Severely Underrated Actors

[Soviet Heavy]

The actors who pull their own whenever they show up in a film, yet never receive the recognition when placed beside their contemporaries. The ones who will do a good job regardless of their role, but are always in the background. The character actors.

For me, the most outspoken actor is David Wenham. He's the guy who played Faramir in Lord of the Rings and Dilios in 300. Both of these roles he excels in, yet when in discussion about the films, he is always playing second fiddle to the acting chops of people like Ian McKellan, or being drowned out by the massive ham of Gerard Butler.

To me, Wenham was just the perfect fit for Faramir. Especially in the Extended Cuts, he revealed so much of his character just through the delivery of his lines. He's emotionally crippled by the death of his brother and disowned by his father, and Wenham conveys it brilliantly.

Who's your underrated actor/actress?

 

[ScrubberDucky]

I think Kenau Reeves gets a bit too much shit. He's good at one or two specific roles, but he's really good in those. And he's a really nice guy, newfound internet fame aside, it's hard to hate him.

 

[shrekfan246]

inb4 Nathan Fillion.

For me, it's gotta be Johnny C. McGinley. Sure, he's been in almost everything, but he's never really been a big player in any movie/TV Show except for Scrubs and it's sad because he's an absolutely amazing actor, certainly one of the most talented who worked on Scrubs (and that show had a considerable amount of talent). Though he could tie for another actor on the same show, Neil Flynn. Such a great improv actor, hilarious but able to turn on a dime and pull out an amazing serious scene when needed.

I don't really watch enough TV/movies to seriously consider any other actors/actresses.

 

[tippy2k2]

I don't know if he counts since he's a pretty big actor but I think Cillian Murphy is becoming one of my favorite actors. They don't seem to ever advertise him in his movies but I'm always giddy with excitement every time he is on screen.

Plus his eyes...I'm a straight male but....good God I love that man's eyes.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I don't know if he counts since he's a pretty big actor but I think Cillian Murphy is becoming one of my favorite actors. They don't seem to ever advertise him in his movies but I'm always giddy with excitement every time he is on screen.

Plus his eyes...I'm a straight male but....good God I love that man's eyes.

He's the first thing I noticed for the In Time commercials. I didn't care about Timberlake, I was just like, "Dude, is that Murphy?"

 

[DirgeNovak]

Jennifer Carpenter. She's really amazing.
If that scene can't move you, you are officially dead.

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

I don't know if he counts since he's a pretty big actor but I think Cillian Murphy is becoming one of my favorite actors. They don't seem to ever advertise him in his movies but I'm always giddy with excitement every time he is on screen.

Plus his eyes...I'm a straight male but....good God I love that man's eyes.

I agree...

With everything.

XD

Also, I'm a really big fan of Josh Hartnett. Watch Lucky Number Slevin and try to tell me he doesn't play that role perfectly. Such a good movie.

Sam Rockwell is another. Whether he's in a bad adaptation of a great book about a sex addict/conman, a psychotic murderer, or a lone astronaut in a truly heartbreaking story, he puts every ounce of soul into each role, and he never gets the fame he deserves.

 

[Jakub324]

Hugo Weaving, mainly for the Agent Smith thing. He delivered every line perfectly.

 

[N_of_the_dead]

Elias Koteas the guys a great actor and he is in so few movies.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Jason Segel is hilarious and deserves more recognition and screen time. And Danny Trejo deserves to be more than the "imposing Latino henchman" who always dies.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

I'm not sure if I've seen him in any films so I don't know if he counts, but Marc Warren should be a way bigger star than he is. His role as Pvt. Blythe in Band of Brothers is one of the best I've ever seen, especially considering that was his first ever TV appearance and he's much better known for comedy roles.

 

[mrdude2010]

John Candy. He's like a funny Chris Farley.

 

[DragonChi]

Phil Hartman..while he was still alive.

 

[JaceArveduin]

For me, the most outspoken actor is David Wenham. He's the guy who played Faramir in Lord of the Rings and Dilios in 300. Both of these roles he excels in, yet when in discussion about the films, he is always playing second fiddle to the acting chops of people like Ian McKellan, or being drowned out by the massive ham of Gerard Butler.

Never realized that he played both of those roles, though now that I think about it, I can see it. Yeah, I loved Faramir, too bad it didn't keep to the books a tad bit more.

Hugo Weaving, mainly for the Agent Smith thing. He delivered every line perfectly.

I do know that's who played Elrond, though how I've retained that knowledge is a mystery. He did a good Elrond in my humble opinion.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

For me, the most outspoken actor is David Wenham. He's the guy who played Faramir in Lord of the Rings and Dilios in 300. Both of these roles he excels in, yet when in discussion about the films, he is always playing second fiddle to the acting chops of people like Ian McKellan, or being drowned out by the massive ham of Gerard Butler.

Never realized that he played both of those roles, though now that I think about it, I can see it. Yeah, I loved Faramir, too bad it didn't keep to the books a tad bit more.

Hugo Weaving, mainly for the Agent Smith thing. He delivered every line perfectly.

I do know that's who played Elrond, though how I've retained that knowledge is a mystery. He did a good Elrond in my humble opinion.

I actually think he was an improvement over the book. In the book, Faramir showed his quality through his defiance of the Ring immediately. While that definitely works for his character to show his differences with Boromir, I felt the more nuanced and flawed character from the films worked better.

It makes more sense to me personally. He is grieving over his brother's death, and it is affecting his judgment, making him more vulnerable to the Ring's influence. It makes his change of heart more emotionally connecting than just immediately overcoming it.

Both versions show the same message: that there is still good in Mankind, and they have the willpower to overcome obstacles. The film's version of fighting the struggle seems more inspiring than simply being a beacon of what man is capable of like was presented in the book.

 

[pearcinator]

I'll probably be in the minority for this but I think Bruce Willis is underrated...especially in action scenes, there is nothing more badass when Bruce Willis does some crazy action stunt with a deadpan expression on his face.

In many of his movies he's the 'average Joe in an extraordinary circumstance' character and he nails it when he plays the role.

 

[JaceArveduin]

I actually think he was an improvement over the book. In the book, Faramir showed his quality through his defiance of the Ring immediately. While that definitely works for his character to show his differences with Boromir, I felt the more nuanced and flawed character from the films worked better.

It makes more sense to me personally. He is grieving over his brother's death, and it is affecting his judgment, making him more vulnerable to the Ring's influence. It makes his change of heart more emotionally connecting than just immediately overcoming it.

Both versions show the same message: that there is still good in Mankind, and they have the willpower to overcome obstacles. The film's version of fighting the struggle seems more inspiring than simply being a beacon of what man is capable of like was presented in the book.

*warning: it's been awhile so some facts may not be completely straight*
The reason he was 'pure' is because the blood of Numenor ran truer through him than it did his brother or father. They also made him look fairly bad when they made his injury due to leading his men to their death, just to satisfy his father. In the books he was injured while trying to protect as many of his men as he could. He was grieving in the books too, iirc, but he was holding strong for his men.

I liked him in the books because he was a heroic leader of men in the strain of the Lords of Numenor of old.

 

[Saltyk]

I'm just gonna say voice actors in general. How many games and television shows have you seen where the voice actors did excellent jobs? Many even say it takes as much effort to do a voice over as to act. Mark Hamill will actually act out his actions a little while preforming his voice work. And he's not alone. Plus some of them can do really great performances.

And yes, this includes the people doing the English dubs of anime. Some maybe bad, but I generally find the higher profile ones have good voice actors and dubbing. Most of it comes down to preference, anyway.

 

[DaJoW]

John Candy. He's like a funny Chris Farley.

John Candy has been dead for 17 years. Not saying he wasn't a good actor, but he's unlikely to get much screen time.

OT: Tim Curry doesn't seem to get as much attention as he deserves, in everything I've seen him in he's been brilliant. I'd also say Peter Stormare deserves better than small roles usually leading to death, because he is a genuinely talented actor. It may be he has some bad accent, but he's played leading roles in some of the biggest Swedish movies for a reason (we do have a fair amount of good actors).

 

[chaos order]

For me, the most outspoken actor is David Wenham. He's the guy who played Faramir in Lord of the Rings and Dilios in 300. Both of these roles he excels in, yet when in discussion about the films, he is always playing second fiddle to the acting chops of people like Ian McKellan, or being drowned out by the massive ham of Gerard Butler.

Never realized that he played both of those roles, though now that I think about it, I can see it. Yeah, I loved Faramir, too bad it didn't keep to the books a tad bit more.

Hugo Weaving, mainly for the Agent Smith thing. He delivered every line perfectly.

I do know that's who played Elrond, though how I've retained that knowledge is a mystery. He did a good Elrond in my humble opinion.

also dont forget he voiced V from "V for vendetta"