Acting performances that surprised you
 

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.

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

Jonah Hill in Moneyball. Jim Carrey in The Number 23.

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

Mariah Carey in Precious.
http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertai..._091029_mn.jpg

I can think of a couple...


Eminem in 8 Mile
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/phot...-1920-1080.jpg


Sylvester Stallone in Creed
http://frontrowfeatures.com/wp-conte...llone03_hi.jpg http://www.tjcnewspaper.com/wp-conte...-860x450_c.jpg

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

http://i3.cdnds.net/13/09/catherine-...es-chicago.jpg

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

http://www.incoherentboy.com/wp-cont...013/01/sl4.jpg

This performance surprised me because I don't recall De Niro ever being so sensitive, loving, and nurturing onscreen.

Amy Adams in American Hustle

http://www.projectcasting.com/wp-con...ume-design.jpg

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

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...ea0dc99f11.jpg

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

https://listen2uraunt.files.wordpres...iro1.jpg?w=490

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

http://tuesdaynightmovies.com/wp-con...rash%2Bbag.jpg

Until I saw this movie, I thought Cooper was just another pretty Hollywood face.

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.

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

kristin wiig in hateship loveship.

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

Yes, I agree that Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight deserves mention here.

It was incredible – a perfect, flawless performance I think.

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.

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 didn't really see Malcolm in the Middle but I can imagine it must have been an amazing difference. It reminds me a bit of Michael Palin being lauded for his role in G.B.H.

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

Great call regarding Clive Owen in Closer...he was the best thing about that movie.

I haven't seen Closer but I used to like Clive Owen in earlier years. Close My Eyes is a favourite of mine and a great performance of his too.

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

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

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

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 :eek: )

Ben Kingsley playing a psycho in Sexy Beast

http://cdn.moviestillsdb.com/sm/06fe...sexy-beast.jpg

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

Have never understood the love for Eminem in 8 Mile, but that's just me I guess.

How did I miss that screencap – must get round to watching that film…;)

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:p.

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:).

Re: Acting performances that surprised you
 

I can't say for sure that I would have recognized Heath in The Dark Knight, but honestly, I think not, it was unlike anything he had ever done and the makeup pretty much covered up his face.