Superhero Cinema’s 20 Most Underrated Performances, Ranked

Superhero Cinema’s 20 Most Underrated Performances, Ranked


The superhero genre used to be tricky terrain for actors. The performances are always important, of course, regardless of genre, but then there are also the action scenes, the costumes, the makeup, the wardrobe, and the adherence to the source material, all of which get severely judged in superhero films, sometimes to a microscopic level. Additionally, the performance itself can be overshadowed by CGI or prosthetics. This all means that the actors have even less control over the entire thing than they would in other genres, and take upon themselves the risk of being hounded by an often rabid fan base.




Nonetheless, ever since superhero films truly asserted their dominance in this new century, actors have been flocking into this amazing world. As such, there have been many great performances in superhero movies that, for one reason or another, haven’t been given the credit they should have, or have been downright derided in certain cases, unfairly so. These are some of our favorites.


20 Brian Cox – X2: X-Men United (2003)

20th Century Fox

The second film in the original X-Men trilogy was unanimously praised, and for all the right reasons. But among all of those praises, Brian Cox‘s terrific villain was overshadowed a bit by all the other qualities of the film. His performance was by no means negatively received; just underappreciated, especially when rankings of best comic-book villains are materialized. William Stryker is menacing, vengeful, cold, calculating, and unemphatic, and the wonderful Brian Cox plays him perfectly.


Spectacular Villainous Performance

He brings a gritty, hardened, tough as nails edge to a man who has a horrifyingly committed mission to rid the world of mutants, as well as a sense of gravitas and commanding presence to every scene he’s in. And he’s the only non-mutant character in the entire franchise who almost brought down the titular team in a militarily strategic way and really made them scared for their existence, and that’s saying a lot! He’s one of the best villains in the franchise, and one of Brian Cox’s best performances. It deserved more praise. Stream on Disney+.


19 Ben Affleck – Daredevil (2003)

Ben Affleck in Daredevil
20th Century Fox

Ok, so this entry will probably be controversial because of all the hate that Ben Affleck got for the role. And that hate is really confusing. He by no means did a bad job as Matt Murdock. The film has other flaws, sure, but not the performances. All the actors, from Jennifer Garner as Elektra Natchios to Colin Farrell’s sardonic Bullseye, all did great. But many fans were hostile to Mr. Affleck as Daredevil and it’s unclear as to why. He did great in the role, exhibiting a sense of weariness and anguish that’s perfect for the character.


Affleck Deserves More Credit

He gives subtle edges of anger and vengefulness in appropriate moments, and his eyes throughout the film seem slightly dreary and haunted, giving a realistic touch to the character’s existence and everything he’s been through. This was due to his commitment, as he wore specific contacts throughout production that really obscured his vision, almost literally making him blind!

He may not be the best Daredevil (that title goes to Charlie Cox, without a doubt!) but he was pretty great in this solo film. And maybe fans and critics who initially derided him should watch it again and give his performance another look. Buy/Rent on Apple TV+.

18 Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis – Fantastic Four (2005)

Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Ioan Gruffudd in Fantastic Four (2005)
20th Century Fox


Here, we’re including the main “4” cast of 2005’s Fantastic Four in one entry. The first big-screen cinematic adaptation of Marvel’s first super-team received an unfair amount of criticism (there was a movie produced in the ’90s that didn’t get released). It has its flaws, but it also has plenty of merit. And one of the most underrated ones is the casting and collective performance of the four actors who make up the team. They all have great chemistry with each other and feel natural within their roles. You can tell they’re really a family and a team.

Perfectly Cast Characters with a Weak Script

Fantastic Four (2005)

Release Date
July 8, 2005

Ioan Gruffudd exudes the dorky nerd of a science professor while, at the same time, giving off a subtle sense of gravitas and leadership when he has to as the leader of the team. Michael Chiklis gives a great performance as Ben Grimm, both in his human form, and especially after he transforms, making sure to instill a sense of sadness and sympathy in his character’s situation while capturing his rugged edge perfectly. Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Chiklis also work great together and give off natural buddy vibes.


A pre-Captain America Chris Evans is pitch perfect as Johnny Storm, capturing the attitude, recklessness, and bad boy immaturity wonderfully. Jessica Alba makes a delightful, if slightly monotone, Sue Storm. But put all together, they honestly make a “fantastic” team, with natural and often hilarious chemistry, realistically symbiotic personalities, and great screen presence, that, again, make a rock star “collective” performance. Say what you want about the film, but the “4” family deserves to be more fondly remembered in their first outing. Stream on Disney+.

17 Liam Neeson – Darkman (1990)

Liam Neeson stars in Darkman
Universal Pictures


Sam Raimi and Liam Neeson were able to create some serious movie magic when they teamed up for the big screen extravaganza Darkman, an underappreciated and often overlooked gem of the ’90s that masterfully blends horror, humor, and action and sees Neeson trying his hand at the superhero genre. In the film, the gifted actor portrays Dr. Peyton Westlake, a renowned scientist who is brutally attacked and left for dead and sets out to get revenge on the crime boss responsible for the depraved act.

Neeson Shines Despite Heavy Prosthetics

darkman

Darkman

Release Date
August 24, 1990

Runtime
96


When Westlake attempts to undergo a treatment to cure him of his gruesome injuries, something goes awry and he instead develops super-human capabilities that pushes him to the brink of insanity. He adopts the secret identity known as Darkman, leaving death and destruction in his wake. Neeson is absolutely fantastic as the unhinged superhero, superbly capturing his inner turmoil and heartache while also depicting his fierce rage and thirst for revenge.

Raimi himself had even stated that he needed a lead star who could be “a monster with the soul of a man, and I needed an actor who could do that beneath a lot of makeup”; Neeson achieved this feat in spectacular fashion. Being able to express such a wide range of emotions behind a heavy disguise and prosthetics is commendable, and Neeson further proved his talents and range as a performer in the dark and haunting flick. Rent/Buy on Prime Video.

16 Jeff Bridges – Iron Man (2008)

Jeff Bridges in Iron Man
Paramount Pictures


Ok, so we all know the first Iron Man is the Robert Downey Jr. show. He carried the weight of not only the film, but the beginning of the MCU as we know it, on his shoulders, and boy, oh boy, did he rise to the occasion and then soared even higher! All the praise towards him was well deserved, but at the same time, all of his collaborators made the movie around him work as well, from director John Favreau, to the SFX team, to the rest of the cast, etc.

Bridges Knocks It Out of the Park

iron man

Iron Man

Release Date
April 30, 2008

Runtime
126


And one of the biggest “non-Robert” aspects of the film that should’ve shared the spotlight a bit more was Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane. His performance was well-received, no doubt, but again, overshadowed by Robert Downey Jr.’s overnight resurrection. Bridges is absolutely stellar as the villain! Yes, the role is a bit underwritten, but it’s a testament to Mr. Bridges’s immense talent that he makes the limited scenes he has truly pop out!

He brings a subtle sense of menace and villainy throughout, and cranks it up all the way after he’s “revealed” to be the actual villain. He clearly had fun with the role, and his screen presence is foreboding, dominating, and sometimes sinister. His villain definitely deserves to be more remembered, and Jeff Bridges should absolutely take on more villain roles. Stream on Disney+

Related: 10 Outstanding Supervillain Performances from Accomplished Actors

15 Edward Norton – The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk
Universal Pictures


The character of Bruce Banner has become universally associated, and loved, with Mark Ruffalo nowadays, due to his progression as the character in the MCU over the last decade. But his now iconic inhabitance overshadows the underrated performance of another actor who played the role prior… Edward Norton.

Norton Paves the Way for Ruffalo

In the MCU’s first Hulk film, Bruce Banner was going through an origin of sorts, starting out as the character at his most raw, dealing with the inner conflict and struggles of trying to control his rage and alter ego just a little while after the “accident”. And Edward Norton played that wonderfully, imbuing his performance with a constant anxiety and conflicted energy.


He added to the intensity of the whole film with his always on-the-run performance, and really made you feel the weight and gravity of his situation, his inner turmoil, and his constant battle with himself to contain the monster. In any moment of the film, you could feel his other side just teetering on the surface, with him barely able to contain it. Mark Ruffalo did a great job over his time as the character, no doubt…but there should really be more recognition, respect, and remembrance given to Mr. Norton’s brief but powerful time as the character. Stream on Disney+.

14 Ben Stiller – Mystery Men (1999)

Hank Azaria, Ben Stiller, & William H. Macy in Mystery Men
Universal Pictures


Few may remember the uproarious ’90s superhero comedy Mystery Men, but those who do know all-too-well that the zany farce was ahead of its time and truly deserves more love. Ben Stiller is joined by an eclectic cast including Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, and Janeane Garofalo, and the film tells the story of a group of misfit superheroes with unremarkable powers who must seize the day and save the citizens of Champion City from a criminal mastermind after its usual go-to hero is captured.

Stiller’s Superhero Is a Hot-Tempered Hoot

Mystery Men

Release Date
August 6, 1999

Director
Kinka Usher

Runtime
121 Minutes

In all honesty, any one of the hilarious lead characters could be included on this list, but Stiller knocks it out of the park as the rage-fueled superhero Roy/Mr. Furious, whose hot-temper and short fuse enhances his overall agility and strength. He superbly plays off the other cast members and it seems as though they all genuinely enjoyed working on the project and embracing their wild counterparts.


Anytime audiences get to see Stiller become delightfully unhinged is truly a treat, and he is one of the many reasons the comedy is so fun to watch. Mystery Men should have been a bigger hit and Stiller’s scene-stealing role definitely deserves some major props. It’s no wonder the dynamic actor and filmmaker (and his co-stars) are more than game for a sequel to the superhero parody! Rent/Buy on Apple TV+.

13 Viola Davis – Suicide Squad (2016)

Viola Davis as Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad
Warner Bros. Pictures 

The sensational Viola Davis absolutely kills each and every role she tackles, and her outing as the tough-as-nails government official Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad is no exception. Waller is brought in to assemble the eponymous black ops team composed of some of DCEU’s most notorious supervillains (like Deadshot, Killer Croc, and Harley Quinn), and despite their nasty temperaments and startlingly violent past offenses, she is not one to ever be intimidated.


Davis’ Fearless & Forceful Portrayal

Davis brings a fierce and tenacious energy to the hardened character, who deals with some of the most dangerous people in the world and more than holds her own while doing so. The Academy-Award winning actress made sure Waller possessed a silent strength and relentless that intimidated those around her, and she refused to let her grandiose goals be compromised by any member of the Suicide Squad.


As Waller, Davis rarely lost her composure but her emotions did get the best of her a few time, namely when she ordered Deadshot to kill Harley Quinn and struggled to keep control of the team. She had no problem shedding a little blood for her own personal agenda, gunning down fellow government agents with no remorse or guilt. Davis described Waller as a “powerful black woman, hard, ready to pick up a gun and shoot anyone at will”, and its the actress’ fighting spirit and commanding presence that made her on-screen counterpart someone audiences loved to hate. Stream on Max.

12 Halle Berry – Catwoman (2004)

Halle Berry as Catwoman stalking the rooftops wearing her black suit
Warner Bros.

Yes, we know, this will probably be the most triggering entry on this list. Yes, we know, Halle Berry herself showed up to accept her Razzie and called the film “a piece of s***”. But regardless of the spew that the film itself received, Halle Berry received an unfair amount of vitriol for it, considering the fact that her performance was actually very committed and quite great. As Patience Phillips, she totally nails the insecurity, innocence, and bumbling yet charming personality of her simple, lonely, everyman (well, “everywoman”) character.


Berry Embraces Her Animalistic Side

catwoman

Catwoman

Release Date
July 22, 2004

Director
Pitof

Runtime
104

And after her transformation, BAM! She switches Catwoman on like a match, completely changing and melting into her essence with all the sass, attitude, confidence, charisma, and sexiness audiences expect. She nails the catlike movements, mannerisms, glances, and even the posture. She just oozes with “feline” musk, if you will. No, she’s not Michelle Pfeiffer. No one will ever be. But for “this” Catwoman… the more spunky, edgy, and sassy Catwoman in this specific film…she killed it. And no amount of dumb Razzies or fanboy hate will change that. Stream on Prime Video


11 Ray Stevenson – Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Ray Stevenson stars in Punisher: War Zone
Lionsgate Films

In another article, we already covered Thomas Jane’s underrated performance as Frank Castle, so for this one, we’ll take on Ray Stevenson‘s also underappreciated take. This Punisher film was slightly better received than that one, but for some reason, Ray Stevenson’s performance was overlooked. He was a great Frank Castle, and an arguably better Punisher! As Frank, Ray Stevenson really gives him a soul, wounded and haunted, but also caring, noble, and, dare we say, kind in some cases.

Winning Blend of Vulnerability & Strength


His scenes with Julie Benz’s widow and her daughter have a tenderness and sweetness to them, and it’s in these scenes where Mr. Stevenson lets out Frank’s family man side, showing his vulnerability with great conviction. But in his scenes as the Punisher, he dives fully into his hardened, combative persona, exhibiting a natural tough guy screen presence and hardcore physicality that really elevates the grit and violence of the film. And he deftly handles the balance between the two. Stream on Hoopla.

10 Tom Hardy – The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Bane (Tom Hardy) in The Dark Knight Rises
Warner Bros. Pictures


After Heath Ledger’s legendary performance as the Joker, the next villain in the series was pretty much a sure bet to be a step-down in the minds of many. Now when that bridge came, Tom Hardy didn’t get bad reviews for his performance as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, but rather mixed, as many people and critics praised it, but many fans gave it a lot of criticism, particularly his muffled voice…and almost everyone universally agreed he was a step-down from Heath Ledger’s Joker.

But looking back, audiences and critics really didn’t recognize and/or appreciate just how brilliant of a performance he gave as the main villain in the trilogy’s closing chapter. First off, the voice – audio mixing notwithstanding – was an astonishing part of the character, at least performance-wise.

Hardy Truly Made Bane His Own


Tom Hardy created such a unique thing about Bane with the voice he created for him, which hasn’t historically been a cared-for aspect of the character. He imbued the voice with a “soulful” quality, if you will, one of intelligent gravitas, ancient wisdom, and a sense of poetic, Shakespearean essence. He was charming at times, speaking like a high-class gentleman, and became terrifying at times in the blink of an eye. But he always kept his voice and his articulation calm, intelligent, and confident.

This became a vital and memorable part of the character, aside from his body language, since he had a mask covering most of his face. Second – it’s honestly pointless and pretty unfair, actually, to compare his performance to Heath Ledger. They’re very different performances, and very different villains. He’s FAR more physically imposing than the Joker was, which also takes a lot of commitment from an actor.


He has a more foreboding, threatening presence, and dominant aura. And unlike Heath Ledger, who was able to use his entire face and body to perform, Tom Hardy only had his body, eyes, and voice, which was a different challenge and one he pulled off immensely in interesting, unexpected, and epic ways. All in all, Tom Hardy’s Bane is also legendary, like the Joker, but just for different reasons…and his performance was captivating, grand, and unforgettable. Hopefully, it’ll be reevaluated more as time goes on, and truly commended for how incredible it was. Stream on Max

Related: 16 Actors That Have Played Both Superheroes and Supervillains

9 Dane Dehaan – The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Sony Pictures Releasing


The second film in The Amazing Spider-Man duology received plenty of criticism and controversy upon its release, that many aspects of the film were overlooked because of it. The performances were generally all praised, but one of the greatest things about the film, one of its shining beacons of brilliance, is the underrated Dane Dehaan as Harry Osbourne.

His performance was surprisingly met with mixed reviews. But he lifts the entire film up on an entirely new level. From his very first scene with his dying father, he digs hard into Harry’s conflicted, slightly traumatized nature, exhibiting dormant pain, grief, anger, and torment all at once. And from that point on, he doesn’t let up.

A Commanding & Relentless Performance

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Release Date
April 16, 2014

Runtime
142


Every scene Dehaan’s in, he owns. He anchors his Harry with a lot of heavy, angry weight that drags with him constantly, and sculpts it so much into his face and body language, that you literally always feel it emitting from his being and every scene he’s in actually feels heavier with his presence, if you really analyze it well. And he dials up the different levels within that weight in different moments, sometimes letting out more anger, sometimes more grief, sometimes more pain, but always makes his wounded heart and torment visible to the audience throughout the entire trajectory of his arc.

And after he transforms into the ghastly Goblin, he cranks up the performance past the meter, letting out all the vengeance, anguish, and rage in full force. It’s an outstanding performance, and really deserves much more appreciation and reevaluation. Stream on Disney+.


8 Chris Cooper – The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Chris Cooper as Norman Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Sony Pictures Releasing 

Speaking of which, another underrated performance from the film is Chris Cooper as Norman Osbourne. Yes, his time is brief, not much more than a cameo. But it’s a testament to Chris Cooper’s underrated talent that he gives his all to the time he has and makes the entire scene really stand out. He’s ill and slightly sympathetic but also cold and sinister in a subtle way, and becomes more monstrous as the scene builds up.


Cooper Delivers in His Limited Role

He’s genuinely chilling, giving shades of utter creepiness to his Norman and plays off Dane Dehaan quite well and with good chemistry. It would’ve been great, and intriguing, to see where this setup would go. But alas, it became a wasted opportunity for his character after this powerful introduction, and it’s confusing as to why Sony decided to give him such little time in the film. Still, when an actor is able to make an impression with just one scene, it’s pretty commendable. Stream on Disney+

7 Sophie Turner – Dark Phoenix (2019)

Sophie Turner in Dark Phoenix
20th Century Fox

Oftentimes, when a film receives such backlash and negative reception as this one did, it usually overshadows the positive aspects, like the performances. In this case, it was poor Sophie Turner that really deserved much more mercy and appreciation for her lead performance. She fully commits to the emotional struggle of her Jean Grey and carries the film with a confident and powerful grace.


Sophie Turner Fully Commits to Jean Grey

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

Release Date
June 7, 2019

Runtime
114 minutes

Turner took her arc dead serious, preparing for the role by constantly having headphones with a bunch of voices playing simultaneously in her ears to understand how it would feel to be Jean living that experience. If that’s not commitment to a role, there’s little that is. Regardless of how derided the film was, she deserves more recognition for trying her best. Stream on Disney+

6 Jessie Eisenberg – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice
Warner Bros.


Sometimes people can have trouble separating an actor from the writing of their character. They may dislike the way a character was written for the film and end up taking that out on the actor’s performance as being bad, even though they simply performed what was directed to them. This is a common, and unfair, misunderstanding.

A perfect example of this lies in the overall opinions towards Jesse Eisenberg‘s Lex Luthor in this controversial, slightly infamous DC epic. The common thread of most criticism towards his version of Lex was that the character was not accurate nor handled well, and resembled an amateur version of the Joker more than Lex Luthor. But when one actually separates the vision of the character and the actor’s actual acting, they’ll more likely find a more truthful analysis.


Eisenberg Let’s Loose as the Diabolical Lex

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Release Date
March 24, 2016

Runtime
2h 32m

And in terms of sheer acting, Jesse Eisenberg completely nails this unhinged, start-up version of the famous comic book villain into the wall several times. He wholeheartedly embraces the neurotic, over-the-top, slightly Bond-villain side of his nature brilliantly in certain moments, but balances it out in the more serious moments where he exudes a dark, brooding, sinister villainy that’s made up of wounded trauma from his upbringing, contempt towards Superman, a lust for power and manipulation, and even a vague personality disorder or two.

It’s a fascinating, if sometimes strange, performance, and Jesse Eisenberg achieves it brilliantly and with scene-chewing relish. It’s a spectacular performance that deserves more open-minded reevaluation, appreciation, and, at the very least, a sincere effort to commit to doing the aforementioned separation and judge his acting aside from the specific interpretation of the character, accurate or not. Stream on Max.


5 Danny Huston – Wonder Woman (2017)

Danny Huston in Wonder Woman
Warner Bros. Pictures

Wonder Woman was a groundbreaking superhero epic for the industry, and was a critical darling to boot. Most of the aspects of the film were praised, from the story and action, to the drama, direction, visuals, inspirational grandeur, and, of course, the blow-all-expectations-away performance of Gal Gadot and her chemistry with Chris Pine. All the performances, really, were generally well-received, but with all the attention and conversation centered on the stars of the film, one of the other great performances in the film went somewhat overshadowed.


Huston Fully Embodies the Devious Ludendorff

wonder woman

Wonder Woman

Release Date
May 30, 2017

Director
Patty Jenkins

Runtime
141

Danny Huston played Ludendorff, a WWII officer obsessed with the war, who dabbles in unorthodox and advanced science in order to give him an advantage, and who was thought to be the main villain up to a certain point in the film. Huston knocks his performance out of the park. He genuinely carries a sinister, ominous aura about him throughout and does so in a hardened, gritty way, rather than flashy or cartoonish.

Everything from his body language, expressions, and intense stares, to his menacing accent, all make you genuinely believe that his mission is embedded into his core, that war and violence flow through his veins, and that he lives only for Germany’s victory. It was a great and underrated performance. Stream on Max.


4 Elena Anaya – Wonder Woman (2017)

Elena Anaya in Wonder Woman
Warner Bros. Pictures

Speaking of which, here, we have another standout performance from Wonder Woman. Elena Anaya plays Dr. Maru aka Dr. Poison, a brilliant but nefarious chemist who assists Ludendorff’s goal by experimenting with horrible poisons and gases. She doesn’t have a ton of screen time in the film, but with the time she does have, oh wow, does Elena Anaya make a remarkable impression!

Making the Most of Her Screen Time

Anaya exudes a dark and troubled aura, and yet, there’s also a slightly sympathetic, sad, and intriguing vibe about her, as if she’s gone through something horrible in her life that left her scarred (and which may be the reason she wears a half mask, even though that’s never explicitly explained in the film).


She conveys so much with every expression, every gesture, and just has a screen presence about her in this role that makes you transfixed on her when she’s on-screen. Like the earlier entry that covered Chris Cooper as Norman Osbourne, it’s really something special when an actor/actress uses limited screen time like she has in this film to such incredible effect that not only is she quite memorable in her performance, but you also want to see more of her as the character in the future. Stream on Max.

3 Willem Dafoe – Spider-Man (2002)

willem dafoe spider-man
Sony Pictures Releasing 


Willem Dafoe, one of the most brilliant and unique actors of his generation, has recently been given universal praise for his return as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and deservedly so. But audiences seemed to have forgotten how good he also was in the first film of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. His performance was by no means unnoticed, but most of the spotlight was on the main leads, and the fact that the Green Goblin’s suit was heavily criticized was also probably a factor that overshadowed the actor’s performance in the role a bit.

An Understated-Yet-Brilliant Portrayal


But when analyzing the film again, it’s clear how much the actor absolutely killed it as Norman Osbourne the first time around. His control of the dual performances he has to give with his character, and especially the sense of menace he gives to the monstrous alter ego, is absolutely masterful. He completely evaporates into the Goblin when that terrifying personality comes out, but reverts back to a sense of inner conflict, troublesome thoughts, and slight innocence when playing Norman.

His several outbursts throughout the film, especially the one when he’s in the boardroom meeting and the one when he goes through his transformation, shaking disturbingly and then grabbing the doctor’s head in a fit of psychotic rage, are unforgettable. And as Harry Osbourne’s father, he also exhibits a subtle sinister edge that clearly defines the cold, conflicted relationship he has with his son. All in all, the film would not be the same without his presence and tremendous performance. Stream on Disney+.


2 Danny DeVito – Batman Returns (1992)

Danny DeVito appears as Penguin in Batman Returns.
Warner Bros.

The second film in Tim Burton’s Batman duology received almost universal praise for the performances, particularly for Michelle Pfeifer’s Catwoman and Michael Keaton’s Batman. But Danny DeVito‘s performance was somewhat overshadowed by his counterparts, even though they are also generally praised.

Critics generally considered his villain inferior to Jack Nicholson’s Joker and not very scary, and for some shocking reason, he managed to get a Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actor! So there’s a bit of confusion as to why his performance sort of lies on the extreme ends of the spectrum of opinion.

DeVito Immerses Himself in the Penguin Role

batman returns

Batman Returns

Release Date
June 19, 1992

Director
Tim Burton

Runtime
126


But contrary to the point of many fans and critics, Danny DeVito’s Penguin was absolutely incredible and by no means inferior to Jack Nicholson’s Joker! In many ways, it was far better. Whereas the Joker was more over the top and entertaining in an offbeat kind of way, the Penguin was more layered, darker, grotesque, sad, and powerful. It’s difficult to define what certain critics meant that he wasn’t scary.

“Conventionally” scary, perhaps not. “Jump scare” scary, maybe not so much. But he was haunting. He was visceral. He was harrowing. If the Joker was like a fun slasher film, violent but entertaining, then Tim Burton’s Penguin is like a psychological thriller, disturbing, creepy, twisted, crawling under your skin, and leaving you shaken for days. And Danny Devito personified him brilliantly, phenomenally, transcendently.


Jack Nicholson was awesome as the Joker, no argument. But let’s face it, he was simply Jack Nicholson on steroids. Whereas Danny Devito… he was truly one with his character. He completely drowned in his ugly, sickened spirit, complete with black vomit, cruel stares, and villainous sleaze. And that Razzie nom… seriously? It’s an insulting joke, if there ever was one. This performance is a masterclass, and it should’ve been far more appreciated next to the leads. Stream on Prime Video.

1 Ray Winstone – Black Widow (2021)

Ray Winstone in Black Widow
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 


And once again, here is another perfect example of an actor making a memorable impact in a limited appearance. Ray Winstone (who is underrated himself) appeared in Black Widow as cruel Russian antagonist Dreykov, the man responsible for the program that molds and trains Natasha Romanov since her youth. He appears in the beginning of the film in a vague disguise undercover, and then reappears in the final act in his actual persona.

A Bold & Brutal Performance

black widow

Black Widow

Release Date
July 9, 2021

Runtime
2hr 14min

Winstone nails his role brilliantly in both situations. There was some backlash against his accent and that it didn’t sound Russian enough, but that criticism aside, his performance was marvelous in every other way, and it was a vastly overlooked part of the film.


He imbued the character with his standard tough-guy exterior, which was very appropriate, but it wasn’t just that… his demeanor, his mannerisms, his tone, his posture, his stare, his movements, everything about him all felt very formidable, unnerving, intimidating, and admonitory. And as the scene unfolds between him and Natasha, he peels back more layers, bringing forth a brutish, mean-spirited streak that reeked of insecure macho posturing, then a cruel, twisted sense of morality when talking about his plan for the widow program.

He also expertly let out moments of carefully contained anger when he unveiled his broken, scarred daughter. Mr. Winstone exhibits solid veteran command of all of these moments and emotions throughout the scene, and his villain is one we’d love to see more of precisely because of his masterful presence and top-notch performance. It goes without saying that it should’ve received more recognition and attention. Stream on Disney+.



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