TOP 5 ACTORS DESERVING MORE LOVE
When people generally do a list of the most unappreciated actors of our time their list usually involves a group of people everyone knows and loves but doesn't list as one of the best. I have no problem with that system, but that's not the direction I'm aiming for. Of course I know if I wrote top 5 most unappreciated actors I'd likely be raking in the google search views, but we all know that's not what I'm here for (as if anyone would read this anyways). No, the people I want to talk about today are five actors that I feel have been great for far too long but never get mentioned, ever. Now I know that's a hyperbole but in my opinion these are some of the finest talents of today but they're never 'rumored' to be apart of a project. There's no big budget studio saying 'get me X!!!!' When it comes down to it, they're great, and people need to love them more for it.
Samantha Morton Even though her natural tendency leans towards independent films, Morton has been one of Hollywood's finest character actresses of the last fourteen years. With everything from In America and Control to Minority Report, Morton's covered the broad spectrum of cinema, but you don't often see her listed among the better actresses of her generation. That's with two Oscar nominations under her belt.
Perhaps it's because she ventures quite a far distance away from the girl next door persona most actresses get sucked into. Morton often pushes for dynamic, intelligent, female characters with varying backgrounds, and complex issues. There's nothing cookie cutter about Morton, and I love every moment of it.
Paddy Considine
If you were to ask me to subscribe to a fan club for just one actor. Just one, no more, that's it. I would throw it all into the Paddy Considine bin. I'll tell you why: Anyone who has ever seen the final five minutes of Dead Man's Shoes knows Considine is beyond the real deal. Considine carries with him a great display of charisma, self awareness, and humility. He's willing to take the bit parts - Bourne Ultimatum/Hot Fuzz, but knows what to do with the camera when he's a dominate character - Cinderella Man, In America, Dead Man's Shoes.
To be honest I didn't really register Paddy Considine until I saw the film Pu-239. Don't worry, I know you haven't heard of it. Was shown once on HBO about 3 years ago, and to be honest it wasn't great, but Considine was amazing. He carried the weight of that film so brilliantly he's received my universal seal of approval.
Andre Braugher
I first became aware of Andre Braugher during the eighth grade when my class watched Edward Zwick's 1989 film, Glory. Braugher played the physically weak, but intellectually strong, Thomas Searles. Since then I've grown to greatly respect Braugher for doing what so many African American actors struggle to do: Build a career playing strong, confident, and intelligent, characters.
Braugher may not only get the best parts, but he always makes the most of them. With solid turns in City of Angels, Primal Fear, The Mist, and Frequency, perhaps the greatest shame of Braugher's career is that he's never really given a chance to expand. His short lived FX TV series Thief displayed Braugher as a true talent, but people seemed disinterested. More recently Braugher's gained some respect as the recurring psychiatrist on House, but his episodes are too few and far between. If only Braugher would do a bit less Rise of the Silver Surfer and Duets then I'm certain we'd all learn to love him for what he does.
John Hawkes
There's nothing up and coming about the talent in John Hawkes, he's been around for years, and great for most of it. Hawkes has done everything from tv shows like Lost, Deadwood, and Eastbound & Down to Hollywood films like The Perfect Storm, Identity, and American Gangster. Still, the John Hawkes bandwagon seems to be inexplicably short staffed. If I would venture a guess as to why it's because when Hawkes goes indie, he really goes independent.
His 2010 film Winter's Bone is probably one of his very few independent films to reach out into the mainstream with any real success. Yet Hawkes has proven you don't need to be a big name to stick it out in Hollywood. Being a consistent deliverer of great character performances regardless of the film we always keep you in the mind of directors.
Tony Leung Chiu Wai
If you were to list the best actor only film buffs seem to know, Tony Leung Chiu Wai would have to feature every time. Since breaking through with 80's and 90's Chinese action films, such as John Woo's Hard Boiled, Tony Leung has captivated foreign film buffs with dynamic turns in Hero, Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love, 2046, Infernal Affairs, Red Cliff, and Lust Caution.
Leung's long running relationship with director Kar wai Wong at the turn of the century led to some of the best cinema in Chinese history. The only reason Leung hasn't gained much international appeal is simply selection of films, and his amazing ability to blend in. Leung's performances always display without standing out. He doesn't dominate, but rather synchronizes with the characters he portrays. His performance in Lust, Caution is a highlight of his immense talent and range. If only we could get him some more mainstream love here in the US , all would be right with the world... well not all, but you get what I mean.
Well ladies and gents there you have it. My not so underappreciated, so much as not well loved as they should be internationally speaking, list of five actors (and one actress but when we reference multi-gender groups we usually use the masculine form so don't argue!). Be sure to list yours in the comment section.
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