June 4, 2004

Question for fun Part 2

Okay, so here's part 1.

The second part is the same question, but in a different genre:

What actor or actress was absolutely MAGNIFICENT in perhaps one role only? They never found that promise again, or they never found the right role again, or they were killed, or whatever ...

I have one thought:

I thought that Kelly McGillis in Witness gave a performance which is imprinted on my brain in indelible ink.

And ... after that?

I'm sure I'll think of more.

Sal Mineo in Rebel without a Cause.

Posted by sheila
Comments

Edward Woodward in 'Breaker Morant'

Posted by: Dan at June 4, 2004 5:09 PM

Well, he had more than one role, but John Cazale (Fredo Corleone) showed a lot of promise before cancer claimed him.

Same genre: Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. I know there was Casino, but Nicky always seemed like a weak shadow of Tommy.

Ben Affleck hasn't impressed me since Chasing Amy. He's still a star, but he hasn't done much in the artistic category that deserves merit.

Now, for the great all-time nose dive: Eric Roberts for Star 80

Posted by: Bill McCabe at June 4, 2004 5:14 PM

Bill -

WOW. Most definitely yes with the Eric Roberts call. Where the hell did THAT actor go??

Posted by: red at June 4, 2004 5:15 PM

I have no idea what happened, but he seems to have gone straight to video sometime around 1988. I don't know whether he had personal problems or just a bad agent.

Posted by: Bill McCabe at June 4, 2004 5:19 PM

But Eric Roberts was in that remake of In Cold Blood. I really liked him in that too. He was on some tv show recently playing a cheerful character. It was creepy.

Posted by: Liz at June 4, 2004 5:22 PM

Eric Roberts did pop up in the cinema along with Alec Baldwin and Terri Hatcher in 'Heaven's Prisoners' sometime in the mod-to-late 90s.

Posted by: Dan at June 4, 2004 5:23 PM

I think he had a huge cocaine problem, and I also think he was a bit blown away and frightened by the massive success accorded his younger sister.

I know he is still working - yes - but really the point is: In that movie, in Star 80 - it was like he made a play to be one of the best actors of his generation. He could still be working in major motion pictures now, not just made for TV movies, etc. It's the hierarchy of success.

That is one of the most frightening nihilistic performances I think I have ever seen. Also, I can't picture anybody else in the part

Posted by: red at June 4, 2004 5:30 PM

Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game.

Posted by: Rob at June 4, 2004 5:32 PM

Sophie Marceau. Nonfactor in "Braveheart", but I loved her in "Smilla's Sense of Snow". Since then? Pfft.

Posted by: mitch at June 4, 2004 5:33 PM

I'm not quite sure where I'd drawn the line, but: Mickey Rourke before and after, say, 1987? Several memorable roles before that; none that immediately come to mind after.

Posted by: Jeff at June 4, 2004 6:17 PM

Kelly McGuinness's performance in Top Gun automatically forgives any subsequent bad judgement or lapse in career.

I feel the need...the need...for speed.

Posted by: Emily at June 4, 2004 6:42 PM

I meant McGillis. It's obviously too close to 5 on a Friday.

Posted by: Emily at June 4, 2004 6:54 PM

I always thought Toto's work after The Wizard of Oz was derivative and mediocre. I heard there were some Chuck Wagon abuse problems.

Posted by: DBW at June 4, 2004 8:47 PM

Tony Perkins in Psycho.

Posted by: dorkafork at June 5, 2004 5:42 PM

Henry Thomas in E.T.

Similarly, Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid, although he was a good in a supporting role in The Outsiders...

Posted by: Barry at June 6, 2004 12:43 AM

Robin Williams, (yes i did say Robin Williams), in Awakenings, KERRY FOX portraying Janet Frame in Jane Campions "an Angel at my table"- I LOVE THIS flick, it really moved me, Robert Dinero in Taxi Driver (and Awakenings), Steve Buscemi in Ghost World, Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, Harrison Ford in Witness and of course, Tobey Maguire in Spiderman.

Posted by: TOBEY MAGUIRE at June 6, 2004 2:32 AM