Have a favorite "against type" performance, actor, or actress? - Blu-ray Forum

Chordata · 02-08-2012, 01:34 PM

I was rewatching Star Trek (2009) last night and it struck me that I always hated Bruce Greenwood because he usually played a slimy schmuck in movies like Double Jeopardy and I, Robot.

I really like him as a "good guy" in Star Trek.

I'm sure there are other "against type" performances I enjoy, but this one caught my attention.

Any for you?

MJW · 02-08-2012, 01:37 PM

I think Jim Carrey did an excellent job playing a character against his perceived "type" in Eternal Sunshine at the Spotless Mind. I didn't dislike him or his comedic roles or anything, but after watching that film I really gained a lot of respect for him as an actor. It didn't hurt that my favorite actress Kate Winslet was his co-star, either.

Porkchop Express · 02-08-2012, 01:41 PM

I've always hated Kevin Costner, but thought he did a fantastic job in Mr. Brooks. That role definitely took me by surprise.

P@t_Mtl · 02-08-2012, 01:41 PM

I was really surprise by Robert Deniro in Stardust, was a bit unexpected.

avecha · 02-08-2012, 01:44 PM

Will Smith - Enough said!

expatCanuck · 02-08-2012, 01:48 PM

Not entirely against type, but ...
I typically dislike Keanu Reeves, but enjoyed his performance in Devil's Advocate.

Chordata · 02-08-2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avecha

Will Smith - Enough said!

Which movie?

TheZoof · 02-08-2012, 01:57 PM

I didn't know much about him at the time except a few roles - Glengarry glen ross, The Ref and Outbreak.

Then I saw Kevin Spacey in 'Se7en' and I knew he was one of my favorite actors to be.

He won his first Oscar the next year for 'The Usual Suspects'

blowaway · 02-08-2012, 02:06 PM

John Travolta in "Face/Off"....Denzel Washington in "Training Day"...it was pretty awesome to see them portray the "bad guy"

Chordata · 02-08-2012, 02:10 PM

I could've also named this thread: "Performances that made you like an actor/actress you previously didn't like".

For example, I used to hate/loathe/despite Brad Pitt -- thought he was just atrocious as an actor and horribly overrated. It must've been Ocean's 11 that changed my mind. I really really like the guy now -- I've liked him in all those Ocean's movies, the Jesse James movie, Moneyball, etc.

realskillz1990 · 02-08-2012, 02:15 PM

I really enjoyed hugh jackman performance in real steel he played a deadbeat scumbag that no one would like then he develops a relationship with his son and it becomes a really inspirational story unlike his other films I seen him in van helsing and the x-men movies where he plays the super hero.

VanDammage80 · 02-08-2012, 02:18 PM

Pitt in 12 Monkeys. He finally came out of his pretty boy shell with his role and turned in a GREAT performance. He tried to do the same with Kalifornia but wasn't nearly as good...still good though.

Chordata · 02-08-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realskillz1990

I really enjoyed hugh jackman performance in real steel he played a deadbeat scumbag that no one would like then he develops a relationship with his son and it becomes a really inspirational story unlike his other films I seen him in van helsing and the x-men movies where he plays the super hero.

Sorta sounds like his role in that terrible Swordfish movie.

MJW · 02-08-2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chordata

I could've also named this thread: "Performances that made you like an actor/actress you previously didn't like".

Well, in that case...

I've never really liked Christian Bale but my opinion of him changed after his voice performance in Disney's English dub of Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. I think he did a really great job as Howl and gave a lot of depth to the character.

I watch a lot of animated films and some my opinions on actors and actresses have changed after hearing their performance.

broganreynik · 02-08-2012, 08:49 PM

There's the obvious against type role of Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West, which is my favorite western, so I'd go with that one.

MykeHavoc · 02-08-2012, 08:57 PM

Pacino in "You Don't Know Jack" brought me to tears.

octagon · 02-08-2012, 09:03 PM

John Lithgow has two, they're exact mirror images of each other and they're both amazing.

The switch from Hollywood bad guy to sitcom dad seems effortless in retrospect but at the time I did quite the double-take. But he was brilliant in 3rd Rock.

So brilliant in fact that I did an even bigger double-take when he was cast in Dexter.

I'll second Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West and throw Matt Damon's Bourne outings into the mix as well. Talk about double-takes...Matt Damon as an action star???

Whodathunkit.

02-08-2012, 01:34 PM	#1
Chordata Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Home of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	Have a favorite "against type" performance, actor, or actress? I was rewatching Star Trek (2009) last night and it struck me that I always hated Bruce Greenwood because he usually played a slimy schmuck in movies like Double Jeopardy and I, Robot. I really like him as a "good guy" in Star Trek. I'm sure there are other "against type" performances I enjoy, but this one caught my attention. Any for you?

02-08-2012, 01:37 PM	#2
MJW Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Nov 2010 Location:Delaware, USA Home Theater Gallery:19 4K collection:142 Blu-ray collection:3987 DVD collection:105 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:4	I think Jim Carrey did an excellent job playing a character against his perceived "type" in Eternal Sunshine at the Spotless Mind. I didn't dislike him or his comedic roles or anything, but after watching that film I really gained a lot of respect for him as an actor. It didn't hurt that my favorite actress Kate Winslet was his co-star, either.

02-08-2012, 01:41 PM	#3
Porkchop Express Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Detroit,MI Blu-ray collection:261 Blu-ray reviews:4	I've always hated Kevin Costner, but thought he did a fantastic job in Mr. Brooks. That role definitely took me by surprise.

02-08-2012, 01:41 PM	#4
P@t_Mtl Blu-ray Duke Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Montreal Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:452 DVD collection:513 Trading Score:3	I was really surprise by Robert Deniro in Stardust, was a bit unexpected.

02-08-2012, 01:44 PM	#5
avecha Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Over there, New Zealand. Blu-ray collection:124 DVD collection:14 Trading Score:1	Will Smith - Enough said!

02-08-2012, 01:48 PM	#6
expatCanuck Member Member since:Jan 2011 Blu-ray collection:101 DVD collection:20 Blu-ray reviews:8	Not entirely against type, but ... I typically dislike Keanu Reeves, but enjoyed his performance in Devil's Advocate.

02-08-2012, 01:57 PM	#8
TheZoof Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Ottawa,Canada Home Theater Gallery:27 4K collection:850 Blu-ray collection:1636 DVD collection:10 Blu-ray reviews: 38 Trading Score:2	I didn't know much about him at the time except a few roles - Glengarry glen ross, The Ref and Outbreak. Then I saw Kevin Spacey in 'Se7en' and I knew he was one of my favorite actors to be. He won his first Oscar the next year for 'The Usual Suspects'

02-08-2012, 02:06 PM	#9
blowaway Member Member since:Jun 2011 Location:Harrisburg, PA Home Theater Gallery:72 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:873 DVD collection:16	John Travolta in "Face/Off"....Denzel Washington in "Training Day"...it was pretty awesome to see them portray the "bad guy"

02-08-2012, 02:10 PM	#10
Chordata Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Home of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	I could've also named this thread: "Performances that made you like an actor/actress you previously didn't like". For example, I used to hate/loathe/despite Brad Pitt -- thought he was just atrocious as an actor and horribly overrated. It must've been Ocean's 11 that changed my mind. I really really like the guy now -- I've liked him in all those Ocean's movies, the Jesse James movie, Moneyball, etc.

02-08-2012, 02:15 PM	#11
realskillz1990 Member Member since:Jan 2012 Blu-ray collection:187 Blu-ray reviews:3	I really enjoyed hugh jackman performance in real steel he played a deadbeat scumbag that no one would like then he develops a relationship with his son and it becomes a really inspirational story unlike his other films I seen him in van helsing and the x-men movies where he plays the super hero.

02-08-2012, 02:18 PM	#12
VanDammage80 Power Member Member since:Sep 2009 Location:North Carolina Home Theater Gallery:20 4K collection:1 Blu-ray collection:1047 Blu-ray reviews: 10	Pitt in 12 Monkeys. He finally came out of his pretty boy shell with his role and turned in a GREAT performance. He tried to do the same with Kalifornia but wasn't nearly as good...still good though.

02-08-2012, 08:49 PM	#15
broganreynik Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Nebraska Home Theater Gallery:60 4K collection:124 Blu-ray collection:2113 DVD collection:111 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:46	There's the obvious against type role of Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West, which is my favorite western, so I'd go with that one.

02-08-2012, 08:57 PM	#16
MykeHavoc Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2011 Location:Nashua, NH Blu-ray collection:397 DVD collection:772 Digital collection:4 Trading Score:1	Pacino in "You Don't Know Jack" brought me to tears.

02-08-2012, 09:03 PM	#17
octagon Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Chicago 4K collection:255 Blu-ray collection:2799	John Lithgow has two, they're exact mirror images of each other and they're both amazing. The switch from Hollywood bad guy to sitcom dad seems effortless in retrospect but at the time I did quite the double-take. But he was brilliant in 3rd Rock. So brilliant in fact that I did an even bigger double-take when he was cast in Dexter. I'll second Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West and throw Matt Damon's Bourne outings into the mix as well. Talk about double-takes...Matt Damon as an action star??? Whodathunkit.

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