Rain Man

[vraiblonde]

DoWhat's vid got me to thinking about that movie, which was fantastic, and whether Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for it (he did).

Tom Cruise is a good actor but he's not one of the greats. Not up there with Leo or Brad, and not even close to Dustin Hoffman. He always plays Tom Cruise. Maybe weird hair and makeup in a couple of movies, but he's still playing the same type of character. His movies are usually pretty good, but he's not.

So that's what I'm thinking about right now: how some actors are just incredible in their ability to reinvent themselves and bring home a true performance, and how others are lauded even though they aren't terribly diverse.

 

[RoseRed]

Tootsie.

 

[Toxick]

and how others are lauded even though they aren't terribly diverse.

One of my favorites, Bruce Willis, has played the same character in every single roll he has ever been in. Korben Dallas is John McClaine who is Butch Coolidge who is Joe Hallenbeck, etc...






All the same guy in every move, with the exceptions of The Sixth Sense, and MAYBE Looper.

 

[RPMDAD]

Like Matthew McConaughey, think he is a very versatile actor, and adapts to many roles. JMHO

 

[vraiblonde]

One of my favorites, Bruce Willis, has played the same character in every single roll he has ever been in. Korben Dallas is John McClaine who is Butch Coolidge who is Joe Hallenbeck, etc...

All the same guy in every move, with the exceptions of The Sixth Sense, and MAYBE Looper.

Yep. I love Bruce Willis movies but he always plays the same guy, give or take. Nothing wrong with that and I am always entertained, but he won't be on my Mt. Rushmore of Actors.

 

[Retrodeb54]

Yep. I love Bruce Willis movies but he always plays the same guy, give or take. Nothing wrong with that and I am always entertained, but he won't be on my Mt. Rushmore of Actors.

That you are starting thread for? Waiting.

 

[kwillia]

Kevin Spacey. He is amazing.

2010 Casino Jack

2009 The Men Who Stare at Goats
Shrink
2008 Recount
Telstar: The Joe Meek Story
21
2007 Fred Claus
2006 Superman Returns
2005 Edison Force
2004 Beyond the Sea
2003 The Life of David Gale
The United States of Leland
2001 The Shipping News
K-PAX
2000 Pay It Forward
Ordinary Decent Criminal
1999 The Big Kahuna
American Beauty
1998 A Bug's Life
Hurlyburly
The Negotiator
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
L.A. Confidential
1996 Albino Alligator
A Time to Kill
1995 The Usual Suspects
Outbreak
Seven
1994 Swimming with Sharks
The Ref
Iron Will
Doomsday Gun
1992 Consenting Adults
Glengarry Glen Ross
1990 Henry & June
1989 Dad
Wiseguy
1988 Rocket Gibraltar
Working Girl
1986 Heart Burn

 

[vraiblonde]

Kevin Spacey. He is amazing.

He *is* amazing. He's that guy who is so versatile you don't even recognize him from movie to movie.

 

[Hank]

DoWhat's vid got me to thinking about that movie, which was fantastic, and whether Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for it (he did).

Tom Cruise is a good actor but he's not one of the greats. Not up there with Leo or Brad, and not even close to Dustin Hoffman. He always plays Tom Cruise. Maybe weird hair and makeup in a couple of movies, but he's still playing the same type of character. His movies are usually pretty good, but he's not.

So that's what I'm thinking about right now: how some actors are just incredible in their ability to reinvent themselves and bring home a true performance, and how others are lauded even though they aren't terribly diverse.

Brad?

He is ok, not great.

 

[kwillia]

He *is* amazing. He's that guy who is so versatile you don't even recognize him from movie to movie.

Exactly! Many of my favorite movies are ones he's been in and I am ashamed to say I never paid attention that he was the common thread until after the fact realizing he had a huge part in so many!

Have you seen The Usual Suspects yet?

 

[Larry Gude]

DoWhat's vid got me to thinking about that movie, which was fantastic, and whether Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for it (he did).

Tom Cruise is a good actor but he's not one of the greats. Not up there with Leo or Brad, and not even close to Dustin Hoffman. He always plays Tom Cruise. Maybe weird hair and makeup in a couple of movies, but he's still playing the same type of character. His movies are usually pretty good, but he's not.

So that's what I'm thinking about right now: how some actors are just incredible in their ability to reinvent themselves and bring home a true performance, and how others are lauded even though they aren't terribly diverse.

Cruise; that high school football movie, Risky Business, that immigrant movie, the vampire thing. Born on the 4th. The prep school/army school thing. That stupid stop crime before it happens flick. The Samurai thing. The movie he plays a hit man with Jamie Fox as a cab driver I thought was excellent and very un-TC.. I think he's got more diversity than you are giving him credit for.

Though I think him most likely to actually be a space alien in real life and I can't stand half of those, I think the guy is absolutely one of the greats. You throw all of those in with TGun, A few good men, Mission Imp, man, that's a career.

 

[Merlin99]

He *is* amazing. He's that guy who is so versatile you don't even recognize him from movie to movie.

I'd say Tom Hanks is right up there also, a homosexual AIDS patient, anal retentive cop, magically transformed kid, mentally challenged ping pong player...

 

[Larry Gude]

Brad?

He is ok, not great.

If anyone plays the same role, it's Brad. Troy, Fight Club, Mr and Mrs, Legends...

 

[Larry Gude]

I'd say Tom Hanks is right up there also, a homosexual AIDS patient, anal retentive cop, magically transformed kid, mentally challenged ping pong player...

Absolutely.

Cast Away. Splash.

 

[Larry Gude]

All the same guy in every move, with the exceptions of The Sixth Sense...

I was unaware he was actually in 6th sense. I know he was listed and gets credit but, I'll be damned if I can remember him in it at all. One of the worst BIG movies. Ever.

 

[vraiblonde]

If anyone plays the same role, it's Brad. Troy, Fight Club, Mr and Mrs, Legends...

12 Monkeys, Inglourious Basterds, Snatch...

 

[vraiblonde]

I'd say Tom Hanks is right up there also, a homosexual AIDS patient, anal retentive cop, magically transformed kid, mentally challenged ping pong player...

Absolutely.

 

[vraiblonde]

Cruise; that high school football movie, Risky Business, that immigrant movie, the vampire thing. Born on the 4th. The prep school/army school thing. That stupid stop crime before it happens flick. The Samurai thing. The movie he plays a hit man with Jamie Fox as a cab driver I thought was excellent and very un-TC.. I think he's got more diversity than you are giving him credit for.

In every single one of those movies he plays a cocky guy tormented by something from his past to highlight his Mr. Sensitive side.

Mission Impossible
Top Gun
Days of Thunder
etc etc etc

Don't get me wrong, I love Tom Cruise movies. But he's the same character in every one of them.

 

[Larry Gude]

12 Monkeys, Inglourious Basterds, Snatch...

Of course, I knew you'd bring up 12 and, certainly, I agree that was sublime, genius. But, Basterds is awful and pretty much him anyway. And Snatch is essentially his 12 character in another story. And fight club is THAT character in another movie with a better actor; Edward Norton.

BP is wonderful and entertaining but, I would argue not near as diverse as Cruise.

 

[DoWhat]

http://www.missionimpossible.com/Ghost_Protocol/