# Most under-appreciated acting role **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454 "2013-02-06T03:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/21 "2013-02-06T21:48:09Z")
I just was about to quote that same post for that same reason. (I also recently say _Key Largo_ for the first time and he’s good in that, but he’s GREAT in _Double Indemnity_.) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/22 "2013-02-06T21:54:48Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I just was about to quote that same post for that same reason. (I also recently say _Key Largo_ for the first time and he’s good in that, but he’s GREAT in _Double Indemnity_.) How could I forget _ **Key Largo** _? “Yeah, that’s it. I want MORE.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/23 "2013-02-06T22:29:18Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Well, Dustin Hoffman didn’t just tilt his head to one side at stare into the distance. He created a mannerism that everybody wanted to impersonate, and which was instantly recognized when people did. > > I read something years ago about a movie I like. The director said that what really made the movie work was that all the actors really seemed to grasp what it was that he was after. That made me think. It would be easy to watch a great movie, like _Casablanca_, and then go make it. But the people who made _Casablanca_ didn’t have that advantage. They had an idea, then a story, then a script, and a director, actors, etc. I think the hard part mostly takes place in advance, and if you’re really good at it the end result just looks easy. I’ll buy that, but it applies just as much to Cruise as it does to Hoffman. By the same token, I’m not saying Hoffman’s performance in the leading role didn’t deserve the awards it got; I’m merely saying Cruise’s performance in the supporting role was, y’know, underappreciated. (Compare it to, say, _The Color Of Money_, where Cruise wasn’t required to do nearly as much in the supporting role, and, sure enough, didn’t; Paul Newman got a leading-man Oscar for that one by playing an interesting guy who reacts to people around him in entirely human ways: he’s charming, he’s dismissive, he’s irritated, he’s humbled, he patiently explains stuff, he’s got something to prove, you get the idea. He doesn’t need someone else to do most of the work; he just needs someone who doesn’t screw up.) ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/24 "2013-02-07T02:50:42Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > How could I forget _ **Key Largo** _? “Yeah, that’s it. I want MORE.” _The Stranger_ is Edward G’s best. Sorry, _Cincinnati Kid_ fans (I know, I like that movie too, and Eddie G is, as always, the top man, but even as a non-card-player, the notion that the guy with the relatively unlimited money will always win no matter what, just by constantly reupping and buying every hand is too much for me). I forgot about _Key Largo_ too. Should watch that again soon. I can’t watch _Double Indemnity_ anymore – Barbara Stanwyck makes my arm sore. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/25 "2013-02-07T02:54:46Z")
[Galaxy Quest should have earned Sam Rockwell an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mXWXwxPtXg) ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/26 "2013-02-07T03:41:47Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > I think Geoffrey Rush was underappreciated for his role in the first “Pirates” movie (only Pirates of the Caribbean movie as far as I’m concerned). And he did it all by recycling Casanova Frankenstein and ever other hammy eccentric Rush always plays. He can be amusing to watch, sure, he may even garner the odd award for it, but as an actor Rush is a one-trick pony. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/27 "2013-02-07T04:15:25Z")
Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Graham Chapman plays Arthur - the sane character whom all the idiots revolve around. Manages to be the funniest character in the film. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/28 "2013-02-19T11:30:16Z")
Alan Bates in **The Boys in the Band**. Emory, the guy who’s hilariously obnoxious at first, then goes off on the (allegedly) straight guy, then gets the longest and most poignant segment in the phone game sequence, telling about his high school crush. I think if that film were released today, as a period piece, he would get a Best Supporting nomination. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/29 "2013-02-21T18:12:54Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > Every single role Gary Oldman has played, except the last one where he was actually nominated for the first time. I love when Harrison Ford says to that guy, **“GET OFF MY PLANE!!!”** in the Air Force One film. 😃 😃 😃 God bless you and them always!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Holly P.S. So far that is the only film with Gary Oldman that I have seen. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/30 "2013-02-21T21:25:22Z")
Colin Farrell in In Bruges. Daniel Craig in Flashbacks of a Fool. John Cusack in The Ice Harvest. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/31 "2013-02-22T01:28:27Z")
John Goodman in **The Big Lebowski**. Steve Buscemi in **Ghost World**. ---
**Author:** ![Renifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Renifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renifer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/32 "2013-02-24T01:44:03Z")
Alanna Ubach as Naomi, the passive aggressive waitress in Waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Renifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Renifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renifer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/33 "2013-02-24T01:54:23Z")
Nick Stahl as That Yellow Bastard in _Sin City_ (and drool-worthy pre-yellowed.) Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jimmy in _H20: Halloween Twenty Years Later_ (very good sequel to the original Halloween), and as George in _Roseanne_. Chris Kattan from _House On Haunted Hill_. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/34 "2013-02-24T02:56:59Z")
Samuel Jackson Jr. in Pulp Fiction Jack Nicholson in The Witches of Eastwick Peter O’toole in Lawrence of Arabia Humprey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny Robert Shaw in A Man for all Seasons John Voight in Midnight Cowboy ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/35 "2013-02-24T16:16:10Z")
The winner of this thread is of course Val Kilmer in _Tombstone_. On a more current note, Harrison Ford in _Cowboys and Aliens_. Maybe not good enough to win but at least good enough for a Supporting Actor nom. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/36 "2013-02-24T16:29:36Z")
Val Kiklmer in _Tombstone_ is an excellent suggestion. Assuming it never got a nomination, which I find hard to believe. I was going to say, Stanly Tucci in any movie he’s ever made. But just to follow the rules, I’ll nominate his performance in _Big Night_. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/37 "2013-02-24T16:36:16Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Val Kiklmer in _Tombstone_ is an excellent suggestion. Assuming it never got a nomination, which I find hard to believe. I was assuming the Mtv Movie Awards didn’t count (and he didn’t win). ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/38 "2013-02-24T17:39:46Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Peter O’toole in Lawrence of Arabia How on earth does that count as “under-appreciated”? O’Toole was nominated for “Best Actor”, and his Lawrence is widely recognized as one of the great movie performances of all time. The OP’s criterion was > [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > The rule is, the person cannot have won a major award, either an Oscar or golden globe or anything else for this particular performance. And they also cannot be one of the nominations. That’s right. They were completely ignored. I don’t know how your other suggestions stack up against that criterion, but O’Toole’s Lawrence fails hard. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/39 "2013-02-24T17:45:47Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Samuel Jackson Jr. in Pulp Fiction Fail: nominated for Best Supporting Actor. > [@the\_diego](#): > > Jack Nicholson in The Witches of Eastwick Possible fail: won NY Film Critics’ Circle **and** LA Film Critics’ Association Best Actor? > [@the\_diego](#): > > Humprey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny Fail: nominated for Best Actor. > [@the\_diego](#): > > Robert Shaw in A Man for all Seasons Fail: nominated for Best Supporting Actor. > [@the\_diego](#): > > John Voight in Midnight Cowboy Fail: nominated for Best Actor. I nominate **the\_diego** for Poster Most Unclear on the Thread Topic. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-under-appreciated-acting-role/649454/40 "2013-02-24T20:05:00Z")
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