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A-List: Best Frank Whaley MoviesBy Jason DeanJune 26, 2003
Movie credits are filled with career character actors who tend to end up as “that guy.” The ranks of the “that guy” list are filled with talented performers who for a variety of reasons are never quite able to break through into the list of A-list actors who have instant name recognition. These lesser-known performers have decent careers, but their names just don’t roll off the tongue. The subject of this A-List is one such actor: Frank Whaley. “Check out the big brain on Bret.” and “C’mon Guy, what is you really want?” are memorable pieces of dialogue that have been directed at Frank Whaley’s characters. However, I’d like to focus on why we should remember him as well as the films in which he was featured. Before I’d start, I’d like to note one movie that fails to make the list primarily because it’s not the greatest film is Broken Arrow. Even I can only remember one memorable part for Whaley. As I remember it, Whaley plays an enthusiastic but uninformed government type who utters the rather naive words, “I don't know what's scarier, losing a nuclear weapon or that it happens so often there's actually a term for it.” On to the list:
Field of DreamsRelatively early in his career, Whaley played the rather important role of the young Archie Graham. Arguably the more fun of the two ages of Moonlight Graham, Whaley plays the young rookie pitcher who actually gets to play on the field of dreams as opposed to the aged Moonlight who has to put up with Kevin Costner and get dragged back to the field. This role is a prime example of a time where Whaley is recognizable but not because his name was in the credits. It is only on repeat viewings after seeing some of his other work that one realizes who the kid is and where one might have seen him.
Career OpportunitiesThis flick offered a starring role for our talented actor, and it was opposite Jennifer Connelly to boot. Unfortunately, Career Opportunities is a barely passable affair that has our leads trapped in a Target and then having to put up with a pair of crooks who seemed to have been cribbed from a rejected Home Alone script. The girl with everything who is unhappy with her life paired with the guy with nothing who has reason to be unhappy with his life find love in the Target as the clichés continue. I’ve seen worse. If you come across it while channel surfing, it is generally entertaining. By the time it’s all said and done, the movie is probably most memorable for the white tank top that makes up Jennifer Connelly’s wardrobe for the majority of the film. Thus, Whaley gets forgotten again.
The DoorsKind of like the Doors themselves, Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison and Kyle MacLachlan as Ray Manzarek are the more memorable leads in the movie. Whaley gets a few lines as the guitarist Robby Krieger, but be honest, until you read this, did you remember that Whaley was in the movie? The Doors is a solid movie but a mostly invisible role for Whaley.
Swing KidsA movie about young Germans who choose to buck the Hitler-led regime by being swing music enthusiasts doesn’t exactly scream box office success; however, the movie is well done and has taken on an almost cult-like status among a rather small audience. Whaley plays Arvid, who is not only a Jew, but a crippled Jew. He is the symbolic character but who gets remembered? Usually, it’s Robert Sean Leonard and Christian Bale. Even in the small films that are a true ensemble, Whaley can’t win.
Pulp FictionNow we’re getting somewhere, as the average film fan might actually remember Whaley’s character Brett, who was involved in the memorable exchange with Samuel L Jackson’s Jules. Brett may know that due to the metric system there’s no Quarter Pounder in France, but he’s still unable to talk himself out his and companions’ executions. Pulp Fiction is a good movie, and Whaley has a memorable part, but the character lives for, what, five minutes?
Swimming with SharksIFC has been playing this film repeatedly over the last few days, which has helped to spur the writing of this column. Perhaps my rant here is unjustified as over time, I’d like to think that a fair amount of people have seen the film due to its quality as well as the stardom of Kevin Spacey. Whaley plays Guy, our initially idealistic, new-to-Hollywood assistant who has entered the industry as a result of the fact that all of his memories are linked to movies. Working for Spacey’s studio vice president, Guy endures all levels of abuse as he attempts to navigate the Hollywood system. In addition to showing the cutthroat nature of Hollywood, Swimming with Sharks also indulges in a bit of abused employee revenge fantasy.Due to recent repeat viewings of Swimming with Sharks as well as paying some attention to the other stuff going on at movie premieres, my wife has coined the phrase “Whaley” to refer to all-too-young, all-too-eager young executives in training. You’ve seen the type, perfectly dressed in what’s probably their one really good suit, hiting the event not to have fun but instead with that gleam in their eye, a sense of purpose – the night shift is starting. It’s time to go to work. There are people to meet, hands to be shaken, and asses to be kissed. On the bizarre chance that the term was to actually be adopted, I wonder if it would be a positive or negative one? With regards to the last column, I received the following e-mail: How could you omit the 14 minute climactic tanker chase in The Road Warrior? This is probably one of the most intense and real-stunt laden chases ever attempted. Probably the same way that the responder forgot to provide his or her name on the feedback form? Actually, on a more serious note, the Road Warrior perfectly fits the theme of a non-standard car chase-type action scene, particularly with the whole post-apocalyptic setting and kludged-together vehicles.
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