Who can forget about The A-Team from the 80s? I’m talking about he show that made Mr. T a household name, and gave us some of the most wholesome action scenes in TV history. And while the original TV series, by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo was great, what about the 2010 remake by Joe Carnahan? While it’s a fun action-packed movie, with plenty of eyecandy, it’s not able to match the charm or character-writing found in the original. But not all is bad. I think there are a few good characters in A-Team (2010) as well. So, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Here are the top 5 best A-Team characters in my humble opinion!
5. B.A. Baracus
Played by Quinton Jackson
I’m partial to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as I grew up watching MMA. Ever since his days in PRIDE, I have followed his work in the world of film. It wasn’t long before he started getting a good amount of parts, with the A-Team being his crowning jewel to date.
Sadly, it’s difficult to tump over Mr. T when playing B.A. Baracus. It’s hard to “pity the fool” the way the original Mr. Badass did. So his part was always going to be the most challening, as we all expected a lot from the new B.A. Baracus. And how did he do? Well, Quinton didn’t do bad, but he didn’t do good. It’s a lukewarm adaptation of the original character, accompanied by a mediocre performance. While I did enjoy seeing Quinton as B.A. Baracus, it felt like a cosplay, rather than a true depiction of a beloved character. In turn, I was not satisfied, but content.
While B.A. Baracus still gives us great action scenes and a few good one-liners, there’s nothing else that he brings to the table. Just looking cool and punching people doesn’t mean that you are a well written character. It just means that you’re cool. Maybe badass is the word? But with a very mediocre personal storyline, of going through changes because of religious views, and being afraid of flying, we don’t get anything from B.A. Baracus. The behavior and personality is just lackluster. But B.A. Baracus is still the best of the worst!
4. Lynch
Played by Patrick Wilson
Patrick doesn’t miss with his “bad guy” portrayals, and playing Lynch, he jumped into his bag, giving us a very sly and cunning villain, who was cartoonishly dumb and silly. It’s like he’s just “a bad guy” in the grand scheme of things, which doesn’t give Lynch much to work with. But I do think that Patrick Wilson did a great job as the character.
Lynch is the person who screws the A-Team over, gets them locked up, and then finds a way to get them out of prison, only to try and kill them all when they’ve done their “job”. Not that the A-Team knows what Lynch is up to, but that’s the entire point, isn’t it? Lynch isn’t shown as a villain from the get-go. It’s a seed planted early on, but he often comes across as a friend. But it’s not effective. It’s a plot-twist seen a mile away. Irregardless of that, Lynch is always a really interesting to follow, as Patrick gives the character a good amount of charm and personality.
He’s not gonna go down in history as a great villain or anything, but Lynch serves his purpose well. In turn, I’m giving him the 4th spot on my list of the top 5 best A-Team characters!
🥉 Murdock
Played by Sharlto Copley
He’s so underrated, isn’t he? Like, when will Sharlto Copley get the respect that he deserves? He’s been in many cult classics, taking on roles that other actors would be scared to take, and he excells in these wacky, quirky, and “ugly” roles. It’s what makes Sharlto Copley a favorite to so many movie fans, as he just doesn’t give a F***!
Murdock is on a long list of Copley’s characters that are very unique. I’m not just talking about behavior and personality, but demeanor and line delivery. It’s as if Murdock is an extension of Copley himself. The way in which he puts maximum effort into every action, every movement and every word of dialogue shows true dedication. In my opinion, it’s Sharlto Copley’s effort that makes Murdock stand out, not just the crazy antics.
What I love about Murdock, and what places him above Lynch and B.A. Baracus, is how unique and defined Murdock’s character is. It’s like Sharlto lived himself so much into the role that he managed to make a decently written character great! While both Lynch and B.A. Baracus have more side-plots involving them, Murdock’s wild and unpredictable nature makes him a really fun person to watch. Irregardless of what he’s doing, he’s gonna catch your eye, and give you some truly entertaining moments. I guess you could say that behavior and personality trumps writing a few extra side-plots for a character.
🥈 Hannibal
Played by Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson is always solid in action movies, isn’t he? Irregardless of the character, he always plays an extension of himself. While that might seem as a negative, I assure you it’s not. Some actors and actresses do this effectively, where the characteristics are in the nuances and the subtle things the characters they play do. It’s something that Liam Neeson excells in, and it’s also the reason he’s able to pull of a great version of Hannibal, as he makes it his own. He’s not trying to copy-paste, but do his own thing, for better or for worse. And I respect that.
The strong, respectable, and hearty leader of the A-Team, Hannibal is the hand that guides, and the one that finds the best in the worst people. It’s the reason he assembled the A-Team, as they are all really talented. Something that other’s couldn’t see, as Murdock, Face and B.A. Baracus all have glaring flaws. But Hannibal saw potenial, and through the movie, he shows his full and utter trust in his men. It’s one of his best and most defining characteristics.
He’s like the father-figure of the group. He’s the one who holds their hand, whether they like it or not. And I guess you could say that this stable personality is what makes him stand out in a group of “freaks”. I love that.
Hannibal or Face? Both Are Excellent!
Hannibal or Face, that’s the question! Whatever way you look at it, there’s not a bad decision to be made, as both are great. While I’m partial to Liam Neeson, growing up with his movies, I can’t deny Face his rightful place on the throne. In turn, I’m giving Hannibal a silver medal. It’s not an easy decision, as I really liked what Liam Neeson brought to the table, with this rugged, strong and stoic performance, but it wasn’t enough to trump arguably the most charming and charismatic character in the past 15 years.
🥇 Face
Played by Bradley Cooper
Templeton “Faceman” Peck is charisma personified. With a silver tongue, a lovable behavior, and obnoxiously good looks, Face steals the show in this star-studded action film from 2010. You could even say that Face is the face of The A-Team!
This charming love-machine over here is someone you can’t help but like. It’s like Face is the center of gravity in the A-Team. Everything is just drawn to him. Myself included. So whether you try to hate on his romance with Charissa (Jessica Biel) or his ascension to becoming the leader of the A-Team, it’s difficult to to hate on someone who’s so charming and entertaining. It can be as simple as a simple, a wink, a few words in french, and he’ll wrap you around his finger – exactly where you want to be if you’re looking to enjoy this movie!
While he’s a pretty boy, and a playboy, his charm and good sense of humor is matched by his loyalty, dedication, and strong core beliefs. While he comes across as a light-hearted person, without a care in the world, he shows a different side to himself on numerous occasions. And the best example would be how he fell in love with Charissa. He was ready to settle down and start a family, but she got cold feed. Not only that, but even when he’s planning a mission, we see a more serious, maticulous and careful side, to Face. These are some of the qualities that make him so compelling to watch and somewhat relatable.
Thank You, Bradley Cooper!
Last but not least, I have to mention the main reason Face takes the 1st spot on my list of the top 5 best A-Team characters. And it’s Bradley Cooper’s excellent performance, which makes Face such a great character. Whether he’s running around in a bathrobe, with a towel wrapped to his head, or when he’s being truthful and vulnerable with Charissa, Mr. Cooper doesn’t miss a beat! He’s sound. All the way. Not a single mistake made. It’s a perfect performance for, what is essentially, a straight-forward action film for a hot summer day evening. In turn, I’m going to crown Bradley Cooper as the king of this list! 👑
