Is he getting a little too ahead of himself?
I think the last film he made that I really did like was Looper. Feel like he's trying a little too hard to show more range than usual.
shareIs there anything particular that makes you feel this way?
I think JGL has a lot of range and is one of the more versatile actors in Hollywood today, but to me it's the depth of his roles lately that haven't kept up. The way I see it...
From at least Sweet Jane (1998) to The Lookout (2007), his roles allowed for a lot of dramatic complexity and intensity. Just straight-up dramas, nothing to distract from the emotional honesty of his acting.
Then there was (500) Days of Summer (2009), Hesher (2010), 50/50 (2011), and Don Jon (2013), which softened his dramatic performances with moments of levity. But that made sense for these films, and these films still felt personal.
But in movies like Inception (2010), Premium Rush (2012), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), the emphasis was more on the action or ideas of the stories than the characters in them. Their characters aren't meant to be explored, but rather move the story along. Nothing wrong with that, and JGL brought great energy to these movies, but that's about the most you can ask from these roles.
JGL has said his tastes are eclectic; maybe the roles or projects that inspire him now have simply changed. Or maybe it's just a matter of opportunity. It'll be interesting to see what he brings to The Walk and Snowden this year. :)