Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Film Performance Review -4th Quarter
You are required to watch at least ( 2 ) film acting performances from my list of Best Acting Performances. Below write ( 2 ) well-thought out, detailed reviews of each film acting performance. Make sure to discuss character, commitment to the role, acting techniques, overall actor's approach (emotional, physical, psychological).
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The first movie I choose to review is Rain Man, specifically Dustin Hoffman's performance as Raymond. I enjoyed this movie because it was touching, funny, interesting and just overall enjoyable to watch! I think Dustin Hoffman portrayed Raymond, an autistic man, very clearly! I was able to understand what Raymond was thinking even though I'm not even sure his character knew what he was thinking. People with mental disorders are difficult to read because they cannot always communicate properly or use correct body language. From watching Dustin Hoffman's performance I was able to get the feeling of the autism but also understand to an extent what Raymond was thinking by his usage of body language even though it was variable. Do you get what i mean? It's kind of confusing but it is what made the performance very interesting and enjoyable for me. In order to portray his character better, I'm sure Dustin read about the disease, researched and even possibly visited some people who are autistic to get a better feel for the way they act around others. From my own personal expirience, I know that it is very difficult to portray and person with a mental disability correctly without losing touch with the character. So BRAVO for Dustin Hoffman and a job well done!
The second movie I choose to review is Pay It Forward. The themes of the movie really got to me so much so that I was crying in school just watching it! if you arent familiar with this movie, it is about a young boy who has a dream for all people to do kind things for others without asking anything in return. The way he does this is by doing something good for someone else and asking them to instead of paying him back, to pay it forward onto someone else and so on. All of the actors in this movie were fantastic, specifically, the mom. She is a drunk and trying to care for her son without the help of anyone. Her use of tone of voice is one of the specific things that allowed me to read into her character. Her voice in the begining was a dark kind of deppressed tone but throughout the movie when her life began to brighten, she changed her tone of voice and it made her character not only sound happier but feel happier to me as well. I liked her use of body language and I especially loved the scene where she finds out that her son had died. In that specific scene, there are no words, only music in the background and the camera is viewing the scene through a glass door in the hospital. Just by the way that the mother looks after talking to the doctor, it was clear that her son did not make it. Not only could I undertsnad what happened by her body language but I felt her pain too. It was a truley remarkable movie that really got to me. Kudos!
American Graffiti
American Graffiti was one of those movies you will never forget in the way they used there music. It used music of the time which made the movie feel more realistic to the roots of the story that it was trying to imply. Overall the music made the story flow more smoothly. Also, when they were cruising it gave you a sense that you were in the moment and cruising too because of the music. There were four main characters to follow Curtis Henderson, Terry “Toad” Fields, Steve Bolander, and John Milner.
Curtis is a character who was going to leave with Steve, but had doubts of leaving. Then he meets the Wolfman who gives him advice to live his life and not go searching for one dream girl. So he takes it to heart and takes his chances in a life beyond the small town he’s in.
Toad is a character trying to truly find out who he is. He finds a girl who pushes his morals to the brink where he would do whatever she said to be with her. Even though he messes up she still see’s he can be the guy for her and with that gives him a second chance he will never regret.
Steve is the man who originally wants out of town as soon as possible and staying would hurt his future career choices. This night he sees his girlfriend leave him and say they should see other people he realizes he doesn’t know what he is missing. So the man who originally wants to leave stays and feels more fulfilled at home then he thought he would be.
John is a character who is in a transition of his life not knowing what to do next. He’s top dog in racing and no one can beat him, but that doesn’t seem to faze him. It seems he is feeling lonely in his glory and wants something fulfilling but won’t find it in his place of the world.
These characters all show how when little things happen to you they can change your circumstances in life. So overall this story had music that was perfect to the movies time. Also, it had characters who in this time felt like outcasts in the way they lived.
The Elephant Man
The main themes in The Elephant Man had to be man vs. man and also man vs. society. It was man vs. society when the elephant man showed his face to the public. Everyone held John Merric in the esteem as an animal and a freak with no feelings. In fact he was a human being with higher intelligence then the average human. Then man vs. man was when John was against Mr. Bytes and also Dr. Treves against Mr. Bytes. John in all essence was a deformed man, but was used as profit by Mr. Bytes to be used as one of his freaks. John was treated poorly in every way by Mr. Bytes physically and mentally breaking him down until Dr. Treves saved him from this. Mr. Bytes and Dr. Treves butted heads because they both wanted John, but for different purposes. Mr. Bytes only wanted money from John being in his show, while Dr. Treves wanted him to feel normal and be something he could feel happy about.
Mr. Bytes and Dr. Treves are two different people entirely, but they are also the same in some ways also. Mr. Bytes is a terrible person who puts everyone down and hurts them in any way he can. He does this for his fortune and does not care what anyone else says. Then there is Dr. Treves who is a doctor who strives to get awards and help out his patients in anyway he can. There are differences between them, but they are also the same. Such as Dr. Treves showing John off to his colleges and higher society to give him culture, but they view him as still a freak at essence. This is also what Mr. Bytes does as I have said a few times for profit. There is one major difference that is irrefutable between Mr. Bytes and Dr. Treves. That is that Dr. Treves cares for John and fears for his safety and tries to stay as aware as possible on his safety.
This movie was very unique in the biographical way they portrayed it. The fact that they had a cast of the elephant man’s head and paid to use it astounded me. Basically this was a great movie, but I feel the ending could have been more explained even if it was just a theory.
The first show I am going to review is Next To Normal, which was just nominated for a 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical. I saw this like two weeks ago with my cousin and Josh and it was one of the best shows I have ever seen in my entire life. First I want to start with the music. The music was nominated and actually won a Tony recently. I bought the music on iTunes before hand, and I would not reccomend doing that because it gives away a lot of the crazy suprises that happen in the show. I didn't know that, so I bought it and instantly fell in love. Most of the show is told through music and it is based on a rock-sounding score. There is so much emotion and power in this score and it tells the story of this show so clearly and so powerfully and I feel that more diolauge instead of music would not have done the story justice. Now I should explain the story. I really don't want to give too much away becuase then I will ruin it for people who may want to see it. The story bassically revolves around Diana, played by Alice Ripely who won a Tony for this performance. She plays a mom suffering from Bi-Polar disorder as well as some other types of disorders and the way she deals with raising her typical suburban family and the way her family is effected by her illness. Alice was absolutely phenomenal. Her commitment to her character was out of this world. She plays a character that is not easy to relate to and she does it with such grace and without any hints of herself in the character. Her voice rocks the score and her emotions and always present and she gives an absolutely outstanding performance. Jennifer Damiano plays her daughter Natalie who is the typical rebellious teenager. She was also a Tony nominee for Best Featured Actress. Her performance was so moving and her voice was so powerful that it rocked the house. Her commitment to this character who was watching her mom slowly loose all control of her mind and dealing with the regular pressures of high school, college, boys, and being a teenager was always present. She really connected to her character and became Natalie. Robert J. Spencer plays husband Dan who is doing his best to hold on to whatever is left of his marriage, of his wife, and of his family. He is there through it all and his characterization right down to the very littlest thing was remarkable. You could really see every emotion and the truth to his distress and sadness. He was also a Tony Nominee for Best Actor. There are three other male characters in the show; the son of the family, the daughter's boyfriend, and the mom's doctor. All three portray difficult chracters with such ease and are so truthful to every emotion and every word that they say. Each one of these actors has truly become their character; physically, psycologically, and emotionally. The set was simple but very powerful and the lighting design was extrodinary, really making it feel like a rock musical and really demonstrating emotion through lighting, something not easily accomplished. Overall I would say DEFINITELY go see Next To Normal. It will absolutely be worth it!!
(I had to post again becuase it said it was too long and it wouldn't post together.)
The next show I am going to review is Aida at Theater Three. Although it is not Broadway it is still a great show with a lot of great things about it. The woman who plays Aida has a great powerful voice that really rocks the score and her commitment to this character is in every bit of her body, having played in twice before this at other Long Island theaters. The guy who plays Radames has an unbelieveable voice and you can really see the conenction between him and Aida. The chemistry between the two of them is wonderful and you can really see the emotional and physical commitment both of them have to the show. The woman who plays Amneris is uneblieveable. She has a voice that will blow you away with its power and also with its beauty. She shows how versatile she is as an actor by clearly showing all emotions that her character has and every side to her. Her commitment to her character is impecable and she is always connected emotionally, physically, and psychologically the entire performance. The direction is absolutely outstanding, as it usually is at Theater Three. Jeff Sanzel created a really beautiful prodcution and really stayed true to the story and the characters and what was being told. The set is simple but pretty and set changes flow seamlessly. The lights are outstanding and really add such beauty to the show. The costumes are gorgeous and really help bring the audience back in time to when the show was taking place. Overall this is great show and you should see it before it closes! (and also becuase Josh is in it and I am working backstage on it!!)
A while ago, I saw Rent on Broadway, just before it closed-and let me tell you how happy I was when I did! It wasn't a carbon copy of the movie, obviously, because they have to portray a lot onstage, rather than in a studio where they can recreate sets. The set was the same the whole time, and it was used to the fullest extent possible. Some of the things that they did were dumbfounding, but that's enough about the set. The acting was amazing, as expected, especially with the sadness that comes with a certain somebody's death. I was sad because the show was closing already, and though I knew it was going to happen, I couldn't help but tear up. They had some scenes and songs that weren't in the movie, which made me ask why they weren't in the movie. My favorite character was probably Mark, because he played the movie-making artist that was ust trying to live his life and survive being poor. They all were, and their on-stage chemistry was so good that I would have gone to see it again and again (if time had allowed it). Yeah so it was really amazing to watch, especially since my first occurrence with the show was in movie form, and it was nice to see it done in a different way, you know?
And I hope I haven't already done this movie, but I just saw Philadelphia again, after watching it once in health class, becasue, after all, it's about a guy with HIV/AIDS. Wow, I just realized there's a trend in the movies I like to watch. . . strange. Anyhoo, I thought it was sad that people are actually discriminated against becasue of a DISEASE that they have. I thought Tom Hank's performance was stellar as the lead character, and he showed a lot of emotion for his part. It was truly an unfair situation that he was put in and I was really sad by the end,b.c even though he won the case, he died. So really, it was a bittersweet moment at the end. Denzel Washington was also in the movie, and like in most other movies, he did a great job as Tom's lawyer, trying to defeat the stupid jerks that were intolerant of the main character and his illness. My favorite part, actually, was when Denzel's character decidesto take the case; I felt that there was hope (even though I already knew what was going to happen). It was nice watching Philadelphia again outside of class, where I could actually concentrate ont he characters and such.
first off i want to say im not going to write nearly as much as these crazy people below. haha
the first movie from the list im going to do is not because i think its good but because it is on the list and ive seen it. there are probably performances from the lsit that are a million times better. overall i think the performances in the movie were very good though, i am a fan of reese witherspoon so no matter what she did was going to love it. she embodied that character to a T and i know this because the son of the woman who she is portraying even told her it was hard to watch because of how much she was lke his mom. i thnk she won an oscar for that and if she did she deserved it. unfortunately i dont remember other performances from the movie becuase either A: they were boring and lackluster and run of the mill or B: i wasnt paying enough attention. i think its B ahah
the next thing i will review is next to normal and i dont really care if jake already wrote about it. first of all, when i saw this it was the closest ive ever been to a show lke that it was ssuch a difffernt experience to be so up close and personal and see all the little details and nuances each actor put in. every single actor up there was unbeleiable and really im not just saying that, they really were. each character was so distinct and also each had so many layers. obvioiusly alice ripley was phenomenal, not to mention very sweet when we met her. she stole the show and she was such a fantastic actress that over all the AMAZING vocals in that show, i was most impressed by her acting, and not even when she was speaking but anytime she was onstage wether it was speaking, singing, anything, it was amazzinnnnngg!! oh my god just all of you please go see this it is an incredible peice of ART!
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