Editor's Note: Billy Bob has been in the news of late, so how about a look at his acting career (Don't hurt us Billy!)

The actor's highs and lows:

The Highs

Sling Blade
This is the movie that pulled Billy Bob out of roles like this and into ill-advised ventures like this. The man pulled an Orson Welles by starring, writing (he won the Oscar) and directing. It's a truly original piece of work, possibly the best thing he's ever done.

Monster's Ball
It was a struggle choosing between this and his other 2001 performance, The Man Who Wasn't There. One thing is certain, he runs a wider emotional gamut (there isn't much emoting in that Coen brothers' film) here. Either way, Billy Bob was denied an Oscar nomination that year. Penn went I Am Sam, after all.

A Simple Plan
Probably my favorite performance by the actor. He's essentially playing Lenny from Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and it's pretty shattering stuff.

Bad Santa
This is a wonderfully merciless, vulgar comedy and Thornton doesn't pull any punches. He doesn't even try to make his Willie (that's the name of his character) remotely likable. We just kind of fall in love with him by accident. Maybe this is how it happened with Angelina.

The Lows

Mr. Woodcock
Billy Bob can be a very funny dude but this movie was just lame at every turn. Been there and done that a thousand times over.

Bad News Bears
Speaking of which, I didn't hate this movie at all. But I don't understand why he did this movie. Oh, wait. Money. OK, but you can make money and mix it up too. This was just Bad Santa-lite.

The Alamo
Billy Bob is actually the best thing in this movie which otherwise is one long bore. How do you make a movie about the Alamo not exciting at all? Here's how.

Pushing Tin
This is one of those movies you just really wanted to like but you just couldn't really bring yourself to do it. Isn't this also where that creepy Billy Bob and Angelina relationship started? Still gives me the willies.

On Deadly Ground
I love this trailer of the movie. I can watch it ten times in a row and not feel ashamed. It's like one of those grindhouse trailers in Grindhouse only -- and amazingly -- with a straight face. Yeah, this was a bad one. I saw this piece of excruciating cinema when it came out but I honestly don't remember Billy Bob in it. Yet, sure enough he is. Not a proud moment for Billy Bob. Or Michael Caine for that matter. Man, Caine was really struggling those days. Far from relevant.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dre writes two times a week for Film.com. Email him!

Recommend (0)

|  Comments (0)

|  Email

|  Share

Share  Facebook Digg del.icio.us