Underrated Child Actors - your vote?

[Shrubz]

I've been home a lot lately and so I've been browsing the TV stations and my premium channels, and came up with an idea for this thread. Who do you think is the most underrated child actor? Now I'm not talking very well known or praised actors (example: Haley Joel 'I See Dead People' Osment) I'm talking vague actors that should've gotten more credit for their work. Here's an interesting article about the best (more well-known) child actors.
[Slightly Summarized]

Small Wonders: Best Performances by Child Actors
by Debbie Moon

Child actors. The very words strike fear into the bravest film fan's heart. Squeaking voices fill your head, visions of Macauley Culkin float before your eyes. But, now and then, a juvenile comes along who actually deserves to be called an 'actor'. So, if you're trying to erase memories of Home Alone, try some of the following (in reverse order)...

Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker, in Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Drew Barrymore as Gertie, in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Elijah Wood as Mikey Carver, in The Ice Storm (1997)

Hayley Mills as Gillie, in Tiger Bay (1959)

Jason Schwartzman as Max Fischer, in Rushmore (1998)

Anna Paquin as Flora, in The Piano (1993)

Natalie Portman as Matilda, in Leon (1994)

Jamie Bell as Billy, in Billy Elliot (2000)

Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear, in The Sixth Sense (1999)

Jodie Foster as Iris, in Taxi Driver (1976)

Now, who is your vote for the best lesser-known, underrated child actor? After some thought, and my relatively limited knowledge of movies (my friends think I'm a movie buff so go figure)
I think I'll be voting for Trevor Morgan. He was in "The Glass House" which I think he did superb in, "Jurassic Park III" which he didn't do bad in, if the part had been given more depth he could've handled it, and then the bad yet slightly amusing disney channel movie "Genius." Nothing else was on, ok? And it was sorta funny... but the acting he did in it, to me anyway, was pretty damn good... it seems to come very naturally to him, and definitely has a great future in Hollywood if he doesn't get overlooked. He was also in "A Rumor Of Angels" which I didn't see but I've heard it's great... and "The Patriot" as one of Mel Gibson's sons... really didn't like that movie, sorry. Also "The Rookie" and "I'll Remember April." OK probably won't get overlooked.
My vote for the best well-known NOT underrated child actor would have to be Natalie Portman for her performance in The Professional. She adds so much depth and emotion to the character it's astonishing, and even then you could tell she would grow up to be a beautiful woman. She was also in "Mars Attacks!" before she hit it really big. Then her career was tarnished when Star Wars hit and she dressed up like a clown... oh well.
So who is YOUR vote for most underrated child actor, and the best non-underrated child actor?
[This isn't a POLL, just post your thoughts]

<img src="http://www.movie-list.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=31698"

P.S.
Leelee Sobieski = SSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Gnome]

Martin Compston in a brit flick called 'Sweet Sixteen' dunno if anybody else will of heard of/seen it.

ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD

[Shrubz]

Wow only one response? Geez I thought this would be a perfect subject for all y'all movie buffs

[radstar]

i vote for elijah wood- he wuz a very cute adorable actor and he knows how to act- he takes my breath away in his younger movies.... and he can make me cry even tho it's not sad... such as in paradise he made me cry when he found out about his father..... and omg in the movie- The War- i sobbed my heart out twice cuz of elijah wood. he's great

and i also vote for haley joel osment.... he's just incredible. i don't know any other young boys that could act so seriously like haley.

[blugh]

Best under-rated: Rory Culkin. He's Macauley's little brother, and he's damn good. So is Kieran, but he's like 18 or 19, so he doesn't count. Haley Joel Osment could've taken this, but since he's done so much Disney crap in the past year(Country Bears, Jungle Book 2) I can't validate him getting it over the consistently good Rory(Signs, Igby Goes Down)

Best non-underrated: It may come as a shock, but I'm gonna say Frankie Muniz. He's funny, and he's never done a horrible job with anything he's been given(some of his films have been pretty awful, but it wasn't really his doing that they sucked). He has a lot of charisma for a teen, and now all he needs is to start doing teen movies as opposed to being passed off as 14 forever.

[Vader75]

I'd say the best child actor is Haley Joel Osment. Blugh is counting his voice acting against him; I'm not counting that as acting, so he gets my vote. I mean, c'mon, Sixth Sense, A.I., Pay It Foward--he was even good as little Forrest Gump Jr.!!!!


I'd say the best underrated child actor is Jena Malone. She done a lot of quality stuff. I think she's 17 or 18 now, but she's done a lot of movies. I especially liked her in Stepmom and Contact.

[editman]

What about that girl in the original Jurassic Park? Seemed disappeared from the face of the world after her cameo in The Lost World...

[Shrubz]

Originally posted by blugh
Best non-underrated: It may come as a shock, but I'm gonna say Frankie Muniz. He's funny, and he's never done a horrible job with anything he's been given(some of his films have been pretty awful, but it wasn't really his doing that they sucked). He has a lot of charisma for a teen, and now all he needs is to start doing teen movies as opposed to being passed off as 14 forever.

I COMPLETELY agree... for awhile he was my favorite kid actor. He just needs some better roles... Cody Banks is a new turn for him and it'll be fun to see him playing a kung-fu secret agent, but lets be honest, it's still a kid's movie... he would be more successful in a teen comedy or even a full on action movie... why doesn't Hollywood see this? It would be something new and he's great at acting and comedy.

[blugh]

Originally posted by Mark Strube
I COMPLETELY agree... for awhile he was my favorite kid actor. He just needs some better roles... Cody Banks is a new turn for him and it'll be fun to see him playing a kung-fu secret agent, but lets be honest, it's still a kid's movie... he would be more successful in a teen comedy or even a full on action movie... why doesn't Hollywood see this? It would be something new and he's great at acting and comedy.

The only downside is that he's still 17. Which means that, at least for the next year or so, he can't do anything really raunchy, which means no great teen comedies, yet. Get him a decent actioner(which Cody Banks could've been if the producers had any balls and went for a PG-13), keep him away from Hilary Duff(she's MINE, dammit!), and he's got a shot at being a decent star. Maybe something like Alias, where he's a college student/secret agent...

[Shrubz]

Originally posted by blugh
Maybe something like Alias, where he's a college student/secret agent...

COOL idea! I'd be the show's biggest fan!

[Shrubz]

LOL ok you gave me an idea, and being the bored person I am, I whipped this up in Photoshop. I think the show has a chance!! :big grin:
P.S.
Can anyone I.D. the specific poster this is a spoof of?

<img src="http://www.movie-list.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=32140">

[beatle_g girl]

I know I'm new and contributing very late to the topic, but I just HAD to get my two cents in and say that NOBODY was EVER as underrated as JENA MALONE- she was outstanding, and had such potential, and they let her slip through their fingers

girl in Jurassic Park
I agree...whatever did happen to her??
Ariana Richards is her name....(I just found out) is the girl in Jurassic Park

[beatle_g girl]

had to include a pic

[editman]

@beatle_g girl: instead of posting 4 consectuive posts, please use the edit button to add to your initial post to a thread if you have more to say - this is not a bloody bulletin board.

[beatle_g girl]

....and undeniably- Bonita Granville