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Jack Nicholson's best performance

posted 11 years ago by armanmarok
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Due all respect to One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, but this is the movie Nicholson should have won the Oscar for. I admit I never think much about him as an actor, certainly not why he's usually mentioned alongside Pacino and De Niro. I think he played himself a lot sooner (1976 to present time) then the other two did (post Heat).

But this movie, I think really exposes what Jack Nicholson is when he's not playing Jack Nicholson. Everything about his acting in this movie is perfect, like the arms dealer version of Bob Harris from Lost in Translation. It's subtle, touching, and very very heartfelt. Like, you can really feel the essence of his character. Great, great performance!

Though, it must be noted having a master of alienation like Antonioni directing him doesn't hurt either. Similarly, this is the last great Antonioni movie. Anybody else feels the same?

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I saw it. A thing that was cold and dry. It was me. - La Belle Noiseuse

[–] maturity 9 years ago

I think he is just trying to do his detached slow motion "Chinatown" act and comes up flat. I don't rate this as high as Antonioni's "Red Desert" and "Identification of a Woman," let alone his alienation trilogy (L'Avventura, La Nottr, and L'Eclisse - the last one being my favorite Antonioni movie). I've also seen "Blow Up" and wasn't really taken by it. I haven't seen "Zabriskie Point" or "Il Grido" yet, but plan to sooner or later.