10 Underrated John Goodman Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen

Not every movie starring John Goodman has received the recognition it deserves, with many of the actor’s best roles being hidden in more obscure titles. John Goodman is a beloved name in Hollywood, with a wide range of acting skills and a dizzying number of credits in film and television. While John Goodman’s best movies, vi The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou? And Monsters Inc. are highly celebrated, some of his lesser known appearances also deserve more credit.

John Goodman sits at an interesting intersection between blockbuster star and character actor. His distinctive voice and silhouette are well-known, but he has a knack for blending into any given film’s cast due to his ability to inhabit a wide variety of roles and settings naturally. From voice work into animated pictures like The Emperor’s New Grove to Oscar-worthy performances in realistic dramas like flight, Goodman has an impressive resume, and even his most criminally Anderson films promise a great performance from him.

10

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

John Goodman plays Roland Turner

The filmography of the Coen brothers is one of the most impressive runs of any filmmaking team still working in Hollywood, and Goodman has managed to make himself indispensable to the duo in many films. The most recent of the collaboration is 2013 In Llewyn Davis, A tragic story revisited by the Coen brothers. The episodic story is centered around Oscar Isaac’s titular Llewin, a folk musician in the 60s struggling to make a name for himself in New York City.

Goodman plays Roland Turner, a jazz musician and traveling companion of Llewyn Davis With a dangerous addiction to heroin. Goodman’s character isn’t in the film for long, having been largely written off after his alarming overdose, but his trademark grumpiness is firing on all cylinders in the role. It’s a pity In Llewyn Davis It is no longer talked about in the Coen Brothers’ lineup due to how effectively it was able to use Goodman’s acting chops in such a short time.

9

Matinee (1993)

John Goodman plays Lawrence Woolsey

One of the few actors to be able to fly effortlessly between comedy and drama, John Goodman is no stranger to making audiences laugh. Enter matinee, A gripping comedy that bombed at the box office, though has received no end of critical praise, thanks in no small part to Goodman’s leading role.

The film begins in Florida in the shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis, with a teen military brat excited to attend the premiere of a cheesy horror B-movie alongside producer Lawrence Woolsey, played by Goodman. Matinee Cleverly parallels the threat of nuclear annihilation with the radioactive images like Mant It clearly inspired in pop culture.

Goodman holds down the fort as the eccentric and good-natured Woolsey, who is hard not to love even when he pulls an Orson Welles. War of the Worlds-style trick on a terrified audience. Without Goodman, there is no telling if the film would have worked as well as it did.

8

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

John Goodman plays Howard Stumbler

The Cloverfield Franchise is quite an uneasy series, presenting three very different movies varying wildly in quality, with only the loosest of concepts connecting them together. The best of them is easy 10 Cloverfield Lane, what Succeeds largely due to Goodman’s antagonistic performance Centering the entire premise.

Even if the film has no connective tissue placing it on the Cloverfield Timeline, it would have worked just as well as a stand-alone psychological thriller. The film stars Goodman as Howard Stumbler, a doomsday prepper who either kidnaps or rescues Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Michelle, supposedly protecting her from an alien invasion in his bunker.

Goodman displays just how intimidating he can be as a horror villain As to his true intentions and the truth behind his far-fetched claims remains uncertain for the majority of the film. Michelle walks on eggshells as Howard constantly seems to be inches away from violently exploding, all thanks to Goodman’s impressive presence.

7

Red State (2011)

John Goodman plays Special Agent Joe Keenan

Another horror thriller with John Goodman, Red state is a film that has largely skipped a theatrical run in favor of a direct-to-video releaseHelmed by none other than Kevin Smith of Clerks Room. The movie revolves around a group of teenagers who are captured by a dangerous fanatical conservative church congregation, who are willing to kill to protect their own secrets.

It’s not long before the church finds itself in a standoff with law enforcement, including ATF Special Agent Joe Keenan, as portrayed by John Goodman. Smith’s trademark voice shines through in the politically-charged thriller, which was widely disparaged for its controversial subject matter.

Regardless, Goodman is as authoritative and reassuring as everWith his character, he has his own personal grievances with how the dangerous case is handled by his own agency. It’s a shame Red state Was a bit lost in the shuffle due to its unpalatable themes considering how strong Goodman is as an almost action hero.

6

Speed ​​Racer (2008)

John Goodman plays Pops Racer

A unique film from the Wachowski sisters, Speed ​​Racer is an exciting racing movie loosely based on the classic anime of the same name. The film follows the titular motorist Speed ​​Racer, who works with his family to ensure their motorsports legacy after suffering the death of his older brother Rex in a controversial crash. John Goodman stars as Pops Racer, the Racer family patriarch Who oversees their efforts with a kind, but firm grip.

See Gutman in A really warm role as a loving father is as heart-wrenching as ever, even in the fake-looking but incredibly edited CGI cluster that is Speed ​​Racer. It’s also worth mentioning that the film’s inherent silliness gives Goodman some of his best unbridled silliness, doing wrestling moves on ninjas while quipping.More than a non-ja. Terrible what happens to a ninja these days.“Even if it was revealed upon release, Speed ​​Racer Has become something of a cult classic in recent years, with modern audiences better able to appreciate its good fun.

5

Barton Fink (1991)

John Goodman plays Charlie Meadows

Combining John Goodman’s ability for both horror and humor is this wonderful black comedy Barton Fink, Another team-up between Goodman and the Coen brothers. Set in the 1940s, the film follows the journey of the titular character, a playwright making the transition to writing for Hollywood movies, as he lives in a crooked hotel during his first days in Los Angeles. Goodman stars as Charlie Meadows, Fink’s boisterous neighbor with whom he soon begins a quiet friendship.

Before long, however, it is revealed that “Charlie Meadows” is not who he thinks he is, and Barton Fink finds himself in more danger than he ever believed possible. Goodman shows the layers of his acting skills herePlaying a character that is, in turn, playing a character. The little doubts that he lets out on the surface pay off handsomely with his later prowess.

4

Arachnophobia (1990)

John Goodman plays Delbert McClintock

As far as John Goodman’s horror movie appearances go, Arachnophobia is a stealthy good scary movie revolving around an animal incursion. The assumption revolves around a previously undiscovered Aggressive species of eusocial spider was discovered in the jungles of VenezuelaOnly to accidentally become an invasive species in a small California town.

This results in a reign of eight-fold terror as the city’s citizens fall one-by-one to the venom of the spider horde, much to the dismay of Jeff Daniels’ arachnophobic Dr. Ross Jennings. Goodman enters the picture As Delbert McClintock, an exterminator who comes to A chin –Steel task force formed with the purpose of eliminating the spiders.

Although he is introduced later in the film, Goodman becomes something of a heroMaking it to the end credits while being instrumental in overcoming the creatures. An overlooked gem of horror buried in Goodman’s filmography, Arachnophobia Deserves more credit as one of the best horror films to center around spiders.

3

Fallen (1998)

John Goodman plays Detective “Jonsey” Jones

John Goodman is really good as an authority figure, as especially proven by movies like fell Goodman stars opposite Denzel Washington as one half of a tired detective duo in Philadelphia. When the pair find themselves investigating a series of occult killings eerily similar to a past case. As the events unfold, it becomes clear that the supernatural motive for the killings may be more tangible than either partner is initially willing to believe.

Denzel Washington can be an intimidating actor to star, but John Goodman tackles the assignment in fell With ease, provided a great springboard for Washington’s weathered and tired police detective to bounce off of. The unfortunate events that Jonesy is caught up in at the end of the film give Goodman additional chances to show off his range, helping to form a vital piece of the moody horror thriller. It’s too bad that fell has remained perhaps too much suggestion from critics.

2

Rising Arizona (1987)

John Goodman plays Gale Snoats

Rising Arizona Sits in an interesting position as one of the few Nicolas Cage films that are really great, with no tinge of irony necessary to fully enjoy the performance of the often-disparaged actor. Another masterpiece by Joel and Ethan Coen, the film follows an eccentric husband and wife duo, a criminal and a cop, respectively, who kidnap a child in hopes of raising him as their own.

Goodman stars as Gale Snoats, a former cellmate of Cage’s Hiwho escapes from confinement in order to free him back into a life of crime. While Cage and Holly Hunter as the leading duo are effortlessly hilarious, Goodman comes close behind them as the film’s third-funniest performance, practically stealing every scene he appears in.

The movie was the first of Goodman’s many collaborations with the Coen brothersAnd considering how great he is as an emotional wreck who walks the fine line between crying and exploding in anger, it’s easy to see why. Rising Arizona May be highly-rated by those who have seen it, but remains tragically under-watched.

1

The Artist (2011)

John Goodman plays Al Zimmer

Another film with Goodman exploring the golden age of Hollywood, The artist is an immersive period piece that took home five Academy Awards In the year it was released, and for good reason. largely silent and in black-and-white, The artist Centers around a silent movie star, George Valentine, who struggles to adapt to the “modern” age of filmmaking as movies with sound, or “talkies,” begin to take over the film industry.

John Goodman stars as Al Zimmer, Valentine’s studio boss who welcomes the new wave of cinematic innovation, hoping not to be left behind. in the artist, Goodman shows his intricate acting skill, being Can lead a performance without the use of his voiceRelying only on body language alone.

Although Valentin’s situation is sympathetic, it is difficult not to understand the motivations of Zimmer, who has to adapt to profound changes in the means of his livelihood, or leave the business. It is worth noting that John Goodman is allowed to have one of the few speaking lines in the entire film, due to his trademark duclet voice.

Key background

• Goodman’s first professional acting role was in the TV movie The face of storm (1983) at the age of 30.

• The actor won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical in 1993.