Ten Actors Who Give The Same Performance Every Time

No matter what they wear, where the film is set, or what the plot is, some actors just rise above it all. You can help but watch and lose focus because you’re never seeing the character, only the actor. Why is this? Well, some of Hollywood’s elite have a good thing going, and they’re bringing it to the screen every time

Al Pacino
Even in his younger, Michael Corleone days, Pacino was modulating. He could go from a whisper to a scream effortlessly, and without warning. It became punctuation, and eventually, a caricature.

Highlights: Heat, Scent Of A Woman, Scarface, The Devil’s Advocate

Exception: Looking For Richard

Denzel Washington
There’s a moment in where you see the light bulb go on in Denzel’s head in almost all of his movies, where he catches on to the plot and he is stuck between pleading sincerity or stern intensity. He’ll break it up with a snappy comment, but it’s the intelligent self-awareness he always plays that keeps his range to those two limits

Highlights: Philadelphia, Crimson Tide, The Manchurian Candidate, Deja Vu

Exception: Much Ado About Nothing

Bruce Willis
It’s hard to tell if the wise-cracking, smart-alecky David Addison he played in Moonlighting was a character or just him, but he stuck with it. Not every role calls for such comedic snarkiness, so he spices things up with his own brand of exhausted passion, usually at the end of a demanding physical moment.

Highlights: Die Hard, Hudson Hawk, The Whole Nine Yards, The Fifth Element

Exception: In Country

Keanu Reeves
The zen-like balance Reeves exhibits is almost frightening, acting as a prism for the audience to experience the story. He’s like a smiley face icon – you can change it up a little but it’s always the same circle with dots for eyes.

Highlights: The Matrix, Speed, Dracula, Constantine

Exception: Freaked

Will Smith
It is a scientific fact that the universe would implode if Will Smith was ever to be in a movie with Bruce Willis. He too has mastered the art of sharp asides and exasperated intensity with a dash of machismo, but comes in a non-threatening “urban” package.

Highlights: Men In Black, Independence Day, I, Robot, Bad Boys

Exception: Ali

Hugh Grant
Nobody can do smug and befuddled like Hugh Grant. His self deprecating British twit is always charming yet flawed, and his greatest ally is his flopping mop of a hairdo, which he clutches as he flutters his eyelashes.

Highlights: Four Weddings And A Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Music And Lyrics

Exception: The Remains Of The Day

Jack Black
If he’s not cartoonishly bouncing about in his hyper fashion, almost everything that comes out of his mouth is wrought with silliness and wordy excess. He’s the non-threatening, loveable loser who’s naïve excitement and innocence is hopefully enough to keep him from being annoying.

Highlights: Nacho Libre, High Fidelity, School Of Rock, Orange County

Exception: King Kong

Owen Wilson
Blessed with the stupidest nickname in Hollywood, The Butterscotch Stallion seems to have always just woken up from a bong-induced nap. Aside from contractually needing to make every other movie with Ben Stiller, he is always easy going and laid back. It’s hard for him to get above a 3 on the intensity dial.

Highlights: Zoolander, The Life Aquatic, Wedding Crashers, Starsky And Hutch

Exception: The Minus Man

Tom Hanks
The man to benefit the most from the death of Jimmy Stewart, Tom Hanks is the likeable everyman. There are no edges to his roles, no faults to find. Just nice, safe, inoffensive, likeable characters. If actors had a rating system he’d be G.

Highlights: Forrest Gump, Sleepless In Seattle, Apollo 13, You’ve Got Mail

Exception: Philadelphia

Jack Nicholson
Jack plays Jack in all his roles. Kinda crazy, kinda sarcastic, kinda cool, he just settled into being himself on screen. It’s like he always just finished a big meal, and he’s half sleepy and half satisfied.

Highlights: The Witches Of Eastwick, Batman, As Good As It Gets, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

Exception: The Shining