Supporting roles in TV-shows - As important as the main characters?

Sure, what would 'The Sopranos' be without James Gandolfini? Would Breaking Bad have made it to 5 seasons if it hadn't been for the amazing job Bryan Cranston has done with his character? Could anyone else have pulled off the role of Luther as good as Idris Elba did in the self-titled show?

1. (Probably not much)
2. (Absolutely not)
3. (No)

If a TV-show lacks a believable lead character, chances are it won't make it past a pilot, let alone a season. You can probably add a few adjectives to the last sentence. Sympathetic, likable, interesting, complex... They're not all definite. I do love Breaking Bad and Bryan Cranston's portrayal of Walter White, however I do not find his character very sympathetic or likable. Interesting however, very much so.

However, for me to really enjoy a TV-show, there needs to be other ingredients working in the recipe as well. It can't all be meat. You need the gravy, the red wine and your vegetables as well. Here's where the supporting cast comes in, and the characters (and casting of them) are essential. I've already written about some of my favorite supporting roles in TV-shows here.

Here follows a couple of characters I feel really contributes to their respective TV-show:

Mike - Breaking Bad

played by Jonathan Banks

Jonathan Banks as Mike in Breaking Bad

Showed up at the end of season 2, and quickly became one of my favorite characters on the show. Stone cold killer with a coolness and sense of old-school gangsterism that gave a new dimension to the show. Whereas most of the bad guys in the show up until this point had been young drug-dealers, Mike was instantly on par with his co-actors with his deep voice and calm presence. Continuing on my food-allorgy, Mike would definitely have been the gravy. 

Mike was also in one of the funniest scenes from the show, as he and Walter completely ignores Jesse's attempt of suggesting the use of magnets for one of their little... side projects: 

Alice Morgan - Luther

played by Ruth Wilson

Ruth Wilson IS Alice Morgan

In the pilot episode of 'Luther', one of the most interesting relationships in modern TV is formed, that of Luther and Alice Morgan. With her parents found dead, Alice is brought in for questioning, and magic happens. Idris Elba is brilliant as Luther, but Alice Morgan is the red wine, the gravy and quite possibly the vegetables as well in this masterpiece of a TV-show. 

Doug Stamper - House of Cards

Played by Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly as the right-hand man in 'House of Cards'. 

Although possibly slightly overrated, 'House of Cards' was/is still a very good show, with Kevin Spacey in a role pretty much perfect for him. Robin Wright is impressive in her role as well, but to me Michael Kelly was one of, if not THE most, impressive bit players in the show. Michael Kelly is made for these roles, business-types or agents, but he still shone in Kevin Spacey's presence. An honorable mention also to Corey Stoll as Peter Russo who did an exceptional job as well. 

In addition to these, here are a few personal favorites from other TV-shows. Some as part of the main cast (though not lead-character), some in smaller parts. 

Rachel Menken in Mad Men - played by Maggie Siff

- One of the first women that challenged Don Draper. Loved her on the show, and still enjoy her performances on 'Sons of Anarchy', where she was especially impressive in her last scene last season.

Sloan in The Newsroom - played by Olivia Munn

- Socially awkard and brutally intelligent in her field. Together with Thomas Sadoski as Don Keefer quite possibly the most interesting and funny characters of the show so far in season 2. 

Rebecca Halliday in The Newsroom - played by Marcia Gay Harden

- Very little screen-time so far, but the addition of Marcia Gay Harden in the second season is promising. Great actress, and she's already done much with the little time she's been given. More of Rebecca, please!

Pamela in Louie - played by Pamela Adlon

- The chemistry between Louis C.K. and Pamela is amazing. Some of the best scenes of the show are the ones with the two of them together. 

Chris Sanchez in Damages/Reese Lansing in The Newsroom - both played by Chris Messina

I like Chris Messina. He's got something. He can perfectly well play an asshole, but is equally good as one of the good guys. Did a great job on Damages, as most of the supporting cast, and I always enjoy his smugness as Reese Lansing in The Newsroom. 

Which are your favorites?

Movies: What to look forward to

As this summer's box office is dominated by sequels (Red, Grown-ups, Despicable Me), spin-off movies (Wolverine) and questionable comedies (again, Growns Ups 2, R.I.P.D. and The Heat), I look to the next six months of new releases. And there seems to be quite a lot to look forward to in the next few months. Here's a a rundown of what I am looking forward to, for various reasons:

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Although it isn't released until early January, there is already lots of buzz about this movie. Unfortunately, some of the buzz has come from the news on Mandela's illness, but there seems to be a lot of reasons to look forward to the movie either way. Idris Elba has quickly become a very popular man in Hollywood. The British actor rose to fame during his time on 'The Wire', where he portrayed the business-style gangster Stringer Bell. With an accent that even had Americans fooled, he was one of the best characters on the show, and this summer he is one of the stars of the blockbuster-movie Pacific Rim. During his three seasons as the lead in the brilliant BBC-show 'Luther', he has proven himself to be one to watch. In the trailer for the Mandela-movie, he seems to be able to also pull of a perfect South-African accent, which is impressive enough. The movie looks at Mandela's life all the way from his youth until his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Will this movie give Idris Elba his first Oscar-nomination (and possibly award)? Naomie Harris plays Winnie Mandela. 

Release date: Varies from country to country, but December/January seems to be it. 

Trailer: 

The Counselor

Ridley Scott is the director, and the cast looks really interesting. Although not much is revealed in the trailer (and that is a good thing), it definitely pokes my interest. The movie is based on an original screenplay by Cormac McCarthy (who wrote the novel 'No Country for Old Men'), and the cast includes Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Natalie Dormer, Bruno Ganz, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz. Also Dean Norris ('Breaking Bad') is in the cast, interestingly enough again connected to a project in El Paso (see trailer). "A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking", says the plot. Not very original maybe, but this still looks like one to look forward to.

Release date: October 25th

Trailer: 

12 Years a Slave

Director Steve McQueen ('Shame') returns with a movie about a free black man who is abducted and sold as a slave. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess he was held as a slave for 12 years. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the lead character, Solomon Northup, in what is a rare lead role for the British actor. I am looking forward to seeing him in a bigger role then he is usually given, though. The cast is impressive, with Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender, Chris Chalk, Alfre Woodard and Sarah Paulson. Also the movie features Quvenzhané Wallis in her second feature film, the first being the lead role in 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'. Based on a true story, the film is based on the memoirs of Solomon Northup released as a book in the 1850s. 

Release date: Early January most places

Trailer: 

The Monuments Men

Bill Murray making the cast laugh. Of course.

George Clooney returns as a director in this movie based on the story of an Allied group during the last year of World War II. Their mission was to save pieces of art and important cultural items before Hitler was able to destroy them. Although a trailer has not been released yet, this movie has the cast working for it. In addition to buddies George Clooney and Matt Damon (who replaced Daniel Craig), it also stars Cate Blanchett and Jean Dujardin ('The Artist'). Add to this two of my favorites all-time, Bill Murray and John Goodman, and you've got yourself a movie that definitely finds its way to the "must-see"-list. Bill Murray. And John Goodman. In the same movie.

Release date: Early January most places

Trailer: 

Out of the Furnace

Maybe on of the movies I'm most looking forward to lately. Christian Bale is the lead role, and the trailer depicts a movie that somewhat resembles 'Winter's Bone', in that it centers around someone looking for a family-member up in "the hills". When Rodney Baze Jr. (Casey Affleck) goes missing, his older brother Russell (Bale) takes matters into his own hands looking for him, as the authorities seems to be out of their depth. Forest Whitaker, Woody Harrelson, William Defoe, Zoe Saldana and Sam Shepard also stars in this movie, which definitely seems to be a dark horse for a few Oscar-nominations come March. 

Release date: Late 2013/Early 2014. 

Trailer: 

Prince Avalanche

Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch teams up in this movie which looks strangely funny by the looks of the trailer. Basically, the plot is this: Two highway road-workers spend a summer together doing... highway road-work. In the middle of nowhere. (So maybe not highway road-work, but just road-work). Emile Hirsch has done this before ('Into the Wild'), and the chemistry between him and Paul Rudd seems to be reason enough to watch this. Especially if you appreciate the quirky humor of Paul Rudd (as I do), and the occasional "let's not set every movie to a big city"-film (as I do). 

Release date: August 9th (US), September/October (Europe)

Trailer: 

Wolf of Wall Street

Probably one of the coolest trailers in a long time, this movie is likely one of the most anticipated movies for the coming months. Martin Scorsese teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio yet again, and the screenplay is written by Terence Winter ('The Sopranos', 'Boardwalk Empire'). The movie is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a wealthy stockbroker, and his rather crazy life. The cast includes Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Shea Whigham and Cristin Milioti. This is the fifth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, and to be honost, I don't mind.

PS: Nice touch with on the song in the trailer (Kanye West - Black Skinhead)

Release date: November 15th (US), December (most European countries)

Trailer: 

The Butler

Director Lee Daniels ('Precious') directs this movie about a Cecil Gaines, a butler working at the White House. It is based on the real-life account of Eugene Allen, who was a butler at the White House through eight American presidencies (1952-1986). The movie looks into the social situation during the time of his tenure at the White House, and with Forest Whitaker at his best, this could be another Oscar in the making for the accomplished actor. The cast also includes Robin Williams (Dwight Eisenhower), James Marsden (John F. Kennedy), John Cusack (Richard Nixon), Alan Rickman (Ronald Reagan), Terrence Howard, Jane Fonda,  Vanessa Redgrave, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz are also in the cast, as they were in Lee Daniels' Oscar-nominated movie 'Precious'. 

Release date: August 16th (US), September (Europe)

Trailer: 

American Hustle

Director David O. Russell had huge success with his latest film 'Silver Linings Playbook', and he probably hopes that teaming up Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper again will prove a winning formula. Add Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams to the mix, and I'm guessing he's onto something. Con artists, FBI agents, mobsters and politicians are key words in this movie, and as the trailer depicts, so is heartbreak, drama, money and... beards. Together with the trailer to 'Wolf on Wall Street', probably the most promising trailer I've seen in quite a while. Christian Bale might be finished playing Batman, but he is definitely not finished kicking ass on the screen.

Release date: December 25th (US), Late December/Early 2014 (Europe)

Trailer: