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Good acting bits in otherwise crappy movies

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Old 03-09-05, 04:52 PM
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Good acting bits in otherwise crappy movies

By bits I mean one scene or character in a movie whose small/short performance keeps the movie from being a 100% dud, almost to the point that it shouldn't even be in the movie to start.

My pick:

Just about any small part played by Christopher Walken with the exception of Pulp Fiction, which was an all around good movie.
Old 03-09-05, 05:25 PM
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I always like to see Gary Oldman in a movie, and IMO he's saved a few that were so-so.
Old 03-10-05, 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
Just about any small part played by Christopher Walken with the exception of Pulp Fiction, which was an all around good movie.
including Gigli?
Old 03-10-05, 09:40 AM
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Cary Elwes in SAW
Old 03-10-05, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by automator
Cary Elwes in SAW
Funny, that's the exact opposite thing I thought. His performance was the only one I had a problem with, it was laughable at times.
Old 03-10-05, 11:31 AM
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I think (hope?) automator was joking... I thought it was funny anyways
Old 03-10-05, 02:49 PM
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Keanu Reeves in The Gift
Old 03-10-05, 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by ShagMan
I think (hope?) automator was joking... I thought it was funny anyways
Yep. Just wanted to see if anybody was paying attention.
Old 03-10-05, 07:40 PM
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Denzel has done this a few times, although most of his movies arent crappy, some are sub par but his acting remains top notch. Movies that come to mind in this case include Training Day and John Q.
Old 03-11-05, 12:38 AM
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Mike Myers in 54
Old 03-11-05, 01:51 AM
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Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Keanu Reeves in The Gift
Not only was The Gift not a "crappy movie" by any stretch of the imagination (not saying it was wonderful either), but Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi's performances were both top-notch stuff, most especially Ribisi's. Even Kinnear did a pretty good job.

Are you sure you didn't mentally reverse the topic?
Old 03-11-05, 07:58 AM
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Trey Parker in Tales From The Crapper...
Walken & Pacino in Gigli...

I'm sure I can think of more... Just not until after breakfast.
Old 03-11-05, 08:04 AM
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Ben Affleck was the bomb in Phantams!
Old 03-11-05, 12:38 PM
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Ewan Macgregor in attack of the Clones seemed to be channeling Alec Guinness at times.
Old 03-11-05, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by JustinS
Not only was The Gift not a "crappy movie" by any stretch of the imagination (not saying it was wonderful either), but Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi's performances were both top-notch stuff, most especially Ribisi's. Even Kinnear did a pretty good job.

Are you sure you didn't mentally reverse the topic?
Nope. Keanu's performance is the only one I remember. Giovanni's was just hamming it up and Cate is always good but nothing stood out.

Training Day wasn't a crappy movie.
Old 03-11-05, 09:19 PM
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i've always liked Brian Dennehy as an actor, even though he's rarely in a memorable movie
Old 03-11-05, 10:35 PM
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I liked the acting of both John Travolta and Nicholas Cage in Face/Off, but I thought the movie itself was highly crappy!
Old 03-12-05, 02:08 AM
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Samuel L. Jackson in the Renny Harlin Classic "Deep Blue Sea." (Looking on IMDB, WOW I didn't remember all those people being in it: Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, Aida Turturro, Stellan Skaarsgard.)
Old 03-12-05, 10:09 AM
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Thomas Jane is a chameleon... Magnolia, Deep Blue Sea, Boogie Nights, Face/Off & Buffy the Vampire Slayer... All of which he seemed to blend right into his character.

Boogie Nights especially, he was really good in that...

Sorry for going off topic. And now back to the arts.
Old 03-12-05, 12:53 PM
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While we're on Thomas Jane, his performance in The Punisher was the one thing saving the movie from being a disgraceful adaptation.
Old 03-12-05, 04:40 PM
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I concur Dr. DVD, Thomas Jane is a pretty talented actor.
Old 03-12-05, 07:14 PM
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Everyone in the case of "city by the sea". Great acting crappy story
Old 03-12-05, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by gmal2003
Denzel has done this a few times, although most of his movies arent crappy, some are sub par but his acting remains top notch. Movies that come to mind in this case include Training Day and John Q.
possibly, although I find his "I'm the poe-lease! King Kong ain't got nuttin on me." line to be ridiculous
Old 03-12-05, 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by mikewendt
Thomas Jane is a chameleon... Magnolia, Deep Blue Sea, Boogie Nights, Face/Off & Buffy the Vampire Slayer... All of which he seemed to blend right into his character.

Boogie Nights especially, he was really good in that...

Sorry for going off topic. And now back to the arts.
Don't forget Erin Brockovich! That was the first place that I "remember" him from, even though he has apparently been around (even on Arrested Development!).
Old 03-12-05, 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Abob Teff
Don't forget Erin Brockovich! That was the first place that I "remember" him from, even though he has apparently been around (even on Arrested Development!).
He's such a chameleon that he wasn't even in that. You're "remembering" Aaron Eckhart, right?


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