I can think of two very recent ones. Geraldine Chaplin in Remember My Name and Rebecca Hall in Lay the Favourite. I looked at both of them in a completely different way after seeing these films, as the level of talent was astonishing.
Acting performances that surprised you
I can think of a couple...
Eminem in 8 Mile
Sylvester Stallone in Creed
Eminem in 8 Mile
Sylvester Stallone in Creed
Last edited by mojofilter; 03-06-19 at 10:42 AM.
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This is a great topic...I don't know if you meant "surprised" in a good way or "surprised" in a bad way, but from the previous posts, I'm assuming you mean surprised in a good way, so I'm going to go with that:
Catherine Zeta Jones in Chicago
This performance surprised me because prior to seeing this film, I had no idea that Catherine Zeta Jones could sing or dance.
Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook
This performance surprised me because I don't recall De Niro ever being so sensitive, loving, and nurturing onscreen.
Amy Adams in American Hustle
I had thought of Adams as a one-trick pony until this performance...she commanded the screen here like she never had...strong and surprisingly sexy.
Jessica Lange in Frances
Still can't believe this was the same actress who played Dwan in 1976's King Kong.
Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose of Cairo
Farrow just broke my heart in this movie, I had never been so moved by one of her performances, and that includes Rosemary's Baby...still can't believe she didn't receive an Oscar nomination.
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Until I saw this movie, I thought Cooper was just another pretty Hollywood face.
Catherine Zeta Jones in Chicago
This performance surprised me because prior to seeing this film, I had no idea that Catherine Zeta Jones could sing or dance.
Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook
This performance surprised me because I don't recall De Niro ever being so sensitive, loving, and nurturing onscreen.
Amy Adams in American Hustle
I had thought of Adams as a one-trick pony until this performance...she commanded the screen here like she never had...strong and surprisingly sexy.
Jessica Lange in Frances
Still can't believe this was the same actress who played Dwan in 1976's King Kong.
Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose of Cairo
Farrow just broke my heart in this movie, I had never been so moved by one of her performances, and that includes Rosemary's Baby...still can't believe she didn't receive an Oscar nomination.
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Until I saw this movie, I thought Cooper was just another pretty Hollywood face.
Last edited by Gideon58; 05-07-16 at 12:28 PM.
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This is a great topic...I don't know if you meant "surprised" in a good way or "surprised" in a bad way, but from the previous posts, I'm assuming you mean surprised in a good way, so I'm going to go with that:
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I meant surprised in a good way, particularly in a way that completely changed your perception of an actor. I mean, Heath Ledger's probably another good example. I would have loved to have seen The Dark Knight without knowing who was playing the Joker. Maybe I would have recognised him but I'm not so sure.
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Yes, I agree that Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight deserves mention here.
I was very interested to find out about Brad Dourif's on-off involvement with the films over time. For example I think Tim Burton was talking to him about him the Joker for Batman and later the Scarecrow for the third one. Unfortunately they decided to go in a different direction with Batman Forever, with Burton only producing.
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Clive Owen in Closer. Even though i hadn't seen him in much i thought he was a pretty bland actor, never that bad but not someone who left a memorable mark. In that way Closer blew me away, his and Portmans (who i already had conference in) performances are among my favourites of the 2000s.
I've seen this topic brought up before on other sites and while it isn't a movie the one most often mentioned is Bryan Cranstons transformation from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad.
I've seen this topic brought up before on other sites and while it isn't a movie the one most often mentioned is Bryan Cranstons transformation from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad.
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I've seen this topic brought up before on other sites and while it isn't a movie the one most often mentioned is Bryan Cranstons transformation from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad.
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Clive Owen in Closer. Even though i hadn't seen him in much i thought he was a pretty bland actor, never that bad but not someone who left a memorable mark. In that way Closer blew me away, his and Portmans (who i already had conference in) performances are among my favourites of the 2000s.
I've seen this topic brought up before on other sites and while it isn't a movie the one most often mentioned is Bryan Cranstons transformation from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad.
I've seen this topic brought up before on other sites and while it isn't a movie the one most often mentioned is Bryan Cranstons transformation from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad.
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Great call regarding Clive Owen in Closer...he was the best thing about that movie.
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Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Keanu Reeves in The Gift
Sylvester Stallone in Cop Land
Eminem in 8 Mile
Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad
Ice Cube in Boyz N the Hood
Kristen Stewart in Adventureland
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill movies
Keanu Reeves in The Gift
Sylvester Stallone in Cop Land
Eminem in 8 Mile
Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad
Ice Cube in Boyz N the Hood
Kristen Stewart in Adventureland
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill movies
Sharon Stone in Casino and even Total Recall
Marlon Wayans in Requiem For A Dream
Jennifer Aniston in Cake
Lucy Liu in Kill Bill
Kate Hudson in Almost Famous
Ko Shibasaki in Battle Royale (16 in her first or second role )
Marlon Wayans in Requiem For A Dream
Jennifer Aniston in Cake
Lucy Liu in Kill Bill
Kate Hudson in Almost Famous
Ko Shibasaki in Battle Royale (16 in her first or second role )
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Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Keanu Reeves in The Gift
Sylvester Stallone in Cop Land
Eminem in 8 Mile
Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad
Ice Cube in Boyz N the Hood
Kristen Stewart in Adventureland
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill movies
Keanu Reeves in The Gift
Sylvester Stallone in Cop Land
Eminem in 8 Mile
Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad
Ice Cube in Boyz N the Hood
Kristen Stewart in Adventureland
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill movies
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Amy Adams in American Hustle
I had thought of Adams as a one-trick pony until this performance...she commanded the screen here like she never had...strong and surprisingly sexy.
I had thought of Adams as a one-trick pony until this performance...she commanded the screen here like she never had...strong and surprisingly sexy.
What I saw of her in The Fighter I liked as well, and I recently saw Al Pacino saying he likes her so she must be okay.
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I saw a bit of Nicholas and Alexandra today and Michael Jayston impressed me in the scene where the Tsar breaks down, post-abdication. Jayston's usually quite a stoic presence, for example in something like the TV version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, so this was a shock in a way, and something I didn't recall from the last time I saw the film.
Tom Baker's great as Rasputin as well, and it's funny that he and Jayston are still mates, frequenting pubs and bookshops.
Tom Baker's great as Rasputin as well, and it's funny that he and Jayston are still mates, frequenting pubs and bookshops.
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I meant surprised in a good way, particularly in a way that completely changed your perception of an actor. I mean, Heath Ledger's probably another good example. I would have loved to have seen The Dark Knight without knowing who was playing the Joker. Maybe I would have recognised him but I'm not so sure.
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