It must be hard showing up in any number of movies where the average popcorn eater will vaguely recognise you, but not remember your name, nor be able to remember where they saw you. These are the "character actors" or better the "stars of Independent / low budget cinema". Occasionally they get a supporting role in a more mainstream movie, so perhaps Oscar will come calling eventually?
1. John Turturro – maybe he is easing into the mainstream with his role in the “Transformers” movies but I still think of the excellent Turturro enhancing this diverse group of movies: “Do The Right Thing”, “Barton Fink”, “Fearless”, “Quiz Show”, “The Big Lebowski”, “Rounders”, “The Luzhin Defence”, and “Margot at the Wedding”. He deserves a nomination!
2. Christina Ricci – she plays in a curious mix of movies, and as with “Monster” alongside Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, could put herself in a position to pick up a nomination in the future. Highlights include “The Ice Storm”, “Buffalo ‘66”, “Sleepy Hollow”, and “Prozac Nation”.
3. Stanley Tucci – a role in Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones” could push him in the Academy’s direction. “Big Night”, “The Terminal”, and “The Devil Wears Prada” are all highlights.
4. Hope Davis – blessed with a voice for irksome characters (such as in “About Schmidt” and “American Splendor”), she’s also had a good run in “Hearts in Atlantis”, “The Secret Lives of Dentists”, “Proof”, “The Weather Man”, and “Infamous”.
5. Sam Rockwell – consistently excellent in his slightly wacky performances. He could be a good bet for a Supporting Actor nomination based on previous form: “Lawn Dogs”, “The Green Mile”, “Galaxy Quest”, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”, “Matchstick Men”, and “The Assassination of Jesse James”.
6. Steve Buscemi – as the line goes in “Fargo”, he’s “kinda funny looking”, but fun to watch. He made a mark in “Reservoir Dogs”, and through “Pulp Fiction”, “Trees Lounge”, “Con Air”, and “Ghost World” he has always been notable.
7. Adam Goldberg – I knew him from “Saving Private Ryan” and “A Beautiful Mind”, but “Zodiac” and particularly “Two Days in Paris” with Julie Delpy brought him to my attention as a good character actor.
8. Sarah Polley – she was excellent in “The Sweet Hereafter” and “The Claim”, plus has already been Oscar nominated for her Adapted Screenplay of the Julie Christie movie “Away From Her” that she directed. Will an acting nod follow?
9. Jason Schwartzman – his debut “Rushmore” raised high hopes, and his quirky on and off screen persona could be rewarded in future. Check out “The Darjeeling Limited”, “Shopgirl”, and “Marie Antoinette”.
10. Oliver Platt – he always manages to make me laugh, so I’ll assume a future nomination would be a wildly popular choice! “Pieces of April” is a personal highlight.
Honourable Mention:
Maria Bello
Nicky Katt
Norah Jones
Barry Pepper
Rachel McAdams
Luis Guzman
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Amber Tamblyn
Paul Rudd
Hugo Weaving
Campbell Scott
Peter Berg
Judy Greer
Bob Balaban
Parker Posey
Peter Dinklage
Bruce Greenwood
Aidan Quinn
Mary Louise Parker
Alan Cumming
No comments:
Post a Comment