2. Sam Rockwell
There are only a handful of actors who have successfully managed to carry an entire, large-scale genre movie on their shoulders as the sole character for most if not the entire runtime of their respective films. One of them is a multiple Oscar nominee, Grammy award-winning rapper, and one of the most famous, recognizable, and successful people in the world (Will Smith, I Am Legend). The other is a two-time Oscar winner and five-time nominee, and one of the most respected and revered actors of his generation (Tom Hanks, Cast Away). The third is Sam Rockwell. It continues to astound me that, after a career of over 70 film appearances in both lead and supporting roles, mainstream and independent films, comedies and dramas, Rockwell only has about a dozen acting nominations and wins, mostly as part of an ensemble cast and not as an individual performer, and none from
any of the major awards organizations. Rockwell has appeared in some of the most iconic and memorable films of the last decade and has consistently delivered performances of immense quality and dedication, ranging from outrageously goofy (Matchstick Men, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) to tortured soul (Snow Angels, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Moon) to completely psychotic (The Green Mile, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Seven Psychopaths - in fact, most of his other roles). At this point and after iconic roles in many of the aforementioned films (not to mention a key villain role in Iron Man 2, and a handful of other mainstream roles he has portrayed over the years), Rockwell has already gained a substantial amount of traction amont cinephiles and film buffs. Which makes his lack of mainstream success or critical and award recognition all the more staggering. Rockwell consistently brings a unique and memorable sense of energy and dedication to every performance, and yet, none of his upcoming roles looks poised to catapult him into the spotlight. Perhaps it's better that way, though. Rockwell will always be
our actor, success or no success. All I know is, anyone who can dohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvj8ZEnNrQY) deserves my undying and eternal admiration.
KEY ROLES: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Snow Angels (2007), Moon (2009).
NEXT SEEN IN: Seven Psychopaths (UK release date: December 2012).