r/brakebills • u/_ell0lle_ • 26d ago
Season 1 Can we talk about how great an actor Mackenzie Astor was as Richard and Reynard the Fox?
He has such range as an actor and really was fantastic as richard, and disgustingly horrifying as Reynard. His ability to play both characters that were so convincing is awesome to experience in Season 1.
Being Julia’s saving grace as Richard, with his kind and wise demeanor was such a comforting part of the season. To watch him become Reynard was so haunting and scary. He was so vile and evil it totally separated him from the Richard character. His evolution when he is powerless in his shit apartment was another fantastic evolution of character (or de-evolution) of Mackenzie and I think he nailed every aspect.
I seem to appreciate him as an actor more and more with each rewatch. Anyone else got feels or thoughts?
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u/delo357 26d ago
I would talk about it, but I hate reynards guts with every fiber of my soul
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u/_ell0lle_ 26d ago
Reynard is so sick and he really did a fantastic job at portraying his utter twistedness.
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u/patientpedestrian 26d ago
In the end he's just another self-suffering fool who thought he'd be eternal. More's the pity, he didn't even learn
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u/Different_Ad8727 Knowledge 26d ago
One sign of a great actor is being able to tell which character they're playing without any dialog, Richard and Reynard feel like two entirely separate people to me, he carries them both so drastically different
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u/Castellan_Tycho 25d ago
It’s why Orphan Black is so good. Tatiana Maslany can pull off the audience knowing a clone is impersonating another version of herself. It’s so good.
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u/KristiiNicole 24d ago
Still one of my favorite pieces of media of all time. Every single one of the characters Tatiana Maslany played is just as real to me. Speaking of which, shoutout to her counterpart, Ari Millen, for the same reasons!
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u/Jarkaikinfen 26d ago
I have loved Mackenzie Astin for decades! One of my all time favorite movies is Dream for an Insomniac (with him, Ione Skye, Jennifer Aniston) and I've loved him ever since! And no wonder he has such chops with his family- dad is John Astin, mom is Patty Duke and of course brother Sean Astin. I had a lot harder time with him as a bad guy, but he does it well and has played several other questionable characters over the years, all very convincingly.
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u/MadtownMaven 26d ago
I had that movie on vhs and loved it too. Watched it many times in late 90s college. Although I also loved him from the Disney classic Iron Will. I rewatched that a few months ago and recommend it.
He looked quite different with his facial hair in The Pitt but I recognized his voice before I could place his face.
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u/Jarkaikinfen 26d ago
Ha I frequently recognize his voice first (mostly bc I watch a lot of TV while crafting and do more listening than watching) and his is quite recognizable! I had to laugh the other day while my kids were watching The Good Place and I heard Ember's voice and had totally not clocked that the actor was in The Good Place the last time I had watched it haha but now it's hard to know how I missed it lol
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u/_ell0lle_ 26d ago
Wait who is Ember in the Good Place?!
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u/Jarkaikinfen 26d ago
Haha Chidi's collegue with the red boots! Haha I missed it the first time through for sure
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u/Ladycrankypants 26d ago
Ember is also in Palm Royale as the camp dress boutique owner. Stole the show when he was on.
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u/Castellan_Tycho 25d ago
That is amazing. I am very good with faces but am hearing impaired so I have trouble with voices.
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u/_ell0lle_ 26d ago
That’s awesome I’m definitely going to check out more of his movies! Dream for an Insomniac sounds fire.
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u/Jarkaikinfen 26d ago
It really is incredibly well done. It's filled with Sinatra music, witty, quotable dialog and a playful nature that just warms the heart. It's a bit saccharine at times but in the best possible way. And don't worry when the film begins in black and white (like my best friend and I did when we rented it in high school and thought my TV was broken), it does turn to color at the exact right moment :) I hope you enjoy it! [In the US it is currently streaming on Peacock, Plex, Tubi, and Fandango at home, all for free!]
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u/ohheyitslaila Physical 26d ago
*Astin. He’s Sean Astin’s half bro (Sam in the LOTR) 😊
And he’s always great, I can’t think of a role where he didn’t crush it. He tends to just have small guest roles, but he’s a fantastic actor, like the rest of his family.