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When Supporting Characters Steal a Movie

post #1 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:06pm
Thread Starter 
I was talking about current movies with some friends last night. As the conversation flowed, we started talking about the great supporting characters that seemed to transcend the movie and become more memorable than the leads.

Two characters in particular came up:

Private Hudson - 'Aliens'. I'm sorry, but whenever I think of 'Aliens', I think of Hudson losing it. Bill Paxton pretty much stole every scene that he was in: first as the cocky short-timer, later as the panicked wildman. His manic rants are probably the most quoted lines from the movie. To a lesser extent, Vasquez fits the bill as a scene stealer as well.

Death - 'Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey'. William Sadler has what...5 minutes total of actual screen time in this film? It doesn't matter, he steals the entire movie with his off-center humor. I want to see a movie featuring Death on his own.

What others?
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post #2 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:08pm
Jack Black in High Fidelity comes to mind.
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post #3 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:08pm
Danny McBride - The Pineapple Express
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post #4 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:10pm
Thread Starter 
Jack Black in 'High Fidelity' is a great one. I'm not a really big fan of his, but he was GREAT in this film.
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post #5 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:13pm
Joe Pesci in Goodfellas also comes to mind.
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post #6 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:16pm
Thread Starter 
A question: When a supporting character DOES steal the movie, is it because they were the right actor for the right role, or could any actor have taken the same material and run with it? Is it the actor or the script?
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post #7 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
A question: When a supporting character DOES steal the movie, is it because they were the right actor for the right role, or could any actor have taken the same material and run with it? Is it the actor or the script?
Often, it's a juicy, fun part. Think Philip Seymour Hoffman in CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR.
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post #8 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:23pm
It must be a combination. For example, Red's lines in PA were great, but I can't quite imagine Jimmy Fallon hitting it out of the park in the same way the McBride does. Not to mention the times when so much of the shit is adlibbed.

Think of any great part and it wouldn't be too hard to dream up a million actors who would've completely fucked it up.
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post #9 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:26pm
Craig Robinson in Pineapple Express and Zack and Miri definitely fits the bill. Oh sure, the rest of the guys were funny, but he just brought his a-game with his very subdued, self-deprecating humor that had me on the floor in stitches.

Does Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs count?
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post #10 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:27pm
Johnny Depp stole Pirates of the Caribbean so thoroughly that they made him the protagonist of the sequels. Call it Han Solo Syndrome.

McLovin in Superbad is another recent one.

Question, do you think comedies are easier to steal than dramas? Or comedic performances more thievery-prone? I'm trying to think of some dramas that have been stolen, and I have Alec Baldwin in The Cooler (and Glengarry Glen Ross to an extent), and that's about it. Although a lot of people have been saying Viola Davis nearly pulls it off with her one scene in Doubt, and Sam Rockwell's Charley Ford very nearly hijacked The Assassination of Jesse James down the stretch. From the frozen pond on he just does some amazing work that, while not necessarily better, is more accessible than what's going on with the two leads.
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post #11 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Happenin View Post
Does Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs count?
That's what I was wondering too.

Steve Carrel in Anchorman is another great one.
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post #12 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post
Call it Han Solo Syndrome.
I forgot about Han Solo. That's pretty much the prime example of the lead character getting replaced by a supporting character in later films.
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post #13 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:30pm
Will Ferrel, Wedding Crashers.
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post #14 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:31pm
Michael Richards in UHF
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post #15 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:34pm
Every live action Batman film except Begins.
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post #16 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark View Post
Every live action Batman film except Begins.
That's valid, especially for Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. I'd say that the villains are more memorable for being grating/annoying in 'Batman Forever' and 'Batman and Robin', however.
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post #17 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:43pm
Are the primary antagonists really "supporting" characters, though? That seems like a different category. Call it Hans Gruber Syndrome. Mann films seem susceptible to this; Vincent is by far more interesting than the protagonist in Collateral, and Magua is the most intriguing, if not sympathetic character in Last Of The Mohicans.

One that straddles the divide would be Ralph Fiennes in In Bruges. He's just on fire and hilarious in his every moment there.
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post #18 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
a valid point, Schwartz.

Ralph Fiennes is indeed great in 'In Bruges', but he really doesn't steal the movie as much as add to it. Both Colin and Brendan are in fine form, after all.
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post #19 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:49pm
Speaking of Hans Gruber, Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Although, up against Costner, Slater, and a phoning-it-in Morgan Freeman, a sack of leaves could have stolen that film.
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post #20 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:53pm
The great Bill Hader in Superbad.
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post #21 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:55pm
Cold Mountain's a veritable running riot of supporting actors that just fucking gank that film out from under Jude Law, Kidman, and Zellweger.
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post #22 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Speaking of Hans Gruber, Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Although, up against Costner, Slater, and a phoning-it-in Morgan Freeman, a sack of leaves could have stolen that film.
Similarly, Clancy Brown as the Kurgan in 'Highlander' steals the film from the charisma free Christopher Lambert and Roxanne Hart (Connery is fun in his cameo, but he's essentially cashing a paycheck).
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post #23 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:56pm
It's easy to say Joe Pecsi in Goodfellas or Ledger in TDK...technically they are supporting characters but really they are headliners. I'm more interested in when the 6th or 7th billed actor steals the show. As was mentioned, Robinson from Pineapple Express is a good example. Paul Schneider from The Assasination of JJ would be my example. He steals every scene in that movie.
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post #24 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:57pm
I submit the Latino duo...
  • Pedro from NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (he got his own T-Shirt).
  • Pepe the King Prawn from MUPPETS IN SPACE. It's Gonzo's tale, but Pepe steals every scene he's in.
"It could be full of chocolate okaaay..."
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post #25 of 159
1/21/09 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob loblaw View Post
I'm more interested in when the 6th or 7th billed actor steals the show.
Like Mickey Rourke in 'Body Heat'.
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post #26 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:00pm
John Cazale was this guy in all of his movies during his brief career.
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post #27 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:03pm
Actually, as much as I'd go along with the Jack Black choice, Todd Louiso is awesome in High Fidelity too.
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post #28 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Like Mickey Rourke in 'Body Heat'.
I would have gone with Ted Danson's glasses, but yeah, like that.
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post #29 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:10pm
Alfred Molina in Boogie Nights.
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post #30 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:14pm
I never saw the greatness of Black's performance in High Fidelity. He's amusing, but just doing his same old sweaty aggressive guy schtick. If he stole any movie, it's Jesus' Son. Still kind of one-note, but dialed back from his usual mode, and he just cracked me up at every turn. Great introduction ("What am I gonna do about these shoes?") and his dressing down of Crudup in the truck is fantastic.

Apatow movies always seem to have these side characters that run away with things. Both 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up derive many of their biggest laughs from the protagonists' dickish friends, and Russel Brand, despite being British, pulled a textbook New York City Jack-Move on Forgetting Sarah Marshal.

Is it wrong that I kinda wanted Jeff Goldblum to steal the girl from Sam Neil in Jurassic Park?
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post #31 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:15pm
Would any non-lead role of William H. Macy's count?
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post #32 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:15pm
You could argue Chris Rock steals The Fifth Element from Willis and Oldman.

Oh, and Brad Pitt in True Romance.
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post #33 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
You could argue Chris Rock steals The Fifth Element from Willis and Oldman.
I'd like to see you try.
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post #34 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:17pm
I would strongly disagree with both Craig Robinson and Danny McBride in Pineapple. Sure, they both give excellent performances.

But NO ONE tops Franco in that film. He's front and center, and for my money, does a better job and is funnier than both of them.

For someone to "steal" an entire film, they have to really play a bigger role than McBride or Robinson did in Pineapple. I honestly question how many people watched that film and just couldn't wait for Franco to get offscreen so that McBride of Robinson stepped in. And I'm a huge fan of both.
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post #35 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Oh, and Brad Pitt in True Romance.
Pitt in 'Thelma and Louise', too.
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post #36 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TzuDohNihm View Post
I'd like to see you try.
He's certainly the first thing anyone mentions when I hear people talk about the film. They don't necessarily have good things to say, but it's undeniable that he's what they took away from seeing it.
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post #37 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:19pm
With new performers stealing movies as supporting players, it seems to be a crapshoot on whether it leads to stardom or obscurity.

Brad Pitt's charismatic turn in Thelma and Louise leads to superstardom.

But until Bill Paxton got Big Love 20 years later, I'm pretty sure nobody outside of film-geek circles really knew who he was. And that's still mid-level success, not Pitt-like stardom.

A good supporting steal can also lead to a comeback like Travolta in Pulp Fiction*, or Jackie Earl Haley in Little Children.

*One could argue that Jackson really steals this, but most people pin this as the Travolta comeback, so whatever.
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post #38 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
You could argue Chris Rock steals The Fifth Element from Willis and Oldman.
I wish Chris Rock stole that film from Willis and Oldman. Sadly it was Chris Tucker.
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post #39 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zak chase View Post
Often, it's a juicy, fun part. Think Philip Seymour Hoffman in CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR.
This.
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post #40 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
He's certainly the first thing anyone mentions when I hear people talk about the film. They don't necessarily have good things to say, but it's undeniable that he's what they took away from seeing it.


IMDB is your friend, Dickson.

*EDIT* Damn you, JC!!
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post #41 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:22pm
Gary Oldman in Leon (The Professional).

John C. Reilly in Boogie Nights.


edit: Billy Zane in Titanic.
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post #42 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:22pm
Thread Starter 
Michael Wincott in '1492: Conquest of Paradise'.
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post #43 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
You could argue Chris Rock steals The Fifth Element from Willis and Oldman.

Oh, and Brad Pitt in True Romance.
I think one could argue that it was only because of his performance in the Fifth Element that allowed him to start that lucrative Nutty Professor franchise.
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post #44 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob loblaw View Post
I think one could argue that it was only because of his performance in the Fifth Element that allowed him to start that lucrative Nutty Professor franchise.
No. That would be Eddie Murphy.
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post #45 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jan View Post
No. That would be Eddie Murphy.
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post #46 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Oh, and Brad Pitt in True Romance.
There were plenty of scene-stealers in True Romance, Gary Oldman being chief among them, but I don't really think Pitt was one.
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post #47 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:35pm
Simon Pegg is one of the few redeeming qualities about M:I:III (lovely title).
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post #48 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:36pm
John Tuturro comes mighty close in THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

Belushi is essentially a supporting character in ANIMAL HOUSE.
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post #49 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jan View Post
No. That would be Eddie Murphy.
Actually, smart guy, I was referring to Omar Gooding Jr. You know, the Oscar winner. God you people can be idiots, am I the only one that knows anything about movies 'round here?
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post #50 of 159
1/21/09 at 1:39pm
Rock is the phonetic spelling of Tucker.

Okay yeah, I got nothing.
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