I recently watched Warrior (good movie, BTW) which featured Nick Nolte. He almost steals the entire movie in one scene as an ex-alcoholic father trying to re-connect with an estranged son.
He's one of those actors who has successfully transitioned from A-lister / marquee actor to solid character actor. Of course, it helps that he stays in his wheelhouse... usually the drunk or ex-drunk whose life is messed up. A case of "stick with what you know"... ;)
Dean Norris deserves a big nod. I watched a recent IMDB profile of him... it's amazing how many times he has been cast as a law enforcement official. He refers to himself as the 'alphabet actor' because of the many times he's played CIA, FBI, DEA, LAPD, NYPD, etc.
Back in the 80s and 90s, Brian Dennehy was EVERYWHERE. You don't see much of him anymore, but he was always cast as the cop or the rough-around-the-edges / working class character.
Michael Madsen -- the poor man's Mickey Rourke.
Mickey Rourke, LOL. He's another former B-lister who has transitioned to character roles. Did you see The Expendables? The Expendables was meant to be just a dumb, gimmicky action flick... meanwhile, Rourke thinks he's in a heavy drama by the way he delivered that monologue about the guilt that he feels over some of his war crimes.
Brian Cox. Wide range of roles. Equally adept at playing the heavy, to drunks to the loveable rogue. Trivia: He was the original Hannibal Lecter as seen in Manhunter, years before the role became synonymous with Anthony Hopkins.
The late great Harry Dean Stanton. Another one who instantly made anything he was in more interesting.
William Fichtner. Why he never transitioned into at least a B-lister is beyond me. He's got looks, improves anything that he's in, can work humour and drama...
Fichtner's Armageddon cast mate Will Patton. He's one of those actors who can convey menace or deep emotional hurt with just his eyes... JUST HIS FREAKIN' EYES.
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Culburn (3638)
6 years ago
Brian Cox. Wide range of roles. Equally adept at playing the heavy, to drunks to the loveable rogue.
Has a key role in "The 25th Hour"---owns a bar/NYC-just after 9/11. He's alcoholic-his son (Edward Norton) is going away. {Spike Lee's film}---and he does the bar to a t...A portion of what's left of the fire fighters are in this bar, but, there is no joy here now...voices are low, heads are down. Lee shows them to us in far-a-way 3-D type shots. This bar is a like a funeral home. Just excellent positioning here by Lee.
Cox is excellent.
ADDENDUM: Had another strong spot in a film about a serial killer played by Owen Wilson, can't recall the movie title. The movie is irritating, but, Cox is mighty there.
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charliekelly (1018)
6 years ago
The Minus Man. So different for Owen Wilson. I actually thought that movie was okay. It wasn't great though.
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charliekelly (1018)
6 years ago
Great list. I really enjoyed Warrior. You're spot on about Nolte.
Another great choice with Dean. Awesome as Hank, of course. I thought he was one of the few highlights of the Secret in Their Eyes remake.
Always loved Tarantino's stuff, so definitely no argument about Madsen.
I actually did see The Expendables, just the first one anyway. I had forgotten most of it, but now that you mention it, I do remember feeling like that was out of place. I'll have to check that scene out again.
Manhunter is my favorite film of the series. I had seen Silence and a couple of the sequels before I even knew that Manhunter existed. Years ago, my dad was telling me about it and how great it was, so I got it for us to watch, and that night I was really chilled by Lecter for the first time. Controversial opinion: I actually prefer Cox's take on him.
Lucky has been on my watchlist for some time now. It kinda makes me sad every time I think about watching it, so I haven't yet. I hear it's great though. I guess I owe it to HDS to watch it.
I remember Fitchner from probably Prison Break and Contact the most, but he's been in so much.
And I can't see Will Patton without thinking of Remember the Titans. Whether he's fighting aliens or whatever else, I'll always think the character was a former high school football coach lol.
Again, great list.
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