[Monster of the Week]

I just watched "Primal Fear" for the first time in five years or more. I actually thought he gave a very good performance (overshadowed by Norton, of courses, but still). The man has given some excellent performances in his career ("Days of Heaven" comes to mind) and he seems like a genuinely likable guy, but I think most of us regard him as "lite". And maybe rightfully so. His resume certainly doesn't stand up against those 'elite' actors. But he's had some good moments.

Regardless, you can't argue that he's almost irresponsibly handsome.

[Falco]

1 gerbil up!

[Mr. Macphisto]

Four blinks out of five.

He's a really underrated actor. I love his performance in Internal Affairs. Such a ****!

[Cunning Linguist]

I like him as an actor, and he's given some fine performances. I think his performance in Internal Affairs is his best, and is a truly great performance. (a much under appreciated little movie)

[Cunning Linguist]

Originally Posted by Mr. Macphisto

Four blinks out of five.

He's a really underrated actor. I love his performance in Internal Affairs. Such a ****!

Ha! I didn't see your post when I was writing mine. But yeah you are right.

[Monster of the Week]

I haven't seen "Internal Affairs". I'll remedy that.

[Takoma1]

I love him in Days of Heaven, but he kind of gives me the creeps. Don't quite know why--probably because I caught some of Internal Affairs on TV when I was little (right at the part where he Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text

kills a young police officer by smothering him or something

am I remembering that right?) and it made a pretty strong impression.

[TokenGayPoster]

For a guy with one facial expression, he's a pretty damn good actor. Always brings a certain air of authority to his roles. I just watched The Double on instant a couple weeks back - crap movie, but he gave it more gravity than it deserved.

[Cecil B Pudwick]

Originally Posted by Falco

1 gerbil up!

[Thief12]

I've never cared about him either way. That said, he had a pretty good 2002 with Unfaithful and The Mothman Prophecies. Not that I'm a huge fan of either, but he had solid performances in both. Like the OP mentioned, Primal Fear was another good role for him, and I remember liking him in Sommersby. Haven't seen that one in awhile though.

[Jesse Lujack]

9/10. He's been great in everything I've seen him in. Haven't seen a lot of his stuff past the late 90's. He's awesome in An Officer and a Gentleman, Yanks, American Gigolo, Breathless, and Internal Affairs.

[Otm Shank]

Looking back, I've always enjoyed his performances. He's a very dependable actor.

[dreiser]

Looking for Mr. Goodbar
An Officer and a Gentleman
American Gigolo
Days of Heaven
Internal Affairs
The Cotton Club
Primal Fear
Chicago

Most actors would kill to have a resume including these films.

[Dr. Lecter]

Whenever I hear his name I always think of him in An Officer and a Gentleman. I thought he was very good in it. I liked Primal Fear as well.

I think the OP hit it on the head. He is a good actor, but will never be considered as on of the elite actors out there.

[Wooley]

I thought he was great in Looking For Mr. Goodbar, American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, Pretty Woman, and Chicago.

So there's that.

[Bacon Love]

meh/10

[Penarin]

I really like him in-

Days of Heaven
An Officer and a Gentlemen
Pretty Woman
Sommersby

Hell, I even enjoyed The Mothman Prophecies and First Knight. Though with that last one, I'm a sucker for any movie with a sword fight in it.

[radioman970]

last thing I saw him in was Mothman Prophesies. Good film that didn't really have any punch at the end. he was okay in it.

An Officer & a Gentlemen was great, but he wasn't the best thing about it. Gossett maybe out acted him.

I've seen very little of his films.

[Methuselah]

I still find it amazing that everyone knew about the Gerbil on both coasts when that was a time before the internet.

[Stryder]

The only thing I thought he was amazing in was that movie where he goes to China or Thailand or whatever and he's framed for the murder of the daughter of a General.. can't remember the name of that..

He was pretty good in Brooklyns Finest too.

[The Mighty Dingus]

Back in the day, Gere was really interesting. One of the few post-Saturday Night Fever actors who could preen for the camera and still maintain a cool, ironic self-awareness. A defining '80s narcissism, most apparent in American Gigolo and Jim McBride's underrated remake of Breathless.

My theory is the new breed of male movie star (particularly Tom Cruise in Top Gun) rendered Gere obsolete for a while, until he re-emerged as handsome starlet arm candy for Pretty Woman. But Internal Affairs I've always seen as a return to his previous screen persona rather than a cast-against-type situation.

[SupernaturallyContrarian]

I'm still disappointed he didn't get nominated for an Oscar in Chicago.

[Mr. Macphisto]

The Hoax is another gem. It's probably Gere's best performance since Internal Affairs. He's a good fit for charming and utterly amoral characters.

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by Thief12

I've never cared about him either way. That said, he had a pretty good 2002 with Unfaithful and The Mothman Prophecies.

This. Pretty Woman and Days of Heaven are the only others that come to mind.

[dreiser]

Originally Posted by SupernaturallyContrarian

I'm still disappointed he didn't get nominated for an Oscar in Chicago.

He was definitely deserving of one.

[BadLieutenant]

He's the definition of mediocre, and his lifeless performances have dragged a number of movies down from classic status to just the middling. American Gigolo is the most immediate example I can think of.

[TeamCanada]

He was Alec Baldwin before Alec Baldwin was Alec Baldwin & Gere is better at it.

I could totally see him win an Oscar for something when he's 80.