Some REQUIRED Praise

Came here to read about the legendary, skilled, versatile and chameleonic actor that is Paul Giamatti, but found a load of weird posts about how he is over-rated!

WHAT?

Paul, have a post with some praise in it. I'm sure you're rich and don't give a *beep*, but as someone who clearly loves acting and takes it so seriously, the money is a side effect of just being awesome and real value comes from people recognising genius.

So..

I actually think Giamatti might be severely UNDER-rated if anything because he hasn't had the blockbuster exposure he deserves. He is often in quirky smaller productions, giving it is all and adding SO much depth. Without him in Sideways, I wouldn't care one bit about this film, but he makes it.

I keep a little tally of good actors in my mind when I see films, but every time I see this guy he moves up another notch - he's now at the top, and is now EASILY my favourite actor of all.

To be a good actor, in my opinion, you have to be versatile. Actors like Johnny Depp, where you can't even tell its him from one role to the next, THAT is acting and that is versatility. Compare him in Fear & Loathing, Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Carribean, Donnie Brasco, Blow.. apart from his looks, the effort that goes into his voice, mannerisms, body language to create a role, clearly he puts a lot of effort into this. Is't it annoying when you see an actor in a film and know hes going to be the same guy, reading his lines, as every other position he has ever filled. Hugh Grant, for example. When Johnny Depp says he is basing a character on somebody (Keith Richards, for example) you can tell.. you can see him absorb that and put it on screen.

I find it kinda weird that Depp is such an oddball when it comes to interviews. He's almost shy? Like he doesn't have anything to say. He's kinda boring.. really weird considering the range of his characters!

ANyway, back to Paul Giamatti. Now, although maybe he hasn't had the exposure of blockbusting films, he is also totally chameleonic in his roles.

I had to wait for the credits of The Amazing Spiderman 2 - (Okay, whatever you think of the film is irrelevant, Giamatti's acting job once again is the point here) I couldn't even tell it was him. He played a lunatic Russian mobster! It was deliberately corny and over the top, but the fact he could even do that is really impressive to me.

Sideways - This is an iconic roleYou FEEL for the guy, he brings you into his world of upset and depression. All he does is open a bottle of wine and drink it with some fast food at the end and I know exactly what he was feeling.

John Dies At The End (Another lesser known but great quirky film) he plays a reporter, but wow does he seem ENGAGED. When the story he is reporting on starts to get good, you feel his interest which piques yours.

Straight Outta Compton. As a record producer, he NAILS that role, its amazing. Especially his breakdown at the end when Eric leaves.


I could go on and on..