this happens a lot more often than you think.
first of JR did a great job, nothing bad to say about her performance, but it was one dimensional. That's not her fault, its just that that is the character. Hollywood and critics like that strong dominating lead.
Albert Finney had the much tougher role, his character had to develop and change over the course of the movie, I think this is much harder to do, and less appreciated in Hollywood.
I have made similar comments to this with Tom Cruise (before his lobotomy) with movies like 'Rain Main' and 'Color of Money' In both cases his Co-star got the oscar nod for very one-dimensional roles, whereas TC had a much more challenging role. And TC really pulled it off. Especially in 'rain man' I had so much respect for TC then and was shocked he didn't get more appreciated for those performances. Alas he went the action figure route and will end his career with junk.
This usually happens in the "handicapped" roles, like the Rain Man and Forrest Gump, 'My left foot' roles, hollywood and the oscars get so wrapped up in the story the award a best actor/actress nod to a very simple non-challenging acting roles. I'm not saying the performances and nuances of portraying a handicap are easy, its just that once you get it, your done. You do your research on what the symptoms of the character are, get it down, (ok that's some work) but your character has little more to do after you've done that other than read the lines and stay in character. AF, TC in 'Rain Main', etc, had a whole lot more to do, they had to change their personalities completely and convincingly in a 2 hour time frame. I think that's a whole lot tougher to do.
I think JR's portrayal of EB falls into this category, while not a handicapped role, it was just the 'pretty woman' sassy for 2+ hours. Once she got down the attitude and cursing, that's it she was done with her character development.
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microbit
15 years ago
> like the Rain Man and Forrest Gump, 'My left foot' roles,
Yes, I couldn't agree more...
(PS) Daniel Day Lewis, thank God he came and went (sigh).
In the same tradition, I was always stumped why eg. Christopher Lloyd didn't get some major award for his performance in Back To The Future.
Too many examples I guess, like you write.
Conversely, I was always stumped why Robin Williams got the Oscar in Good Will Hunting ... Huh ?
Oh, and wrt TC.. I was pleasantly surprised with his portrayal in 'Valkyrie'.
Or, similarly, Angelina Jolie in "Changeling"... all pleasant surprises !!!
Cheers,
Kris
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jleslie48
15 years ago
I haven't seen Valkyrie yet. Quite frankly TC's off screen antics have me so repulsed I find myself turned off to anything he does now. Its a shame really because I know he is a very good actor. I watch Rain Man, Color of Money and even Risky Business, and I can see this guy has some real skill. Even in 'A few good men' he holds his own against some of the greatest actors around, (Nicholson, Bacon, and Pollack are IMO, some of the top of the field) and in AFGM it's obvious how demi moore is out of her league, but I don't wince when TC is on the screen (but definitely a cut below) It would of been interesting if TC kept with the RM, AFGM, serious roles rather than the shootem-up roles.
Robin Willaims, Christopher Lloyd (try watching him as the bad guy in 'lady in red') are really good actors too. The comedians I find in general can transition serious roles much easier than the other way round. They always say comedy is the hardest, and I believe it is true. That's another thing the oscar's really don't seem to respect, how hard it is to do comedy. Meantime so many of the Top Actors all started with comedy.
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