Topic: The Movie Thread

@nessisonett Lol, well, I mean, he doesn't shout his way through every movie but yeah, I can see him being a bit overrated.

I actually thought of Mahershala Ali when writing my post (as a favourite, not overrated). He is really good as any character he plays even if some of the things I've seen him in aren't that good.

Olivia Colman just comes off as someone who can play posh British and that's about it. Though the only things I've seen her in that's exactly what she's been so maybe it's to her credit I find her so believable.

No comment on Nic Cage.

I hear you about directors though. That's a good point.

@zupertramp It’s funny actually Olivia Colman being known for playing posh because she really really isn’t. She’s from Bristol and has a proper West Country accent and is a great comedy actress first and foremost, with roles in shows like Peep Show, Green Wing and Fleabag. It was probably Broadchurch that brought her into the public’s eye as a huge talent on the dramatic side of things too. A movie worth watching with her in it is Tyrannosaur, a hugely unflinching and brutal movie but worth a watch. She was great in the Les Misérables TV show that wasn’t a musical, because the musical is rubbish 😂😂

@zupertramp I've always liked Sam Rockwell. For example, if you watch him in The Green Mile, then Moon and finally in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - three completely different performances, and other actors might struggle to deliver just one of them. He nails all three. Massively versatile and under-rated actor in my opinion

I’ve always adored Harrison Ford, but it’s likely bias from being a Star Wars and Indiana Jones nerd. But I like him in just every role he takes from Call of the Wild to Ender’s Game and back to Blade Runner and American Graffiti.
I also really like Christian Bale. I know his Bruce Wayne / Batman isn’t popular around here, but he’s really great in films like Ford v Ferrari, The Prestige, and fantastic in Resuce Dawn. I know he’s a prima donna and difficult to work with, according to reports, but I love how he jumps into his roles.

Others: Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, Robert Redford, Ian McKellen, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Liam Neeson...
Actresses: Jennifer Connelly, Rachel McAdams, Julianne Moore, Sigourney Weaver, Scarlett Johannsen...

As for actors/actresses I just don’t understand the hype for — Will Smith is a good shout. Also no comment on Nic Cage 😄. And although I like him, I’ve always felt Denzel Washington was a bit overrated. Also overrated: Jack Nicholson, Samuel L Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Hopkins, Forrest Whittaker, Sandra Bullock, and Amy Adams. How ‘bout that for some controversial opinion!

[braces for the pitchforks]

@nessisonett @zupertramp Tyrannosaur is a phenomenal, moving and powerful film.

When was younger, I use to flat out refuse to watch a film if there was someone starring in it who I disliked. Charlize Thereon and her huge neck was one I seem to remember. 😂 These days I'm a lot more open minded when it comes to actors and will watch anyone. It is more types of films these day. Like I won't watch any romantic dramas or musicals.

In terms of favourite actors, that does change a lot. I like Vigo Mortensen. He doesn't appear in a awful lot and I don't think I've seen him give a bad performance.

@Th3solution Even as someone who’s not big on Christian Bale, outside of a few roles, he was really great in Ford vs Ferrari/Le Mans 66. I’m not really into Matt Damon either but again he was great in the movie too, which maybe just says more about the writers and director.

@Gremio108 @JohnnyShoulder @Th3solution Mortensen, Rockwell, and Bale are all very good calls imo. All very much able to embody the character without overshadowing the role.

I'd add Casey Affleck. He and Bale both in Out of the Furnace. Then throw in the highly underrated Woody Harrelson and the ever consistent Dafoe and you've got an incredibly well acted film. So good.

Love Rachel McAdams. Easily comes off as absolute sweetheart or absolute badass and anything in between. Emily Blunt seems to accomplish this somehow too which always impresses me for some reason. Probably have to add Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams to my list of female actors as well.

Also I'll watch just about anything with Fassbender or Daniel Bruhl.

@JohnnyShoulder I might have to track down Tyrannosaur then.

And funny you mention Theron as I have a friend in the video game industry who said she was an absolute complicated mess to deal with while making Æon Flux. Kinda lowered my opinion of her, even though I try not to let whoever they are as people color my opinion. She is really good in Monster and I love Fury Road so I'm not entirely opposed to her or anything.

@zupertramp Theron is definitely one I’ve heard some colourful stuff about while on set but it’s not affected my opinion of her performances, which are mostly great in the movies I’ve seen. It’s not like she’s a Kevin Spacey, just difficult on set like Christian Bale to a similar extent.

@RogerRoger Very true! One of the best action stars out there who just happens to very publicly believe in the extraterrestrial precursor races.

Yeah can't deny his talent. Wouldn't consider him a favorite but even in smaller, more dramatic roles he's always on point. Magnolia comes to mind.

@zupertramp Tyrannosaur is a bleak watch as a bit of a forewarning. Directed by Paddy Considine, who would be one of my underrated actors. And was also in Dead Man's Shoes to bring it back to Toby Kebbel lol.

@JohnnyShoulder Bleak is like my favourite genre so now I'll definitely have to find it.

Tyrannosaur, huh? Never heard of it.

So I went to Wikipedia and looked at the beginning of the plot summary...

LOL I'm out. First sentence, too. That's a record.

Anyway, actors...

My favorite would probably be Denzel Washington. Dunno what it is about the man, but I've enjoyed virtually every one of his performances. He's incredibly masculine, but almost mever in a toxic way. There's a quiet dignity to him even in his most pathetic roles. He steals the show regardless of whether he's playing the hero or villain.

Best would probably be Daniel Day-Lewis. He really does a remarkable job disappearing into his roles. I'm just not a huge fan of most of the films he's starred in, so it's harder to appreciate his talents.

It would honestly be easier to list actors I didn't like because I like so many. I'd probably have to divvy the actors I like up into categories and give you ten for each.

As for actors that people have mentioned, I used to be a huge fan of will smith from fresh Prince onwards but there was a point where is ego caught up with his fame and it actually affected the quality of his work. Dumb stuff like only wanting to be the star of the film or only wanting to be in films if Jaden Smith had a role - after earth being the worse offender. Also just offering a teenage Jaden Smith up to celebrity culture was just embarrassing. There are YouTube videos of Will Smith encouraging his son to just say the dumbest stuff in TV interviews.

Toby Kebbel and Paddy Considine are great, the latter especially because he has shown great diversity from something like Dead Man's shoes to Hot Fuzz.

I don't think I've seen that much of Charlize Theron but she was really great in a million ways to die in the west which I watched recently. It's actually a pretty good movie despite all the negative reviews.

Schwarzenegger is one of my favourites, especially his work with Jim Cameron who just knows how to use him properly in stuff like Terminator and True Lies.

I'm a big fan of Scarlett Johansson, she really can just make any movie watchable even if it is terrible.

Paul Bettany is actually one of my favourite actors from when I first saw him in Gangster No. 1. Him eventually becoming the Vision in the MCU was just brilliant casting.

Tom Hardy is great as I've said, stuff like Lawless (I think that's what it's called) and Legend are great examples of him losing himself in to roles. His Ronny Kray really explains what he was trying to go for with Bane too. Like you can contextualise the bizarre Bane performance by watching Legend.

Clint Eastwood is just great, Gran Torino is one of my favourite films.

I'm a big fan of Chris Morris but I don't know if it's just because he writes most of his own roles, and I'm not sure if he falls under comedian, obviously he wears many different hats.

Will Ferrell is brilliant on the American comedy side of things, I end up loving most of his movies.

Liam Neeson, I could really go on for ages with actors that I love.

I have to give a shout out to some predominantly TV actors too, Terry O'Quinn from the X files related shows and Lost. In fact most of the cast of the Star Treks especially Geri Ryan, Jolene Blalock, Pat Stewart, Leanord Nimoy, Avery Brooks (again I could go on and on). Also most of the cast of Lost and Fringe especially Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Dan Faraday....Walter Bishop... Ok I've stopped remembering the actors names now because they were just so good as their characters!

Also I'd want to give a shout out to Steve McFadden in EastEnders, he could be a Hollywood actor but he seems to be happy with his lot. Every storyline that drastically changes Phil Mitchell, he just falls into brilliantly. He's got great range considering he only plays one character

I will say on Bale as Batman, I feel like he is actually the best Batman even if he's not my favourite. Again he really loses himself in the role and I believe he is Bruce Wayne whereas with other actors I see Michael Keaton or Ben Affleck or Val Kilmer etc

@ralphdibny Good to see I’m not the only one who liked Bale’s rendition of Wayne/Batman; and I’ll agree he’s better in the Bruce Wayne role than when he’s wearing the cowl.

Good shout for Clint Eastwood and Evangeline Lilly, two that I would have to include on my list as well. I’m mesmerized whenever either is on screen.

While on the DCU subject - finally got around to seeing Joker this weekend and it’s quite remarkable, as many have said. Amazingly put together to make you empathize with Arthur’s situation. Gives off a vibe that’s bleak and yet strangely optimistic at the same time. The way the villain/hero roles kind of reverse is quite interesting. Or rather that the antagonist actually truly is a broken, cruel, and greedy society... just really amazingly done. Anyways, it definitely elevated Joaquin Phoenix in my mind. I’ve never been a huge fan of his, but this performance was simply exceptional. Don’t know how he’ll ever top it.

@ralphdibny Yeah you win. Phil Mitchell, absolute legend. Wonder who beat the living s**t out of Ian Beale, it’s gonna be a good whodunnit.

@nessisonett lol I'm not caught up, I haven't watched it since before lockdown 😭

@Th3solution I loved joker so much. I was having such a crummy few weeks at work and I went to see joker and found it strangely cathartic 😅, my partner came out of the cinema feeling uneasy and disconcerted and I came out totally satisfied 😂

I think batman begins really helped Bales Batman in that it's actually about Batman if you know what I mean, instead of just Batman fighting whatever the goon of the week is. I think Bale had some yuppy practice from his turn as Pat Bateman in American Psycho too which is actually one of my favourite films.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention Clive Owen and David Thewlis who are both class acts. I've been a big fan of Owen since The Croupier and Thewlis again from Gangster No. 1

@JohnnyShoulder Tyrannosaur is an excellent watch. I can't unsee Peter Mullan as the role he played in that film.

I watched the War of the Worlds remake this weekend, which I found quite a bit worse than the time I saw it in the cinema. Disjointed, unlikeable characters and an absolutely awful melodramatic ending.

@ShaiHulud To be fair, the adaptation for TV was utter pants as well. I’m beginning to think that it just suits book/radio form way over filmed.