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Liam Neeson And The Power Of Playing Against Type

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I always liked Liam Neeson. He was in some movies that I really enjoyed (Schindler’s List, Michael Collins, Darkman) And whilst I’d never really look out for him in movies, his inclusion in the cast would give me pause and possibly prompt me to check out the movie at some stage. So how in the world has he become my New Acting God? How is it that his involvement in any movie, no matter the quality (I’m looking at you, Wrath of the Titans), is now usually enough for me to want to see it. The answer to these questions lies with his casting in Taken.

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liam neeson god .

I only saw Taken because of the novelty factor in seeing Liam Neeson become an action hero. I honestly hadn’t considered that not only could he pull it off, but just how awesome he would be as the forgettably named Bryan Mills (he seriously needs a better name than that, maybe Jack Challenger or John Fisticuffs). As I watched what is essentially a B-grade action movie (lets not pretend the plot, dialogue and even some of the acting is completely up to scratch) I couldn’t help but get a raging action boner every time Neeson came out with a quotable line or shot/stabbed/beat the tar out of everyone he met.

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Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson uses eeny, meeny, miny, mo to pick his next target.

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It’s because I’d never expected to see him in that role. Bryan Mills is a character for Steven Seagal, Van Damme or even Jason Statham. An unstoppable force of nature who bulls his way through a movie leaving logic, and a trail of bodies, behind him. But the weird thing is, if any of them had been in it, I’d probably never have watched it. Or more honestly (because I do like the odd spot of action movie guff) would possibly have watched it late one night if nothing else was on.

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jcvd

Perhaps Van Damme will cry about not being cast in Taken when he makes JCVD 2

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Since then he’s excelled in more action orientated roles (such as Hannibal Smith in the dubious A-Team remake, played a similar role in Unknown and even convinced us that he could take on Wolves, and God himself, in The Grey (Which is definitely one of the top films of 2012). Even better, he’s linked to the role of Blake Morrow in the big screen adaptation of Mark Millar’s Nemesis, which would be awesome.

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Nemesis: michael fassbender

Especially if the rumours are true and Michael Fassbender will be the masked super-villain facing off against Liam Neeson’s Morrow

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The simple act of taking a role in a movie that you’d not expect to see him in has propelled Neeson’s fame through the roof… which is a little weird considering he’s a genuinely great actor who has played some very powerful roles in the past.

Neeson’s not the only actor who has benefited from playing against type. Here’s a few other actors who have benefited from playing roles you’d never have expected to see them in:

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Ben Kingsley SEXY BEAST/Don Logan

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ben kingsley: sexy beast

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Ben Kingsley has played a lot of great roles throughout his career. He was in Schindler’s List, played the world’s least violent man, Gandhi and always adds a touch of gravitas to every role he plays. Which was why it was such a shock when he turned up in Sexy Beast as a psychopath with a penchant for saying the C-Word. Shockingly he not only pulled off the role but somehow convinced us that he was a complete badass you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. What would Gandhi say?

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Channing Tatum: 21 JUMP STREET/ Jenko-Doug McQuad

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channing tatum-21 jump street

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I didn’t have a lot of time for Channing Tatum. The first I even knew about him was when he appeared in Step Up so he got off to a bad start. He then appeared in a good amount of crap (G.I. Joe, The Eagle) and I thought that the brief silver of acting ability that I’d noticed during his role as a soldier returning from Iraq in Stop Loss was a fluke. Then 21 Jump Street happened. He not only had great chemistry with Jonah Hill but had also displayed such great comic timing (and a willingness to poke fun at his hard man image) that he ended up stealing the show from some pretty serious comedic competition.

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Uma Thurman: KILL BILL/The Bride

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kill bill- uma thurman

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Uma Thurman was a good actress who had shown her acting/comedy chop in films such as The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Gattaca. When it came to action movies she didn’t have the greatest track record (Ahem, Batman and Robin and The Avengers spring to mind…..and then are immediately forgotten about as your brain tries to whitewash them from your memory). Who’d have thought that she could pull off an ass wielding/ass kicking heroine role so easily…and somehow still look great while doing it.

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Sigourney Weaver ALIEN/Ellen Ripley

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Ellen Ripley- Alien-1978

 

Now this one might not count as an actor playing against type so much as a shake-up of an entire genre. When the Xenomorph appears on the ship there is only 1 person you think will be stopping it. Captain Dallas. And I know this is very sexiest but imagine seeing the movie when it was released. Cinema was full of male heroes who got shit done and Dallas looks like the man who gets shit done.

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alien- dallas

I have an awesome beard, there’s literally nothing I can’t do.

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He is calm, he has a plan and is willing to go after the Alien himself to protect his crew. He’s the hero of the story. Until he is killed by the Alien that is (well technically he’s impregnated by another face hugger but that’s not seen in the theatrical version). After this it’s Ellen Ripley’s turn to take charge, which she does admirably. Not just coming up with a plan to save the remaining crew (it’s not her fault Lambert freezes when the Xenomorph appears…though I’ve never figured out why the Alien takes her shoes) but eventually killing the Xenomorph…and even having time to save Jones the Cat.

That’s my list of actors who’ve benefited from a spot of playing against type. Any others that you can think off who have played against type to great success, let us know in the comments section.


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