First there was the Rat Pack. Then the Brat Pack. Then the Frat Pack (still applicable, though frowned upon). For a while there, even the self-proclaimed King of All Media, Howard Stern, got in on the fun, tastefully dubbing his own cast of misfits “The Wack Pack.” Well there’s another cluster of actors out there, floating like an as yet undiscovered planet. But this group doesn’t have a nifty or alliterative label placed upon them because they defy convention and have for years.
This group of actors and actresses is an anomaly in today’s Hollywood, because they possess the talent that’d catapult them into ubiquity, yet they also possess the restraint to cash in—and that’s good for us. So we’ve decided to, at long last, shoot them a little attention to let them know that we appreciate what they do. And just what do they do? They reside just below the spotlight… No, they fly high under the radar (even if they’ve taken a stab at the mainstream).
Philip Seymour Hoffman: “The Defector in Waiting”
One of under-the-radar director Paul Thomas Anderson’s go-to guys, Hoffman is a relative youngster on our list. But in his 15 years in the business, Hoffman’s turns in Anderson’s offbeat films are average Joe-like compared to some of his more daring roles (see Todd Solondz’ Happiness…with one eye closed). He used to be a complete unknown to audiences, but that is changing—hopefully not too quickly, though.
Mainstream Flu: Along Came Polly (2004) The lone bright spot in the comedy, Hoffman got his Jack Black on, all the way down to the protruding belly. He’s been in some hits before (Red Dragon), but if you hitch a ride in a Stiller–Aniston (Stillston?) vehicle, especially, you know your destination is not the art house.
Currently/Next Seen: As the title character in Capote, a near shoo-in for an Oscar nod and a recipient of a Globe nod. He’ll star in ‘06’s Mission: Impossible 3, alongside Tom Cruise… We’ll pretend we didn’t even write that.
David Strathairn: “Ye Old, Wise One”
Since breaking into Hollywood in 1980, Strathairn has neither suffered a career lull nor an integrity crisis. Such longevity bears a striking resemblance to his fellow fringesters, but not many of those peers can boast a stint on HBO’s The Sopranos, can they? Actors love to work with him, and audiences love to see him—occasionally they’re even able to remember his name!
Mainstream Flu: The River Wild (1994) Strathairn starred alongside Meryl Streep in the outdoorsy thriller, which out-earned its rather large budget. He’d also go on to star in Wild director Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, but that was surprisingly filmed on a tighter budget and featured (sigh) less Strathairn.
Currently/Next Seen: Earning Oscar buzz—and a Golden Globe nod—as Edward R. Murrow in George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck. In April, will be seen as crusading conservative Senator Estes Kefauver in The Notorious Bettie Page.
Patricia Clarkson: “The Everywhere Everywoman”
Fans of HBO’s now-deceased Six Feet Under are quick to claim Clarkson’s recurring role as one of their favorites, but they might be surprised to learn that she’s had quite the prolific movie career. Her resume didn’t seem in full bloom until 2003’s The Station Agent, but it’s been steady for almost two decades. Nowadays, she’s landing bigger parts in bigger movies, but without indulging.
Mainstream Flu: Miracle (2004) Sure, she’s been in bigger hits (Jumanji, The Green Mile), but never was her role so prominent as it was in this hockey flick. She more than held her own against screen husband Kurt Russell, even outshining him at times. That’s no coincidence.
Currently/Next Seen: As another brilliant piece of Good Night, and Good Luck’s stellar ensemble. That Clooney guy sure knows how to recruit a cast. Next up: the role of Sean Penn’s secretary and mistress in All the Kings Men.
Jeffrey Wright: “The Actor’s Actor”
Wright is the poster-thespian for the cinematically unflappable: He has no qualms about stepping away from the big screen for a few years to act on—or off—Broadway, nor does he mind dressing down for the sake of a character (Basquiat, Angels in America, Broken Flowers). He does, however, have reservations about making a bad movie, for which we give thanks this holiday season.
Mainstream Flu: The Manchurian Candidate (2004) While not exactly his lone mainstream foray, The Manchurian Candidate was a remake, and we all know why remakes are born—money. Needless to say, this move just didn’t feel quite Wright , but we can’t stay mad with a resume like his.
Currently/Next Seen: Investigating oil’s wrath in political thriller Syriana, alongside a bloated Clooneyand countless other path crossers. Next summer, he’ll be seen in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest, Lady in the Water.
Chloe Sevigny: “The Envelope Pusher”
No, it’s not Sevigny’s, um, performance in Vincent Gallo’s narci-skin-flick The Brown Bunny that earns her this moniker—well at least not only that performance! She’s been gambling for years when she could play it safe and capitalize on her leading lady bod. Lest you forget, this is an actress whose breakout role—not counting 1995’s pedophile delight Kids—was that of the “other” “girl” in 1999’s Boys Dont Cry.
Mainstream Flu: American Psycho (2000) It’s tough to recall even one true-blue stab at the mainstream for Sevigny. Psycho is frankly as close as it comes, with it’s budding A-listers (Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon), but it’s still quite left of center. For Sevigny, though, it’s akin to a Michael Bay movie!
Currently/Next Seen: Earlier this year as a tempting secretary in Broken Flowers. But it’s her role in ‘06 thriller Zodiac, from director David Fincher, that has us believing again in the merits of the big budget.
Maggie Gyllenhaal: “The Eye Catcher”
Gyllenhaal could catch your eye just by opening hers, but it’s the femme fatale’s peepers coupled with her acting that spells our deathblow. She has a sultry way about her that, even in lighter fare, prevents us from taking our eyes off her. Gyllenhaal could easily cross over into her brother Jake A-list territory, and maybe even trounce his newfound “It” status, but we don’t promote sibling rivalry—and she could get one of her sparkling baby-blues poked out!
Mainstream Flu: Mona Lisa Smile (2003) We’ll forgive this one, because every up-and-coming actress could stand to get a little tutelage from Julia Roberts. Besides, we know her genuine roots will always lie in breakout film Secretary–for its layered story, not its raunchy scenes!
Currently/Next Seen: In this summer’s (well-acted) clunker Happy Endings. On her plate for next year is Oliver Stone’s 9/11 big-screen treatment. Which should be… controversial.
