Save now on popular classic TV favorites such as Charlies Angels, Sanford and Son, Soap and many more. Offer ends May 31, 2013. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Special Features
None.
Editorial Reviews
Starz Inside: The Face is Familiar answers the question “Don’t I Know You?" as it explores some of Hollywood’s most talented and recognizable character actors, who have supported leading roles in films for decades and often have gone on to become stars in their own right.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Generally, I am a docu-hound. If it is well made and informative, educational and interesting, I'm all for it. This documentary is lots of fun, very insightful and reveals a few...and I mean FEW...things I did not know.
This is about the character actor, or as we used to call them, the bit-part actors seen plastered all over silver screens everywhere. It is fascinating to see Samuel L. Jackson, Joan Cusack and Missi Pyle--now considered major stars--to talk about paying their dues as character actors ("bit-players", we also called them in ye olde days).
Luis Guzman (THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO is his finest hour) has always been a perennial favorite of mine, as is Steve Tobolowsky (the serial killer/assassin in Seagal's GLIMMER MAN, Mr. Dalrymple from THE SAQUATCH GANG, etc., etc.). It is lovely to hear them talking about their work.
It often strikes me how acting is a profession, like any other. I think of these actors (who tell stories here about how they are recognized but people think they are laundromat employees or a cousin's ex) and what they really have to go through: WORK! It's hard and it's a profession. They may have narcissistic streaks a mile wide, and they may not. They want to perform, be looked at and appreciated for bringing characters to life. Many of them here talk about their inspirations, such as Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS, WYATT EARP) waxing poetic about Humphrey Bogart--Bogart started out as a bit-player too.
Danny Trejo, another of my true favorites, is hilarious as hell. He's a perfect example of the pragmatic hard work of acting, yet he walks the viewer through it as if you were an old pal. So, one warning: this 45-minute offering has a rather weird, sudden ending, and it really catches you off your guard. It just suddenly ends, and I can see the sometimes pedantic Ken Burns saying to himself, "Leave 'em wanting more, leave 'em wanting more."
Well here there should have been more, and more bit-player participation. For that I have taken away stars. Don't be discouraged, though. This is otherwise a well made film. I like it and wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Then again, I'm too ugly not to feel that way.
This is about the character actor, or as we used to call them, the bit-part actors seen plastered all over silver screens everywhere. It is fascinating to see Samuel L. Jackson, Joan Cusack and Missi Pyle--now considered major stars--to talk about paying their dues as character actors ("bit-players", we also called them in ye olde days).
Luis Guzman (THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO is his finest hour) has always been a perennial favorite of mine, as is Steve Tobolowsky (the serial killer/assassin in Seagal's GLIMMER MAN, Mr. Dalrymple from THE SAQUATCH GANG, etc., etc.). It is lovely to hear them talking about their work.
It often strikes me how acting is a profession, like any other. I think of these actors (who tell stories here about how they are recognized but people think they are laundromat employees or a cousin's ex) and what they really have to go through: WORK! It's hard and it's a profession. They may have narcissistic streaks a mile wide, and they may not. They want to perform, be looked at and appreciated for bringing characters to life. Many of them here talk about their inspirations, such as Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS, WYATT EARP) waxing poetic about Humphrey Bogart--Bogart started out as a bit-player too.
Danny Trejo, another of my true favorites, is hilarious as hell. He's a perfect example of the pragmatic hard work of acting, yet he walks the viewer through it as if you were an old pal. So, one warning: this 45-minute offering has a rather weird, sudden ending, and it really catches you off your guard. It just suddenly ends, and I can see the sometimes pedantic Ken Burns saying to himself, "Leave 'em wanting more, leave 'em wanting more."
Well here there should have been more, and more bit-player participation. For that I have taken away stars. Don't be discouraged, though. This is otherwise a well made film. I like it and wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Then again, I'm too ugly not to feel that way.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
This DVD gives you insight into, a bit part/extra actor & what they go through,(though I know there's more to it, way more... hard work) A very good DVD for aspiring actors~ Very interesting & a well made documentary
