I was very excited to see the American Reunion movie. I saw American Pie just after college and remembered it was quite funny.
Jim, Michelle, Oz, Heather, Stifler reunite for their high school...
Despite what you may think of him personally, Melvin Gibson is up there with Kurt Russell as one of the most consistently charismatic actors that delivers in everything he's in.
While I've not seen everything he's been in the things I have have been stellar. Just the diversity of the guy.
The first three things I saw him in were Hamish McBeth (lovable community policeman), Trainspotting (total psycho) and Cracker (man pushed into psychotic racism through bad life events).
Plus reiterate the Oldman love. Had a conversation with my mate yesterday about how, when you see Jack Nicholson he's almost always playing Jack Nicholson, but with Gary Oldman he can be anything and anyone. Compare Rosencrantz /Gildernstern with Drexel for example.
That's my benchmark for a great actor, they become the person they are playing. Sure Oldman can ham it up but he's almost always in character when he does.
Plus reiterate the Oldman love. Had a conversation with my mate yesterday about how, when you see Jack Nicholson he's almost always playing Jack Nicholson, but with Gary Oldman he can be anything and anyone. Compare Rosencrantz /Gildernstern with Drexel for example.
That's my benchmark for a great actor, they become the person they are playing. Sure Oldman can ham it up but he's almost always in character when he does.
It used to be that I'd fundamentally agree with this, but now a-days I don't know if the inability to vanish inside of a character makes one a lesser actor.
Like I don't know if Jack Nicholson vanishes into a lot of his roles, but I do know his performances in films like The Last Detail are nothing short of amazing.
Did he? Or were we just spared his "GREAT ASS!"-"HOO-AH!" phase?
Do we really want to live in a world where Cazale turns up in the seventh Focker film as "Crazy Uncle Bennie" or something?
ETA: and seriously, did this Hollywood god ever give a sub-standard performance?
Nothing wrong with Pacino's "GREAT ASS! HOO-AH!" phase, he was just working from a different place (also, that bit in HEAT is clearly a very specific bit of baiting and intimidation on his character's part). Not all of the movies have been great, but if you look at the quality of his and De Niro's output over the past fifteen years side by side, it's night and goddamn day.
While I've not seen everything he's been in the things I have have been stellar. Just the diversity of the guy.
The first three things I saw him in were Hamish McBeth (lovable community policeman), Trainspotting (total psycho) and Cracker (man pushed into psychotic racism through bad life events).
First thing I saw him in was Priest, followed by Trainspotting. That was a total "Movie things you just now realized in 1996" moment: "Holy shit, the priest's boyfriend is Begbie?" Doesn't even seem like the same person. But yeah, he's great.
Did he? Or were we just spared his "GREAT ASS!"-"HOO-AH!" phase?
Do we really want to live in a world where Cazale turns up in the seventh Focker film as "Crazy Uncle Bennie" or something?
I dunno, I think Cazale would've stayed the course. I like to think he would've primarily stuck to theater, pulled into movies every now and then by his buddies De Niro, Pacino and Streep. I also like to think that Little Fockers and Jack and Jill don't happen if Cazale is alive, because De Niro and Pacino just wouldn't have been able to face Cazale. Watch I Knew It Was You — they're still in awe of him.
Cazale would've had a rough '80s (again, filling it with acclaimed theater gigs) and then in the '90s folks like Tarantino and Steve Buscemi would've given him nice Robert Forster-type roles.
Then again, you may be right and I don't want to live in that world. If Cazale had gone on to have kids, we might've seen him in some stupid shit he did "so my kids could see me in something." Or, y'know, "to pay the rent."
Robert Carlyle also deserves props for Hitler: The Rise of Evil. The miniseries itself is pretty bad, but fuck does Carlyle step up to the plate. Playing someone like Hitler must be utterly intimidating for even the best actors, but Carlyle is just mesmerizing.
Robert Carlyle also deserves props for Hitler: The Rise of Evil. The miniseries itself is pretty bad, but fuck does Carlyle step up to the plate. Playing someone like Hitler must be utterly intimidating for even the best actors, but Carlyle is just mesmerizing.
Carlyle is excellent in it, tis true, always the right side of menacing if not downright terrifying, but you're also right, the mini-series itself is a pile of shit. At no time is it ever really explained or made clear how this nasty socially inept little psycopathic gremlin of a man came to bring an entire country under his spell. If anything the mini-series does a terrible disservice to Germany and Germans at the time because it presents literally no case as to why they would have followed Hitler in particular over the many swirling personalities and parties in and around Berlin in the thirties. All it really does is say "what a fucked up little bastard this guy was eh?" - but then I guess we're just not ready to try and look at the man in a serious way yet in mainstream entertainment. We're still enjoying him being machine gunned in the face afterall.
Carlyle is excellent in it, tis true, always the right side of menacing if not downright terrifying, but you're also right, the mini-series itself is a pile of shit. At no time is it ever really explained or made clear how this nasty socially inept little psycopathic gremlin of a man came to bring an entire country under his spell. If anything the mini-series does a terrible disservice to Germany and Germans at the time because it presents literally no case as to why they would have followed Hitler in particular over the many swirling personalities and parties in and around Berlin in the thirties. All it really does is say "what a fucked up little bastard this guy was eh?" - but then I guess we're just not ready to try and look at the man in a serious way yet in mainstream entertainment. We're still enjoying him being machine gunned in the face afterall.
Yeah, it's pretty much an incredibly rote biography that is wholly structured around one - admittedly fantastic - performance. There's no depth to it at all. And just when it gets to the bit everyone's looking forward to seeing, i.e. WWII, it ends with a big, wet thud. I'd bet that they were planning a second series spanning the war years but it fell through, probably because the first part was so half-arsed. I certainly think there's room for a well-done Hitler biopic, and I'd like to see Carlyle have another crack at it, but for now Downfall's still probably the best stab at it.
I dunno, I think Cazale would've stayed the course. I like to think he would've primarily stuck to theater, pulled into movies every now and then by his buddies De Niro, Pacino and Streep. I also like to think that Little Fockers and Jack and Jill don't happen if Cazale is alive, because De Niro and Pacino just wouldn't have been able to face Cazale. Watch I Knew It Was You — they're still in awe of him.
Cazale would've had a rough '80s (again, filling it with acclaimed theater gigs) and then in the '90s folks like Tarantino and Steve Buscemi would've given him nice Robert Forster-type roles.
Then again, you may be right and I don't want to live in that world. If Cazale had gone on to have kids, we might've seen him in some stupid shit he did "so my kids could see me in something." Or, y'know, "to pay the rent."
To be honest, Cazale would have struggled majorly as the years went by. He was an odd looking character actor, in a decade where odd looking character actors actually managed to become leading men (think Dustin Hoffman). Cazale was never headed for leading roles. I doubt he was even heading for Robert Forster roles either (Forster is a realatively conventionally handsome older guy, and his looks play a part in the roles he gets. He wouldn't get Max Cheryy if he looked like Cazale). Cazale would have ended up being cast as stock oddballs or weirdos to liven up a low-rent film (basically, he'd have become a caricature. A less starry version of Christopher Walken).
He's reputation is probably all the better for his premature death. He gets to be the James Dean of character actors for all eternity, instead of a sad disappointment playing cartoonish versions of past glories into retirement.
To be honest, Cazale would have struggled majorly as the years went by. He was an odd looking character actor, in a decade where odd looking character actors actually managed to become leading men (think Dustin Hoffman). Cazale was never headed for leading roles. I doubt he was even heading for Robert Forster roles either (Forster is a realatively conventionally handsome older guy, and his looks play a part in the roles he gets. He wouldn't get Max Cheryy if he looked like Cazale). Cazale would have ended up being cast as stock oddballs or weirdos to liven up a low-rent film (basically, he'd have become a caricature. A less starry version of Christopher Walken).
From that description actually I'm seeing more of a high-rent Harry Dean Stanton.
Cazale was Buscemi before Buscemi--a weird looking guy who, through being Pretty Fucking Amazing, got to become pretty popular and respected. He might never have headlined big Hollywood movies, but I don't see him ending up in relative obscurity like Robert Forester.
Was he really ever that weird looking though? I'm pretty sure it's just a rather clever use of some seriously shitty 70s hair cuts and eye make up. Take that all off of him, and you've basically got Mark Strong.
Was he really ever that weird looking though? I'm pretty sure it's just a rather clever use of some seriously shitty 70s hair cuts and eye make up. Take that all off of him, and you've basically got Mark Strong.
Appearance-wise, he was basically a mash-up of Tarantino and Lance Henriksen, with a sprinkle of Vincent Gallo.
I now want Vincent Gallo to put out a cologne called A Sprinkle of Vincent Gallo.
Anyway, here's another motherfucker who always delivered — although exactly what he delivered is probably up for earnest debate. I give you the proto-Nicolas Cage:
Timothy Agoglia Carey. The man. The legend. The flatulator.
One viewing of The World's Greatest Sinner will sizzle your brain forever:
I submit that Nic Cage (whom I love) has been trying to duplicate this one performance all these years.
Seriously though, you probably do need a Psychotronic-warped brain to dig the Carey, but if you do, he's gold. He does kick ass in his Kubrick flicks.
He has an incredible voice, which is why he seems to do a lot of animated films, but he also has a great presence on camera. I wish he was in more movies and more appreciated.
Warren Oates. From mescal-crazed Lyle Tector to mescal-crazed Benny in BMTHOAG to Sgt. Hulka in Stripes, Oates was always the man.
William Holden. Joe Gillis, Pike Bishop and his dead-on, sad-eyed old man betrayed by everything (including himself) in Network, Holden was brilliant and smart. And that's not even mentioning Stalag 17...
As far as actresses go, Judy Davis and Helen Mirren...
Warren Oates. From mescal-crazed Lyle Tector to mescal-crazed Benny in BMTHOAG to Sgt. Hulka in Stripes, Oates was always the man.
William Holden. Joe Gillis, Pike Bishop and his dead-on, sad-eyed old man betrayed by everything (including himself) in Network, Holden was brilliant and smart. And that's not even mentioning Stalag 17...
As far as actresses go, Judy Davis and Helen Mirren...
Warren Oates, what an amazing presence onscreen. BMTHOAG is the perfect Warren Oates experience. Agree on the rest of your list as well.
I want to pipe up and mention the late Peter Cushing. Always a beacon of light in even the cheapest of B movies and always game. He even had a bit of swashbuckler in him at his prime. Great villain. Great hero. Never phoned it in.
This man should be an unsung hero for a new generation of actors. I've been a fan ever since I watched Galaxy Quest and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. He's even great in smaller scale stuff like Matchstick Men, Snow Angels and Joshua.
