Posted on 03/23/2013 5:46:51 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
I've always been interested in movies in which the main characters were upstaged by another character. One such movie as an example was "Giant" in which James Dean as Jett Rink completely overshadowed Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor as Bick and Leslie Benedict.
Rarely has a movie been so completely stolen by a character. While Hudson and Taylor had scenes together that bordered on producing yawns, Jett Rink completely fascinated the viewer. Even when Rink waved his hand goodbye, he did it in such a way that the viewers found riveting. Also fascinating was the transformation of the older Rink into a mean drunk. Another thing is that James Dean at least made the effort to sound like a Texan which Rock Hudson was apparently unable to do which is another reason why his Bick Benedict character was unconvincing.
I just watched Spartacus yesterday and pretty much everybody upstages Douglas in that.
A lot of actors refuse to work in any movie with an animal, because they know it is very easy to get upstaged.
There was a famous ego spat between an older and a younger stage actress, with the young one bragging that she was so beautiful that all eyes would be on her. The older one replied that she didn’t even have to be on stage to upstage the younger one.
The scene which had the younger actress’s big part was of a cocktail party where the cast was drinking champagne, and the rest of them then left the stage before the young actress took over. Before leaving, the older actress set her glass over the edge of the table, looking as if it was about to fall off.
No matter what the younger actress did, all eyes in the audience were fixed on that glass, on the bottom of which the older actress had put a loop of adhesive tape.
And Godzilla upstaged Raymond Burr.
Javier Bardem richly deserved his Oscar for that role.
Another great portrayal, and in my view, a richly deserved Oscar, was Forest Whitaker’s take on Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.” I was delighted when he won.
I also like Caan, but the only movie I think he really did great acting in was Brians Song. He was fantastic.
He really stunk up the screen in The Godfather.
True, but in all fairness, Godzilla’s a really tough act to follow. All that roaring and stomping cities flat and spewing nuclear hellfire and all.
>>I liked the movie “Thief” even in all it’s hokey 1970’s Gumba glory.
I LOVED that movie! Caan claimed he disliked it - also Rollerball.
That was a really fantastic scene. I have to call that one a draw, not to mention Gary Oldman as that skanky, filthy pimp. Just a great movie all around.
Classic western “The Big Country”
Gregory Peck and Charleton Heston were good, but Burl Ives stole the show.
Pink Panther - Sellers stole the show from Niven and went on without him in the hilarious series of movies.
The singing miniature twins steal the show from Mothra. That’s why Godzilla refused to be in any scene with them.
But that was the real life story of Danny Greene and it was all about usurping the Big Leagers.
B grade movie, with good actors. Stevens gets an A for performance
Yes, that's true enough. Godzilla's always had solid acting instincts.
Another great scene from a great movie. Bardem had a kind of modern day Frankenstein monster aura to him. To me, he was as scary to watch as Karloff was as the monster. I used to love Creature Feature on Friday nights when I was a kid.
Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty over Harrison Ford as Decker.
Catherine Zeta Jones did in one particular scene. I don't think Connery could have slid through lasers quite like that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.