Acting performances that surprised you?

[Griselda]

I had no idea that was Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"! I might have to reconsider my blanket refusal to watch any movie with Leonardo DiCaprio in it (although that's been a good policy for every movie since Gilbert Grape).

I also refuse to watch any movie with Jim Carrey in it, although it seems like I would have liked "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Does anybody know if Carrey was as annoying as he usually is in that movie?

As for actors changing genres, I will also admit that I've been reluctant to watch any movie with Bill Murray in it that's not comedy (yes, I skipped "Lost in Translation" for that reason). It's not that I don't like him; I just can't picture him in that sort of role. I was really surprised when I heard that he would star in an upcoming Jim Jarmusch movie- and that the part had been created with Bill Murray in mind. This still sounds like some "other dimension" Bill Murray that I can't quite understand, but I'm looking forward to the movie to see if it changes my mind.

For a more on-topic reply, I liked Mark Hamill's voice acting in "Castle in the Sky". I didn't realize he could do anything but whine. :P Poor guy- he *still* can't appear onscreen in person without making everyone think of Luke Skywalker!

Obviously, Sean Astin came a long way from "The Goonies" with his portrayal of Samwise Gamgee. He's an actor that I'd really like to see be a bit more discriminating about the roles he accepts.