MovieChat Forums > The Iceman (2013) Discussion > Michael Shannon was bad

Michael Shannon was bad

posted 11 years ago by reggieweezy
14 replies | jump to latest

I didn't get the sense I was watching a notorious contract killer on film. Instead, I felt like I was watching Agt. Van Alden from Boardwalk Empire playing a contract killer

[–] TxMike 11 years ago

Have you seen any of the videos of the real Iceman? Shannon did a pretty good job of playing the guy.

TxMike
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[–] reggieweezy 11 years ago

I have seen the videos, and I still don't think Shannon did a got job. I think he mailed in his acting performance. Its like the producers told Shannon they liked his work on BWE, and told him not to deviate from his acting on that particular show. Shannon was playing the exact same character

[–] verycoolnin 11 years ago

I felt like he was playing the same character from Board Walk Empire. Not that it's a bad thing. He's a cold blooded killer in both shows.

[–] ethermusic1981 10 years ago

So? He was awesome in this.

[–] kathquay1 10 years ago

Yes I agree. Reckon he is a very good actor.

[–] FlyingSaucersAreReal 10 years ago

I agree. He was a cool customer.

Shannon's a great actor. Really underrated.

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[–] evildeadmitch 10 years ago

Micheal Shannon is the best actor possibly of all time. Simply amazing at anything he does.

[–] ethermusic1981 10 years ago

Agreed, he's great.

[–] SteveResin 10 years ago

Haha I agree about just seeing Van Alden up there on the screen. It was especially prevelant in his early years when he was a subordinate at the porn factory. I do think he managed to shake off the Van Alden similarity by the films third act though.

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] GorillazButter 9 years ago

Watched the entire BWE series this year and Iceman sometime last year, never felt like I was watching the same character. So I don't agree at all on the Van Alden comparison. They both have flaring tempers and self-righteousness, but it comes from a different place and I felt Shannon channeled that perfectly. He's no amateur.

For example both have some trouble expressing emotion but that felt more deliberate on Van Aldens character as opposed to Richard who's more of a socio or pscyhopath. Van Alden got that way through a combination of being an authoritative figure and having intense religious fervor. It's not played the same way either. That scene where Demeo tests out Richard by pointing the gun at his face, watch and listen to his demeanor there, it's like the thought of being scared would've never even occurred to him. He's missing that part of the human psyche or it's buried deep inside him.

That's not Van Alden, who's more a "fast-thinker-but-plays-it-slow" type like in the flower shop where he acts the part of a bodyguard (not even planning to) and goes with the flow of the situation. They're both prone to big mistakes due to their self-righteousness, but other than that felt like totally different characters.

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[–] spud-boy 8 years ago

The story arcs for each character are fascinating. Van Alden going from self-rightous FBI man, to salesman, to Capone's lackey. Kaklinski getting more and more diabolical as the movie progressed. He looked like Mephistopheles by the time the movie was at the 70 minute mark or so...with the slicked back hair and the goatee. He also appeared somewhat darker complected.

[–] FridayOnElmStreet 8 years ago

I thought he did good.

[–] chilone 8 years ago

I thought he was excellent.

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