey I'm HOME".
Ted Levine. Who, you say? The OTHER creepy killer in "Silence"...tell me you don't shudder when someone whispers in your ear "would you fuck me? I'd fuck me..."
James Spader. A creepy guy in anything, but for this crowd..."Secretary".
And Catagory 3: Some that aren't creepy, just definitive, and make you rethink the abilities of the actors:
Bill Murray in two brilliant performances: Of course, "Lost In Translation." But if you want to see that the man is an acting genius, check out his Polonious in Hamlet 2000. Not creepy, but you'll never think "Ghostbusters" again.
Charlize Theron, clearly shows real chops in "Monster."
Michael Caine in "Cider House Rules". Sure you knew he was a brilliant actor, but here he can really do his stuff.
Orlando Bloom in "Kingdom of Heaven" (added at the insistence of my daughter). He's not just the pretty Hobbit boy...he can act! (Sometimes. Then he goes to be a stick of wood with pretty eyelashes in the Disney "Pirates" toys.)
Which brings me to...Johnny Depp. Maybe I should move him up to "creepy guys", but say what you will, he's a genius. "Chocolat" to "Secret Window" to the ONLY watchable thing in "pirates". And if you think he can only play "pretty boy", you haven't seen "Blow".
And the OSCAR goes to....Oh MAN, I haven't even mentioned The Godfather...3 movies, and about the best definitive performances of all of their careers...James Caan alone. OK. Enough of this. I'm going to read a book.
E.
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*I'm hijacking my own post. "Con Air" might be one of the greatest movies of the 90s. Oh, sure the plot sucks, the effects are Bruckheimer bullsh*t, but the ACTING...in this one sucko written little nothing of a movie you have no fewer than 9 incredible actors, all strutting their stuff. And I don't even count Nick Cage, who has great lines, but still is a block of wood. No, rent this puppy, make a big bowl of popcorn and pour yourself a double bourbon and watch Cusak, Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Buscemi, Nick Chindlund, Colm Meaney, even Dave Chappelle....and more.
** Yah, Fargo is another one of those brilliant works on about 100 level movies.
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