Am I the only one that thinks Tim Robbins is an almost completely talentless actor? Even in Shawshank he seemed...well, like an actor as opposed to a character.
I like the script and cinematography of this movie, but Robbins sucks in it.
Weird, I've never heard this opinion from anyone. I've never even heard anyone say anything bad about Tim Robbins's acting! Not that that makes the opinion less legitimate, but you do have me perplexed. I thought it was an unbelievably powerful performance, and a big reason this movie is so much stronger than the conventional psychological thriller it could have been. The bit where his whole family is gathered around him laughing and joking and he hears the voice say "Dream on" and he starts weeping, that was a devastating reaction, and it's one of many.
By any chance are you a conservative?
I'll bet you could suck a golf ball through a garden hose.
No, I 'am not' a 'conservative'. I personally reject the use of nouns as applied to people, but in your vernacular I would closest to what would be called a radical libertarian. I certainly don't call myself that and have written a thesis in which I markedly disavow libertarianism, but that may give you an idea of where I'm at.
Please feel free to peruse my website at: consentient DOT wordpress DOT com, for more information.
Just out of curiousity, what made you think I was a conservative? Was your theory that the demonic images might have offended my sensibilities and therefore clouded my judgment of the acting?
If you want to see what I call good acting, see Bad Guy, dir: Ki-Duk Kim
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"The cook's a SEAL?!!"
No, I 'am not' a 'conservative'. I personally reject the use of nouns as applied to people, but in your vernacular I would closest to what would be called a radical libertarian.
Just out of curiousity, what made you think I was a conservative? Was your theory that the demonic images might have offended my sensibilities and therefore clouded my judgment of the acting?
Err, no I am not a conservative. I advocate voluntarism, I just assumed (rightly, it would seem) that someone who thinks everyone who dislikes Tim Robbins acting would be doing so because of his political views, probably has little exposure to the term 'voluntarism'.
I couldn't care less about Robbins' political views. I just don't think he's a good actor at all.
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"The cook's a SEAL?!!"
Looks like your opinion about him isn't going to change, and why should it? If we all thought the same way the world would be a boring place. But with that said, I have never disagreed with someone so much before, Robbins was absolutely mesmerizing. The film is fascinating right from the start, but if I felt for a second that Robbins was unconvincing, my interest in the film would have been lost. Luckily it didn't.
Greatest comedy film of the 1980's - Scarface
This is one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. The look on his face as he gets back into bed with his wife gets me everytime. He KNOWS, for a brief second or so, that he must be dreaming...but you don't catch that look until you see the film a second time. Brilliant.
shareI can't really make a comment on his acting in general. His character in Jacob's Ladder however drew me in, made me feel empathy, made me believe in him, so I guess he did just fine.
shareThen you know nothing about acting. Robbins is a great actor.
shareyou've got to be kidding me! so sad you didn't like him in this, i thought he was brilliant! one poster said it well, he's got that sort of gentle large gangly thing going on----it's like part of his acting - Love - him!
shareI just watched it again, and I think he's wonderful, perfect as an everyman. Love him in everything he does. Had they used someone like Sean Penn, he'd be chewing up the scenery and over-acting and be all method-actor-y, if you know what I mean. (Not a big fan of Sean Penn - except his portrayal of Harvey Milk which was brilliant).
shareRobbin's acting in this was moving and astonishing for me. His tears, falling freely from his eyes, his red and scarred (from the injuries his character suffered through the movie) face added immensely to his portrayal of a man who felt his mind was becoming unhinged.
Watching this film I wondered how many vets who struggled with PTSD identified with parts of his performance?
A great story, and wonderfully made film and some pretty good acting.
I can see what you mean.
shareFirst, I agree Robbins is no Pacino or Mickey Rourke, who were allegedly considered for the role of Jacob Singer, but by no stretch of the imagination would I call him "talentless." I agree Robbins was not the right person for the role and anyone who thinks this is his best effort ought to put down the pipe or whatever they are smoking.
That said, the potential for this movie was much greater than what was achieved, and I don't place the blame on Robbins. The movie, for instance, utilizes cheesy, comic-book sound effects, such as when Robbins is booting people in the face in the back of a car.
The cinematography isn't anything to brag about. "The Godfather III," for instance, came out around the same time and, in comparison, "Jacob's Ladder" looks like it was released in the 70s. Based on the figures offered by IMDB, a small budget cannot be blamed for the film's poor quality; though, perhaps a poor allocation of resources.
Moreover, the biggest flaw is that the screenwriter and director came up with an excellent script with an excellent concept but they somehow managed to ruin what should be considered one of the greatest films of the 90s with a cheapness that cannot be cleaned. Still a good movie but the possibilities were far greater than were realized.
Yeah I'd have to disagree on this one. I think Robbins is exceptional
in this film. In fact, I couldn't even imagine what this film would be
like without him! 😂