Paul Giamatti was almost thirty years old when he got his big break in show business. Up until that point he had played in various small roles, including Donnie Brasco, Sabrina and an episode of ABC's NYPD Blue. His first film job was 1990's She'll Take The Romance, a film you probably never heard of, and are a better person because of it. But Giamatti has been an actor for quite a while, with a background in theater from his college days to Broadway productions. His acting ability is on colorful display in every seemingly "small" role he inhabits. He doesn't approach a comedic role mindlessly. Like the great actors of today and yesterday, he brings soul and maturity to even the most ridiculous of characters.

Early Roles

Take his star making role in Howard Stern's biopic Private Parts. As Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton, a radio executive hired to tame the adult radio show and its temperamental star, Giamatti brought a strong sense of confidence and antagonism to what was essentially a vanity movie for Howard Stern. Whereas Stern and his staff (Robin Quivers, Fred Norris and Gary Dell'Abate) played styled up, teddy bear versions of themselves, Paul Giamatti took the fall, playing a pompous villain Stern was destined to pound and delivering his character's comeuppance with teeth gritting enthusiasm. Stern was so impressed he lobbied for an Oscar nomination for Giamatti's work. It would be the first of a few great roles to be snubbed by the academy.

Though his career had officially begun, Paul Giamatti was still being recognized as the Howard Stern guy, and getting only more minor parts in films like My Best Friend's Wedding and Deconstructing Harry. More dramatic turns in movies like The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan and Cradle Will Rock would continue to prove his range.

In 1999 he played along side Andy Kaufman in director Milos Forman's Man On The Moon. (Rumor has it Jim Carrey played Andy Kaufman in a very true to life performance) Playing the part of successful comedian and business man Bob Zmuda, Giamatti again showed his talent and his personal niche: playing real life Hollywood people as the fun, ribald and explosive personalities they all are. Though far from earning an Oscar nomination, Giamatti was proving his fearlessness and undeniable ability to play opposite virtually anybody in any kind of film. He flailed in Big Fat Liar, but again proved his humility by actually lowering himself to play opposite Malcolm In The Middle's one-shot sensation, Frankie Muniz. He was still waiting for that one big art-house hit.

His Rise To Arthouse Success

He finally got that part in 2003's American Splendor, arguably his best role to date and the best comic book movie ever made. Playing yet another larger than life entertainment personality, comic writer and artist Harvey Pekar, Giamatti hit a peak in terms of balancing screen presence, acting ability and showcasing a socially relevant role. The film followed the life of Pekar from the days of his youth into his older curmudgeon days, and Giamatti never lost the realism or the spunk. Not surprisingly, the academy snubbed his performance for Best Actor in a year where voting members were indubitably drunk with Hobbit Ale. It would be his first major and unforgivable snub.

In 2004 Paul Giamatti landed another big art house role and went one better than American Splendor--he became a piece of pop culture. As Miles, the sadsack wine critic in Alexander Payne's Sideways, Giamatti reached so deep into his own soul he pulled out the heart of every love-lorn man who's ever tried to fill the void with pinot. (Or more likely, beer and vodka) It wasn't yet another awards-courting performance as an alcoholic; it was the creation of a thoroughly original character who just happened to be a wine connoisseur. While not an entirely effective leading man performance, (especially for a romantic comedy) Giamatti's performance was original and convincing and probably Sideways' greatest strength. Not surprising in the least, the academy again snubbed one of the most thought provoking performances of the year so they could award a year's worth of hammy imitations and scenery chewing.

By the time Giamatti got his Oscar nomination for playing Joe Gould in Ron Howard's too little too late boxing epic Cinderella Man, he had lost momentum as a leading actor. Hollywood felt comfortable awarding him with a Supporting Actor nomination; a cruel reminder that he should probably stick to what he knows: playing supporting characters, preferably based on real life people.

A Leading Man

Now in 2006, Giamatti gets another chance to carry a movie in the upcoming Lady In The Water suspense flick. Since this could be his last chance, at least as a main draw, leave it up to writer-director M. Night Shyamalan to put his name up in lights and give him a head start. Playing superintendent Cleveland Heep, a man fascinated with a mysterious young woman from a different world, is surely the scenery chewing dream role that many actors would love to take on. Shyamalan has a way of bringing out the best in his cast, particularly in action stars and slowing their intensity down to an largo of cinematic restraint. A pause. A sigh. A breath. A nervous gulp. A whisper. (You get the idea)

This kind of acting is sink or swim for sure, ranging from brilliant (Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense) and obnoxious (Joaquin Phoenix in Signs). This will surely put Paul Giamatti to the acting test. Obviously, he doesn't have the good looks or sexual magnitude as other Shyamalan favorites like Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson.

But don't count him out. Paul Giamatti is an actor above all else, and has the background to show for it. If moviegoers can get past the fact that he ain't exactly Tom Cruise, (though far less creepy) then Lady In The Water should be a success. If everything goes according to plan, Cleveland Heep should be one of the more memorable suspense characters we've seen in recent memory.