From Bubba to The Lawyer: How Did I Miss That?

Sometimes a movie sends you down a rabbit hole you never expected.

The other day I watched Is God Is, and you can catch my full review over at NielFlamm.com/videos. I went into it not knowing much about the film, and it turned out to be one of those movies that sticks with you.

But here’s what really caught me off guard.

The actor playing The Lawyer looked familiar, but I couldn’t immediately place him. Then it hit me…

That’s Bubba from Forrest Gump!

How did I not recognize him?

Then my brain started connecting the dots.

Wait…

He was Baby-O in Con Air.

Then it hit me again.

He was Sergeant Drucker in Heat.

Now, I’ve probably watched Heat more times than I care to admit. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies. And if you’ve never done it before, crank the volume during the legendary bank robbery scene. The sound design alone is worth it.

Yet somehow, after all those viewings, I never realized Mykelti Williamson was in the cast.

It’s funny how an actor can disappear so completely into different roles that you never make the connection. One day, he’s the unforgettable Bubba talking about shrimp. Another day, he’s a federal agent in Con Air. Then he’s part of Michael Mann’s masterpiece Heat. Years later, he pops up in Is God Is, and suddenly all those performances come rushing back.

He’s had a long and impressive career with plenty of other television and film roles, but for me those four performances—Forrest Gump, Con Air, Heat, and now Is God Is—are the ones I’ll remember most.

If you’ve seen Is God Is or just want to hear my thoughts on the movie, head over to https://NielFlamm.com/videos to watch the full review. While you’re there, check out the rest of my movie reviews and other internet garbage I’ve somehow convinced myself people want to watch.

Have you ever had one of those “Wait… THAT’S the same actor?” moments? I’d love to hear your favorites.