I previously looked at underrated or underappreciated performances, drawing on my experience in front of and behind the camera. Of course, the list is infinite of actors and actresses whose characters slip through the cracks. With the Oscars just around the corner, only four performances to be rewarded, here are four more previously underrated performances that need to be on your watchlist!
Brad Pitt in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
In a career full of memorable performances, this performance by Brad Pitt gets lost in the mix of a great filmography. Pitt completely transforms himself into Jesse James in this film. His demeanor and evil turns as the hotheaded Western Legend are felt. You see something different in his eyes. It’s hard for such a recognizable celebrity in Hollywood to be able to appear different in something as subtle as how his eyes look. Still, it’s because of Pitt’s ability to jump between sensitivity and violence that makes this rise above the rest of his iconic characters.
Ami Diakhate in Hyenas (1992)
This is a perfect example of conveying a world of emotions with very little dialogue. Hyenas, as a film itself, deserves more love. It’s gripping, and Ami’s performance captivates you from the moment the film introduces her character. From her facial expressions alone, you can tell the story of a woman who went her whole life building to get everything in the world to make up for the love from a man she could never have again. It’s heartbreaking, simple, and even gruesome once the film turns to a revenge story.
John Cassavetes in Mikey and Nicky (1976)
Mikey and Nicky thrives on the one-two punch that comes from Peter Falk and John Cassavetes, and although Falk is fantastic, it’s Cassavetes that I wanted to give this highlight to because of his unpredictability. Most cinephiles identify Cassavetes with his sharp directorial skills, but he thrives as a director because of his understanding of naturalism and human reaction. Those skills are core to the foundations of acting, and his gestures and movements are bizarre, unique, and true to the human experience. He delivers lines in this film in only a way I think he could’ve, and his understanding as an artist of tone and relationship is phenomenal.
Jane Fonda in Klute (1971)
Calling Jane Fonda’s performance in Klute is a bit ironic, considering she won the Oscar for Best Actress for this role back in 1972. Somewhere down the road, however, this film got lost in the mix, and nobody is giving her the credit in today’s era! Her character is rich in layers and beautiful, and Fonda delivers one of the most beautiful and human monologues about love and trust that you will ever hear. The story is extremely modern for its time, and Fonda’s naturalism is a substantial part of what makes the film resonate.
List Courtesy of Justin Duggan