#March2012
Matt Damon: Master of the Cameo (Word Up!)
A cameo role is defined as “a minor part played by a prominent performer in a single scene of a motion picture or a television play.” These brief, often uncredited appearances titilate the viewers, causing them to hop in their seats and shout, “Oh, I know him! He’s in this movie? Awesome! Thank the LAWD!”
Sure, cameo roles are often nothing more than cheap publicity stunts, but at their best they’re jolly-good fun!
There is a debate to be had about who can claim the title of ultimate cameo-master. On the one hand, some might cite Alfred Hitchcock as classic cinema’s cameo-Jedi, as he inserted himself into thirty-nine of his movies. However, there’s something to be said for those actors who’ve racked up fewer cameos of higher quality. Perhaps quality should be given precedence over quantity.
Think of Walken in Pulp Fiction or NPH in the original Harold and Kumar flick.
When all’s been considered, one man stands above all others as the true master of the cameo: Matt Damon.
From his debut in 1988’s Mystic Pizza to his December 2011 appearance on SNL, Matt Damon charmed us with brevity. The dude knows how to hop onto our screens, put smiles on our faces, and then peace out. Matt Damon elevates the cameo from the depths cheap PR stunts to the highest echelons of art.
Don’t believe me? Hit the jump and check out the (hardly comprehensive) smattering of Damon-cameos!
