I'm not sure if I know what Jack O'Connell looks like

Jack O'Connell has been part of our movies for more than 20 years. Including some prominent ones, such as last year's presumed runner up for best picture.

But do I know what he looks like? Not really.

Don't worry, this is a compliment.

When I've thought of cinematic chameleons in the past, Vincent D'Onofrio was always the name I've come up with most. He quite simply did not look the same in any two films. Now, the longer your career goes on, the more this falls away. I have no trouble identifying D'Onofrio now, even on the rare occasions he does still go outside the more familiar default mode of an actor in his 60s. 

O'Connell? I still have trouble identifying him. And he might really be the new D'Onofrio.

The examples go way back, but let's first look at his two big roles from the past two years.

Here's how he looks in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which I watched on Saturday night:

And here's how he looks in Sinners a year before that:

Same guy? I don't know, maybe?

Back to Black the year before that? Same guy? Could be. Might not be.

Now how about Money Monster back in 2016:

Okay the last two look a little more alike. 

I could give you an image of him from Starred Up in 2013, when I first became aware of him, but I'm not sure whether it helps prove my point or starts to detract from it.

I'm not sure, Vance. Three pictures that look pretty much the same and then one where it's the same guy with a blonde wig.

So maybe this chameleon quality is something more intangible. Like I feel like I never know where Jack O'Connell is going to show up. So when he does show up, I'm never sure it's him. Plus he's rarely if ever billed as one of the reasons to see a movie, remaining in the realm of a character actor rather than making the sort of cash-grab romcom his looks could probably get him. 

So maybe it's just a me thing. But one fact is clear: O'Connell is doing interesting things on our screens, and his work in The Bone Temple -- the focus of the movie rather than just a cameo in the previous one -- is further confirmation of that.

The movie overall? I feel like I ended up liking it about the same as the previous one. I think I felt more inclined to nitpick 28 Years Later than I am to nitpick The Bone Temple, but I also think 28 Years Later has higher highs. Whatever the case may be, I definitely felt primed for the final movie in this new trilogy when I reached the end of The Bone Temple, which is not something I would have taken for granted coming in.