TangerineSteve17 said:
kp789 said:
Sam Rockwell is a good shout. He is virtually always seems to be in a supporting role though, albeit in some very good films (The Green Mile, Assassination of Jesse James)
However, in moon I think he proved what a talented actor he is.
Carey Mulligan is good and is starting to get some recognition.
Michael Fassbender though is outstanding. I am yet to see a bad performance by him.
Good shout although im not sure if they are in fact underrated. Thought Rockwell was great in Moon and 7Psychos
Some brilliant actors are just better in a supporting role, Paul Giamatti springs to mind
But he does not get the same recognition as some. I am not saying everyone thinks he is a bad actor, just that people arent like "oooh yeah Sam Rockwell, he was brilliant in Moon" They tend to be like "I dont know who he is....*show a picture of sam Rockwell* oh the nutty guy from the green mile!?!?!"
That said, I think when we class an actor or actress as underrated, it is through the fact that they receive little recognition for their performances in comparison to others.
Lets take Brad Pitt and Leonardo Di Caprio as to fantastic examples. Both are superb actors and receive widespread recognition in mainstream media for their portrayals in films. As a result, people who digest the mainstream media will agree and when asked who they think is a good actor state 'Leo' or 'Brad'. They are not wrong, but I would challenge that 'their' opinion has not in fact been formulated by themselves, but by whatever form of media they chose to read and as a result, dominant ideological ideas in regards to 'a good actor' are formed and therefore thees people are told who is a good actor and just regurgitate it, giving no evidence to back up why, other than 'I read it in the Sun'
Rockwell does not get the leading role in big billboard movies and as a result is not considered of the same standard. (I am not saying he is as good or better than Leo and Brad, he is almost a victim of circumstance) Because of the lack of exposure to the mainstream media, he is not recognised and is therefore only known to a few who rate him and so he is therefore underrated because more people
should know who he is and
should recognise his work. The lack of recognition and ratings, therefore leaves him 'underrated'
I think certain actors are at an immediate disadvantage anyway. Brad and Leo are both pretty good looking blokes, as far as society is concerned. They are both considered as heartthrobs in the mainstream, whereas Sam R and Paul Giamatti as you have pointed out (I think he is a superb performer) are considered less so of this ilk because they are not as fitting with what 'a buff bloke should look like'. I think this puts them at a disadvantage to being recognised or getting decent roles and therefore they slip under the radar of recognition
