There are some movies that don’t need any help and there are some that are beyond help. Despite that, I think there are some actors who always make a movie better than it would have been. They aren’t always leads, but any scene they’re in is worth watching. My list would start with: JK Simmons Rachel McAdams Michael B Jordan Tilda Swinton Jeff Daniels Ming-Na Wen
Who are the actors you feel the same way about? Or do you disagree with the premise?
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Gary Oldman, and boy has he polished some turds
I completely agree with you about Gary Oldman. He manages to disappear into each roll, but the results are always interesting.
Jesse Plemons, Walton Goggins, and Michael Shannon
I would agree with JK Simmons and Tilda Swinton, but I’m personally not sure about the rest of your list, although they are really good actors.
In no particular order, I’d probably say Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Willem Dafoe (he’s actually my #1), Simon Pegg, Jon Bernthal… That’s all I got after thinking for like ten minutes.
Situationally, I’d say Kenneth Branagh elevates Wild Wild West, which already has a stellar cast, but he just chews up each scene with his voice and everything he says; and possibly even Chamber of Secrets. However I’m not much of a fan of his Poirot.
I heartily agree about Bale, Oldman, Pitt, and Dafoe. Simon Pegg doesn’t always do it for me. Bernthal is a great actor, but I thought his contribution to the Daredevil series was more loss than gain (which I realize is not the common reaction).
I think Branagh can be good, but he can also be tiresome. I made the mistake of watching his Poirot movies in combination with their earlier incarnations. I think he is a better director than actor.
Alan Cumming is one. Also Parker Posey who shared a bunch of scenes with him in Josie and the Pussycats.
Enrico Colantoni for sure.
Kim Dickens, Judy Greer, John Turturro.
Enrico Colantoni for him as Mathesar in Galaxy Quest, alone.
Colantoni is absolutely one of those people.
JK Simmons
That explains why Postal ist Use Boll’s best film.
Irrfan Khan(RIP). Every scene he’s in, it just gets better. No matter how bad the script is, you will never feel like you wasted your time, if he’s the lead. Never.
I’m not sure whether I agree with the premise but, if I did, my list would include Tim Curry, Jeff Goldblum, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, Renée Zellweger, Bill Nighy, Jeffrey Wright, and Judi Dench.
Except for Jeff and Idris, I can think of movies for each of them that weren’t rescued by their presence. Still, I usually enjoy them anyway.
It’s not really how I watch most movies, but I’d say Paul Giamatti, for one. He seems to have a knack for selling lines.
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