DarkMatter
Veteran
BTW whare did the notion of Tom Hanks being gay pop up? I think he's married to a woman. Well so is Heath Leger huh!... I'm so confused?
Tom Hanks...great?
- Thread starter Jared Caldwell
- Start date
Rick Meyer
Veteran
Magnetbones3 said:
Sliced bread can act? who knew?
MOVIE STUNTS said:
Look, this topic has come up before....and it really is up for opinion...however, in my opinion, you really need to consider something about acting....
I like to break down actors into TWO main groups. Actors with whom I recognize and identify with and there are Shape-shifters.
Actors are just people, like you and me, drawing from their own experiences and imagination...using it to place themselves into the exact point in time and situation their character is in, as determined by the script. If the script says, that Joe Blow is in the hospital waiting room and just found out his wife died from giving birth...and the actor playing this part has never experienced that kind of pain, he can still pull it off by using a lot of research (sense memory, etc.). But, 9 times out of 10, that actor is going to be that actor in that place and time. You will always recognize Tom Hanks playing that role. Or Michael J Fox in that role. Or even, Robert Deniro playing that role. A great actor reveals themselves within that place and time. They force themselves to strip away their insecurities and fears to cry for us. To be afraid for us. To be funny for us. And most of all, be REAL for us. It doesn't matter that you can recognize Tom Hanks in each role. Because he IS Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks and his talent have proven time and time again that he is VERY capable of revealing himself to us (take a look at his monologue onstage in PUNCHLINE. IMO, one of his best all time cinematic/acting moments.)
ALL highly revered actors have with them talent AND an intangible quality they were born with. This intangible quality is part of their personality and makes them familiar to us. This quality is what sets the actors 'type'. The 'type' the actor is, determines the types of roles he or she receives (hence the term typecasting.) It makes perfect sense. If you were to be responsible for casting an actor for a DRACULA remake, directed by Tim Burton, would you EVER choose Tom Hanks in the role? No WAY. Because you are familiar with him and his 'type' which has been displayed to you throughout the body of his work. Because you can recognize Tom Hanks 'type' because of his body of work, does that make him less of an actor? No Way. It just makes him familiar to you. Your familiarity with him makes you feel as if you know what kinds of roles he should be playing and in which environment you might accept him in. Could he play Dracula? No doubt he could convincingly speak the lines but it would be all off. Like using OJ instead of milk for your morning cereal. Its a fine liquid, but it just doesn’t go with Wheaties.
Now when you compare brilliant actors like Tom Hanks or Robert Deniro, most can agree that they are at the absolute TOP of their game. Yet, how do you explain why some like Hanks better and others like Deniro better? Both of them are incredibly gifted at revealing themselves to us, yet some of us give the slight edge in preference to one of the other because of who the actors are. The essence of Tom Hanks, and the roles he’s been able to play might lead you to really connect with him more, or prefer him. To others, its Deniros intensity (a natural acting color he has) that really attracts them to his performances. Me personally, I couldn’t choose who I like better at gunpoint. So, it boils down to personal preference or whether or not you like chocolate ice cream or vanilla. It’s up to you.
Having said all that, I want to say one more thing about the two major kinds of actors out there. Those who bring with them their 'types' and reveal themselves to us from role to role AND there are Shape-shifters. The Shape-shifters are special. They are the kinds of actors who can completely, 100%, disappear within a role leaving virtually NO trace of themselves whatsoever. They are very rare and their are only a few of them out of thousands of actors. But, does it make them better or more gifted actors? In my opinion, no way. It just means their intangible qualities of who they are, that the essence of who they are that they were born with, allows them to take on roles that are very distorted from their own personalities. Off the bat a couple names come to mind, Gary Oldman and Daniel Day Lewis. In my opinion, Dustin Hoffman wants to be this type of actor, a Shape-shifter, but I never see him lose Dustin Hoffman 100% into the character. Plus, personally, I really like Dustin Hoffman, as Dustin Hoffman (aka. Kramer vs. Kramer or as Michael Dorsey in TOOTSIE) because of the intangible of who he is and his ability to show me.
All of these opinions are of course, only my opinion. But its how I've come to understand actors who familiar to me within each role they play vs the Shape-shifters.
Rick
Matthew B. Moore
Well-known member
Tom Hanks has had his moments. I don't care for some of the parts he takes, or the ones that would be "just perfect" for him. I only like him when he is outside of the normal Hollywood "Blah". He was good in "The Ladykillers". He was good in "Road to Perdition.
A lot of the time he is already slapped in to a "Tom Hanks" part. The stuff that makes old ladies say "Aw, he's such a sweet man".
It has slowed him down as an actor. It has made watching him on the screen predictable. I find him boring most of the time.
A lot of the time he is already slapped in to a "Tom Hanks" part. The stuff that makes old ladies say "Aw, he's such a sweet man".
It has slowed him down as an actor. It has made watching him on the screen predictable. I find him boring most of the time.
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
Tom Hanks included Elephant in his top five favorite movies, so he's okay in my book.
Jared Caldwell
Active member
I think the reason why Tom Hanks is such a great actor is because he is honest.
Throughout childhood, it was easy to entertain us. Everything seemed almost magical to us (at least for me). When you are so little, the world seems to be limitless, and if you could imagine it, it was probably out there.
For those of us that have reached adulthood (I have just been newly introduced), the world looses that magical "anything can happen" feeling that we had when we were kids. How many of you have gone back and watched old movies from your childhood and wondered how in the world you could have enjoyed those movies? For some of us, the old movies that were once good have now been altered (ahem, Lucas...I had to throw that one in there just for fun!
).
I have noticed that it is so much easier to pick apart movies now that I can look at them through critical eyes. Sadly, this drastically reduces the amount of movies that I still hold in high esteem.
It is just so easy to look through an actor and see if he or she is believable or not. When I look at Tom Hanks, I don't see any BS. I see a real person on screen, and I think that honesty and the ability to suspend my "childhood wonder" makes him great. He is definitely one of my favs.
Throughout childhood, it was easy to entertain us. Everything seemed almost magical to us (at least for me). When you are so little, the world seems to be limitless, and if you could imagine it, it was probably out there.
For those of us that have reached adulthood (I have just been newly introduced), the world looses that magical "anything can happen" feeling that we had when we were kids. How many of you have gone back and watched old movies from your childhood and wondered how in the world you could have enjoyed those movies? For some of us, the old movies that were once good have now been altered (ahem, Lucas...I had to throw that one in there just for fun!
).I have noticed that it is so much easier to pick apart movies now that I can look at them through critical eyes. Sadly, this drastically reduces the amount of movies that I still hold in high esteem.
It is just so easy to look through an actor and see if he or she is believable or not. When I look at Tom Hanks, I don't see any BS. I see a real person on screen, and I think that honesty and the ability to suspend my "childhood wonder" makes him great. He is definitely one of my favs.
DarkMatter
Veteran
rim7189, I thought you brought up alot of good points in your analysis, I think in order to be a good actor you have to be able to convince the audience that you are feeling something you are really not, I guess that's why they call it acting. I don't dissagree with you that that Tom Hanks is able to do this, I think the reason why people are so enamoured -sp- by him is because he's a crowd favorite, He plays likable characters, and he's a likable guy, I'm sorry but I'm still not convinced he's a great actor.
As for these shape shifters you speak of, Who truly are great actors who can play a different person all together convincingly with each movie.... Well I just don't believe there's anything supernatural about them, other than that they are completly dedicated to the perfection of their craft, have taken roles that are less than desirable, and shined brilliantly through them; It's called hard work and dedication. I don't believe you are born with it, you develop it.
It's sad though that the general consensus seems to be that, Unless you are always the star of all your movies you are not a great actor....
As for these shape shifters you speak of, Who truly are great actors who can play a different person all together convincingly with each movie.... Well I just don't believe there's anything supernatural about them, other than that they are completly dedicated to the perfection of their craft, have taken roles that are less than desirable, and shined brilliantly through them; It's called hard work and dedication. I don't believe you are born with it, you develop it.
It's sad though that the general consensus seems to be that, Unless you are always the star of all your movies you are not a great actor....
Ed Wood Jr.
New member
Hanks has been in a bad film. It's called Punchline.
For a movie about stand up comics, it is very un-funny and hackish.
He was also in The Man With One Red Shoe which was pure genious.
For the most part his films are good, but that does not put him in the same league as Jimmy Stewart.
For a movie about stand up comics, it is very un-funny and hackish.
He was also in The Man With One Red Shoe which was pure genious.
For the most part his films are good, but that does not put him in the same league as Jimmy Stewart.
rogar-BigGrin(DBG) gay schmay who cares
DarkMatter
Veteran
I agree Bob Ross great actor and a colorful linguist. lol.
Rick Meyer
Veteran
MOVIE STUNTS said:
Well, I would agree with you, about the complete dedication and craft perfection part, but that doesnt explain the actors that shine brilliantly through every role despite their recognizable personae. They too have had to take less than desirable roles, worked hard, and most do a ton of soul searching and research to convincingly play a role. But they are chosen for the role partly because of their talent and partly because of what they were born with that resides in their personality.
I believe that artists are born. They have a natural propensity to paint, sing, write or act, however without the hardwork and dedication that is needed to develop their skills to the fullest potential, they will only get so far. I am not saying that actors who are 'shapeshifters' are born brilliant. But I am saying they are born with a type of personality and acting gift then lends themselves to disappear into roles. Take my previous examples, Daniel Day Lewis and Gary Oldman...I couldn't tell you what they would be like on a Sunday morning at home. I have NO idea what their personalities are truly like. Thats their aura. They bring that to each role to become versatile. I am not saying they came out of the womb with these talents, but they came out of the womb as who they are. They took that, worked hard and became brilliantly versatile.
I guess the main point that I am trying to make is that I find it difficult to argue the point that an actor isn't good simply because you can recognize them in every role. Acting, in this day and age, is typecasting. Honestly list some of your absolute favorite actors and tell me that they aren't just a slight variation of their own personae in each and every role?
Ed Wood Jr. said:
I know very few people who liked that movie. All in all, I was not a huge fan of it. But, I stand behind my previous opinion....that Tom Hanks gives a brilliant monologue in this movie. Its almost worth the price of admission.
Rick
DarkMatter
Veteran
I think we are getting into semantics-sp- but I think we agree on similar points. I don't want to beat a dead dog. Thanks for the lively discussion.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Tom Hanks is an actor that you just never saw coming
This guy was doing Bosom Buddies in the 80's and a really really really bad made for t.v. film called Mazes and Monsters (Based on obsessive D and D playing)
And then there was
Splash
Bachelor Party (Epic)
and then there was Big. The dude is a talent. Particular film's like Cast Away, Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, The Green Mile and The Terminal are standout's.
Saying he is a hack or coasting is absurd.
This guy was doing Bosom Buddies in the 80's and a really really really bad made for t.v. film called Mazes and Monsters (Based on obsessive D and D playing)
And then there was
Splash
Bachelor Party (Epic)
and then there was Big. The dude is a talent. Particular film's like Cast Away, Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, The Green Mile and The Terminal are standout's.
Saying he is a hack or coasting is absurd.
Jared Caldwell
Active member
Ed Wood Jr. said:
Wow, an answer to my question! Lol, I have really enjoyed the discussion, though. I will try to see if these movies are as terrible as you think. Thanks!
Ed Wood Jr.
New member
I didn't call Tom Hanks a hack, the jokes were hackish.
That means they were obvious and not very creative.
Sally Field was also in the movie and her jokes were worse. She played a house wife married to John Goodman and also Tom Hank's love interest. That's a script too wacky to believe, I find it hard to believe that a studio made it.
This does not mean that every comedy has to have great jokes, but when it's a movie about stand up comics, they should have done more homework and Hanks should have known better when he read the script.
In my opinion the high point of the movie is when Hanks does a singing in the rain imitation, but one good part in a bad movie does not make it even mediocre.
There are lots of good actors in bad movies, look at Saturn 3. On the other hand, don't bother.
That means they were obvious and not very creative.
Sally Field was also in the movie and her jokes were worse. She played a house wife married to John Goodman and also Tom Hank's love interest. That's a script too wacky to believe, I find it hard to believe that a studio made it.
This does not mean that every comedy has to have great jokes, but when it's a movie about stand up comics, they should have done more homework and Hanks should have known better when he read the script.
In my opinion the high point of the movie is when Hanks does a singing in the rain imitation, but one good part in a bad movie does not make it even mediocre.
There are lots of good actors in bad movies, look at Saturn 3. On the other hand, don't bother.
Tom Hanks has only been bad twice in his acting career. The DaVinci Code and the reshoots of Castaway (when he's out in the rain at the end talking to Helen Hunt. Oh my god, I cannot believe he approved of that performance being put onscreen).
Other than that, he's been perfect.
Other than that, he's been perfect.
Californiakid
Member
While he is definitely good, I would say that he is a little bit overrated. He does have his faults. Nobody is perfect, especially a Hollywood actor.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
How's that kid ? What are his fault's ?