Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 30-June-02
 

Actors I'd Like to See More Of

This week I consider several actors that I've been missing or would like to see more of on the big screen.

Broken Breakthrough A

Jon Bon Jovi -- Rappers, models, and rock stars all want to act, but I haven't seen many who can actually do it as well as Jon Bon Jovi. Although he debuted in "Moonlight and Valentino" (1995), he was only required to show up and be sexy, so it wasn't much of a challenge. A year later, however, he should have hit the big time in "The Leading Man," where he was not only wonderfully sexy, but also convincingly manipulative and sinister in the title role. Unfortunately, not many people saw this movie or his next, Ed Burns' "No Looking Back" (1998), where he further proved his acting ability by abandoning the suave hunk role for that of a working-class Joe. I hope his stint on "Ally McBeal" this year doesn't mean that Bon Jovi has given up on the big screen. This guy is the real deal.

Broken Breakthrough B

Melanie Lynskey -- Who? I know, you have no idea who she is. But you should! In 1994's fabulous nightmare "Heavenly Creatures," Lynskey (with pal Kate Winslet) was the most delicious little matricidal freak you'd ever want to see, absolutely riveting in her teenage insecurity and delusion. But, for some reason, while this film put Winslet on the fast track to stardom, Lynskey's career never left the ground. I've seen her once since in "Ever After" (1998), in which she again played second fiddle to a prettier blonde but nevertheless stole the show with a marvelous scene of verbal horseplay exchanged with her paramour at the buffet table.

Little Girl Lost

Phoebe Cates -- Sure, Phoebe Cates came to fame by bearing her (not very impressive) breasts in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) and hasn't added any Oscars or box office hits to her résumé since. Still, I defy any naysayer who says she doesn't have a great performance in her. Cates has a natural simplicity which makes her completely believable and watchable, whether she's playing a poor dreamer searching for a fairy tale, as in the underappreciated "Princess Caraboo" (1994), or a wealthy but harried housewife, as in last year's "The Anniversary Party." I know that she has mostly left acting to raise a family, but, hey, kids grow up, boarding school calls, and Cates will be cute well into her 60s.

Little Boy Lost

Eamon Owens ­ Of all the people in this Spotlight, Eamon Owens is the one whose absence from the movies truly breaks my heart. After his phenomenal debut in the title role of Neil Jordan's "The Butcher Boy" (1998), I predicted that he would have Hollywood, and movie-goers the world over, in the palm of his hands. At 14, the big Irish redhead had the physical presence of a young Marlon Brando and a wealth of natural energy that appeared ready to manifest itself as irresistible impishness, frightening rebelliousness, or bad-boy sexuality for any director willing to take on that much charisma. Where, oh, where is he? A brief cameo in "The General" (1998) is all I've seen in 6 years (and even that knocked my socks off!). (Note: IMDb shows that he also appeared in "Angela's Ashes" (1999).)

Stuck in TV-Land

Tim Daly -- I'm sure the idea of a big movie breakthrough for Tim Daly is a pipe dream; he's been securely pigeonholed as a TV star ever since the sitcom "Wings." Still, I have always viewed him as an underused talent. He's got the looks of a matinee idol and the intensity of a really fine character actor. I remember watching a rare serious episode of "Wings" in which he became violently upset --- I was an unwavering fan ever after. This same depth was on display in "Diner" (1982), Daly's one great film role which proves his talent is big enough for the movies. But maybe this one role is the problem; I think there is a curse around "Diner." Of all the promising actors in that film (Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern), none seems to have lived up to his or her potential.

Copyright © 2002 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.