The wig probably wasn't *his* idea, really... I agree it was silly, but what can you do? Certain parts of this smack of it beginning as a small production that suddenly had a massive budget boost, but with imposed time constraints preventing reshoots on the earlier footage. That happens with movies sometimes, but more so with TV.
As for the accents - Several colleagues native to those countries agree that they're pretty much flawless. FLAWLESS. That from native speakers, so I think that's a definitive answer on that.
Quality of acting is subjective. I find Strauss always very grounded and realistic, rather than the OTT sensationalist crap in most films I see nowadays. From Angelina Jolie to Megan Fox, from Bruce Willis to Jason Momoa - No-one in the real world uses phrases like the dialogue they get and no-one would say them like that, either. It's like watching some really bad sitcom but from a major Hollywood studio, with Transformers and Hobbits and Samuel L Jackson in the background!
Strauss's acting works for realistic portrayals, usually in real-life stories (which he does a fair few of). If you want larger than life stuff, you need to cast the likes of Schwarzenegger or Steven Segal.
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Chapaev36
12 years ago
You're right. Strauss is realistic next to Steven Seagal.
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ttaskmaster
12 years ago
Given that you seem to judge an actor's ability based solely on the wardrobe department's efforts, that says more than enough!
Learn what subtlety means and how it's far better acting than anyone who starts their line with, "Are you trying to tell me that - [insert dumbed-down plot synopsis of the movie thus far]".
Classic Bruce Willis type dialogue.
As for how Strauss kept getting plum roles - Clearly your opinion did not match those of the majority... as he just kept on getting them. Maybe go watch some earlier work, like RMPM or Sergent Klems, The Jericho Mile etc.
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Chapaev36
11 years ago
All right. No offense intended.
Clearly we disagree about Peter's acting skills. What's to be done.
Subtle is not the word I'd use to describe Strauss's work. But he does show commitment, I'll give him that.
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Prismark10
11 years ago
The older the Strauss character got, the thicker his accent became.
Still the series was good fun.
Its that man again!!
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ttaskmaster
11 years ago
Peter has acting skills. The amount of work and number of awards he has is testament to that - For the most part, such award institutes do actually reward good acting. It's not like certain music bodies, where the award goes to whoever wears the most revealing dress to the ceremony.
What I think we're disagreeing over is *styles* of acting. Both Neill and Strauss are those (generally) older types of actor who portray realistic and lifelike down-to-earth characters, rather than the dramatised larger than life kind more common in Hollywood movies. I guess that's why Pete also gets so many made-for-TV 'based on a true story' type roles. He's not often a big hero of some kind - He plays regular folk with a tale to tell.
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Prismark10
11 years ago
I like Strauss. I saw him in Rich Man Poor Man as a kid. From the mid 70s onwards until the late 80s he was the king of the mini series.
He stretched himself when he did stuff like Tender is the Night produced by the BBC. He always puts on a good performance in films, I just think he was coasting in this one.
Whilst Neill was the hungrier actor, someone who was regarded as a promising actor looking to break into big movies.
Its that man again!!
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lferrigon-1
10 years ago
The acting was very good I enjoyed the miniseries. Shame they don't make them anymore.
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