# You know who's always good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840 "2008-09-16T14:33:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/21 "2008-09-16T16:08:01Z")
All good so far. And I should have mentioned Viggo Mortensen. He’s played everything, and he’s played it well. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/22 "2008-09-16T16:08:13Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > I love him too. He is currently playing the Chief of Police on _The Closer_. He’ll always be Dr. Skoda to me, though… _That’s_ where I knew him from. It was driving me nuts when I watched **Juno**. Yeah, he is good. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/23 "2008-09-16T16:08:21Z")
Amy Adams. Every time I see her perform, I think “She’s a star”. Michael Caine. Peter O’Toole. That’s all I got for now. J. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/24 "2008-09-16T16:09:04Z")
Oliver Platt. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/25 "2008-09-16T16:14:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Cute as Charlize Theron is, that was by far the worst thing Arrested Development ever did. I was begging for it to end for weeks. > > Back on topic: J.K. Simmons has become one of my favorite actors in recent years. He isn’t usually asked to do very much; he’s playing Court Psychologist Guy on about 15 different procedural shows right now. But give him an actual character role and he’s always good. J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man movies, Juno’s father, Garth Pancake in The Ladykillers (benighted and confused as that movie was), BR in Thank You For Smoking… and I haven’t even seen Oz. Seconded on J.K. Simmons. Funny that you mention you haven’t seen Oz, because his character on that show was really pretty scary (Nazi skinhead, gang leader), which is starkly different in tone from the lighter, more humorous roles he’s had in movies for the last few years. He’s got range. I’ve also been noticing the work of Josh Brolin lately – _Grindhouse_, _American Gangster_, _No Country for Old Men_. He’s always good, and now he’s playing the title role in _W_. I think he’s starting to break through as an A lister. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/26 "2008-09-16T16:27:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > . . . Back on topic: J.K. Simmons has become one of my favorite actors in recent years. He isn’t usually asked to do very much; he’s playing Court Psychologist Guy on about 15 different procedural shows right now. . . . I like him too. He’s currently in _Burn After Reading_, and although he doesn’t have a huge part, he gets the best lines. In fact, the whole movie seems like a lead-up for him to deliver a couple of great one-liners at the end. He’s terrific. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/27 "2008-09-16T16:30:22Z")
How could I forget Chris Cooper. Lone Star, Adaptation…he’s always brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/28 "2008-09-16T16:34:22Z")
I nominate George Kennedy. He was the butler in Bolero . He was Huds friend in jail. He has done everything in between. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/29 "2008-09-16T16:40:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Seconded on J.K. Simmons. Funny that you mention you haven’t seen Oz, because his character on that show was really pretty scary (Nazi skinhead, gang leader), which is starkly different in tone from the lighter, more humorous roles he’s had in movies for the last few years. He’s got range. If you like Simmons, **Marley23** , I’d strongly recommend _OZ_ (that is, if you’ve got a strong stomach. A lot of the stuff on _OZ_ ain’t for kiddies). By far his most amazing performance. Of course, I’m the resident _OZ_ fanatic and totally obsessed with it, and I squee whenever I see the actors in anything, so I’m a bit biased. But J.K. Simmons’ Schillinger has got to be one of the scariest characters ever put on television. One of my favorite scenes is when he’s being interviewed by a documentary filmmaker, and he’s saying to the camera, “I know how you people are going to represent me. Like some sort of fanatic. But I’m a family man, a man who believes in America.” _We_ know he’s a rapist, murdering white supremacist, but he knows _exactly_ what to say and how to sell himself. Another actor who, coincidentally, was one of Simmons’ castmates on _OZ_ is Bobby Cannavale. He’s been great in everything I’ve seen him in, and he’s usually the best part of whatever show he’s on. Of course, in my opinion he’s never been better as the amoral transvestite Torquemada who has a glass eye and a penchant for hallucinogens from _OZ_, but like I said, I’m biased. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/30 "2008-09-16T16:42:20Z")
Oh, and Robert Duvall. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/31 "2008-09-16T16:55:29Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > How could I forget Chris Cooper. Lone Star, Adaptation…he’s always brilliant. Also excellent in the recent _Breach_, about a self-loathing FBI turncoat. ---
**Author:** ![Wygtya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wygtya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wygtya)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/32 "2008-09-16T17:06:04Z")
For your consideration: Alan Rickman. I haven’t seen everything he’s done, but I love the variety of things I have seen him in and have never been disappointed (by him). Quigley Down Under, Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility, Galaxy Quest, Love Actually, Harry Potter. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/33 "2008-09-16T17:09:42Z")
> [@NoLAFIN](#): > > Sam Rockwell. Plus one. I’ve not seen Jeremy Piven in a bad role, either. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/34 "2008-09-16T17:14:38Z")
Cate Blanchett. She’s head and shoulders above most of her peers. Always impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/35 "2008-09-16T17:28:54Z")
Ian McShane has to be added to this list, he’s so good, no matter what. J.K. Simmons and Sam Rockwell are both favorites of mine. Sam stole the show in Galaxy Quest, and he was going against Alan Rickman! Also Kate Winslet. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/36 "2008-09-16T18:43:39Z")
> [@Wygtya](#): > > For your consideration: Alan Rickman. > I haven’t seen everything he’s done, but I love the variety of things I have seen him in and have never been disappointed (by him). > Quigley Down Under, Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility, Galaxy Quest, Love Actually, Harry Potter. Please see Truly, Madly, Deeply, even if you don’t usually go to romantic movies. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/37 "2008-09-16T22:10:04Z")
Emma Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/38 "2008-09-16T22:21:23Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Oliver Platt. Yes! I’m seeing a ton of the usual suspects here but Oliver Platt is a good one. A truly underappreciated actor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/39 "2008-09-16T23:48:37Z")
Another vote for Sam Rockwell. Also, Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, and the best actor without an Oscar, Jeff Bridges (of course, that’s just, like, my opinion, man). ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840/40 "2008-09-17T00:25:17Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > If you like Simmons, **Marley23** , I’d strongly recommend _OZ_ (that is, if you’ve got a strong stomach. A lot of the stuff on _OZ_ ain’t for kiddies). By far his most amazing performance. Of course, I’m the resident _OZ_ fanatic and totally obsessed with it, and I squee whenever I see the actors in anything, so I’m a bit biased. But J.K. Simmons’ Schillinger has got to be one of the scariest characters ever put on television. One of my favorite scenes is when he’s being interviewed by a documentary filmmaker, and he’s saying to the camera, “I know how you people are going to represent me. Like some sort of fanatic. But I’m a family man, a man who believes in America.” _We_ know he’s a rapist, murdering white supremacist, but he knows _exactly_ what to say and how to sell himself. > > Another actor who, coincidentally, was one of Simmons’ castmates on _OZ_ is Bobby Cannavale. He’s been great in everything I’ve seen him in, and he’s usually the best part of whatever show he’s on. Of course, in my opinion he’s never been better as the amoral transvestite Torquemada who has a glass eye and a penchant for hallucinogens from _OZ_, but like I said, I’m biased. Or remember the time the big city Mayor was in the OZ hospital. This was a guy Schillinger worshiped. But when Schillinger went to visit him in the hospital, the Mayor totally dressed him down. Simmon’s reaction was amazing. Very real. I’ll never forget that scene. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-whos-always-good/463840.md?page=3)