Why John C. Reilly Should Get Serious Again

John C. Reilly is a man of many talents; he can play a sympathetic schmuck like none other, lead a dramatic cast with grace and strength, and deliver endless laughter no matter what comedic shoes he’s filling. It’d be easy to write him off as a character actor due to the handful of eccentric roles he’s taken on, but the eclectic nature of Reilly’s career has demonstrated a range largely unparalleled in most actors his age. The prolific actor has also become known for his versatility on stage over the last twenty or so years, but most audiences these days tend to associate him with his comedic roles due to hits like Step Brothers, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and his hilarious turn as Dr. Steven Brule. While Reilly is certainly a comedic force to be reckoned with, his work in dramatic material has been totally flooring over the years – and we want him to do more of it.

Reilly’s career actually began on a serious note, and after getting a few roles under his belt, he kicked off what would become a beautiful long-term collaboration with masterful filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. As the lead in Anderson’s directorial debut Hard Eight, Reilly proved he could hold his own opposite an acting vet like Philip Baker Hall. The two films that would follow from the glorious Anderson-Reilly partnership – Boogie Nights and Magnolia – were stunningly indicative of just what Reilly was capable of. While he played the smaller role of a goofy, narcissistic porn star in Boogie Nights, he brought a levity to scenes opposite Mark Wahlberg and Burt Reynolds that added to the film’s brilliant complexity. Magnolia, however, feels like a true turning point. The sprawling, 3-hour ensemble drama is an emotional triumph in itself, but Reilly’s performance as optimistic police officer Jim Kurring is absolutely breathtaking. He’s the unlikely romantic hero of the film, earnest and honest to a fault; all he wants to do is find and give love, and be good at his job. Reilly really lives at the heart of Magnolia, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Kurring with the dynamic sensitivity he does. Magnolia alone could act as the argument for why Reilly should spend more time inhabiting dramatic roles of this nature, but it’s not the only time he’s given us the gift of a serious part – not by a long shot.

In addition to his artistic collaborations with Anderson, Reilly has also worked with renowned director Martin Scorsese on two notable occasions: in Gangs of New York and The Aviator. In The Aviator, Reilly starred as Noah Dietrich, one of Howard Hughes’ (Leonardo DiCaprio) few friends. While DiCaprio largely carried the film in his leading role, Reilly’s loyal, sensible business partner acted as a brilliant straight man to DiCaprio’s unstable Hughes. Despite this handful of stunning performances, Reilly did not receive awards recognition until his musical turn in Chicago as sad, cuckolded Amos Hart, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. While he didn’t take the award home, his performance (and solid singing voice) demonstrated a whole new side of Reilly that inevitably led to the slew of roles he took on throughout the 2000s. Reilly became cemented as something as an iconic figure in Hollywood – so much so that when he appeared in his sort-of surprise role in Kong: Skull Island, multiple outlets deemed him the secret heart of the film – he’d stolen the show just by being his damn self.

Reilly’s diverse body of work speaks volumes to his capabilities as an actor, and we’ll certainly never complain about the laughter he brings us. Reilly’s taken on a slew of parts across genres – including dark indie flick We Need to Talk About Kevin and black comedy The Lobster – that have continually acted as showcases for the man’s multifaceted talent. Roles like Jim Kurring and Amos Hart, however, are such a total treat that it’s impossible not to dream of seeing those sensitive eyes up on screen in another serious part. We love you silly or serious, John C. Reilly… but a few rounds in the dramatic ring would sure pack a punch.