#17 — Michelle Pfeiffer as Ingrid Magnussen in White Oleander (Peter Kosminsky, 2002) This might be a good time to reiterate a central tenet of this series: highlighting a certain performance isn’t intended to anoint it as the best ever … Continue reading Greatish Performances #17
#16 — John Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig Robinson in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (John Cameron Mitchell, 2001) It’s almost unfair to celebrate John Cameron Mitchell’s performance as a transgendered rock singer in the film version of Hedwig and the … Continue reading Greatish Performances #16
#15 — Malcolm McDowell as H.G. Wells in Time After Time (Nicholas Meyer, 1979) By now, it’s firmly established that playing a historical figure necessitates an actor pursue expert mimicry and slavish adherence to documented tics and tendencies above all … Continue reading Greatish Performances #15
#14 — Rachel McAdams as Lisa Reisert in Red Eye (Wes Craven, 2005) I think one of the marks of a good actor is the determination to treat theoretically trashy material as seriously as anything else that might land on … Continue reading Greatish Performances #14
#13 — Danny Glover as Simon in Grand Canyon (Lawrence Kasdan, 1991) In Grand Canyon, Danny Glover plays Simon, first arriving in the film by driving to the rescue of Kevin Kline’s Mac. Simon drives a tow truck and has … Continue reading Greatish Performances #13
#12 — Thandie Newton as Regina Lambert in the The Truth About Charlie (Jonathan Demme, 2002) There are probably faster, more decisive ways to quash a film career than to take on a role originally played by Audrey Hepburn, but … Continue reading Greatish Performances #12
#11 — Nick Nolte as Lionel Dobie in the “Life Lessons” segment of New York Stories (Martin Scorsese, 1989) Of the once bankable, respectable actors who’ve fallen on hard times, typified by mediocre film role options, no descent is more … Continue reading Greatish Performances #11
#10 — Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny (Jonathan Lynn, 1992) Marisa Tomei’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar win for My Cousin Vinny was so surprising and contrary to the typically stuffy Academy voting trends that a fairly mean-spirited myth built up around it. As per Academy custom, the previous year’s Best Supporting Actor winner was invited to present the award, which meant 74-year-old Jack Palance took the stage, looking far less hale than he did a year earlier when he famously treated the audience to a few one-armed push-ups. He fumbled with the names of individual … Continue reading Greatish Performances #10
#9 — Jennifer Jason Leigh as Amy Archer in The Hudsucker Proxy (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 1994) To the degree that Jennifer Jason Leigh is pigeonholed, it’s as the dark, damaged character whose rolling displeasure probably helps drive the … Continue reading Greatish Performances #9
#8 — Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Mel Stuart, 1971) One of the best ideas in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory came straight from Gene Wilder. When the reclusive candy maker is … Continue reading Greatish Performances #8
Coffee for Two 