Greatest unrecognized movie acting in the past twenty years

MiceElf · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:57 pm

I wholeheartedly agree with the shout outs for Tim Roth but I'd say his performance either in Vincent and Theo or Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (I'm a bit surpised someone mentioned Four Rooms as he has done such incredible work in spite of that movie). I also love Catherine Keener in many of her roles.

Red House Vincent · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:00 pm

Damen Wrote:

Chiwetel Ejiofor in Dirty Pretty Things

Oh Hell yes. I don't have any recent additions to add...although I did see Blue Velvet and thought that Dennis Hopper was 5x scarier than Sir Antony in Silence of the Lambs. :shock:

But that's just me.

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:02 pm

just actors, no movies:

Jeff Bridges
Kevin Bacon
Val Kilmer
Catherine Keener
Ed Norton

duckyboy · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:05 pm

f(spn) Wrote:

I know he gets critical respect, but the general public is rarely aware of how amazing Ben Kingsley is. He's incredible in both Sexy Beast and The House Of Sand And Fog even though the two characters are as far apart as can be.

Better known, but deserves mention: Daniel-Day Lewis in Gangs Of New York. Butcher is one of the most memorable characters in all filmdom.

Good picks.

ayah · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:03 pm **Posts:** 6402

MiceElf Wrote:

Catherine Keener

excellent call.
i'd also add lili taylor.

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:13 pm

duckyboy Wrote:

f(spn) Wrote:

I know he gets critical respect, but the general public is rarely aware of how amazing Ben Kingsley is. He's incredible in both Sexy Beast and The House Of Sand And Fog even though the two characters are as far apart as can be.

Better known, but deserves mention: Daniel-Day Lewis in Gangs Of New York. Butcher is one of the most memorable characters in all filmdom.

Good picks.

And they slapped on some fake tan and the dude was Ghandi!

Also, Daniel Day-Lewis was the shit in Gangs of New York. One of the most underrated character portrayals of all time.

barker · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:19 pm

Holy Shit!
Paul Giamatti in American Splendor!!!
Amazing!

fuse · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:08 pm

American History X is over-rated and two-dimensional. Couple beefs:

- his magical black friend in jail who teaches him how to overcome hatred

- bullshit scene where he faces the head Aryan dude and punches him out

Although Norton is great in just about anything he's in.

no guru · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:31 pm

I highly recommend Welcome To Woop Woop, by the way, since every actor in that odd film is memorable. Another just as memorable is The Hanging Garden

HideousLump · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:49 pm

amgl Wrote:

just actors, no movies:

Jeff Bridges

Fearless. Rosie Perez was incredible in this, too.

The reaction to this movie was really interesting. I saw it with a pretty large crowd, and when it was over, as 75% of the audience filed out going "What'd you think?" "OK I guess, whatever, let's go eat," the other 25% were still sitting in their seats with "holy fuck!" looks on their faces. That movie messed my shit up, but I think that the emotions are so bare in this movie that most people distance themselves while watching it and don't go on the ride that my quarter of the audience did.

Black Magic Putin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:50 pm

was that about the woman that survived a plane crash or something?

HideousLump · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:55 pm

This guy has crack Wrote:

was that about the woman that survived a plane crash or something?

Yeah, Bridges survives the crash and decides that God can't kill him; Perez survives but her baby is killed. Peter Weir film. Partly responsible for Gorecki's "3rd Symphony" (used in the crash scenes) gaining renown in this country.

Black Magic Putin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:59 pm

oh THAT'S why everyone was all over Gorecki.

Don't kid yourself dude, no one saw this movie.

HideousLump · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:01 pm

Well, it was in the commercial, I think.

Worked for Nick Drake and Trio.

posthumus · **Joined:** Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:17 am **Posts:** 589

Promethium Wrote:

Fine, most of these would be for best supporting actor though:
Johnny Depp for Donnie Brasco
Harvey Keitel for Reservoir Dogs
William H. Macy for Boogie Nights
Gary Oldman for The Professional/5th Element, too hard to choose
Bill Murray for Rushmore
Edward Norton for 25th Hour
Tim Roth for Four Rooms
Ewan McGregor for Shallow Grave

That's basically everyone mentioned.

I don't understand how these would be considered underappreciated actors or even underappreciated roles.

Christian Bale in the Machinist... that's completely unappreciated.

I think John Turturro in anything he's ever done has been underappreciated.

long gone · **Joined:** Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:53 pm **Posts:** 3262

Hoffman in Love Liza.

Sketch · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:30 am

Reese Witherspoon - Pleasantville
George Clooney - O Brother Where Art Thou?
Jim Carrey - The Truman Show, Man on the Moon

no guru · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:00 am

petecockroach Wrote:

Hoffman in Love Liza.

Yep

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

ed norton is one of the most slobbered upon actors of this generation.
i don't think i've ever heard anything but hyperbolic glowing praise for him.

Ex Lion Tamer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:51 am

Promethium Wrote:

Fine, most of these would be for best supporting actor though:
Johnny Depp for Donnie Brasco

Great movie, but I'd single out Pacino's performance, his best acting since The Godfather.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

Ex Lion Tamer Wrote:

Promethium Wrote:

Fine, most of these would be for best supporting actor though:
Johnny Depp for Donnie Brasco

Great movie, but I'd single out Pacino's performance, his best acting since The Godfather.

did anyone see that thing about the current NBA ref who was a mob informant with the same crew as Donnie Brasco?

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:09 am

In general, he is overrated, but I still have to go with:
Tom Hanks in Big

It was the performance of his career.
Like I said he is generally overrated. But he absoloutely KILLED in that flick.
One of the best performances of the last 20 years, period, IMO.
Because it was a comedic performance though, it was overlooked. Now THAT is the tole he SHOULD have won the Oscar for.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

PopTodd Wrote:

In general, he is overrated, but I still have to go with:
Jim Varney in Ernest Goes To Camp

It was the performance of his career.
Like I said he is generally overrated. But he absoloutely KILLED in that flick.
One of the best performances of the last 20 years, period, IMO.
Because it was a comedic performance though, it was overlooked. Now THAT is the tole he SHOULD have won the Oscar for.

Greatest unrecognized movie acting in the past twenty years

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