10 Actors Who Tried To Play Against Type (And Failed)

8. Tom Hanks - Bonfire Of The Vanities

Elizabeth berkely Showgirls
Warner Bros.

Hanks is that reliable actor who swayed from comedy to drama to Oscar gold, rarely making a false step on the way. There have been interesting turns when he played against type (Road to Perdition, The Ladykillers) but one black spot on his career has to this bizarre misuse of his persona.

Bonfire Of The Vanities was an expensive flop that managed to make a big mess of the highly regarded source material. It has several problems working against it, yet Hanks casting is one of the more blatant errors, with the ever likeable actor playing a shallow 'master of the universe' stock trader.

Hanks is always watchable, but the entire film balances on us cheering for his comeuppance, and ...well, he's just too likeable for this to work. His warmth and charm just etch through what should have been a smarmy and despicable character.

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