Tards on film and BIGFOOT! (867 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 1.6 on 27 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Siren© (View user info) at 2008-08-15 12:27:22 EDT
Recently, I was wondering how difficult it would be to take on a film role of someone who was mentally and/or physically handicapped. It seems that the trick is to be convincing without being insulting and stereotypical. The acting also has to be paired with a respectful script. So, here are, in my opinion, the best actors in roles as characters with special disabilities. Or, "'Tards on Film."
*Corky from Life Goes On doesn't count because he actually has the Downs.
*Kevin Spacey as Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects and Edward Norton as that guy in The Score don't count because their characters turned out not to really be speds.
#5 Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers in Sling Blade: This is a somewhat creepy yet somehow heartfelt movie. Thornton's role is about the fine line between being adorably mentally challenged outcast (French fried 'taters) and someone who lacks emotion and self control (Sling blade/ kaiser blade wielding). Billy Bob does a fantastic job portraying these 2 sides of the character simultaneously. I give Mr. Thornton a solid "Mmmm hmmm."
#4 Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man: Here is an actor who really must have studied his character's affliction, autism. Dustin Hoffman totally owned this movie. His delivery along with the story itself made the audience feel immediate compassion for this man. So, I commend Mr. Hoffman for doing autism justice, and educating the population on how such a rare disease can be somewhat amusing.
#3 Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump: His IQ is 75, the peas to his carrots is Jenny, his Mama died on a Tuesday, and he can run like the wind blows. His name's Forrest, Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks proves that he was born to act, and possibly born for this role as he virtually becomes Forrest. Never breaking character, not one second, I believe that Hanks felt his character, Forrest, from head to directly in the buttocks. LOVE IT.
#2 Hank Harris as Pumpkin Romanoff in Pumpkin: In this lesser known dark comedy, Hank Harris plays the lead title role as Pumpkin, a young man with a greater purpose than his overbearing alcoholic mother wants him to know he is capable of having. Just because he's simple and weak, doesn't mean he can't imagine, live, and love. This fantastic actor conveys the hardships that his character must endure along with the normalcy of his thoughts and emotions so that the audience both relates to Pumpkin and falls in love with him simultaneously. If you haven't seen this film yet, you should immediately. Too bad Mr. Harris only does Travelocity and Burger King commercials now... sigh.
#4 Leonardo DiCaprio as Arnie Grape in What's Eating Gilbert Grape: Leo gets the #1 slot because he is the most convincing to me. He was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to some heavy weight actors (Tommy Lee Jones got the Oscar that year, also Schindler's List's Ralph Fiennes was nominated). At only 19 years old, Leo is compelling as Arnie Grape. I have yet to see an actor in a role who plays as excellent a handicapped boy as he. If you don't end this movie believing he was actually a 'tard, then you, yourself are a 'tard. Two thumbs up from me to you, Leo.
Honorable Mention
Adam Sandler as Bobby Boucher in The Waterboy... and every other role he's done, ever.
Sloth from The Goonies
Also, bigfoot was caught? Seriously? Holy shit, please let this be true.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/15bigfoot.html?em
I don't know what pic to include with these 2 posts in one, so here's one of my wee babe. He grabs his penis and yells, "Dabby dabby dabby!" So, that's sort of tardish I guess.
User Reviews
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2008-08-17 12:34:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2008-08-16 21:03:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by BranDo (user info) at 2008-08-16 02:52:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Alex van Warmerdam in Abel.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2008-08-15 17:59:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
for you, i should imagine the role would be very easy.
(insult for old times sake)
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2008-08-15 17:41:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Edward Norton in The Score.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2008-08-15 17:30:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Nice list.
Are you comfy enough with your post-baby body to send me some hole shots, yet?
Submitted by SPECIALk (user info) at 2008-08-15 16:26:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i liked Pumpkin
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2008-08-15 16:20:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Mask, good movie. Although, not sure if I'd consider him a retard. Just ugly. Adrien Brody totally rocked, too. Forgot about him!
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2008-08-15 15:57:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
" I wanna go higher Gilbert!"
Definately a highlight, though you didn't mention the classical fictional retard, played by John Malkoneedsanewlastname in "Of Mice and Men." This post made me think of that 70's movie "Mask" with that red haired kid, Cher, and Sam Whathisface, where they were all bikers. Good movie.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2008-08-15 15:26:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Adrien Brody in The Village was pretty fucking good
Submitted by Ltap (user info) at 2008-08-15 15:12:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Are you SURE you know how to count backwards? I think you might need to be up there with the more famous 'tards, too...
+2 for a good effort all the same, although I would have put Rain Man a bit higher because of the undeniably large influence it had on peoples' impression of autism.
Submitted by Ducky (user info) at 2008-08-15 14:48:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wooot Siren post.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2008-08-15 14:44:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
KMART SUCKS!
Cute kid.
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2008-08-15 13:57:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You should see Tropic Thunder. Robert Downey Jr. has this whole speech about how you cant go full retard if you want to win an academy award. You have to go half-retard, retarded but wise and talented.
Now go read my last 5 posts.
Submitted by skee (user info) at 2008-08-15 13:53:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
please, for the sake of Uber
go and have lots of sex......you need something to do
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2008-08-15 13:45:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Tug Speedman in "Simple Jack."
"Once upon a time...there was a retard."
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2008-08-15 13:45:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice #1, hero.
I hate i_can_get_you_a_toe.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:57:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Water sucks!
Gatorade is better.
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:55:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Jesus Christ, apparently I can't count backwards either. God damnit! I'm leaving now.
Submitted by The_Drake (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:53:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Leo in Gilbert Grape was awesome. Hands down best pick.
Submitted by messmind (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:52:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:46:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Also, sorry 'bout the bigfoot link. It's been done and I missed it.
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:43:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes. Special disabilities. "Normal" (your term, not mine) disabilities are like Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook with a missing hand from an accident. "Special" disabilities (i.e. disabilities which make someone "special") are like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Why you gotta be like that, huh?
forensic, I thought of Sean Penn, but he just didn't make the cut. :(
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:37:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Sean Penn did a good 'tard in Sam I Am.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:34:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Um... 'special' disabilities? As opposed to normal disabilities?
All good choices here.
>He grabs his penis and yells, "Dabby dabby dabby!"<
We all grab our penises and yell something. Dabby dabby dabby will do fine. For now.
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:34:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by CarterPFly (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:29:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Daniel Day Lewis in "my left foot"
-----------------------------------
awesome, beyond awesome.
Submitted by CarterPFly (user info) at 2008-08-15 12:29:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Daniel Day Lewis in "my left foot"