I love these men, mostly in a platonic sense (*sigh* Jimmy Stewart), but you know what I mean. To me they're some of the most underutilized and/or underappreciated actors around (the exception, once again, being Jimmy Stewart who is, sadly, no longer with us and has actually been pretty appropriately revered, but I digress...). For no other reason then I was bored and felt like making a list of my favorite actors, here it is (in no particular order)...
A LIST OF MY FAVORITE (/MOST UNDERUTILIZED/UNDERAPPRECIATED) ACTORS!!!
I know I'm not alone in my love of Bill Murray. He's developed quite the cult following over the years, especially with his increasing number of haphazard encounters with civilians to whom he assures "no one will ever believe". But, honestly, how can you watch movies like Ghostbusters or--even the more recent--The Life Aquatic and not love this guy? Not only is he ridiculously charming and witty, but he seems super amiable and unapologetically himself.
Best Director Pairing: Wes Anderson
GO WATCH THESE NOW!
Exceptional Leads: Dr. Peter Venkman - Ghostbusters, Wallace Ritchie - The Man Who Knew Too Little, Herman Blume - Rushmore, Steve Zissou - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Frank Quinn - Get Low
Best Supporting: Dr. Raleigh St. Clair - The Royal Tenenbaums, Walt Bishop - Moonrise Kingdom
King of Cameos: Agent 13 - Get Smart, Arthur Denton - Little Shop of Horrors, and --of course-- Bill Murray - Zombieland
Christoph Waltz...oh, Christoph Waltz. He's still fairly new to American cinema, but I love this man in everything I see him in. Whether he's hunting Jews or murdering slavers, he's just seems so damn pleasant and likeable. Heck, I even liked him in the less than awesome Green Hornet. I can't place my finger on what exactly it is that I find so endearing about his performances--there's definitely an effortless and unarming ease about him as soon as he starts speaking--, but he is absolutely enthralling to watch on screen.
Best Director Pairing: Quentin Tarantino
GO WATCH THESE NOW!
Tarantino-Enlisted Murderer: Hans Landa - Inglourious Basterds and Dr. King Schultz - Django Unchained
Should Webster's ever decide to include BAMF in their lexicon, there would, no doubt, be a picture of Tim Roth under the definition. He has a tangible fierceness in pretty much all that he does, but--much like an onion--underneath that layer is...another layer of ferosity and bad assedness, BUT underneath that layer, he has a surprisingly touching vulnerability about him that allows his audience to instantly empathize.
Best Director Pairing: Quentin Tarantino
GO WATCH THESE NOW!
Standout Star: Guildenstern (or is it Rosencrantz) - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Mr. Orange - Reservoir Dogs, Pumpkin - Pulp Fiction (not a huge part, but just goes to show how fantastic he is in any size role he's given), and Dr. Cal Lightman - Lie to Me
Jason Schwartzman is essentially "the girl next door"...if that girl is an awkwardly charming, undeniably witty, bearded man-child. Much like Mr. Murray, he's truly at his best when paired with Wes Anderson, as his gift for quirky, deadpan humor is magnificent. Also, much like Christoph Waltz, he has a certain innate likeability about him that will make you smile as soon as he pops on screen.
Best Director Pairing: Wes Anderson
GO WATCH THESE NOW!
Hello, Mister Anderson: Max Fischer - Rushmore, Jack - Darjeeling Limited, Ash - Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Cousin Ben - Moonrise Kingdom
Everything Else: Gideon Graves - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Mark Taylor Jackson - Funny People (Extra Credit: cameo as Ringo in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story)
I LOVE JAMES STEWART. Mention him, and--in no short amount of words--I will tell you this...as well as his life story. For instance, did you know that he was so passionate about serving his country in the armed forces that when he was denied entry because he was short the minimum weight by 5lbs, he went out and ate enough to push him over? Just so he could protect our country! How could you not love him? As for his acting, you will be hard-pressed to find a screen actor as truly genuine and congenial as Jimmy Stewart. He is the proverbial everyman and is absolutely fantastic in every role in which he's cast.
Best Director Pairing: Frank Capra (Runner Up: Alfred Hitchcock)
GO WATCH THESE NOW!
GO WATCH THESE NOW!
Everything He Does is Perfect: George Bailey - It's a Wonderful Life, Jefferson Smith - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Macaulay Connor - The Philadelphia Story, Elwood P. Dowd - Harvey, Jeff - Rear Window, John Ferguson - Vertigo, and--last but not least--Wylie - An American Tale: Fievel Goes West ;)
That's all for now, folks!
mjl.
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