Actors that can play both good guy/bad guy equally well? - Page 3

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Actors that can play both good guy/bad guy equally well? (Page 3 of 4)

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:10:04 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:16:45 AM EDT

[#2]

Mel Gibson was pretty good in The Continental.

Heath Ledger.

Powers Booth

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:28:37 AM EDT

[#3]

Nicolas Cage and John Travolta set the gold standard for this very scenario in their 1997 cinematic masterpiece Face/Off.

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:29:53 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Godzilla

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Mothra
King Kong
Mummy from some of the old movies

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:32:46 AM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
James Cagney
Edward G. Robinson
Humphrey Bogart

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That's the trifecta! Especially Bogart.

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:47:53 AM EDT

[#6]

John Travolta in Broken Arrow.

Charismatic bad guy, sometimes boiling just below the surface but still in control.

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:48:57 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
Brian Cox is one of those actors that's been in more movies than you can even name, but he never gets the recognition that he's due. He's another one that can just disappear into a role, even though as soon as you see his face, you know you've seen him in any number of other shows.

https://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/red29.jpg

https://wickedhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Red-Brian-Cox-as-Avery-Ludlow.jpg

https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/bourne/images/9/9c/Ward_Abbott.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110720144810

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Also he was the first on-screen Hannibal Lecter.

Posted: 12/18/2023 2:54:08 AM EDT

[#8]

Robert Shaw -

I hated him as an actor and everything about him because of his repeated portrayal of so many guys who were so evil. However, after that USS Indianapolis scene in Jaws, well I completely re-evaluated his acting. He was just really good at what he did.

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:21:14 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Denzel does both supremely well. Sometimes at the same time.

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Yep. Training Day made me a Denzel fan.

Oldman is already mentioned. I'd add Daniel Day Lewis and Ralph Fiennes.

One who is an up and comer in my book is Michael Fasbender.

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:23:15 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Max von Sydow

His Joubert was masterful.

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Yes, it was.

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:26:26 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Alan Rickman

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Another nod for the late-Alan Rickman.

Posted: 12/18/2023 9:02:18 AM EDT

[#12]

Gary Oldman
Robert Downey Jr

Posted: 12/18/2023 9:29:35 AM EDT

[#13]

Apparently it’s EVERYONE!!!! Op.

But the one I didn’t see mentioned: DiCaprio.

Posted: 12/18/2023 9:57:56 AM EDT

[#14]

Christian Bale

John Travolta

Posted: 12/18/2023 9:59:26 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Gary Oldman

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This.

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:04:56 AM EDT

[#16]

Morgan Freeman

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:12:20 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Lance Henriksen is an underrated OG

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"If you would die quieter and pick up the pace, Boudreaux would have less time for these little surprises." - Lance Henricksen

"Doesn't surprise me. A2 models always were a bit twitchy." - Also Lance Henricksen

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:13:48 AM EDT

[#18]

Denzel Washington

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:20:45 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Ben Foster

Anthony Hopkins

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Came here with Anthony Hopkins.

"Silence of the Lambs"

"Worlds Fastest Indian"

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:26:56 AM EDT

[#20]

Javier Bardem

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:28:49 AM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Denzel does both supremely well. Sometimes at the same time.

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Yup - Most think of Training Day, but there is also:

Flight

American Gangster

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:36:58 AM EDT

[#22]

John Lithgow comes to mind, he can be real funny and then a demon in the next film

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:40:52 AM EDT

[#23]

David Morse

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:53:03 AM EDT

[#24]

Idris Elba

Posted: 12/18/2023 10:56:08 AM EDT

[#25]

I 100% agree with Gary Oldman. First that came to mind. I also think James McAvoy is one of the best there is in the game currently. The depth and range he brings is impressive

Posted: 12/18/2023 12:26:38 PM EDT

[#26]

Powers Boothe did a good job on both sides.
Robert Mitchum did too.

Posted: 12/18/2023 12:28:51 PM EDT

[#27]

Mark Strong

Posted: 12/18/2023 1:02:36 PM EDT

[#28]

John Travolta
William Fichtner
Robert DeNiro

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:13:02 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:
Javier Bardem

https://64.media.tumblr.com/af2d341579ada02fe52de5f5af46ed59/tumblr_n9v7ck8JxF1rey868o1_500.gif

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He's among my first thoughts for villain, but I couldn't remember ever seeing him play a good guy. Outside of No Country I could remember The Counselor (drug dealer), Skyfall (villain), one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (evil undead pirate), Collateral (drug dealer). I think he's made some romantic comedies, but I don't recall ever seeing any of them.

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:13:41 PM EDT

[#30]

Robin Williams

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:15:38 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Gary Oldman

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Was just going to post this, he can play the kindest Mr. Rogers type man on earth and then play an absolutely insidious villian. Really amazing actor, and not someone I'd ever want to have to do business with since it would be impossible to read him. Bet he's a Hell of a poker player.

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:17:42 PM EDT

[#32]

The Patriot (2000) Official Trailer 1 - Heath Ledger Movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_C_dPHEWN0

Batman interrogates the Joker | The Dark Knight [4k, HDR]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jane6C4rIwc

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:28:54 PM EDT

[#33]

Andy Griffith

Posted: 12/18/2023 3:30:53 PM EDT

[#34]

I don't think all the actors posted so far are at the same skill level. While technically meeting the requirements of playing good guy/bad guy equally, it doesn't mean they are really the best at it. Some of the characters they portray strike you as the same person with a different name and circumstances, while others really make you believe it is a different person.

Posted: 12/18/2023 4:17:12 PM EDT

[#35]

This guy plays both a good guy and bad guy equally well...

Posted: 12/18/2023 7:26:30 PM EDT

[#36]

Paul Newman
Robert Michum

Posted: 12/18/2023 7:54:18 PM EDT

[#37]

Leonardo DiCaprio comes to mind.

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:00:49 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
Andy Griffith

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Truth. Guy was good.

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:14:19 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Was watching Casino Royale the other day and forgot how well Mads Mikkelsen can play both good and bad. Such a versatile actor.

But then he's able to play the good guy so well in movies like The Salvation (very underrated), Polar, and others.

Easily plays the underdog with nothing that you want to cheer for or the most powerful villain.

Same with Gary Oldman.

Just a chameleon of an actor that constantly steals the show even if he's playing a minor part, good or bad guy, doesn't matter.

Any actors you enjoy equally whether they play a good or bad guy?

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First two guys I thought of.

Op if you haven’t yet watch riders of justice Mads is amazing in it, very dark comedy, very

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:19:01 PM EDT

[#40]

Johnny Sins

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:32:32 PM EDT

[#41]

mel gibson

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:37:07 PM EDT

[#42]

Henry Fonda

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:41:54 PM EDT

[#43]

Nicholas Cage and John travolta

Posted: 12/18/2023 8:53:05 PM EDT

[#44]

Willem Dafoe

Spider-Man - Green Goblin Attacks Aunt May (Scene)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnGtLQnmm3I

Willem Dafoe had entirely too much fun on the set of The Boondock Saints

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbuUfYVdbmQ

I mean, holy shit
Super villain vs epic cop
Same energy

Posted: 12/18/2023 9:00:47 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
James Cagney
Edward G. Robinson
Humphrey Bogart

Yeah I like old movies.

View Quote

I liked them all, but Cagney was a master of his craft. Villain (both likable and detestable), hero, coward, romantic lead, song and dance man.

Bogie and Robinson also had great range as actors. There's a reason why there was a Golden Age of Hollywood.