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Post by Toasted Cheese on Sept 3, 2018 12:00:24 GMT
I am on a Streep thing at the moment and in spite of any criticisms I may have with her mannered and head space technique in some of her roles, I can't deny that her range has always been impressive. I am focusing on her comedic roles at the moment, like She Devil - 89' and Death Becomes Her - 92' and her dramedy role in Postcards From The Edge - 90' which I think is perhaps a neglected performance of hers. I wouldn't say underrated, because she was given a deserved Oscar nomination for it, but she was just great with the lines that Carrie Fisher wrote for her. She had that throwaway quality to them and she pulled it off wonderfully. It was also beautifully balanced with the more serious aspects of her character's persona and she and MacLaine had great chemistry together.
That's funny, Toasted Cheese, because I just watched "Death Becomes Her" today, for the first time since 1992. Streep and Hawn both had some funny moments and made for good sparring partners. Bruce Willis was boring, and I really liked Isabella Rosselini. I watched DBH because of the fact that I watched "She Devil" a couple of days ago. I've always liked "She Devil", and today I decided that I prefer it to DBH, which still had good stuff in it. "She Devil" almost has a sitcom feel to it. It was a cute little movie, easier to sit back and turn brain off and watch, and also Sylvia Miles is in it. Streep has incredible range, she is the ultimate here, really even more so than Spacek or anybody else since Bette Davis. But what I think she generally lacks is depth. I liked all of her performances in the 80s and early 90s. I liked her very much in "Postcards from the Edge", with that throwaway quality that can be so charmingly when the actress has a handle on things. Have you read Carrie Fisher's novel? It is extremely entertaining. Miss Fisher was one smart cookie, very observant, very well-developed sense of humor (especially about herself.  ) I watched DBH a few days ago and I haven't seen it for several years, perhaps over 10. I loved every minute of it, but I have always enjoyed the film. I have not decided yet if I prefer Streep as a comedian in She Devil or DBH. I am half way through re-watching She Devil and will finish it off later. I have seen SD several times.
I like Bruce Willis and I like him in DBH as well. He is also a real cutie pie. Hawn just cracks me up and she is natural and I just kept replaying the scene near the start when she is in the psych hospital all fat and all she wants to talk about is Madeline Ashton and all the other patients get triggered. Then the nurse has her in her office for a chastising and tells her to get over herself. Freakin' classic! They are all upstaged by Isabella Rosselini though. Her mere presence and her line delivery has me in stitches, especially when she says"...and you won't grow any older"...with her deep accented inflection and sultry but sly tone. I'd say they all a great fun time making this one.
As soon as I saw Sylvia Miles in the credits of SD I thought of you and was wanting to discuss it with you. I think She Devil is a charming and endearing wicked little gem. Roseanne Barr is just perfect and I felt very sorry for Ruth at the start. She has you on her side the whole way. It was made as a mini tv series in the late 80's in the UK. I would love to find the novel.
I haven't read Postcards From The Edge. I showed the film to my folks over a year ago when they were visiting. They said they hadn't seen it, but they don't have the best memory at times with films and I vaguely recall them commenting once on it. They both loved it at any rate. I will have to look out for this novel as well Mr. Dirty. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2018 17:36:34 GMT
The one who really has shown range like no other, I think, has just got to be Sissy Spacek. Her Carrie White and her Loretta Lynn are total polar opposites. One character is sad, lonely, "creepy", introverted, tormented and possibly psychotic. The other character is an extrovert in the extreme; she is The Toast of the Town, The Life of the Party and The First Lady of Country Music. One character was starved for love and affection. The other character was brimming with love and affection. And Sissy Spacek was a marvel in both roles. I am biased toward her Carrie White, but it really is a toss up as to say which character she plays more convincingly. She is 100% believable and compelling in both roles. And within the role itself, Spacek's performance in "3 Women" really is astounding. Her range is off the charts in that one, and again, totally convincing the whole time. I would say, "all other actresses, take note", except for this talent or gift or ability or whatever you want to call it is probably unteachable; it likely comes from inside the person. And on the basis of watching Sissy Spacek do a talk show interview, I would never have guessed in a million years that she could run the emotional gamut like she's done. She seems absolutely ordinary, almost to the extent of being slightly boring. I am on a Streep thing at the moment and in spite of any criticisms I may have with her mannered and head space technique in some of her roles, I can't deny that her range has always been impressive. I am focusing on her comedic roles at the moment, like She Devil - 89' and Death Becomes Her - 92' and her dramedy role in Postcards From The Edge - 90' which I think is perhaps a neglected performance of hers. I wouldn't say underrated, because she was given a deserved Oscar nomination for it, but she was just great with the lines that Carrie Fisher wrote for her. She had that throwaway quality to them and she pulled it off wonderfully. It was also beautifully balanced with the more serious aspects of her character's persona and she and MacLaine had great chemistry together.
She Devil is underrated. I think Roseanne Barr showed some good acting skills in that film as well. Her mousy, door-mat hausfrau was a far cry from her stand-up and her Roseanne Conner character. |
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Post by Ass_E9 on Sept 3, 2018 17:48:17 GMT
I only have two films from which to draw, but Elizabeth Berkley (Showgirls) turned out to be an pleasant surprise in Roger Dodger.
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