Is Robert Downey Jr back?

[Thespeckledkiwi]

I ask this because I always thought of him as a talented actor even before this summer. I never caught him on Ally McBeal but I saw him afterward in the movie Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and I thought he did an excellent job there. The question is, is he becoming the A-list actor everyone thought he could be or will he stay out of the light due to his past problems? I know that Iron Man was huge but still, it seemed to be his redemption to his career.

 

[Michael]

I read the thread title as 'Is Robert Downey Jr black?' and thought it was an allusion to Tropic Thunder.

 

[Dream]

I read the thread title as 'Is Robert Downey Jr black?'

Only on Tuesdays.

 

[John Picard]

He's "been back" for quite some time. He is clean, sober, and has a good woman at his side.

 

[Brolan]

He may be sober now but with his history a relapse is possible at any given moment. Once you become an addict you are always an addict and the slightest misstep will take you down the dark path.

 

[Trekker4747]

I think so too. He's had two major hits this Summer in the front-lights. He's always been a good actor but his problems a few years ago put him in a back-seat relegating him to smaller or less prominate roles. But with his success in Iron Man and Tropic Thunder, the later of which really showed off his talents, I'd say he's back.

But in a way, Robert Downey, Jr. has always been with us. He's always offered us the same great acting at low prices since his career began.


(A cookie to whomever guesses which movie I just paraphrased.)

 

[Winged Victory]

I've considered him back since last year when he starred as Paul Avery in Zodiac. He was great in that movie! I heard he was excellent in Tropic Thunder, so I'm going to see that soon.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Personally, I hope he stays back, and I wish him all the best. The guy has been through hell - he deserves to have good karma going for him for a while.

 

[Star Treks]

I've been impressed with him during his recent "resurgence" - I wasn't really that familiar with him before. He's really a fine actor, but he's also funny as hell - anyone see him on Craig Ferguson a month or so ago? One of the best talk show interviews I've ever seen.

Yeah, he's definitely back, I am pretty sure of that.

 

[Harvey]

He was great in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Good Night and Good Luck, Charlie Bartlett, and Zodiac...and those were all before this summer's great duo of Iron Man and Tropic Thunder.

 

[Brian]

I saw a bit of a really weird movie on cable a week ago, with him and Nicole Kidman. He played some guy with long hair all over his body, like a wolfman. And Nicole had some kind of hair freak going on.

When was that released? And how did a Downey/Kidman movie get released without me ever hearing about it? Was it only in theaters for three minutes or something?

 

[Star Treks]

That movie was "Fur" - an 'Imaginary Portraoit of Diane Arbus' - the famous photographer. I thought the movie had some interesting parts but was also largely unsuccessful. It was released in 2006, without a great deal of fanfare.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Yep he's back. Even in his early career, I liked him a lot - remember Chaplin? He was even good in Less Than Zero (despite the movie being dumb overall.) And he was wonderful in Zodiac. Glad he seems to have his life in order well enough that he can work.

 

[MyCylon]

He's definitely a fine actor. He really came back to my mind when I saw him in "A Scanner Darkly" where IMHO he gives a terrific performance.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

The reason I ask this is because of the recent success (especially with Iron Man and Tropic Thunder), you think he'll continue with these large roles or try to do more...artsy films?

 

[JustAFriend]

I ask this because I always thought of him as a talented actor even before this summer.

Uh, yeah.... So I guess you've never seen his Best Actor Oscar-winning performance in Chaplin????
Run, do not walk, to the video store.

 

[The Lady Eve]

He's a fine actor and I hope he stays together this time. It would be a pity for all that talent (and the man, of course) to leave us.

Downey is also excellent in a small part in Ian McKellen's film of "Richard III."

 

[John Picard]

Some of his early work was *interesting*.

Does anyone remember this one?

 

[Winged Victory]

I ask this because I always thought of him as a talented actor even before this summer.

Uh, yeah.... So I guess you've never seen his Best Actor Oscar-winning performance in Chaplin????
Run, do not walk, to the video store.

Whoops...I think he was beaten out for the Oscar by Al Pacino that year for Scent of a Woman. Would have been nice if they had tied!

 

[TheArsenal]

He must be viewed as extremely talented by his peers (I think he is), well liked by them, or a combination of both. There was a long stretch of time where he was the punchline to every extreme drug and alcohol joke, but when you look at imdb, the guy has never stopped working.