13 Who Got Too Big…

If I’d made the 50 Greatest Character Actors list ten years ago, some then up and comers would have been no-brainers. Today, their names are a little too well known and their lead roles a little too high profile. It’s always a judgement call, though, and I came damn close to putting each of the following names very high on the big list.

1. Ed Harris

This was an extremely tough call cos’ this guy has had some incomparable supporting roles. Apollo 13, The Truman Show, and Glengarry Glenn Ross just to name a few. But the breadth and popularity of his work has lead to what I believe could legitimately be called “stardom.” And lead roles in The Abyss and Milk Money don’t help. (His lead in Pollock is excused for reasons I’ll go into when I reveal the number one spot on the big list.)

Incidentally, my favorite Ed Harris role comes in not a great film, but one worth watching. Major Konig in Enemy at the Gates. Speaking of his nemesis, a rival sharpshooter played by Jude Law, he declares, “He isn’t dead, and do you know why? Because I haven’t killed him yet.” And when he says that, you believe him.

2. Chris Cooper

You can blame John Sayles for this one. He’s proved twice over (Matewan, Lone Star) that Cooper can carry a film. Regardless, he’s one of the finest character actors working today. A fact which Oscar rightly recognized three years ago.

3. Julianne Moore

I’d say it was over for her once she took over for Jodie Foster in Hannibal. Since then she’s pretty much graduated from ensemble school and gone on to some fantastic lead performances (Far From Heaven, etc.). And after The Forgotten, she pretty much can’t go back.

4. Samuel L. Jackson

With a work ethic rivaling that of number eight on this list, it’s very hard to keep Jackson out of the winner’s circle. He’d be in the top five, at least. But after Coach Carter, Shaft, The 51st State, 187, Amos and Andrew, and Changing Lanes, it’s safe to say he’s straddling both worlds now. Still, is there any reason to watch Deep Blue Sea without him?

5. Jack Black

Arguably the funniest guy on this list, it was over for Jack once the experiment that was School of Rock proved a rousing success. Sure, he’ll still do the tiny Anchorman cameo, but his days of brilliant supporting work a la High Fidelity are probably long gone.

6. Owen Wilson

Single funniest line in Armageddon – “Okay, so the scariest environment imaginable. Thanks. That’s all you gotta say, scariest environment imaginable.” Trust me. You gotta see it in context. And you have to hear Owen say it. Regardless, it’s clear now that Owen’s future is in buddy work (I Spy, Starsky & Hutch, The Wedding Crashers).

7. Will Ferrell

As good as he is in Elf or Anchorman, I’m really not sure I’ve seen Ferrell be funnier than he is in Old School. I think his schtick works best in small doses. See the Austin Powers films or Zoolander (or the shit-fit-funny MTV Movie Awards parodies of Panic Room and Matrix Reloaded). But with leads in Bewitched and Curious George on the horizon, he’s a star on the rise. (Looking forward to his supporting role in The Producers, though).

8. Gene Hackman

Do I really have to say anything? You know what I mean. If he hadn’t had so many leads, he’d be number one on the big list. No question. So let me take this opportunity to pimp a lead most of you probably haven’t heard of. A small actioner called The Package by Andrew Davis, who would go on to direct The Fugitive. Check it out sometime. Nice, tight little suspense thriller with Tommy Lee Jones before he broke.

9. John Goodman

What’s sad about this is that it’s The Babe, The Flinstones, and King Ralph keepin’ him down, here. Incidentally, another actor who did outstanding work on The West Wing. What is it about that show? Even Matthew Perry shone on that motherfucker.

10. Paul Giammatti

He’s great. But leads in American Splendor and Sideways, two very high profile indies, nearly back-to-back, kind of kills his supporting momentum. But, unlike the Oscars, at least I mentioned him.

11. Harvey Kietel

Borderline, I tells ya. Certainly plenty of solid supporting roles. But I gotta say that Mean Streets and Bad Lieutenant are films that focused on him (and to his credit he’s mesmerizing) and they are not, in the grand scheme of things, small or obscure films.

12. Kevin Spacey

There’s no question that he’s a big star now, but Spacey broke as a character heavy in Se7en and The Usual Suspects in the same damn year! Never mind his supporting work in The Ref, L.A. Confidential, and Hurlyburly. And after American Beauty, he really hasn’t done anything stronger. Hopefully his return to supporting work in Superman Lives (as Lex Luthor!!!!) will see a return to form.

13. Billy Bob Thornton

Maybe the second best actor on this list (after Hackman) but has the same problem as just about everyone else here. Too many high profile leads to be strictly a character actor. Bad Santa, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Monsters Ball, and really broke as a lead in Sling Blade.

In the next installment, we see the final five, and I arguably break all the rules I’ve set here.

By the way, as I wrote this, my buddy Jason called and, having just seen an advance screening of Sith, declared it non-sucky. He advised, however, that you dehydrate yourself prior to viewing.