Mister Deserving Fame

You know who is a really good actor? John C. Reilly. Sure, sure, I'm not the first to notice. There's a reason P.T. Anderson, Brian De Palma and Martin Scorsese all hired him. But it just occured to me this week that he deserves more attention and accolades and awards and VIP party gift bags.

You see, I've been performing (read: singing along to) the Chicago soundtrack in my car on the way to work this week and every time I hear Reilly's performance of "Mister Cellophane," it reminds me of what a great turn he gave in that movie musical as the downtrodden hubby to Roxie Hart. And then there's the terrific, slowly unraveling performance he gave in Criminal. And, less I forget, his unforgettable appearance as the vulnerable cop in Magnolia.

And he does funny surprisingly well, too. One of the most hilarious moments in the mostly lame Talledega Nights for me was a clip in the end credit outtakes when Reilly shares his thoughts about his own favorite Jesus. Throughout the comedy, Reilly quietly held his own with, and even occasionally outshone, Farrell. That really sealed Reilly's awesomeness for me.

Unfortunately, Reilly is Hollywood's Mister Cellophane. The unassuming persona and acting style that make him an amazing character actor also keep him from getting traction and attention in the buzz arena. I predict that John C. Reilly is the next Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I just hope Reilly's Capote comes soon, because I can't wait to see him do his thang. And hopefully he'll take home one of those shiny statuettes in the process.