Robert Downey Jr. – A Scanner Darkly
I love performances that go against the grain of what actors typically lean towards and while there are still traces of Robert Downey Jr.’s trademark quick wit in A Scanner Darkly it forgoes the wink and the nudge for a performance that’s strictly erring to the unhinged. Like the rest of the film there’s always something off kilter and on edge about his performance, his delivery all very mannered and specific. Prone to spilling into long tangents, it’s incredible to see just how much of his characters mania he can portray while being masked by the rotoscope animation. It’s too bad Downey is so caught up in the Marvel mania because he’s an actor who could benefit greatly from a reappearance in the Linklater universe. –Ally
Jack Black – Bernie
Jack Black is an intriguing actor, something that isn’t highlighted enough (or noticed for that matter) in many of the roles he’s chosen throughout his career. Certainly a funny actor he’s tended to stray towards the broader comedies, something that is easier to ignore than celebrate. Black is at his best when his live-wire, persistent energy is directed in stranger characters, something exemplified beautifully in the lesser seen film, Bernie. All of Black’s oddities and idiosyncrasies are present but subdued. Instead of playing the role with his usual, confident gusto there’s instead threads of frayed insecurity and awkwardness. It provides one of the most interesting performances both in any of Linklaters films and in Black’s career thus far. –Ally
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