Ed Harris is definitely the most under-rated actor I have ever seen, and one of the best. I can't recall anything I have seen him do that was not above-average, and I've seen some of the all-time greats do some pretty average stuff and worse. Even in something as innocuous as Milk Money, he brought a genuine warmth to the character that I would never have expected from someone who plays so many hard characters.
My first encounter with him was in Under Fire, where he played a mercenary - a performance that to this day I consider the most realistic I've seen of a military man.
However, my favourite is without a doubt The Third Miracle. He plays a postulator of the Vatican who is going through a crisis of faith, yet is ordered to investigate the claim of sainthood and miracles attributed to a lay woman. The last time he did this job, he destroyed the faith of an entire community and very nearly his own, and once again he must summon the impartial objectivity in spite of his own uncertainty.
It is a transcendent performance in its own right, but what makes it so good for me is that his character doesn't appear as church officials so often do in Hollywood films. I have experienced crises of faith, and I felt complete empathy with Harris' effort. He walks the tightrope between the extremes with a profound range of emotion. I could go on for hours, but just watch the movie and maybe you will see what I mean.
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KGotschall
15 years ago
I totally agree, He has to be one of the most versitile actors alive and working.
He has this way of adding an element of humanity to every character that makes them whole--even an anti-social like Sullivan. That scene where he is directing SC's character to his family's house, after he gets off the phone, he has this look of almost comfort on his face, and you think, wow he must have it in him to care about something other than himself and his desire to control. Then, after he finds the family dead, you realize that he is in no way vindicated--that comfort and calm arise only out of the completion of the circle.
The way the script is written, I have no doubt this insight was a product of the actor making his performance whole.
If I ever see this movie again, it will be because of Harris' characterization and acting.
They're so flamboyant and melodramatic, it just makes me want to set myself on fire.
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eliz7212-1
15 years ago
He should have received the Oscar for his work in Just Cause. That's all I have to say on the subject. Best performance by anybody anwhere in a short appearance. He was absolutely divine.
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csue-palmer-937-895589
9 years ago
Nobody has ever claimed that he is "under-rated". Harris, himself, wouldn't believe he's underrated. He gets some of the best roles in Hollywood. He's HIGHLY RATED by everyone.
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