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Overlooked and Underrated
One of the great topics when discussing film is performance. Certain performances stand out above all others, remembered, awarded, classic. Brando in On the Waterfront. Gable in Gone with the Wind. These are the performances we look at as the definition of the art. However, there a dozens of performances that history and critics tend to overlook. Some so good that it was not appreciated until much later.
Underrated performances is a discussion worth having. If we don’t give them some props who will? Here are a few of my favorites, none of which received an Oscar nomination.
Robert Shaw - Jaws
This scene will live in infamy. The success of Jaws is due to its pitch perfect suspense, the direction of Spielberg, and the chilling performance of Shaw. I dare to say that this film would not be as highly regarded without it.
Val Kilmer - Tombstone
This is easily the best of Kilmer’s career. He gives Doc Holliday so much depth making him easily the most interesting character in a film that is full of them. You absolutely cannot turn your eyes from the screen when Kilmer is present.
Jeff Bridges - The Big Lebowski
They gave an Oscars to Tom Hanks and Dustin Hoffman. They nominated Sean Penn. So why not Bridges for playing the biggest half wit of them all? On the surface it may seem easy enough playing a burnt out hippie, but when you consider that every “uh,” “fuck,” and “dude” was scripted it becomes a clear how perfectly executed the performance was. It is a credit to the writing of the Coen brothers but also a look at how good Bridges can be.
Tom Cruise - Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman gives one of the greatest performances ever, but I seriously doubt it would have worked half as well without Cruise. Charlie Babbitt is completely unlikable from the beginning and Cruise plays him to a tee.
There are a bunch of great ones. Let us know what your favorites are.
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9 Responses to “Overlooked and Underrated”
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Well, I’m not really sure if all of these performances you list here could be reasonably referred to as “underrated,” Chris.
I mean, outside of Spielberg’s direction, the most acclaimed aspect of “Jaws” is Shaw’s brilliant, career-defining performance.
Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday?? It was only the most talked about performance of that year … it’s constantly quoted … hardly “underrated.”
I agree more with Jeff Bridges in Lebowski, but more for the fact that the entire film was underrated.
Tom Cruise is a decent pick for underrated performance, but only because Hoffmann got all of the acclaim for that film.
I also find it curious that every single performer you mention is male.
Here are some I consider to be underrated performances:
Robin Wright Penn in “Forrest Gump” - Hanks and Sinise got all the press, but her Jenny is the emotional journey in this film. The shame and quiet acceptance in her eyes at the end of the film speaks volumes.
Clive Owen in “Children of Men” - Absolutely stunning. This guy went from heartthrob to world-weary hero at the end of the human race. So much confusion and hardheartedness in his portrayal.
Carol Burnett in “The Four Seasons” - This whole movie has been completely overlooked despite a wonderful screenplay and some terrific performances. Burnett is so subtle here, and she really acts as the glue between so many disparate performances. AWESOME. She should have been nominated just for the scene on the boat.
Bruce Campbell in “Evil Dead” - So much has been made about this movie’s budget and wild visuals .. but Bruce has the chops and intelligence to ground a movie like this. Totally overlooked in its time, only later in the sequels did Campbell manage to make his Ash character the semi-cult figure he is today.
Robert Duvall in “THX-1138″ - Again, the visuals got all the attention. But I doubt if it would have meant much had Duvall not created a character like THX, who is desolated by the world around him. His performance carries the film so well that his final liberation at the end means something.
Tim Robbins in “Jacob’s Ladder” - The whole thing was overlooked. But his confusion and fear in this film is palpable, and totally sell the extremely nerve-wracking story.
Ethan Hawke in “Gattaca” - Not much of a fan of Hawke, but he is perfect in this story of a less-than-perfeect man in a perfect world. You can see the claustrophobia and fear in his eyes as the walls close in around him.
How about Margot Kidder as Lois Lane? At the time, she was considered wrong for the part and Reeve got all the press. It wasn;t until we saw Kate Bosworth try the part that we realized how damn great Kidder was in the role.
Kevin Costner in “JFK” - At the time of release, Stone got all of the press. Then, the film just kinda sunk out of view. But Costner creates one of his best performances here, and that speech at the end - BRILLIANTLY done.
Alan Arkin in “Edward Scissorhands” - Not a big part, but Arkin is absolutely perfect as the aloof father. Comedic genious. The movie was slightly overlooked as well.
Woody Harrelson in “Kingpin” - Bill Murray and Randy Quaid got all of the attention for their broad portrayals, but Harrelson had all of the heavy lifting here. REview the film and just watch Harrelson, and you’ll see just how much he actually carries this film.
Jake Gyllenhall in “Donnie Darko” - This flick totally bombed, and most people give the credit for its cult status to Kelly’s mind-bending script … but in my mind it’s Jake who actually works the magic. His is the best portrayal of modern teenaged thinking I have seen in YEARS.
Buster Keaton in “Parlor Bedroom and Bath” - This period of Keaton’s career gets dumped on all the time … but I think this is by far his best performance in the sound era of film. Easily some of his bets physical gags, and it’s pretty risque too.
Kevin Costner in “Waterworld” - Frankly, I think the movie is better than most people say. Costner does a great job at conveying the isolation and determination of this character. With limited makeup and prosthetics, Costner creates a believable, alien-like hero.
Kurt Russell in “Tombstone” - While I loved Kilmer’s campy turn, I thought Russell had the better performance - and was then overlooked completely by Kilmer’s turn!
Patrick Wilson in “Hard Candy” - It’s hard to make a child molestor sympathetic or likable, but Wilson does it. The movie falls apart without his performance.
Forest Whitaker in “The Crying Game” - His brief appearance i nthe film is so powerful that he haunts the rest of the film as we discover the truths of his private life.
Orson Welles in “Touch of Evil” - So unforgivingly harsh and bitter. This film might contain his best overall performance, yet even as the film gains a reputation, this performance still seems to get ignored for some damn tracking shot.
Denzel Washington in “Philadelphia” a brave performance completely overshadowed by Hanks’ death scene.
Johnny Depp in “Ed Wood” - not sure on this one … Depp was praised for his portrayal here, but so few people have ever seen this magnificent film.
Faye Dunaway in “Mommie Dearest” - While the movie is basically junk food, her performance in this is completely unmissable. You would be hard pressed to find another performance that commands the screen like Faye does here.
Whew …
Waterworld? WATERWORLD!?!?!!? What the hell is wrong with you?
Chris,
This is a toughy for me because I would argue that a lot of these performances aren’t overlooked or underrated. Shaw’s performance in Jaws is always hailed as an outstanding performance. And Kilmer raised eyebrows with his performance in Tombstone.
But there’s no way you’re going to get me to praise Cruise for Rain Man. Now if you were talking about Born On The Fourth Of July, I would be in agreement or The Color Of Money, then we would have something.
And don’t get me started on The Big Lebowski.
Piper, Bridges was AWESOME in The Big Lebowski. Don’t deny it you fascist!!!
Sam, you included Bridges for The Big L in your list, but you haven’t even seen this movie!!
The scene on the boat with Burnett and Alda is pure gold. So glad you mentioned it.
@ KC - First of all, I was looking for overlooked or underappreciated performances. I absolutely think Costner created a solid character and performance that elevated that film and helped to sell its reality. Without that performance - as much physical as it was mental - the film sinks much further. I still believe the film as a whole is much better than people often say.
As for “Lebowski,” it’s true I haven’t seen the entire film, although I have seen scenes from it. Bridges is amazing in what I have seen. I am simply agreeing with Chris that I could go along with his choice of Bridges.
@ Megan - Thanks for the props. “The Four Seasons” is one of my favorite films from the eighties, just brimming with excellent performances. And Carol’s laugh in that scene alone is completely infectious and real. I LOVE IT!!!
WHen I picked these four, I t was really about them being ignored at awards time.
Shaw’s performance has gotten the respect it deserves over time, but that year it was over shadowed by the box office.
It is a crime that Kilmer wasn’t nominated for Tombstone.
Ray had some great choices.
I would also add
Carol Burnett in Annie.
John Cazale in The Godfather Part 2.
Joseph Cotten in Citizen Kane.
Mark Walberg in Boogie Nights. (Maybe the whole cast of Boogie Nights.)
@ Chris - well, that clears up the issue somewhat. Burnett from Annie is a great choice. And while Cotten was great in “Kane,” I always thought Everett Sloane was even better as Mr. Bernstein. He goes from unabashed Kane supporter to disillusioned and world-weary realist in a terrific arc of performance.
Sloane is awesome!
I still perfer the Cotten role a bit more.