Identify three actors from film and their style of acting in this film

Week 4 discussion 1

In your initial post of at least 200 words, and using specific examples from your chosen film,

• Identify three actors from your film and their style of acting in this film.
• Compare their performance in this film in relation to other performances.
• Analyze how the actors’ choices impact the development of each character.
• Describe how costuming and makeup contribute to the actor’s performance. Is it realistic, stylized, or fantastical?
• Focus on one of the actors you have discussed. Based on other films the actor has been in, would you consider this actor typecast or broad-ranging in his/her performances? If so, what does this say about the genre of film or the actor? If not, what can you infer about the flexibility of these categories? Provide evidence (references from other films, including film clips and stills) to support your argument.

Clint Eastwood’s acting style falls within a personality actor. Clint Eastwood constantly shows the same mannerisms as the characters he portrays as a strong and silent lone wolf type person who displays little or no social skills having encountered some injustice in his past. Just as he played the old gunman from Unforgiven he also has played many other lone gunman type characters in his past movies such as The good the bad and the ugly. Dressing in the time eras clothing, his characters show a simple, rugged gunslinger with no signs of estate other than what is on his person. These qualities are so central and natural in his character representations that they must stem from his true personality.

I feel that Morgan Freeman is best classified as a personality actor. He is best known for playing co-star roles. I used to believe that an actor who consistently played co-star roles was one that lacked true talent and would never become a master of their craft. Freeman dispelled that belief for me. He has always infused his co-starring roles with a degree of passion that is usually associated with headlining actors. He has a unique view on preparing for upcoming movie roles. During an interview Freeman was asked if he did anything special to prepare for an upcoming movie role, he responded, “But seriously, I don’t think there is any need for that. When I played a prisoner [in “Shawshank Redemption”], some of the actors went to go spend the night in jail. Really? To learn what?” (as cited in Newgen, 2013). He believes in learning your lines and letting the rest of the performance come naturally. This statement lets us know that what we see on-screen, or stage, from Morgan Freeman is coming from his personality.

Actor Gene Hackman is a classic character actor. This style of acting can be defined as those “…who specialize in playing a wide variety of characters, most often supporting or minor roles rather than leading roles” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, pg 102). Hackman has played a multitude of characters. Each of his performances have exuded excellence and passion. He has honed his craft to such a point that he can have the audience rooting for him as an underdog basketball coach or demanding his head as a crooked sheriff. No matter the role he makes us believe in his character. Gene Hackman isn’t an actor that can be typecast, this can be attributed to his preparation and love for acting.