Mark Wahlberg
by Sonny Bunch | June 13, 2008
So, in my review of The Happening, I mention that Mark Wahlberg “regresses to the novice we saw in Boogie Nights.” His performance is just that bad. I didn’t blame him; rather, I attributed his poor work to M. Night Shyamalan’s shoddy direction. But as my girlfriend points out, “He sort of has Keanu Reeves syndrome. You know, he’s got a limited range.”
For example, we have concern:
Then, we have anger:
Finally, we have…bemusement? Frustration? I’m not sure which this is supposed to be. “Purse lipped,” perhaps:*
*For the record, Beth called this look “Hot.” But, y’know, I don’t think I can get away with that.
2 Comments - add your own
Beth — June 13, 2008 at 11:10 am
The dude isn’t a good actor, but he’s really attractive. I can’t take that away from him.
Christian Toto — June 13, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Wahlberg fascinates me. Audiences either get the good Wahlberg performances (”The Departed,” “Invincible”) or the really awful ones (”The Yards,” “The Italian Job”). He’s got no middle mode …
It’s easy to pin it on his limited range, but perhaps he simply clicks with some directors and doesn’t with others.
Women I know do respond to him in a very visceral way, which should keep him employed for the forseeable future.