Your favorite character actors

Discussion of the actors, directors and film-makers who 'made it all happen'
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JackFavell
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by JackFavell »

Oh my gosh I forgot about that! Yes, I thought that was the best season actually, it all came around full circle that year. Love circular plots. I seem to remember something about a cell phone being thrown out a car window? Did we actually have cell phones back then? Seems like forever ago.
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ChiO
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by ChiO »

Seeing him in 1970 as Orr in CATCH-22 hooked me for life. His turn as Russell on Seinfield knocked me out ... his total disdain for George and total commitment to Elaine ... now that's funny. And, of course, BEST IN SHOW and WAITING FOR GUFFMAN. Saw him at the Siskel about four years ago when he was in town for a preview of RECOUNT and, by golly, he looked exactly how he was suppose to look (my heart goes out to any actor shorter than I). He is a Chicago native...something about his family having a theatre or two.
Everyday people...that's what's wrong with the world. -- Morgan Morgan
I love movies. But don't get me wrong. I hate Hollywood. -- Orson Welles
Movies can only go forward in spite of the motion picture industry. -- Orson Welles
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JackFavell
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Re: Your favorite character actors

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That's right, I remember reading that he was a scion of THE Balaban theatre circuit family which weirded me out, he seems the least likely person in the world to be ...well, anything. He's so understated he hardly exists. He's dry and yet sincere at the same time, it's hilarious. Personally, any of the Waiting for Guffman, Mighty Wind actors is a favorite of mine.
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knitwit45
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by knitwit45 »

Balaban was a total _____________ (use whatever word you feel is appropriate) in Absence of Malice. I wanted to take that rubber band and wrap it around his head! AND watch him choke on his gum! *can you tell I didn't like his character???* Of course, that's good acting, isn't it? :lol: :lol:
"Life is not the way it's supposed to be.. It's the way it is..
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference." ~ Virginia Satir
""Most people pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it." ~ Soren Kierkegaard
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ChiO
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by ChiO »

"genius"?
"dreamboat"?
"wunderkind"?

I give up. Flip over all the cards, Mr. Daly.
Everyday people...that's what's wrong with the world. -- Morgan Morgan
I love movies. But don't get me wrong. I hate Hollywood. -- Orson Welles
Movies can only go forward in spite of the motion picture industry. -- Orson Welles
RedRiver
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by RedRiver »

Those "mockumentaries" are fall down on your *** hilarious! An unbelievably clever concept.

*can you tell I didn't like his character???* Of course, that's good acting, isn't it?

Yes it is. I bet he'd be proud to have you hate him!
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CineMaven
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Re: Your favorite character actors

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But here's a list of actors now who will draw me to a new movie...


What a great list Wendy. Very good believable solid actors all. AHhhh yes, your brush with fame ( :) ) with the chameleon Rispoli. There are a couple on your list that I wish would get a real break - out role so they can be shot up through the stratosphere. But you know...who needs the stratosphere when you’re these actors. Now, unlike you, I may probably not run to the movies if I see their name. But seeing that they’re in a project brings me comfort. There are some on your list that really stand out for me. What makes them so “great” to me? My reasons problem won't be very varied. It's that whenever they are on the screen, whatever they say...I...believe...them:

Don Cheadle - I saw him first in "DEVIL IN THE BLUE DRESS” as Denzel’s sidekick. He’s committed to whatever he has to play. He took my eyes off of Denzel’s matinee idol. In “OCEAN’S ELEVEN” he is just another cog in that wheel, but that’s okay. “HOTEL RWANDA” mesmerizing. And in “CRASH” he stood out for me in an all-star cast. I love his voice.

Lynn Thigpen - Commanding. Picked up where Diana Sands and Rosalind Cash left off. Too too sad when she passed away.

Forest Whitaker - I remember seeing him as a bully on “DIFF’RENT STROKES” but then I saw him in “THE CRYING GAME” and he blew my mind. He’s a British soldier held hostage by IRA radicals. He tries to make himself human in their eyes, and gets inside the head of one of them. And got inside my heart. Of course, I was terrified of him in “THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND.” He’s branched out to directing too. ( Good business move. )

Viola Davis - Hey, Meryl Streep praises her to the heavens DURING the Academy Awards and with good reason...she’s great. I’ve seen her out and about on tv ( “LAW & ORDER” & I was always saying “Who’s that?” ) and then being “the friend” in “NIGHTS IN RODANTHE” ( oh there’s that girl from tv. ) Yeah, it was just a “friend” part. But she had a short scene in “DOUBT” where you see she has sacrificed her son up to a priest, which was riveting. I’d love to see her go toe-to-toe opposite Don Cheadle. She was so good in “THE HELP”[/b] but didn’t have the showy role that Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer had.

Gary Oldman - He’s been around, but it was Coppola’s “DRACULA” that reeled me in. He played a vampire who was both monstrous and love-sick. Then it was his Jamaican drug dealer in “TRUE ROMANCE” gold tooth and natty dreds. But “ROMEO IS BLEEDING” is my favorite role of his. He plays a crooked cop, taken in by greed and a hot Russian hit-woman who makes him do all manner of things. He’s so frantic descending down a rabbit hole. Oldman’s all over the map in the characters he plays, but not in the character he plays. I love him.

Terence Howard - Well he’s gorgeous with those hazel eyes and raspy voice ( forgive me ) but if I have to talk about is acting...I’d have to go with “CRASH” which got my attention. I didn’t ( want ) to see “HUSTLE & FLOW” though it gained him notoriety. He is capable of showing deep wells of emotion. I want his career to be bigger. He's got leading man looks, and the emotion to back things up.

Luis Guzman - When I see him I go, ‘Looey Loooooay!’ He’s in everything. He plays the same kind of part...loud, brash, funny. He just does his thing. I like him.

CCH Pounder - Always has an air of dignity about her. I think she’s solid. There’s no particular break-out role for her, oh wait... “BAGDAD CAFE” she’s your competent utility player. And I don’t mean that in a dull robotic way. Plays administrative-types: doctor, lawyer...and I daresay Indian chief...if they gave her the chance. She’s carved out a lovely career for herself. She’s always working...working...working. I see her name, I smile.

Lois Smith - Awwwww man!! A friend recently excitedly wanted to show me a scene from “THE MINORITY REPORT” where Tom Cruise gets schooled by this scientist. “Ya gotta see this actress.” Okay. I never saw the movie so I watched the scene. And there she was. I laughed, “Aahhh Lois Smith.” “Who?” I chuckled again. Yeah, I liked her in “RESURRECTION” “FIVE EASY PIECES” “BLACK WIDOW.” She plays kind of dotty characters. I love her. And now I want to see “The Minority Report.”

Djimon Hounsou - “AMISTAD” “BLOOD DIAMOND” “GLADIATOR.” He’s proven he’s got the chops. But I don’t think Hollywood knows what to do with a big Black man. Not really. I liked that he was a bad guy in “THE ISLAND.”

Robert Duvall - I like your pick with him Wendy. The creme de la creme, up there with Gene Hackman. Duvall’s career is consistent with diversity. My favorite is the harried cynical tv exec in “NETWORK.” Close your eyes, throw a dart at his career and you can pick any number of good parts he’s done. There’s an art to being a second banana...who steals the show. Duvall’s a master.

Donald Sutherland - What a veteran. Kind of the weird guy in the beginning of his career, he settled into the interesting guy. The the older “Senator” type. I liked him “KLUTE” “ DON’T LOOK NOW” and “A TIME TOKILL.” He gave a poignant performance in “ORDINARY PEOPLE” trying to keep his family together.

S. Epatha Merkerson - Big fan of “LAW & ORDER” Not much to do there but dispense orders to the “order” part of the show. But I’ve seen her show her stuff here and there. So good in “LACKAWANNA BLUES.”[/b] Smiled when I saw her at “LINCOLN.”

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Kind of a surfer dude in “TWISTER” and snooooty rich boy in “THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY” a priest in “DOUBT.” He’s always kind of different. I really liked him “TILL THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD.” He, too, goes down the rabbit hole and we watch his descent. I wanted to see him chew up the scenery in “THE MASTER” but I didn’t act fast enough.

Alfre Woodard - A good co-starring turn in “EXTREMITIES” Always liked her. TV has been a welcomed oasis for her talents. I wish it were in movies but I'll take her wherever she plays.
"You build my gallows high, baby."

http://www.megramsey.com
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JackFavell
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by JackFavell »

You know, every one of these actors that you listed, well as I read what you said, I thought, "oh, she is the BEST." or "he is the BEST". ALfre Woodard? SHE's the best... but then the next one would come along and I'd say, "nope, I was wrong..."

Lackawanna Blues was where I really saw S. Epatha shine, it took me by surprise. Wish she could do another similar "big" role.

I added Donald S. because he has consistently chosen character roles for the last few years and seems happy to settle in and play these crazy borderline roles. Best performance I saw of his was in a TNT TV movie with Julie Christie, called The Railway Station Man, heartbreaking, it was, tragic, with a backdrop of "the troubles" in Ireland.

Lois Smith is just so great, every time I see her I am awestruck at her career. It literally took me years to realize that the young woman she was is the older woman she is. Wonderful, and I'll post a pic since her name flies under the radar - I guarantee you'll all know who she is.


ImageImageImage

Excuse me for grumbling here, but what the hell is the matter with photobucket? Every freakin time I try to upload photos, some of them drop out of my files and disappear. It says they are uploaded, I see them pop up on my screen, but when I go to the album they are supposed to have been put in, they are not there. I am getting so frustrated. Is anyone else having this problem?
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CineMaven
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Re: Your favorite character actors

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My issue with PhotoBucket is that in keeps showing me a new layout when I like the old...and I have to click a couple of steps to get back to the format I'm familiar with. Gr-r-r-r. If ain't broke, don't fix it. And that goes for you too iTUNES 11! Bah! )

Ahhhh...

There she is. There's my girl...Your girl: LOIS SMITH. Who doesn't know Lois Smith? Oh it's great to be the glam movie star; the star whose face can launch a thousand ships. The star who fuels the fantasy of both men & women alike. But being a good solid character actor might ensure you have a longer and even more rewarding career as an actor.

AHH - THE PATRON SAINTS OF CHARACTER ACTORS

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I think Leon Ames and Hume Cronyn would be proud to pass the mantle of CHARACTER ACTOR onto any of my picks below, for these...men...can...do... anything. You're going to read me use the word "LOVE" a lot, I'm afraid:

ImageImage ImageImageImageImageImage

SAMUEL L. JACKSON - I fear him. And that's exciting ( :oops: ) - You want him polished and sophisticated...you want him ghetto and gutteral...you want him obsessed... you want him a caring father ( "Eve's Bayou" )...you want him fighting mutha-******* snakes on a mutha-******* plane? Then he's your man. I just saw him in "DJANGO UNCHAINED" and this actor is fearless. He just wants to represent different types of Man. ( BTW, "Django Unchained" was off the hook! Two thumbs up. Tarantino knows how to make a Western. ) And oh yeah, a nice little turn Jackson does in this indie film...uhmmm: "Pulp Fiction." Chilling. I want to see him play "OTHELLO." But who could be his Desdemona? Better yet, who would dare be his Iago? Casting suggestions???

DAVID STRAITHAIRN - "Silkwood" "Matewan" "The River Wild" "L.A.Confidential." And most recently, "LINCOLN." I love him. He has authority.

CHRIS COOPER - I love every single line on his craggy face and his soft drawl. I loved his quiet performance in "LONE STAR." BTW, what's John Sayles doing these days!!!

ED HARRIS - May I please just cuddle him with him, look deep into his eyes and rub his bald head? And while I'm doing that ( I love you too Frances McDormand ) I'll tell him how much I enjoy his fiery temper, and love his presence in "Glengarry Glen Ross" "Sweet Dreams" "The Abyss" "Gone Baby Gone" but I really like him in "China Moon." Please see that one. I love Benicio del Toro...and no one seems to remember the beautiful & sultry Madeleine Stowe any more. Eddieeeeeeee, I'm coming to get you!

JAMES WOODS - Awww man, he's the wild man of Borneo. Yeah, you might think I'm picking baaad movies, but I loved him "Against All Odds." Oh, and in "The Specialist" ( great score by John Barry ) he had a scene where he really went off...my beating heart applauded. He's a good actor. Drop him down in the middle of the Mojave Desert. He'll find his way out.

KEVIN SPACEY - As Keyser Soze...jeeeezus! "L.A Confidential" "A Time To Kill" "Swimming With the Sharks." I remember him in "Wise Guy." Who the bloody hell is THIS? He took my eye off of Ken Wahl many-a-time. ( Admittedly I was just dazzled by Ken's looks but the story line of Spacey's was quite interesting; wasn't he in love with his sister?? ) But "Se7en." OMG, "Se7en." Carve his face into Mt. Rushmore.

JEREMY RENNER - He's a new jack in town. Can a leading man be a character actor? I think so. He's a powerful committed actor. I missed "The Hurt Locker" "The Town." and the recent "Bourne..." movie. But I see his strength. How? A maven knows. I saw him on Saturday Night Live ( :shock: ) and was surprised how loosey goosey he was for such a serious looking guy. He sang and did comedy surprisingly well. I did see him with Tom Cruise in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" and this is the second time I see Tom in a movie where he had to hang onto his ***** next to a really good actor ( "Minority Report" and Colin Farrell. ) His face is kind of hard for comedy and he might not be considered very pretty boyish to be The Leading Man ( no George Hamiltons out there?? ) but I'd say Jeremy Renner is one to watch. When I saw "Platinum Blonde" the other night, Robert Williams sooooo reminded me of Renner.

I'm curious to see what character actors are others' favorites here, but if I don't, I hope you won't mind me weighing in again.

Two of the best, opposite each other:

[youtube][/youtube]
"You build my gallows high, baby."

http://www.megramsey.com
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JackFavell
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by JackFavell »

Oh damn! I forgot David Strathairn AND Chris Cooper...

Here's what I wrote in my ultra long, not-so-enamored review of Lincoln that I didn't post:
"The actor I really loved was unflashy, unpraised David Strathairn in the thankless role of Lincoln's deluded but practical voice of reason, Seward, who continued to thrust his ideas at the president in order to save him (and perhaps himself), even when reason and practicality were wrong. Is Strathairn the king of the thankless role? He takes on parts that no actor in his right mind would want, because they are troubling, or barely noticeable background, or unlikable, and he carries them off better than you could ever have imagined, brilliantly and in a consummately understated way, stretching himself as an actor every time he appears. He should get a medal for 'best unsung acting that always goes unnoticed'. "
And Chris Cooper? He's a genius.

I don't know what Sayles is doing now, but I wish we could see whatever it is!
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CineMaven
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Re: Your favorite character actors

Post by CineMaven »

"TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY" is on tonight:
11:00 PM TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951) A man who spent his formative years in prison for murder is released and struggles to adjust to the outside world. Dir: Felix Feist Cast: Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, Lurene Tuttle.


It's a pretty interesting story. STEVE COCHRAN is the ex-convict in question and RUTH ROMAN as the dame. Just picture it, folks. Cochran has been in prison since he was fourteen and now is out as a fully grown man...and he's still like a babe in the woods. ( :shock: ) He's no match for the Mighty Roman. With a turn of events, these two crazy swarthy hirsute kids eventually go on the run to beat a murder rap.

One of my favorite character actors is in this: LURENE TUTTLE. Now if you think I'm making a big deal about her...you'd be right. But I have good reason to. You can see those reasons for yourself if you check her out here. She's excellent.

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Skeptical? You don't believe me? That's fine. Look, why don't you check out the movie for yourself. Come back here and tell me I'm full of hot air about Tuttle. Or you can come back here and tell me how you enjoyed the fine performance she gives in this drama.
"You build my gallows high, baby."

http://www.megramsey.com
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JackFavell
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Re: Your favorite character actors

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I've been waiting to see this movie since someone (was it you? Maybe Moira?) discussed it last time it was on! I had no idea it was on tonight, so thanks, I more than likely would have missed it, not really recognizing the title.

No, Steve Cochran doesn't bring out the mother instinct in me, he's so male it makes me nervous. But I CAN'T STAY AWAY! :D

Tomorrow is Cary Grant day, and they are showing my favorite of his movies, Mr. Lucky, at 8 AM ET. Followed up by my other favorite, None But the Lonely Heart at 10 AM ET. Is that a gaslight noir? I don't think so, but it was worth a try.
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CineMaven
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Re: Your favorite character actors

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Yep, that was me giving a full ( long-winded ) review of the movie over at TCM-city. Our conversation went a little like this:
( JACK FAVELL ) Re: RAMBLES Part II
Posted: Jan 7, 2012 1:31 PM - in response to: wouldbestar

darn it! That was the one I wanted to see today, wouldbestar! I had it marked and everything then I completely missed it. I am so glad you were able to see it after all these years, I remember your post about it.
( JACK FAVELL ) Re: RAMBLES Part II
Posted: Jan 8, 2012 1:07 PM - in response to: CineMaven

You made my mouth water reading about this movie, Maven! And I couldn't agree more, I'd love to see a Lurene Tuttle day on TCM.
( CineMAVEN ) Re: RAMBLES Part II
Posted: Jan 8, 2012 1:24 PM - in response to: JackFavell

Thanx Jack! I'm sorry to have read you missed it. I hope you get a chance to see it sometime. I hope I haven't built it up too much. I was quite taken with it. And that surprised me.
( JACK FAVELL ) Re: RAMBLES Part II
Posted: Jan 8, 2012 1:31 PM in response to: CineMaven

There are a lot of movies I like that aren't 4 star movies. I like discovering these smaller, underappreciated pictures for myself. I'm not expecting perfection, just some nice performances and a decent story.

I'm just as happy watching "He Couldn't Say No" with Frank McHugh as I am watching "Touch of Evil." Well, almost as happy....
I hope you see it. And that goes for everyone else as well. It's a good one.
"You build my gallows high, baby."

http://www.megramsey.com
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JackFavell
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Re: Your favorite character actors

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Awesome! I can't wait. It's still hard for me to picture Steve as a little boy lost. I'm looking forward to a softer, gentler Steve.

I see Lee Patrick's in this one too, but she's pretty far down the cast list.
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