MovieChat Forums > Flightplan (2005) Discussion > Sarsgaard's character and acting

Sarsgaard's character and acting

posted 12 years ago by RunDeckardRun
9 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone else feel that the terrorist character was unconvincing? Or is someone going to tell me that he was meant to be this way so that he didn't come across as a cliche. He looked like he couldn't steal a packet of chewing gum from my local corner shop, never mind blow up a plane.

Maybe the actor was deliberately doing it, but to me Sarsgaard just came across as bored and uninterested most of the time. Is this guy really considered to be a good actor?! For me he just isn't even remotely near Jodie Foster's level.

Making your eyes look dead and half-closed throughout a movie seemed to be about the only character trait that he had. We knew absolutely nothing about him by the end which just added to his lack of credibility for me.

[–] babimomauk 12 years ago

Completely agree.

That thing he did with his eyes was really annoying and distracting. It worked in boys don't cry but he seems to be stuck in chracter or something.

This movie had the potential to be really good but it went completely flaccid about half way through.

Shame.

"Sniiibliibiiff"!

[–] RunDeckardRun 12 years ago

I agree with you too in that it had the potential to be really good. I saw it on TV and this unfortunately gave it something of a made-for-TV feel.

I can't say that I genuinely felt that much of a sense of claustrophobia about the setting, in the same way as, say, The Hunt for Red October conveys. Maybe the plane was just so massive that it was hard to make it feel really claustrophobic. The director has obviously never been on an easyJet flight.

[–] AroraStorm 12 years ago

I just watched it again and came on here just to see if anyone else was just completely done with his "acting" like I was. As I watched I couldn't remember the movie until I paid attention to his acting and remembered I zoned out when I first saw it b/c of how bad he was. He was terrible! The eyes half open was spot on and drove me crazy and his mouth seemed like it was partially glued shut with how he refused to move it. He kept talking in a monotone voice, that is when he wasn't whispering/mumbling. He doesn't look like he could be a meter maid let alone a U.S. Marshal; he was so unrealistic and his acting was some of the worse I've seen and that's saying something. Regardless the confusing plot, his acting single handedly ruined this movie. I completely agree with you.

[–] HarryRidgway 12 years ago

I thought he was pretty good.

a bit bland maybe, but still pretty good

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“My God! It’s full of stars!”

[–] C_Dubya 11 years ago

I really like him in this movie, actually. He was such a complete disinterested *beep*

[–] kinsayder 11 years ago

I thought he did a great job in the middle section of the film, playing an airline official taking abuse and forcing himself to be polite, when he clearly just wants to smack the woman in the face.

Then we get the big twist, and unfortunately he doesn't convince as a criminal mastermind. It's just one of many problems in the final part of the movie.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] soldier_one_2 10 years ago

Just watched this, and he looked stoned/high to me. Like a cloth eared thick git. I know where you're coming from there, sir.

[–] cindyfrye 8 years ago

Neither the marshal or the flight attendant acted smart enough to come up with this twisted plot.