# She/He Stole The Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952 "2010-07-08T12:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/101 "2010-07-10T16:15:35Z")
Brad Pitt in **Burn After Reading**. And it’s damned hard to steal scenes from the other two stars! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/102 "2010-07-10T16:18:53Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Brad Pitt in **Burn After Reading**. And it’s damned hard to steal scenes from the other two stars! This may go hand-in-hand with the argument about Johnny Depp above, but based on the way Pitt’s character was played up in the previews, I’d assumed he was going to be much more essential to the movie than he actually was. It’s a little hard for me to believe that Pitt was cast in a small role that surprised everyone by ending up being bigger than it was supposed to be. His parts were great, though. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/103 "2010-07-10T17:06:20Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Not a dark horse at all - it was one of the first I thought of. > > Brimley has fabulous lines: “Now we’ll talk all day if you want to. But, come sundown, there’s gonna be two things true that ain’t true now. One is that the United States Department of Justice is gonna know what in the good Christ is going on around here. And the other’s I’m gonna have somebody’s ass in my briefcase.” > > And this one: “We can’t have people go around leaking stuff for their own reasons. It ain’t legal. And worse than that, by God it ain’t right.” “Wonderful thing, sapeeni.” (Subpoena) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/104 "2010-07-10T17:54:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought all of the smaller characters in True Romance (Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, etc.) stole the movie from the two leads.I thought all of the smaller characters in True Romance (Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, etc.) stole the movie from the two leads. > [@](#): > > Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading. And it’s damned hard to steal scenes from the other two stars! Another example of Pitt stealing a movie from the two leads would be _Twelve Monkeys_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/105 "2010-07-10T18:03:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I haven’t even seen the movie yet but everyone seems to be in agreeance that Chloe Moretz stole the show in Kick-ass. I think Moretz benefitted greatly from having the most interesting part. Aaron Johnson was supposed to act like a normal teenager - it would have thrown his character and the movie off if he had hammed it up. Nicolas Cage was hamming it up, which worked for his character, but we expect that from Cage so he didn’t stand out. The actor I think came closest to “stealing” the movie was Mark Strong. He made the character of Frank D’Amico more interesting than it had to be. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/106 "2010-07-10T21:03:29Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday stole every scene he was in in _Tombstone_. Beat me. That’s one of the very few “edit it together and I can watch it loop” performances. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/107 "2010-07-10T21:05:22Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > And I concur with **Heath Ledger** , of course, but I assumed that was going to be everyone’s answer. That is the great scene stealer of all time. Also one of the greatest all time performances, period. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/108 "2010-07-11T00:19:59Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Beat me. > > That’s one of the very few “edit it together and I can watch it loop” performances. You and a lot of other people. I’m surprised by how many of us (myself included) have seconded the Doc Kilmer vote. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/109 "2010-07-11T04:49:25Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > And Huey, Louey & Dewey the three drones from Silent Running Sad that they have a broader range than the lead. Heck,\* all\* the other actors… and every extra in the spaceship. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/110 "2010-08-10T07:55:43Z")
David Patrick Kelly in **The Warriors**. Granted, it’s hard _not_ to steal a film when you scream all your lines and your counterpart has the intensity of a brick. Still, Luther and his antics are what people remember most from that film. Uma Thurman[del]'s boobs[/del] in **Dangerous Liasons**. Samuel L. Jackson in **Pulp Fiction**. It seemed odd when he was nominated for Best **Supporting** Actor. Wasn’t until I watched it back that I grokked that he had less screen time than Travolta. Someone upthread mentioned Robert Duvall in **Apocalypse Now**. I further submit Dennis Hopper in same. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/111 "2010-08-12T15:14:32Z")
Rob Corddry (Lou) in _Hot Tub Time Machine_ ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/112 "2010-08-12T16:16:49Z")
Ben Kingsley in “Sexy Beast”. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/113 "2010-08-12T17:39:54Z")
Meg Ryan and to a lesser degree, Anthony Edwards in _ **Top Gun** _ ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/114 "2010-08-12T17:54:54Z")
Bill Murray in _Zombieland_ ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/115 "2010-08-12T18:24:46Z")
Just glancing over my way-too-expansive movie collection… Sydney Greenstreet - _Maltese Falcon_ Sam Jaffe - _Gunga Din_ Claude Rains - _Casablanca_ Angela Lansbury - _Picture of Dorian Gray_ John Garfield - _A Gentleman’s Agreement_ Josephine Hull - _Harvey_ Katie Johnson - _The Ladykillers_ Jack Lemmon - _Bell, Book & Candle_ Noel Coward - _The Italian Job_ Peter Ustinov AND Charles Laughton - _Spartacus_ Kirk Douglas - _Seven Days in May_ Helen Hayes - _Airport_ Peter Ustinov -\* Logan’s Run\* Burt Lancaster - _Field of Dreams_ Quentin Crisp - _Orlando_ Martin Landau -\* Ed Wood\* Tim Roth - _Rob Roy_ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/116 "2010-08-12T19:03:51Z")
Michael J. Pollard in _Bonnie & Clyde_. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/117 "2010-08-13T03:46:25Z")
Can I mention TV? Tyr (Keith Hamilton Cobb) on Andromeda. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/118 "2010-08-13T07:01:48Z")
Jerry Lee Lewis in the biopic about Alan Freed “American Hot Wax”. > **[American Hot Wax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hot_Wax)** > > American Hot Wax is a 1978 biographical film directed by Floyd Mutrux with a screenplay by John Kaye from a story by John Kaye and Art Linson. The film tells the story of pioneering disc jockey Alan Freed, who in the 1950s helped introduce and popularize rock and roll, and is often credited with coining the term "rock 'n' roll". The film starred Tim McIntire, Fran Drescher, Jay Leno, Laraine Newman, Jeff Altman, and Moosie Drier. It also featured musical performances by Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lew... Doesn’t seem to ever been issued on VHS or DVD, despite/because having Jay Leno as an actor Gary Cooper had a brief bit in the 1927 film about World War I fighter pilots “Wings” (that won the first Oscar for Best Picture) that launched his career. There is also Jean Harlow in the 1930 “Hell’s Angels” with the memorable line “Would you be shocked if I put on something more comfortable”. Over-the-top Bible epics: Edward G Robinson in “The Ten Commandments” Don’t think she exactly stole the film from James Cagney in one of most memorable roles but Margaret Wycherly as Ma Jarrett in “White Heat” is spooky. Top of the world. Dame Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell in the 1952 film of “The Importance of Being Earnest”. In the 2002 the great Judi Dench had to go the other way with the “A handbag” line Concert film: James Brown in “The TAMI show” had the Rolling Stones quaking in their boots and debating if they should follow his no-man-can-make-me-leave-the-stage act. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/119 "2010-08-13T08:19:22Z")
I vote for John Hurt in the latest Indiana Jones movie. He was a silly old man in rags, but he owned his scenes. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952/120 "2010-08-13T21:57:46Z")
Val Kilmer in _Tombstone_ is the definitive answer, I think. He not only stole _Tombstone_, he stole _Wyatt Earp_ too and he wasn’t even in it… Dennis Quaid (an actor I like very much, BTW) played Doc Holiday in _Wyatt Earp_ and he did a damned fine job. But I had seen _Tombstone_ a few weeks before and I couldn’t help but think of Kilmer during every single scene poor Quaid was in. I saw _Wyatt Earp_ again, years later, and I was struck by how good Quaid’s performance really was, with adequate time and distance between viewing it and viewing Kilmer’s portrayal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-he-stole-the-movie/545952.md?page=7)