Matthew McConaughey is a second-rate actor who appears in crappy rom-com’s with posters that feature him leaning against his co-star a stupid grin on his face. It would be easy to believe this based on some of the terrible movies he has appeared in, but look a little deeper and you will se some great performances in interesting movies.
As with many people he first came to my attention in 1993’s Dazed and Confused. Looking back now Richard Linklater’s ensemble cast looks impressive, however, the truly impressive thing is that they were unknowns at the time. The funniest and most charismatic of these, despite his reprehensible attitude towards high school girls was McConaughey’s David Wooderson. A Time to Kill is still my favourite movie based on a John Grisham novel, it is even more impressive when you consider it was directed by Joel Schumacher around the same time as he was fucking up the Batman franchise. McConaughey is perfectly cast as Jake Brigance, an easygoing but honourable southern lawyer who more than holds his own against an impressive cast including: Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Brenda Fricker, Donald Sutherland and Patrick McGoohan.
He followed this up with impressive performances in Lone Star (1996), Amistad (1997), Contact (1997) and a reunion with Richard Linklater in the true story of The Newton Boys (1998). Edtv (1999) was a sublime satire that is remarkably prophetic given the rise of reality TV in the decade that followed its release. It was sadly overshadowed by the previous years The Truman Show. Like his character Ed Pekurny in the show he stars in McConaughey’s is the reason to watch the movie, he is as perfect for the part as Jim Carrey was for Truman.
U-571 (2000) is a routine action, adventure, thriller, it has its issues but is largely enjoyable and gives us a first look at McConaughey in a more action orientated movie. Two films that best exemplify his action credentials are: the man v dragon movie Reign of Fire (2002) where he makes the future Batman and King Leonidas (Christian Bale and Gerard Butler) look like average Joe’s. It isn’t a great movie, but it is great fun. The same can be said for the underrated Sahara (2005). Based on a Clive Cussler novel, and featuring the character Dirk Pitt in his second movie outing (the first was played by Richard Jordan in the rubbish Raise the Titanic, 1980). A fun action adventure that is as close as anyone has ever come to emulating Indiana Jones. McConaughey has the right blend of hero and comedian and has great chemistry with co-stars Penélope Cruz and Steve Zahn. Sadly the film “underperformed” at the box-office and was beset with legal issues mainly involving author Clive Cussler making a sequel unlikely.
After a slew of the aforementioned crappy rom-com’s last year saw a return to form with an adaptation of the Michael Connelly novel The Lincoln Lawyer. Mick Haller is a sleazy defence attorney, radically different from the honourable boy scout Jake Brigance in A Time to Kill but no less charismatic. This year sees McConaughey take on three radically different roles: A cop with a sideline in murder for hire in William Friedkin’s Killer Joe, a male stripper in Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike and a journalist trying to exonerate a man on death row in The Paperboy.
So next time you see a picture of Matthew McConaughey leaning against his co-star on a movie poster of a film like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past or The Wedding Planner, give the guy a break and remind yourself that he has made some more interesting movies.
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Is it pure coincidence that I went through a slide show on him just today, which said exactly the same thing! I kinda like him and though I have seen only his rom-coms, I believe he can do well in other genres too, and so, The Paperboy and The Lincoln Lawyer are on my to-see list..
Love this, Andy! You pretty much summed up what I think about McConaughey in your intro. I’ve heard good things about him in The Lincoln Lawyer, though, and will definitely add some of these films to my rental list.
He is stunning in Killer Joe, perverse, unhinged and strangely charismatic in spite of that.
u571 and reign of fire. good picks. good post
Good post, more people should see him in How To Lose A Guy….No matter how bad the movie you can always depend on Bongos McConaughy for an enjoyable if not good performance.
That wedding planner was particularly bad – the end was completely unbelievable rubbish. It was a little heart warming when he is a doc at the children’s hospital.
The Failure to Launch was good – a silly end but it survived my interest. Have watched it more than once on my computer.
Don’t forget this year’s film, Bernie, where Linklater has him playing the scene grabbing DA who’s trying to put Jack Black’s character in jail (and wearing one of the silliest wigs I’ve ever seen on him. Hilarious!). He even does one scene opposite his mother. They have great deadpan rapport.
He’s a hoot in Larger Than Life and indeed in The Lincoln Lawyer.
Ha..ha.. he did star with the future Batman and King Leonidas (Christian Bale and Gerard Butler), I should rewatch Reign of Fire again soon, I mean with that cast they should re-release it on the big screen and I bet it’ll make some money
I think its unfair to judge an actor based on a handful of films. Actors have to make a living too so for McConaughey to make Reign of Fire (underrated) or Lincoln Lawyer, he has to make some cash with How to Lose a Guy in 10 days or Failure to Launch.
He’s also really good alongside Al Pacino in Two for the Money.
I’m not judging the guy, but many people do. Maybe Killer Joe will alienate some of his Rom-Com fans!
I nearly included Two for the Money, as you say he is good in it, but Al Pacino isn’t and I didn’t really like the movie on the whole.
Talking about that movie reminds me that I miss Rene Russo, why did she suddenly disappear?
I wasn’t accusing you of judging, was a general comment. Al Pacino has sunk into the “shout every line” style of acting that became his trademark unfortunately. Last time I saw Rene Russo was in Thor I think… heavily under-used.
Sorry misunderstood you. Yes that’s the same problem I have with Pacino, it such as shame as when he was good he could be amazing. I haven’t seen a really good performance from him since The Insider and even then he was overshadowed by Russell Crowe who gave the performance of his career.
I think Thor is the only movie she was made since Two for the Money.