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There are sure criteria for being a Hollywood A - lister and nobody is crossing off items faster than Sam Rockwell . HostSNL ? Check . gain an Oscar ? mark . What ’s leave on the inclination ? How about a miniseries ? Rockwell is about to star in the upcoming eight - part FX seriesFosse / Verdon , playing ill-famed Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse . He also recently starred in the indie - drama filmThe Best of Enemies , in which he play a ashen supremacist opposite Taraji P. Henson . Sam Rockwell is everywhere right now and show no sign of slowing down .
But this unruffled - dancing , tight - talking cinematic banger was n’t always so recognizable . Once upon a time , Sam Rockwell was better known as " that guy in that movie . " People knew him by face , recognized his talent , and yet he was never seen as a leading mankind until quite recently . Throughout his life history , Rockwell has appeared in everything from big - budget sci - fi flicks to quirky indies , even a superhero film . No matter if he ’s the first actor credited or the fifth , Rockwell never fails to render a stand - out performance . Here are 10 Sam Rockwell Roles You Forgot About .
The Way Way Back (2013)
The Way Way Backis a sweet , come - of - old age indie motion-picture show in which Sam Rockwell plays Owen , a slacker water park manager who takes shy , fourteen - year - sometime Duncan under his wing . Though we steady down for Duncan as he gradually gains the authority to talk to his compaction and stand up to his mom ’s objectionable boyfriend , Rockwell ’s performance as Owen is what really bulge off the screenland . Owen ’s not all flip - flop and sally — though they ’re pretty hilarious . He has an unexpected profoundness to him and yield Duncan a profound degree of sympathy and wisdom nobody else ever has . There ’s no doubt about it ; in this role , Rockwell makes a splash .
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
This is Rockwell ’s first collaboration with director Martin McDonagh . The 2nd wasThree Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri , which earned Rockwell his Oscar . Seven Psychopathsis a genus Circus of insanity and Rockwell ’s the ring - leader . He plays a dog - napper — that alone should betray the movie — who apprehend a crime boss ' pooch . This leads to a series of progressively zany events and Rockwell , clad in the ever - so complementary cognac leather jacket and crochet dog pillbox — utterly shines . Rockwell reach the impossible — being the craziest guy in a movie carbon monoxide gas - asterisk Christopher Walken .
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Outshining Tony Stark is a marvellous order , as Sam Rockwell can attest . He was actuallya contender to play Iron Manand though he would have done a stellar line , Robert Downey Jr. has made the role legendary . But Rockwell still gets to have his fun in the sequel , as villain Justin Hammer , a weapons manufacturer . Hammer is a fun - house mirror to Tony Stark , what the admitted narcissist would search like if he were a spoilt guy . ThoughIron Man 2is considered to be a small fall in the franchise ’s character , Rockwell is in usual top - form .
Moon (2009)
Though Rockwell may not have been a household name in 2009 , he was surely well - regarded in the industry . So much that theatre director Duncan Jonesdeveloped the labor specifically for Rockwell . Moontells the story of spaceman Sam Bell ( Rockwell ) who is at the end of his three - year declaration of a solo mining mission on the moonshine when he experiencesa bizarre wellness crisis . The film garnered universal praise , peculiarly for Rockwell ’s execution . It ’s not just any actor who can carry a feature - distance cinema almost entirely by themselves , and here Rockwell occult any dubiousness that he ’s not at the top of his craftiness .
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
ground on the fabled novel of the same name , The Hitchhiker ’s Guide to the Galaxyearned lukewarm reviews . It did n’t accomplish the furore condition of its seed cloth , as some die - hard rooter of the book regain the film a dashing hopes , whereas non - readers witness it confusing . Still , there ’s little debate that the bright shining star ofHitchhiker’sis Sam Rockwell . He ’s double the fun as two - steer chairman of the Galaxy , Zaphod Beeblebrox . Rockwell has submit that Zaphod isan amalgamation of several pappa culture figures include George W. Bush . Clearly , Rockwell nailed it as he would go on to wager the forty - third POTUS in last year’sVice , which earned him an Oscar nominating speech .
Matchstick Men (2003)
In this silklike Ridley Scott capriole , Rockwell may have met his quirky mate in Nicolas Cage . The duo star as con artists who have to contend with Roy ’s ( Cage ) domesticated situation when his teenage girl unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep . True to form , Cage ’s performance is brassy and eccentric but Rockwell steal his share of the spotlight . As Frank , Rockwell shows supporting thespian chops that leave no uncertainty in the spectator ’s thinker : this man is headed down a path paved with Oscars . confuse in some of Rockwell ’s signature dance actuate andMatchstick Menis a movie deserving remembering .
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
This is Sam Rockwell ’s first leading part and it ’s one so off - the - wall nobody else could have played it advantageously . Confessions of a Dangerous Mindis based on the autobiography of Chuck Barris , legendary game show host ofThe Dating GameandThe Gong Show , in which he claimed to be a CIA assassin . Rockwell display a impact of charisma , more than pulling his weight in this wiz - studded film that also features Drew Barrymore , Julia Roberts , and George Clooney ( who directs ) . Nobody ’s striking the bell on Rockwell ’s slayer performance .
Charlie’s Angels (2000)
As the villain ofCharlie ’s Angels , Rockwell convey so much animation to the function , the audience almost root forhimto issue victoriously . He flirt Eric Knox , engineering wunderkind who pose as a customer and twofold - crosses the Angels for fall a personal blood feud . The audience hang for his goofy computer geek act right along with the in love Drew Barrymore . But we forgive him instantly because he ’s even more fun as the sorry guy . Snarky , sadistic , and capable of busting a serious move , he ’s all you could want in a Sam Rockwell execution and more .
Galaxy Quest (1999)
The sci - fi genre sure owes a raft to Sam Rockwell . InGalaxy Quest , Rockwell brings the funny as Guy Fleegman , an player who play the badly - designate , or redshirt , fictional character " sailor # 6 " in the fictional cult television show , also calledGalaxy Quest . He gets lasso into a real outer space mission alongside his former Centennial State - stars and the viewer gets to live vicariously through Guy ’s Pisces - out - of - weewee situation . Rockwell has rocket past being a " glorified additional " but he ’s certainly entertaining when he plays one .
Lawn Dogs (1997)
While many may not have heard of this indie jewel , Lawn Dogsis the film that really break Sam Rockwell into Hollywood . He plays Trent , a trailer - inhabit untested human being who mows lawns in a gate suburban biotic community . It ’s there he forgather the disaffected Devon ( dally by a immature Mischa Barton ) , and the two variety an unlikely friendship . Devon restores Trent ’s sensory faculty of whimsy and he , in turn , ask on a big crony role towards her , give her care that she does n’t receive from her negligent parents . His performative adeptness in this persona more than proves why he ’s one of today ’s leading man .
