As many of my conversations devolve into one of lists, I figured a weekly feature of lists would be appropriate. Thus, I offer....the List of the Week. This week the subject is one that has been on my mind for a while now... namely...the top five consumate supporting actors. Now...this list could be ridiculously extensive...and is by no means exhaustive...yet, five is all I offer here. The criteria is as follows: 1. Can't really carry a movie on his or her own. 2. Has more than just one fantastic supporting role. 3. Generally, makes any movie he/she is in better. 4. Fairly underrated. Though...some are highly rated...as supporting role actors. O.k...so here is my list....without extensive thought going into it. Feel free to post your own list...as I am interested to see where this goes:
1. Peter Boyle. Movies of note: The Candidate, Young Frankenstein, Taxi Driver, Monster's Ball. Boyle is one of my favorite actors of all-time. Though...not for the movies listed above. Those give him 'industry cred'. The roles that endear him to me....Young Frankenstein(his tour de force), Johnny Dangerously, Yellowbeard...all are ridiculous roles...but he is perfect for them. For me....his major qualification for being on this list is that he makes awful movies...and very good movies...better.
2. Claude Raines. Movies of note: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, King's Row, Casablanca, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia. Raines is one of the best actors that no one today has ever heard of. Hitchcock loved using the guy...and rightfully so. His ablilty to play sneaky and creepy was very subtle....but that was his genious. If you haven't seen Notorious...do so. Again...the guy couldn't/didn't carry a movie on his own...but he made the likes of Bogart, Grant, and Stewart that much better.
3. Richard Farnsworth. Movies of note: Papillon, Comes a Horseman, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Roots, Anne of Green Gables, The Natural, Misery. Farnsworth had a prolific career, but was always....and I mean always...in the background. Still, I can't think of a time when he did something poorly. His turn in The Natural is one of the best from the 80's, and let me say....I watched Anne of Green Gables while living in China....and was grateful to have 8 hours of uninterrupted english entertainment...but more than that....Farnsworth reminded me of why I love movies....and my grandfather. No one....except for the person next on the list...had a better grasp of being the 'old rustic sage'...combining that old-school southern gentility with an iron will.
4. Robert Duvall. Movies of note: If you don't know, you don't deserve to have an opinion. In short, Duvall is one of the best actors of his time. The characters, the movies, the general success.....all give testament to this. From holding his own in The Godfather movies to convincing audiences that he is a crew chief for Nascar...he's that good. There is much I could say here...but the jist is this....if you enjoy westerns...he makes the best out there today. Check out Open Range and Broken Trail, if you don't believe me.
5. Kevin Pollack. Movies of note: A Few Good Men, The Ususal Suspects, L.A. Story. I can hear the howling or laughter or ridicule...already, but I like this guy. His turn in A Few Good Men was perfect, and in one of my sentimental favorites from the 90's Indian Summer, he was really really good. Now...usually...any person in a movie like Juwanna Man would never be in any positive list of any kind. But that is kinda my point here....he has been in some absolutely awful films...but he does a decent job in them. I hate...loathe...disdain...Daryl Hannah in anything she has done....but in Grumpy Old Men...Pollack actually had me rooting for him to win her over....and I normally wouldn't wish that on anybody. That's acting, folks.
* I really wanted to put Paul Giamatti on this list, but his role in American Splendor disqualifies him. He carries that entire film by himself...and could've won an Oscar for it. If you haven't seen it.....
