Ed Harris: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

1. Virgil €˜Bud€™ Brigham - The Abyss

Virgil Brigham

James Cameron€™s 1989 underwater Odyssey, The Abyss, is a landmark for special effects and also contains the single best performance from Harris. I could€™ve highlighted his lead performance as Jackson Pollock in his directorial debut, or his small supporting turn as a regretful dying writer in The Hours, but it is his Virgil Brigham that covers everything in spades that the man has represented in his lengthy career: Power of will, emotionally charged and steely resolve. He wise-cracks, can be dismissive to people and is still clingy to his ex-wife, but when the time calls for someone to step up, he answers. No other moment is all this apparent than the scene of Brigham reviving his wife, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, from drowning. A showcase for performance acting and Harris himself; however, as skilled and talented as he is there are times when he isn't even a fraction as committed to his work. Bringing us to...
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