Rockwell isn't more known because he's chosen a career path of quirky indie films or supporting roles (my favorite but less appreciated by the mainstream) in larger movies. He's a young actor with the mindset of a veteran character actor in that regard. He also isn't bashful about changing his appearance dramatically for a role by growing beards or mustaches (check out his great 'stache in the photo!). Rockwell is kind of old school you might say. Because of these things, Rockwell is going to be acting in films for decades.
I first noticed Rockwell in the oddball 1996 Tom DiCillo film Box of Moonlight. Rockwell plays an eccentric (the first of many eccentrics Rockwell has played) dressed in buckskins, who lives in a half-trailer in the woods, that befriends a stuffy man with no imagination. I liked this little film when I saw it but was struck by the energetic young actor perfectly trading dialogue with the excellent John Turturro.
Other Rockwell films or performances I've liked are Lawn Dogs (1997), Galaxy Quest (1999), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Frost/Nixon (2008) and the previously mentioned Moon.
(scroll down a little to see Rockwell's screen test for Confessions...)
7 comments:
almost rented 'box of moonlight' and 'lawn dogs'...but haven't yet. he needs to be in a movie where he just dances the whole time! (saw clip you posted...!)
He's done a lot of quirky stuff worthy seeing...imdb him and head to Scarecrow!
finally saw MOON and didn't love it...but he is great and my fave part was the brief moment he danced to Katrina and the Waves 'walkin' on sunshine'...and fighting with clone to keep dancin'!
as you know, scarecrow has 2 for 1 on wednesdays...(although i always get that with my KEXP membership card!) and i rented 'confessions' and 'box of moonlight.' sam nailed his chuck mannerisms, voice, body movements. i agree with you that he is an old-timey seeming character actor and is willing to look like s*%$t for a role. still, my fave is the dancing screen test in the extras. i loved 'box of moonlight' - a quirky gem with a fab cast (turturro! keener! all the other little roles...) and rockwell's performance as 'the kid' is sweet, delightful, warm, funny, energetic...a performance that immediately threw him into my current 'top 5'! only flaw is that he did not dance enough!
oh...and read a funny post on youtube or somewhere about MOON...that the two clones should have had a dance-off to see who gets to return to earth. yes! sam having a dance-off with himself!
Ha! A MOON dance-off would have been hilarious. Should have done that for the extras.
I have a real soft spot for BOX OF MOONLIGHT too. That's such a sweet, fun little gem that I don't think a lot of people have seen. It was the first film I saw SR in and took notice.
rented 'lawn dogs' and did not care for the story or it but sam was good. best scene was the strip down in the truck, subsequent jump off the bridge and non-chalant walk back to the truck stark naked. he's bold!
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