This, after he gave up the right to movie ticket royalties so the Wachowskis could fund the special effects.
Everything I've read about the guy from interviews with cast and crewmembers indicates he's an extremely dedicated actor who takes his craft seriously.
Is the he the best actor in the industry? Definitely not.
But what most people don't realize is that while his vocal acting ability may not be awe-inspiring, his facial expressions and body movements are very realistic in the scenes he is in.
People complain that a majority of time, he acts somewhat dumbstruck, but that's often the way the character should be reacting.
Throughout all of the Matrix, he had to come to grips with revelation after revelation with regards to misconceptions he'd had regarding a reality he existed in for all of his life. Is it any wonder he had a blank stare and spoke tersely?
Maybe you haven't seen "the Gift" or "the Watcher." Both were pretty good movies, and through both of them, he was quite good, never having any of those "whoa" moments. "The Replacements" was extremely enjoyable, partly due to his breezy, simple performance.
It's fun to bash the guy, but really, he's one of the better overall actors out there. And I can't imagine another big-name Hollywood actor who could have pulled off Neo better.
Facebook
Twitter