"Ambidextrous" Actors

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Andrew Dufresne
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5:48p, 11/23/23
Of course I don't mean ambidextrous in a literal sense, but rather figuratively.

Actors that can play both Protagonist and Antagonist well. Good and Evil. Either side of the coin. Yada Yada.

One that comes to mind for me is Russell Crowe. We know his great roles as the good guy. As Maximus in Gladiator.. or as Richie Roberts in American Gangster. He played these roles very well IMO.

He has also done some great work as the villain. As Ben Wade the outlaw in the movie 3:10 to Yuma. I also thought he played evil well as Pearly Soames in the forgettable movie "Winters Tale"

Who are some actors that you feel also do well from either angle?
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superunknown
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5:52p, 11/23/23
AG
Kevin Spacey. I mean...uh...given what we know now.

But, hey, The Usual Suspects?
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BenTheGoodAg
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5:52p, 11/23/23
AG
Bryan Cranston has got quite the range in his comedic and serious roles.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Magneto.
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Bruce Almighty
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5:55p, 11/23/23
AG
Arnold as the Terminator and Arnold as the Terminator.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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5:58p, 11/23/23
AG
Jim Carrey
Adam Sandler
Bryan Cranston
Gary Oldman
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TXAG 05
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6:15p, 11/23/23
AG
Tom Cruise
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Belton Ag
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6:43p, 11/23/23
AG
Denzel Washington is a hero in most of his movies but was an amazing villain in Training Day.

Cate Blanchette was pretty awesome as a villain in Ragnarock and usually plays good characters.

Speaking of Thor movies, Christian Bale is good at both hero and villain.
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Mathguy64
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6:44p, 11/23/23
AG
Leo

Christoph Waltz
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Eso si, Que es
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 6:45p, 11/23/23
TXAG 05 said:
Tom Cruise


Best antagonist role ever
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The Porkchop Express
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6:53p, 11/23/23
AG
Robin Wright. Heroine in Princess Bride. Villain in Forrest Gump.
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Atreides Ornithopter
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In reply to The Porkchop Express • 10:47p, 11/23/23
AG
The Porkchop Express said:
Robin Wright. Heroine in Princess Bride. Villain in Forrest Gump.


Those two were almost the same character. Same blonde heroine in distress. One just partied harder.
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oragator
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10:57p, 11/23/23
Meryl Streep
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Chipotlemonger
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11:37p, 11/23/23
AG
Alan Rickman

Notably,
Villain roles:
Hans Gruber (could really just end the list there)
Snape
Sheriff of Nottingham
Guy in Love Actually

Hero roles:
Snape, rare double mention
Galaxy Quest guy, dammit I can't remember his name here. Big redemption arc here.

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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to Andrew Dufresne • 1:35a, 11/24/23
AG

Quote:
as Richie Roberts in American Gangster
Funny you mentioned this, but nobody's mentioned Denzel. Maybe he's obvious enough.
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Carlo4
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2:19a, 11/24/23
AG
John Lithgow
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Tanya 93
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5:47a, 11/24/23
Tilda Swinton
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taxpreparer
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In reply to BenTheGoodAg • 7:38a, 11/24/23
AG
BenTheGoodAg said:
Bryan Cranston has got quite the range in his comedic and serious roles.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Magneto.


For comedy and drama, Tom Hanks. Numerous examples of both.
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Tanya 93
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9:47a, 11/24/23
Michael Keaton
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Sooper Jeenyus
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10:26a, 11/24/23
AG
Robin Williams in Insomnia was a bit of a turn.
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An L of an Ag
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In reply to Chipotlemonger • 1:05p, 11/24/23
AG
Chipotlemonger said:
Alan Rickman

Notably,
Villain roles:
Hans Gruber (could really just end the list there)
Snape
Sheriff of Nottingham
Guy in Love Actually

Hero roles:
Snape, rare double mention
Galaxy Quest guy, dammit I can't remember his name here. Big redemption arc here.



By the Hammer of Grabthar!!
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dcaggie04
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In reply to Chipotlemonger • 1:55p, 11/24/23
AG
Chipotlemonger said:
Alan Rickman

Notably,
Villain roles:
Hans Gruber (could really just end the list there)
Snape
Sheriff of Nottingham
Guy in Love Actually

Hero roles:
Snape, rare double mention
Galaxy Quest guy, dammit I can't remember his name here. Big redemption arc here.



Indifferent roles:
Marvin the Paranoid Android
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Max Power
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In reply to An L of an Ag • 1:59p, 11/24/23
AG
An L of an Ag said:
Chipotlemonger said:
Alan Rickman

Notably,
Villain roles:
Hans Gruber (could really just end the list there)
Snape
Sheriff of Nottingham
Guy in Love Actually

Hero roles:
Snape, rare double mention
Galaxy Quest guy, dammit I can't remember his name here. Big redemption arc here.



By the Hammer of Grabthar!!

What a savings.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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In reply to An L of an Ag • 3:15p, 11/24/23
AG
An L of an Ag said:
Chipotlemonger said:
Alan Rickman

Notably,
Villain roles:
Hans Gruber (could really just end the list there)
Snape
Sheriff of Nottingham
Guy in Love Actually

Hero roles:
Snape, rare double mention
Galaxy Quest guy, dammit I can't remember his name here. Big redemption arc here.



By the Hammer of Grabthar!!


What a misquote.
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The Marksman
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5:12p, 11/24/23
AG
Chris Evans. Obviously Captain America but also *spoiler* Ransom in Knives Out.
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OCEN99
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In reply to The Marksman • 6:42p, 11/24/23
AG
The Marksman said:
Chris Evans. Obviously Captain America but also *spoiler* Ransom in Knives Out.
Also one of the seven evil exes in Scott Pilgrim.
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Al Bula
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8:02p, 11/24/23
AG
For my money it doesn't get any better than the range Danny Devito has, from Twins to Austin Powers.



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malenurse
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In reply to Eso si, Que es • 1:41p, 11/25/23
AG
Collateral. Stone cold killer
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But, it's still on the list.
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G.I.Bro
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In reply to The Marksman • 1:54p, 11/25/23
The Marksman said:
Chris Evans. Obviously Captain America but also *spoiler* Ransom in Knives Out.


And the Gray Man
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AR_Ag95
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In reply to Tanya 93 • 2:57p, 11/25/23
AG
Tanya 93 said:
Michael Keaton


Pacific Heights!
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jokershady
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In reply to Max Power • 10:01p, 11/25/23
AG
Max Power said:
An L of an Ag said:
Chipotlemonger said:
Alan Rickman

Notably,
Villain roles:
Hans Gruber (could really just end the list there)
Snape
Sheriff of Nottingham
Guy in Love Actually

Hero roles:
Snape, rare double mention
Galaxy Quest guy, dammit I can't remember his name here. Big redemption arc here.



By the Hammer of Grabthar!!

What a savings.
You broke the ship. You broke the BLOODY SHIP!
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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to taxpreparer • 2:43a, 11/26/23
AG

Quote:
Tom Hanks
Has he played a truly evil adversary type?

He was a "bad guy" in Road to Perdition, but it was a life he was stuck in and he was doing what he had to do to protect his son - still kind of a Tom Hanks everyman even in that role.
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taxpreparer
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In reply to Jugstore Cowboy • 12:55p, 11/26/23
AG
No, some posts has already post serious/comedic instead of good/evil.
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BenTheGoodAg
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In reply to taxpreparer • 1:01p, 11/26/23
AG
FWIW, I meant Cranston's range of good and evil across a range of drama/comedy. Just look at his change in character in Breaking Bad alone. And I think about his role in Seinfeld vs Malcolm in the Middle - totally different humor

But Tom Hanks has quite a range. I don't think he's quite done the evil/bad persona, but he's got rare chops as an actor.
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TXAG 05
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In reply to Jugstore Cowboy • 11:45a, 11/27/23
AG
DustysLineup said:

Quote:
Tom Hanks
Has he played a truly evil adversary type?

He was a "bad guy" in Road to Perdition, but it was a life he was stuck in and he was doing what he had to do to protect his son - still kind of a Tom Hanks everyman even in that role.


He was kind of a jerk in You've Got Mail.
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BassCowboy33
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7:18p, 11/28/23
Sean Bean
Alan Rickman
Gary Oldman
Jason Isaacs
Dennis Hopper
Josh Brolin
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