Current Great Actors' Greatest (Underrated?) Performances
Much has been made lately of Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in "The Revenant." It is cruel, visceral, and raw. It is a very physical performance and it will more than likely earn him his first Academy Award. But, I don't believe it is Leo's best performance in a film. Herein, I'd like to discuss my favorite performances from today's great actors and actresses.
It was the beginning of a new era of Steven Spielberg films. It was shot in a hurry, looked gritty, and the fast-paced story based on the real life con-artist Frank Abagnale was one of the best films of 2002. DiCaprio carried the whole film on his back (and was helped by a fun performance by Tom Hanks and a fantastic performance by Christopher Walken). Leo goes through the gamut of emotions, desires, and plays a decade's worth of age with class. The pain behind his eyes after his parents' marriage falls apart haunts even the most fun of scenes later in the film. He's brilliant and still underrated in Catch Me if You Can.
Tom Cruise plays a different version of himself in nearly every movie he's in. Collateral is his darkest, most violent self. Helped by a fantastic script by Stewart Beattie, Cruise plays Vincent with a dark perfection. He's the perfect wolf to Jamie Foxx's lamb. Without Tom Cruise just nailing his role, the film would have been less powerful (especially the final showdown). It's not just the big, brash scenes that make the film, it's the small, quiet scenes of dialogue between Vincent and Max (Foxx) that still cut me straight to the core. Fantastic performance in a fantastic film.
Russell Crowe's defining performance will always be as Maximus in Gladiator, but his most brilliant turn was as Jeffery Wigand, a whistleblower on the big tobacco companies in The Insider. Michael Mann brings his perfect pacing and tone directing a fantastic cast but the story really hinges on Crowe being likable, vulnerable, but also wise and tough. The transition he takes from the beginning to end is heartbreaking. Watch his subtle body language (especially in quiet scenes with Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino). His interactions are never false. His tone is perfect.
Robert De Niro is the face of so many unforgettable characters, it's difficult to chose my favorite, but Heat takes the cake for me. His portrayal of Neil McCauley, a heist man looking to get out of the game, is nuanced and quiet. It's not the big, brash scene-stealer that Al Pacino plays as Lt. Vincent Hanna. De Niro brings a humanity to the dark world of Los Angeles crime that perfectly contrasts the cold heart of the world around him. He's one of the great actors of all time and Heat is my favorite of all of his performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Catch Me if You Can - 2002
It was the beginning of a new era of Steven Spielberg films. It was shot in a hurry, looked gritty, and the fast-paced story based on the real life con-artist Frank Abagnale was one of the best films of 2002. DiCaprio carried the whole film on his back (and was helped by a fun performance by Tom Hanks and a fantastic performance by Christopher Walken). Leo goes through the gamut of emotions, desires, and plays a decade's worth of age with class. The pain behind his eyes after his parents' marriage falls apart haunts even the most fun of scenes later in the film. He's brilliant and still underrated in Catch Me if You Can.Tom Cruise
Collateral - 2004
Tom Cruise plays a different version of himself in nearly every movie he's in. Collateral is his darkest, most violent self. Helped by a fantastic script by Stewart Beattie, Cruise plays Vincent with a dark perfection. He's the perfect wolf to Jamie Foxx's lamb. Without Tom Cruise just nailing his role, the film would have been less powerful (especially the final showdown). It's not just the big, brash scenes that make the film, it's the small, quiet scenes of dialogue between Vincent and Max (Foxx) that still cut me straight to the core. Fantastic performance in a fantastic film.Russell Crowe
The Insider - 1999
Russell Crowe's defining performance will always be as Maximus in Gladiator, but his most brilliant turn was as Jeffery Wigand, a whistleblower on the big tobacco companies in The Insider. Michael Mann brings his perfect pacing and tone directing a fantastic cast but the story really hinges on Crowe being likable, vulnerable, but also wise and tough. The transition he takes from the beginning to end is heartbreaking. Watch his subtle body language (especially in quiet scenes with Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino). His interactions are never false. His tone is perfect.Daniel Day Lewis
There Will Be Blood - 2007
I don't need to say much about this one. Of all of his great performances, this is the best. And of all the performances in the last 20 or so years, this is the best.
Kate Winslet
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 2004
Six time Oscar nominee and winner for Best Actress in The Reader, Kate Winslet is arguably the best actress working in film today. My favorite role and performance of hers is of the troubled Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's a near-perfect movie, written by the genius Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. Winslet is the perfect foil to Jim Carrey's shy Joel and watching her battle her own emotional demons is heartbreaking. Carrey and Winslet both bring their characters a truth and warmth, but Kate Winslet is magnetic in the film. She is unforgettable, no matter how hard Joel may try.
Robert De Niro
Heat - 1995
Robert De Niro is the face of so many unforgettable characters, it's difficult to chose my favorite, but Heat takes the cake for me. His portrayal of Neil McCauley, a heist man looking to get out of the game, is nuanced and quiet. It's not the big, brash scene-stealer that Al Pacino plays as Lt. Vincent Hanna. De Niro brings a humanity to the dark world of Los Angeles crime that perfectly contrasts the cold heart of the world around him. He's one of the great actors of all time and Heat is my favorite of all of his performances.
What do you think? What are your favorite actors' underrated performances?
Comments
Post a Comment