MovieChat Forums > On the Waterfront (1954) Discussion > Sorry...I just don't 'get' Brando...

Sorry...I just don't 'get' Brando...

posted 18 years ago by aciolino
102 replies | jump to latest

Is it me, or is Brando the most over-rated actor of all time?

I cannot watch him in this film without thinking I'm looking at a guy in clown make-up trying desperately to over act and be sympathetic. Instead, I'm amused and bored. He is hopelessly self-consciouss: check him out fixing his collar in the bar just after his brother was murdered--strictly amatuerish. ("Is my shirt on right??") How did Kazan allow that?

How about his ridiculous accent? What kind of an accent is that? New York? Brooklyn? Jersey? Not like any I've ever heard, and I've lived 53 years in NYC.

As far as I'm concerned Brando's is the worst performance in this film. Malden steals this movie, (Brando could NEVER believably deliver the "Jesus is kneeling right here" speech. Malden is spot on.) but I could see if you think Cobb does. Stieger is better than Brando as well.

Brando couldn't do half of the roles Cobb has done. Couldn't touch them. Can you imagine Brando in "Salesman"??? Laughable. They should do a SNL version of that!

That's all.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] TwilightandShadow 14 years ago

It's just you.

Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from.

[–] Madison-ave 14 years ago

No.

It is just you.

Raise your glasses, please, into a toast, for we are many hometown ghosts.

[–] pawson-nick 14 years ago

i'm not quite sure yet if he's overrated - although i like what i've seen thus far. i've recently been going over some of Brando's films (mainly great films in general), on a real movie-spree and two recent films were Godfather I and then this, in that order and although i'm embarrassed to say it...both of which were my first time seeing them. HA - i swear it's the truth.

Brando has this sort of, forgive me for using this word, swag. he has a presence that's very alive, real and strong to me. he was never saying a line. each and everything he said was felt and provoked from within - i could definitely tell. my favorite scene was when Brando and the chick talk in the [park?] outside the church, he was very normal and that, my friend, is what acting is all about.

acting is about living truthfully within imaginary circumstances.

[–] coolbrett 13 years ago

I agree with the OP. Brando overacted in this movie but I can see why so many people love him, cos he's like DiCaprio. He tries way too hard but people mistake that as acting very well, since they put so much effort into the performance. I must say though, Brando really changed his tune for The Godfather. He was incredible in that. But he pretty much ruined Apocalypse Now. All in all I'd say he's very overrated

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] GoodSOVeryVeryGood 13 years ago

Just you.

[–] BeirutWedding 12 years ago

To answer your first question: it's you.