That Macy’s a
real character
William H. Macy is a popular actor. There, I’ve
said it. I received multiple emails complaining that Macy,
Buscemi, Freeman, Jackson, et al., are so popular now that they
didn’t deserve to be on this list. I’m not sure I
agree with that assessment.
To me, William H. Macy and all of these other guys are
character actors because of what they’re not…leading
men. I know that sounds obvious but it’s easy to
forget that sometimes. Even when these guys are the “alpha
male” in the movie, they are not the leading man type.
Cruise, Washington, Pitt, and Crowe. Those guys are leading
men.
William H. Macy is pretty amazing at what he can do. I
don’t know that he’s super diverse. Hell, I don’t
know that any of the top five are. But Macy is good at
playing everyman who’s really uptight. From “Boogie
Nights” to “Fargo,” that’s who he was. He
always looks really uptight and a little dim. He’s
enjoyable enough though. I just wouldn’t have voted
for him as the best.
Buscemi is insane. Now that guy doesn’t give a shit
about how he looks or how despicable his character is. He
just gets in there and shows you a person with very human
qualities. I forgot that Buscemi was in the excellent
miniseries “Lonesome Dove.” He played a rather
dim companion to Glenne Headly and he was good in a very minor
role. I also liked his Buddy Holly in “Pulp Fiction”
and his performance in “Things to do in Denver when you’re
dead.”
Morgan Freeman is the man and he was my choice for this one. From
“Driving Miss Daisy” to “Shawshank Redemption”
to whatever, it doesn’t matter. I could watch him
onscreen reading the phone book. I just love his voice.
It has a comforting quality that just makes you trust him. And
his characters are always as real as they come. In my
opinion, he’s far and away the best of this lot.
Samuel L. Jackson always seems the same to me as well. He
is loud and boisterous and a millimeter away from beating someone’s
ass. I have to say, though, that he was good in that high
school movie where he was the mercenary teacher. I can’t
remember the name of it. He was playing the same old song
in it, but it was at least in a slightly different key.
Joe Pesci is perfect in those Scorcese movies as the little
mob guy. Tell me you weren’t intimidated by him in
“Casino” when he stabbed that guy in the neck with a
pen. I actually read the book that “Goodfellas”
was based on and he was perfect in the movie. The
description the author gave in the book could have been written
AFTER the movie was made. It was that solid.
Some of the nominations I did not know. Strother Martin
was suggested to me by “Redskins” and old Strother
received a lot of support. He must be good because if I
have ever seen him, I don’t know who he is. Same goes
for Paul Guilfoyle and Brion James. Who are these guys and
should I watch their movies? What the hell are their
movies?
A final thought. I can’t believe I left off Alfred
Molina. If you don’t know him, here is who he has
played. The villain cowboy in “Maverick” with Mel
Gibson, the coked up, shotgun wielding, “Night Ranger”
lover at the end of “Boogie Nights”, the Russian hitman
in the Bill Murray movie “The Man Who Knew Too Little,”
and an Iranian husband in “Not Without My Daughter.”
And he’s British! He absolutely never looks the same
or sounds the same in any movie and he’s always believable
at what he does. That guy is the man and I apologize for
leaving him out.
The new poll is “Prettiest Face.” Pick your
visage from the lovely ladies and we will try to find some glam
shots to run with the commentary. Should make for good
wallpaper.
Comments, suggestions, and nominations to lawdogusc@hotmail.com.
20.7% - (125 Votes)
18.1% - (109 Votes)
12.8% - (77 Votes)
8.8% - (53 Votes)
6.6% - (40 Votes)
5.3% - (32 Votes)
4.6% - (28 Votes)
3.6% - (22 Votes)
2.8% - (17 Votes)
2.3% - (14 Votes)
1.9% - (12 Votes)
1.9% - (12 Votes)
1.6% - (10 Votes)
1.3% - (8 Votes)
1.1% - (7 Votes)
1.1% - (7 Votes)
0.8% - (5 Votes)
0.6% - (4 Votes)
0% - (0 Votes)