Surprise movies with the unlikliest leading actors!

Drumpot

Two movies come to mind . .

The Truman show . . I have mixed feelings on Jim Carey (either love or hate him in certain movies) but I just loved this movie and his odd but strangely lovable character. I loved the movie, particularly as I felt it was a good popshot at how society has become infatuated with nobodys!

Stranger then Fiction. . Like The Truman show, I thought this would be a movie that I wouldnt like, but I absolutely loved it. Will Ferrel gave his greatest acting performance (next to the completely OTT Ron Burgundy) and just like Carey showed he is capable of putting in a very convincing performance that we can all grow to love.

foxyboxer

I guess Tom Hanks in Philadelphia.

At the time he was known as a light comedic actor. (Big, Turner and Hooch etc)
He gives a great performance in a League of their Own which gave an indication of his range.

Drumpot

foxyboxer wrote: »

I guess Tom Hanks in Philadelphia.

At the time he was known as a light comedic actor. (Big, Turner and Hooch etc)
He gives a great performance in a League of their Own which gave an indication of his range.

Yeh, considering all his serious movies since back then , its easy to forget he started out as a comedian! (Splash, Bachelor party!)

foxyboxer

"He's not what I envisioned of James Bond's looks. I'm looking for Commander Bond, not an overgrown stuntman."

Ian Fleming not a fan of Connery's casting in Dr No.

I also recall the vitriol from Bond fans when Daniel Craig was cast. aka The Blonde Bond. I think the casting directors were vindicated as both actors were/are excellent in the role.

Kinski

Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love. Still kinda hard to believe it happened!

Drumpot

Kinski wrote: »

Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love. Still kinda hard to believe it happened!

Cant believe I forgot that . . Loved that movie!

Mickeroo

Kinski wrote: »

Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love. Still kinda hard to believe it happened!

Great film althogh I've not watched it in years. It totally utilised the same kind of character Sandler plays in all his dumb comedy movies but puts it in a more real world kind of setting forcing Sandler to reign it in and play it for real, coming off as a slightly manic depressive guy with anger issues (similar to Anger Management actually). It's a weird little film in many ways but it somehow manages to actually to be a rather sweet little love story too. I really must watch it again.

Another example I can think of, also form a P.T. Anderson movie is Tom Cruise in Magnolia. It was a very similar trick to what he pulled with Sandler, not the kind of role people would have expected of Cruise at all but somehow quite similar to characters he's played in more conventional films. I also think Cruise's turn in Collateral was quite a departure for him too, and actually the best role of his career imho.

The classic example of this would be Henry Fonda's role in Once Upon a Time in the West I suppose!

foxyboxer

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TomHanksSyndrome

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LeslieNielsenSyndrome

xalot

sticking with the comedian route - Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind. No face pulling at all. Love that film.

Drumpot

Mickeroo wrote: »

Another example I can think of, also form a P.T. Anderson movie is Tom Cruise in Magnolia. It was a very similar trick to what he pulled with Sandler, not the kind of role people would have expected of Cruise at all but somehow quite similar to characters he's played in more conventional films. I also think Cruise's turn in Collateral was quite a departure for him too, and actually the best role of his career imho.

!

That had crossed my mind . . Respect the cock!