Rate a Lucky Actor: Bruce Willis

[The Dice Man]

Now Im just watching the 1st episode of Moonlighting on Daytime TV,..woohoo. And I cant help but think how lucky bruce is/was.

I mean his acting is terrible, the script is pretty crub, but even I liked this show back when I was a kid.

So how did Bruce crack the big time?

I actually dont mind his films, none would ever be favorites and I cant remember him playing any other role but the exact same one he played in Moonlighting. Just the same guy getting older throught his career.

So what gives?

And in the words of some old clown, why is it so?

 

[My North]

He upset a few bad guys in the Die Hard series

 

[Funkalicous]

Because he fits the bill as a hard-boiled action man. Even more so than the great Arnie!

 

[The Dice Man]

Because he fits the bill as a hard-boiled action man. Even more so than the great Arnie!

He certainley has an Americaness about him that even Arnie cant produce. Although it could be thought that Arnie is as American as Apple Pie. He has moulded himself perfectly.

I just get a bit confused about Bruce.

 

[ExTasDeeMan]

I remember that John Cusack described him as "A lucky Truck driver".

Very fitting.

 

[sandeano]

By rights his career should have been dead after "Hudson Hawk".

However he was steered smartly into taking on some low-paying roles that may not have extended his limited acting range but gained respect from critics and more astute movie-goers.

"Billy Bathgate", "Mortal Thoughts", "Nobody's Fool" were decent supporting roles and "Pulp Fiction" was a terrific career move.

He also struck lucky with "The Fifth Element", "The Sixth Sense" and "Twelve Monkeys".

And "Sin City" showed he was willing to try his hand at something that may have been an embarrasment.

Whether these make up for so many "Tears of the Sun", "Hart's War" and various other forgettable ventures is debatable, but I wouldn't call him luckly, just a clever manager of a limited talent.

 

[The Dice Man]

By rights his career should have been dead after "Hudson Hawk".

However he was steered smartly into taking on some low-paying roles that may not have extended his limited acting range but gained respect from critics and more astute movie-goers.

"Billy Bathgate", "Mortal Thoughts", "Nobody's Fool" were decent supporting roles and "Pulp Fiction" was a terrific career move.

He also struck lucky with "The Fifth Element", "The Sixth Sense" and "Twelve Monkeys".

And "Sin City" showed he was willing to try his hand at something that may have been an embarrasment.

Whether these make up for so many "Tears of the Sun", "Hart's War" and various other forgettable ventures is debatable, but I wouldn't call him luckly, just a clever manager of a limited talent.

I wasnt even thinking of "The Fifth Element" and "The Sixth Sense" when I rote this thread, nor was I thinking about Pulp Fiction.

These three are probably what kept his career alive, but at the same time, he plays the same role in all films really.

He was at his 'artistic peak' in Hudson Hawk just through the sheer power he was given over the film. Even so, I rate it as a film and enjoyed it. Also its probably the closest Bruce has come to actually creating a character...as an artist.

 

[sandeano]

I wasnt even thinking of "The Fifth Element" and "The Sixth Sense" when I rote this thread, nor was I thinking about Pulp Fiction.

These three are probably what kept his career alive, but at the same time, he plays the same role in all films really.

He was at his 'artistic peak' in Hudson Hawk just through the sheer power he was given over the film. Even so, I rate it as a film and enjoyed it. Also its probably the closest Bruce has come to actually creating a character...as an artist.

But there have been plenty of actors (and actresses) who have carved out a career playing essentially the same character over and over again. Wayne managed it for over forty years and Eastwood's days as a leading man are approaching the half century (including his "Rawhide" days).

Twenty years since "Moonlighting" began and he is still an A-list star. That is quite a feat. Limited talent or not, what Willis has is that magical quality of screen charisma - the camera loves him and he works well to it.

I'm not much of a fan (that smirk of his irritates me no end) but the fact he is willing to try something different every now and then leaves me moderatedly interested in his career.

 

[bunsen burner]

one word: charisma

he has heaps of it.

 

[Darealrath]

one word: charisma

he has heaps of it.

Yep. Not ashamed to say i'm a fan. He's nothing special but he doesn't try to be either and his movies are generally entertaining.

 

[Silvagnis]

Legend and an under-rated actor who can carry a movie with his charisma as was noted. Twelve Monkeys was another good movie and the Bruce Willis smirk is legendary.

 

[bunsen burner]

There's not many of his movies I like (Pulp and Boy Scout only two I actually like I think), but I like the characters he plays.

Boy Scout = cool as **ck. Movie would be nothing without him. The actual movie is still quite crap. His one liners are A-grade though.

 

[The Dice Man]

one word: charisma

he has heaps of it.

So can I consider his crappy acting at the beginning of the Moonlighting series as merely nerves?

I agree that he has charisma, so what is it that makes him a star>

Are the characters he plays basically the mould of who alot of guys would like to be like?

 

[bunsen burner]

So can I consider his crappy acting at the beginning of the Moonlighting series as merely nerves?

I haven't seen the show since it was on (1988ish?) so can't comment on his acting - but I'll take your word for it.

But back then he had stand out charisma. Girls wanted to be with him, guys wanted be like him.

Like books, not all movies are about the best quality acting or writing. People want to be entertained.

And I don't ever recall seeing any of his films and thinking, "gee that guy can't act".

I agree that he has charisma, so what is it that makes him a star>

Are the characters he plays basically the mould of who alot of guys would like to be like?

Probably. Cool, macho but not over macho, indifferent, not a pretty boy.

 

[Magpiespower]

When I think of on-screen charisma I think of...

Cary Grant
Paul Newman
Robert Redford
Warren Beatty
Jack Nicholson

And so on.

But Bruce Willis?

Pfft.

 

[HBF]

There's not many of his movies I like (Pulp and Boy Scout only two I actually like I think), but I like the characters he plays.

Boy Scout = cool as **ck. Movie would be nothing without him. The actual movie is still quite crap. His one liners are A-grade though.

Die Hard 1 is still one of my all time favourite movies. Last Boy Scout was reasonable at best, but did like him in Sixth Sense.

 

[Magpiespower]

Like books, not all movies are about the best quality acting or writing. People want to be entertained.

There's an old saying:

"If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage."

To use a Bruce Willis film as an example - what you see in Die Hard is word for word in the screenplay.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

He's a star pure and simple. Magnetic personality, loves to poke fun and can make fun of himself. I'm a guy but I can see the smirk and the twinkle in the eye add to his coolness.

I loved Moonlighting, what a rollicking funfest. Taming of the Shrew was a classic episode. They lost their way but David Addison was a constant. Tune in to watch an average guy solve cases like a frat boy. There she was just a-walkin down the street, singing do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do. Memories.

Bruce Willis is not a character actor because he is too big. He has to be the hero or the primary villain, the audience expects it.

Filmography

Morgan's Summit (2007) (pre-production) (attached)
Perfect Stranger (2006) (pre-production)
Black Water Transit (2006) (pre-production) .... Earl Pike
Die Hard 4.0 (2006) (pre-production) .... John McClane
Over the Hedge (2006) (filming) (voice) .... RJ
16 Blocks (2006) (post-production) .... Jack Mosley
The Astronaut Farmer (2006) (post-production)


Alpha Dog (2006) .... Sonny Truelove
Lucky Number Slevin (2006) .... Mr. Goodkat
"That '70s Show"
- Misfire (2005) TV Episode .... Vic
Sin City (2005) .... Hartigan
... aka Frank Miller's Sin City (USA: complete title)
Hostage (2005) .... Jeff Talley
The Whole Ten Yards (2004) .... Jimmy
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) (uncredited) .... William Rose Bailey
Rugrats Go Wild! (2003) (voice) .... Spike
Tears of the Sun (2003) .... Lieutenant A.K. Waters
True West (2002) (TV) .... Lee
Grand Champion (2002) .... CEO
Hart's War (2002) .... Col. William A. McNamara
Bandits (2001) .... Joe Blake
Unbreakable (2000) .... David Dunn
The Kid (2000) .... Russell Duritz
... aka Disney's The Kid (USA: complete title)
"Friends"
- The One with the Ring (2000) TV Episode .... Paul Stevens
- The One Where Paul's the Man (2000) TV Episode .... Paul Stevens
- The One Where Ross Meets Elizabeth's Dad (2000) TV Episode .... Paul Stevens
The Whole Nine Yards (2000) .... Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski
... aka Nouveau voisin, Le (Canada: French title)


The Story of Us (1999) .... Ben Jordan
The Sixth Sense (1999) .... Dr. Malcolm Crowe
Breakfast of Champions (1999) .... Dwayne Hoover
"Ally McBeal"
- Love Unlimited (1999) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Dr. Nickle
Apocalypse (1998/II) (VG) .... Trey Kincaide
The Siege (1998) .... Major General William Devereaux
The Fifth Element (1998) (VG) .... Korben Dallas
... aka Cinquième élément, Le (France)
Armageddon (1998) .... Harry S. Stamper
Mercury Rising (1998) .... Art Jeffries
The Jackal (1997) .... The Jackal
... aka Chacal, Le (France: dubbed version)
... aka Schakal, Der (Germany)
The Fifth Element (1997) .... Korben Dallas
... aka Cinquième élément, Le (France)
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) (voice) .... Muddy Grimes
Last Man Standing (1996) .... John Smith
"Bruno the Kid" (1996) TV Series (voice) .... Bruno the Kid
Bruno the Kid: The Animated Movie (1996) (V) .... Bruno the Kid
Twelve Monkeys (1995) .... James Cole
Four Rooms (1995) (uncredited) .... Leo (segment "The Man from Hollywood")
Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) .... John McClane
... aka Die Hard 3
Nobody's Fool (1994) .... Carl Roebuck
Color of Night (1994) .... Dr. Bill Capa
North (1994) .... Narrator
Pulp Fiction (1994) .... Butch Coolidge
Striking Distance (1993) .... Tom Hardy
Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) (uncredited) .... John McClane
... aka National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
Death Becomes Her (1992) .... Dr. Ernest Menville
The Last Boy Scout (1991) .... Joseph Cornelius 'Joe' Hallenbeck
Billy Bathgate (1991) .... Bo Weinberg
Hudson Hawk (1991) .... Eddie 'Hudson Hawk' Hawkins
Mortal Thoughts (1991) .... James Urbanski
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) .... Peter Fallow
Look Who's Talking Too (1990) (voice) .... Mikey
Die Hard 2 (1990) .... John McClane
... aka Die Hard 2: Die Harder (Philippines: English title) (UK: promotional title) (USA: video box title)


Look Who's Talking (1989) (voice) .... Mikey
... aka Daddy's Home
"Saturday Night Live"
... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: original title)
... aka SNL
... aka SNL 25 (USA: new title)
... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: new title)
- Episode #15.1 (1989) TV Episode .... Host
In Country (1989) .... Emmett Smith
Die Hard (1988) .... John McClane
Sunset (1988) .... Tom Mix
The Return of Bruno (1988) .... Bruno Radolini
Blind Date (1987) .... Walter Davis
... aka Blake Edwards' Blind Date (USA: complete title)
"The Twilight Zone"
- Shatterday/A Little Peace and Quiet (1985) TV Episode .... Peter Jay Novins (segment "Shatterday")
"Moonlighting" (1985) TV Series .... David Addison Jr.
Moonlighting (1985) (TV) .... David Addison Jr.
"Miami Vice"
- No Exit (1984) TV Episode .... Tony Amato
The Verdict (1982) (uncredited) .... Courtroom Observer
Guru kommt, Ein (1980) (uncredited) .... Extra
The First Deadly Sin (1980) (uncredited) .... Man Entering Diner as Delaney Leaves

Add on to that uncredited roles as himself in movies like Ocean's 12 and he has some versatility and selflessness.

Certainly in movies like Color of Night, Story of Us and the Sixth Sense, Bruce wasn't Bruce, the action hero. In Death Becomes Her, he was complete wimp. I think people see Bruce as one dimensional because he looks like himself. Maybe he needs to do a Charlize Theron style makeover so people don't see John McClane every time they watch him on screen.

 

[Drummond]

* Die Hard
* Mercury Rising
* Unbreakable
* The Sixth Sense

He's one of, if not my favourite actor

 

[sandeano]

When I think of on-screen charisma I think of...

Cary Grant
Paul Newman
Robert Redford
Warren Beatty
Jack Nicholson

And so on.

But Bruce Willis?

Pfft.

I hate to disagree, as you've listed some of my favourite screen stars.

But the fact of the matter is that Willis has "it", that indefinable thing the camera and audience loves.

There is a reason people still turn up to his movies.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Bruce is alright, if you ever get the chance to see him on Letterman, stay tuned because he's a pretty funny bloke.

He's a star because he's had a fair few big hits over the years, movies like Sixth Sense and Armageddon were huge hits, same with the Die Hard movies and many others. Like has been said, the bloke's simply a star, and the fact is he's managed to be a bankable movie star for about 20 years, which is pretty impressive really.

 

[Silvagnis]

Bruce is alright, if you ever get the chance to see him on Letterman, stay tuned because he's a pretty funny bloke.

An absolute Legend on Letterman!

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Bruce is alright, if you ever get the chance to see him on Letterman, stay tuned because he's a pretty funny bloke.

The orange safety suit he wore last time I saw him on Letterman. Doesn't mind getting a laugh at his own expense which shows he is pretty comfortable in who he is.

 

[Frank Bunn]

His recent roles have been very poor. He seems to have resigned himself to phone-in parts in garbage low budget movies. Which is a shame because over his career, he has shown that given a decent script he can deliver a good performance and has great screen presence.

My favourite Bruce Willis movies are -

The Fifth Element
Pulp Fiction
Unbreakable
The Sixth Sense
Sin City
Twelve Monkeys
Die Hard
RED
Looper

 

[The Sultan]

His recent roles have been very poor. He seems to have resigned himself to phone-in parts in garbage low budget movies. Which is a shame because over his career, he has shown that given a decent script he can deliver a good performance and has great screen presence.

I read somewhere he gets few million per appearance, star billing, and only need to do 15-20 min screen time. So as said just phones it in and collects his cheques