# "Wow! They really can act!" moments **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346 "2007-12-17T16:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/101 "2007-12-19T11:24:12Z")
[QUOTE=threnodyangelfire] I came in to mention this. He absolutely blew me away in that movie. [/QUOTE] I forgot about **Stranger than fiction** - it actually made me cry! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/102 "2007-12-19T17:54:53Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I only ever saw Robert De Niro play Robert De Niro, so I never really appreciated him…until I saw Jackie Brown. I couldn’t believe how impressed I was I really feel that De Niro should only be allowed to work with Tarantino. I thought he stepped out of typecast mode nicely in Wag the Dog. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/103 "2007-12-19T18:05:32Z")
[QUOTE=Hostile Dialect] I thought he stepped out of typecast mode nicely in Wag the Dog. [/QUOTE] If you want to see De Niro waaaayyyy out of typecast mode, try _Stardust_. :eek: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/104 "2007-12-19T18:15:44Z")
[QUOTE=manx] The terrifying and amazing Tilda Swinton, but I can’t say I’ve ever not been impressed by her. Unimpressed by some of her film choices, perhaps, but she’s always very watchable. [/QUOTE] Have you seen _The War Zone_? She blew me away in that. Of course, she’s always amazing, though. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/105 "2007-12-19T18:16:15Z")
Gillian Anderson was very good in the X-Files, but that was all she had done, as far as I knew. So it was hard to gauge how good she was. Then I saw her in **House of Mirth** and was blown away. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/106 "2007-12-19T22:44:10Z")
[QUOTE=pepperlandgirl] Likewise, I’ve always _heard_ that Brando was brilliant, but being young and ignorant, I had no idea why anybody ever said that. And then I saw him as Mark Antony in one of his earliest movies **Julius Caesar**. I was utterly entranced by him. I could not look away. [/QUOTE] Brando was certainly good in that movie, but for me, John Gielgud stole the show. Yes, Gielgud. The one who never seemed to play anything but the starchy (with just a hint of tender wit) old school English butler. As Brutus, Gielgud was _intense_. In just a handful of scenes, he demonstrates why he was considered one of the greatest actor who ever treaded the boards. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/107 "2007-12-19T22:58:03Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] And I think of Hugh Laurie in the reverse–he was just a damn good British slapstick comedy song-and-dance man. It wasn’t until _House_ that I recognized his acting abilities and his range. [/QUOTE] Same here! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/108 "2007-12-20T00:44:23Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] I forgot about **Stranger than fiction** - it actually made me cry! ☹ [/QUOTE] Reminds me, Adam Sandler in **Click**. Movie has a lot of his brand of slapstick, but it gets pretty danged serious and intense towards the end. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/109 "2007-12-20T08:06:05Z")
Adam Sandler in **Reign Over Me**. The scene in the shrink’s waiting room where he describes what happened on 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/110 "2007-12-20T09:29:35Z")
Thirding (or Fourthing?) Adam Sandler: I thought he was more-than-solid in both _Punch Drunk Love_ and _Spanglish_. As for Mark Wahlberg, I can’t believe no one mentioned his role in _The Departed_ yet. In fact, I can’t, off the top of my head, think of a movie Wahlberg was in that he _didn’t_ do a good job in. So other than the lingering prejudice that Marky Mark of the Funky Bunch couldn’t _possibly_ be a good actor, it doesn’t seem like there’s much reason to be _surprised_ that he could act. Will Smith is a better example because there was a large body of work, namely _The Fresh Prince of Bel Air_ where he clearly couldn’t act. To see him transform into someone who can pull off Muhammad Ali, etc, _is_ a “Wow! They really can act!” moment. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/111 "2007-12-20T12:21:12Z")
[Jason Isaacs](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005042) is probably the most underrated, yet, badass actor in the business today. What made me love this guy is when I first saw him play the villain in [The Patriot](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187393/) with Mel Gibson and I literally hated him by the end of the flick. If an actor makes you hate them in a movie, that’s great acting. What REALLY blew the lid off was when I saw him recently in Showtime’s [“Brotherhood”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457229) talking with a Philly accent and playing this badass hitman type character. I thought, truly, truly brilliant actor. The man can play anything. Another vote is for Gary Oldman. Genius actor, a man of a thousand faces on screen. In fact, he recently did a few movies with Jason Isaacs with the whole Harry Potter Series. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/112 "2007-12-20T13:24:02Z")
> [@](#): > > It always surprises me more when a good musical performer CAN’T act, like Madonna. Yes, but even Madonna has her moment… in _EVITA_, which is _superbly_ acted. Being a crazy Madonna fan, I immediately rushed out to see her other films… and have concluded that she is generally a _terrible, terrible_ actress. (They sort of poke fun at this in EVITA itself, ‘‘Ok, she couldn’t act, but she had the right friends…’’) I’m glad some people are mentioning Will Smith. I sort of knew the guy had some skills from watching the occasional serious moment in _Fresh Prince_, but I recently saw _The Pursuit of Happyness_ and it blew me away. His acting makes that film. It is nuanced, and incredibly powerful, he exudes the desperation and determination that the film demands. I’ve seen it twice and it wraps me up every time. It makes me very excited for _I am Legend._ The big ‘‘The girl can act?!!’’ moment for me came for Natalie Portman in _Garden State_ and Kate Winslet in _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind._ Until then, they were just typical girl actors. Ditto Marky Mark in _I Heart Huckabees_, which is such an amazingly good movie that my head explodes just thinking about it. It is really my favorite movie ever. Because it’s about existentialism and the debate between nihilism and equanimity while simultaneously being hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/113 "2007-12-20T13:40:13Z")
[QUOTE=F. U. Shakespeare] My “DeCaprio Can Act” moment was “The Aviator”. [/QUOTE] Really? Then you should go out and rent [“The Basketball Diaries”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112461/) and also rent [What’s Eating Gilbert Grape](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108550/). Because that acting from DiCaprio in BOTH OF THOSE MOVIES will utterly _astonish_ you. Trust me. Speaking of “The Gift”. Another actor in that who blew me away and continues to do so to this day in everything I see him in is [Giovanni Ribisi](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000610). He played a slow guy in that movie if I’m not mistaken. Then I saw him in something else (I think it was [The Boiler Room](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/)) after that and couldn’t believe that he was a totally different person. One more who blew me away and still does is [Philip Seymour Hoffman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000450). All I can say about him and his work is…WOW ! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/114 "2007-12-20T15:52:52Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] Really? Then you should go out and rent [“The Basketball Diaries”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112461/) and also rent [What’s Eating Gilbert Grape](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108550/). Because that acting from DiCaprio in BOTH OF THOSE MOVIES will utterly _astonish_ you. Trust me. Speaking of “The Gift”. Another actor in that who blew me away and continues to do so to this day in everything I see him in is [Giovanni Ribisi](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000610). He played a slow guy in that movie if I’m not mistaken. Then I saw him in something else (I think it was [The Boiler Room](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/)) after that and couldn’t believe that he was a totally different person. One more who blew me away and still does is [Philip Seymour Hoffman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000450). All I can say about him and his work is…WOW ! [/QUOTE] Also in _Boiler Room_ is Vin Deisel, the smallest you’ve ever seen him, and he does a great job and steals the whole movie. The guy’s smarter than he’d lead you to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/115 "2007-12-20T16:35:26Z")
The late John Belushi was brilliant in Contenential Divide and Neighbors. He would have had a wonderful career if only… ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/116 "2007-12-20T16:37:10Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] [Jason Isaacs](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005042) is probably the most underrated, yet, badass actor in the business today. What made me love this guy is when I first saw him play the villain in [The Patriot](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187393/) with Mel Gibson and I literally hated him by the end of the flick. If an actor makes you hate them in a movie, that’s great acting. [/QUOTE] I totally agree. Jason Isaacs is one of my favorite actors because of his ability to disappear into his roles. The moment when I was blown away by his talent was when I saw “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” right after seeing “The Patriot.” Isaacs was able to take two one-dimensional villains who would twirl their moustache if they had one, and play them _completely differently_. Instead of relying on a set of stock mannerisms, he made those characters come to life by imbuing them with distinct temperaments and energies. Add to this the villains he’s played in “Dangerous Lady” and “Divorcing Jack,” also completely different from one another, and you’ve got one impressive actor. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/117 "2007-12-20T16:41:14Z")
John Goodman. I never thought he was a bad actor, but had always assumed he only had the one character. Then I saw the Jack Bull, and in about only 10 minutes of it he completely dominated it with his presence. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/118 "2007-12-20T16:50:55Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] Really? Then you should go out and rent [“The Basketball Diaries”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112461/) and also rent [What’s Eating Gilbert Grape](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108550/). Because that acting from DiCaprio in BOTH OF THOSE MOVIES will utterly _astonish_ you. Trust me. [/QUOTE] I would also suggest **Gangs of New York**. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/119 "2007-12-20T16:58:55Z")
[QUOTE=olivesmarch4th] The big ‘‘The girl can act?!!’’ moment for me came for Natalie Portman in _Garden State_ and Kate Winslet in _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind._ Until then, they were just typical girl actors. [/QUOTE] They’ve always been very talented actresses, see a very young Portman in _Beautiful Girls_ and Winslet in _Heavenly Creatures_. Both excellent, nuanced performances. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346/120 "2007-12-20T16:59:40Z")
My pick is Naomi Watts in Mullholland Drive. When the movie first came out she was a nobody. I saw the film and for the first part she seemed like a pleasant enough performer, nothing special. Until the “audition” scene. OH MY GOD! From that point on, the movie got more and more bizarro, and she kept on delivering. Mulholland Drive is weird as they get, but check it out just to watch her performance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-they-really-can-act-moments/430346.md?page=7)