“. I cannot think of a modern actor who isn’t simply playing themselves playing someone else.”
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I can’t agree with that. Dustin Hoffman.
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Good example. He really makes you forget it's Dustin Hoffman.
I got into an argument with someone when I said that Jack Nicholson always plays "Jack Nicholson".
I was wrong.
Two examples given were King of Marvin Gardens, where he plays this meek, mild writer.
And About Schmidt. Where he plays some average Joe insurance salesman.
It's rare to see, but Nicholson does have the chops.
I used to agree with you on that, but I recently watched Tootsie, Marathon Man, Little Big Man and the Graduate. He plays the same person in each one. Take a look for yourself.