Thomas Jane

Who else likes this actor? He didn't really start to become rated until Stander, which is his best film in terms of performance. I've ALWAYS liked this guy. I dunno, theres just this undeniable charisma to him. Its how I feel about Timothy Olyphant. I just feel that these guys should get more and more film roles simply because..well, they seem likeable.

Also, how cool as Thomas Jane as The Punisher? Yes, the film was rubbish but the man did an impressive job. I think Thomas Jane does well in physical roles, much like Edward Norton. If he keeps picking decent flicks then he can become a major player, I feel.

Anyways, what do you guys think of him?

I liked him in Jane Junk and Homeless Dad.

__________________
"A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it's the only weapon we have."

Suspect's Reviews

I first saw Thomas Jane in the Thin Red Line, in a small part. I liked his character in Deep Blue Sea. He's likeable.

He has picked some bad movies to be in, like Original Sin. He needs to choose more carefully if he wants to get offered better roles.

__________________
If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.

Johann von Goethe

I like Thomas Jane fine. I don't suspect he'll ever become a big star, but with better script selection he might become sort of the poor man's Aaron Eckhart.



I think his best acting by far at this point in his career was as Mickey Mantle in Billy Crystal's made-for-HBO movie "61*" recounting the historic home run chase of Mantle and Maris (who was played by Barry Pepper, a young actor who in general has selected better roles and had better opportunities than Jane thus far). The Punisher was Tom's shot at some level of mainstream stardom - too bad for him that movie was beyond dreadful. He is in the upcoming Elmore Leonard flick Killshot, which has some potential to be good. Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love), it also features Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He's also in a Stephen King thingie, The Mist (adapted from the novella in Skeleton Crew). Given the track record of King adaptations, I wouldn't hold out much hope for it...though it is being done by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile), so I suppose there is some hope for you fanboys and girls.

For any hardcore Thomas Jane admirers, he has a very funny cameo as "himself" in an episode of the amazing TV series "Arrested Development". It's the episode titled "The One Where They Build a House", the second episode of the second season. Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) thinks she's slumming it with an exciting but handsome homeless man as her new potential boyfriend. It turns out to be actor Thomas Jane, doing research for a role.

__________________
"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra

I still haven't seen that 61 film, Pike. Yeah, most people on imdb say that it's his finest performance. What did you think of his performance in Stander? I feel that is his defining performance, but that might be because the film was actually pretty good. f

Yeah, that Killshot film might end up being good. That said, it's had quite a long post-production process.

Well, the long-delayed Killshot finally found its way to DVD today without a theatrical release. An Oscar-nominated director adapting a brand-name author starring Jane and an Oscar-nominated actress, plus co-starring as the heavy the recently Oscar-nominated and white hot publicity machine Mickey Rourke...and it goes straight to video. Haven't watched it yet but I did rent it and will probably give it a spin sometime this week. It must be pretty damn bad, though.



But in much, much, MUCH better Thomas Jane news he is starring in the upcoming HBO series "Hung". Watch the terrific commercial HERE if the YouTube link doesn't work below. Jane stars in the title role as a former High School star whose life hasn't turned out the way he hoped. Never became a professional athlete and now he's just the coach at the school. His wife of twenty years leaves him for her dermatologist, the house his parents left him burns down, and so broke, depressed and alone at this crossroads in his life he decides to take a self-help seminar. After a one night stand with a fellow attendee it suddenly dawns on him what his marketable personal tool may be, and with his new friend as his business manager he enters into the world's oldest profession as a male escort. The pilot episode was directed by Oscar-nominee Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election) and co-stars Jane Adams (Happiness, The Anniversary Party, Orange County).



HBO has a pretty good quality filter, and while they don't bat a thousand what they put on the air is usually worth watching. If this dark comedy hits the right tone it could be a winner and the best thing yet for Thomas Jane's career.

Darabont's The Mist was a pretty decent flick, even though I though some aspects of the resolution were downright dumb. It's above average horror fare (I know, not saying much), and is worth a spin for fans fo the genre. Jane's performance works well in the confines of the script, but when viewed from a more realistic standpoints, some of his actions just don't make any damn sense. He pulls off the histrionics pretty well, but he had to play a part that had some questionable deficits when viewing his choices and the reasoning behind him. In fact, I think they could have made the flick a lot better, using the whack ending they had, but framing it differently and also adding two small scenes at the start and finish of the film.

__________________

I have referred to him with this exact phrase in the past, and was just about to do so again.

__________________
the angel stayed until something died, one more murder suicide

I've been looking forward to "Hung". It sounds like a fun setup for a series, and I'd like to see what Jane does with that kind of character. I also love Alexander Payne's work, and hope that he stays involved.

I didn't see anyone mention it, but I really like Thomas Jane's fleeting appearance in The Thin Red Line.

I've been going back and forth on seeing this one. It looks like my kind of horror, but at the same time it's a Stephen King adaptation, and the recent track record on those (from what I can tell) haven't been so good. Still, people say good things. Maybe I'll give it a look, though. Thanks.

I absolutely love The Mist, it's probably one of the best movies I've ever seen. I don't care what people say about it. It's an amazingly depressing film, with some incredible acting from Thomas Jane. I'd suggest checking it out and at least giving it a try sometime, and try not to let what people say about put you down from seeing it. He was pretty damn great in The Punisher as well, another underrated performance from Jane.

"I just want my kids back."

__________________
Iro's Top 100 Movies v3.0

Well Hung certainly looks very interesting. I hadn't even heard of it until Holden posted the video. The fact that it's HBO produced gives me high hopes for it because the set up sounds quite exciting. It's just what Jane needs right now and I agree that it could be the best thing thing he has ever done.

I also prefer Jane to Eckhart. I dunno, Eckhart's a decent enough actor and has obviously got accomplished more on his filmography, but Jane is pretty underrated and has more charisma, I think.

I have also been waiting AGES to see this Killshot but have been a bit put off by the reviews. Still ain't seen The Mist. Gonna check it out asap.

Re: the Jane/Eckhart comparison, I would only slightly prefer Eckhart. Thomas Jane doesn't have anything on the level of In The Company of Men on his resume.

The only edge that Eckhart has over Jane is that he can play spiteful characters with alarming ease.

Eckhart has never done or been able to carry film like Stander before..a film Jane carried with star quality..

I haven't seen Stander. Have you seen In The Company of Men?

Yep, I saw In The Company Of Men several weeks ago actually, and it's an interesting film. Yes, Eckhart was good, but I wouldn't say that the film relies heavily on his performance like Stander relies on Thomas Jane's, even though Stander is a great film on it's own.

And if you compare CVs, and I would say that Jane has the slightly more diverse roles. Jane has dabbled in both the indie and commercial; he has played spasticated prison inmate (Face Off), a soldier (The Thin Red Line) portrayed a real life south african anti heroic police officer (Stander) where he pulled of the difficult task of a convincing south african accent.

He has also played superheros, Neal Cassady, the poet and lots of other different types of characters in different types of genres. Now, I admit I haven't seen as much films with Eckhart in them as I have Jane, but the ones I have seen hasn't really shown his diversity. I mean, I don't think i've seen a film in which Echart isn't wearing a suit...he always seems be playing these political or corporate type character. And, with the exception of The Dark Knight, all of his films were indie stuff. Now if you contrast that to Jane's filmography, then it's fair to say that Jane has taken more 'risks' if you will.

"Hung" premieres on HBO tonight.