Why Am I Excited: Skarsgård and Stormare

I just wanted to drop a quick post to show you all two films I am really excited to see starring two of my favorite character actors. And it's not just because they have awesome sounding names.

Small Town Murder Songs

Why am I excited?

This film is shot in Ontario, and Peter Stormare is the headline actor. I don't know about all of you, but I feel Stormare brings serious gusto to whatever film he happens to be in. Even though he seems to be relegated to secondary roles in other big budget Hollywood films, the character he plays is the character that audiences remember when they leave. Some examples are (in no particular order):

•  Constantine
• While I consider this movie as a whole to be kind of a huge slap in the face to anyone familiar with the source material (re: Hellblazer), one thing I enjoyed watching was Peter Stormare's charismatic Satan. Delightfully morbid!
• Bad Boys 2
• I can't remember anything about this movie, which lends insight into its quality. Again, Stormare pulls through as the Russian mobster who delivers the most only memorable line of this film - "The Russian Grim Reaper is here."
• Armageddon
• While this goofy film is filled with cartoon characters of all types, Stormare again manages to whip out a little bit of dialog that I won't forget any time soon - "American components, Russian components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!"

His gusto alone has made him a memorable character in nearly every movie he has been in even though he was surrounded by what would be considered to be "mega-stars". I am very excited to see a film in which the focus is on him to deliver in a dramatic role. Here is hoping for the best. 

A Somewhat Gentle Man

Why am I excited?

Stellan Skarsgard is the kind of actor that can actually get me to watch films that normally would slip under the radar. His mere presence generates interest from my end. I have admired his work in a wide spectrum of movies, big and small:

• Deep Blue Sea
• HA! This one is a doozy that I quite enjoyed. Skarsgard's doctor has the most memorable... dismemberment, and as a bonus his character introduction has him pissing into the wind. Comedy gold. 
• City of Ghosts
• This surreal Matt Dillon directed flick has Skarsgard delivering on the daramatic acting chops that have made him an international star. 
• King Arthur
• I may write about this movie later because I feel it gets an unjustly bad wrap. Antoine Fuqua's excursion into Roman occupied Britain was definetly a leap for the director, considering his forte seemed to be modern urban filmmaking. Despite that, I feel this was a very effective re-telling of the Arthurian Legend, thanks in no small part to Skarsgard's Cerdic, the underdeveloped yet entirely menacing Saxon leader. His mano-a-mano conversation with Clive Owen's Arthur before the final battle was particularly effective. His swagger and line delivery make this a memorable role.
• Insomnia (1997)
• The film that Christopher Nolan re-made has Skarsgard front and center playing a cop with questionable morals. His nuanced delivery makes his character at once despicable and sympathetic at the same time. I recommend checking this film out, you will find many of what seemed to be the most compelling plot and character moments from the Nolan film are lifted completely from this one. 
• Beowulf and Grendel
• I really enjoyed this oddball film. It took the complete opposite approach to both the mythology, as well as the method of film making that Robert Zemekis's motion captured Beowulf did. It told the story from Grendel's point of view, using make-up and the natural beauty of Iceland to its advantage. Director Sturla Gunnarsson (Icelandic names are awesome) crafts a story that is whimsical, savage and quite funny at times. Skarsgard's King Hrothgar is played with an air of desperation that allows the audience to believe that he is truly a man running out of options. His uniquely comedic delivery adds to the oddball nature of the entire film, which is what made it memorable as a whole. 

Peter Stomare and Stellan Skarsgard are actors that no one really knows by name, yet once a movie goer sees their faces, there is an instant recognition. As soon as recognition is established, exclamations of "Oh! he played this character in this movie, and that character in that movie!" seem to steadily stream from any movie-goers memory. Stormare and Skarsgard's ability to remain memorable amongst a sea of top talent is a testament to their acting ability, and that is why I am looking forward to these two films.