9 Worst Motion Captured Performances
Man, Andy Serkis makes this look easy.
The evolution of computer generated effects has been a mixed bag. Sure, it’s allowed filmmakers to realise images and characters that were impossible before, and if it wasn’t for CGI there’d be no Terminator 2, Jurassic Park or The Lord Of The Rings. The flipside is it’s often abused and can rob a film of reality; the world is still recovering from the special editions of Star Wars or the Scorpion King effect from The Mummy Returns.
One major breakthrough of CGI is the ability to motion capture performances. This allows talented actors to play any role they want, from a talking animal to a slimy alien, all without having to set foot in a makeup chair. Andy Serkis is the king of his type of acting, but props should also go to Toby Kebbell for Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes or Bill Nighy in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
While actors are often praised for attempting this process, not everyone comes out of it well. If their performances suck there’s not much a computer can do to hide it, and here are the biggest acting failures in a motion capture role.
9. Jeff Bridges - Tron: Legacy
Jeff Bridges is awesome; this is a universe truth. He’s a great actor, and by all accounts, a groovy human being too. Which isn’t to say he’s always great. He’s done crappy movies, and he’s being weak in a few of them. He looked thoroughly miserable in King Kong 1976, and he’s mumbling mess in R.I.P.D.
When the Tron sequel was announced there was nothing but excitement, especially after a teaser trailer fanned the flames by showing a digitally de-aged Bridges reprising his role from the original. The film has two versions of Bridges for the price of one; the older Kevin Flynn and CLU, his digital avatar. Sadly, he’s terrible in both roles.
For the older Flynn he’s basically a digital hippie, and an immensely annoying one. CLU isn’t much better. The technology still hadn’t reached the point where de-aging looks convincing, giving him a horrible uncanny valley vibe.
There’s not much depth to the performance either; he’s either icy calm or a raving lunatic. Bridge is capable of much better work, so if Tron 3 happens he might be best staying at home.