by Ryan Reynolds has become one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood in recent years, known primarily for his roles in big budget comedies and superhero films. However, Reynolds’ career stretches back over two decades and includes a diverse range of roles beyond his usual comedic action hero persona. While many fans are familiar with his mainstream hits like Deadpool and The Proposal, Reynolds has also quietly starred in many intriguing independent and genre films that showcase his range as an actor. Here is a closer look at some of Reynolds’ more surprising and lesser known roles throughout his career.
Buried (2010)
One of Reynolds’ boldest and most dramatic roles came in the 2010 psychological thriller Buried. In this claustrophobic film, Reynolds gives a tour de force performance as Paul Conroy, a civilian contractor working in Iraq who awakens to find himself buried alive inside a wooden coffin with only a lighter, a cell phone, and the clothes on his back. Stranded underground with no memory of how he ended up there, Conroy must rely on his wits to try and escape before his oxygen runs out.
Shot almost entirely within the confines of the coffin set, Buried places the entirety of the film’s narrative weight on Reynolds’ singular performance. With no other actors to play off of or cutaways to different locations, Reynolds carries the entire film through his facial expressions and voice alone. It’s an incredibly demanding role that requires conveying a wide range of emotions without any visual aids. Reynolds brings tremendous nuance and humanity to Paul Conroy’s desperate struggle, keeping the audience on the edge of their seat for the film’s nail-biting 90-minute runtime. Buried proved Reynolds is capable of far more than just comedy, showcasing his talent for intense, layered dramatic acting.
The Nines (2007)
In the complex psychological thriller The Nines, Reynolds takes on another challenging leading role. Written and directed by John August, the film weaves together three parallel storylines involving the same actor (Reynolds) playing different versions of himself. In one storyline, Reynolds plays Gary, a troubled Hollywood actor haunted by mysterious events from his past. In another, he’s Gavin, a married father experiencing strange occurrences around his home and family. And in a third, he portrays Gus, a schlubby cable guy.
As the narratives unfold and overlap, the different versions of Reynolds start to blur together, hinting at deeper metaphysical connections. It’s a heady, cerebral film that requires Reynolds to subtly differentiate between three separate characters that are all essentially himself. He brings nuanced shades of emotion and personality to each role, keeping careful track of the small distinctions that hold the film’s intricate narrative together. The Nines proved Reynolds is a thoughtful, dedicated actor perfectly capable of handling complex, conceptually challenging material.
Waiting… (2005)
One of Reynolds’ breakout comedic roles came in the raunchy 2005 restaurant workplace comedy Waiting…. Playing a foul-mouthed waiter named Monty, Reynolds helped establish himself as a talented comedic performer and improviser alongside actors like Anna Faris, Justin Long, and Luis Guzman. Full of racy humor and cringe-worthy antics, Waiting… captures the drudgery and absurdities of low-wage food service jobs through a hilarious lens.
Reynolds brings impeccable comedic timing and charm to Monty, helping elevate the character beyond just a potty-mouthed stereotype. He grounds the role with genuine empathy and humanity, making Monty’s frustrations and hijinks relatable. Reynolds also flexes his improv skills, seamlessly riffing with his castmates in many of the film’s funniest unscripted moments. Waiting… proved Reynolds had what it takes to carry a comedy as both a leading man and skilled comedic performer in his own right.
Dick (1999)
In the satirical 1999 comedy Dick, Reynolds takes on the unusual role of a Secret Service agent named Betsy who is assigned to protect two adolescent girls, played by Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams. The film serves as a comedic speculative fiction take on the Watergate scandal, with Betsy and the girls unwittingly getting mixed up in political intrigue around President Nixon.
Though a smaller supporting role, Reynolds brings his trademark wit and charm to Betsy. He grounds the absurd premise with sincerity, forming endearing relationships with Dunst and Williams’ characters. Reynolds also gets to flex his comedic chops opposite costar Will Ferrell as the bumbling title character of Dick. It’s an offbeat role in an offbeat film, but Reynolds slides effortlessly into the film’s wacky tone with confident comedic skills. Dick showed early on Reynolds had a knack for grounding outlandish comedy concepts through sincerity and skillful performances.
Blade: Trinity (2004)
In 2004, Reynolds took on one of his first major blockbuster franchise roles as vampire hunter Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity, the third film in the popular Blade series. Alongside Wesley Snipes returning as the iconic half-human, half-vampire hero Blade, Reynolds brought humor, charm and capable action skills to the role of King.
As a former vampire turned “vampire rights activist,” Hannibal King gave Reynolds the chance to flex both his comedic and physical abilities. He grounds the absurd premise with deadpan delivery, playing well off Snipes’ stoic Blade. Reynolds also performed many of his own impressive stunts and fight sequences. While Blade: Trinity received a mixed reception, most critics agreed Reynolds was a bright spot and capable addition to the franchise. The role helped establish Reynolds as a bankable action star just as his career was taking off into bigger studio films.
The Amityville Horror (2005)
In the 2005 remake of the classic horror film The Amityville Horror, Reynolds took on the supporting role of Father Callaway, a Catholic priest called upon to bless a new family’s home that was the site of a gruesome murder. Though a smaller part, Reynolds brought gravitas and complexity to Callaway, who slowly comes to believe the house is indeed haunted as strange events begin terrorizing the family.
Reynolds conveys Father Callaway’s inner turmoil and crisis of faith effectively, as the rational priest is forced to confront unexplainable supernatural phenomena. He also shares some tense, unsettling scenes with lead actress Melissa George. Reynolds proves capable of nuanced dramatic work even in a genre film, grounding the heightened scares and atmosphere with a soulful, emotionally layered performance. The Amityville Horror showed Reynolds could excel in horror or thriller films beyond just mainstream comedies.
Conclusion
While Reynolds is best known today for mega-budget comedies like Deadpool and action roles, his career includes a wealth of fascinating performances in independent films that further expanded his range. From intense psychological thrillers to offbeat comedies to complex genre films, Reynolds has quietly proven himself a dedicated actor willing to take on challenging roles far from his usual persona.
By digging deeper into Reynolds’ full filmography, fans can discover hidden gems that highlight his talent, versatility and commitment to every role. Beyond just box office success, Reynolds’ career illustrates how consistency and risk-taking in diverse projects has allowed him to grow as a performer for over two decades. There are still many more sides to Ryan Reynolds yet to be uncovered for audiences willing to look beyond his biggest hits.
