Forgotten Great Film Performances

A screen cap from the Criterion Channel.

William Wellman's NOTHING SACRED (1937) w/ Fredric March and Carole Lombard is now on Criterion Channel.

This is the MoMA restoration from the original Technicolor separations, w/ warm, golden tones that are completely lost in other transfers.

It looks and sounds glorious. #FilmSky

Robert Carradine, 'Revenge of the Nerds' and 'Lizzie McGuire' star, dies at 71 Actor Robert Carradine has died at 71. His family says he died by suicide. In a statement shared on Tuesday, his family said he lived with bipolar disorder for two decades.

Robert Carradine, the "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Lizzie McGuire" star, has died at age 71.

Robert Duvall as Bob Hodges grips his service gun in the film Colors.

Robert Duvall - 📽️ Colors (Dennis Hopper, 1988)

Duvall grants Hodges his signature weathered sincerity, and he steals the gang violence movie wholly, blowing a loose cannon Sean Penn off the screen. RIP to a versatile icon, who was legendary yet somehow slightly underappreciated of late.

#filmsky

Oscar-winning filmmaker Frederick Wiseman dies, leaving legacy of American institutions Oscar-winning documentary maker Frederick Wiseman is dead at age 96. Wiseman, whose in-depth, revelatory movies made him one of the world’s most admired directors, died Monday.

Oscar-winning documentary maker Frederick Wiseman is dead at age 96.

Chadwick Boseman and James van der Beek both died in their 40s of an illness that's treatable if a colonoscopy catches it but almost no insurer covers them for people under 45, this is what Engels meant by "social murder"

RIP Bud Cort. How else would you even pay tribute to him.

Duvall as Boo Radley

Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather

Duvall as Kilgore in Apocalypse Now

Duvall as Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies

RIP Robert Duvall: as central to American film as anyone in his generation

Tom Noonan as Mr. Ulman sits suited in a living room chair leaning on a cane in the film The House of the Devil.

Tom Noonan - 📽️ The House of the Devil (Ti West, 2009)

RIP to one of my favourite character actors, an effortless master of quiet and haunting tone. Noonan makes West’s flawed Satanic haunted house movie spark to life in his handful of moments, superpowering any genre tale through talent.

#filmsky

Michael Beach as Lane “Pluto” Franklin in the film One False Move.

Michael Beach - 📽️ One False Move (Carl Franklin, 1992)

Beach is wonderful against type as a quietly chilling, psychotic villain. His cold and brief remarks to crime partner Billy Bob Thornton in the car set the stage for an unpredictable neo-noir showdown with sheriff Bill Paxton at the climax.

Idris Elba as Colin Evans stands on a doorstep in the rain at night. Taraji P. Henson as Terri Granger answers the door, in the film No Good Deed.

Idris Elba - 📽️ No Good Deed (Sam Miller, 2014)

Too few of Elba’s movies are as good as he deserves, and this is no exception. But he is the reason to see it, essentially as a home invasion horror monster, skulking across rooms and terrorizing Taraji P. Henson with lumbering physicality.

#filmsky

Mark Boone Junior as Mike sits at the bar with a glass of beer in the film Trees Lounge.

Mark Boone Junior - 📽️ Trees Lounge (Steve Buscemi, 1996)

Buscemi made the ultimate darkly comic bar movie, starring opposite his longtime stage comedy partner Boone as Mike—whose drinking is tearing his family life apart. The naturalistic character actor is at home in this phenomenal ensemble.

Zooey Deschanel as Noel in the film All the Real Girls.

Zooey Deschanel - 📽️ All the Real Girls (David Gordon Green, 2003)

This performance was a big deal in film fandom at the time, but the movie is mentioned a lot less today. Deschanel became one to watch months before Elf in Green’s drama as the naive Noel, spellbinding opposite a sly Paul Schneider.

Cate Blanchett as Jane Winslett-Richardson sits inside a research vessel ship in the film The Life Aquatic witn Steve Zissou.

Cate Blanchett - 📽️ The Life Aquatic witn Steve Zissou (Wes Anderson, 2004)

A perfect naturally funny actor to play one normal character surrounded by weirdos, it’s a wonder Blanchett hasn’t returned to the Anderson universe. She’s so endearing as the reporter; I laugh just remembering the accent.

Arjun Rampal as Mukesh Mehra in the film Om Shanti Om.

Arjun Rampal - 📽️ Om Shanti Om (Farah Khan, 2007)

In the Bollywood masala modern classic starring Shah Rukh Khan, Rampal savours the part of deeply evil film producer Mukesh, who just can’t stop starting fires. His mistreatment of his wife (Deepika Padukone) frames the epic revenge story.

#filmsky

Keith Carradine as Coop points a gun in the film Trouble in Mind.

Keith Carradine - 📽️ Trouble in Mind (Alan Rudolph, 1985)

While mercilessly throwing fits, Rudolph muse Carradine shines as the chaotic Coop. In the surreal neo-noir, the incompetent gangster pisses off his wife (Lori Singer), a mob boss (Divine), and an ex-cop (Kris Kristofferson) in Rain City.

Hugh Laurie as Thomas Palmer in the film Sense and Sensibility.

Hugh Laurie - 📽️ Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee, 1995)

Released thirty years ago today, this is one of the strongest ensembles ever. Oscar-winning screenwriter Emma Thompson adapted the role of the bitter Mr. Palmer with longtime friend Laurie in mind. His hilarity helps make it such a comfort film.

Michael McKean as Mr. Green gawks at a pipe in the film Clue.

Michael McKean - 📽️ Clue (Jonathan Lynn, 1985)

Released forty years ago today, Clue is anchored by only perfect performances. One of the most rewarding to revisit is a rarely funnier McKean, granting Mr. Green foppish cluelessness until his hysterical closing kiss-off line. The guy can do anything.

Paul Sparks as Mark frowns with his hands in his pockets in the film Thoroughbreds.

Paul Sparks - 📽️ Thoroughbreds (Cory Finley, 2018)

One of our most versatile character actors, Sparks got a welcome longer showcase as Mark, controlling stepdad to Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy). He elicits such chills with every dismissive remark that his rowing machine becomes a creepy horror soundtrack.

Nobuko Miyamoto as Ryoko Itakura smokes a cigarette and lowers her sunglasses in the film A Taxing Woman.

Nobuko Miyamoto - 📽️ A Taxing Woman (Jūzō Itami, 1987)

Itami’s muse Miyamoto got one of her best roles as the tax investigator in this crime comedy. It’s hard to be prepared for the effortless deft tonal balance in their films together, and she plays this like an eccentric noir detective.

#filmsky

Me in the Criterion Closet: wow Hollow Man, what a film

Criterion employee: you aren’t allowed to bring movies in

Me in the Criterion Closet shaking my sleeves in an odd way: wow Hollow Man 2, what a film

My students are doing a Movie Poster Assignment, and I'm also participating. I chose Do the Right Thing

Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Home Alone’ Star, Dies at 71 Catherine O'Hara, a legendary Hollywood actor known for her roles in 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone,' has died. She was 71.

Fuck. She was a legend of Canadian film and tv. variety.com/2026/tv/news...

Goodnight to the brilliant and beloved Catherine O’Hara, whose presence brought so much joy to our screens. Here she is giving one of her scene-stealing performances as Gail, the Mister Softee vendor, in Martin Scorsese's AFTER HOURS (1985). ❤️

Kate Hudson as Darcy Rhone in the film Something Borrowed.

Kate Hudson - 📽️ Something Borrowed (Luke Greenfield, 2011)

Hudson remixes her How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days manic comedy here, this time for a romcom villain role of sorts with a tiny bit of heart. Hudson is often capable of being great in a lesser movie and this is one such instance.

#filmsky

Rose Byrne as Lori sits forcing a smile in the film The Meddler.

Rose Byrne - 📽️ The Meddler (Lorene Scafaria, 2016)

As the screenwriter daughter of overbearing protagonist Susan Sarandon, Byrne is so deft hopping comedy and drama as each scene demands. Her consistency guarantees more interesting roles to come forever, and she lands every single joke in anything.

Congrats to Kylie Minogue’s daughter, Rose Byrne, on her Oscar nomination

the entire timeline has spoken with one voice. and they're saying "Delroy Lindo"

Roger Allers, the co-director of ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Open Season’, has sadly passed away at the age of 76.

He also directed The Prophet, the Oscar-nominated The Little Matchgirl, was a storyboard artist on The Little Mermaid, Head of Story on Beauty and the Beast and more.

Eva Mendes as Kay M. in the film Holy Motors.

Eva Mendes - 📽️ Holy Motors (Leos Carax, 2012)

I miss Mendes acting, but at least she got to shine in a film this good, as the kidnapped model. Carax’s surrealist masterpiece has nothing but perfect performances from the likes of Édith Scob, Kylie Minogue, Michel Piccoli, and the great Denis Lavant.

Roger Allam as Arnold Royalton holds a bouquet and stands in front of a purple private plane in the film Speed Racer.

Roger Allam - 📽️ Speed Racer (Lana and Lilly Wachowski, 2008)

The always underappreciated Allam (V for Vendetta, The Queen) manages to be a cartoon villain come to life in the Wachowskis’ pretty delightful bomb turned cult movie. Few play pompous entitlement quite so naturally and entertainingly.