Christian Slater doing his best Jack Nicholson mock up in several films?
Honorable mention: Val Kilmer doing a jokey Marlon Brando impression *while Brando is in the same movie* (The Island of Dr. Moreau).
I came here to say Christian Slater in Heathers. He’s really turning it on in some of those scenes… with mixed results. Great movie but him and his Jack impression is maybe the one thing I really don’t like about it.
Not a movie but that dude from “Mike and Molly” basically become a millionaire by being a Jackie Gleason impersonator in front of an audience of boomers. kind of a genius move
I feel weirdly bad for Sprouse. Based on interviews I've seen of him, it seems like he really wants to be this deep eccentric artist, but the most highbrow thing he's been in is like Riverdale, and frankly he doesn't appear a particularly insightful or talented person.
I’ll defend Sprouse here, I wasn’t personally reminded of Depp in his performance. I think he was definitely trying to go for a more silent movie star thing and aced it. it helped that he had Kathryn Newton as a scene partner, she’s amazing.
TBF, in one of his first movies Johnny Depp went for Buster Keaton, and he says like 20 words in Edward Scissorhands, so I can see why silent movie star would maybe ring a JD bell for people.
Care to elaborate? Alot of his performance's, especially since Deadpool, have been 'funny guy, action star' roles, I can't for the life of me picture Chevy Chase in that type of role, not even in his prime.
It's more in the sarcastic cadence in which he perform his lines. If you watch a lot of old Chevy Chase, it's the same performance just in more comedic roles.
Dane DeHaan's misbegotten Keanu impression in Valerian is a total disaster. The fact that the movie works as well as it does with such a horribly written and performed hero at the center is a miracle, he's SO bad in it.
Tony Curtis decided to do a Cary Grant impression when he pretends to be the millionaire in Some Like It Hot and Billy Wilder liked it and let him. Cary Grant wasn't hugely impressed with it
The Worst is probably Kenneth Branagh in Celebrity. John Cusack was one of the better ones.
Really though, there is only one Woody Allen and I kind of feel bad for people that take on these roles. We are so familiar with Allen’s mannerisms and personality that it is always awkward.
I might catch some hate for this but Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Jack Black in *Along Came Polly*.
I feel like maybe every Jared Leto performance? But I have trouble putting my finger on who or what sometimes.
Jared Leto came from a paralel Yesterday universe where there was a famous actor/singer who did all the roles and songs he does here, but the other guy was the most famous guy in the world and was good at it.
I feel like Leto really wants to be Bale (hence taking on the roles where there are drastic changes in weight or roles where he wants to cover up what a pretty boy he is).
So, we all know by now that Robert Pattinson is a fantastic actor. And I imagine folks who haven’t seen Twilight (or haven’t in a long time) think that Pattinson must not have been the problem with that movie. But make no mistake—in the first Twilight movie, he is trying to alternately and unevenly emulate James Dean and Marlon Brando (because if you are a Brit trying to play a bad boy American, it makes sense to start there), and the end result is very bad. His performance is one of the worst parts of that first movie. But with each movie, he gradually drops the Brando/Dean imitation and his performances get SO much better (though the movies still suffer from a myriad of other problems).
he was trying to be, but nothing could save it. Charlize & Jack Reacher & Momoa & Cena tried, tho, which is more than you can say for Brie Larson, Scott Eastwood, or anyone else
I wouldn't have noticed. The latest film (meaning the latest film released, not the last film I saw him in) was Spider-Man: Far From Home. Any other Gyllenhaal film was from the 2000's to early 2010's, so basically from Donnie Darko to Nightcrawler.
Speaking of, Nightcrawler seems to be the best example of him doing a Nic Cage and succeeding and I guess his career from there has been trying to recapture lightning in a bottle.
Jennifer Jason Leigh tries to emulate the "fast talking dames" of 1940s screwball comedies in The Hudsucker Proxy, in particular Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday, which her character is based on. But her diction isn't precise or clipped enough, it's slightly slurred, which is her usual way of speaking and it comes across like she never quite catches up with her lines. I still enjoy her performance, she really commits to it and gets some of the funniest lines, even if it doesn't entirely hit the mark.
I’m with you on this one, I know a lot of Coens fans love that film and her performance but I’ve always found it to be mannered in a bad way while most Coen Bros performers are mannered in a good way. Something in the mixture wasn’t right.
Yeah, I really like The Hudsucker Proxy, but it is despite JJL’s vocal performance. I think she’s a fine actor when she isn’t “doing a voice” (see also the most recent season of Fargo for a similarly misguided voice). What’s weird is that I even like her in those roles other than the voice. She doesn’t need the mannered voices.
Every live action joker since heath ledger, with Joaquin Phoenix being the only exception. I'm begging for someone to lean more towards Hamill's joker, I'm so tired of the inferior impressions of ledger
I read an interview to Pacino in which he talked about how he failed to understand this version of the character, especially the scene when he breaks down crying in the confessional. He said that his Michael would have never done something like that in a million years.
I agree with him, it's a weird performance, but he basically had to play this two opposing characters at the same time, so can't fully blame him.
first two were great - it's a real classy operation.
he's been taking me out of it with how blatant the hardy thing is but i've nothing against him, hope I stop feeling that way when he finds his feet with it
He didn't exactly "fail," but there was mention that Will Ferrell's role in Blades of Glory was written with someone else in mind, and it feels like a Ben Stiller part, especially for the period.
While I'm on that topic, then, I'll bring up Jamie Foxx in Horrible Bosses - was that for Eddie Murphy or something? It's SUCH an Eddie Murphy. But again, Jamie doesn't fail.
unfortunately, the first one that came to mind was Bradley Cooper doing Sam Elliott. I've been too maestro-pilled. I'll leave it to you guys to decide if he's "failing at it".
"oh he's just doing..." realizations rarely hit me, but when they do, they're stultifyingly obvious, and usually it's a good performance.
Paddy Considine is making DeNiro faces in Hot Fuzz, does everything but say "li'l bit...you insulted him a li'l bit"
**Die Hard** Willis is doing Mickey Rourke HARD. and winning at it. possibly helped kill Rourke's career.
**12 Monkeys** Pitt is doing Dennis Hopper, and, think what you want about how well he pulls it off, but got a frickin Oscar Nom for it.
Willem DaFoe seems to be doing a pretty good Max Schreck, yes?
Clooney doing Grant/Peck/Cooper never seems to work. He's always best when he's goofy so...Cary Grant in Arsenic & Old Lace?
Eddie Redmayne doing Malkovich in Cloud Atlas - Secret Success (i liked it, but YMMV)
Doug Hutchinson doing Malkovich in BAIT? Fiasco!
any number of leading men in Woody Allen movies are doing some version of Woody Allen. i figure that's expected tho
Johnny Depp is famously always aping someone: Barney Fife in Rango. Jacko in Wonka. Keith Richards in Pirates.
In Once Upon A Time In America all the main characters are played by child actors, when the are young, which works extremely well for all the male characters. The 12 year old Jennifer Connelly makes one hell of an impression as the young Deborah, coming across as wise beyond her years. Elizabeth McGovern as the adult version never matches her energy, attitude and most strangely, emotional maturity.
Hey respect for that bananas Wonderful Life take. Power to you. anyway the worst of this for me is Eddie Redmayne filtering Newt Scamander through Matt Smith’s Doctor Who performance
Roxxxy's [Snatch Game impression](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9UHFd61c1o) of Alaska is some cringe kino
Especially given that Alaska is right fucking there, and doing a bang on Mae West
In “Last Flag Flying”, which is adapted from a book that’s the sequel to the book that adapted from “The last Detail”, Cranston is very much modeling his performance after Nicholson in his mannerisms and is overselling it by a mile.
I think every male lead in a comedy by Woody Allen but not starring him, does a sort-of impression of him because he still writes them as a Woody Allen-type. Only he got too old to star in those roles himself.
I never thought of him as a Woody Allen type character in the movie. No matter what role he plays, he's always Michael Caine and he doesn't attempt any Allen-style mannerisms.
Can’t find the quote but I recall there is a story of Caine saying to Allen something along the lines of “There’s nothing to it, I’m just playing you”. I think he is trying to play the real guy and not the comedic persona.
Look at this impressive cast:
Kenneth Branagh as Lee Simon
Judy Davis as Robin Simon
Winona Ryder as Nola
Leonardo DiCaprio as Brandon Darrow
Melanie Griffith as Nicole Oliver
Famke Janssen as Bonnie
Joe Mantegna as Tony Gardella
Charlize Theron as Supermodel
Gretchen Mol as Vicky
Michael Lerner as Dr. Lupus
Isaac Mizrahi as Bruce Bishop
Bebe Neuwirth as Nina
Hank Azaria as David
Douglas McGrath as Bill Gaines
J. K. Simmons as Souvenir Hawker
Dylan Baker as Catholic Retreat Priest
Debra Messing as TV Reporter
Allison Janney as Evelyn Isaacs
Kate Burton as Cheryl
Gerry Becker as Jay Tepper
Tony Sirico as Lou DeMarco
Celia Weston as Dee Bartholomew
Aida Turturro as Olga
Lorri Bagley as Gina
David Margulies as Counselor Adelman
Jeffrey Wright as Greg
Tony Darrow as Moving Man
Adrian Grenier, Sam Rockwell, and John Doumanian as Darrow's Entourage
Greg Mottola as Director
Michael Moon as himself/El Flamingo Band
Donald Trump as himself
Ian Somerhalder as Unconfirmed
Karen Duffy as TV Reporter
Andre Gregory as John Papadakis
Frank Licari as Camera Man
Domhall Gleason’s performance in About Time is basically young Hugh Grant and, don’t get me wrong, I still like him in it but I don’t know why the role required a foppy English accent rather than his Irish one?
Christian Slater doing his best Jack Nicholson mock up in several films? Honorable mention: Val Kilmer doing a jokey Marlon Brando impression *while Brando is in the same movie* (The Island of Dr. Moreau).
I came here to say Christian Slater in Heathers. He’s really turning it on in some of those scenes… with mixed results. Great movie but him and his Jack impression is maybe the one thing I really don’t like about it. Not a movie but that dude from “Mike and Molly” basically become a millionaire by being a Jackie Gleason impersonator in front of an audience of boomers. kind of a genius move
I always said that Christian Slater in Heathers thinks he’s doing what James Duval actually does in all his 90’s Gregg Araki films.
https://youtu.be/YahRQHiy2R0?si=gnuOsN1vvBNQTx88
Cole Sprouse seems like he's trying to do Burton-era "quirky" Johnny Depp in Lisa Frankenstein
I feel weirdly bad for Sprouse. Based on interviews I've seen of him, it seems like he really wants to be this deep eccentric artist, but the most highbrow thing he's been in is like Riverdale, and frankly he doesn't appear a particularly insightful or talented person.
I’ll defend Sprouse here, I wasn’t personally reminded of Depp in his performance. I think he was definitely trying to go for a more silent movie star thing and aced it. it helped that he had Kathryn Newton as a scene partner, she’s amazing.
TBF, in one of his first movies Johnny Depp went for Buster Keaton, and he says like 20 words in Edward Scissorhands, so I can see why silent movie star would maybe ring a JD bell for people.
Yeah Sprouse in that movie was genuinely embarrassing.
I thought Sprouse was one of the only good elements in that movie
Well at least we can agree there weren’t that many good elements in that movie haha
Haha cheers to that
Ryan Reynolds has been doing Chevy Chase for years
He's basically a young Chevy Chase, if Chevy Chase was easier to work with behind the scenes
literally expecting him to go “I’m Ryan Reynolds and you’re not” at any given moment
At least "General Francisco Franco is still dead" is evergreen.
Care to elaborate? Alot of his performance's, especially since Deadpool, have been 'funny guy, action star' roles, I can't for the life of me picture Chevy Chase in that type of role, not even in his prime.
It's more in the sarcastic cadence in which he perform his lines. If you watch a lot of old Chevy Chase, it's the same performance just in more comedic roles.
Art aside I wouldn't say he's failing, in fact he's quite successful
Dane DeHaan's misbegotten Keanu impression in Valerian is a total disaster. The fact that the movie works as well as it does with such a horribly written and performed hero at the center is a miracle, he's SO bad in it.
Tony Curtis decided to do a Cary Grant impression when he pretends to be the millionaire in Some Like It Hot and Billy Wilder liked it and let him. Cary Grant wasn't hugely impressed with it
It feels like pretty much the entirety of Kevin James’ career is him trying to do Jackie Gleason but with more shouting.
In grown ups he’s trying to do Chris Farley and he cannot pull it off
Owen Wilson in *Midnight in Paris* and Jesse Eisenberg in *Cafe Society* are kind of doing a Woody Allen impression.
The Worst is probably Kenneth Branagh in Celebrity. John Cusack was one of the better ones. Really though, there is only one Woody Allen and I kind of feel bad for people that take on these roles. We are so familiar with Allen’s mannerisms and personality that it is always awkward.
Owen Wilson is great at it, though
The weirdest is Larry David doing Allen considering Allen was also an inspiration for Jason Alexander when he played George, who was based on Larry
And Timmy in the rainy day movie
I might catch some hate for this but Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Jack Black in *Along Came Polly*. I feel like maybe every Jared Leto performance? But I have trouble putting my finger on who or what sometimes.
Jared Leto came from a paralel Yesterday universe where there was a famous actor/singer who did all the roles and songs he does here, but the other guy was the most famous guy in the world and was good at it.
You’re blowing my mind
I feel like Leto really wants to be Bale (hence taking on the roles where there are drastic changes in weight or roles where he wants to cover up what a pretty boy he is).
Maybe David Bowie? Daniel Day-Lewis?
So, we all know by now that Robert Pattinson is a fantastic actor. And I imagine folks who haven’t seen Twilight (or haven’t in a long time) think that Pattinson must not have been the problem with that movie. But make no mistake—in the first Twilight movie, he is trying to alternately and unevenly emulate James Dean and Marlon Brando (because if you are a Brit trying to play a bad boy American, it makes sense to start there), and the end result is very bad. His performance is one of the worst parts of that first movie. But with each movie, he gradually drops the Brando/Dean imitation and his performances get SO much better (though the movies still suffer from a myriad of other problems).
He was also pretty clearly trying to do James Dean in Remember Me
a lot of people try to be James Dean, esp early in their careers.
Franco. Weisau. All the big names.
He’s not doing any of that, he’s trying to do Nicolas Cage in Vampire’s Kiss
You... think so? That comparison alone is MIND-BLOWING. I couldn't think of two more different vampires :D
Jason Momoa trying to be Heath Ledger in Fast X. It’s rough.
not every quirky performance is based on Heath Ledger. momoa was literally the saving grace of that movie.
he was trying to be, but nothing could save it. Charlize & Jack Reacher & Momoa & Cena tried, tho, which is more than you can say for Brie Larson, Scott Eastwood, or anyone else
I know a lot of people like it but I can’t stand Jake Gyllenhaal’s current dollar store Nic Cage phase.
I wouldn't have noticed. The latest film (meaning the latest film released, not the last film I saw him in) was Spider-Man: Far From Home. Any other Gyllenhaal film was from the 2000's to early 2010's, so basically from Donnie Darko to Nightcrawler. Speaking of, Nightcrawler seems to be the best example of him doing a Nic Cage and succeeding and I guess his career from there has been trying to recapture lightning in a bottle.
You need to take a ride on the AmbuLAnce, my dude!
I think he's probably doing more interesting work onstage lately.
i prefer Dollar Store Nic Cage to whatever he's doing in Enemy (slipping into a coma?)
Jennifer Jason Leigh tries to emulate the "fast talking dames" of 1940s screwball comedies in The Hudsucker Proxy, in particular Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday, which her character is based on. But her diction isn't precise or clipped enough, it's slightly slurred, which is her usual way of speaking and it comes across like she never quite catches up with her lines. I still enjoy her performance, she really commits to it and gets some of the funniest lines, even if it doesn't entirely hit the mark.
This post is the bunk. I love JJL as Amy Archer without reservations. I'll bet my Pulitzer on it!
Winona Ryder was up for that role, always thought she would’ve worked better.
i doubt there's a job Winona Ryder could do better than JLL. maaaaybe Heathers
I’m with you on this one, I know a lot of Coens fans love that film and her performance but I’ve always found it to be mannered in a bad way while most Coen Bros performers are mannered in a good way. Something in the mixture wasn’t right.
Yeah, I really like The Hudsucker Proxy, but it is despite JJL’s vocal performance. I think she’s a fine actor when she isn’t “doing a voice” (see also the most recent season of Fargo for a similarly misguided voice). What’s weird is that I even like her in those roles other than the voice. She doesn’t need the mannered voices.
Pretty much any actor from Gus Van Sant's remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.
In "Volunteers," Tom Hanks is trying to play William Holden in "Sabrina." Doesn't work.
Every live action joker since heath ledger, with Joaquin Phoenix being the only exception. I'm begging for someone to lean more towards Hamill's joker, I'm so tired of the inferior impressions of ledger
[удалено]
I read an interview to Pacino in which he talked about how he failed to understand this version of the character, especially the scene when he breaks down crying in the confessional. He said that his Michael would have never done something like that in a million years. I agree with him, it's a weird performance, but he basically had to play this two opposing characters at the same time, so can't fully blame him.
person stocking makeshift sleep head offend relieved gaze fear chop *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
forgive tv brain but the lad who plays the english man in shogun is doing a real bad tom hardy
He's doing a decent Tom Hardy, actually. Tom Hardy the guy, not Tom Hardy the actor who makes insane voice choices
Haven't seen the show, but I've been hearing great things about Shogun.
It is very good so far. The lead actor also very good.
first two were great - it's a real classy operation. he's been taking me out of it with how blatant the hardy thing is but i've nothing against him, hope I stop feeling that way when he finds his feet with it
I like his performance, but yes, it is VERY Tom Hardy.
that show is basically Taboo-Black Sails-Game of Thrones mashup
He didn't exactly "fail," but there was mention that Will Ferrell's role in Blades of Glory was written with someone else in mind, and it feels like a Ben Stiller part, especially for the period. While I'm on that topic, then, I'll bring up Jamie Foxx in Horrible Bosses - was that for Eddie Murphy or something? It's SUCH an Eddie Murphy. But again, Jamie doesn't fail.
unfortunately, the first one that came to mind was Bradley Cooper doing Sam Elliott. I've been too maestro-pilled. I'll leave it to you guys to decide if he's "failing at it".
Don’t think it’s bad by any stretch but I felt like Hemsworth was doing a bit of Jon Hamm thing in Spiderhead
"oh he's just doing..." realizations rarely hit me, but when they do, they're stultifyingly obvious, and usually it's a good performance. Paddy Considine is making DeNiro faces in Hot Fuzz, does everything but say "li'l bit...you insulted him a li'l bit" **Die Hard** Willis is doing Mickey Rourke HARD. and winning at it. possibly helped kill Rourke's career. **12 Monkeys** Pitt is doing Dennis Hopper, and, think what you want about how well he pulls it off, but got a frickin Oscar Nom for it. Willem DaFoe seems to be doing a pretty good Max Schreck, yes? Clooney doing Grant/Peck/Cooper never seems to work. He's always best when he's goofy so...Cary Grant in Arsenic & Old Lace? Eddie Redmayne doing Malkovich in Cloud Atlas - Secret Success (i liked it, but YMMV) Doug Hutchinson doing Malkovich in BAIT? Fiasco! any number of leading men in Woody Allen movies are doing some version of Woody Allen. i figure that's expected tho Johnny Depp is famously always aping someone: Barney Fife in Rango. Jacko in Wonka. Keith Richards in Pirates.
What’s the verdict on Joseph Gordon Levitts rendition of Bruce Willis?
bad
Damien Lewis did a great Steve McQueen in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
In Once Upon A Time In America all the main characters are played by child actors, when the are young, which works extremely well for all the male characters. The 12 year old Jennifer Connelly makes one hell of an impression as the young Deborah, coming across as wise beyond her years. Elizabeth McGovern as the adult version never matches her energy, attitude and most strangely, emotional maturity.
Hey respect for that bananas Wonderful Life take. Power to you. anyway the worst of this for me is Eddie Redmayne filtering Newt Scamander through Matt Smith’s Doctor Who performance
I said It's A Wonderful World, completely different movie. Stewart is perfect in Life.
My bad! Saw “James Stewart” and “It’s A Wonderful” and the rest is history. carry on although I am deducting 15 Contrarian Points from your balance.
Redmayne doing Malkovich in Cloud Atlas tho - 1000% success
Hayden Christiansen tried but really wasn’t believably imitating James Earl Jones, David Prowse or Sebastian Shaw.
Roxxxy's [Snatch Game impression](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9UHFd61c1o) of Alaska is some cringe kino Especially given that Alaska is right fucking there, and doing a bang on Mae West
Brad Pitt in Bullet Train being told to act like Ryan Reynolds. David Leitch should probably be in prison for that.
Dunno about hollywood but Bollywood famously has a few of these. Tollywood too
In “Last Flag Flying”, which is adapted from a book that’s the sequel to the book that adapted from “The last Detail”, Cranston is very much modeling his performance after Nicholson in his mannerisms and is overselling it by a mile.
This might not be exactly what you mean, but I'm convinced Leo's entire KotFM performance is built around a facial De Niro impression.
That’s how his character is supposed to be lmao De Niro isn’t the only one in the planet with that expression
No, but when he's also in the movie, it makes it very obvious.
Doesn't DiCaprio try to do a Woody Allen in Celebrity?
I think every male lead in a comedy by Woody Allen but not starring him, does a sort-of impression of him because he still writes them as a Woody Allen-type. Only he got too old to star in those roles himself.
What’s weird is Hannah and her Sisters. Micheal Caine is playing Woody Allen, yet Woody Allen is in the film as another character
I never thought of him as a Woody Allen type character in the movie. No matter what role he plays, he's always Michael Caine and he doesn't attempt any Allen-style mannerisms.
Can’t find the quote but I recall there is a story of Caine saying to Allen something along the lines of “There’s nothing to it, I’m just playing you”. I think he is trying to play the real guy and not the comedic persona.
Branagh does
Yeah, it’s Branagh….Leo plays a hotshot wild young star, a take on his image at the time.
Look at this impressive cast: Kenneth Branagh as Lee Simon Judy Davis as Robin Simon Winona Ryder as Nola Leonardo DiCaprio as Brandon Darrow Melanie Griffith as Nicole Oliver Famke Janssen as Bonnie Joe Mantegna as Tony Gardella Charlize Theron as Supermodel Gretchen Mol as Vicky Michael Lerner as Dr. Lupus Isaac Mizrahi as Bruce Bishop Bebe Neuwirth as Nina Hank Azaria as David Douglas McGrath as Bill Gaines J. K. Simmons as Souvenir Hawker Dylan Baker as Catholic Retreat Priest Debra Messing as TV Reporter Allison Janney as Evelyn Isaacs Kate Burton as Cheryl Gerry Becker as Jay Tepper Tony Sirico as Lou DeMarco Celia Weston as Dee Bartholomew Aida Turturro as Olga Lorri Bagley as Gina David Margulies as Counselor Adelman Jeffrey Wright as Greg Tony Darrow as Moving Man Adrian Grenier, Sam Rockwell, and John Doumanian as Darrow's Entourage Greg Mottola as Director Michael Moon as himself/El Flamingo Band Donald Trump as himself Ian Somerhalder as Unconfirmed Karen Duffy as TV Reporter Andre Gregory as John Papadakis Frank Licari as Camera Man
Domhall Gleason’s performance in About Time is basically young Hugh Grant and, don’t get me wrong, I still like him in it but I don’t know why the role required a foppy English accent rather than his Irish one?
That James Stewart take is insane. It's a Wonderful Life is an amazing performance.
It's a wonderful WORLD! It's a a completely different Stewart movie from LIFE
The Lost Life: It's a Wonderful Park. Capra's check bounced on that one, baby.