IRON MAN 2 (2010)
CHARACTER: Ivan Vanko/Whiplash (Mickey Rourke)
One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s few genuine slip-ups, Iron Man 2 was a victim of an accelerated production period that rushed a slapdash screenplay to the screen with mixed results, especially Rourke’s villain. What was supposed to be the comeback actor’s victory lap after The Wrestler turned into a parade of affectations (gold teeth, tattoos, hair streaks, shades, toothpick, goatee, a pet cockatoo, etc) in which you can hear the contempt for the material through Rourke’s awful Russian accent.
GREEN LANTERN (2011)
CHARACTER: Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard)
Is it jarring that in the middle of what is a fairly middling, generic superhero film you have a villain whose high-pitched girlish screaming and mutated head seem more suitable for a David Cronenberg movie? Why yes, it is jarring, thanks for asking! When Sarsgaard is on his game (Shattered Glass, Jarhead) he’s beyond captivating, but when he decides to ham it up, as he does to spectacular effect in Green Lantern, it’s enough to make you want to claw your eyes out in embarrassment.
What do you think were the worst superhero movie supporting characters?
