Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Alan Rickman: By The Numbers

When I was a kid there were a few voices I wished and prayed I would have when I grew up. Topol's naturally, as I loved Fiddler on the Roof, and of course Alan Rickman's. Sadly, neither of them was granted to me. And yes, before you ask, I was willing to miraculously become British to achieve the latter. Suffice it to say I've always been a fan of his. But it's not my feelings that matter on the subject, it's the numbers.



First a quick rundown of how this all works for anyone new:

I take all the films an actor or actress has been in and break them down into three categories, 'Good' 'Bad' and 'Okay.' I do not count TV appearances or Made for TV movies. Afterwards a quick analysis will show whether or not they're a good actor by the numbers. Invariably there is a 2-3 +/- point bias on a person to person basis. Also, since 'ok' movies are not bad they count towards the positive column in the overall figuring. If, by the numbers, they fall in the 50 - 60% range, they're a bad actor; 61 - 70% good actor, and 71 - 80% great actor. Anything higher is unlikely, but will be classified as "elite."


Now let's see those numbers:




I assure you, no bias was involved in this. I expected him to score high, but didn't realize how few bad movies he'd actually done. And before anyone assumes I just gave all the Harry Potter movies an automatic good, I did not. Each was graded according to how I felt about it and not all of them made the good column. And with this latest entry at a staggering 81% positive over 19% negative, we have our first official 'Elite' actor. Very fitting for the last BTN of the year.


Thanks to RMb for this week's pick!

52 comments:

  1. Not sure if not including TV movies was a good or bad thing because Rickman rocked the socks off me in his 1996 Rasputin role....though perhaps His southern accent in Something the Lord made canceled it out...good movie just OMG his sexy British drawl should not be mangled at his attempt at doing southern whatever...But then again I couldn't watch From Paris with Love because of Jonathan Rhys Meyers' nails on the chalk board American accent...dunno maybe I'm just an accent snob LOL

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  2. So you are telling me that all this time we could have been discussing 'Fiddler' and singing 'If I Was A Rich Man'?? How long were you keeping that nugget from me? What else don't I know? My high school and college buddy and I were HUGE fans of that movie. Once during all all nighter studying at the college he just jumped to the top of the long table in the library and started in on that song. Must have been 4 in the morning. Then I got up and we did a duet that brought the house down. K, THERE is a 60 second story.

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  3. Now about Rickman - there has not been a debut role in a major Hollywood blockbuster as good or as memorable as his part in 'Die Hard'. Hans Gruber is one of the all time great movie bad guys and I always say - writing the hero part is easy. You need to put all your time into the villain if you want the story to work. Willis should be showing up to kiss Rickman's ass the first Monday of each month for that gift. I love Bruce now but back then? I didn't want to see Die Hard just because of his 'Moonlighting' show. If 'Die Hard' wasn't the hit it was? He would be back to serving drinks right now.

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  5. I'm so glad you guys did Alan Rickman! I love him. He's been in so many great movies. I'm really curious about where you put Space Quest or whatever the one with Tim Allen is? Because that movie goes in so many different directions. Anyway, another great post. Have you guys done Ryan Reynolds yet?

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  6. Wow, I like your methodology....
    And I agree -- Alan Rickman is one of the film world's better actors.

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  7. Good for Rickman!
    Hope you counted Galaxy Quest as a good movie.

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  8. Quiggly Down under rocked. That however was a vehicle for Tom Selleck. See I'm not sure Rickman can take credit for these movies since he wasn't the headliner in 'em. I mean maybe some of the later HP ones. Certainly not Die Hard.

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  9. One of the best bad guys ever (maybe the best). In my humble opinion, he's pretty good, even if the movie he was in sucked. Love they guy!

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  10. His first big role was as a devious church politico in Barchester Chronicles. Good stuff.

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  11. I am with Pat - 'Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves' - anyone? I believed his Sherrif of Nottingham was REALLY going to cancel Christmas.

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  12. I would argue with Copyboy about Die Hard. Hans Gruber was a force of nature - a genius brain without conscience who was only about the money. You knew by experience that Willis would win but there were a few times when you hoped that Hans just might pull it off. That raised 'Die Hard' to a different level to as one of the great action films ever.

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  13. Abbie, Yes, Reynolds has been done. I don't think it was good. However with the group of good looking movies he's got coming out that might shift.

    Kal, Yeah, I gotta side with you on this. Without Gruber, the first die hard movie wouldn't have been the insta-classic it was. Also I loved that Fiddler story. That's awesome. Your loving that movie... just shows you're good people.

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  14. I'm all in with the Hans Gruber crowd. He was perfect in that role and the absolute best choice as the antagonist for Willis. I am not really into the Harry Potter thing, so his villians have always been top-notch. Good rating!

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  15. Interesting. I wonder if that speaks to his choice of movie rather than his acting abilities. Although, I do think he is a fine actor, so maybe he is just underrated?

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  16. I have no idea why I like Mr. Rickman as much as I do--especially since I've never seen Die Hard--but everything I've ever seen him in he steals the scene. I'm glad he ended up being the first 'elite' actor.

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  17. A British accent will take anyone far in the rankings, I believe.

    I'm laughing at Kal's first comment - while humming Matchmaker.

    xoRobyn

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  18. how grand it would be to have a voice of rickman's. it's booming and demands authority and attention.

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  19. 'Rep' has never seen 'Die Hard'??? Why is he being allowed to live? I guess everyone get's one movie like that (but ONLY one) - huge shared pop cultural experience that they can't share with anyone because they never saw the film in question. Mine is 'E.T.'

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  20. Oh and totally off topic - Robyn, have you ever seen 'Crossing Delancy?' Another great movie about my beloved 'chosen people'.

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  21. It took me a long time to realise Hans Gruber was Mr.Snape...he was totally cool....always felt Bruce Willis was just an over the top grimace...In fact saw DH4 despite 2/3 (felt Jeremy Irons was wasted in 3) simply because it was Tech related... love Brit accents....rather the original way of speaking English...These guys are lucky, they enjoy the perks of working in Hollywood without being sucked into its crazy ways...I envy you... get to see so many movies I miss out on ... ;(

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  22. Hell's yeah Alan Rickman is elite! Elite like a boss! I expected nothing less from him. :p

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  23. Cal, I'm embarrassed to say I don't remember if I saw it. Mmm, is it pretty traumatic? I tend to block those types of movies from my memory banks. Sorry.
    There really is no more spirited song than If I Was A Rich Man, though. Love that story. xo

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  24. Where to start?

    TS, You were a weird kid.

    Love Actually is what put him over the top isn't it? Speaking of Love Actually, I'm not so sure Robyn's
    theory on the accent would hold true for everyone. Not for Hugh Grant, surely.

    Once again I find myself linking arms with Rep, ready to face our mutual foe, Ckal. Not only have I not seen it, Calvin, I don't want to.

    And yes, I am totally sticking my tongue out at you.

    (Now run, Rep!)

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  25. You both are lucky that I am the 'slow and weak of the herd' so I probably won't catch both you sinners but my chance will come.

    And everyone should see 'Crossing Delancy. Sure it's a rom/com about two Jewish singles who find themselves in New York but it's really good with one of the greatest performances of a Jewish 'Bubby' ever. I don't know how this comment stream went from Alan Rickman to Jewish Rom/Coms from the 80s but this is the beauty of The Non-Review.

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  26. You won't get this reference Cotton and Rep but that only shows why eventually your sick need to take the 'big dog down' will only end in your embarassing defeat while I will "be on a beach earning 20%".

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  27. I really am ignorant; I need to rent that movie, Cal. I thought it was a drama and not a comedy. LOL.

    Good point, Cotton, but Hugh didn't lose popularity until he was caught in a car with a man-woman prostitute. Right? Didn't he also have a gorgeous wife at the time. (They always do.) British accent or not, I suppose that's the point of no return.

    I'm liking this banter, reminiscent of the good ole days, like early 2010.

    Cheers,
    xoRobyn

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  28. Okay, how bad is this? (And if Cotton can actually back me up on this one, I will be utterly shocked.) I never watched Moonlighting, but I've seen the Mad About You episode with Bruce Willis, like three times. How much do I not deserve to live now? But before you draw your weapons, let me point out that Die Hard is indeed my ONLY pop-culture-movie miss.

    I would also like to point out that ET (which I have seen) made like fifty times more money than that Die movie, so I believe Ckal's sin is greater than mine. Just sayin'.

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  29. We both have a lot to answer for Rep but I think you will agree with me that it is much cooler to dig our heels in where our respective misses are concerned than to ever admit we may enjoy these films to anyone. I am proud of my miss as you should be proud of ours. Both quality pop culture moments that we don't need to discuss with anyone ever or have an opinion about. If you would have said to me that you never saw 'Transformers' and was proud of THAT...I wouldn't respect you as I do.

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  30. But on DVD--not in theaters--and not the sequel.

    Whew! Close one.

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  31. I saw both 'Transfomer' movies and felt violated both times.

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  32. Kal, Cotton, Rep, Robyn, why is it that the conversations always get interesting when I'm not around? Maybe I should be away more often. Stimulate the conversation.

    And for the record, transvestites aside, Hugh Grant is still a great actor.

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  33. I think you answered your own question TS.

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  34. At the risk of starting this whole thing up again when I have made peace with the whole 'never saw Die Hard thing' I have to say...."YEH, did Bruce Wilis sway your vote at all?"

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  35. Kal, PTM, Nay he did not. My system is purely about judging them by the movies, not by other means. Besides, Bruce Willis has been on a steady decline in quality for years.

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  36. I fell in love with him in Robin Hood. He was such a scene stealer. I don't think it's accidental that Kevin Costner hasn't had many box office hits since then. - G

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  37. yay! thank you for taking my suggestion! i would really love to know what films you pick for these posts.
    and also, i agree with the results. if anyone deserves elite status, it's rickman. :)
    cheers!

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  38. BAM, and Rickman comes in strong! I cant think of anything off hand in which I didn't enjoy his performance. All around good stuff.

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  39. WHAT? Hugh Grant a "great" actor?
    Sure he's got that cute little stutter/blinky/I'm-shy-don't-hurt-me part of his character type nailed. But 'great'? I assume you have the numbers to back that up?

    Of course, if Robyn believes he's a good'un, maybe he is. I'm kinda in a 'girls rule' frame of mind tonight. It's probably just Hugh's hair that has me doubting it. His hair puts me on edge.

    MOONLIGHTING? You've never seen MOONLIGHTING??? I watched LOST for you... and you've never even bothered with Moonlighting?
    Rep, Rep, Rep. (shaking head, walking away)

    Transformers, Kal? Will you people watch anything?

    Well boys, I feel like I lost family members tonight. So much for a 'happy' new year. I'm already missing the old one in which I only had to worry about TS's misreading of Julia Roberts' numbers.

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  40. So Hubby and I are looking for something to watch and guess what is listed in the "critically acclaimed movies"... DIE HARD! I had no idea that Netflix was plugged into TNR, but they must be.

    Fine, I'll give it a look-see. But it gets 8 minutes and 8 minutes only to catch my interest without giving me nightmares or making me sad. Don't let me down, Bruce. Kal's counting on this.

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  41. Cotton - Yes I will watch anything. Today I watched five minutes of 'Toddlers and Tiaras' that I will never get back. I was flipping through the channels and just had to see what it was about. YIKES!

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  42. Eight minutes? That's totally reasonable and fair.

    I didn't know they had judgement bears down round y'all's parts with stop watches. Sure must streamline their whole operation with all that extra time left them to judge even more things THAT I LOVE like 'Die Hard'.

    But we are getting ahead of ourselves here.

    Has your hubby seen 'Die Hard'. If he has and still can't convince you that it's awesome and that he knows you will like it because (presumably) he knows you then my cause is lost already....and I WEEP like the angels will weep for you.

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  43. meh. it was okay.

    And totally freaking awesome!

    Only not awesome at all.

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  44. So, what have we learned? Lean in close Rep. I want you to hear this as she whispers it to me.

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  45. Yeah, he knows me alright. When he asked what I wanted to watch next and I said Die Hard he was like... I'm sorry, what?

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  46. Totally just remembered who I'm talking to. Don't tell. DO NOT TELL. I didn't ask. ;-)

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  47. You just got schooled in the lesson to not judge things before you see them. Next you will be wanting Harry Potter to be banned because it's only about witchcraft.

    I have an image of my brain of your hubby looking at you while a pod glows in your basement. That was 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' Another good movie but you have been through enough for one day. We can revisted this subject another time.

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