I love the Internet Movie Database, in part because it allows me to make connections in much-loved films that would never, ever have occurred to me otherwise.
I discovered this one a year or two back, but was reminded of it today and thought I’d share it.
Remember the skinny kid leaning up against the bars of the jail cell in “Trading Places” when Billy Ray Valentine was bragging to his cellmates about beating up on “nine, ten cops?” You know, because he’s a “chain-belt kung fu” master?
He was the kid who said, “But you told me last night you cut the dude…”
No? Well, he was forgettable in that role.
But Giancarlo Esposito was hard to forget as Gus Fring in “Breaking Bad.”
Talk about an actor taking on gravitas, and menace, as he aged… Wow.
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“I love the Internet Movie Database, in part because it allows me to make connections in much-loved films that would never, ever have occurred to me otherwise.” Brad W.
Exactly, right. Years ago IMDB had a friendly movie selection algorith (now available only for “Professional” subscribers) that was the best ever movie selector. One needed only enter a few of their favorite films in any genre to instantly receive a listing of all the best in that category from archives through latest releases. IMDB ended the freebee at least 10 years ago.
IDMBs algorithms and 10-star ratings are uncannily accurate in my experience, and unlike Netflix’s 5-star ratings immune from often misleading gender overbias.
For imdb gold, I see you and raise you William Hootkins.
Guy played doomed Rebel X-Wing pilot Porkins in Star Wars ($461M US box office) … and the FBI agent who tells Indy Jones that the Ark will be investigated by “Top men” ($248M US box office) … and the corrupt Gotham police detective in the original Michael Keaton Batman ($251M).
Always wondered if he would show up for auditions and mention, “My films have grossed almost $1 billion dollars domestically.” I would. #TopMen
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393853/
Good find. I love the “Top Men” line from Raiders.
Hey, my youngest daughter — the one now in Thailand in the Peace Corps — is on IMDB.
When she was little, someone shooting a little independent horror film recruited her to skip rope in the opening shot of the movie. So she listed is as “an actress, known for Head Cheerleader Dead Cheerleader (2000).”
Go to full cast and crew for the flick, and she’s credited as “Girl Jumping Rope.”
I have IMDB on both my iPad and my phone. So when I’m watching a movie or TV show and wonder ANYTHING about the actors or the director or the production or just about anything, I immediately look it up…
Esposito looked familiar; so I looked up Revolution in IMDB. Yep, he played Tom. Neville in the series, a bad-ass SOB.