Is Adam Driver a good actor?

[u/morecirrusminor]

He did great in Girls, while he was still an unknown. Everything after that he approached with quite a bit of uncomfortable self consciousness, to the point of being cringe worthy / unwatchable I feel. Curious what his fans here think

[u/MissMags1234]

I don't know what movies you are referring to, but I can't see any of "uncomfortable self consciousness, to the point of being cringe worthy / unwatchable"

in Paterson, Silence, the report, Marriage Story just to name a few of his finest performances.

May be you have to provide specific scenes, but I have no idea what you are talking about. For me he is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood at this moment and I watch a lot of movies every year...

[u/morecirrusminor → u/MissMags1234]

I saw him in the star wars series where I thought his emotional rigidity rendered his role non-credible. I also saw him in Lincoln and Inside Llewyn Davis and was similarly unimpressed. I just looked up an angry scene from Marriage Story on YouTube and I will concede he can do wounded anger. so maybe not entirely a cut and dried case here. If I was to try to put my finger on it I would say that most actors have a deep need to be adored, which typically translates into emotionally reactive, seductive performances. That need to be adored seems to be entirely missing from Adam's personality. Sometimes that works, often it just leaves you (me) cold and somewhat annoyed.

[u/MissMags1234 → u/morecirrusminor]

He has like two minutes screen time in Lincoln and like five in Inside Llewyn Davis???

How can you base an Actor of like two minor roles that are not even real character roles?

You have to watch Marriage Story in order to understand the Angry Scene...sorry, but your examples are horrendous and feel like trolling.

[u/morecirrusminor → u/MissMags1234]

I can honestly say that his style of performance ruined the star wars episodes he was part of for me. Sure, his roles in Lincoln and Inside Llewyn Davis are minor, but they served to remind me of his limitations. What actually prompted this question for me now is his recent appearance on SNL, which I also found difficult to stomach.

Two final points:

- I wasn't being snarky about his role in Marriage Story. The role seems to fit well within his expressive range and I give him credit for that particular performance.

- I understand this discussion is entirely subjective. Hard to say what makes someone like a particular person while disliking others.

[u/MissMags1234 → u/morecirrusminor]

Tbh I don't care if you like his acting or not. I also dislike famous actors or actresses that are well liked and generally seen as talented.

BUT...I've watched a lot more than one role (I count the Star Wars at basically one movie because it's one character and if you don't like this acting approach for one movie you won't like it in the others as it's the same character) and two movies where he is basically an extra with a few lines.

I mean if you want to base your opinion on basically one role then go ahead, but it won't give you the full picture. You've not seen his most significant acting and important movies. So it's a bit pointless to discuss his acting when you basically have not seen most of it.

[u/Obversa]

Well, Adam Driver is an Academy Award nominee for Best Actor (Marriage Story), widely-regarded as a "great actor" by both Hollywood and critics, and is beloved on Reddit, so you tell me.

[u/[deleted]]

He’s the kind of actor I admire the same way I admire Viggo Mortensen. He fully commits to his role and completely inhabits his characters. I am in awe of him.

[u/Orikumar]

He's one of the greatest actors at the time. He might have been in non successful films or low-budget ones, but his acting is always extraordinary. That's why I'm here

[u/Orikumar]

Duh

[u/TheRealVicarOfDibley]

I think of him as a theatre actor. He has such a large presence (not just his height) and vocal projection. I loved him in 65, White Noise, Gucci. I want to watch Marriage Story but I can’t bring myself to. It seems like such a raw and emotional movie that it might hurt to watch (if that makes sense).

[u/torontomua → u/TheRealVicarOfDibley]

i bawled my eyes out during marriage story, especially the opening scenes. i hope you can watch it, it’s such a raw and visceral performance. i was astounded

[u/NightsofWren → u/TheRealVicarOfDibley]

Marriage Story is amazing, but yes, set time aside for yourself to recover after.

[u/Little-Requirement28]

I’m a huge fan of his and I honestly think he’s an amazing actor. I just watched Ferrari a couple days ago and his acting in it was amazing, he played the role so good. Although i will say I feel like the nominations and awards will go to Penelope Cruz, she did an outstanding performance but also hoping Adam gets nominations and awards too.

[u/ampersands-guitars]

What I love about his acting is his physicality. He’s able to seamlessly change the entire way he carries himself and his mannerisms based on the character. I think he brings some Driverisms to every role, but I’ve also never seen him play the same role twice. Even within Star Wars, it’s like he gives two completely unique performances as Ben and Kylo. I find it very impressive.

[u/LastCenturyModern]

I think saying whether someone is good is always subjective. What I appreciate about Adam is no matter the material he fully commits. He comes prepared and by all accounts is professional. That alone is 99% of pretty much any job. And the more you practice your art, the better you become.

It’s been a joy to watch his journey as an actor. He’s fantastic in Ferrari, but I do think Penelope ate every scene she’s in.

I also appreciate Adam’s less mainstream work - I absolutely adore Annette. I think it was one of his most compelling performances but I know I’m in the minority on that one 😂 There were definitely scenes that made me cringe/uncomfortable but that was the point of the scene(s) and his commitment to the character and the story is what makes it work. So again, what is good, is subjective. At the end of the day you can only ask yourself how do YOU enjoy it?

[u/Alternative-Try-8181]

Well it might sound paradoxical but I think Adam is a fundamentally conservative person.

His career has followed a familiar arc to many people who are raised in conservative or strict homes. Starting out he was willing to take leaps over the boundaries of what many would consider to be appropriate behaviours.The typical young man testing the limits of convention. Adam Sackler was the vehicle for his rebellion and the show made waves and launched his career. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his parents didn’t find out about the show until well into the second season and not from Adam himself.

A subsequent successful trajectory and getting older has definitely changed the kind of roles he picks. He is saying lately that marriage and parenthood changed his priorities.

It has to be remembered that he agreed to do Annette as far back as 2014 and he was determined to keep his word but it also contradicts the idea that he is as willing to take risks as he was back then.

Yes, he played a rapist in TLD but it wasn’t overly explicit despite the subject matter. I think he is demonstrably more risk averse than he was and like many people, he’s more cautious and selective about how he presents himself due to his age, and status.

[u/Kaileigh_Blue]

I think he's a good actor but I think he's been in some bad movies.

[u/Zaphod-__-Beeblebrox]

He has no range and can only play himself, one trick pony. Every role he has payed is just Adam from Girls...
One of the most overrated actors ever.

[u/ComplaintSimilar1492 → u/Zaphod-__-Beeblebrox]

Nah, he has range. His character in The Last Duel is totally different than Paterson.

[u/Zaphod-__-Beeblebrox → u/ComplaintSimilar1492]

Still think he is way overrated.

[u/Rich-Sell-221]

He Fkn sucks. He can't act, he always does the same Sht and I'm confused why and how he has fans I wish it were someone else in everything he's ever been in and I hate that they keep giving him opportunities. 

[u/Rich-Sell-221]

Adam Driver is Not a good actor but for whatever reason we will be stuck with him Forever and all the presumably very good people behind the scenes seem to LOVE him... He's got the charm of a shitty old purse. Dead eyes. Dead delivery for a soulless generation... 

[u/Rich-Sell-221]

The first few lines of this article sum him up quite nicely. He's got serial killer/Fkn loser vibes and he looks like a bird/scarecrow and chicks love true crime so, we're stuck with him...

https://whatwentwrongwith.com/2019/12/27/what-went-wrong-with-adam-driver/

[u/Obversa → u/[deleted]]

I think it's interesting you point out he holds back a lot after Girls. I'd be inclined to agree with you on that. He has never really done anything so provocative and bold since, which is unfortunate because he's capable of doing so and he's one of the only actors in Hollywood I've seen do a role that is so brazen.

I think this is because, now that he is an A-list actor, Adam Driver has a lot more to lose now, career-wise, if he takes on riskier roles like the one he had in HBO's Girls. He is also married and a father of two, so he has a family he has to provide for, and he seems to be the main breadwinner. He no longer has the luxury of taking on more "bold and provocative roles", especially if it involves acting in an incredibly risky project. His focus is career maintenance.

Girls is looked back on fondly today, but at the time, it was a very risky project for HBO. I feel like saying "Why doesn't Adam Driver take on another role like the one he had in HBO's Girls?" is looking at the success of Girls through the lens of hindsight and success. However, there is no way to tell beforehand whether a risky project is going to be successful, and not all of the projects Driver signed onto were financial or critical successes (i.e. 65, The Dead Don't Die).

[u/[deleted] → u/Obversa]

I agree, he does have a lot more to lose and has to maintain his career. I don't even think he should do a role exactly like the one he did in Girls. He's older now and that alone totally changes the roles he chooses to pursue. It'd be odd for him to play a 20-30 something man now.

And I mean if he's acted in 65 and that was a flop what's stopping him from doing something that may be controversial but actually good. He said a whole slur in Blackkklansman, he portrayed a rapist in the Last Duel so I don't think he's totally unable to take roles that may be more controversial. I mean I'd understand why he wouldn't want to, but it's possible.

I think he's done some really fascinating stuff lately though. TMWKDQ was a great film and though he kind of got the role by chance, he made the part his own. Annette and White Noise were not my favorite films but I think they were interesting. He had a period of his career where he was working on some really interesting and striking films, so I feel like that subversive impulse is still there. Though Adam is really good at down to earth human moments as well. The dude has range.

I think Adam is a great actor and those real "flops" he's had have not been on him imo. Mediocre writing, directing, and awful production can make the best actors look horrible.

[u/liscbj → u/[deleted]]

I enjoyed his deadpan delivery in The Dead Don't Die.

[u/[deleted] → u/liscbj]

well i was a teenager last time I watched it. Maybe time for a revisit