When Actors Play Out-of-Type Roles (history, Armand Assante, James Dean, Stephen Dorff)

[Think (Freedom)]

How about James Franco as the stoner in Pineapple Express? He was brilliant. But isn't he usually more serious and intense?

Yes!! I was going to say him. I thought he was brilliant too. Genuinely funny. And yes, he usually does do the more serious roles, but I thought he was amazing in Pineapple.

I cant really think of anything else at the moment.

[kacvb1974]

Some playing against type roles that come to mind--

Adam Sandler in Punch Drunk Love
Charlize Theron in Monster
Meg Ryan in In The Cut (oh boy)
Steve Martin in The Spanish Prisoner
Macaulay Culkin in Party Monster
Kevin Costner in Mr. Brooks

I remember seeing Jim Carrey play a raging alcoholic in some early 90s TV movie and being really blown away by him...and then he didn't turn up in anything serious for years. (If "Cable Guy" was really serious.) But they say comedy is harder to successfully pull off than dramatic roles so when Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, etc., show up in a psycho role or something super heavy, it doesn't surprise me too much that they have a range beyond 'goofball'. It's a happier discovery when an actor known for dark, dramatic roles is given the chance to let loose and bring on the giggles.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Tricky D

Jerry Lewis in The King of Comedy (1982) .

Excellent choice! I had forgotten about that one.

[Padgett2]

Jerry Lewis reminds me of his sidekick...Dean Martin. Martin did a number of different roles from cowboy to suave man-about-town. Maybe he didn't have the starring role, but as a great supporting actor, he could do a lot of different characters besides the comedian.

[GigiBowman]

Tom Cruise in his latest movie Tropic Thunder. LOVED HIM IN IT!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yup8YUAKiBA

[christina0001]

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

Robert DeNiro as the gay pirate in Stardust. You could tell how much fun he was having. Kind of a break from his usual urban tough guy mode.

ditto!!!

How about Charlize Theron in Monster?

[DanWolf]

Originally Posted by jrmontag

Ummm, Robin Williams anyone??

Yes, he was fantastic in One Hour Photo.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by DanWolf

Yes, he was fantastic in One Hour Photo.

And Insomnia

and yes, Walken is a song and dance man ... youtube Weapon of Choice if you want to see the brother's moves.

Heck, Bill Murray in Lost in Translation ...

[punkrocker27ka]

Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast w/ River Phoenix & Helen Mirren, Directed by Peter Weir.

Jim Carrey in The Truman show; also directed by Peter Weir
Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind. Written by Charlie Kaufman, Directed by Michel Gondry.

Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation.

[ExPit]

there are some actors that can do anything, they're real actors, and alotta them have already been mentioned, deniro, streep, robin williams and yes Jim carey. But then there are guys like the OP mentioned...Tom hanks who is an interesting choice 'cause like someone like travolta or jimmy stewart because they seem like such nice guys are best when they play a villain or a bad guy.