As an actor myself, the first thing that truly resonates with me in a film is a great performance. I love watching performances that are multilayered and moving and a testament to the human experience. In today’s cultural zeitgeist, we are lucky to be able to uplift so many performers, through awards and other channels of validation, and cement them in the history of the art.
Some performances, for one reason or another, don’t get enough credit. Here are some performances worth watching and appreciating! Whether it’s a performance from a known actor that falls under the radar, or a hidden gem, these four underrated performances deserve more love!
Edward James Olmos in The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)
Edward James Olmos created such a complex character in this story of a good man in a bad world, convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez is as captivating as it is through Olmos’ mannerisms and body language, and his relationship with the world around him has such a beautiful sense of honesty and kindness, even if he is being hunted and entirely misunderstood.
Olmos doesn’t speak any English in the film, and there are no subtitles intentionally to reinforce the boundaries in communication and tolerance that the story showcases. Despite this, you feel so connected and heartbroken for the journey Gregorio Cortez goes on, and the limits he is pushed to.
Kristine Kujath Thorp in Sick of Myself (2022)
The physical and psychological transformation in this film is hard, and what Kristine Kujath Thorp accomplishes in Sick of Myself is extremely impressive. She takes you along this insane, anxiety-inducing journey that’s so icky and gross, but you can’t look away as this woman loses herself in trying to seek attention and sympathy. Despite all the absurd decisions her character makes, her acting is grounded and naturalistic. You’re uncomfortable the whole time you watch this, and the character is extremely hard to root for, but that’s another example of an amazing performance, pushing you out of your comfort zone.
Nobuko Otowa in Onibaba (1964)
Nobuko Otowa’s facial expressions and the loneliness she conveys create such an eerie atmosphere that makes Onibaba such a timeless film. You feel bad for her character, even when she’s gone off the deep end. The repression, emotionally and sexually, she feels as an older woman trying to hold her and her daughter-in-laws’ lives together as she loses her own identity and value, is felt in every moment she has, even in a mask.
Wesley Snipes in White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
A comedic performance is entirely different from the previous mentions, but impressive nonetheless, and extremely underappreciated! Wesley Snipes’ performance is fantastic. Even though the best parts of the film lie in the chemistry between Snipes and Woody Harrelson, without Snipes’ effortless charm and quips, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun.
There’s also an added layer of drama and backstory that goes overlooked in his character, both as a hustler and a struggling father, underneath the humor and basketball. There is also a side that Snipes conveys where you believe in his belief in Billy, even if that in itself was a hustle. Multi-layered comedy is a very difficult thing to nail, and to do it as naturally as Wesley Snipes did in White Men Can’t Jump would be a performance any actor would be proud of.
Article Courtesy of Justin Duggan