Actor Spotlight: SAM ROCKWELL

This is the first in a series that will be updated erratically (whenever boredom strikes and I feel inspired). This article is in lieu of a full review of What Happens In Vegas... the mini-review for that film can be found here.



Sam Rockwell is a major enigma. He's still a person that many casual movie-goers can point out as a 'that guy' character actor, and not remember the name. He's been through a long list of film the past 20 years, from the most independent of indie films, to critical art house films, to disastrous box office flops, often interchangeably. He's been dubbed on more than one occasion the "male Parker Posey." Across the vast expanse of his career, Rockwell has displayed a certain seedy charm to such an effect, it's sometimes hard to determine if his affable and sly demeanor is pure acting or a fabric of Rockwell himself.

Born, well, Sam Rockwell (none of his bios list a middle name) in Daly City, California on November 5, 1968, Rockwell grew up in a divorced family of artists that allowed him to experience a true bohemian upbringing. Shuttled between New York City and San Francisco, Rockwell became an admitted drug user in the excess of 1980s youth, and a natural ascension to acting from his parents followed. In 1984 he released his only hit single in the music industry, the pop classic "Somebody's Watching Me."

Rockwell's debut in film came when he snagged the role of the oldest brother in the low budget horror schlock Clownhouse. Trying to capitalize on the string of major horror hits of the era, Clownhouse went nowhere. But this started Sam on the way back to become an actor in New York full-time.

The next couple years at the turn of the 1990s, Rockwell was able to hold down a few minor roles in semi-noticeable films such as Last Exit To Brooklyn and In Living Color's Tommy Davidson's vehicle, Strictly Business. But arguably his biggest legacy from the era is the thankless role of 'Head Thug' in 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

From here, Rockwell disappeared into the fray of the independent fare of New York city. In 1992 alone he had supporting parts in Light Sleeper, In The Soup, Jack & His Friends, and Happy Hell Night. He also appeared in two episodes of Law & Order in this time.

But success and starring roles still eluded him. Working typical actor jobs as a busboy and deliveryman, and not so typical ones such as a private detective's assistant, Rockwell eventually hit the big time doing, of all things, a commercial for Miller beer in 1994. This allowed him to focus on acting.

The mid-1990s and his heretofore indie pedigree found Rockwell with a stable of odd supporting characters, foreshadowing much of his box office career. The Search For One-Eyed Jimmy, Box Of Moonlight and Ben Affleck's Glory Daze featured notable names that were upstaged by Rockwell's eccentric characters, often the true focus of the films. His role in Moonlight got the attention of the producers of Lawn Dogs, and this began the critical ascent Rockwell's career had been waiting the past 8 years for.

After Sam Rockwell's nuanced performance in the lauded and 'featured' indie Lawn Dogs won several awards, his career started taking off. In 1998 Rockwell got his second starring role in Safe Men with fellow indie supporting character actor Steve Zahn. Also that year he got a tiny blip of screen time in Woody Allen's Celebrity, as part of Leonardo DiCaprio's posse (with future Entourage star Adrian Grenier).

1998, however, was just a filler year for Rockwell compared to his true breakout year of 1999. After Lawn Dogs, he got the attention of several influential players in Hollywood. A Midsummer's Night Dream, made to capitalize on the success of Shakespeare In Love the year before, saw Rockwell play Francis Flute. Another hallmark was as Guy Fleegman in Galaxy Quest. Quest not only showed the public that Rockwell possessed comedic chops, but also pigeon-holed him as a 'that guy'.

If the previous two films had made Rockwell at least a name in Hollywood studio productions, Steven Spielberg got people actually talking about him. Spielberg saw Lawn Dogs, and gave Rockwell the role of the disturbing antagonizer Wild Bill Wharton in the major release The Green Mile. Rockwell got acclaim for his role as the deranged inmate from much more widely read sources than the ones who watched Lawn Dogs. But the stardom was swift, and it nearly derailed his niche as an actor.

Charlie's Angels, released in 2000, was one of the most highly anticipated franchises that year, and amongst the star power of Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Bill Murray, Rockwell found himself playing the villain. But unlike his other villainous roles, this was his first summer blockbuster, and he got to play a suave playboy. Unfortunately the film was terrible in execution, and Rockwell struggled to look 'cool' on screen.

Although he had his highest profile role to date, his performance provoked apathy. Rockwell laid low and went back to his independent roots, often appearing in friends' short films. It was in 2002 that Rockwell got the nod to star in George Clooney's directorial debut, Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind. The producers wanted a bigger name to play Confessions' Chuck Barris, full-time television show producer, part-time CIA assassin, but Clooney insisted on Rockwell. He didn't let him down. He conveyed the essence of Barris' affable desperation, both in seriousness and to comedic effect. Critics at the time were enamored with the performance, and Rockwell won several local Best Actor awards.

Sam got another high-profile gig in the favorably reviewed Matchstick Men, playing, what else, but a comically flawed sidekick to star Nicolas Cage. As Entertainment Weekly noted at the time, "Sam Rockwell, who seems destined by a kind of excessive interestingness to forever be a colorful sidekick."

For better or worse, Rockwell then appeared in the highly anticipated but ultimately disappointing The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy in 2005, as the strange cult leader Zaphod Beeblebrox. But perhaps like Charlie's Angels, Rockwell in Hitchhiker didn't show off his best talents on the big box office scale. In essence, Beeblebrox was a signature Rockwell role; goofy charms met with an an unorthodox parlance. But again, it did not curry any favors for Rockwell's stock.

That brings us to Sam's recent credits. He filled a true Rockwell-esque supporting role as Casey Affleck's brother Charley Ford in the critical but little seen The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. Even better was his star turn in another little seen but somewhat prestigious indie film, Snow Angels. Playing a depressed, emotionally and mentally damaged father was pretty typical of Rockwell, but it's what he does best, and he completely nailed the role. If it was released at a better time or got more attention, Rockwell's name would be right up in the awards conversations.

This fall we look forward to Choke, based off a Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) novel, which should continue to make new fans out of Rockwell's work. At the end of the year he plays author James Reston Jr. in Ron Howard's awards-seeking Frost/Nixon, most likely another thankless supporting role. Other movies in post-production include Moon, Everybody's Fine, and Gentlemen Broncos.

Sam Rockwell may never become a consistent star in Hollywood, and may be lucky to continue popping up in major budget films. But with a penchant for dark, odd characters, Rockwell is suited just fine for interesting independent films. Whatever happens with his career, an appearance by Rockwell in a film is a welcome addition.

The Prezzies' Top Five Sam Rockwell Performances
1. Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind
2. Snow Angels
3. The Green Mile
4. Matchstick Men
5. Lawn Dogs