I can't say that I really liked him as Luke Sanderson. I found him to be annoying. Maybe it was because he didn't want to really do the movie but he just didn't click for me in this. Also, on the commentary track I have to admit that I think he's a wee bit obnoxious. In fact, he comments that he thought up the dancing girls coming down the stairs. Well, that is in the book so I kind of doubt it. Unless he meant the can-can kicks he does.
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I thought he was very good as the at-first skeptic of the group, and brought a little comic touch. Funny how if anybody finds a character or actor annoying in this it's Eleanor/Harris. I personally don't.
shareI thought Russ Tamblyn was interesting out-of-character casting, that turned out to be pretty inspired.
If anyone seems to ooze the cynical skeptic it's him in the part.
And BOY does he make a turnaround!
"No fate but what we make." -Terminator II
I thought Russ Tamblyn was interesting out-of-character casting, that turned out to be pretty inspired.
If anyone seems to ooze the cynical skeptic it's him in the part.
And BOY does he make a turnaround!
I concur!
Tamblyn played the character perfectly; moreover, being possibly the youngest of the group, he offered more appeal to the younger film-goer: the cynicism, cocksure, kinetic, self-confident, brash, hip, cool; topped off with a nice slice of arrogance. All the ingredients a young "dude" like Luke would be associated with.
He certainly added some dynamism to some of the more stoic scenes, which was very much welcomed, otherwise most of the film could have become one big laborious effort, especially with Eleanor and her doom-laden soliloquy.
...but what I know about is Texas; and down here, you're on your own!
I thought he was fairly convincing as the wise cracking skeptic of the group. His character in the book was also obnoxious, and self absorbed, so he was definitely in character.
Personally I found him amusing and much more more entertaining than dreary Eleanor, who just sucked the life and joy out of every scene her character was in.
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I found him really annoying also, but I suspect that was in the writing more than the performance. I understand they needed to have a designated character to ask the questions, to drive the necessary exposition, so I could deal with that, but making him a bit of a punk smart-arse into the bargain just strengthened the annoyance.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.
I thought he was brilliant comic relief. VERY inspired casting. I'm glad MGM forced him to do this film and later he commented it was one of his favorite. 👏
share"Brilliant"?? Really? That's way overstating it. He wasn't even funny.
But ... maybe he wasn't meant to be. I've been rethinking why they would make a character like that so annoying, and really a kind of misfit on his own terms. And maybe it was mostly to increase Eleanor's sense of isolation and being out of step.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.
Yes, Tamblyn's humor was understated much like Clint Eastwood's in his movies. Which makes the humor much more impactful to me.
shareI felt he was necessary for the common man perspective.