There are classic movies out there, with performances so good in them that you absolutely adore and love the actor. You wonder why they aren't in anything else. How come if they were so good in X they can't be just as good in Y?

I offer up these three examples to get the ball rolling:

Anthony Perkins, Psycho:

A slasher movie nearly 50 years old that can STILL make you jump. His performance is so creepy. This early pinnacle of his career wound up in tragic epics like Black Hole, Psycho II, Psycho III, and Psycho IV.

Christopher Reeves, Superman:
Early movie for Reeves, who I believe was mainly known for soaps prior to this role. He left such a distinct mark on pop culture with this role, his name and visage is synonymous with Superman. 28 years later and his physique and face are still templates for the man of steel. His later years Village of the Damned, Noises Off... then he did all that average work after he was confined to a wheelchair.

Tom Hulce, Amadeus:
This role is so hypnotic. Any portraits, letters, written accounts don't compare. This guy IS Mozart. You could eliminate the other actors from this movie, and his acting alone could career it. It's almost faustian how he exceeds in this role. His later career, horrible... he comes out about every 10 years to do a movie, Parenthood or Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Any other roles that were so good they ended a career? I'm sure I can think of more.

Would Mark Hamill(read; Luke Skywalker) count?



Can't say I've seen him in anything that wasn't a parody of Star Wars. :P

He was in an episode of Just Shoot Me.

Nice topic, one that pops straight into my head is Brad Davis from 'Midnight Express', stunning performance, amazing film and he went on to do nothing really after it.

Wasn't it the curse that did in his acting career?

As thats what I figured was the case.

Extremely talented Sean Patrick Flannery as one of the leads in Boondock Saints. He is an underrated actor who has been enjoyable in every movie he has graced. His career isn't that flash hot either atm.

Michael J Fox - Great actor in all the 'Back to the Future' movies, then somehow picked the wrong movies afterwards, started the terribly unfunny Spin City, now suffering from Parkinson's Disease

Michael Winslow (the funny noises guy) - Awesome talent, one hell of a bad career unless you count the first Police Academy and Spaceballs. More of a guest appearance though

Wait, are you saying that he picked up Parkinson's Disease BECAUSE he was in those films.

:huh:

What, are you an idiot?

no, i'm just stating what he's suffering from now for those unfamiliar of his current status

It's a well known fact. Hell, he is the face for Parkinson's Disease and Stem Cell Research.

Spin City was great, you shut your mouth!

Same with his last feature film The Frighteners.(funnily enough which was Peter Jacksons last film before the LotRs trilogy)

That movie was fricken awesome. I saw it ages ago when I was still visiting my dad fortnightly (yes, it was that long ago) and I loved it. I keep on missing it whenever it is on TV too which sucks. Now that you have mentioned it Estapopple I think I might go and hire it. Thanks dude. :thumbsup:

Well they recently released it on DVD(with a "From the Director of LotRs and King Kong" sticker on the front :P ) so itshouldn't be hard to find. :thumbsup:

Man, he's just a marketing tool now. :P Does anyone wish Peter Jackson was still big and cuddly like santa clause? He looks like a weird drug addict now.

He just needs a new haircut (possibly a pink mohawk or dreadlocks) and a shave. And with all the money he's making, surely he can get eye surgery now and get rid of those "Where's Wally?" specs?

:lol:

Youve made a good but weird point. either way I want him fat and jolly again! :P

I was gonna say Mark Hamill but Estapol bet me to it..

..Keanu Reeves?

No, Reeves has been in his fair share of movies.

I can't actually ever remember him delivering a great acting performance though...

My Own Private Idaho...Keanu was good in the Shakespeare scenes. The scene when Scott and Bob were relating the story of the of the robbery is one of my favorites. Both River and Keanu were wonderful in the film. Some people have a prejudice against Keanu...I have no idea why.

That was a great epsiode.

Whatchu talkin' bout? Keanu is great at acting :P
I thought he was good in Constantine..

That's because he didn't have to act in that movie. It was fluff; reliant heavily on action scenes and a storyline that went nowhere.

fluff? well that is your opinion I happen to really respect his performance in that role i know hes pretty bad in most things but definately not all