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Okay, so I recently caught a trailer for a new Al Pacino flick (the name escapes me).
I’ve never notice it before (and you guys may skewer me for saying this) but Al Pacino is not really that great of an actor. Sure the guy can deliver walls of dialogue but he’s basically Keanu Reeves (if Reeves could deliver dialogue); he just is who he is in everything he does.
I don’t know. Maybe the trailer just hit me on a bad day but I just kept comparing his syncopated delivery to that of William Shatner parodies.
My essence still senses Bucho's women.
Addendum:
I don’t dislike him. I loved him in Heat and Insomnia.
And Serpico.
I guess he’s like Elvis and The Beatles for me. I don’t get people’s massive obsession with how great he is.
My essence still senses Bucho's women.
I’ve never really thought of Pacino as that kind of actor, but I wonder if it’s just because his most iconic roles are hard to shake, not just for the audience but those casting agents that say, “we really need a Pacino type in this role”, and then they end up casting Pacino, and then we complain because he’s not stretching enough as an actor.
Strange that you brought up Keanu, too. I don’t know exactly why, but I’ve always liked him, and will continue to watch anything the guy does. Maybe it’s because of his complete lack of hubris, the way he interacts with fans, his humility. I’ll admit that his filmography is speckled with shit, but I’ll always root for him. John Wick was awesome.
Just bought John Wick. Really looking forward to it.
And you make a god point about Pacino and his casting.
I guess my issue is not a knock on Pacino as much as it is a love for actors like Gary Oldman. Not necessarily a “character actor” but someone that always brings his own spin to whatever role they play.
I don’t really have an actor that will make me go see a movie no matter what. But director? I’ll see anything Ridley Scott does. I am just completely in tune to his style.
My essence still senses Bucho's women.
I think most people can’t distinguish between their own tastes, and what constitutes “good” or even “great”. Our language and our point of view (especially me with a pretty strong opinion of most things) often classifies things in a way that creates a statement of fact, rather than opinion.
Pacino is larger than life. Because he has so many roles that play to his strengths, people love him and call him “great”. He’s great at being Pacino, and when a role/director can capitalize on that, he’s going to come off great and memorable. This leads people to proclaim him as one of the greats using the issue above. It’s important, because when people have this kind of effect on viewers, it’s easy to forget the junk, because it’s not as memorable as what happens when it “works”.
Look back over that IMDB list, and you’ll see what I mean. You are already aware that you don’t classify him as high on the scale as others… but I bet you’ve forgotten many of his shitty films. But more importantly, when you watch this list, you’ll see things that jump out immediately, and “classic Pacino” or the larger than life version of his will immediately jump out and you’ll remember why people think this way. In effect, you’ll answer your own question.
Pacino is the universe’s greatest at being “Pacino”, and that’s what viewers love about him.
BTW: this is a much better stated way of looking at why I don’t care for Denzel Washington… the first paragraph I mean.
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