When I’m at the gym, I’m a captive audience, with Stockholm syndrome. There are 90 minutes of cardio to fill and as long as that little TV’s on, so am I. Since I don’t watch sports and even the Kardashians take a break once in awhile, I’ve found myself watching Sunday afternoon movies, the kind that if I wasn’t mid-workout, would never even cross my radar.
The surprising discovery wasn’t that these were great movies that I’m thrilled to finally find. The movies are still the equivalent of airplane food -- you eat it because it’s there. The real surprise has been a mini-universe of underrated, underappreciated and underemployed actors.
Growing up, you could catch some good stuff in that 4-6 p.m. slot, provided that you didn’t mind playing “guess that curse word” or commercials every 12 minutes; most of the time, it was pretty current offerings.
Nowadays, it’s movies from around ’95-’05 and while it’s not exactly a dead zone of cinematic offerings, I wouldn’t call it a Golden Age either. But tucked inside these movies are some great underrated actors who lack the flash of A-listers with their seemingly eternal staying power but are much more likeable and deserving of roles and accolades. While I wouldn’t be adverse to some 10 percent gratitude, I’d consider it a public service if these actors could get some action.
Emma Thompson: I understand that being a witty British woman of a certain age means that you aren’t bombarded with offers daily. It’s one thing if you look like Demi Moore but what happens when you don’t? I’d like to make an argument that Emma Thompson is what the Tina Feys of the world grow up to be. With hundreds of cable channels and some truly original programming out there, you’d think there’d be a place for someone who exudes a warm, friendly intelligence. Regardless how she looks in a bikini.
Dennis Quaid: I was subjected to ‘The Rookie recently and the only thought that kept running through my head (other than damn, that man’s stayed in shape) is how unaffected and believable he is. There’s this kind of old-fashioned All-American vibe to him and he exudes a quiet confidence that yes, he will be able to stop those outlaws, fight city hall, cradle that baby and grill a steak, possibly all at the same time. He’s good-looking in a rugged way, in a world that values pretty men more but when he’s on screen, you can’t look away.
Winona Ryder: Hear me out on this one. Before the shoplifting fiasco, she was the go-to actress for roles that required a certain kind of earnest, awkward sincerity that many girls and women could relate to. She wasn’t hot, in the Hollywood babe sense of the word and she didn’t try to fit any particular kind of mold.
