I just saw The Fighter and once again Mark Wahlberg gives a solid performance, enough to get a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor. But I keep asking myself the same question. Is Mark Wahlberg a good actor?
For some reason, I always leave a “Wahlberg” movie and wonder if I just saw a good actor or Wahlberg playing himself on camera. Look, I am not a hater. I am not saying he’s a bad actor. But I do question the similarity of his roles.
Lets take a look at four of Wahlberg’s vintage performances. In Boogie Nights, he plays a porn star. In Three Kings, he plays a solider. In Four Brothers, he plays a tough guy. In The Fighter, he plays a boxer. Are these characters that far off from the Marky Mark tough guy image he portrayed growing up?
Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights, Three Kings, Four Brothers, & The Fighter
At the end of the day, everyone gets typecast. Julia Roberts is Julia Roberts in almost every movie she plays. Some people return to the movies to see Julia play Julia. I don’t fall into that category. Personally, when I see actors play roles that fit their image, I am less likely to find them interesting as the character.
I would like to see Wahlberg leave his comfort zone as an actor so I can get a true sense of his range. Of course, that “choice” isn’t always the actor’s and more likely the producer’s and casting director’s. But if you are listening Marky Mark, surprise me with a non-Wahlberg type role. Oh yeah, also, if you actually are listening, you are the best actor of all time! …… I have to protect myself, the guy is jacked.
