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Brendan Fraser: see "The Quiet American" to see how far George of the Jungle has progressed.
Ben Affleck: "Hollywoodland" shows a control, a maturing gravitas, that is astonishing. Finally, the promise of his performance in "The Boiler Room," so many years ago, has been realized.
This really is a golden age of Hollywood male acting. Too bad it's a horrible period for directing and films in general from Tinseltown.
Follow Ups:
If the 33 year old Macfadyen's known at all in this country it's for his erotically charged portrayal of Darcy in 2005's Pride & Prejudice.
Yet he's hysterically funny in the current Death At A Funeral, playing the straight man, a person of mediore talents but great heart. He anchors the whole farcical enterprise.
In his native Britain he has a slew of highly regarded TV roles and stage work (for the National Theater and Royal Shakspeare Company). He's done great work in the little seen Warriors (called "Peacekeepers: in US), played the charming cad in The Way We Live Now, set hearts aflutter as a secret agent in Spooks (MI-5 in US), a child molester in Secret Life and as an explorer of the heart in Perfect Strangers (Almost Strangers in US). Can be seen in supporting roles in the fearture films Enigma and The Reckoning (with Paul Bettany).
Best performance to date was in the NZ film In My Father's Den, which I saw at a film fest - an absolutely heart breaking, iconic performance up there with any acotr anywhere. The DVD is out in the states in November.
He's now filming Frost/Nixon with director Ron Howard, next film out will be Incendiary with Ewan MacGregor.
The guy can be sexy and charming in one part, and totally unrecognizable as a nebishy nerd in the next. Not much thespian ego or vanity, just a very honest, subtle and powerful actor. Beautiful voice too. Not conventionally handsome, which is probably a plus. Huge range. Dunno how interested he is in moving to Hollywood for a big movie career - seems to want to stick around London with wife and kids.
Someone to watch out for, though his looks will keep him forever in character roles, is Benedict Cumberbatch, last seen in To The Ends of The Earth and Amazing Grace. Out nect in The Other Boleyn Girl. Michael Sheen is a favorite of mine (Tony Blair in The Queen) - he's also playing david Frost in the aforementioned Fronst/Nixon.
James McAvoy was really really good in Last King Of Scotland, I'm anxious to see him in Atonement, Joe Wright's acclaimed new film.
More Brits...
I wish Hollywood knew how to use Rufus Sewell, whom I had the pleasure of seeing onstage years ago. A wonderful and versatile actor that keeps getting wasted as the villainin big commercial films...argh. He's a contrary sort in picking roles and it's hurt him. Ioan Gruffudd is another talented Brit languishing in tripe like Fantastic Four. Love to see Chiwetel Ejiofor in another lead role...PLEASE. And I'd love to see Jeremy Northam in almost anything.
The ground of old Blighty is thick with talented actors most of American doesn't know...I could go on and on...
Yanks and Canucks...
I'll agree on Frasier, although some of this is due to roles offered and choice of material. He was brilliant in Gods and Monsters and excellent in The Quiet America. Just needs the right roles, as does everyone, to show his range.
Peter Saarsgard is a great favorite of mine. I don't think I've ever seen him give a bad performance in anything, including very difficult to negotiate parts like those in Kinsey and Shattered Glass. He's always subtle and believable.
And I like John Cusack. I just do. I want to see him in something challenging and serious for a change. I guess he's not young anymore, but perhaps youngish. He was good in the recent 1408...but I'm hoping for something of quality one of these days...dunno if that's The Martian Child but there is Oscar buzz for his role in Grace Is Gone.
I'm glad Clive Owen, Jake Gyllenhaal and Christian Bales no longer qualify for this list.
humbled and... I'll just shut up now and go away.
Thanks!
We must be hard up this year.
You read the whole thing??
I like actors you see, rather like the way you audiophile fellas get excited about female vocalists. I see a lot of films 30-50 in the theater every year, plus DVDs and cable, and I remember the actors who strike my fancy. Haven't seen so many movies this past year, however, since two terminal family illnesses in a row have greatly curtailed free time. I know there's a couple of young American actors I've forgotten to mention and want to. It's fun to watch talented people develop, provided they get the breaks. if you don't get good roles in good projects kn one will ever know what a given actor is capable of.
Someone who is not youngish, but oldish, and is always good in whatever he's in (usually without fanfare) is David Strathairn. Why don't you do a thread on over 40 underrated character acotrs?
I didn't remember their names!
Strathern is an actor I know, have seen in quite a few films, and don't appreciate. It's a personal reaction.
Chris Cooper, who is somewhat similar, I have great regard for. Go figure.
I adore Chris Cooper and Lone Star is one of my favorite American movies of all time.
He's also really good in Matewan, an excellent and often overlooked work of Sayles.
as
Tilda Swindon.
asd
C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Gael Garcia Bernal.Is Viggo now too hot for the list?
As you say, there are many more. Tony Leung, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling, Rufus Sewell, Jason Schwartzman, Tadanobu Asano.......all 40ish or younger.
There are as many women. One I'm very impressed with is Maya Sansa, a most beautiful and natural Italian/Iranian actress.
I won't argue your choice of Ben Affleck for that recent role but things like "Paycheck"and "Gigli" are memorable for the wrong reasons.
and Asano... sure!
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Complicit Constapo Talibangelical since MMIII
..you're referring to but probably, yeah.
The Jason Schwartzman who did "Rushmore". I think he did some "Freaks And Geeks".
May I suggest a little gem called "Spun"? It's a dark, comedic look at the crystal meth culture. Think "Requiem For A Dream" with well-earned laughs. It's good. So is Schwartzman in the lead. Have you seen it? It's worth a look. I'd be interested in your opinion.
I knew his mention would be troublesome. LOL.
I'm not the president of his fan club but I think his acting skills at least equal Affleck's. He's just mining a different shaft.
Another wonderful actor who is still youngish is Peter Stormare. I can't think of a single performance of his which is deficient. He's one of the finest pure character actors working, I think.
asd
not up to one of those.
I'm not a Wes fan, I disliked "Rushmore" fairly intensely.
Have you seen "Hollywoodland?"
Affleck gives an Oscar worthy performance. I don't really think Schwartzman could be in that class but hey, I'm not going to see that film...
I have not yet seen "Hollywoodland". I did believe all the critical praise Affleck received for that, though. Maybe I'll take a look now. Still, those bio-pics are not my favorites. We already know the stories; they really must excel in broader respects to be worth the time for me.
I want to like Affleck but he's been such a stinker in some things I've put him on my blah-blah list. I'm still open but won't go to great effort for him.
I put him in a category with a number of others - Depp, Damon, DeCaprio, etc. - who will probably grow in craft to one day match their fame.
Re Schwartzman, I really didn't like "Rushmore" all that much but did appreciate his performance. I was genuinely impressed and surprised with his performance in "Spun" and decided to pay attention to him for awhile. I'm not that deep in knowledge or abiding interest of him.
There are performers who interest me beyond a single or even multiple roles, for instance Chris Walken or Jeff Bridges, to name a couple, regardless of their excellence or lack thereof in a given instance.
BTW, Wes Anderson is no great shakes for me. either.
much at all about the actor that played the original Superman, except that he allegedly killed himself.
Affleck gives a monumental performance of what was a second-rate character, making him human and interesting.
There are several subplots which weaken the film but Affleck's so skillful it doesn't matter.
I'm looking forward to seeing it the third time, his portrayal is that nuanced.
Frankly, I can't think of another actor who could have done as well in that role. I was stunned because, since The Boiler Room, I've thought very little of Ben.
I'll keep my eye open for Schwartzman but, with 115 films in my Netflix line, it'll be hard for awhile :-)
Affkeck has it in him. Why does he seem like a slug in all the other things?Another subject, music: whatta you think of Jon Spencer? A '90's phenom. 'Cause you've mentioned an interest in such.
Re: Jon Spencer. I've read much about but not heard even one song. Looks like I'll have to get a cd. Similarly with Winehouse: a cousin of mine living in Lisbon likes her a lot and he's not usually a popular music kind-of-guy.
About a spiritual trip to India.
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Complicit Constapo Talibangelical since MMIII
I agree with Ben's acting in Hollywoodland. He was outstanding with a very controlled and thoughtful performance.
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Complicit Constapo Talibangelical since MMIII
I'm not sure he qualifies under the original post - he would if you changed it "Really good youngish actors" who aren'y as big a movie stars as George Clooney or Brad Pitt".
But Norton is rightly regarded as a top film actor by Hollywood.
He is a great in the making. Good taste in choosing roles, then wonderful execution.
As the leper King of Jerusalem in "The Kingdom of God". When I saw the credits roll by I felt cheated as I would never have suspected that Eddie was the king.
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Complicit Constapo Talibangelical since MMIII
"American X" or whatever that was.
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