46! Robert Downey Jr.’s Hidden Gems (Pause)

Happy Birthday to a legend Robert Downey Jr. Everyone’s favorite super hero has been back in Hollywood’s good graces ever since he “bursted” back onto the scene in 2008’s Iron Man. However, RDJ was already quietly coming back into Hollywood with great bit parts in some solid movies you probably missed. Check them out and remember to never go full retard.

Bowfinger (1999)

Really more of a cameo then a role, Robert Downey Jr. plays a hot shot studio executive who promises Bowfinger (Steve Martin) he’d distribute his movie if it stars Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy, who turned 50 yesterday). Watching from the sidelines, Downey displays his trade mark charm and borderline assholeness make this small role a memorable one. Plus, Frank Oz directed this underrated gem, so you know it’s good.

huh? so he wears a suit made or iron you say?

Good Night And Good Luck (2005)

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards, this drama about Media responsibility at the height of the Cold War is nothing short of brilliant. All the performances are excellent but RDJ particularly stands out as CBS journalist Jospeh Wershba, friend of main protagonist  Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn). His subplot of trying to hide his marriage to Shirley Wershba (Patricia Clarkson) so they can keep their jobs is engaging and Downey’s charisma plays second fiddle to his growing sense of paranoia. Directed By George Clooney, this is definitely one to check out.

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Directed by Richard Linklater, this mind boggling movie features four crazy thespians playing four equally crazy people. Downey plays room mate to Keanu Reeve’s protagonist. The drug fueled conversations between these two and Woody Harrleson and hilarious and perfectly portrait the paranoia and heightened sense of laziness that comes with drug addiction. Don’t sleep on RDJ who plays an important part of the plot and really gives the movie a sense of purpose. The visual style helps the movie’s overall paranoia as well. Rent it!

woah

Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher doesn’t know how to make a bad film. He really doesn’t and Zodiac is just him showing off his trademark style of perfection and his knack for editing. This semi-biographical tale of murder and mystery has three main leads, with Downey playing Paul Avery, the hot shot crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle (yay areaaaaaaaaa!!!!!) who belittles Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a political cartoonist. Once Graysmith starts figuring out the Zodiac killer’s encrypted letters, they start sharing info about the story with each other. Downey plays the role to perfection, capturing Avery’s initial pompousness and, later on in the film, his too-proud-to-beg attitude. Too many people slept on this masterpiece and although it’s a little long (157 minutes)  it really deserves your time.

Yesshh?

and lastly, Charlie Bartlett (2007)

This throwback to the 80’s evokes Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and others, so it only makes sense Robert Downey Jr. would show up as if he was giving his own personal co-sign to the filmmakers. Playing an alcoholic principal and the father of Bartlett’s love interest (Kat Dennings), Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) plays loner who starts at a new school and ends up as the unofficial peer psychologist, even prescribing medicine for his patients. Downey is perfect as the authority figure but is also vulnerable and threatened by Bartlett’s intrusion in not only his work place but his personal life. Another slept on gem, it’s a delight and look for a cameo from rapper Drake, playing a camera dude.

let's do some blockbusters and get this money, ok?

So that’s the not so secret comeback of Robert Downey Jr. that happened before he was ever Tony Stark, Kirk Lazzurus or even Sherlock Holmes. They all deserve a viewing and I really hope you give them a shot.

As always, comments are appreciated.