Overacting
Encyclopedia
Overacting is the exaggeration
of gesture
s and speech when acting
. It may be unintentional, particularly in the case of a bad actor
, or be required for the role. For the latter, it is commonly used in comical situations or to stress the evil
characteristics of a villain
. Since the perception of acting quality differs between people the extent of overacting can be subjective.
Overacting can be excessively dramatic to the point where the performance becomes awkward or unintentionally amusing to the audience.
Overacting is sometimes known as "chewing the scenery".
Unintentional overacting is caused by poor acting, either a good actor performing badly in one scene or a generally poor actor. However, it is not always the fault of the actor as the director has the ultimate role of assessing and influencing the acting. It is sometimes the result of overthinking an action or doing more than what's needed.
The portrayal of an emotion
is a common time for overacting, as is a death scene. Theater actors often have to project their voices
more than film actors and enunciation
can lead to exaggeration. However, stage actors do not have the benefit of a boom mic or other sound equipment, unlike film actors, and it therefore takes more skill to allow the audience to hear every word while not shouting or overemphasizing.
Some unintentional overacting can find itself the subject of parody
. William Shatner
's performance in the original Star Trek
series has been frequently parodied across numerous comedy television shows.
s. For example, the breakthrough roles for Jim Carrey
(in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
and The Mask
) saw him portray the lead characters in a very flamboyant fashion, as the script demanded. This has led to him being classed as an "overactor", even though he has played several "straight" roles since.
Overacting may be used to portray an outlandish character, or to stress the evil
characteristics of a villain
. Gary Oldman
, synonymous with Hollywood villains and over-the-top roles, has portrayed many overstated characters, which he has himself described as "wacky or strange". Gene Siskel
(who described Oldman as a "wonderful" actor) opined that his performance as psychotic
DEA
enforcer Norman Stanfield in Léon: The Professional
was "overacting". However, it was ranked #43 in the Online Film Critics Society's
"Top 100 Villains of All Time" in 2002, and ranked #92 in Total Film
's "100 Greatest Movie Villains" in 2011, who also named the performance as one of the five best of Oldman's career.
Tom Hulce
received an Academy Award nomination for his deliberately exaggerated role in Amadeus
.
Exaggeration
Exaggeration is a representation of something in an excessive manner. The exaggerator has been a familiar figure in Western culture since at least Aristotle's discussion of the alazon: 'the boaster is regarded as one who pretends to have distinguished qualities which he possesses either not at all...
of gesture
Gesture
A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body...
s and speech when acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
. It may be unintentional, particularly in the case of a bad actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, or be required for the role. For the latter, it is commonly used in comical situations or to stress the evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
characteristics of a villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
. Since the perception of acting quality differs between people the extent of overacting can be subjective.
Overacting can be excessively dramatic to the point where the performance becomes awkward or unintentionally amusing to the audience.
Overacting is sometimes known as "chewing the scenery".
Unintentional
The portrayal of an emotion
Emotion
Emotion is a complex psychophysiological experience of an individual's state of mind as interacting with biochemical and environmental influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves "physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience." Emotion is associated with mood,...
is a common time for overacting, as is a death scene. Theater actors often have to project their voices
Voice projection
Voice projection is the strength of speaking or singing whereby the voice is used loudly and clearly. It is a technique which can be employed to demand respect and attention, such as when a teacher is talking to the class, or simply to be heard clearly, as an actor in a theatre.Breath technique is...
more than film actors and enunciation
Enunciation
In phonetics, enunciation is the act of speaking. Good enunciation is the act of speaking clearly and concisely. The opposite of good enunciation is mumbling or slurring. See also pronunciation which is a component of enunciation. Pronunciation is to pronounce sounds of words correctly....
can lead to exaggeration. However, stage actors do not have the benefit of a boom mic or other sound equipment, unlike film actors, and it therefore takes more skill to allow the audience to hear every word while not shouting or overemphasizing.
Some unintentional overacting can find itself the subject of parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
. William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
's performance in the original Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
series has been frequently parodied across numerous comedy television shows.
Intentional
Some roles require overly-exaggerated character acting, particularly those in comedy filmComedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
s. For example, the breakthrough roles for Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
(in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. It co-stars Courteney Cox, Tone Loc, Sean Young and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino....
and The Mask
The Mask (film)
The Mask is a 1994 American superhero comedy film based on a series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. This film was directed by Chuck Russell, and produced by Dark Horse Entertainment and New Line Cinema, and originally released to movie theatres on July 29, 1994 through New Line...
) saw him portray the lead characters in a very flamboyant fashion, as the script demanded. This has led to him being classed as an "overactor", even though he has played several "straight" roles since.
Overacting may be used to portray an outlandish character, or to stress the evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
characteristics of a villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
. Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
, synonymous with Hollywood villains and over-the-top roles, has portrayed many overstated characters, which he has himself described as "wacky or strange". Gene Siskel
Gene Siskel
Eugene Kal "Gene" Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted the popular review show Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1975 until his death....
(who described Oldman as a "wonderful" actor) opined that his performance as psychotic
Psychosis
Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
enforcer Norman Stanfield in Léon: The Professional
Léon (film)
Léon is a 1994 French thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson...
was "overacting". However, it was ranked #43 in the Online Film Critics Society's
Online Film Critics Society
The Online Film Critics Society is a professional association for film critics who publish their reviews, interviews, and essays on the Internet.The OFCS was founded in 1997...
"Top 100 Villains of All Time" in 2002, and ranked #92 in Total Film
Total Film
Total Film is a British film magazine published 13 times a year by Future Publishing. The magazine was launched in 1997 and offers film, DVD and Blu-ray news, reviews and features...
's "100 Greatest Movie Villains" in 2011, who also named the performance as one of the five best of Oldman's career.
Tom Hulce
Tom Hulce
Thomas Edward "Tom" Hulce is an American actor and theater producer. As an actor, he is perhaps best known for his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Mozart in the movie Amadeus and his role as "Pinto" in National Lampoon's Animal House. Additional acting awards included a total of four Golden Globe...
received an Academy Award nomination for his deliberately exaggerated role in Amadeus
Amadeus (film)
Amadeus is a 1984 period drama film directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer. Adapted from Shaffer's stage play Amadeus, the story is based loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the...
.