tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Cinema is filled with multi-talented young actors who bring to life all types of characters. Sometimes, a role is given to the wrong guy - just because he has the looks (pin-up pretty, looks awesome wearing trunks) and the connection (a powerful talent agent at his side). But when the role is given to the right guy - moviegoers get to witness something unique, memorable and powerful, even magical. Anyway, even the 'right guy' needs an agent, of course...

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Underrated versus Overrated: If you've watched Jumper, then you'll notice the difference between Jamie Bell and Hayden Christensen - Bell has undeniable screen presence, I can't say the same with Hayden. It could have been different if Tom Sturridge was retained to play Hayden's part. Anyway, who am I to argue? Christensen has more box office appeal than the relatively unknown Sturridge, but acting-wise?

So, who are some of today's most underrated young actors? Here's our list of ten.

Lou Taylor-Pucci - Taylor-Pucci was a relative newcomer when he was cast in Thumbsucker. He plays Justin, a teenager boy, who has an oral obsession with his thumb. His life began to change when the school's psychologist diagnosed him with Attention Deficit Disorder, and prescribe him some drugs. Suddenly, Justin's problem with his thumb disappear, he became an hyperactive genius, winning several debate contests and the admiration from his teacher. For this role, Taylor-Pucci won two Best Actor awards - Sundance and Berlin.

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Although, he won acclaim in Thumbsucker, his next movies failed to capitalize on its success. Of the 14 feature films he was cast, it was only in Fifty Pills and The Go-Getter that Lou was given the kind of roles he's good at. Most of the roles were supporting - as a classmate of Jamie Bell in The Chumbscrubber, as one of the subjects in Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. Lou deserves more challenging roles - he is not just a pin-up guy because he looks awesome, the guy has enormous talents!

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Rupert Grint - Playing one of the main characters in the Harry Potter series gave Rupert Grint the kind of world-wide recognition reserved to a chosen few. He is definitely not your usual boy-next-door young star who prefers to play traditional roles given to teens in Hollywood. His co-stars Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson seem to have the edge when it comes to popularity and legion of fans (at the start, that is!) but Grint has his own special way of making his presence felt.

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His goal to polish his craft by exploring other characters beside Ron Weasley appears to be making headways. He made Driving Lessons in 2006 and this year - two feature films Cherrybomb and Wild Target. Such career moves may further allow the young actor to prove he has what it takes to suceed in the business.

In the coming-of-age story Driving Lessons, Grint got excellent reviews for his first leading role: the critics praised the realism he brought into the role of shy teenager Ben Marshall, as well as his "riotous comedic timing" and "fantastic screen chemistry" with Julie Walters. He is expected to give the same kind of dedication to his two new movies, and his fans remain steadfast and loyal - even launching a campaign to make sure his movie, Cherrybomb is shown on theaters.

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Joe Anderson - Even before Across the Universe or Becoming Jane, Joe Anderson is already a wanted man - he's a fantastic actor!

Says Nathan Southern:

When British actor Joe Anderson debuted on screen in the mid-2000s, he immediately evinced a predilection for seeking out supporting roles in the most conceptually interesting and dynamic material available to him. Anderson's chosen projects - which spanned a wide variety of genres - never felt less than arresting. These included the Agnieszka Holland Beethoven biopic Copying Beethoven (2006), Julie Taymor's much-anticipated Beatles drama Across the Universe (2007) and the critically-praised biopic of punk rocker Ian Curtis, Control (2007).

Joe Anderson in some scenes from Copying Beethoven:

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Joe was quite vocal, expressing his views about his work as an actor and the issue of being typecasted. Says Anderson:

I knew my physicality and what I look like. Actor know thyself is one of the first things I learned. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be an action hero and run around with guns, but they're not the sort of movies I watch. There's something about character-driven movies and about the numbing of the situation - even like in the Matrix - all this - is it real or is it not? And the big question: What are we doing on this planet? Americans tend to medicate a lot - anti-anxiety medications - look at Heath Ledger - and it all has to do with the question, what the fuck are we doing here? So no, I won't be typecast because you can choose your work, but "High Life" is different; it's tongue-and-cheek and is hopefully going to be really funny. You get typecast if you become a product. There are big actresses and actors that make big money, but they never change their haircut. But if you have a lifestyle where you need $8 or $9 million more, it's your own stupid fault.

We @tMF believe Mr. Anderson is destined for more leading roles and while he's good at being part of the supporting cast, it's about time he took first billing to further impress his growing audience.

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Patrick Fugit - Being labeled "The Next Big Thing" in Hollywood when you're still a teenager is hard to live up to. Just ask Salt Lake native Patrick Fugit. He received rave reviews for his performance in "Almost Famous" as an aspiring young music journalist. But it was his co-star Kate Hudson who went on to movie stardom. And other co-stars, like Jason Lee and Philip Seymour Hoffman, went on to bigger things.But after "Almost Famous," it took Fugit five years to find another major role that he felt was as good.

I remember thinking at the time, 'Wow. What am I going to do now?' and 'I hope this isn't as good as it's going to get,' " Fugit said at the Sundance Film Festival. "Unfortunately, it was, for awhile.

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The 22-year-old actor has been seen in a handful of supporting roles since then, most notably "White Oleander," in which he appeared opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Alison Lohman. But he's rejected several projects that would have given him a lead role. That is until "Wristcutters: A Love Story" came along.

I wanted to find something that was different, not just the dumb comedies and other things that were being offered to me," Fugit said during an interview in the Volkswagen Lounge on Park City's Main Street.

More insights from V Mag: With his friends in Salt Lake City, where he still resides, Fugit formed the band Mushman, a name he got from the 1971 motorcycling doc On Any Sunday. He plays guitar, although the 24-year-old laughs at the suggestion that music could be his way of paying rent. Since Almost Famous Fugit has blossomed as a movie talent and as a man-if looks could kill he'd be presiding over a morgue. His choice of movie parts has been particularly fascinating, since he's avoided big-budget studio work entirely in favor of roles that have mattered to him. Offbeat and quirky stuff like The Good Life and Saved are his bag. That's if you can drag him away from his instrument.

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Charlie Cox - We have taken close notice of this British actor after seeing him in two recent period films. He played a supporting role in Lasse Hallström' s Casanova (starring Heath Ledger) and then appeared as Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice, which fielded a stellar cast including Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes.

In Stardust, Charlie Cox takes the lead role, heading up yet another stellar cast which includes Robert de Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller and Claire Danes. As a newcomer to Hollywood, there is as yet little to say about the actor, but here's the buzz from Aint it Cool:

Who the fuck is Charlie Cox? Well, evidently, he's the lead. He's Tristan. This is his journey. This is his story. He's the one who is trying to win the love of Victoria, who is going to be played by Sienna Miller. Tristan's origin is explained in the film's first ten minutes, and it's sort of like it is in the book. About ten pages in, we make a jump forward by twenty years. That's when we meet him. So Charlie Cox, who was evidently in CASANOVA (which I didn't see) and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (which, also, I didn't see) and DOT THE I (ditto), needs to be young. He's 24. Playing 20.

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But we are one of the first to celebrate the young British actor: Charlie Cox is one of the British film industry's most anticipated new talents. After a few noticeable roles in films such as Dot the I, Tirant le Blanc and Casanova, it's about time for Charlie to take the lead. Hopefully we can get to know more about Mr. Cox soon!

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Charlie Hunnam - Just like the other young actors we have chosen for the list, Charlie Hunnam's talent is undisputed and we look forward to seeing more of him portraying serious, notable roles in cutting-edge films. Here's Hunnam in Green Street Hooligans:

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Aside from the lead role in the film adaptation of the Dickens' classic Nicholas Nickleby, Hunnam starred as Nathan Maloney, a young gay teen in the TV series 'Queer as Folk'. The controversial role provided the young actor with a unique opportunity to showcase his talent and with the tremendous success of the series, he has become quite a celebrity. Together with Elijah Wood, Hunnam also worked with director Lexi Alexander for the film Green Street. The film about football fans has been the subject of debate as some critics complained of the film's depiction of violent scenes as being 'too graphic'. Hunnam, who admitted to not having attended any football games, is quite philosophical about the whole issue. He commented: “...one of the most incredible things about being an actor (is) - the opportunity to have access to a world that, ordinarily, you would never be allowed into.”

With a supporting but notable role in Children of Men, Hunnam has stuck to his words about choosing films and scripts. No matter how small his part, its the significance of the film that matters.

I'm so glad he's doing The Last Full Measure, and playing a leading role at that - something he truly deserves!

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Jay Baruchel - Says the young Canadian actor:

For me, I try as best as I can to be in movies that I would go see, movies that I would be excited about when I saw the trailer. I guess, especially in the independent world, with movies like Fetching Cody or Just Buried, or this movie that will show at the Toronto Film Festival called Real Time, that I did with Randy Quaid... They're all a bit dark, they're dark comedies. That's just always been my taste, and the happiest part about my career so far, is having a résumé that reflects my tastes, my opinions, what I find funny, what I find interesting... I guess I am a bit dark, maybe it's because my parents showed me Monty Python when I was 9 years old, but the stuff I find funny has always been a bit weird. [ read more ]

On the heels of a newfound celebrity, Baruchel co-starred with fellow television stars James Van Der Beek and Jessica Biel in Roger Avary's adaptation of author Bret Easton Ellis' "Rules of Attraction" (2002). A satire about wealthy, hedonistic college students, "Rules of Attraction" failed to seduce critics and audiences. After starring in the an unaired sitcom pilot for Fox, "The Robinson Brothers", Baruchel turned in a poignant comic performance as a hapless wannabe boxer, Danger Barch, in "Million Dollar Baby" (2004), an exquisite and subtle drama directed by Clint Eastwood.

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Baruchel also headlined I'm Reed Fish, and went on to star in Tropic Thunder, Fanboys, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Definitely, a leading role is something he truly deserved. Let's hope he'll get it sooner than later.

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Chris Marquette - Chris Marquette is definitely ready for that elusive leading role. He's been giving such great performances in his recent films: The Girl Next Door, Alpha Dog, The Invisible, and The Education of Charlie Banks among others. But in all of these films, he played supporting roles. It's about time he gets to play the star in a cool movie, and I think this might be it!

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Among Marquette's recent movies is Fanboys, in which he plays obsessed Star Wars fan Linus Poonwah. Fanboys was shot in spring 2006 in New Mexico, and also stars Sam Huntington, Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel and Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell. Another of his acting projects is an independent movie called The Education of Charlie Banks, which was directed by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst. Whether on purpose or not, Chris frequently appears in movies with a group of actors including Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano, Amanda Seyfried and Nikki Reed. Coming up for Marquette is Infestation, an action comedy by Kyle Rankin, that was shot in summer 2007 in Bulgaria, in which he plays the lead role--a young man named Cooper who has to fight for survival against giant alien insects that have taken over the world.

Says Chris:

When I started growing up in this business, I got the idea of who Robert DeNiro was from movies like Rocky and Bullwinkle and movies later in his career. So it's really interesting to see [him and other prominent actors] at their breakout points and what they were doing, 10-15 years before I was born. To see them as young actors, closer to my age - doing things that are interesting to watch, interesting to learn from. Those are the kind of movies I'm drawn to right now. [ read more ]

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Samuel Barnett - He's that gorgeous young man who has smitten the most beautiful stage actress (Kelly Reilly) at the Windmill theater in Stephen Frears' Mrs. Herderson Presents. But Barnett is more than capable of playing secondary roles such as a lonely army man. His acclaim in The History Boys has already proven that.

Says the actor in an interview:

I didn't think I was going to be an actor, I'd always done it at home and at school and I was a really keen member of my local Am Dram Society, but I didn't take it seriously as a career option at all. In fact, someone else filled in my drama school application for me and I sort of fell into it. Although I loved acting I didn't think it was practical, I thought I should get a proper job; but most of all I didn't think I'd be good enough. I though proper actors went to drama school, not me. [ read more ]

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Samuel Barnett is best known for his role as Posner in the National Theatre production of The History Boys, which earned him two Whatsonstage.com awards and an Olivier Award nomination. Before The History Boys, Barnett appeared in the National Theatre production of His Dark Materials, adapted from the books by Phillip Pullman. In London, he has also taken on roles in Verbatum at the Young Vic Theatre, Desires of Frankenstein at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre, and Mother Clap at the National Theatre Studio and at Lamda.

Barnett is also part of the cast of Bright Star, the latest Jane Campion film, starring Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish.

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Michael Angarano - His acting is intense, authentic and memorable. If there is one young actor who should be given the best roles, it should be Angarano.

My favorite scene in Lords of Dogtown is when the Z-Boys (Hirsch, Stacey Peralta, et al) visited Sid (played with such sensitivity by Michael Angarano). It was such a heartfelt performance you can't help but feel for the young man who has cancer and is about to die. Says Angarano about his character: A somewhat awkward and eager-to-please rich kid. Sid will do anything to hang out with the Z-Boys. Whatever he lacks in skating ability Sid easily makes up for in heart, good humor and occasionally, cash.

It's not surprising to note that Angarano has made it a habit to play his characters with just that- heart. The past 2 years has been quite a ride for Angarano in terms of his career as an actor. Four outstanding features will further consolidate Angarano as one of today's most talented young actors- 2 of which are outstanding films in their own rights: Black Irish, in which he plays 15-year-old Cole McKay and Man in the Chair which centers around a 17-year-old kid who flirts with the law, underachieves at school, and is at odds with his loving mother and his constantly indifferent and derisive stepfather.

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A major role in the Jet Li- Jackie Chan starrer, The Forbidden Kingdom was awesome. Gentlemen Broncos provided his fans with a much awaited on-screen presence. Ceremony and Noah's Ark: The New Beginning, are two up and coming movies many eagerly await!

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What's on your mind? Do you agree with the list? Do you have other names in mind that deserve more attention and meatier roles and even the lead role in future feature films? Let us know what you think!
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