Michael Biehn, whilst the masses may not have heard of him, is an actor that has been is some of the most iconic films of all time. Perhaps most well known for working with James Cameron on Terminator, Aliens and The Abyss, Michael Biehn seems to be one of those actors for whom it should of happened for (many times), but for whatever reason, it just didn't - despite his leading man good looks and strong performances.
Over his 30+ year career to date, he has been in steady work, with a few stand out performances. He has also developed a somewhat mini-cult following and fanbase. Michael Biehn's official website seems to have disappeared within recent years seemingly due to hackers, but there are still many sites devoted to Michael Biehn fan fiction and discussion.
So, why is Michael Biehn and underrated actor? Cases in point.
The Terminator was Michael Biehn's first major film success and should have been a much bigger break out role for him than it was. His subtle, solid, but gritty performance was eclipsed by the overhype surrounding the mono-syllable-bot. In a genre not known for depth and characterization, The Terminator was a ground-breaking, classy, and since often-imitated film; but what is always overlooked in The Terminator (and the franchise since) is that, actually, The Terminator IS a love story. It is Michael Beihn's soulful characterization of tough-but-vulnerable Kyle Reese that is one of the reasons this film rose above standard, derivative, sci-fi fare; not to mention earn him a strong male and female fanbase. For me, Michael Biehn's performance is the strongest performance in that film.
The success of Terminator should of catapulted Michael Biehn into the limelight, but it was the least strong performance of the film by Arnold Schwarzenegger's more-robotic-than-a-robot delivery that consumed the media attention and seemed to capture mass-movie-goers imaginations. This alone is enough to get Michael Biehn on this Underrated Actors list, but no, it doesn't stop there.
His next mainstream film was Aliens, another James Cameron film. There were many strong, stand-out performances in that film from little known actors, but the ensemble and fast paced nature of the film never really allowed anyone to garner any particular attention. It is in the last third or so of this film where the cast has been whittled down enough to actually attract any sort of characterization focus and where Michael Biehn's character, Corporal Dwayne Hicks, starts to blossom. It's another understated, strong and classy performance from him. Of course Sigourney Weaver (quite rightly) earned the majority the attention for her performance as Ellen Ripley, but Michael Biehn's performance, was yet again, overlooked. There seems to be some sort of pattern developing here.
His next big mainstream film was yet another James Cameron film The Abyss. For me, The Abyss is on my top 5 films of all time. I personally feel The Abyss itself is a somewhat underrated film – it's main problem being that it's not quite the sci-fi/action film your 'average' James Cameron followers would expect. It's far to slow moving for those types and doesn't have the 'big bang' ending they expect. This film is about characterization, with some action moments thrown in; indeed, it is Michael Biehn's standout performance, that... well... stands out. His character, Lt. Hiram Coffey, is the kind of character, that, in another actors hands, could have so easily gone over the top, clichéd or to broad. But Michael Biehn plays it perfectly, and with the right amount if sensitivity, authority and brooding insanity. The studio apparently lobbied hard to get Michael Biehn a supporting actor Oscar nomination for that performance, but alas, it seems yet again, Michael performance was underrated.
Outside of his work with James Cameron, Michael Biehn has had memorable, stand out performances Tombstone, and The Rock; in particular, one dramatic showdown scene with Ed Harris.
He was considered for the role of Colonel Miles Quaritch in yet another small, modest, low-key James Cameron movie you may of heard of called Avatar ;). Sadly, he was overlooked, yet again, in favour of Stephan Lang (James Cameron has since stated that's because Sigourney Weaver was in it, he didn't want the film to feel like another Aliens). For me, one of the weak points of Avatar was Stephan Lang's rather 'pantomime baddy' portrayal of Colonel Miles Quaritch – I found his rather
aureate performance not only stood out like a sore thumb, but took away some of the credibility of Cl. Miles Quaritch's plot device. Admittedly, the script didn't lend much in the way of characterization, but in writing this study, one can't help wondering 'what if' and what Michael Biehn might have brought to that role – my guess is, a much more subtle and far less exaggerated performance that would have added a genuine menace for the Navi Tribe, and not just a 'camp-it-up' baddy.
All this kudos is not to say Michael Biehn hasn't been is some pretty awful films, he has had his fair share. But for the most part, Michael always seems to bring a confident, soulful intensity to his work.
Quite why Michael Biehn isn't more well known for his talent, is hard to say; it seems to be a mix of bad luck, and bad timing. It should of happened, but it didn't. Now in his 50's, his leading-man potential has passed by, but he never seems short of work. Let's hope James Cameron casts him in something gritty and high profile soon – I think Michael Beihn is long overdue for a cinema release.
