Hopefully, this will be a continuing type of post which considers an interesting (sometimes unusual, sometimes pretty basic) top ten list concerning films, actor/actresses, directors, basically anything within the realm of cinema. I hope to mix it up so it's not always the same thing.
For the first rendition of this post series, I want to focus on an idea I came up with after hearing Baby Got Back while flipping through the radio. What the heck? That is what you are probably thinking right now. How does Baby Got Back relate to movies? Well, name one other song Sir-Mix-A-Lot has done. Waiting..... Still waiting.... Wait, you can't name another song he's done? Neither can I. Surprise, surprise. He's the epitome of the one-hit wonder in music. Now, this cinema theme relates to that. One hit wonder actors don't really exist because you can be really bad and still get jobs in Hollywood or an Indie film or on stage or anywhere really.
People make more than one movie. The closest we really get to a "one-hit wonder" is James Dean, but that's because he died way too young and his career was cut short not because he wasn't a good actor. However, there is type-casting in movies. And along the lines of type-casting, there are those who, though they make a dozen or more movies in their career, are still known for a certain performance in a certain movie. No matter what they do, they can't shake a certain character they may have portrayed many, many years ago. The character basically becomes the person. The actor and/or actress isn't known by their real name. They are known as the character. There is no differentiating between the two for a majority of people. Let's call it cross-persona cinematic metamorphosis syndrome or CROPCIMS.
This list is to honor those who have an extreme case of CROPCIMS. Not saying these are the only people or the "best," I am merely stating these are the ones I believe have been struck with CROPCIMS, for a multitude of reasons, the hardest. I also tried to include a variety of people who have been stricken with CROPCIMS for varying reasons.
So, here it is, in descending order.
10. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates as Stacey Hamilton and Linda Barnett in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Ok, so I'm already cheating by including two people as one, but their parts are so intertwined within the movie that I figured I could get away with it. Honestly, if people hear either of these actresses names, their minds will immediately fly to Fast Times, an infamous swim suit scene, and the rest of Cameron Crowe's high school "expose." One of the reasons is because neither actress really had a large filmography after wards, especially Cates (except for the awesomeness that is Gremlins). Once she married Kevin Kline, she decided she didn't really need to act too much anymore. With Jason Leigh, she never really found anymore successful, or probably better labeled, memorable parts. She'll always be known as the floundering freshman, taking bad advice from Cates about sex and high school interactions. Meanwhile, Cates will always be known for that red swim suit. Sad considering that three Oscar-winners appeared and got their starts in the film (Nicholas Cage, Forrest Whittaker, and Sean Penn). It wasn't meant to be for this pair of females.
9. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Red Dragon
Note: I prefer not to acknowledge the latter two films as they detract from the genius of the original (film-wise) Silence of the Lambs. While Hopkins has had an extensive career on-screen and on-stage, his career in Hollywood was brought back to life by his turn as the cannibalistic serial killer. One of my personal favorite characters in all of cinema, his chilling 17ish minutes on-screen were enough to give us nightmares and shudder at the mention of fava beans and Chianti. And though he acted in several critically acclaimed movies- The Lion in Winter, The Remains of the Day, and Amistad - the audiences' minds are brought back to his Oscar-winning turn as Lector. His case of CROPCIMS is only being aided by his recent questionable selection of movies like The Rite and The Wolfman. To illustrate my point about his inclusion on the list, when I asked a person who likes movies but isn't obsessed if they knew Hopkins was nominated for Best Actor for his turn as Richard Nixon in Nixon. That person responded, "Wait, what? Hannibal the Cannibal played Nixon?"
8. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the (insert rest of title here) eight renditions
Honestly, I only put him this far up on the list because he still has a long career ahead of him, but he could (and will) slowly but surely move up towards the top. If we are being real here, he is never going to fully shake the role of Harry Potter. And I don't really feel sorry for him because I'm sure he did (and will) make absolute bank on the role. And he owes it to the franchise for starting him in his career. Without Harry, Daniel would probably never have been noticed. Now, he at least has something to start a career with. But whenever I see him, I think "oh bloody hell, its 'Arry Potter again." And I always will. I'm sure I'm not the only one either, which is why he found this place on our CROPCIMS list. Same goes for probably most of the main cast who started the franchise as kids like Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Other contributors, like Alan Rickman, have other roles and aren't as likely to be known as Snape (or whatever the case may be) forever.
7. Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Is it because the character is one of the greatest of all-time? Or because Broderick has had more success singing on stage? Or perhaps a bit of both? Whatever the case is, when people hear the name Matthew Broderick, they don't think Inspector Gadget or How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. They think of a singing Twist and Shout in a strange leopard vest, driving a bright red Ferrari, and an in-depth analysis of "-isms" in the shower. Since so many people have seen Ferris Bueller and so few people have seen him in some of his better known works, like Glory, his acts on-stage, or WarGames, he is undeniably attached to the character of Ferris Bueller forever. And, honestly, I can't say this is a bad thing because most people I know would love to hang out with Ferris Bueller for a day.
6. Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight
This might be a bit of a controversial inclusion because Ledger has had memorable roles in other movies like Brokeback Mountain and I'm Not There. However, due to the time of the release of the movie, the movie's incredible box office success, and the acknowledgment of Ledger's genius in the role by the Academy (Oscar for best supporting actor) this role has become somewhat mythological and will, undoubtedly, become forever associated with the actor. The stories behind the preparation, the rumors that the role drove Ledger to his overdose, and the pop culture icon status the character has received are all contributors to this phenomenon. Since it was his final role, it is more of a complement to his abilities that it become a part of his persona. However, the strangeness surrounding the role and his death certainly do put a somber tone on the celebration of his brilliant performance. Ultimately, it will be hard to shake the image of Ledger as the reptilian-tongued Joker, pushing Gotham City, and Batman, to their very psychological limits.
5. Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent in Superman I-IV
In Reeve's, his CROPCIMS can be heavily contributed to the tragic equestrian accident that left him a quadriplegic. It significantly shorten his career, as roles were few and far between after the incident. While he did have roles in between Superman and his accident, they were not nearly as iconic and memorable and people will never forget his renditions in the blockbuster films featuring one of America's most beloved super heroes. Though the inclusion on the list is sad, the portrayal is still as much a part of the cinema's rich history as it was when the first Superman came out in 1978. And for that, we can be grateful for Reeve's character and symbolic case of CROPCIMS.
4. Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day
I can honestly say, off the top of my head, I don't know any other movies or TV shows or anything else with Linda Hamilton in it. The fact that the two original Terminator movies are so entrenched in pop culture are also reasons why it is hard to picture Hamilton as anyone besides the woman who carries the child which will save humanity in the future war against the machines. Though she has been a part of several projects, the only one I have seen is Dante's Peak and I didn't even remember her being the second lead in that movie because Pierce Brosnan was the other lead. Though she did seem talented in the original Terminator movies, it seems her career was never destined for great things. It was interesting to see the massive change between Sara Connor between the two films. In the first, she seems doe-eyed and innocent. In the second, she's like a killer Amazon woman, who knows how to kick ass and take names. It is safe to say that Linda Hamilton probably isn't known as Linda Hamilton to a lot of movie viewers. She's known as Sarah Connor.
3. Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite in Napoleon Dynamite
One of the strangest characters in film in the last 15 years or so, Napoleon Dynamite is a polarizing figure. Some people hate him, some people love him. One thing is for sure though, when people see Jon Heder, they instantly think, "Oh look, it's Napoleon Dynamite!" He will never escape this role. I say this because the type casting has already started with great vigor in the few roles Heder has gained since Dynamite. Another problem is the character of Napoleon is so distinct and different from other movie characters that Heder will always be identified as the one who portrayed such a strange person. He is so high on this list because there is an instant intertwined existence between Heder and Dynamite. So much so that Heder seems to have become Dynamite. It's actually quite terrifying. The roles he's picked since have been eerily similar and his appearance has changed and shaded slightly towards a Dynamitian resemblance. This is probably the most unfortunate of cases of CROPCIMS on the list. But sometimes these things happen.
2. Macauly Culkin as Kevin McAllister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Culkin is often voted as one of the prime examples of a child actor who never quite eclipsed his fame as a kid in the later part of his career. On the child star list compiled by VH1, he was #2. And you know why? It's because he slapped his hands to either side of his face, screamed, and since then no one has forgotten. So much so that he hasn't really had much success outside of the Home Alone movies, even in his other bouts as a child. Uncle Buck wasn't a highly regarded film and wasn't even well known. Richie Rich wasn't too hot either. And since then, nothing Culkin has done has even come close to the iconic role as the mischevious Kevin, who protects his house against the bumbling crooks. When you see his face, or even the face of either of his brothers currently in acting, Rory or Kieran, you still think of Home Alone. It's impossible not to. John Hughes made sure of it. Because Home Alone is such a classic movie, the main protagonist has become a classic character. And he has never be able to shake the youthful portrayal of Kevin. But I like it that way. He's a legend regardless.
1. Charlie Chaplin as The Little Tramp in Gold Rush, The Kid, etc. etc.
If you know anything about film, you know Charlie Chaplin. You have seen pictures of him, with his bowler hat, his cane, his Hitler mustache (before Hitler came along mind you), his pants that were a bit too short. You know the get up. However, this isn't what Chaplin normally looked like. "What?!" Yes, it is sad but true. The fact is, Chaplin became his Little Tramp character so much in real life, it's harder to find a normal picture of him than it is to find a picture of him in his Little Tramp getup. It's harder to find evidence of him in his normal clothing and appearance because he is so connected to the character of the Little Tramp. This case of CROPCIMS does get heavily influenced by the fact that he played the humorous character in so many of his movies (more than a dozen) but the fact that you can't imagine Chaplin in anything besides this costume speaks volumes about the relationship between him and the Little Tramp. There has never been an actor or actress so heavily influenced by a single character they have done, than with Charlie and his lovable, bumbling, and always hilarious Little Tramp.
And that's that.
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