Joey Magidson
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…some actors just always manage to please you. Seth Rogen is one such example for me. There’s very little he’s done that I haven’t enjoyed, especially when he’s not just an actor, but a creative force behind the scenes as well. One of my favorite comedy actors, he’s also shown some terrific dramatic chops when given the opportunity. With his Apple TV+ show The Studio getting him the most critical acclaim of his career, as well as The Invite hitting theaters, it felt like a great moment to take another moment and appreciate Rogen’s work so far.
In my review here of The Invite, I said the following about the four cast members, including Rogen:
The quartet of Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, Seth Rogen, and Olivia Wilde are all terrific, doing absolute top tier work. Cruz and Norton are accomplished dramatic actors, so seeing them be the funniest they’ve ever been is an absolute pleasure. Rogen and Wilde have previously walked in both worlds, so it’s less surprising to see them ace these roles, though just as satisfying. That they’re essentially the only people on screen is all the more impressive, as it’s 107 minutes of just them. Cruz mixes a smoldering sexuality with a deep well of emotional understanding, which has Piña always feeling like the smartest person in the room. Hawk is a charmer and almost annoyingly optimistic, but these potentially punchable characteristics to Joe make him appealing to Angela, while they hide a past that gives him a genuine reason to be the way he is. As for the hosts, Wilde’s Angela is desperate to feel something and get out of her rut, which leads to both comedy and drama, while Rogen’s Joe just wants to be left in his rut. This dichotomy leads not just to some laughs, but a sense of realism that makes the jokes land, but the arguments sting as well.
Obviously, you can also see him in The Studio, which is an absolute riot, in addition to an awards juggernaut. Rogen is excellent in the show, much like he was on Platonic (you can find my interview with Rogen and co-star Rose Byrne here), so while I’m again focused on film performances, these latest television turns are worthy of acclaim as well. In fact, I’m pretty certain that The Studio is going to be an Emmy player as long as it’s running, so stay tuned for more on that show throughout the years to come.
Below, I have put forth an updated top ten for Rogen’s work to date. I think he deserved Oscar nominations for The Fabelmans and Steve Jobs in Best Supporting Actor, so they’re way up there for me. They’re the peak of his drama work. As for comedy, obviously his collaborations with Judd Apatow are up there, though when he got dark with Observe and Report, he really did something special. It was actually hard to narrow this one down, more so than usual. Take a look next and be sure to chime in, as well as to check out where The Invite landed on this new list.
Here now is my ranking of the best Seth Rogen performances so far. Behold:
Special Citation: Platonic and The Studio
Honorable Mention: An American Pickle, The Disaster Artist, Dumb Money, Pineapple Express, Superbad, and This is the End
10. Long Shot
9. The 40 Year Old Viring
8. Take This Waltz
7. 50/50
6. Funny People
5. Knocked Up
4. Observe and Report
3. The Invite
2. Steve Jobs
What is your favorite performance from Seth Rogen? Let us know!
Comments
Loading…