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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 25, 2019 2:48:08 GMT
In his review for Firefox 1982, Leonard Maltin said Freddie Jones deserved the "Charles Laughton award for eccentric performance." I don't think Charles Laughton was all that eccentric in his acting. Jones, yes definitely.
When I think eccentric, I mean actors who seem to be in their own world or have a quirky-flighty quality that might even be considered scene-stealing but I don't consider it the same thing. I mean, they simply have so many quirks you wouldn't think of them doing a performance that was unassuming.
Miles Malleson would come to mind first. Completely off in his own world in any movie I have watched with him in it.
I watched a movie that had Tisha Sterling in it--she qualifies to a degree, although she is stoic when it comes to Anjanette Comer, the best woman example I can think of.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 3:35:28 GMT
...actors who seem to be in their own world or have a quirky-flighty quality that might even be considered scene-stealing ... they simply have so many quirks you wouldn't think of them doing a performance that was unassuming. ^^^^^^^ Describes Charles Laughton to a T  |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 3:38:03 GMT
How's about Robert Newton ?
more modern
Nicolas Cage
Timothy Carey
Jim Carrey
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 25, 2019 3:59:53 GMT
A lot of supporting players from the classic era had eccentric, even flamboyant, styles that added flair and interest in both A and B pictures. One such actor that seems to be turning up a lot lately in the noir and B-crime films I been watching lately is Byron Foulger. He is often in charge of something, an office, a store, or in "Union Station" (which I review in the current weekly thread) is the head of the baggage check counter at the title train station. Foulger is usually uppity and officious and coded gay.
Many other such actors can be named: Joe E. Brown, Hugh Herbert, Edna Mae Oliver, Whit Bissel are just a few.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 4:19:23 GMT
Byron Foulger For the benefit of those who (like me) know the face but not the name  .jpg) .jpg) Oh yeah .. him !  347 Feature films and 100+ tv !
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 25, 2019 5:54:29 GMT
...actors who seem to be in their own world or have a quirky-flighty quality that might even be considered scene-stealing ... they simply have so many quirks you wouldn't think of them doing a performance that was unassuming. ^^^^^^^ Describes Charles Laughton to a T I don't agree. He still seemed to be in the story--the seriousness of the situation was not overridden by his quirks. I.e. in SPARTACUS when Crassus announces he is going to leave the government, Laughton has a subtle look of concern like he knows it's going to end badly. Also, he sits back and lets Peter Ustinov "do his thing." Ustinov is another example of one who is in his own world like Malleson. The scene where Laughton says "you've come to teach" he's very subdued and disappointed.
If Freddie Jones did it, he would be throwing his head around and making pouty gestures of regret (not a criticism of Jones, just saying the eccentricity would be much more obvious).
I can see why Maltin compared him to Laughton since he has center stage speech-making moments in Firefox like Laughton did in Spartacus but Jones is way more eccentric.
Jeff Goldblum is another.
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Post by SuperDevilDoctor on Mar 25, 2019 6:00:21 GMT
Klaus Kinski.
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Post by pimpinainteasy on Mar 25, 2019 8:56:04 GMT
michael madsen
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Post by sostie on Mar 25, 2019 11:46:19 GMT
Nicolas Cage instantly springs to mind. Maybe Gene Wilder.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 11:47:41 GMT
Prime etc.glad you mentioned Jeff Goldblum he was the other actor I was going to mention in my earlier post with four suggestions.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 25, 2019 15:22:52 GMT
I don't include Nicholas Cage because I think he is a bad actor. His eccentricities completely override the performance.
I think there is a difference between overacting and scene stealing (which is usually a conscious thing).
Tempted to say Julianne Moore as another example of eccentric acting style.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 15:36:52 GMT
Prime etc.have you seen Laughton in much other than Spartacus? Like maybe Mutiny on the Bounty and Witness for the Prosecution and Island of Lost Souls ? If not, he's worth looking for. Laughton Filmography
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 15:41:55 GMT
OT But …. found this article about eccentric ACTORS as opposed to ECCENTRIC PERFORMANCES … it's more about their off screen personas, which often seem like they are acting even tho' there is no camera or script ! screenrant.com/most-eccentric-weird-actors/
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Post by wmcclain on Mar 25, 2019 16:48:30 GMT
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 25, 2019 17:17:26 GMT
Prime etc. have you seen Laughton in much other than Spartacus? Like maybe Mutiny on the Bounty and Witness for the Prosecution and Island of Lost Souls ? If not, he's worth looking for. Laughton Filmography Seen two of those. And Hunchback of Notre Dame.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 17:28:20 GMT
fwiw, Prime etc., Laughton seems more "restrained" in Spartacus than in many of his other films. |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 25, 2019 17:36:29 GMT
fwiw, Prime etc. , Laughton seems more "restrained" in Spartacus than in many of his other films. But the fact that he could be suggests he was not so eccentric as some of the others!
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 25, 2019 17:41:36 GMT
Prime etc. This may be one of those open to interpretation / subjective things as there doesn't seem to be a clear cut definitive definition of the term "eccentric performancer" or "eccentric performance" or "eccentric acting style". May be an "eye of the beholder" concept.
Did Maltin define what he meant by "Charles Laughton award for eccentric performance." ? EDIT .. would think that eccentricity will also vary from role to role and between genres and directors . In some places a more standard approach to acting would be the way to go. Some directors will curb the natural inclinations of an actor (or try to). Jack Nicholson is leaning more to the eccentric side with his over-use of his Jack Quirks and Smirks !
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Post by london777 on Mar 25, 2019 17:56:13 GMT
I don't include Nicholas Cage because I think he is a bad actor. A perennial debate. He has certainly totted up a huge number of horrible performances in awful movies. But he has also scored some great (or, at least, appropriate) performances in fine films. Can a bad actor do that? Perhaps he can. I really do not know. Great thread topic, by the way, PP. I will, submit my suggestions as I come across them. The old memory does not function well enough for instant recall these days.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 25, 2019 18:15:22 GMT
Did Maltin define what he meant by "Charles Laughton award for eccentric performance." ? EDIT .. would think that eccentricity will also vary from role to role and between genres and directors . In some places a more standard approach to acting would be the way to go. Some directors will curb the natural inclinations of an actor (or try to). Jack Nicholson is leaning more to the eccentric side with his over-use of his Jack Quirks and Smirks ! It is subjective--I don't see Nicholson as eccentric in the same way--I feel he overacts when he does those crazy things (although in the case of the Shining, it seemed like he may have been told to do it plus he was trying to act schizophrenic too so...). He seemed fairly normal in the interview but then started to act weird when they were driving up. But then he acted normal again when Danny gets injured and he is supposed to check out the room.
I wouldnt call it an acting eccentricity since he can control it.
Now in the case of Firefox I know exactly what Maltin was referring to--Jones goes into these little speechy rants which is very similar to Laughton in some scenes in Spartacus when he addresses the senate. But, his entire performance is eccentric and I have seen Jones in many other things where he is doing similar things-weird little expressions, head posture, mouth movements. I think there may be one film (with Oliver Reed and Ian McShane where he controls it but I haven't seen it in a while and I suspect he is his usual eccentric self as he isn't in it for long).
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