So Un-Jack Nicholson like - The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) Discussion

[–] Stirchley 12 years ago

^He's been playing "what guy" for 40 years? You do realize Jack is one the greatest American actors of all time?

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[–] Krustallos 11 years ago

No I agree with him. He's been 'Crazy Jack' pretty much ever since "Cuckoo's Nest". In this film and "The Passenger" you actually see him do something different from the usual grandstanding and it's quite a revelation.

I used to want to change the world. Now I just want to leave the room with a little dignity.

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[–] monty-britton 11 years ago

Chinatown was his last great acting role.
After Cuckoos Nest, he is over the top or all his roles he acts like a demented creep. Even in As Good As It Gets. I could have loved that movie if he wasn't in it. Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear made the movie shine. Sad because Jack could have been a great actor. He proves it with films like King of Marvin Gardens.

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[–] Gwasgray 11 years ago

So monty britton, who do you consider to be great actors?

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[–] monty-britton 11 years ago

Tom Hanks, Katherine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Judi Dench, Sean Connery, Michael Douglas just to name a few...

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[–] Gwasgray 11 years ago

You think Julia Roberts and Michael Douglas are better actors than Jack Nicholson?

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[–] monty-britton 11 years ago

Since Jackie boy is not giving us his all (with his same character since 1975) I do believe a dog named Benji would fare better than Jack. Jack is obnoxious and get tired of watching him play a nut all the time. True disappointment from his earlier works.

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[–] monsieurzy 11 years ago

been years since I've seen it but I would also add The Border (1982) to this list..the last gasp of what Nicholson could do as an actor...and I also like his performance in the much maligned Missouri Breaks

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[–] Prismark10 11 years ago

In recent years he has been too much the grouchy guy and yet he did have more diversity in his early years.

Its that man again!!

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[–] activista 11 years ago

Just saw TKOMG on the MOVIES channel---they also showed FIVE EASY PIECES, which I never really seen in its entirety---and wanted to see it again simply because because Jack Nicholson plays a nerd in it, which,when I saw it years and years ago, was just so different from his usual cocksure performances. I actually found his character way more attractive MARVIN GARDENS than I did FIVE EASY PIECES---he really dialed himself down for that role. Plus it was also fun seeing Bruce Dern (who was also fun to watch) in it. Typical,thoughtful character study of people on the edge of the mainstream from the early 70's,j

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[–] Edward_de_Vere 11 years ago

It's interesting to see how Jack Nicholson chose his roles in the early 70s. He really shows his range as David.
Once he became known for his "persona", he's been playing that guy for 40 years.

This is mostly, but not entirely true. While Nicholson has done far too many films where he just carts in his persona, he's shown his range throughout his career, from this film to Ironweed in the 80's to The Pledge and About Schmidt in the 2000's. Watch any of these if you want examples of Nicholson's acting, as opposed to Nicholson phoning in "Jack." He's just as convincing as an end of the line sadsack as he is in the fun-loving hellraiser or giggling psycho roles that he's better known for.

He also had Jimmy Hoffa's personality and mannerisms down pat in Hoffa.

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[–] yatzo376 11 years ago

Not in The Crossing Guard.

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[–] Serpico1988 11 years ago

What's wrong with you guys!??

Demented creep , seriously ? I admit he's played that in a lot of his films...but just watch ABOUT SCHMIDT and you'll see the extraordinary versatility of this American treasure.

peace out!

An ancient race... as Charles Bronson put it.

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[–] kennellygerard 11 years ago

treasure ?

tell that to Samantha Geimer

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[–] uncleernie1973 9 years ago

I would like to add his heartbreaking performance as Eugene O'neil in Warren Beatty's Reds. I love Jack when he is vulnerable. He has been playing "crazy Jack", but he is still one of our greatest actors.

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[–] ecarle (14979) 3 years ago

Nicholson's probably done fully retired now (2021, no movie since 2010), but back in the day, Nicholson himself knew when to "bring out Mad Jack" (The Shining, The Witches of Eastwick, Batman, A Few Good Men, Wolf, As Good as It Gets) for big paydays and commercial hits , and when to tone it down either for awards or just to stay dramatic (Ironweed, Reds, About Schimidt.)

Interesting: when he rather MIXED "Mad Jack"(for comedy) and serious Jack (for sad drama) in Cuckoo's Nest and Terms of Endearment...Jack won the Oscar those two times.

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[–] 9 years ago

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