Thursday, November 29, 2012

In Character: Which Actors Deserve More Work?


I don’t usually make a point of repurposing lists from mainstream movie sites on this blog – that’s what Twitter is for. But a recent list from The Playlist is simply too good to ignore.

Their list, titled 10 Undervalued Actors Who Deserve To Get More Work, was published yesterday afternoon and aims to draw attention to excellent actors whose faces are known, but names are largely overlooked. 

A little over a year ago, I started my column In Character solely to draw attention to such people. Today will mark my 40th In Character post, so I thought I’d change things up and ask the same essential question The Playlist did: which undervalued actors do you think deserve more work?

My Top 10 (many of which show up on The Playlist’s original tally) is below. Do feel free to tell me yours. And really, thanks so much for your support of this In Character column. I’m glad a lot of you enjoy putting names to the faces as much as I do!

Jennifer Connelly
It seems silly to include an Oscar-winning actress on this list, but The Playlist’s reasoning sold me. Because really, what the hell has happened to Jennifer Connelly? For four years in the late ‘90s-early ‘00s, Connelly had an unparalleled streak of hits that eventually resulted in Oscar gold. Inventing the Abbotts, Dark City, Walking the Dead, Requiem for a Dream, Pollock, and A Beautiful Mind all feature perfect Connelly performances. And then what? She’s excellent and fearless in House of Sand and Fog, steady in Little Children, and then nothing. I suppose you either love Dustin Lance Black’s Virginia or hate it, but how many people have even heard of that movie, let alone seen it? Maybe her work in Darren Aronofksy’s Noah will turn her career around. She totally deserves it.

Rosemarie DeWitt
I’ve been in love with Rosemarie DeWitt ever since she quietly broke my heart as the titular character in Rachel Getting Married. I thought she deserved an Oscar for her work, but many (including the nominating committee) disagreed. Since that film, I’ve gone out of my way to track her work, spotting her all-too-brief cameos in Cinderella Man, Rescue Me, Purple Violets, Mad Men, Afterschool and Margaret. She was darling in Your Sister’s Sister, and I’m thrilled by her recent Independent Spirit nomination, but she deserves to be a big big star.

Bruce Greenwood
In many of the reviews I’ve read for Flight, people have made specific mention of Greenwood’s subtle work in it, which is completely justified. My fascination for Greenwood’s delicate sensibilities started with his one-two punch of Rules of Engagement (playing a ruthless politician) and Thirteen Plays (playing the most famous politician). Since then, I’ve caught up on his flawless older work, including Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter, Double Jeopardy and... The Malibu Bikini Shop (don’t judge, that flick is a camp classic), and reveled in his current performances in Being Julia, Capote, I’m Not There and Meek’s Cutoff. J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek helped make him a household name; Flight accelerated that further. Now, let’s bring in some solid steady roles for a man who consistently gives it his all.


Frank Grillo
Thanks to his impeccable work in Warrior, The Grey and End of Watch, Grillo has been on a roll as of late. And for damn good reason. He’s charming, reliable, and a little unnerving in the best possible way. There’s a very brief moment in Warrior (that excellent, flawless work of contemporary art) when Joel Edgerton watches on TV from his locker room as Tom Hardy destroys a guy in the ring. Edgerton looks back and locks eyes with Grillo, who raises his eyebrows as if to say, “Yeah… it’s coming.” He raises his eyebrows, but he actually doesn’t raise his eyebrows. Try to make that facial expression in front of a mirror. It’s so small, so simple and so difficult. Give too much and the expression is laughably overblown. Hold too much back, and you’re doing nothing.

Grillo’s doing something all right. I just wish he had the chance to do more often.

Sally Hawkins
I’m sensing a trend. My captivation with most of the actors on this list started with That One Role. That performance that begs you to take notice and dive deeper. For Hawkins, it must be her courageous work in Mike Leigh’s criminally underrated Happy-Go-Lucky. An out-and-out comedy romp, Hawkins plays lead character Poppy as, well, a woman who lives her life exactly as the film’s title suggests. It was the best female performance I saw in 2008 (and that was a pretty solid year for female performances). The Golden Globes were nice enough to award her work, but with roles like Poppy, and work in An Education, Never Let Me Go, Made in Dagenham, Jane Eyre and more, Hawkins should be known by all.

Elias Koteas
I love every actor on this list, but only two of them, if forced to choose, would be among my Top 10 favorite actors currently working in film, period. One is Elias Koteas, the other we’ll get to next.

I love Koteas in everything, namely David Cronenberg’s Crash, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Fallen and Two Lovers, but really, there’s only one role that needs to act as evidence for the case in giving Koteas an A-list career. The role is Capitan Staros in Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line, and it is one of the best, most reserved, most gut wrenching performances I have ever seen. Koteas gives Staros such open levels of humility and vulnerability, that it can actually be quite uncomfortable to watch a times. This is a man lost amidst the chaos around him. And when he fights with Nick Nolte to get some of his dignity back, it’s a fight that is as harrowing as it is desperate. A truly masterful performance.


Campbell Scott
Count Campbell Scott as my other favorite actor on this list, a guy whose effortless charisma has forced me to seek out most all of his work. I love that Scott was given a rare opportunity to flex his work in a major blockbuster (playing Peter Parker’s father in this year’s The Amazing Spider-Man) but really, this man is a king of independent cinema. Best known for his iconic, groundbreaking turn in Roger Dodger, Scott has wowed me in a handful of other films: as a gay man living within the AIDS epidemic in Longtime Companion, a duped fool in The Spanish Prisoner, a husband trying survive a marriage in The Secret Lives of the Dentists, and oh so much more. I only wish I had the chance to see Scott’s work more often. The man’s talent warrants limitless roles.


Olivia Thirlby
Ever since getting lucky on a casting call for United 93, Olivia Thirlby has quietly and steadily asserted herself as a young indie powerhouse. Perhaps best known for playing Ellen Page’s wiseass best friend in Juno, she’s stolen scenes in The Wackness, New York, I Love You, Uncertainty, Bored to Death, and Margaret, while being the best part about lesser films like No Strings Attached, The Darkest Hour, and Dredd 3D. This year, she’s delivered two very solid performances in Being Flynn and the upcoming Nobody Walks. She’s young, talented and gorgeous, so, for the love of God, give her more great roles so she can speak to that.

Shea Whigham
If Shea Whigham makes even the slightest appearance in a film, I make it a point to highlight him specifically in my review. I simply love everything about his process, and ever since his shattering work in Tigerland, I’ve lobbied hard to make him as known as possible.

Hilariously stealing scenes in The Bad Lieutenant, The Lincoln Lawyer, Fast & Furious, Machete, and many more, there are really two sides to Whigham’s talent, both of which deserve their own recognition. There’s his unique comedy, and his soft intensity, evident in All the Pretty Girls, Boardwalk Empire, Take Shelter, Pride and Glory, and more. This year so far, he’s been whacked by Benicio Del Toro in Savages, hammed it up as Bradley Cooper’s brother in Silver Linings Playbook, and will soon pop up in Malick’s King of Cups and Scorsese’s The Wolf on Wall Street. Here’s to hoping this year and next propel him to higher status.


Jeffrey Wright
Taking 2012 off after stealing the show in 2011’s Source Code, The Ides of March and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, there is no actor on this list that is more deserving of more pronounced recognition than Jeffrey Wright. A chameleon who has seamlessly morphed himself into Jean Michel Basquiat, Martin Luther King, Colin Powell, Muddy Waters and many many more, there is simply no reason for a name like Jeffrey Wright to not be common knowledge among even the most carefree movie goer. 

Many know him as Felix Leiter in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Believe me, that role only scratches the surface of Wright’s range. There is far more to be discovered here.



Previous installments of In Character include:
Steve Buscemi
John Cazale
Don Cheadle
Patricia Clarkson
Cliff Curtis
Jeff Daniels
Viola Davis
Michael Clarke Duncan
Chiwetel Ejiofor
William Fichtner
Brendan Gleeson
Bruce Greenwood
Philip Baker Hall
Woody Harrelson
John Hawkes
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Richard Jenkins
Erland Josephson
Elias Koteas
Heath Ledger
the Cast of Lincoln
William H. Macy
Christopher McDonald
David Morse
Emily Mortimer
Gary Oldman
Guy Pearce
Kevin Pollak
Joe Pantoliano
John C. Reilly
Sam Rockwell
Campbell Scott
Michael Shannon
David Strathairn
Danny Trejo
Stanley Tucci
Shea Whigham
Ray Winstone
Jeffrey Wright

62 comments:

  1. I loved Jennifer Connelly in Blood Diamond as well but even that's quite a few years ago and yes, she deserves more. Rosemarie DeWitt. Yes. Please. I agree with Olivia Thirby as well but speaking of Juno, how about Ellen Page?

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    1. Page's is a good choice, but as much as I try to be a fan of hers... ah, I dunno. I love her in Hard Candy, and I thought she was good in Inception. But I'm not the biggest fan of Juno and To Rome With Love is one of the worst films I've ever seen. So... who knows ha.

      But DeWitt, yes please indeed!

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    2. Ok. Let me try to sell her a little more. :) Have you seen Peacock or An American Crime? Peacock is Cilian Murphy show yes but she is actually good in it. And even though I haven't seen To Rome with Love, I have to say I was disappointed to see the reaction. I was so happy for her when I heard the news. Alas !!

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    3. I have seen An American Crime, but I honestly don't remember it very well. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Page at all, I just think there are more unvalued actors out there, you know?

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  2. I have to agree on Campbell Scott, strictly based on his work in Roger Dodger and Longtime Companion. (The former film, by the way, I thank you for introducing me to.)

    My choice is kind of a cheat since she's been nominated for an Oscar twice, but she's still a damn good (and underappreciated) actress: Samantha Morton. I honestly don't know why she doesn't get a few good roles.

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    1. Oh my pleasure, I'm so pleased that I was able to introduce you to a great Scott performance.

      I think Morton is a completely fair choice. I would LOVE to see her in more great roles.

      Also, I need to thank you personally for your constant encouragement regarding this column. You're always one of the very first to comment, and have been a source of great subjects to cover. So really, thanks!

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    2. Oh, you're very welcome. They're great posts, and they give me new films to watch.

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  3. I have wondered what Jennifer Connelly has been up to in the last few years. She's so talented... would love to see more from her.

    Great work as always, man, really dig a lot of these choices.

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    1. Thanks! Connelly's career turn really is strange to me. I don't know she's not being offered the roles, or just not wanting to invest emotional energy in tough scripts. Either way: more please!

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  4. Totally agree with all of these choices. I, too, fell in love with Rosemarie DeWitt in Rachel Getting Married, and I always smile whenever I see her pop up in films. I really wish she was given a lot longer screen-time in Margaret.

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    1. Nice. So glad you liked DeWitt's work in Rachel Getting Married as much as I do. I was so thrilled when she popped up in Margaret, but yeah, I wanted moooore.

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  5. I agree with all of these choices. Especially Olivia Thirlby who I do love as I have a few ideas for her to be in but they're currently shelved at the moment.

    One actress that I wish would get more exposure though she is working is Jena Malone. Sure, she's going to be in those Hunger Games sequels but she's better than a lot of today's younger actors right now.

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    1. I love finding more Thirlby fans. Good stuff.

      Jena Malone had that same late '90s-early '00s surge, then kind of fell off. Really too bad. Recently, I liked her in Into the Wild, The Messenger, and that's about it. Definitely wouldn't mind seeing more of her.

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  6. Great post! I agree about every single person on the list but there is one actress in particular that I think is more underappreciated currently than any of those - Winona Ryder. She is stunning and so talented yet she is only in silly or obscure movies lately. I really hoped Black Swan would turn her career around but it's still not happening.

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    1. Thanks Sati! I'm right there with you (and you other two) about Ryder. I definitely thought her excellent work in Black Swan was going to bring her career back to life. Damn shame that that didn't happen.

      So... FOURTHED!

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  7. Didn't you get super excited when Shea Whigham appeared in "Silver Linings Playbook"? That's always a great moment, when a lesser known actor/actress you like that you didn't know was in something is suddenly there.

    My answer to this would simply be......Amy Ryan. For the love of GOD can we get that woman more roles and especially more roles deserving of her talent?

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    1. Dude, I fucking flipped when Whigham popped up in Silver Linings. I knew he was in it, but I didn't know his role. Great to see him there.

      Amy Ryan, shit man, I love her. I still think she should've won the Oscar for Gone Baby Gone, but yeah, I'd love to see her in more pressuring roles like that one. Loved her in In Treatment (and much more) as well.

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  8. Let's see... most of the cast of Mad Men should branch out more, especially Vincent Karthieser, Elizabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery. The only problem would for Slattery is that I really cannot imagine him as anyone other than Roger Sterling, he absolutely owns that role fully. Idris Elba REALLY needs either a new agent or to look harder for leading roles. I would love to see more of Allison Williams from Girls, her acting range of course... other than I love these choices. The most egregious for me is Paul Bettany, the man is just waiting for that role that will launch him into the stratosphere, the man is so good in absolute crap like Priest and the Tourist. He has a screen presence like no other, it is a crime that he doesn't get the roles that entails. Jennifer Connelly is one of the underrated performers ever, her work in House of Sand and Fog is the single most devastating female performance I've seen. Her expression in the rain all wet in the beginning and end... just nothing else to explain. Great idea and list.

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    1. Thanks man, glad you like the list!

      I agree with your Mad Men picks, just with the exception of Kartheiser. I actually think he is a terrible actor and slightly takes away from the show. He's never worked for me in that role.

      Now Slattery, yeah, I'm with you there. Although it'll definitely be hard for him to step out of Roger Sterling's shadow, I've enjoyed his small work in Sleepers, Traffic, Ed, Flags of Our Fathers, and especially K Street.

      Great picks all around: Williams, love to see more from her. Interesting thoughts on Bettany. I agree he deserves That Role. And Connelly in House of Sand and Fog is just devastating, isn't she?

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    2. Really? I think he's the third most accomplished on the cast... I know he's a hard character to sympathize with, but he is exactly what Draper and Sterling are, just without the charm or bravados. Yet he's also the most socially progressive amongst the partners. I think Kartheiser plays him as just a child in a man's world, learning the in and outs of the trade. He wants to be Don and Roger, just doesn't have any of the skills necessary. He probably comes off as reciting lines to you... because that's the point, it's just an act for him, it's not who he really is. He rejects his family's world, but couldn't have done anything without the money. I truly think he could've been a great guy, just not in advertising... that's why I sympathize with his character. He's always on the cusp of changing for the better, but the world he inhabits just doesn't allow for it. To each his own I guess, but he's the most complicated younger character on the show for me.

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    3. You know what... I've actually gone back and forth so many times if it is Kartheiser I don't like, or Pete Campbell. So perhaps I misspoke. For me to justly have that opinion of him, I need to see him in other roles. I've only ever seen him in In Time, where I felt he was playing a futuristic, richer version of Pete.

      All of your points are really solid and I, as always, appreciate your willingness to share your opinions in a kind, articulate way.

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  9. Great post. I will have to go with Sati on thos- Winona Ryder needs a comeback. Also I will talk about Josh Hartnett, just because my younger self worshipped him and he is actually a rather good actor who has just disappeared from people's minds.

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    1. Thanks! Josh Hartnett... another late '90s-early '00s talent that fell off. There's something weird about that.

      I really enjoyed his work in August, but I agree that he deserves some more meaty roles.

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    2. Oh dude, everyone from Scott Pilgrim deserves more work, most of all Kieran Culkin.

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    3. He was so good in Igby Goes Down. What happened to him?

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  10. Yes to all of these, except I need to dig into Scott's and Whigham's work. Dig the mentions of Thirlby's work in Being Flynn and Connelly's role in Virginia by the way. Quite liked both films and performances.

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    1. I cannot recommend the talents of both Campbell Scott and Shea Whigham's work enough. Start with Roger Dodger and Tigerland, respectively, and I think you'll be sold.

      You're actually the only other blogger that I've heard who as 1.) Seen Virginia, and 2.) Liked it. I thought Connelly was quirky and good in it. Just such a tiny film.

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    2. Those two are on my watchlist, so I'll give them a look after I catch up on more 2012 films.

      Haha. Yeah, it's very small. Good performances and script though. Nothing extraordinary, but more people should see it.

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    3. Yeah I'm busy crushing out remaining '12 flicks as well. Mostly garbage, but some good stuff in there.

      I agree. I had no idea it was on Netflix. Shame it didn't get a bigger theatrical push.

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  11. I definitely agree on Shea and Olivia. I always see something if Olivia is in it, and Shea is one of the most interesting people on Boardwalk Empire.

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    1. Nice, love the hell out of both of them. Two actors who I will watch anything in, regardless what the film/TV show is about.

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  12. Solid picks, although Sally Hawkins feels quite ubiquitous to me. I'm not worried about her career.

    2 others I can think of are Angela Bassett and Glenn Close.

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    1. And I need more Kerry Washington too. Can't think of any male actors right now.

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    2. Interesting about Hawkins. I haven't seen her in anything remotely substantial since Made in Dagenham (which I didn't even really like).

      Close and Washington... agree on both, but I've never seen their TV shows. Heard good things about Damages, haven't heard anything good or bad about Scandal. Bassett is incredible. What's Love Got To Do With It? Wow.

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  13. I'm 100% backing you up for Jennifer Connelly, Sally Hawkins and Jeffrey Wright, all fantastic actors. There are quite a few actors who I'd love to see in more movies, and a trio of fine Englishmen comes to mind: Clive Owen, Paul Bettany and Rufus Sewell- I love all three, and not only for their looks; I truly believe they are talented and charming.

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    1. So glad to hear you are a fan of Connelly, Hawkins and Wright.

      Clive is a great choice. I thought he really hit in the mid '00s with this like The Hire series, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Closer, Sin City, Inside Man, Children of Men... and then what? Half-hearted dramas and bad action flicks? Bummer.

      I've always been a Sewell fan as well. I think my favorite performance of his is as a douche husband in Paris, je t'aime. Love him there.

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  14. Hey do you think for your next In Character post you could do Peter Dinklage? I know thanks to GoT he has sort of become a house hold name but before that he was basically the go to guy whenever a movie needed a dwarf and of course he's great in The Station Agent.

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    1. Oh Dinklage is a really great choice. I've actually never seen Game of Thrones, so I'd feel obligated to at least watch some of that before I do a full post on him. Hmmm. Thanks so much for the recommendation!

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    2. No problem. And yes please do GoT is pretty great however if I had to choose between that and The Station Agent for his "best of the best" I would still go with Station Agent. Also while you're on GoT I think Sean Bean would be a really good choice (now he's become more famous for memes than for being an actor). Also it would be nice to see Bryan Cranston since when he's in films he's a great character actor.

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    3. Man, you're throwing me great stuff here. Bean and Cranston have both been on my list for a long while, but I definitely have some serious viewing to do. Thanks again!

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    4. Glad I could help. Also one last pick since you need more females....Emily Watson

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    5. Emily Watson. Sold. Expect that write-up in a little more than a week. Great pick. Maybe then you'll come back and actually tell me who you are ;-)

      Thanks again for all the recos!

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    6. lol sorry for the secrecy. I actually don't have a profile here I just randomly found your blogs a few months ago and have been lurking ever since. If you're interested we could exchange Facebooks since I'm always glad to have more film people on my FB.

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    7. Ha it's all good. You can scope me out on FB if you want. I use Twitter a lot more though...

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  15. Bruce Greenwood is awesome. His JFK in Thirteen Days makes that movie, and he's a steady supporting presence in so many movies. He brings weight to mainstream fare like Star Trek and can sell a crazy character like Meek in Meek's Cutoff.

    There are lots of great picks here, Alex. Olivia Thirlby is very solid; I just watched her in Being Flynn and was reminded by how good she is. Campbell Scott doesn't get enough big roles; seeing him in a brief part in The Amazing Spider-Man reminded me of that. Frank Grillo was one of the best parts of Warrior, and he brought a lot to The Grey.

    Great list!

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    1. Thanks Dan! I remember you being a Greenwood fan, and I love that. Thanks so much for voicing your appreciation for him again here!

      Couldn't agree more about your thoughts on Thirlby, Scott and Grill - all great, all deserve more.

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  16. Great post! I definitely agree on Jennifer Connelly and Sally Hawkins. I think my favorite Sally Hawkins roles are in Happy Go Lucky and Fingersmith.

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    1. Nice, glad you like the list! Fingersmith... I need to hunt that one down.

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  17. Love seeing Bruce Greenwood on here, he's been one of my favourite what you might call 'third-tier' actors ever since seeing the preview for Thirteen Days way back when. Never fails to deliver.

    Jeffrey Wright is, quite simply, a superstar. First came to my attention in Shaft, and walked away with an otherwise unmemorable film. You could easily make the case that he's the best part of every movie he's been in. His delivery of "James...move your ass" in Quantum of Solace is all but the single high point of the movie.

    Andre Braugher brings a quiet dignity to all he does, Jim Caviezel seems to have fallen off the radar, and Rebecca Hall was hot for a year or two but must be seen much more.

    I always enjoy seeing Will Patton's name in the opening credits, like what he brings. Could see more of Steve Zahn too.

    The daddy of them all is probably Delroy Lindo, criminally underseen in recent years. Magnetic on-screen presence, dripping with cool.

    That's about it for me, but while on favourites, I just want to state that I would love to live in a world where Don Cheadle and Stanley Tucci were in every single film. You could never get tired of watching these two mix it up.

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    1. Epic comment. Love your thoughts on the fellas I chose and love all of your picks as well. For my In Character write-up on Wright, I called his Peoples from Shaft his best performance. Incredible, career launching work.

      Braugher: did you see the FX miniseries Thief? Holy shit, he's amazing in that.

      Rebecca Hall, love her.

      My Steve Zahn write-up is out Wednesday! Dude has so much undervalued talent.

      Also a huge fan of Lindo, his work in Malcolm X is remarkable.

      "If you can put Don Cheadle in your movie, then put Don Cheadle in your movie." Damn right.

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    2. Never saw Thief, I don't get to as much TV these days, will see if I can check it out. First noticed Braugher in Gideon's Crossing when I was a teenager.

      Awesome, can't wait for the Zahn piece (hoping Out of Sight will be in there).

      Haha, the best featurette comment ever!

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    3. Thief came out a few years ago ('06 I think), and only made it 6 episodes. I think they wanted to run it as a series, but audience disinterest made them scrap it. Either way, he's great there.

      Gotta have Glenn from Out of Sight. Gotta.

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  18. Some great selections Alex! Elias Koteas is definitely one that stands out - I seem to have seen him in so many films but often the films themselves don't live up to the performance he gives.

    Giovanni Ribisi is always an actor I think of when contemplating this topic. He's a really talented actor and he hasn't had the juicy lead roles.

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    1. Thanks man! I completely agree about Koteas - he is often far better than the films he's in, which is a real shame.

      I'd love to see Ribisi in better, more substantial roles. I thought he was the only worthy part of The Rum Diary.

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  19. I thought I posted this comment but I guess not. Here goes:

    If there's one guy I'd like to see more often, it's probably Sam Rockwell. I know he's in a steady amount of films, but I really wish he'd get something big to call his own. I may have mentioned this already when you did a write up on him. :)

    Rosemarie DeWitt is great in The United States of Tara. Ever watch it?

    Jennifer Connelly and Olivia Thirlby. YES.

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    1. Oh Rockwell... I'm right there with you. He definitely gets steady work, but I agree, I would love a starring Rockwell performance that sends him over the top. More Moon, if you will.

      Never seen United States of Tara, but would watch it just for her. No doubt.

      Connelly and especially Thirlby roooock.

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  20. I would definitely agree with Jennifer Connelly. But a few others I would add are Mary Elizabeth Winstead of Scott Pilgrim fame, who I think should be as big a star as Jennifer Lawrence and Patrick Wilson, who delivers tremendous work in films like The A-Team, Hard Candy, Watchmen, Angels in America, and even The Conjuring yet never gets the recognition he deserves.

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    1. Two great picks there. I really should cover Patrick Wilson in this column. I love all his work, particularly in Little Children. MEW is great as well. Her work in Smashed was incredible.

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