This is the top 10 list of actors who might not be usually be placed in the thespian category but have turned out one or two good films over the span of their career.
10.) Tobey Maguire - Wonder Boys
Maguire plays a gifted young writer who is under the guidance of a washed up author and college professor played by Michael Douglas. Maguire plays a disturbing role in this film, long before his Spider-man days. The character who is gifted is also disturbed and puts those around him in an uneasy position with his encyclopedic knowledge of how celebrities committed suicide. This film sees Maguire and Robert Downey Jr. in bed at one stage, so if you watch it you can tell your friends you saw Spider-man and Iron Man in bed together . An honourable mention should go to Katie Holmes who also is excellent in this film.
9.) Zach Galifianakis - It's Kind of a Funny Story / Visioneers
Best known for his role as Alan in the Hangover trilogy, it might surprise some that Bradley Cooper is not the only actor that excels at dramatic acting as well as comedy. It's Kind of a Funny Story sees Galifianakis play a recovering addict who is described in the novel of the film as a 'garbage head'. This is a junkie that will take any drug handed to them. His acting ability is highlighted in this role as he acts as a sort of mentor to the protagonist Craig, while fighting his personal demons. Galifianakis also stars in the dystopian film Visoneers, which examines a world where corporate life has taken over the will of the people. This results in people 'exploding' as they try to face the mundane task of trying to increase productivity. Galifiankis acting in this is fantastic and shows what a true talent he has when not placed in his comfort zone of playing absurd humour.
8) Joshua Jackson - One Week
I stumbled upon this independent Canadian film on Netflix about two months ago and instantly connected with it. Jackson who is best known for his stint as regular cast member on Dawson's Creek, plays a failed author and English teacher who finds out he has terminal cancer. Rather than facing treatment he decides to purchase a motorbike and travel across Canada. The film is unique because it a road film that captures the beautiful scenery of Canada. While traveling across the country, Jackson's character encounters many different people from all walks of life which is intriguing for the viewer. The film is about a man facing his mortality but also gives a lesson to those who are not happy in their life to change the course they are on because it is not too late. I highly recommend this film.
7.) Jude Law - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Hollywood's sexiest actor rarely gets the critical acclaim he rightly deserves. Early on in his career he starred in the brilliant The Talented Mr. Ripley alongside Matt Damon. Law's character psychotic climax is probably one of the most memorable scenes in the whole film. Although has gone on to do more films, in my opinion this is his finest moment as an actor.
6.) Mark Wahlberg - The Departed
This remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs sees Marky Mark play a foul mouth detective who works with the informants of the police department. A largely unlikable character but excellently played by Wahlberg, sees the character redeem himself by the end of the film. The film fails to match up with the grittiness of the original but it is beautifully shot. Another Honorable mention goes to Alec Baldwin in this film who also enjoys great acting credits from appearing in Glengarry Glen Ross and Talk Radio.
5.) Adam Sandler - Punch-Drunk Love / Reign Over Me
Sandler who is probably best known for his lowbrow comedy films has not had a good comedy since the start of the millennium. However, two of his films from the 00s are excellent and are not from his formulaic comedy genre. Punch-Drunk Love delves into a surreal story that begins with Sandler's character answering a phone call. Sandler's character is a man who does not fit in neatly to societies norms and for this he is seen as an outcast. A series of phone calls leads the character on a bizarre journey.
Reign Over Me deals with the trauma that New Yorker's faced after 9/11. Although the directing in the film can be patchy at times, what saves it from becoming tedious to watch is Sandler's acting that helps the audience get engrossed with the narrative. His character refuses to face reality after his entire family were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Watching Sandler deal with psychotic issues is surprisingly rewarding.
4.) Eminem - 8 Mile
Eminem was in a film? and it was good? Yes and yes. What should have been placed in the DVD bargain bin is one of the biggest surprises in cinema from the last ten years. This semi-biographical film sees Eminem playing the role of a rapper who struggles to get recognised for his talent. Seeing Eminem playing a role where the character has crippling stage fright is a bewildering experience when you think that this is the same guy who became so well known back in the day with 'My Name is.' 50 Cent tried to recreate the 8 Mile magic with his film 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' but with little to no success. Even Jim Sheridan could not save it from being a mess. If you have not watched 8 Mile I highly suggest you leave your rapping prejudice at the door and allow yourself to enter a world of escapism through the eyes of Marshal Mathers.
3.) Elijah Wood - Everything is Illuminated
Fresh from the set from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Elijah Wood takes on this peculiar role in Everything is Illuminated. I have no reason to suggest that Wood would not be a good actor other than I was surprised how different this role was from anything else he had done up to that point. Wood plays a Jewish writer who goes to his grandfather's homeland in Ukraine looking for a woman who saved him during the Holocaust. Despite the dark subject matter there are moment of well crafted humour. The family that take him around Ukraine are well scripted (if not a bit stereotyped) and has a very poignant ending.
2.) Steve Carell - Little Miss Sunshine
As funny as Carell might be, in 2006 his acting abilities to this point had been limited. The 40-Year-Old Virgin is probably what he was best known for at this time and he had yet to show off his dramatic abilities in The Office as only the first (terrible season compared to how good show got afterwards) season had been on television. This is why it was surprising to see Carell play a very convincing character who was recovering from a failed suicide attempt. In my opinion, I thought Carell was the best part of this film but Alan Arkin being a close second, playing the junkie, politically incorrect and foul mouthed grandfather. Carell would exercise his dramatic abilities again in Dan in Real Life but has yet to fully commit himself to a proper dramatic role, which is unfortunate as he shows he would be capable of doing so.
1.) Jim Carrey - Man on the Moon
Jim Carrey is probably most famous for talking out of his ass (literally - see Ace Ventura). However, within the space of a few months Carrey managed to shock audiences with the highly successful The Truman Show and the less successful Man on the Moon. Both films showed a side of Carrey that audiences had not been aware of until these releases. While Man on the Moon might not have been a huge commercial hit, it certainly went down a storm with critics and the audience members who did watch it. After watching the film it is impossible to imagine anyone else taking on the role of the late genius Andy Kaufman. Kaufman who was known for his hoaxes and irreverent humour was brought back to life by Carey for this film. Friends and family of Kaufman who visited the set of Man on the Moon while it was filming were left in tears when talking to Carrey. Carrey stayed in character even when filming had stopped in between shooting and those who knew Kaufman when he was alive could not comprehend that it was not him. The film is a fitting telling of Kaufman's story and Carrey is a surprising fitting actor to play him.
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