In discussions of Chris Evans, the very first thought that pops into our heads is presumably that of Captain America—the superhero of comics turned into a big-screen icon. The magnetism and soul of Evans' acting have made Steve Rogers one of the most admired superheroes in the history of cinema.
But it is wrong to consider only Chris Evans as a Captain America actor because he has proven himself to be able to assume the role of very different characters and, in fact, has surprised the public with his acting skills during his entire career.
A very emotional and sensitive character that the actor has played is Frank in Gifted. Frank is an uncle who raises his niece, Mary, a little genius in mathematics, trying to protect her from the outside world until he finally decides to send her to school. The power of the movie is mainly in the relationship between Evans and McKenna Grace, which makes every scene authentic, endearing, and funny at the same time. It is here that Chris Evans reveals a more human, emotional, and weak side, which is completely opposite to the view of the invincible hero. A lot of critics have labeled this performance one of the greatest of his career.
One more unexpected role is that of Curtis in Snowpiercer, a movie directed by Bong Joon-ho. The whole scenario is set in a future where Earth has turned into an icy wasteland, and the only place where the human race is living is a train that moves incessantly, and inside of which, the social classes are strictly divided. Curtis is the one who leads the revolt of the lower-class train passengers, and he is a tragic and complicated character at the same time. Evans can show the entire range of emotions from the very deep-seated frustration and anger of the people who claim to be the survivors and the already dominant society in the future. He also brings forth the darker sides of human nature. Curtis is not a classic hero; he is a man who has been shaped by the situations around him, who has no choice but to commit morally dubious acts to save others.
In the movie Sunshine, which is a science fiction thriller by Danny Boyle, Evans is cast as Mace, a member of a team that is supposed to bring the sun back to life. Mace is determined, a realist, and nonchalantly sacrificing to the mission's success and has the qualities of the idealist, but at the same time tougher and more cynical, where necessity and bravery take charge. The story is a rollercoaster of action and suspense, and Evans, the actor skillfully turns the character into a credible and engaging one, although the character is surrounded by a great cast of actors.
Chris Evans has also walked the path of romance and indie films through the production of Before We Go, which he both directed and starred in. The character Nick, over the course of one day in NYC, meets a new woman named Brooke, and together they try to solve their love issues. This movie reveals the more attractive side of Evans; he even shows that he can keep the plot going almost entirely through conversations and character reflections. The film indicates that the artist does not rely on the visual effects or grand battle scenes to keep the audience's attention.
In The Iceman, Evans is marvelous in the character of Robert "Mr. Freezy" Pronge, a very icy and merciless assassin. The movie is set from the 1960s to the 1980s, and it narrates the life of the murderer Richard Kuklinski and the underbelly of crime he was associated with. Once again, Evans makes the point about his versatility in playing personas that are somber and morally ambiguous, rolling out a character that is miles away from the superhero of the Marvel franchise.