'Pantheon' of actors sparks interest in films

Don Cheadle never disappoints. Even if the movie he's in is bad, he's terrific.

"After the Sunset," "The Family Man," "Mission to Mars," "Swordfish," "Volcano" ... all of them were awful. Cheadle's performances were not. And he was about the only thing that kept me awake during the plot-thin sequel "Ocean's Twelve."

Fortunately, after years of supporting roles, he's starting to get a few starring vehicles. Arguably, "Reign Over Me" was as much his film as it was Adam Sandler's. He was also part of a strong ensemble cast in the Academy Award-winning drama "Crash." And his work in both 2005's "Hotel Rwanda" and the recently released "Talk to Me" is getting him some other awards notice.

Cheadle was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for the former (he lost to "Ray's" Jamie Foxx), and is getting similar "buzz" for the latter, in which he plays Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, a DJ, political activist and entertainer in Washington, D.C.

This movie year has also been kind to actor Steve Zahn, who was in 1998's "Out of Sight," with Cheadle. He's best-known for his amusingly comic supporting parts in films like "You've Got Mail," "Happy, Texas" and "Sahara." But now Zahn is getting very glowing reviews for his performance in the POW piece "Rescue Dawn."

It's a mostly dramatic role and Zahn is terrific, even managing to steal scenes from co-star Christian Bale. That's not an easy thing to do.

Both Cheadle and Zahn join an elite "pantheon" of actors who immediately spark my interest in a film. Of course, that list includes veterans like Albert Finney and Meryl Streep, as well as lesser-known people such as:

BOB BALABAN

He's a Christopher Guest regular, and has a long career that stretches back past "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." He can be seen as Catherine Zeta-Jones' therapist in "No Reservations."

ALBERT BROOKS

The filmmaker/comedian/actor is still best-known for his voice role in "Finding Nemo," as well as "Broadcast News" and "Defending Your Life" (where he appears with Streep).

Currently he can be heard as the voice of the power-mad EPA chief in "The Simpsons Movie."

ZOOEY DESCHANEL

The younger sister of television star Emily Deschanel ("Bones") and daughter of cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, she stole scenes from Will Ferrell in "Elf" and was the only redeeming aspect of "Failure to Launch."