Alan Rickman: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

And 5 That Sucked...

5. Shabandar - Gambit

Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz and Alan Rickman, working from a script by the Coen Brothers? Sounds like a slam-dunk, wouldn't you say? Sadly no. While it's hardly the worst movie you'll ever see, Gambit winds up bitterly disappointing because it's simply nowhere near as good as it should have been, on any level.

A remake of a 1966 Michael Caine movie, Gambit boasts a promising enough set-up, as Firth's put-upon fine art consultant, tired of getting abuse from his megalomaniacal media tycoon boss Rickman (yes, another kind-of bad guy role), plots an elaborate revenge on his employer involving a fake Monet and Diaz's Texan cowgirl. It all hinges on broadly drawn caricatures, and old-fashioned farcical humour which simply doesn't gel somehow.

It isn't necessarily that Rickman's performance as the despicable billionaire is really all that bad; it's more of a let-down that his natural charisma isn't enough to elevate the material. When the bulk of his big comedy moments hinge upon him being naked with his most intimate parts humourously concealed by random objects, it's clear that the film probably isn't aiming high enough - and considering the calibre of talent on board, that's a tremendous shame.