I have an on-going debate with friends about artists, specifically actors, who are under-recognized (in some cases woefully so) by the critics and, in my (not so) humble opinion, the public in general. I will likely make several posts over time regarding this topic but I want to start by mentioning one or two names now. As always, feedback is appreciated.
Edward Norton gets the pole position for this topic. I bet I haven't even seen 1/10th of his work and I still think he deserves more recognition than he receives. He really puts himself into every part of every role. It's one thing to play a part. Edward Norton plays the many dimensions of his characters with flawless precision. He truly seems to find the mask that the character puts over his true self, the way we all change for different situations. If you don't believe me, watch American History X (which is on my to-watch list) or The Score. He is versatile and consummate about his profession.
I imagine I'm going to get some varied responses for my second pick. Leonardo DiCaprio is another under-recognized actor. If you are judging his abilities on the quality of his movies, stop. I didn't care much for Titanic and I certainly don't feel it was the “best” picture that year. But his performance was so real. He takes the script and the character and adds his own physical characteristics to make it work perfectly. Watch his eyebrows, his nostrils. They reveal emotions and aspects of the character that the dialog cannot. DiCaprio does this with the skill of a master.
That's all for now. Next time I'll probably mention Edward James Olmos as the perfect William Adama. I may get crazy and say something about Vincent D'Onofrio! Until then...happy movie watching!