4.03.2011

BAMF Of The Week: Mark Strong

MARK STRONG
"If a slap don't work, you cut 'em or you pay 'em."

Mark Strong is one of the unsung chameleons of the acting world. If you don't know who he is, it's probably because you just didn't recognize him. He's been everything from Mr. Knightley in Emma (1996) to the nerdy, calculating hitman Sorter from Revolver (2005) (who Guy Ritchie constantly got a kick out of, as he remarked in the commentary, simply because he was so pleased with seeing Mark Strong in socks that stuck out from under his trousers). He's charismatic, terrifying, and completely imbibes every role he's in. Which is why it took me so fucking long to realize he's actually an amazing actor. Because never once did I think "Wow, Mark Strong was really good in Rocknrolla". I just thought, "Huh, Archy's a really badass dude". He's not one of those actors who you automatically think of as being as awesome actor because he just does it so damn naturally, you instantly get caught in the flow of his characters. 

I'll admit here that my admiration for Mark Strong could very possibly simply be another branch of my admiration for the BAMF Guy Ritchie. Who I love with all my wanna-be-British heart. After all, if Mark Strong is enough of a badass for Guy Ritchie to shove the man in three of his movies, there has to be something essentially fucking awesome about him, right? Right. But the thing is, I've seen him in other things, and he's been epic in every role and genre he takes on. Like I said. Fucking chameleon. 

Best Films: Revolver (2005), Rocknrolla (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009). Guy Ritchie aside, let's be real, he was even a bamf in Stardust (2007).

Best Moment: Sorter's shootout in Revolver. Really. The movie should've just been called Sorter & Co. Or Archy's slap, it's really a toss up.

Best Quote: [When asked if he's going to try to scramble for that golden ticket Hollywood lead role] "I tend to read scripts and just take what I like. I have no plan...I wouldn't want to sit at home planning a campaign of how I'm gonna get an Oscar, I mean I'm not that kind of actor. I'm genuinely not interested in that kinda stuff. What I love is being on a film set with intelligent people, making movies."

Upcoming Films: He's going to be in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011). I'm there. 

10 comments:

  1. Yeah, I don't know about this one. It's not really his fault (well, actually it kind of is) - he makes such a good villain, but I'm sick to death of seeing him play the villain in every third movie that's come out in the last 4 years. Shake it up a little bit, Mark.

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  2. I'll give you that--he definitely does villain more often than not, probably one of the subconscious reasons why I picked him. Which is a travesty, considering the fact that I just praised him for being a chameleon. What can I say? I love a bad boy.

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  3. I love him and think he's underrated and under-appreciated. He does play a villain a lot, but he does it so well. I love an absolutely wicked villain who's a legend in his own mind. I look forward to seeing him as Sinestro in The Green Lantern.

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  4. Agreed there! I know little about the Green Lantern, unfortunately, but he definitely looks wild in it! I guess I'm so used to him being the "heroic villain" (as in the Guy Ritchie movies) that it didn't even occur to me how often he plays the bad guy. But hell, who cares when he's got that great British rumble voice?

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  5. Mark Strong rules. He is a very underrated actor. He almost stole Kick-Ass away from Nic Cage and Chloe Moretz!

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  6. He really is a BAMF! Who no one ever seems to take the time to appreciate, which is just unfortunate. And steals movies all the time.

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  7. agreed, He is under rated, always does a great job and with class.

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  8. With class! Couldn't have said it better. He's definitely the classiest BAMF out there. Thanks for the comment!

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  9. Don't forget his awesome Hani in Body of Lies. He stole the film from DiCaprio and Crowe

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  10. Very belated response, but thanks for the comment! I really have to see Body of Lies...one of these days.

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