There’s so much acting in just his eyes alone. Somehow he can have the kindest suburban dad eyes you’ve ever seen, and switch to the cold animalistic gaze of a murderous druglord like it’s nothing
He gives a great performance of that switch at the end of 2x10, when he says, "Stay. Out. Of. My. Territory". His gaze, his blinking, his smirk after... it always struck me as reptilian. You could see the same smile on an animal and question if it's real or imagined; if you're safe or in danger. To see that look on a human -- definitely in danger.
@@DunkYTP I’ve been seeing Giancarlo in different shows lately and it’s so weird and amazing how his whole face seems to morph from kindly nice guy to stone cold evil from a single twitch! I feel like he’s getting a bit typecast as evil business man but he really does it well! I’m in awe of amazing actors like him and Bryan, it’s incredible to see how they act with every part of them.
Of course Cranston is incredible throughout the entire series, but a smaller scene I love that isn’t usually mentioned is the ‘rehearsal’ between Walt and Skyler in Bullet Points, when they’re preparing to go and lie to Hank and Marie about the gambling money etc. It’s a very interesting, almost ‘meta’ scene, that manages to be both compelling and hilarious due to the great performances of Cranston as well as Gunn.
@@SJ-ym4yt Vince said that he never intended to make her got this much hate but his writing, directing, editing and framing. All of these could lead to the only one outcome which is everybody hates her. There is no way this isn’t intentional. And I mean, now Skyler was never mentioned again as a strong female character by the official account. The latest post of strong female character in BrBa account was about Kim (who is in another show), not Skyler.
@Joseph Wong with all due respect, I think your take is off. She gave an incredible performance and the writing for her character was phenomenal. Most people who watch the series more than once understands the nuance. Walt is framed as the protagonist and it’s such a slow burn that we believe Hank and Skylar are the “bad guys”. If any audience still believe Skylar deserves hate, they need to rewatch the series.
I love how you can even see that he is looking up for half a second and almost breaks character but thinks „oh shoooot i have to act the scene out still“ 😂
Remember this is the same actor that has done a character that made his stomach talk in front of a mirror and another character convert to Judaism just for the jokes. With this range, he is (in my opinion) one of the best actors that have ever lived.
I just said this to myself after watching this video (although very high). I am amazed at the genius of Bryan Cranston he is a god at acting and he has the range of the best actor of all time!!
My personal favorite moment from him is when he finally admits to himself and skyler that he did all this because he liked it and was good at it. There’s pauses in between each sentence that say so much. One of certainty and pride that he was good at it, one where he’s looking back at everything he went through, and finally one of relief. Brilliant acting.
I agree too. While I understood during the series that he did it mainly for him I did not know he would verbalize it at some point. This scene sealed the deal as the best series of all times
Yeah, I think it pairs back well with the scene in the beginning where Jessie asked him why he was breaking bad at 50. He tells Jessie for the first time in his life he is awake. I think that Walt, wanted to try and live his life to fullest before he went. Saying it was for his family was a lie to justify his actions. I think getting his terminal cancer diagnosis gave him the balls to see just how far he could go in the drug world. World class chemist, who spent the first part of his life getting the shitty end of the stick, he decides that after he is going to die anyway, go big or go home. It was beyond selfish,, but for a brief amount of time in his life he actually felt alive. I’m glad that at the end he finally admitted it, he did it all for himself.
It is a TV series that was written beautifully. Excellent. Whereas most of the time we see or hear things concerning someone and ASSUME they are this way or that way. You'd assume he was a horrible man if you didn't know his background.
man i wish i could forget the entire plot and relive it for the first time again. every couple of years i’ll binge watch the entire series again. a masterpiece
Bryan Cranston showed us a master at work while working on Breaking Bad. One scene that sold me on his acting was all the emotions he went through when he was going to shoot himself outside the RV.
In my opinion one of the best acted scenes by Bryan in the entirety of the show. But its really hard to tell and if i see another spectacular scene with him i would probably change my mind, and it would be quite easy to find another scene where he is masterful.
Yeah man, I love that scene. I always found so hardcore when he really pulls the trigger on himself but the gun is locked and his reaction on still being alive, you can see how he is almost exploding from stress and nervousism.
His acting looks so exhausting, it's so impressive that he can keep something like that up, the mentality he has to adopt and the level of acting he puts into every facial feature, I can't imagine doing that for as long as he did.
i remember in a documentary about filming breaking bad, they showed us how, during the filming of a scene where walt steals holly and skyler tries to get her back, the directors asked anna gunn if she wanted to take a break, because they made a lot of shots and it’s mentally draining to keep repeating such strong emotions for so long
Yes, Sir Anthony gave Cranston and the entire show a brilliant review. And I agree with Sir Anthony - Cranston's acting over the course of the show is the best I've ever seen.
And then Anthony Hopkins was upset because the letter was shared, posted to social media, and went viral. I see both sides of the "controversy", if it could even be called that. Sir Anthony intended it to be private and he's from a time where personal correspondence were just that, personal. Then again, his letter did say to pass on the comments to the co-stars, and I imagine how excited they must have been. Ultimately, I don't see it as that big of a deal, but completely understand Hopkins reticence about how things played out.
As someone who read his book twice " a life in parts" I just want to point out he didn't plan to see his daughters face when Jane died. That's something that randomly happened in the moment and elevated the scene, so they kept that take.
"Not only did he exceed our expectations, he raised the bar for everyone. And in doing so, he delivered the performance of a lifetime". Your goddamn right
I don't know what it is about that show, but it seemed it was almost impossible for any of the actors, even the ones with tiny roles to be bad in that show. It was insane that just about everyone who appeared in that show gave incredible performances.
Breaking bad is the perfect example of someone having a vision and everyone understanding that vision and giving it their all. Its hard to find people that actually dislikes the show itself because it's just impossible to argue that it wasn't made well and doesn't at least have some entertainment value
Similarly with the Godfather, and the sequel. I personally didn't find them to be my favorite films when I first saw them but you can't deny that they're incredibly well made. Crime isn't my thing but boy was everything about it done perfectly
Skyler’s acting in the phone call scene in Ozymandias was also amazing, you can see her go from upset to confused/reassured as she realizes what Walt’s doing
Yeah she is definitely deserving of her place in Breaking Bad and did an incredible job. It wouldn't have been quite the same without her. The entire main cast was incredible.
As much as I loved Ozymandias and of course, the finale, THAT was the moment that made me feel as desperate as Walt One of the best cliffhangers of all time, thank god I'm just a binge watcher lmao
Anna was just as good honestly. she was not a popular character but think about how you'd react if your mild mannered husband went wacko, constantly deceiving, and gaslighting you and your family.
I think his voice changes are one of the most interesting pieces of his performance. Cranston perfectly captures how Walt begins to wear Heisenberg and Walt as interchangeable masks.
that was such a great detail, breaking bad really solidified itself as one of the best written shows of all time with the incredible amount of care that goes into those little details
Hank dying was great - Him trying to pacify Walter Jr because he doesn't fully know the situation and he is able to while Skyler is more aware of what Walter's situation actually is and believes that Hank could actually be dead, all culminates into a fantastic scene that builds up into a final confrontation where everything falls apart.
I have never been more emotional watching a television scene in my entire life than that scene where Sklyer and Walt knife fight and he steals Holly. And I doubt it'll ever be topped or even matched. My mom and I were silent tears streaming holding our breath, breaking. I get chills just thinking about it.
Nobody expected Bryan Cranston from "Malcolm in the Middle" to give one of the best dramatic performances in TV history but that's exactly what he did. Ever since "Better Call Saul" ended I've been thinking about watching "Breaking Bad" again and then you reminded me how incredible his acting is. One thing you didn't mention is that he guest starred in an episode of "The X-Files" which got the notice of Vince Gilligan and that got him this role.
Two of my favorite scenes to show his great acting is: 1) The 'intervention' scene in I believe the episode titled 'Gray Matter'. When Jr. (Or Flynn) mentions that Walt and Skylar never gave up on him. You can see the slight hesitation as he processes the thought, and then see the sorrow behind his eyes in the next moment thinking about it. 2) Then, of course, there is Ozymandias. When he returns home and says one of my favorite lines, "I tried to save him!" With the combined look of sorrow, anger, distress, and re-living the experience.
I always use that Jane scene as an example of Bryan's most incredible work, you can literally see when Walt disappears and Heisenberg takes over, it's just truly exceptional.
I think the reason Breaking Bad has a “too many people think the protagonist is genuinely a good guy instead of the monster they clearly are” problem is because Bryan Cranston is SO GOOD in his acting that you yourself are also falling for Walt’s lies. When watching him you believe everything he says even on a rewatch you have to remind yourself “no, he’s lying”
This show never ceases to absolutely blow me away. Just finished watching it for the third time...the first time in like 8 years, and even though it being the third time of watch it, I was more amazed and impressed by it than ever. The acting, story/plot development, character development, character dynamics, cinematography.. it is a masterpiece in every possible quality.
Brian Cranston's portrayal of Walter H. White alone is more than enough to proclaim him an absolutely top tier actor, but when contrasting Walt to his role in Malcolm in the Middle, he demonstrates a range that VERY few actors ever possess. He's easily one of the best television actors of all time, perhaps even the singular best.
bryan cranston is one of the greatest actors ever. you cant tell that you're watching a show when you watch breaking bad because of how bryan acts. he makes the character of walter white seem so real
Every time you make a video, I think: "oh wow, this guy has really outdone him self. He could not posible be any better than he already is". And then you create another. And another. And one more. And it keeps on getting better. And that is why, you are becomming my favorite youtuber. Because no matter the subject, you excel in it
I don't watch a lot of TV and didn't watch Breaking Bad because everyone was talking about it. I thought it'd be shit. My wife and i watched the whole thing and it's the only TV series i've ever felt some sort of loss for once it finished. Very hard to describe but it's like we actually went on the journey with him and all the emotions he felt and no other TV show has ever done that to me. The finest acting performance in TV history and the writing and script are unparalleled.
I was in the same boat; I just finished watching it recently. I binged seasons 3-5, which is very unusual for me. After reading a lot of comments online, I honestly think the show appeals to pretty much everyone across the spectrum of intelligence and attention to detail. There are seemingly more people who are into the show for the testosterone trip, which just proves that the acting was good enough to sell it as something you could vicariously live through without having to force it
i don't think anything will ever reach the levels of intensity, stress and acting genius on display during the crawlspace scene. what a ridiculously talented production.
Similar show in the plot sense but obviously the calibre cant really compare but comes close; often called the new breaking bad. Ozarks. Fukin brilliant show one more season yet to come
The mastery of playing Walt distills in this quote in how he transitions from trying to persuade Hank to threatening him, all from the subtle changes of tone of his voice: “If you don't know who I am, then maybe your best course would be to… tread lightly.”
Even in his Walter role he even brought comedy... his " wipe down this" , pizza on the roof, and chair in the wardrobe moments that I saw hal alive and well.
I know this video is 4 months old and nobody will probably see this, but this video has really helped me alot as me and my friend want to become actors.
Your insights as you break down characters or performances really heighten my appreciation for the work or the actor as you give me lots of new things to observe and consider. Kudos!
I think BC's work on malcolm was the perfect precursor to BB, he uses so many physical movements to sell the scene, but they don't have to be huge outlandish movements. My word I love this show, time for a rewatch
All of breaking bad was perfected. Not a single actor was and at their job. Bryan Cranston was amazing as Walter White, showing a rise in power but a decline in mental state. Aaron Paul perfected Jesse Pinkman, never hiding what he was thinking and really making you feel for him. Anna Gunn perfected being a victim, RJ Mitte showed how a teenager would react to learning his father will die, and then finding out that, while waiting for his death, his father had become an entirely different man than he once was. I could write a whole essay on how beautifully Breaking Bad was written, and how perfectly each and every character was played.
Brilliant video. When I watched it for the first time, I was amazed at his performance! As well as Aaron Paul's performance. Both incredible... I would love to see a video like this for Aaron Paul as Jesse. His character deserves to be studied like that as well in my opinion!
To the point on eye contact, I made it a goal of mine in the past few years to make sure I give eye contact to everyone Im talking to. What Ive noticed in doing that is most people dont give you eye contact back whether it be bc they're on their phone, watching tv, or maybe they're just not aware that they basically look around the room while conversing, just like I used to... Im naturally observant so when I started seeing these patterns, I can officially say that I now look right into people's souls when talking to them. The eyes tell all.
I absolutely love this video, you broke down Bryan's performance in such an easy to understand way. Keep up the work man, I look forward to when I see your analysis videos come into my notifications!
Definitely the best acted TV show I've seen in my 55 years. Not a single actor ever phoned it in, ever! Dean/Hank changed a lot due to him starting the show thinking he was the comic relief, but soon made that work by just turning into a blowhard every single person has meet/worked with. While many say young RJ was paid to eat breakfast for 6 years, he give gut wrenching performances as a young man who idolized his father and want though heartbreak knowing something was off the whole time but thinking it was just because his mother didn't support his father in his battle with cancer or gambling. Honestly, when making a list of the great acting in that show, it would be easier to try and find a bad proformance than list ever single good one. Carlos/Gus could make you piss your pants without even blinking. He was so good that you actually started to root for Hector, maybe the most evil of all the characters in his last episode. That's talent!!! Aaron/ Jessie could have easily been a One note character in so many others hands, but it could be said he grows the most out of anyone. From a stoner who just lives for the day to a person who lived though more highs and lows in just 2 years than probably any person on Earth, even Walter. Vince Gilligan has made Two of imo the best shows in TV history with Breaking Bad and the almost as good Better Call Saul. Thank you to everyone involved.
Bryan Cranston as Walter White literally changed my life. As a teen in HS entering my JR or Senior year I started downloading and binging the show and it changed the way I ever saw acting writing and cinema as well as tv shows. I grew up watching this guy as Hal and to see him go from a Pushover to a criminal God made me think about me how I was always quiet never spoke my opinions and was even a bit of a pushover after watching this show I learned something to never let myself be a pushover I defended myself with everything and I also spoke my mind and opinions obviously not gonna be dealing or selling drugs but it made me look at myself and change for the better imo. This show made me wanna even now start looking to pursue acting just so I can hopefully one day give all the credit to Bryan Cranston and say thank you for changing the way I view life lol
I am so glad you refered to the phone call scene of season 5. Its a masterclass of acting and the most impressive scene I've seen my hero Bryan perform in the entire show and that's damn saying something! He is truly a one in a million talent
Cranston is a chameleon. He gets under the skin of his subjects. I saw his performance as Dalton Trumbo and judged it a masterpiece. Looking forward to more.
Can you do this with Giancarlo Esposito? I’ve seen Gus’s videos of LPH employees training as a super pleasant man, boss of LPH in the show as a calm & kind man. And as we all know a cruel & revengeful drug lord. Considering how cheerful Giancarlo is in many of interviews he did, his acting is astonishing for me as well. It’s a shame how he never win any Emmy for his portrayal as Gus.
I just finishing the show for the first time and I was genuinely unsure with myself if Cranston was actually playing Walt because he felt so real and like a totally real person, and I know he only shaved his head and has a goatee but I legit couldn’t see Bryan Cranstons face anymore by the end
The only other actor I can think of who has the scope needed here is also in the show. John de Freitas who played Jane's dad. If there is an alternative universe where he got the role, I want to see that series too.
I don't think I've ever seen better acting in anything ever. Amazing performance. Another fantastic yet more subtle performance is Rami Malek in Mr Robot (Christian Slater too.) Those are my 2 favorite shows of all time.
Bryan Cranston was the absolute best character in Malcolm in the Middle and if you go back and watch that show, you see his brilliance as an actor even in a silly comedy. You felt his pain, fear of his wife, immaturity like he was just another child in the house, incompetence as an adult, pure excitement, drive in whatever scheme he was up to, and joy when he achieved his goal. It is not shocking that he went on to blow everyone's mind in Breaking Bad because if you paid attention, he was impressive before that. it was simply shocking to see Hal turn into Heisenberg. It shows his range and consistency in excellence.
Fantastic review 👏 Indeed this TV series introduced a lot of drama secrets to us we were not aware to in past. However, one fantastic moment when he was honest with Skyler at the last scene!! And when he saved Jesse at the end ..He showed us a real moment of fatherhood..and it summarized his relationship with Jesse
I had a big laugh the other day while reading some comments on the "Better Call Saul Series" in comparison to the "Breaking Bad Series", where there were people commenting and saying that BCS is a much better than the BB! I do love the BCS series but as most of us know, there is no real comparison! Bryan Cranston's acting alone in this series is enough to take it to the next level of Excellence and just can not be compared to any other! I will go back and watch this entire series over and over again for the rest of my life!
Imo bcs is the best thing to come out of television since breaking bad, so there is a comparison in my view. I’d still say breaking bad is overall better but not by too much, better call Saul is pretty much at the peak of its climax coming into its final season, in which the writers described it as the most “breaking bad like” the show has ever been. Not to mention the brilliant introduction to Lalo Salamanca who plays a charming, but scary villain. I believe seeing lalo out for revenge in season 6 will amount to one of the best seasons of the whole breaking bad universe
I've noticed alot of people gushing on about how BCS is so great and that it is as good as BB but I think they are just telling themselves that because they miss the magic of BB and the only way they can come close to reliving it is through BCS. Also, people's expectations will shape their experience. Since BCS is made by the same people and takes place in the BB universe it gets maybe more praise than its earned. I thought the first 3 seasons were good because the storyline between chuck and Jimmy was unique and just good storytelling. After chuck died the show lost alot of its richness and kinda just meandered through each episode. Honestly I still have to watch past the beginning of season 5. I hope it got better.
BCS is great but it never had a character as consistently compelling as Walter White. Nor did it have an actor as skilled as Bryan Cranston. That's why BB will always be better.
