When Supporting Characters Steal a Movie - Page 4

I love that line. I've never seen "Blade: Trinity", but when Kevin Nealon used it on "Weeds", I laughed so hard. I think it's just a great line, no matter who says it. Back on topic - two of my favourites from the '90s: Janine Garofalo in "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" and Dennis Farina in "Get Shorty". I love all the characters in these movies, but those two are the kinds of supporting characters that show up periodically and just about everything they say is comedy gold.

This is going to sound really obvious to all of us superhero movie fans, but Terrence Stamp in "Superman II". Consider the fact that in Ebert's review of the movie he never mentions that character by name ONCE. And I'm sure he's not the only critic or viewer who would think of Zod as only a minor part of the movie. I thought the love story was all right, but that movie wouldn't be half as good as it is without Stamp.

I love both actors but I thought their relationship in that flick smacked of trying too hard to be effortlessly flawless parents. That movie works because of Emma Stone. She's brilliant, case closed.

Since I've now got Tucci on the brain, Ian Holm is stellar as Pascal in BIG NIGHT. He doesn't steal the film, because both Tucci and Shalhoub are fantastic, but he does some great work.

Dan Byrd is the better scene stealer anyway.

Considering it's Meryl Streep in one of the best comedy roles of the decade, it's really impressive how well Emily Blunt runs away with The Devil Wears Prada.

Also, I'm not sure how much it counts since it's an ensemble, but the best part of X2 is Alan Cummings as Nightcrawler. The White House attack at the beginning is spectacular.

I envy your lack of experience with thundercunts.

Sounds like a Nunziata creation when you think about it.

I got two examples to throw in:

First one is Steve Franken as Levinson the butler from Blake Edwards' “The Party”.

Obviously this flick is 100% Peter Sellers' show all the way, and lord knows its among his all time flat out funniest performances... but I'll be damned if Franken, playing a relatively small role mind you, doesn't come DAMN close to just walking off with the whole film tucked under his arm. And considering this movie is a Peter Sellers vehicle, that's kinda saying a fucking lot. Obviously the material plays a huge part (it's mostly all well worn old school screwball material, but between Edwards and Sellers that's hardly anywhere remotely approaching a bad thing), but Franken's physical performance and comedy timing here are utterly superb throughout, easily enough to almost rival the comedy juggernaut that is Sellers. Tremendously under-appreciated performance if you ask me.

And the other: Keanu Reeves and William Hurt in “I Love You to Death”. Forget Ted Logan: Marlon James is, in my book, Keanu's most signature and all time funniest “spaced out dimwit” performance, and the fact that William fucking Hurt of all people is his equally stupid and perpetually stoned partner in crime just makes the whole thing that much more awesome. The little dopey and subtle “Well I never!” head shake/facial expression that Hurt does every time he get's incensed because someone in the film just condescendingly snubbed him due to his inept bullshit never, I mean NEVER fails to absolutely kill me. Both of them are so good in this, they're easily the two cast members you walk away from the film most remembering and quoting, which again considering how utterly on his A game Kevin Kline is in this (still riding the high of his 80's prime), is certainly saying a lot. Hell everyone from Joan Plowright to River Phoenix and Tracey Ullman are all fantastic in this, but Reeves and Hurt easily steal the whole movie from all of them, no contest.

Great choice. Such an underrated movie. Reeves has a great terrible junkie haircut, too.

I love when they're checking out the baseball bat and chanting "Reggie Reggie Reggie!".

Having just watched the directors cut for the first time, I'll throw in:

Edward Norton in Kingdom of Heaven