Al Pacino, Leonardo Di Caprio, Johnny Depp and Matt Damon might be the most famous faces on the planet but they’re nothing without a strong supporting cast.
This got us thinking, who are the best character actors that make any film instantly better?
David Morse
You know him from: The Green Mile, The Negotiator, Disturbia.
Did you see him during? The Hurt Locker, World War Z, Twelve Monkeys.
Guilty of scene stealing in: The Rock
Summer blockbusters are not always associated with fine acting and memorable performances but Morse’s turn as Major Tom Baxter in Michael Bay’s best film was very strong.
The Rock is an absurd action film – the line ‘you just fuc**ed up your Ferrari’ springs to mind – but it’s testament to Morse’s skill as an actor that you genuinely feel his characters moral dilemma when choosing to defy Ed Harris’ General Hummel.
We just want to listen to that soundtrack right now.
Coming up: NFL set drama Concussion alongside Will Smith.
Brendan Gleeson
You know him from: The Guard, In Bruges, The General.
Did you see him during? The Field, Into The West, Michael Collins.
Guilty of scene stealing in: Braveheart
The Dubliner should be in prison because he has stolen more films than any other actor that I can think of.
Gleeson was a latecomer on the scene and he kept a down-to-earth ethos that gave his performances an extra layer of credibility.
Gleeson manages to maintain the common touch in every one of his performances and people identify with this – he’s equally adept at playing criminals, guards and wizards – but he first appeared on Hollywood’s radar 20 years ago.
Next up: ‘Trespass Against Us’ with Michael Fassbender and Ron Howard’s Moby Dick inspired epic ‘In The Heart Of The Sea’.
Stanley Tucci
You know him from: The Hunger Games, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Lovely Bones.
Did you see him during? A Life Less Ordinary, Easy A, Road to Perdition.
Guilty of scene stealing in: The Terminal
Steven Spielberg can be fond of including too much shmaltz and sentimentality in his films but all of these warm, fuzzy and smiley attributes only work if there’s an absolute buzzkill bastard in stark contrast.
Tucci’s role as Frank Dixon in The Terminal was a villain for the modern era because he’s a bureaucratic devil that revels in seeing Viktor Navorski jump through streams of red-tape and political jibber-jabber.
Coming up: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Beauty and The Beast
Paul Giamatti
You know him from: Sideways, Cinderella Man, The Hangover 2.
Did you see him during? The Negotiator, Shoot ‘Em Up, Donnie Brasco.
Guilty of scene stealing in: Saving Private Ryan.
We’ve previously discussed why Spielberg’s WWII masterpiece might have the greatest cast of all-time but his turn as Sergeant Hill is probably the strongest performance from a brilliant ensemble.
In just a few scenes he brings a much needed element of humour, warmth and empathy to the trenches. You’re left wishing that he would stick around for longer.
He’s definitely one of our favourite soldiers, next to Topper Harley from Hot Shots: Part Deux obviously.
Coming up: NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton and actioner San Andreas.
J.K Simmons
You know him from: Spiderman, The Ladykillers, Whiplash.
Did you see him during? The First Wives Club, The Cider House Rules, Juno.
Guilty of scene stealing in: I Love You, Man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuWClc3S_OA
If you haven’t seen Whiplash then finish reading this article and go watch it. Trust us.
Like Gleeson, Simmons didn’t really become a familiar face in Hollywood until later on in his career but he’s a wonderfully gifted actor that seems adept at drama and comedy.
We’ve opted for his turn in the hilarious Paul Rudd bromance because the relationship he has with his gay son, played by Andy Samberg, is both touching and a little bit warped.
Not even Hank Mardukas could come between them.
Next up: A little film called Terminator Genisys.
William Fichtner
You know him from: The Dark Knight, Heat, Black Hawk Down, Armageddon.
Did you see him during? Heat, Go, The Perfect Storm, Equilibrium.
Guilty of scene stealing in: Entourage
The Entourage movie is set to land in Irish cinemas this summer and we really hope that his recurring character makes an appearance.
The look of sheer desperation and torment on Phil Yagoda’s face whenever he has to deal with the show’s resident hero/weirdo Johnny Drama is a joy to behold.
Next up: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
Oliver Platt
You know him from: X-Men : First Class, The West Wing, The Three Musketeers.
Did you see him during? A Time To Kill, Lake Placid, Beethoven.
Guilty of scene stealing in: Frost/Nixon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxBXX_7dJ3w
Platt excels in playing those slightly nerdy, energetic yet highly unpredictable characters.
His turn as Bob Zelnick, one of David Frost’s trusted researchers, in Frost/Nixon was a tour de force.
His character also provided some much needed comedy in what was a fairly weighty and absorbing film.
Frost/Nixon still could do with a Lake Placid-esque gigantic crocodile but that probably didn’t happen during the interviews.
Next up: Starring alongside Aaron Paul and Jamie Dornan in the psychological thriller ‘The 9th Life of Louis Drax.’
Brian Cox
You know him from: The Bourne Trilogy, Manhunter, X-Men 2.
Did you see him during? The Escapist, The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Guilty of scene stealing in: Rushmore.
Uber bulls**tter Max Fischer may have everyone in Rushmore academy wrapped around his little finger but not Dr. Nelson Guggenheim.
Cox is always great value when playing stern, disciplined and tough characters and his interplay with the cocky Max Fischer is great to see.
Next up: The video game apocalyptic comedy Pixels.
Chris Cooper
You know him from: The Bourne Identity, Seabiscuit, Adaptation.
Did you see him during? The Town, Jarhead, Capote.
Guilty of scene stealing in: American Beauty.
All of the characters in Sam Mendes’ timeless examination of the American dream have their issues but it’s Cooper’s role as Colonel Fitts that steals the show for me.
There’s a subtle menace, anger and sadness behind his haunting performance but it’s testament to his skill as an actor that you also have to feel for a man that’s clearly been living in denial for years and has finally been tipped over the edge.
Coming up: J.D. Salinger biopic, Coming Through The Rye
Richard Jenkins
You know him from: Cabin In The Woods, Let Me In, Six Feet Under.
Did you see him during? Burn After Reading, Me, Myself & Irene, Jack Reacher.
Guilty of scene stealing in: Step Brothers.
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly might get all the great lines stars but their comedy is ten times funnier when they have a straight man to play against.
There’s something hilarious about seeing Dr Doback’s life descend into absolute chaos when Dale and Brennan become friends.
Boats ‘n hoes.
Next up: A drama called ‘The Hollars’ and Bone Tomahawk, a horror/western co-starring Kurt Russell.
Sam Rockwell
You know him from: Choke, Moon, Seven Psychopaths.
Did you see him during? The Green Mile, Galaxy Quest, Welcome to Collinwood.
Guilty of scene stealing in: The Way, Way Back.
Rockwell is probably my favourite actor and I would watch him in anything.
The Way, Way Back is one of the last cinematic gems that I saw because it feels like the type of film that doesn’t get made anymore – a decent film about growing up where the teenagers aren’t annoying hipsters, narcissistic morons or crap vampires.
It’s just a very basic story about a guy that has no idea of his place in the world until he meets a glorified manchild, Rockwell’s character Owen, and they both strike up an unusual but funny friendship.
The film is exactly like Rockwell’s talent. Great.
Next up: You may have seen him in the trailers for Poltergeist already.
Mark Ruffalo
You know him from: The Avengers, Shutter Island, Zodiac
Did you see him during? The Last Castle, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Collateral
Guilty of scene stealing in: Foxcatcher
Steve Carell may have garnered all the plaudits for his incredible physical transition and eerie performance but Ruffalo provided the heart and soul.
Foxcatcher was a a slowburner but it was utterly captivating. Those lingering stares and long silences revealed more about the characters than 100 lines of dialogue.
Then again, some people prefer to see him morph into a gigantic green monster and smash the living s**t out of things in The Avengers.
The eternal art-house v blockbuster film debate in a nutshell.
Coming up: Now You See Me: The Second Act.
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