Tim Roth

Checked out the video store. They didn't have it 🙂
...

take a look somewhere else 🤷

Jerry Martin19 said:I mean, come on. Why wouldn't it be totally silly to compare Tim Roth to "some" Sean Penn? 😕
p.s. Stick to your first point—that "people are different, tastes vary too..." 😉

hmm, well, I was actually sticking to what was—honestly—not even obvious in my last post...
It’s not that I have some weird crush on Penn or anything—I was just reacting to the comparison for a whole other reason:
Comparing him to a heavyweight actor just feels off to me—like, sure, I might think some player from a minor league is super likable and nobody can deny his talent, but comparing him to an All-Star? It just doesn't track.
Once Roth carries a major film on his own shoulders as the lead, then maybe he'll be worthy of that comparison—until then, he's just a supporting guy.
To some people he's charming, to me he's just... there.

Michelle Hall9 said:I love it when people watch Pulp Fiction and Four Rooms and suddenly think they've mastered cinema, acting like they can judge an actor's entire career based on a couple of movies.👍

Personally, I think Sean Penn is pretty mediocre. I've seen more than two of his films, so yeah, I've reached my conclusion.

Nice one. Only thing is, I only mentioned three movies, but clearly you struggle with basic counting—which somehow doesn't stop you from lecturing everyone else about thinking they know everything, huh...
Besides, those movies were already brought up by others—I was just saying how I see Roth in them. Something you probably could've figured out without being such a know-it-all...
And as for Penn, just read the top of my post.

Raymond Palmer8 said:Look, I was actually sticking to something I didn't explicitly say in my last post...
I don't have some weird obsession with Penn; I just reacted to that comparison for a totally different reason:
Comparing him to a heavyweight actor just feels off. I can think a player from a lower league is super likable or undeniably talented, but comparing them to an All-Star is just tacky. The math doesn't add up.
Once Roth carries a high-quality film as the lead, then maybe he’ll be worth comparing. Until then, he’s just a supporting guy...
To some, he’s charming; to me, he’s barely there...

I get your taste, and that's fine—we aren't debating that. But I don't get why you're calling Tim Roth a "lower league" player while suggesting Penn is more like a major star?! It would be just as dumb if I flipped it...
These two actors come from completely different worlds and differ in so many ways that they aren't even comparable. It's like comparing a stand-up comedian to a serious dramatic actor. A bit absurd, right? 🙂

p.s. I don't want to get caught in the middle of you and Michelle Hall9, but when she mentioned someone judging based on only two movies, she was probably talking about cool hand luke since he's the one who brought those two up 🙂

btw, not to brag, but I've seen 13 Tim Roth movies, so I actually have something to contribute... 😉

Raymond Palmer8 said:You're a real genius. The only thing is, I mentioned three movies, and clearly you can't count that high—though you're more than happy to lecture everyone else about how they've lost their damn minds, right?
Look, people already brought up those films before me; I was just saying how I see Roth in them. Something you could have figured out yourself if you weren't so... preoccupied...
And regarding Penn, just look at the top of my post.

🙂 Just so we're clear, my comment wasn't aimed only at you, but there's obviously a reason why you felt personally attacked. 😉

Jerry Martin19 said:not to brag or anything—but I've sat through 13 Tim Roth flicks, so I definitely know my stuff😉

all five of 'em.
just checked IMDb and saw he was in "Dark Water"—it was alright, I guess, but I honestly didn't even notice him in it.
even in Reservoir Dogs, which I saw ages ago, Michael Madsen is the one who sticks in my head... not Roth at all... though maybe that's just on me😁

anyway, @ Michelle Hall9, she mentioned Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction, and Penn in her post, and since those are the exact ones in mine, it's pretty clear she was talking about me...

Roth was absolutely legendary in Four Rooms—those facial expressions and his whole delivery... I was laughing my head off.

Aside from Four Rooms, I caught him in that flick with 2Pac, and another one—I can't recall the title—where he plays a supporting role as a ship captain. It’s about a guy fleeing Japan for the States to find his father, who turns out to be a blind American soldier...

Anyway... I haven't seen enough Roth movies to give a full assessment, but in Four Rooms, he is top-tier.

Linda Lopez80 said:Besides Four Rooms, I caught him in that Tupac movie and some other one—I can't recall the title right now.

Gridlock'd (1997)

Linda Lopez80 said:man, Roth was absolutely Law in Four Rooms...

Oh, that absolute trash... I was practically screaming! For years, that’s been one of my favorite comedies—honestly, the absolute peak was that final scene in *The Misbehavers*.

I’ve seen Roth in... well, not a huge amount... maybe seven or eight films... but he has always been unbeatable—truly, in every single second of his performance. Even when I didn't particularly care for the movie itself, just having Roth on screen would somehow "elevate" the whole thing. And whether it was a comedic beat or something dead serious, he always executed it so perfectly. I don't know how one defines "good acting," but based on what I feel... Roth doesn't just meet the mark; he exceeds it entirely.

Linda Lopez80 said:...it's some movie (can't recall the title) where he plays a supporting role, like a ship captain, and some Japanese guy flees Japan for the US to find his father, only to discover he's a blind American soldier......

Haven't seen it, but I'm guessing it's this movie 🙂

Look, since I’m the one who kicked this whole thing off, I guess I’m the one who has to set the record straight—even though there isn't really anything to "fix" here. It’s just that people are misreading what I said and jumping to the wrong conclusions, and honestly, that's how you end up in these ridiculous arguments... but whatever. All I actually said was that Roth is one of my favorite actors, right alongside Penn. Raymond Palmer8 That's what I'm saying.

Comparing some leftist hack to Sean Penn is honestly just plain disrespectful.

Look, I wasn't out here trying to compare anyone—I was just stating facts. And even if I had gone there? It wouldn't have been rude, not by a long shot. 🤣

I guess you could even bring up Michelle Hall9 in this conversation—though, obviously, I don't agree with her on anything.

Michelle Hall9 Personally, I think Sean Penn is pretty much a non-entity when it comes to acting. I’ve sat through more than two of his movies now—enough to form an actual opinion—and honestly? He’s way overhyped. It’s just my take, though—everyone's got their own taste—but for me, Tim Roth is easily the much better actor.

And there goes Roth again, back at it with the praise... 😂

Nicholas Chavez70 Susan Mendoza71 said:Honestly, that part in Pulp Fiction totally turned my stomach—watching those poor people get robbed by that psycho woman.

Jerry Martin19 Look, what Susan Mendoza71 is getting at is that those two actors come from completely different worlds. They’re fundamentally different beasts—you can't even put them in the same conversation. It’s like trying to compare a stand-up comedian to some heavy-hitting dramatic actor who only does prestige stuff. It just doesn't work.

Look, I see you’re being pretty reasonable here, but that example you threw out? It was a bad call. I’m gonna have to disagree—I know they aren't even in the same league of actors, but honestly, acting is either good or it sucks. It doesn't matter if you're the lead or just some guy in a supporting role; you're either nailing it or you're failing. Period.

Jerry Martin19 Sean Penn basically just forces his roles at this point—he keeps hitting the same notes over and over again.

I don't buy that for a second... If that were true, it would mean that the scuzzy lawyer from Carlito's Way and the ex-con from Mystic River—both absolute legends in my book—were just forced, cookie-cutter archetypes based on the same thing. That claim just doesn't hold water for me... unless they're leaning hard on that "mostly" qualifier. 🤣 ?

Man, this is already drifting way too far off-topic... we gotta get back to the point here. Look, Roth is killer and that's all there is to it. Period.

In my humble opinion, 😉
I’ve just never been able to get on board with this actor. There is something inherently uncomfortable about his screen presence. You can argue all you want, but I find those hyper-theatrical, perverse roles to be neither appealing nor necessary for a high-quality film. That said, if that's what some people enjoy, far be it from me to judge.
However, even if we set aside the fact that he is absolutely dreadful—and I mean that in every possible sense of the word—his talent is undeniable. He plays those repulsive characters perfectly to create contrast, and he executes them brilliantly. Still, I feel there should be more restraint; we don't need an endless expansion of characters with that specific profile. But hey, in today's film industry, there are no boundaries anymore, so I guess we're in for a treat.
I'm not one for making direct comparisons, but I will add that Sean Penn is a fantastic actor. I believe he possesses an incredible range and has delivered far superior films than the one mentioned here, though of course, that's entirely subjective. 😁

Ronald Morales51 said:it's all subjective

😉

Jerry Martin19 said:I haven't seen it—but I'm pretty sure it's this movie 🙂

Yep!👍 That's the one...

One of my absolute favorite scenes in Four Rooms is when he starts explaining to that guy why he shouldn't call him Theodore...😂

It is truly fascinating to observe such a compelling antagonist, particularly when you consider Gary Oldman’s performance in Leon (The Professional)... Once he pops those pills and begins to adopt that particular psycho expression, it becomes quite intense...😂 😂 😂 ...

I’ve always had a massive soft spot for the duo of Tim Roth and Steve Buscemi.

Jeffrey Wilson67 said:I see you're playing nice now, but that’s a pretty weak example. I don't buy it. Even if they aren't in the same league, acting is either good or it isn't. You can't really split hairs based on whether someone is a lead or just a supporting player...

I can sort of get on board with this, but...

I don't see that at all... That would imply that that washed-up lawyer from Carlito's Way and the ex-con from Mystic River are basically just forced versions of the same trope. Doesn't make any sense to me... unless they're just leaning hard on the "mostly" part... 🤣 ?

Look, you totally misread me. I never said Penn doesn't nail his roles. I was just saying he’s got some flaws here and there. If you want to ignore them, that’s on you—and on anyone else who wants to look the other way when an actor slips up. Personally, I still think he's a damn good actor...

21 Grams, I am Sam, Mystic River, Hurly Burly... Those are just a few examples. You really have to call it out at least once—if not more—in every single one. I’m not saying his take on Sam was bad, per se, but he definitely overplayed it in certain scenes. If you compare him to how Dustin Hoffman played the autistic character in Rain Man... Rain Man If you actually bother to analyze it, you'll see what I mean... 🙂

Look, you totally missed my point. I never said Penn doesn't nail his roles—far from it. I was just saying, more gently, that he definitely has his off nights. If you want to ignore his flaws, that's on you and everyone else who wants to look the other way, even though—personally—I think he's a damn good actor...

I don't think I misunderstood you, because you specifically wrote that his roles feel forced most of the time... you just phrased it weirdly. I can accept that. And yeah, I agree he has lapses—just like any actor does. For instance, people love De Niro and praise him—and I'm not saying he's bad—but he's got movies where his whole performance just misses the mark. Take something like 'License to Wed'—I honestly can't sit through that one, but hey, that's just my take. 😉

whatever works for you 🙂

He’s solid in Tarantino movies, but honestly, I haven't checked out anything else he's done...😁