I was watching The Constant Gardener last Saturday afternoon, excellent film by the way, and I was struck by how unfair it was that Rachel Weisz received the lion's share of accolades for this film, and Ralph Fiennes was basically left in the dust. Don't get me wrong. I thought she was wonderfully passionate and feisty as Tessa. She's the heart of the film, the reason that Ralph Fienne's character Justin Quayle pursues her death, she also brings his character to life. But the movie is called The Constant Gardener, which is Justin Quayle's character. It's not called Tessa Quayle and husband. The majority of the film is about him, and how he learns to come out of his shell and not just be the mild-mannered career diplomat just biding his time until retirement while he tends his plants.
I think the reason his work was so ignored in this film is because before The Constant Gardener, Rachel Weisz was chiefly known for the Mummy films, and making two movies with Keanu Reeves. This movie was her chance to show that she was more than just beautiful, that she could act, similar to when Catherine Zeta-Jones won best supporting actress a few years ago for Chicago for proving she was more than just Michael Douglas' much younger wife.
Ralph Fienne's work is just so good that you almost take it for granted. When you don't always play flashy roles like Russell Crowe, or get into fights constantly (also like Russell Crowe) or have great personal charm, like Hugh Jackman or Hugh Grant, or are dark and brooding like Clive Owen, you can get lost in the Hollywood machine. Ralph Fiennes is a chameleon, he can go from dreck like Maid in Manhattan (where he actually had me believe he was in love with Jennifer Lopez) to playing a psychopath in Red Dragon. Not to mention He Who Shall Not be Named in Harry Potter.
His brother Joseph was also pretty much ignored when it came to award season for Shakespeare in Love. There was so much attention placed on Gwyneth Paltrow for being so luminous as Viola, that I think critics forgot that the movie is as much about Shakespeare as it was about her character. I adored him as Shakespeare. He was funny, and romantic, and the ink on his fingers made you believe that he stayed up all night writing the beautiful and witty dialogue that Shakespeare was known for. Not to mention the sonnets.
Like his brother, he's chosen to make smaller independent films, with the occasional big budget movie thrown in for good measure. He's also gone back to the stage, most recently appearing with his brother's now ex-girlfriend Francesca Annis. He was awesome in Killing Me Softly with Heather Graham, who I mainly can't stand. Rent Merchant of Venice (just ignore the greasy hair) and Luther to witness what a good actor he is. Not to mention the criminally long eyelashes, and the beautiful big hazel eyes.
Two very underrated actors. What actors or actresses do you like that are underrated?
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Elizabeth
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