The Best and Worst of Edgar Ramirez

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Gold" star Edgar Ramirez.

Films starring Edgar Ramirez that I've seen:
The Bourne Ultimatum 
Vantage Point
Wrath of the Titans
Zero Dark Thirty
The Counselor 
Deliver Us from Evil
Joy
Point Break
Hands of Stone
The Girl on the Train

Best Performance: Joy (2015)
The majority of Joy is commanded by the standout performances of Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, but Ramirez manages to shine almost as bright as those Hollywood heavyweights in a fraction of the screen time. He does an excellent job of painting Joy Mangano's ex-husband (Lawrence) that still lives with her and their two kids as a compassionate, kindhearted character that you want to see succeed. 

Worst Performance: Point Break (2015)
To be honest, Ramirez was one of the better parts of the Point Break remake. That being said, his performance in this dreadful film was still pretty bad. Ramirez lacks the charisma or believable free-spirit attitude that made Patrick Swayze's Bodhi such an intriguing villain in the original. 

Best Film: The Girl on the Train (2016)
The film version of Paula Hawkins' 2015 novel doesn't offer up any deep insight on real-world issues or innovative storytelling ideas, it's just a really efficient and well-constructed genre film. The strong development of its central protagonists and remarkable acting from its unheralded ensemble cast (Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Ramirez, Luke Evans) are more than enough to elevate The Girl on the Train above most by-the-numbers, best-selling thriller adaptations.  

Worst Film: Point Break (2015)
The original Point Break has become a cult classic due to its goofy charm and gleefully over-the-top action sequences. The 2015 remake is an overly serious, poorly-acted film that's about as fun as getting a root canal.While the decision to not go the shot-for-shot remake route is admirable, Point Break's inability to provide any semblance of entertainment value or honor the original's cheesy fun legacy just can't be glossed over.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Space Between Us" star Gary Oldman.