Okay, I like actors like Christopher Walken, Samuel L. Jackson and John Malkovich. But every movie they're in, they always play themselves. Which actors are able to immerse themselves so deeply into roles that you can't even tell they're the same person? Here's a few to start off:
Ben Kingsley. I remember seeing Gandhi, Without a Clue and Sneakers within a short period once, and I didn't realize it was the same person. The way he does drama, comedy, hero, villain, making each part appear like the one he was born to play, is uncanny.
Christopher Guest. Can you believe the Six-Fingered Man from The Princess Bride, Nigel from Spinal Tap and the people from Best In Show and A Mighty Wind were played by one dude? Even after I knew, I had to see Princess Bride a few times before I believed it. And his characters from his Saturday Night Live days are just as baffling.
Rowan Atkinson. Can one dude really play The Black Adder and Mr. Bean? 'nuff said.
Who did I miss?
[ March 09, 2004, 11:35 PM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
Seen Sexy Beast? Kingsley is a monster in that one. I remember the New Yorker described him as "the devil incarnate, lightly disguised as a human being."
Johnny Depp's a good one, too. I'd say Kevin Spacey, from things like Seven and American Beauty, but he hasn't made anything good in a long while. Ian McKellen was a great Richard III as well as everyone's favorite, Gandalf. Two polar ends of the moral spectrum. Alec Guiness is great, especially to anyone who saw the BBC adaptation of the John Le Carre Smiley books. And did you know that Luke Skywalked (Mark Hamill) is the Joker from the animated Batman series? That is nuts to me.
[ March 09, 2004, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: Book ]
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
Christopher Plummer.
The Sound of Music and The Insider.
I really really really want to see him in New York (off broadway, I think, correct me if I'm wrong) in "King Lear."
*excited*
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Yeah, definitely Johnny Depp. Just look at him in Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Whoa. Christopher Plummer was also General Chang in Star Trek VI.
[ March 09, 2004, 11:15 PM: Message edited by: Jon Boy ]
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Robin Williams.
So why is it ninny before nonny?
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
Gary Oldman, too. He's great.
Gene Hackman. Anyone here seen The Conversation?
[ March 09, 2004, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: Book ]
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Emily Watson
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
It kills me to say it, but...
Russel Crowe.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Robin Williams???
Even as Mrs. Doubtfire and Peter Pan, he still played himself.
Sure he's a great actor, but he's no chameleon.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
He did well in Good Will Hunting.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
I'm looking forward to this new Tom Hanks bank robber movie. I like Tom Hanks, but he always plays himself. If the previews are true, he may actually pull this one off.
Posted by Godric (Member # 4587) on :
Now, I wouldn't normally consider Willem Dafoe as an actor with much character range, but I thought he really became something unrecognizeable-as-him in Shadow of a Vampire.
I'd also say that I think Bruce Willis has a lot more range as an actor than most people give him credit for.
But the name that immediately comes to mind as not having been mentioned yet is Benecio Del Toro.
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
quote: I like Tom Hanks, but he always plays himself.
I'm going to have to completely disagree with you on that one. I'm thinking about Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan in particular. He may not be a chameleon, but he certainly doesn't "always play himself."
[ March 10, 2004, 01:03 AM: Message edited by: Fitz ]
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
Ditto. Samuel L I can understand, not Tom Hanks.
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
*seconds Kat's Crowe nomination*
I would add Charlize Theron and Halle Berry to the list, based on their recent performances.
Does John Malkovich always play himself?
He played the simpleton Lennie in Of Mice and Men, a calculating aristocrat in Dangerous Liasons, the honorable and kind Athos in The Man in the Iron Mask, the effeminine king of France in The Messenger, and a sadistic and creepy Russin mafia member in Rounders.
Malkovich does have an innate quality of intelligence and creepiness that he brings to all his roles. (like Hanks and Sandler brings their inherent "nice guy" sensibilities to all of their roles). But I don't think it has severely limited his range as an actor.
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
Julianne Moore is also one of my favorites. She was equally convincing in her two very different roles in Far From Heaven and Boogie Nights.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Christian Bale Cate Blanchett Viggo Mortensen Parker Posey
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Phillip Seymour Hoffman Billy Crudup Jim Caviezel Jude Law
Posted by Ghost of Xavier (Member # 2852) on :
Edward Norton. Just watch American History X and you will see what I mean. He was downright TERRIFYING as the skinhead leader. Then compare that to some other roles her has done.
Tom Hanks is the exact opposite in my opinion. I thought that he was a horrible casting choice in Saving Private Ryan. When the line of "I teach English in high school" was uttered I was like "yeah, thats what I would have guessed". He totally doesnt come off as a hard-ass. I like him as an actor, but yeah, every role is totally still Tom Hanks.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I didn't think of Cavizel. I don't know about all his movies, but I had a really hard time recognizing him as Jesus.
Maybe I spoke too soon on Malkovich. Let me replace his name with a different one: Robert DeNiro. For all the credit he gets for his method acting, he seems to have two characters he plays in all the movies I've ever seen: "Funny DeNiro" and "Serious DeNiro", and those two characters are remarkably similar.
Posted by aka (Member # 139) on :
Michael Caine is like this for me. And I second Alec Guiness. Also most definitely Johnny Depp.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Jack Nichols always, always just plays himself.
Posted by Ghost of Xavier (Member # 2852) on :
Wow, thought you were toast. Guess I missed something.
Welcome back?
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
I think the point of Saving Private Ryan was to emphasize that these guys weren't hard asses... they were just guys.
Posted by Ghost of Xavier (Member # 2852) on :
But Book, Captian Miller was supposed to be such a scary hardass captain that the men couldn't imagine him having another job before the war, especially not as an English teacher.
Then we were supposed to find that out, and he would become more human. Of course, as he is Tom Hanks, my reaction to finding out he taught in school was "of course he thats what he did".
Edit: too many changes to list!
[ March 10, 2004, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: Ghost of Xavier ]
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Godric, just as I was thinking "Bruce Willis", I got to your post. Despite the fact that The Jackal is a completely forgettable movie, there's a scene in it that I won't ever forget. Bruce Willis goes from one character to the next in the same continuous scene, with almost no words spoken, you know who he changed to just by body language. It was striking. I stopped thinking of him as a two dimensional actor at that moment.
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
I'm still trying to think of some that haven't been mentioned, but I've got to say that Ben Kingsley is the best example anybody's come up with so far.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
I gotta give Christopher Guest the top spot, for all the reasons mentioned already. I almost never recognize him just from watching the movie.
Compare Fifth Element and True Romance to see Gary Oldman's range. He's amazing, too.
Cameron Diaz almost always plays herself, but I didn't recognize her in Being John Malkovich. De Niro is another one who is generally himself but can break out when he wants to (that movie about coming out of a coma, for example).
Gotta agree that Robin Williams is never not himself, even in Good Will Hunting. Every movie seems to be a baseline Robin Williams on a different drug. Flubber = cocaine, GWH = valium. (I'm not saying he actually took those.)
Kevin Kline never seems to be anyone but Kevin Kline, but his characters are very different.
Dagonee
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Oh, yeah, can't forget Kevin Spacey, at least in The Usual Suspects.
Posted by Alexa (Member # 6285) on :
About a week after I saw 12 monkeys I heard that Brad Pitt was in it. I didn't believe it and assumed he had a cameo. It wasn't until I re-watched it that I realized he is not just a pretty boy. Since then Kalifornia and Seven have reinforced this enlightenment.
Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
Why is it that when one clicks to check OSC-Fan's recent posts it says she started the "OSC-fan, or what the heck did happen ?" thread when that was in fact Anna?
Just a glitch?
[ March 10, 2004, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: St. Yogi ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Are you trying to tell me OSC-fan that you haven't posted anything in the last 48 hours other than this thread?
If so, then someone else on your own personal computer is using your identity to troll this forum.
The other option is that it was you. If it was you I think you know what my opinion on you is by now.
AJ
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Yesterday I was following a thread started by OSC-fan, and when I clicked the re-load button on my browser the thread name and content changed to the "what the heck" thread.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
The mods do not just go around and delete posts by someone wholesale. They do delete specific, complained about posts at times, but not so indiscriminately.
I think you are lying, or you are being duped very badly by someone who was using your account. My personal suspicion is on the former.
[ March 10, 2004, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: fugu13 ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I'm just paranoid enough to wonder if OSC fan has hacked the UBB server somehow, if he deleted all his posts yesterday rather than the mods. I assumed it was Kristine before since she was posting on the other side about the time I sent my complaint.
Next thing I know I'll be wearing a foil hat in Roswell.
AJ
Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
skillery: Actually there was a couple of minutes between the deleting of OSC-fan's thread and Anna's.
OSC-fan: How long is it since you've been on Hatrack? And there is no thread at the moment under your name, so what do you mean?
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Maybe Christopher Guest or one of the other, formerly mentioned character actors is channelling OSC-fan and is faking his/her return.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I noticed that linkage yesterday too though. It happened right after the first thread was deleted.
AJ
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
I think maybe UBB returns a certain database index to the browser, and the new thread took on the index of the deleted thread.
Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
Maybe OSC-fan is actually Anna playing tricks on us.
Posted by Ayelar (Member # 183) on :
I'll second Edward Norton.... my lord, compare his role in American History X to his role in Death to Smoochy!
Edit: But yeah, Christopher Guest would have to take the award, if there was one. I still can't really believe that he's the person behind all those different characters.
[ March 10, 2004, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: Ayelar ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
and Fight Club.
Someone left out Usual Suspects in contrast with Kevin Spacey too (oh wait it was up there...)
[ March 10, 2004, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
While I did not do an exhaustive search, as far as I can tell there are no known vulnerabilities for this version of ultimatebb.
This means hacking it would require a fair amount of effort, or a lot of skill, or some very good luck.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Here's a conspiracy theory: Kristine went around deleting all offensive LDS references that OSC-fan made. OSC-fan realized this and deleted the rest of his posts and threads himself including his own goodbye, to blame the mods, thinking he could get the rest of us to fall for it, and start complaining about "evil" mods, when we know they are fair honest and even overly compassionate at timse. I agree with skillery's indexing theory for why the threads transposed when the one was deleted.
Now OSC fan is pretending to be yet a different person at the same computer to pretend innocence for everything that happened yesterday.
Conspiracy or no, I'm not buying anything OSC-fan says as legit until proved otherwise.
AJ
[ March 10, 2004, 04:07 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
Man, I clicked on this thread and scrolled down to see what was new, and was totally confused. I thought I had clicked on the wrong one.
Posted by Plain Jane (Member # 6142) on :
quote: Kevin Kline never seems to be anyone but Kevin Kline
Dagonee, have you ever seen French Kiss?
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I disagree with respect to Rowan Atkinson. I think he's always Mr. Bean, and because of that, I can't watch his movies/ other tv serieses.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
quote:Kevin Kline never seems to be anyone but Kevin Kline, but his characters are very different.
I don't understand this sentence. If he's always himself, how can his characters be very different? And I agree that they are. William Hundert, George Monroe, Ben Hood, Otto West, Paden, Harold, and the Pirate King seem to have very little in common. (Now who can name all of those movies?)
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
I agree with Book.
Hank's men do not consider him a "hard ass" because he stayed up nights sharpening his knife or scalped Germans for fun. They are in awe of him because of his ability to make excellent command decisions, even when those decisions may lead to loss of American lives. Such leadership skills are not inconsistent with the "citizen soldier" angle of the movie.
Captain Miller never used unnecessary violence to discipline his soldiers, and rarely raises his voice to give a command. People followed him because they know that he knew the best way to achieve the objective, not because he is Rambo.
The fact that you were not surprised to find out that Hanks was a teacher means it was a good casting choice, not the other way around. Posted by Ghost of Xavier (Member # 2852) on :
I'll have to repectfully disagree, but thats okay .
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
Ghosts are no fun, you can't tickle them. Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Yes - but when I saw him in it I immediately recognized him as Kevin Kline. But, his character was very different from all his other characters.
So by the standards of the criteria in the first post, he's not a chameleon. But he is a very good actor. All I was saying.
Dagonee
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
quote:Ghosts are no fun, you can't tickle them
True, but Brujo can eat them.
This plug for Scott R is brought to you by the letter R and the number 13 Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
I said it on the other thread, but let's say it again : I'm not OSC-Fan ! I don't know hoiw to prove it, but I'm not ! It would be a very bad joke indeed.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Anna we know *hugs* we love you. Sorry things aren't working out with your in-laws. I thought you weren't actually married yet but planning the wedding?
AJ
Posted by aka (Member # 139) on :
Sweetie, nobody thinks you were. They were making a joke. We all love you! <<<<<Anna>>>>>
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Sorry. Usually I'm not that way, but I feel so down just know I think I only have persons who care for me on Hatrack, so... I've been stupid, I guess. I apologize for taking things that way.
Posted by aka (Member # 139) on :
It's okay! Getting married is always hard for people, I think. It'll all be worth it when it's over. <<<<Anna>>>>
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
"You are OSC fan!" "No I'm not! Take that back!"
Imagine the confused casual visitors to Hatrack reading all our messages vehemently denying that we are OSC fans.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
You're a funny cat, vwiggin.
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
*meow* Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Especially OJ, who seems looking for conspiracies in every corner for no reason , as far as we know he/she could have been the one to play with adm controls. I never said it was an adm or mod and he/she knows it well, OJ is specialized in twisting other people's words,
OSC Fan, we know each other a little too well to fall for that kind of crap. Banna is a well known, well loved member of this forum. Attempts to smear her aren't going to work.
Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
OSC-fan: What exactly is she lying about?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:Especially OJ, who seems looking for conspiracies in every corner for no reason , as far as we know he/she could have been the one to play with adm controls. I never said it was an adm or mod and he/she knows it well, OJ is specialized in twisting other people's words,
Let’s see, Banna comes to Hatrack and spends two years making friends and building a good online reputation for herself. All the while she is quietly using her l33t hacking skills to break UBB security and create an alternate administration profile for herself.
After months of hard work, she achieves her goal and quickly scans the forums for a likely victim. She seizes on newcomer OSC-Fan and quickly frames her by creating a fake thread in her name.
As further insult, Banna delete’s all of OSC-Fan’s wonderfully witty posts, even the ones that contain the ultimate solutions to the problems faced by single-mothers.
As Banna’s evil plot achieves fruition, OSC-Fan bravely tries to defend herself, but to no avail! Not only is Banna a master hacker, she is also a master manipulator, capable of twisting OSC-Fan’s words so that our poor, feeble minds turn on the innocent victim. In a case of mass delusion, all of the members of Hatrack remember OSC-Fan’s posts not as the marvel of wit and ingenuity that they were, but rather as adolescent-sounding, insulting, deceptive mockeries of themselves.
Thank goodness OSC-Fan is here to expose the evil that is BannaOJ!
Dagonee P.S., Banna, if you did actually manage to pull something like this off, I must commend you on your choice of victims. Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
My thoughts on this:
Danny Glover, when given a chance, has terrific range.
I've got to say Bruce Willis is a fine actor who is adept at action, comedy, tragedy, the full gamut. Much more to him than meets the public eye.
Robert Duvall turns out some great work, very delicately crafted (whether the personas are delicate or not).
Salma Hayek has fabulous range and has really been showing it in recent years. She's lumped in with the "pretty" actresses but deserves much, much more credit.
Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
OSC-fan: How about we move this discussion to the other thread so that we don't disrupt this one.
Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :
I'm no claiming that you started that thread. because I know that it was Anna. But you, or someone using your name started another thread before that announcing that you were leaving hatrack and that any questions could be directed at katharina.
I just wanna figure out what's going on. Come on over here and let's talk about it. And if you don't, then you shouldn't be surprised if people don't believe you.
[ March 11, 2004, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: St. Yogi ]
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
I've got another one. I was just watching Gattaca again, and I realized that Tony Shalhoub had a part in it. I'd never noticed that before. He's always in movies, and I'm a big fan, but he's always so different that I sometimes don't even notice it.
I first saw him in Wings, where he played that Italian guy. That's what I associated him with, which is unlike anything else he's ever played, and that's why it took me so long to notice him in anything else. He's been in The Man Who Wasn't There, Men in Black, Gattaca, Galaxy Quest, Spy Kids, probably a bunch more stuff I've never seen him in, and, of course, Monk. You have to see him in a few roles to start noticing him, because you can become a huge fan of one of his roles and he'll totally diappear into his next character so much that you'll never believe it's the same guy.
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