I think this is always a fun topic to discuss in general. Also, I'd be interested in seeing a list of dramatic actors that excelled in comedic roles - oddly enough, I feel like that one may be a bit shorter.
Well, as much as I hate Robin Williams trying to make funny movies these days, he might be the MVP of this discussion. I mean, that whole late '90s/early '00s stretch encapsulated dreck like Patch Adams, Flubber, and Father's Day as well as terrific turns in GWH, Insomnia, and One Hour Photo (a performance of damn-near brilliance). I think nowadays he's a lot more potent as a dramatic actor than a funnyman, but he's got his share of strikeouts and homers in both camps. (The Birdcage? Great. The Night Listener? No thanks.)
Jim Carrey has the goods for it, but he doesn't deliver as often as I hope he will. Eternal Sunshine and Truman Show arguably treaded the comedic-dramatic faultline and he was terrific. Straight-faced fare like The Majestic and The Number 23? Cinematic abortions. But I think he has it in him.
Adam Sandler's another one that I prefer being dramatic, because I genuinely like the guy as an ACTOR. He was the best part of Spanglish (otherwise terrible, yes), and really swung for the fences in Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me (terrific films in general, really). Hell, he even brought heaps of pathos to the table in the mostly-awful Click - I went from bored to gripped whenever that movie turned dramatic. He's been honing his chops slowly, and part of me thinks he's gonna wallop us one day (honestly, Reign Over Me took me aback - I may have kneed you in the balls if you'd suggested that the Adam Sandler of Little Nicky would one day bring tears to my eyes).
As a rabid fan of "The Shield", I have to throw my hat in the ring for Anthony Anderson, too. He has to be seen to be believed - few will argue what a buffoon he can be on-screen, but his performance as antagonistic "ex"-gangster Antwon Mitchell in "The Shield"'s fourth season is bone-chilling. From ostensibly skill-less goofball to a character so menacing he makes the blood run cold? Well done. (Also, an early season of "Shield" features Carlos Mencia in a dramatic role. He doesn't make too big of an impression, but he's kinda sincere and he doesn't say "beaner" once, so it's a win.)
Eddie Murphy: his movies are almost always bad, but he's a hell of a lot better than he has any right to be in Dreamgirls. I mean, he REALLY nails it, to a pretty impressive degree.
Speaking of Dreamgirls, I tend to like Jamie Foxx in things more often than not. He's a bit over-estimated these days, but he deserves his propers for Any Given Sunday, Ray (essentially an impersonation piece, but an uncanny one), and Collateral.
Can we include Steve Carrell here? Little Miss Sunshine and Dan in Real Life were ostensibly comedies, but he plays a suicidal scholar and a widower, respectively, and has some on-the-money dramatic moments, and acquits himself well.
Will Ferrell's foray into comparatively dramatic territory, Stranger Than Fiction, was wonderful, and he's great in it. I think Will Ferrell's simply too sincere to bomb a dramatic role - he brings the same level of dedication to drama that he does to comedy, and that serves him well.
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serval26
15 years ago
Steve Martin- Parenthood
Mo'Nique- Precious (seriously bone-chilling dramatic performance, one of the best I've ever seen)
And I know Marlon Wayans isn't a stand-up comic but he was on In Living Color and has predominantly been in comedies throughout his career and his dramatic turn in "Requiem for a Dream" was really good.
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