James Rebhorn Again

James Who-horn you ask?

The Curator has so many movies with this guy in it, it’s rather ridiculous. Let's put it this way: what HASN'T he done, who HASN'T he co-starred opposite? 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon our ass.

Most importantly, we have yet to actually see him in a starring role, and he therefore qualifies to appear in the Curator’s Co-star Hall of Fame. And what a Hall-of-Famer he is! Tall and gangly, with a sparkly tinge of mean in the eye, James shines most strong at playing domineering fathers, clever villains, stuffy lawyers and sneaky politicians with an agenda of their own. His receding hair line and hook nose make him the perfect receptacle to dump all your dislike into, thus saving your good graces for the starring celebs. Once again, a taken-for-granted talent bubbles to the top of the Curator’s melting-pot shelves of video. Let us discuss the many roles of The Talented Mr. Rebhorn.

Check him out: The Game, The Talented Mr. Ripley, & Independence Day

Viewing Order Importance: “W”

The Game

“Admit to yourself it sounds intriguing.”

James cuts a fabulously tricky figure in The Game, starring as a company rep for Consumer Recreation Services. Here James has the important role of explaining to the most moronic of viewer the very plot of the movie, with a smile, wink and nudge. When Michael Douglas repeats back the question, “I feel guilty when I masturbate,” our James replies, “Hey I don’t write the questions. I just analyze the answers,” so nonchalantly you wouldn’t even mind him analyzing your own masturbations. When the tables are turned, his true character is revealed, the simpering “it’s not my fault” guy, who leads Michael back to the scene of the crime, as it were. He is enjoyable to the very end, with his finale being the embodiment of “that wacky party guy,” hamming it up and dancing the night away at the wrap party, pointy hat and all.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

“There’s female intuition, and then there’s fact.”

Our James here is a rich, self important man who abhors his son Jude Law’s lifestyle. Where son likes Italy, jazz, boating and a life of sexual promiscuity ease, dad feels that may be somewhat irresponsible. Hence, he enlists the help of Matt Damon, a young man who is everything his own son ain’t. Dad has no problem funding THIS kid’s lifestyle however, providing him the means to track down and live it up with son, till things go bad with son anyway. The not nearly as talented Matt pulls the wool over practically everybody’s eyes, less the lovely Gwennth Paltrow. Our James though, ever the man’s man, puts Gwenny and her “intuition” in their place, lets Matt off the hook, and neatly wraps up his role by continuing to fund the partying lifestyle of Mr. Ripley.

Independence Day

“That’s not exactly true.”

In the film titled after the most sacred day of the American year, Rebhorn plays the Secretary of Defense opposite Bill Pullman as President. The Curator doesn’t know how the rest of you feel about Bill Pullman as Prez btw, but we venture to say Pullman is about as presidential as Dennis Kucinich. However, we digress.

The aliens are set to completely destroy all earthlings here, unless humans can somehow band together for one big hurrah. Rebhorn plays Albert Nimziki, a former CIA officer and the current Secretary of Defense. James really takes it for the team here, having been cast as the least like-able character outside of the aliens, including Randy Quaid, the drunk, redneck, dumb-ass crop duster. But that’s what our James is for, really. His suggestions are not taken to heart, he is fired near the end of the movie, and concludes his screen time by saying “I’m not Jewish.” Too which he is responded with, “Nobody’s perfect.”

Love him or leave him, but respect the Rebhorn, he’s pretty dang good at it what he does.

Rated: Double R for Rebhorn Rulez!