One Dimensional Acting [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

jeffdwright2001

09-02-2004, 07:45 AM

The Biff thread and my All Clint Team inspired me to consider actors and actresses that are the same no matter what role they are in.

In some cases, it's an asset. People watched Cary Grant movies to see Cary Grant. There was an expectation when you knew that the star was John Wayne.

Even actors that are considered to be one thing, often suprise us when we see them in another role and are actually convincing. I feel this applies particulary to comedians who take on a dramatic role (Robin Williams would be an example).

However, there are cases where someone just can't play any role other than who they are. I'm not counting "character actors" who make their living playing the same type of character who is usually in the background of the movie. Here are a couple examples of actors/actresses who I can't look beyond and see who they are trying to portray.

http://www.prisma-online.de/image/d4/mmnet_0da96b6dcbd4.jpeg
Helen Hunt: Decent looking actress, but damn it she's the same person in every single role she plays. It's Helen Hunt playing Helen Hunt, and I'm sorry - she's not that interesting.

http://www.celebrity-exchange.com/celebs/photos42/ben-affleck.jpg
Ben Affleck: Whether he's in a light comedy, an action film, or small budget - it's the same guy (without the everyman quality that you'd get from a Jimmy Stewart).

Who do YOU think falls into this category?

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Tall_James

09-02-2004, 07:48 AM

Winona Ryder

<img src=http://www.djmcc.com/winona.jpg>

Her method of acting is simply furrowing her forehead.

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TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 07:51 AM

I'll bring up the KING of one-dimensional acting...but the difference is we LOVE him because of it. If Christopher Walken started playing anyone besides Christopher Walken, nobody would find a place in their hearts for him anymore.

See? Even with a turban, ridiculous hair and living in Gotham City, he's still just Christopher Walken. The only difference might be is that it's Tuesday Walken, instead of Saturday Walken.

http://daily.greencine.com/archives/christopher-walken.jpg

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Hottub

09-02-2004, 08:05 AM

Charles Bronson
Steven Segal
Van Damme
Insert next action hero's name here

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blakjeezis

09-02-2004, 08:06 AM

Along the same lines as Mojo's Chris Walken, I'm gonna throw Sam Jackson into the pot. Whether he's a Jeri-curled hitman, bald Jedi master, corn-rowed, kilt wearing street pharmacist, or woollen hatted McDowells robber, it's always Sam Jackson as Sam Jackson. Badass to the bone, but the same in every film.

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jeffdwright2001

09-02-2004, 08:07 AM

I agree with Mojo on Christopher Walken. He falls into the John Wayne category of actors who we love because they are so strong in personality.

Paccino is probably another, although at times even he can't resurrect a piece of crap like Simone.

Helen, Ben, and Winona while all one dimensional are truly flat. It takes a strong actor/actress to captivate the audience enough that we are ok seeing the same style over and over. It's schtick that we don't mind being schtick.

I'll go ahead with the first potential controversy by listing another actress who is the same in every friggin role:

Drew Barrymore
http://www.prisma-online.de/image/16/mmfroebus_01021216.jpeg
Oddly hot at times, and oddly boring in her roles.

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TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 08:14 AM

What about actors who had two different eras of one dimensional acting? Like, say, EDDIE MURPHY?

First era, from the early 80's up until the mid-90's or so, he ALWAYS played a smartassed, foulmouthed cop. Or a character who was partnered with a cop. Or a detective of some kind. You get the picture. The movies were usually funny, but whether he was flirting with Bronson Pinchot, trying to wash off the stench of Nick Nolte or fighting some kind of Tibetan demon, he was ALWAYS 80's Eddie Murphy.

Then you had Eddie Murphy of the last ten years. The roles are technically more varied, in that they SOUND different on paper, but when it gets to the screen, it's just Eddie Murphy being "nu-Eddie Murphy." All bland and looking vaguely confused, and telling things that sound like they could be jokes, but we can't ever really be sure. Usually he's surrounded by children, talking animals, or other version so of himself covered in makeup. Avoid at all costs.

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GodsFavoriteMan

09-02-2004, 08:18 AM

TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 08:19 AM

Yeah, but serious Hanks is TRYING to be serious. Eddie is now just "serious" by default since he forgot how to be funny.

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mdr55

09-02-2004, 08:27 AM

The dude from Mr. Deeds.....Adam Something.
And the dude from Ace Ventura....(can't think of his name now)

Hafa Adai

This message was edited by mdr55 on 9-2-04 @ 12:28 PM

jeffdwright2001

09-02-2004, 08:28 AM

Well, Tom Hanks is almost always Tom Hanks. No matter what stupid accent he's using. But, like Eddie Murphy, there's two types of Hanks: young goofy Hanks, and older serious Hanks.

I think the audience is OK with Tom Hanks being Tom Hanks. Someone has to fill that "everyman" role.

Where I think he tanks is when he tries to do the "characters" like the Southern guy in "The Lady Killers" or the foreign guy stuck in "The Terminal".

Which brings us to a cohort of his who fans are fine keeping her one dimensional as "bubbly cute girl", but don't like seeing her elsewhere:

Meg Ryan:
http://www.notejode.net/actor/meg%20ryan/fotos/meg%20ryan%20-%20gata.jpg

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GodsFavoriteMan

09-02-2004, 08:33 AM

Yeah, but serious Hanks is TRYING to be serious. Eddie is now just "serious" by default since he forgot how to be funny.

Well, I didn't necessarily mean that there was a serious Eddie Murphy, just that there are two Hanks; but you're right. And the same thing is happening to Martin Lawrence. Who is also always Martin Lawrence.

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Jack_Doff

09-02-2004, 08:34 AM

Chris Reeves. It's like everything he's in he's some sort of cripple.

But seriously, has Keanu Reeves not played his character from Bill and Ted's everytime?

This message was edited by Jack_Doff on 9-2-04 @ 12:39 PM

AngelAmy

09-02-2004, 08:45 AM

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson
http://cache.eonline.com/Features/Awards/Oscars2004/RedCarpetPics/Images/rcp.stiller.wilson.jpg
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09-02-2004, 09:00 AM

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JustJon

09-02-2004, 10:01 AM

About halfway through his career, Harrison Ford became one dimentional.

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SilentSpic

09-02-2004, 10:10 AM

Adam Sandler is definintly a one dimensional actor.
He plays the same role but with a different script.

Water Boy
http://adorocinema.cidadeinternet.com.br/personalidades/atores/adam-sandler/adam-sandler04.jpg

Well... maybe not this one.
http://www.musicman.com/bone/bigd.gif

http://www.movieactors.com/photos-misc/billymadisonsm.jpeg

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Mike Teacher

09-02-2004, 10:29 AM

I have no problem getting past Pacino and to the role, maybe now more so then ever; the guy not only looks completely different from his Dog Day Afternoon days, think of that high-pitched Dog Day/And Justice For All high-pitched voice, it got to be a whine sometimes.

And now you got the gravel voiced coach in 'Any Given Sunday' or the LA cop in 'Heat'

Not to de-rail, but this is why I edge Duvall over DeNiro in best Actor. Duvall can completely step aside from himself, and let a role take him over.

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Reephdweller

09-02-2004, 10:31 AM

Michael Keaton

http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/castingcall/pics/keaton.jpg

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mdr55

09-02-2004, 10:33 AM

Meg Ryan:
http://www.notejode.net/actor/meg%20ryan/fotos/meg%20ryan%20-%20gata.jpg

Is that Tara Reid's mother?

Hafa Adai

TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 11:39 AM

What about Cusack?

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/images/cusack150.jpg

Johnny-boy is GREAT when he plays himself in movies seemingly made FOR him..."Say Anything," "rosse Pointe Blank," "High Fidelity," "Better of Dead," BECAUSE he's brilliant at playing himself because we like that person in THOSE situations.

When he tries to branch off into types of roles where he has to play a different person or the character of "John Cusack" is put into a non-Cusack-type situation, like "Con Air," "Bullets Over Broadway," "Max," "Identity,"and even "Being John Malkovich," he still comes across as Cusack the universally recognizable entity, and not a different person (Which is key, because they're roles where you don't expect, or even want, a Cusack-type person), and it really makes him kind of annoying.

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This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 9-2-04 @ 3:42 PM

jeffdwright2001

09-02-2004, 11:42 AM

What about Cusack?

What did you think of him in "Identity"?

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TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 11:44 AM

See above. I added that film to the list of ones where a Cusack-type person is not needed/wanted, and his presence is really kinda grating and cloying.

That, and I didn't like the movie overall.

Trust me, I really like Cusack...but he only really "works" in films meant for John Cusack...if that makes any sense.

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East Side Dave

09-02-2004, 11:44 AM

Hugh Grant! We get it already; you're English and a nervous-type!! Grow some balls, you twitchy limey!!

And Christopher Reeve- every role since Superman 4 he plays is one of a cripple!! If Lieutenant Dan can get up, so can you!

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TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 11:49 AM

East Side Dave

09-02-2004, 11:52 AM

Oh no, Mojo!! I.E. the scene where he came out on stage with a guitar to help that little brat perform in the talent show! Jesus almighty was he an Englishman!! He makes Graham Norton look like Chuck Norris he's such a limey!!

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TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 12:02 PM

Ah, but he had the balls to do it! The Hugh Grant in all of his other films would have bumbled and stumbled around for a good 15 minutes before even getting to the stage. That, and he threatened to beat up little kids, AND he lied for sex. Hugh's become a man!

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jeffdwright2001

09-02-2004, 12:03 PM

Oh no, Mojo!! I.E. the scene where he came out on stage with a guitar to help that little brat perform in the talent show! Jesus almighty was he an Englishman!! He makes Graham Norton look like Chuck Norris he's such a limey!!

Yea, but then he STAYED out on stage peforming more music! He had balls the size of Big Ben's face (the clock, not the Cartwright).

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East Side Dave

09-02-2004, 12:03 PM

Hugh's becoming a man!

You can never be a full man if you're part limey!! Just look at Jersey Rich and the guy who played Marcus Brody as examples!!

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This message was edited by East Side Dave on 9-2-04 @ 4:04 PM

TheMojoPin

09-02-2004, 12:04 PM

Man, he's got us there.

Once you've played the Jersey Rich card, well, it's all over.

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East Side Dave

09-02-2004, 12:07 PM

:)

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jeffdwright2001

09-02-2004, 12:10 PM

Crap. I forgot he had a Jersey Rich card in his deck.

Curse you East Side Dave. I vow that one day I'll win back my Hugh Grant Limeyzar card!

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grlNIN

09-02-2004, 02:16 PM

Natalie Portman.

Oh sorry, that's just a one dimensional face.

 
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09-02-2004, 02:24 PM

monsterone

09-02-2004, 03:27 PM

Hugh Grant! We get it already; you're English and a nervous-type!! Grow some balls, you twitchy limey!!

For a brief, shining moment...HE DID!

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GodsFavoriteMan

09-02-2004, 03:36 PM

gimme a break, Tom Hanks? I disagree completely...you're going to tell me the Forest Gump is the same as Viktor Navorkski, or Professor Dorr, or Michael Sullivan, or Capt John Miller, or jesus andrew beckett from philadelphia?

Just because he looks the same doesn't mean he's one dimensional...

you can throw De Niro and Pacino in the mix if you feel that's the criteria for a one dimensional actor...

has Keanu Reeves ever moved you emotionally? That to me is the criteria for one dimensional acting...an actor who creates forgetabble characters time and again...

Actually, I would add Pacino and DeNiro (with few exceptions, like Cape Fear). But Keanu Reeves, well, that's what I think one dimensional acting really is. He's just piss poor. He can't show any range of emotion. I think what we mean is the Method style of acting that Marlon Brando popularized. In that case, I think Hanks, Deniro, and Pacino all fit that bill. I'm not saying their bad, God no, but it's always Hanks, it's always Deniro, and it's always Pacino.

The opposite could be said of Gary Oldman. He's just as great an actor, but he's a character actor, he changes himself completely for every role. And I don't mean with makeup, he just becomes a totally different person.

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WindowSill

09-02-2004, 05:41 PM

http://www.prisma-online.de/image/91/mmb429be0c36775491.jpeg

http://www.gamedayticketsusa.com/concert-pics/chris-rock.jpg

And any other black comedy actor...

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09-02-2004, 07:57 PM

Reephdweller

09-02-2004, 08:03 PM

I also disagree on Tom Hanks in this category, movies like Road to Perdition or Catch Me if You Can perfectly illustrate that he is not a one dimensional actor.

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Reephdweller

09-02-2004, 08:04 PM

http://www.prisma-online.de/image/dd/mmnet_630d278ac1dd.jpeg

Randy Quaid is the quintenssential one dimensional actor.

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Reephdweller

09-02-2004, 08:06 PM

http://www.hongkongvideos.net/jackie.jpg

Jackie Chan is another perfect example of this. He is the same fucking character in different situations.

He will never not be in a non martial arts role movie.

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mikeyboy

09-02-2004, 08:21 PM

Bugs Bunny

http://www.allposters.com/IMAGES/ATA/24541BP.jpg

No matter what he's in, he's still Bugs Bunny.

I hate that fucker.

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Evilpete

09-02-2004, 08:51 PM

Samuel L jackson for the most part plays the "Bad Mother Fucker" character

Nic Cage, who plays the "spooky dude that ruins the movie" character

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09-03-2004, 04:56 AM

http://www.accesswave.ca/~jasonlee/chaseamyagraf.jpg

Chasing Amy's Jason Lee. He's always Banky and/or Brodie,
he even played both characters in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,
the only difference is the beard.
He played the same character with Tom Cruise and with Tom Green,
he's always that angry "tracer" holding a dixie cup all day long.
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This message was edited by SKW on 9-3-04 @ 8:58 AM