Was James Dean a great actor?

[rusnak]

I recently saw "Giant" for the first time, and I really liked it. I would have liked to see more of his films. I don't know how anyone can say whether he was a good actor or not based on so few performances, one of which was really great.

If typecasting is for bad actors, then guys like Clooney, Deniro, Duvall, and Gene Hackman are all bad actors. Which I would disagree with. I don't personally think "range" or the ability to play a lot of different characters is what makes acting great. One of the best actors of our times, Jack Nicolson, has limited "range". And there are actors who I really like in a particular genre. Clint Eastwood in Westerns, and Lee Marvin in war movies, for example.

[exc911ence]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Google Mark Waldman and you'll find out that he is/was a racist. He beat an Asian guy in his "hood" so badly, the guy lost an eye. Happenednduring his "Markie Mark" days.

Not knowing who Mark Waldman was, I googled him as directed... I still don't know who he is.

Are you thinking of Mark Wahlberg perhaps?

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by rusnak

If typecasting is for bad actors, then guys like Clooney, Deniro, Duvall, and Gene Hackman are all bad actors. Which I would disagree with. I don't personally think "range" or the ability to play a lot of different characters is what makes acting great.

No, Clooney has played comedy -- notably in O Brother Where Art Thou. He can be hammy, but I think his range is great. DeNiro has become something of a self-parody, unfortunately. Seems to be following the paychecks.

I think when you refer to typecasting or Nicholson/Marvin, you're talking about "movie stars" who bend their characters to their personalities, rather than vice versa. I don't think that's considered good acting... though it certainly rings the register at the box office.

Dean played variations of the disaffected adolescent in all three of his major films. Whether he could play a non-tormented part is up for debate. Certain "types" like Dean and Clift were just tossed into role after role playing variations on the same character. That's the way Hollywood works. Predictability sells tickets more often than surprises do.

[techweenie]

The car before the 550...

[rusnak]

That's an interesting point about bending the character to their personality. And you're right, that's not "acting" if you believe that playing various characters is virtuous.

What I was saying is that "range" is over rated. Typecasting is fine. Otherwise, Hugh Jackman is the best actor of all time. Johnny Depp, DiCaprio, and Heath Ledger would be among the all time greats due to range.

[Joe Bob]

Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg.....

Dean might have been famous...rumor he was as gay as Rock Hudson.....not that there was anything wrong with that.

I hear Vinnie Babarino has been seen in the bathhouses.....