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Post by mikef6 on Jan 12, 2018 17:52:55 GMT
I am offering this as the other side of the coin to the “Great Hams” thread. I want to hear who are the actors whose style is understated. In thinking about this, the first person who popped into my head is Robert Mitchum. Was there any movie star actor as laid-back as Mitch? Watching him frame to frame in just about any picture, he almost always keeps a neutral face and steady voice. You might be led to think that he is monotonous, one-note. Yet by the end, you come away knowing he created a memorable character. This is true even in a film with an unusual tone like “Night Of The Hunter.” He may be a little more demonstrative, a little more physical, in tune with the fantasy world of that story.
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Post by politicidal on Jan 12, 2018 18:42:03 GMT
Yeah, couldn't agree more about Mitchum. Now some may say they're pulling the best of both worlds as a 'cold ham' but either Clint Eastwood or Lee Van Cleef looked perfectly at home in their respective roles and scenes together in the last two 'No Name' westerns. Another could be Steve McQueen in The Great Escape or Papillon.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jan 12, 2018 18:48:49 GMT
Harrison Ford's name came up in a discussion of this very thing the other day.
He seems to be one of those actors who "inhabit" the character and become who they are playing.
Agree totally with the previous mentioned.
This is difficult because the really great ones all are not "caught acting" most / much of the time.
John Wayne is often down graded for "always playing himself" ... but watch him in something like Liberty Valance with the sound off ... he says more just listening than many do hollering and posturing and emoting.
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Post by politicidal on Jan 12, 2018 18:57:39 GMT
Harrison Ford's name came up in a discussion of this very thing the other day. He seems to be one of those actors who "inhabit" the character and become who they are playing. $&#@! Forgot about Ford! To me, he always seemed the last of those type of American actors that even if not consciously, they fulfilled the same role as Bogart or Lancaster. |
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Post by mikef6 on Jan 12, 2018 19:49:40 GMT
Yeah, couldn't agree more about Mitchum. Now some may say they're pulling the best of both worlds as a 'cold ham' but either Clint Eastwood or Lee Van Cleef looked perfectly at home in their respective roles and scenes together in the last two 'No Name' westerns. Another could be Steve McQueen in The Great Escape or Papillon. I like the comment from a 1991 reviewer comparing Scorsese’s just-out “Cape Fear,” with the film it is a remake of, a popular 1962 thriller with Mitchum as a vengeful convict. He said something like, “Robert Mitchum exudes more menace just by showing up than DeNiro can muster for all his Method huffing and puffing.” |
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Post by mikef6 on Jan 12, 2018 19:51:04 GMT
Harrison Ford's name came up in a discussion of this very thing the other day. He seems to be one of those actors who "inhabit" the character and become who they are playing. Agree totally with the previous mentioned. This is difficult because the really great ones all are not "caught acting" most / much of the time. John Wayne is often down graded for "always playing himself" ... but watch him in something like Liberty Valance with the sound off ... he says more just listening than many do hollering and posturing and emoting. I love your including John Wayne and the frequently heard “plays himself” remark. Admittedly, the Duke was a huge star with an image and many of his films, esp. during his last couple of decades making movies (although he did several good ones during that period as well) were written to capitalize on that image (or to spoof it) – which may be part of the “plays himself” problem. Nevertheless, he is a perfect fit for this thread. |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jan 13, 2018 2:37:12 GMT
Found this video that seems to possibly fit here.... many faces, many voices, rather a chameleon actor who was able to make one laugh, cry, get angry. Occasionally "hammy" when the role seemed to call for it.
Usually at least "interesting", even in the clunkers.
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Post by koskiewicz on Jan 13, 2018 17:41:46 GMT
Steve McQueen in Bullitt...
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Post by jervistetch on Jan 13, 2018 18:08:59 GMT
Paul Newman in many of his films, especially in COOL HAND LUKE. His quiet, can't-be-bothered demeanor somehow brings me to tears.  |
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Post by Geddy on Jan 13, 2018 18:21:38 GMT
I am offering this as the other side of the coin to the “Great Hams” thread. I want to hear who are the actors whose style is understated. In thinking about this, the first person who popped into my head is Robert Mitchum. Was there any movie star actor as laid-back as Mitch? Watching him frame to frame in just about any picture, he almost always keeps a neutral face and steady voice. You might be led to think that he is monotonous, one-note. Yet by the end, you come away knowing he created a memorable character. This is true even in a film with an unusual tone like “Night Of The Hunter.” He may be a little more demonstrative, a little more physical, in tune with the fantasy world of that story. Yul Brynner comes to mind for me as he had a steely face of rock and could pierce you by just opening his mouth. |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jan 13, 2018 18:57:37 GMT
jervistetch have you seen Newman in Nobody's Fool ? amazin'
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Post by jervistetch on Jan 13, 2018 21:59:18 GMT
Yes, BAT. I loved him in that. Probably his last great role.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jan 14, 2018 1:38:45 GMT
Kevin Kline ... another chameleon character becomer ! Dave (!) Otto - Wanda Harold - The Big Chill Assorted Shakespeare Paden - Silverado Nathan - Sophie's Choice another amazin' actor you don't see acting(imo)
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Jan 16, 2018 10:31:44 GMT
Alicia Vikander is a master of the ‘micro-expressions’. Not only are they discussed in the movie Ex Machina, but she also displays them herself in the movie as well as other things I’ve seen her in.      And as mentioned in another thread, she gave an excellent performance in the movie Testament of Youth. |
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