Who are the most underrated actors?

  • Thread starter Thread starter shrrshrr
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Yeah, I think that sorta sums it up.

Jake Gyllenhaal was definitely underrated before Brokeback Mountain came out. He didn't do mainstream movies, but ones that were great in terms of storyline, acting, subplots, meanings, etc. I don't think many people can name five pre-Brokeback movies of his.

I don't know if I'm biased, but I think Bethany Joy has done some great work, but she's been overshadowed by most of her peers her age. Julia Stiles has been overlooked many a time too, I feel. Although she stars in blockbuster movies, i.e. The Bourne Identity/Supremacy, Mona Lisa Smile; I just feel like people are not giving her due credit.

I think Toni Collette does amazing work too, but I have yet to see 'In Her Shoes' with Cameron Diaz. I thought she was great in 'Muriel's Wedding', after we had to watch it for a study in English class.

Don Cheadle's awesome, too. Excellent at portraying emotions.
 
Ewan McGregor - whatever he's in (blockbuster, musical, drama, etc.) he's amazing. He has played a wide range of characters and all are believable.
 
I think Natalie Portman is brilliant...shes won a gg so i dont think she's underrated

Rachel McAdams
 
I imediately thought of him when I saw the subject of the thread. He was also brilliant in Big Fish, I was giddy when I learnt he played a part in that movie.
 
The problem with Jenna Malone is that she plays if not the same character over and over, then pretty close to it.

She's young so she has to branch out a little. I love her, tho.
 
I could not agree more with you on Ginnifer! She is amazing! I think she was too adorable in WADWTH, and too amazing in WTL!

I will have to add, Allison Pill to my list. I think she's just so brilliant, especially loved her in Pieces of April. And, Ryan Kelly and Jonathan Adhout would be two actors for me.
 
He is great at that. That was probably my biggest laugh in Armageddon when They were talking about "slingshotting" around the moon and he was like "No really, cuz it didn't work out too well for the Coyote!"

Ami - Not sure about the underrated definitions, I would normally say someone is underrated if you say their name and say "name 5 movies they were in" and you have to think about it. Someone who hasn't headlined a mainstream movie or hasn't won an award.
 
I will add Robin Williams to the list on the grounds the guy has been around for so long and has done so many diverse roles and won tons of awards... But people still only remember him for his whacky comedy roles like Jim Carrey.

Most of his more serious acting roles like "Patch Adams" and "Final Cut", are overlooked or just plain forgotten by both the public and the press.
 
Okay, Leonardo DiCaprio and the guys from White Castle aside, do you all realize that many of the actors listed in the posts through 2005 of this thread have been Oscar contenders or winners? ...Or at the very lest gotten a LOT more recognition?

How cool is that! :glow:

I wouldn't have thought that was the case. I would have thought coming back to this thread after a year (almost - excluding the last four posts), would be pretty much the same-old-same-old. I'm rather surprised, actually...
 
She should be.. She is great... :)

I also feel that Ben Foster is so overlooked. He was great in Alpha Dog, as well, as The Punisher and Hostage. I haven't seen 30 Days Of Night yet, but I heard he was great in that too.
 
Sean Bean is definately better than the sum of his parts (in films). Oh and Simon Pegg is brilliant.
 
Yes, good choices! :) I liked Don Cheadle inTraffic, too. And this Hotel Rwanda (which, hasn't come out yet, right?) is already getting an Oscar buzz for his performance.

I LOVE Vincent D'Onfrio, ever since he was Gomer Pyle ;) If you haven't seen The Player, I definitely recommend it! He is a disgruntled screenwriter who may-or-may-not be threatening to kill this Hollywood producer..You won't even recognize him! :) Great movie.

I also enjoyed him in Law & Order SVU, too.

Another actor I had in mind is Billy Crudup .. I thought he was excellent in Almost Famous! And he has minor parts in Sleepers, but I was impressed there too. I wish he got offered more roles!
 
Haven't seen much of his work, so I can't say anything about Casey :shrug:

I'll add Cillian Murphy to my list, though.
 
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