Like the character actors of yore, Luis Guzman makes a movie better just by being in it. I am particularly in love with his turn in Punch Drunk Love (one of the un-mentioned moments in the script, a bit of behavior, is when Luis Guzman suddenly shows up for his job wearing a suit. It speaks VOLUMES. A book could be written about that simple gesture – seen below. Wonderful performance.)
Luis Guzman in “Punch-Drunk Love”
But he’s always good. Always always always.
I agree sheila! Love him…
He totally expanded my idea of what a supporting actor could be, ethnic wise…in a way that never actually seemed to go to his ethnicity…does that make sense? He would fit in any story. And he’s so very versatile…drama, comedy…and so funny.
Bill – Yes! I know just what you mean.
You know, I see Guzman as being in the continuum of great character actors like Thomas Mitchell (one of my favorite actors ever). Luis Guzman could have played ANY of those parts that Mitchell played – and been just as wonderful. Like Mitchell in Only Angels Have Wings – as the pilot going blind, the best friend of Cary Grant. Guzman has that same quality that served Mitchell so well. He’s got a NICE-ness to him, doesn’t he? Even though that’s not a really descriptive word. There’s something about him you just flat out LIKE.
I love him on the gameshow in “Magnolia.” After the whiz kid answers a succession of impossible questions like a person reciting their birthday, the camera pulls in to Luiz as he says incredulously, “What the fuck?” It’s one of my favorite moments ever. And of course when he’s telling his fellow teammates to go with for any question about cheese.
Also, if you own the DVD for “Boogie Nights” there’s a great deleted scene (touched on in the post but not elaborated on) where he finally gets to be in one of Jack’s productions but backs away explaining that he’s not physically equipped enough for the role. He plays it with such unbearable honesty that it’s heartbreaking to watch.
Ah, Luis.
He’s like the Latin version of Al Leong (Big Trouble in Little China, ‘Ando’ in Lethal Weapon’, Ghengis Khan in ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’) You find yourself wondering how many films they’ve done, and why they don’t seem to age.
I remember him in Boogie Nights, In Carlito’s Way, in a most unfortunately memorable role in ‘the Cowboy Way’ and of course ‘Crocodile Dundee II’
Highly memorable. Hard to miss, and will be missed in the event that he stops performing. I could even recognize him immediately when I heard his voice in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Helluva performer. Agreed. When you see him, you know it’s a good movie.
And the whole relationship he and Don Cheadle create in Traffic … those were some of my favorite scenes in that movie.
Guzman: “Was he good to you?”
And don’t forget him opposite Terence Stamp in The Limey. Great performance in a movie riddled with great performances.
He’s so self-depricating too. He’s hilarious in every played out VH1 thing he does. I sometimes watch ’em just to see him (well, him and Henry Rollins).
Oh, I need to add: HOLY CRAP, Noonz! Good to see you.
Noonz – love the Limey!
I love how diverse Guzman’s career has been.
And you know, The Bone Collector is kind of stupid – but I really like it. And he’s great in it – that cuold have been a totally nothing part, but I love him. It’s one of those things where when you see him – you’re happy that he’s there. You know it’s going to be good.
You can’t say that about too many stars who OPEN movies! It’s a rare thing. To be that reliable.
He was also in an episode of the second season of L&O.
He played an arsonist who set fire to a nightclub (RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES!) and they had to go to court to get a remnant of the windshield-washer fluid container out of his leg.
::slides back out of Dick Wolf Dorkdom::
And wasn’t he in Waiting. . ., starring our mutual boyfriend, Dane Cook? I think he was.
Lisa – I didn’t see Waiting, even though it starred our mutual boyfriend!
Also, I love your almost Rainman-like memory about L&O. It’s great.
It’s a gift.
Or a disease. Who knows?!
(Like that time I met Theodore Bikel, Tony Award winner and Oscar nominee, and all I could say was, “You were Sol Bregman on Law & Order!”
I think he fled.)
It’s a gift!! You should work for Sars, girl. :)
Oh my God. I forgot he’s in Waiting, which I thought was uneven — but there are some screaming-funny Luis Guzman moments in it.
He also cracks me up in Out of Sight.
EVERYBODY was in Waiting… Guzman, Cook, Chi McBride, the dude from Van Wilder, the I’m a Mac guy; the new trainee has a recurring role on Bones (Ladybug recognized him instantly)… And the dude who couldn’t pee, who was obviously cast because he looks like Steve Buscemi’s kid brother.
Great bit on the special features in Waiting: Guzman and the director have a big spat while blocking a group scene, with the director actually trying to physically position Guzman in the scene, and Guzman spitting “Don’t even touch me!” and stalking off, chased by the director… only to come back with a huge grin on his face. The whole thing was staged as a gag. Nobody saw it coming. I thought it was a great moment, and they pulled it off perfectly.
I hadn’t realized that Guzman was in much other stuff, though. This makes me happy for him!
favorite luis guzman line of all time from Traffic…”Was he good to you?” spoken to Don Cheadle in their stakeout van. It was so totally unexpected in its context, which made it all the funnier. But it’s Guzman’s deadpan delivery that made it one for the ages.
i’ve met him several times…he lives in rural Vermont and sends his kids to Circus camp…he is a lovely, gentle man, and by all appearances, a doting father…he is much loved at Smirkus…in fact his brother or cousin is an awesom graffiti artist who has done some work for Jeff and Julie…love him.
Mitchell- Yes, doesn’t he have some kind of horse-riding camp up there or something??
I love that he is much loved at Smirkus. It says a lot about him.
Miss you, friend!!!
Allison – yes!! hahahaha I love, too, Don Cheadle’s slow realization that he has been made fun of … and how his face slowly turns grim and pissed. It’s hysterical!