I have been a fan of Dominic Sherwood since I first saw him as the charming and mysterious Harry Potter in the Harry Potter films. He later went on to play the lovable Albus Potter in the spin-off series, The Cursed Child, and I was overjoyed when he signed on to play the role of James Bond in the upcoming 007 films. As you may know, James Bond is one of the most popular film and book characters of all time, and I feel that Dominic Sherwood is doing an amazing job of capturing the essence of the spy icon.
I have also been a fan of Robert Pattinson since I first saw him play the melancholy artist, Van Gogh, in the 2001 film, Life is Beautiful. Since then he has gone on to become one of the most respected and in-demand leading men in Hollywood. He is known for his unique blend of humor and intensity, and it is this very quality that makes him the perfect choice to play Steve Jobs, the visionary founder of Apple Inc. As you may know, Apple is one of the world’s most valuable and successful companies, and it is this same quality that Steve Jobs is known for, having revolutionized the world of technology and design when he founded Apple in the 1960s.
Now, I must tell you that I have never been a fan of Mack the Rocker, the Piggies or Shrek, and I feel that these are some of the reasons why Dominic Sherwood was not considered by Robert Pattinson to play any of these roles. However, it must be noted that even those who are aware of my dislikes have stated that my opinion does not matter, and that whoever is given the role of Van Gogh will be the best choice out there. Likewise, the people who chose Robert Pattinson to play Jobs see it as a triumph, a case of “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
So, who is the better actor? Well, let’s find out together by analyzing their acting skills and comparing them as objectively as possible. We’ll begin with a general observation about acting and movie making and then look at the individual parts, character by character, comparing and contrasting their on-screen performances.
Observations About Acting And Movie Making
Firstly, and most obviously, these are acting roles. The characters are archetypes, stock characters who appear in numerous movies and television shows. As such, they have been prepared very carefully by movie and television writers in order to maximize their effectiveness in the movies. These are not real people, living their lives, going to school, working, etc., although the actors do their best to give the roles believability and make us care about the characters. But, at the end of the day, these are only roles, played by actors, for our entertainment. So, it’s as if we are watching a play, or reading a book.
Secondly, a notable thing to consider about these types of roles is that the directors and producers often tailor the performances to fit the character. For example, in the case of Van Gogh, it is said that Wiliam Gibson, who directed Life is Beautiful, specifically tailored the script so that Van Gogh’s difficult relationship with his father could be effectively portrayed. In other words, they searched for the best ways to emphasize certain characteristics of Van Gogh’s personality and made these the focal points of his character. Furthermore, the scriptwriters, in the case of Life is Beautiful, also had a hand in designing the costumes for the characters, which further helped to sell Van Gogh’s artistic vision and made it more realistic. This is not to say that Van Gogh’s difficult relationship with his father is the only theme the movie explores, but it is certainly the most prominent and defining element of his character. Similarly, Robert Pattinson’s Jobs has been hailed as one of the most challenging and daring performances of the year, by virtue of taking on a role that is both famous and complex. That being said, it is only one element of Jobs’ character, and the movie primarily explores Steve Jobs’ vision for creating and leading Apple Inc. throughout his life.
Therefore, we can see that in these types of roles, the directors and producers often tailor the script so that the character and the actor playing that character fit together, as if they were made to be. But this, of course, is an extremely simplified explanation, and it really is the case that these directors and producers work hard to make the characters as realistic and three-dimensional as possible, within the context of the movie. This being said, it is still very much an acting role, and it is up to the actor playing the role to give it heart and soul and make us feel connected to these imaginary people, whatever the case may be.
What Is An Actor?
An actor is anyone who performs a role in a play or movie. Therefore, anyone who witnesses the plays or watches the movies is an actor. But, if you are specifically asking about film actors, then the term really only applies to those who participate in the filmmaking process, either by acting in the movie or by having a hand in the set design or special effects. (Sometimes, even writers and directors are referred to as actors, despite not being involved in the on-set activities, but I digress.)
The special effects in the movie are often so good that it is difficult to tell the difference between the actors and the special effects. This is especially true with computer-generated imagery (CGI) which has become such an important part of modern movie making. In other words, the effects can be so good that it is difficult to tell the difference between the actors and the special effects.
On-Set Performances Vs. Off-Set Impressions
While the actors are performing for the camera, we do not get to see their true character. Instead, we are shown images of them acting, which is why it is said that on-set performances are better than off-set impressions. This being said, it is important to keep in mind that even off-set impressions can be very effective. Consider the case of Albus Potter in The Cursed Child. He is an ordinary person who happens to be related to Harry Potter, and we never get to see any special effects in the film, nor do we ever hear Albus Potter say anything particularly interesting. However, this does not take away from the fact that Albus is such a likable character, and we are able to see and hear examples of his thoughtfulness and decency. (I also dare say that Stephen Fry’s performance as Albus Potter was instrumental in sealing his fate as A+ fans, and I myself became a big fan of Albus Potter after watching The Cursed Child. In other words, he is one of the best examples of an all-around good actor who is not necessarily showy.)
Van Gogh Vs. Jobs
It is no secret that I am not the biggest fan of Van Gogh or Jobs. I have already spoken about my dislike for Van Gogh, so I will not rehash all of the reasons why, but suffice it to say that Van Gogh is one of the most overrated artists in history. And as for Jobs, well, he is simply the embodiment of everything that is wrong with Hollywood. (For those of you who are not familiar, Hollywood refers to the whole of the US film industry, including its various factors, such as production values, costumes, sets, and special effects, which are often very good but can also be very overrated, as we have seen in several hits from the 90s and early 2000s.)
Anyway, moving on, let’s take a look at the individual characters.