I first saw Guy Pearce in 1997's "L.A. Confidential" and thought he was terrific! I didn't watch the film because I knew he was in it - quite the contrary, I watched it because of all the hub-bub and the Oscar nomination it received for Best Picture. The only performers I knew well in the film at the time were Kim Basinger and Danny Devito (I was not a Kevin Spacey fan yet). I caught the film on Pay-Per-View, and I always record films I pay for because, well, you never know when you'll simply love a blind viewing.

Turns out I loved the film. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, since crime dramas/period pieces are not my usual suspects. And I became big fans of Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, and Guy Pearce.

A few years later, "Memento" came out, and I had zero intention of seeing it - until I heard all the hub-bub and found out that Pearce was in it. I rented it and was delighted on what a wonderful and thought-provoking film this was. I immediately went out and bought it, and became a huge Guy Peace fan thereafter.

The flip side: he's been in some really bad films, too. I thought "Ravenous" was just terrible, and "Rules of Engagement" was a substandard movie (he was the Prosecutor). I was going to rent "Priscella, Queen of the Desert," but couldn't find it at Blockbuster (probably just as well), and I saw "The Count of Monte Crisco" (I went to see it the first day) and was disappointed in the lack of depth in his character and the predictability of the film (even though it is an old story, I had never seen or read about it) and I've been hearing that "Time Machine" was not all that good.

What are the opinions of the forum towards this actor and his films? Can we look forward to better films in the future?

i LOVE ravenous. memento was good, LA confidential is boring. the time machine was terrible. jim cavaziel and guy pearce made monte cristo watchable..

Like any actor he's made some good films and some dogs--and evidentally we disagree about which is which...

I think he's got a terrific future ahead; he's shown himself capable of huge range... I first saw him in Priscilla... Later on, I couldn't believe the guy in L.A. Confidential was the same actor...

I agree with torrance about Ravenous, by the way... It's not for everyone's taste, of course, but it's really a witty little film in its own gruesome way...

Unless you can't stand the idea of Priscilla it's worth a shot: it's got some truly outstanding performances in it, although the script is rough around the edges. Guy is a complete flamer in it, of course, but manages to be very fun and sympathetic...

If he balances his big commercial films with a decent helping of indies, as he's done so far--and if he has better luck chosing his big budget films--he could still go very far indeed...

I've liked him since I saw "Priscilla" theatrically -- his line and delivery when he goes to the video store in drag is one of my favorite lines ever!

I've seen virtually every film he's done except for "Time Machine" (yet) and think he makes interesting, diverse choices. Like Johnny Depp, he may end up making films that don't necessarily have box office potential, but I see him around for the long run.

Guy Peace?


Oh, Guy Pearce...

I think he's done fine work in LA Confidential, Memento, and The Count of Monte Cristo.

He will become a really really big name.

HA-HA! Thanks for the good laugh!

I think we'll see alot of him in the future. I really liked everything I've seen him in. Of course, I haven't seen The Time Machine.

thumbs down for guy pearce from me... thought memento was great but that was it. otherwise, it's hard to give him credit.

(also loved ravenous... but like memento, it was the movie and not necessarily guy pearce's presence)

The only movie of his I have seen that I disliked was The Time Machine. I absolutely love Ravenous, and Memento is one of my all time favorites. I also really like LA Confidential and Count of Monte Cristo. In fact, I consider him one of my favorite actors.

He's good, but he's no Guy Lafleur or Guy-Eddie Lebec.

Intentional?

That kinda fits since the other two main characters were Agent Smith from The Matrix and General Zod from Superman II. Hard to believe that too.

It's been 7 years now, and it doesn't really look like much as changed. Guy Pearce still hasn't really become an A-list actor, to my dismay.

I just saw the recent Best Picture of 2009, "The Hurt Locker", and got to enjoy Guy for about 8 minutes.

I think he appears at the very end of The Road, another movie I'm looking to check out once it is released (later this month). What's up with this guy?! (no pun intended.)

I'm surprised he didn't gain more mainstream popularity, in turn leading to bigger/better roles.

Of everything listed I've only seen Confidential, Memento, Cristo. He was amazing in all three. I should check out some of the others.

I loved Memento, Ravenous, Proposition and LA Confidential. I think he's a great actor and, even if he doesn't get much mainstream attention, he's been doing some fine work.

Oh, and it's been mentioned before (by many), but Christopher Nolan needs to pull him into the Batman universe for part 3.

He's also in Traitor, which gets glossed over more than it should.

I agree, really don't understand why he hasn't been offered more higher-profile work.

The Proposition is an excellent, gritty western and well worth seeing. Plus, if you're Blu-ray capable, First Look's (really good) disc can just about always be had for ~$10 or less.

Maybe if you acknowledge Ravenous for the great film it is, he will become A-list.

What future?

I like the guy kinda but what role would you have in mind for him in the Batman universe?

Any role that Nolan thinks is good for him. For some reason I can see him play Riddler. Just...something about his acting I think he could pull off something disturbing or odd with The Riddler.

Just for shits and giggles someone should create a new thread on how Guy Pierce would be great or a new TDK movie.

I think this was more his decision based on some interviews he did at SXSW back in 1999. I worked the film fest that year where we premiered A Slipping Down Life where he played a sort of washed up guitar player. It was a pretty odd film, and after one of the screenings during the Q&A, he was asked what attracts him to a role. In short, it was basically "if it's a good role and there's is no hint of commercialism attached to it." And based on the roles he's chosen, it looks like he's stuck to that.

his pat interview response doesn't explain Bedtime Stories, a Disney film that is all sorts of commercialism...yet wasn't the greatest project he could have been associated with.

I'd love to see him paired up with the likes of Nicholson, DiCaprio, Clooney, etc. He's not getting any younger, and it's a crying shame he isn't in better pictures. It's very much a shame.