I just happened to see “Traffic” again last night and was struck about how natural he was. He’s also pretty charismatic. I think he was in “Out of Sight” too wasn’t he? I think I remember liking that charater too.
Be sure to check out Devil in a Blue Dress with Denzel Washington, quite possibly Cheadle’s best performance and undoubtedly the one where he steals the most scenes. And yeah, he was genuinely scary in Out of Sight.
ArchiveGuy, I am right with you on Don Cheadle’s performance in [italic]Devil in a Blue Dress[/italic]. I’d seen him in Picket Fences but he stole the scenes that he was in with Denzel Washington. I thought he should at least have been nominated for a Supporting Actor Oscar.
Don’t forget his loveable loser porn star in Boogie Nights. Also, his turn as Sammy Davis Jr. in that TV Movie about the Rat Pack was nothing less than mind-blowing. It’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
Don’t forget his stellar performance in Boogie Nights. And I’m looking forward to seeing Tishomingo Blues, based on the Elmore Leonard book, which will also be Cheadle’s directing debut.
490 posts in, and my first simul-post!
Don’t forget his loveable loser porn star in Boogie Nights. Also, his turn as Sammy Davis Jr. in that TV Movie about the Rat Pack was nothing less than mind-blowing. It’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
I dig Don Cheadle a lot. He can even do good things with a bad character in a bad movie (Mission To Mars, please pick up the white courtesy phone). He and Delroy Lindo are, IMO, the two best black actors in Hollywood. They blow Denzel off the screen.
My favorite Cheadle moment was in Out Of Sight. I can’t think of another actor who could sell a line like, “Well, the man don’t have to die. He could hurt himself falling down on something real hard. Like a shiv, or my dick.”
Don Cheadle is one of the best actors in Hollywood, and deserves more attention. Even saddled with a plot that made him seem like a moron (in Traffic), he was interesting to watch. His role of Mouse in Devil with a Blue Dress deserved an Oscar.
I’ve dug Don Cheadle since he starred in Picket Fences. I wonder why he isn’t getting leading man roles. He seems to be destined to become just another great character actor.
I’m a big Cheadle fan myself, but I was very disappointed with his work in Ocean’s Eleven-that was a truly wince-inducing accent he wandered in and out of throughout the film…
There was a movie on HBO a few years ago about basketball player Earl Manigault (sp. ?) with Cheadle in the starring role. I don’t know if it is out on tape/DVD or if one of the HBO channels still airs it occasionally, but definitely worth checking out if you can. The film is pretty good; his performance is great.
Just checked, the title is “Rebound: The Legend of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault” and it is out on VHS. Directed by Eriq la Salle of E.R. fame.
Yup…Don Cheadle’s best performance had to be in The Devil in a Blue Dress. He’s seriously one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. I’ve discussed this in length with other people. Perhaps he just doesn’t have the sex appeal or something, but the man’s got some serious skills.
I agree singular. I’m a big fan of Cheadle and Steven Soderbergh , but they both screwed the pooch on that one.
I pretty much agree with everything said. From good (Boogie, Rat Pack) to bad (O11). I remember turning to Mrs. watsonwil and saying “I can’t believe I don’t like Don Cheadle in a film.”
When are casting directors, et al finally going to realize how much a bad accent kills the immersion?