Expecting someone with a background as a model and front man to a boy band to make a move into acting and instantly become Laurence Olivier is clearly expecting too much, and in a sense it was Mark Wahlberg's acting limitations which made him the perfect fit for Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. Like Vin Diesel, Wahlberg has demonstrated that he's capable of delivering some variety to his roles but mostly chooses to play a variation on the same character from one film to the next. More recently - since he started hitting the gym frequently - those roles have been slightly modified to allow for additional shots of his pecs and abs. When given the right role Mark Wahlberg is capable of walking a fine line between vulnerability and strength, which he displayed clearly in his last great performance in The Fighter. Unfortunately, with more collaborations with Michael Bay on the horizon, it's unlikely we'll get to see him flexing anything other than his actual muscles for some time.
