Wow, some people took this way too personally! It also seems to me, judging by how he doesn’t take himself too seriously, he seems to be in on the “I play jerks” joke.
Also, I never, ever said he wasn’t a good actor or didn’t deserve any of his accolades, only that he is known for playing jerks. Sorry for all the feelings I hurt expressing this opinion.
Moderating:
I think it’s pretty clear that the request is, " please recommend movies with this actor where I’ll like his character". She’s not saying he’s a bad actor, not that he’s a bad person. (Why even ask for recommendations featuring a bad actor?)
So let’s move on from defending Mr Drivers’ credentials and back to talking about the pros and cons of different movies he’s in.
He’s an actor I can take or leave but I’ve always thought him credible in whatever I’ve seen him do. Though the character he played wasn’t especially likeable, I rather enjoyed him in an absurdist comedy called “White Noise” a couple of years back.
Seeing him host SNL and interviewed elsewhere, I’ve never gotten the impression that he takes himself too seriously.
The first thing I saw Adam Driver in was the romantic comedy, What If (aka The F Word). He plays the best friend of Daniel Radcliffe’s protagonist, who is navigating being friend-zoned by Zoe Kazan. Driver is hilarious, stealing every scene he’s in.
Another good one is the heist comedy, Logan Lucky. He playsa one-handed, veteran bartender who is heist leader Channing Tatum’s brother. Again, his delivery is hilarious. You’ll never hear the word “cauliflower” in your head the same way.
I came to mention this one. It is his intensity that makes him so funny. Like Robert De Niro in Midnight Run. After I saw What If I thought that this was one of the greatest line reads ever:
I was thinking about this some more. It may be that part of the reason why there may not be an obvious movie to point you to is that Driver doesn’t see to have made many (if any) movies for major studios in which he’s a “heroic” lead.
And, as shallow as this may sound, I think that part of this is because of his looks. He has unusual facial features, and I would not be at all surprised if that – even though he is seen as being an excellent actor – he doesn’t get considered for leading-man roles by the big studios, because he doesn’t look like a traditional “leading man.”
Great example! It was the only thing is seen of his before Star Wars: The Force Awakens. When he took the helmet off, I literally burst out laughing in the theater.
Yeah, I kind of feel like anyone who was an enlisted Marine is pretty familiar with the salt of the Earth. He doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously, although he does seem pretty intense.
I’d personally like to see him in a classic “good guy” role. I suspect he’d shine in it, but so far, they just want to cast him as assholes, because he’s so good at it.
I read an interview (The New Yorker, maybe?) where he said he won’t or can’t watch himself in any movie.
Although he wasn’t the main character in BlacKkKsman, Driver does have a pretty major role.
He basically walked away with the movie - playing a sympathetic character, too.
Adam Driver’s face, to me is ungainly. I’m surprised at how well he’s done in his career.
But he’s a Marine so you gotta love that, right? 
This looks interesting. I put it on my watch list. Thanks!
I thought thatabout his face in still pictures, but in motion pictures his face is seems more “gainly”.
His character in the Jim Jarmusch absurdist zombie flick “The Dead Don’t Die” is deadpan-ly entertaining. If you’re into Jim Jarmusch, absurdist comedies, or weird zombie movies, it’s worth a watch.
I once read about Driver that “he looks like someone tried to draw Keanu Reeves from memory.”
I came to mention that one.
As was mentioned above he has been one of the best guest hosts on SNL in recent years. He has good comedy chops.
The one I heard was:
Adam Driver has resting “professor who suspects you copied your entire presentation off wikipedia” face.
I don’t remember if Driver’s character in “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” was an asshole. He was certainly confused and perplexed.
That’s pretty funny!
I suppose this can resemble a pile-on at this point, but put me down for Adam Driver as well. I guess I’ve seen him in some stuff.
But in honor of the recently deceased critic John Simon (well…recent enough! half-decade or so…close enough!), looking at a face like Driver’s is like looking at a hand in a garbage disposal. That’s not a moral judgment or anything small: it’s merely stating the most obvious of judgments about the role appearances play in casting and the effects it may have upon the reception of a work of cinema, or television.
I’m sure he’s a fantastic guy and, I guess, from what I’ve seen, could be a decent actor in a small local theater production or several.
But. and, yes, me being a regular guy who’s had his nose broken quite a few times and has irregular features as a result (basically I’m not a male model by any stretch), I find his visage disturbing. Still more when he tries to act, like with his facial expressions and such.
Could be an excellent character actor: another Elijah Cook, Jr., or a John Vernon. Or a radio personality on the “monotone but use all the volume you can muster.”
Normally I wouldn’t go harsh, at least in public or semi-public, but I’ve been rereading John Simon’s legendary criticism the past few days…I think inspired by a poster from here, apologies for not recalling the poster. I don’t believe Simon was cruel when he considered physical appearance or physiognomy to be a part of a performance which warrants comment.
And put me down for Minnie Driver as well. Not really for the same reason…she was just everywhere for a time and, while she could deliver quirky charm…I guess…I really do hope that was not her only gag and that she has been able to continue to have a (ahem…lucky) career to this day and in the future.