MovieChat Forums > Firstborn (1984) Discussion > Peter Weller

Peter Weller

posted 19 years ago by Katz5
7 replies | jump to latest

I saw this movie around the same time I saw Buckaroo Banzai in 1984, and Peter Weller really impressed me--to play two such different characters, one goofy (Banzai) and one extremely creepy (Firstborn).
He turned up later in RoboCop and its sequel as well as in B-movies like Shakedown and Leviathan. I always thought he was underused. Maybe he was picky. He was perfect as Murphy and RoboCop even though you only get his voice as Robo.
For any Weller fans out there, try seeking out Shoot the Moon with Diane Keaton. His character in that one is sort of a passive/aggressive version of his character in Firstborn (until the finale). Too bad it's not on DVD.

Well I gotta go now Duane.....I'm due back on the planet Earth

[–] Oliver-50 19 years ago

Peter Weller was terrific as RoboCop - to pull of such a silly concept as that and make it perfectly believable with all his body motions and the mechanics. He never jumped out of character once and that takes dedication and patience. I'm going to rent 'Firstborn' at some point to see if he's just as good as I always thought he was.

[–] womackphotokcmo 19 years ago

I thought Weller was great as the drug-abusing boyfriend.

The only person to ever celebrate Valentines Day correctly was Al Capone!

[–] larrykinglives 19 years ago

katz, you sound pretty enthusiastic about weller...i had to transfer this movie in particular from vhs to dvd. sucks it's not already out. but if you get a chance, watch 'of unknown origin' and 'fifty/fifty'. good *beep* also, sunset grill is hilarious.

[–] Isaac5855 19 years ago

Peter Weller was very impressive in this film...one of the slimiest characters I had ever seen on the big screen up to that time. About halfway through this film, I just wanted this guy to die.

[–] netitans17 17 years ago

As good as he was in this film, Peter Weller wasn't supposed to do this movie at all. Tom Berenger was signed to do that role but had to pull out when he was injured in an auto accident just before shooting began.

[–] SALEMS-LOT 17 years ago

ACTUALLY THAT WASN'T SUCH A BAD MOVE AFTERALL.I MEAN TOM WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF THOSE EVIL EYES WHEN HE WOULD GET MAD LIKE WELLER.ACTUALLY THE ONLY OTHER GUY WHO I KNOW OF THAT CAN DO THAT CREEPY EYE THING AND FREAK ME OUT IS RUTGER HAUER.I MEAN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN HIM IN THE HITCHER,OR NIGHTHAWKS?IT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE THE WAY WELLER GOT MAD IN THIS FILM,REMINDED ME OF A HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES STEP FATHER.

[–] 17 years ago

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