That’s why, at the end of “What’s Up Doc”, Streisand’s character says, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
O’Neal replies, “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Kiss and end movie.
Word on Westerns premiered a interview with Ryan. Covers his entire career. Ryan had interesting comments about people he worked with. His memory was still very good.
His limited dramatic range was put to good use in The Driver (1978). O’Neal’s one-note performance was enhanced with a paucity of dialogue. Along with the generic characterizations and template plot, this minimized the risk his acting might weaken the film’s tension or distract from the driving thrills.
Re: Rocky - According to Wikipedia, O’Neal had trained as an amateur boxer prior to his acting career.
Worth watching.
Still, hard to look at one of his movies and not imagine someone better cast. Paper Moon - Martin Sheen, Barry Lyndon - Malcolm “promise not to scratch your corneas this time” McDowell, A Bridge too Far - Jeff (appropriately enough) Bridges, etc.
That may have made him a good boxer. It didn’t make him right for the role.
UA also suggested James Caan for the lead in Rocky. That would have been better casting than Ryan O’Neal.
IMHO, none of them would’ve done better with his signature ‘overwhelmed preppie’ role in Love Story; who do you see fielding that?
Never saw it, and probably never will. Since his only acting skill was knitting his eyebrows, I guess he was perfect
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Which I much preferred. Ryan O’Neal was never really great in anything I saw him in. RIP, I guess.
Beside Ryan in IMO his only great performance*, and non-actress daughter Tatum expertly stage-managed by Director Bogdanovich, Madeline Kahn is great in a small role, as is Burton Gilliam in a tiny part.
- Although even here his range is limited.
I also know him primarily for his Bones appearances. You know, I had completely forgotten that he played the client in Zero Effect until I scanned his Wikipedia page. That was a fun little movie. It kind of snuck up on you with its low-key charm.