2. Tommy Lee Jones (Batman Forever)
The jarring tonal shift between 1992s Batman Returns and 1995s Batman Forever was a deliberate one. Tim Burtons two Batman films adhered to his typically gothic style, and Returns had been darker and less family-friendly than its predecessor, which was seen as a factor in its comparatively low box office haul of $163 million in the U.S. and Canada. Joel Schumacher was conscripted to lighten up the Batman franchise, and Batman Forever was the camp and messy result. Those fans familiar only with Aaron Eckharts nuanced portrayal of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight will balk at Tommy Lee Jones ludicrously over-the-top interpretation of Two-Face. Even Jim Carrey is powerless to match the desperation with which Jones chews the scenery, and thats saying something. Barely a minute passes in which Jones doesnt either double over in maniacal laughter or utter a series of apparently involuntary grunts and snickers, as if lines are suddenly beyond his power. When he is forced to be silent, he looks hilariously uncomfortable, and moments later usually ends up bouncing around the set like a toddler on a sugar rush. Jones Two-Face actually has more in common with Jack Nicholsons Joker than the comic book character he was supposed to represent, but his incredibly goofy performance is at least an enjoyable antidote to films sluggish plot.