July 9, 2010
Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance #5
Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas
Goodfellas is a classic film by the great Martin Scorsese and based on a true story. The character that Joe Pesci plays Tommy was actually a real person, and after seeing this film he is the type of person I would never want to come across. As I understand it, according to the real Henry Hill (the character that Ray Liotta plays) Pesci physically looked nothing like Tommy, however his performance of Tommy was pretty accurate. That in itself is rather creepy to think that such a man was around, and a major credit to what a fantastic talent Joe Pesci is given the right kind of role. This role fits Joe Pesci perfectly, he really does become Tommy in this film. If you doubt this mans acting ability because you might only have seen him in Home Alone, well you shouldn’t.
Tommy is as crazy as they come, perhaps that might not always be a bad thing in the world of organised crime. Being as crazy as he is and you see it quite often in this film, you really would not want to cross this man. In one fantastic scene, and Joe is just simply awesome in it, Tommy gets ‘offended’ by comments Henry makes about him being funny. You really truly believe he is going to grab his gun and shoot Henry in the forehead, Joe is truly creepy in this scene. However this is actually his idea of a joke and he isn’t actually upset over the comments, brave as he might be I swear Henry was worried about that situation. There are some scenes in this film where he really does feel like he is insane, Joe just manages to portray all of this on the perfect level that engages you with his character you really feel something with every action he takes.
If I have not convinced you of the brilliance of his performance, he was nominated and won the Oscar (Best Supporting Actor) for this performance. If there was any example of perfect casting for this film, Joe Pesci is it. Sure Ray Liotta and Robert DeNiro are great in this, but I got to say that I truly believe that Pesci is easily the stand out and he gives the best performance. Pesci and DeNiro being great friends, work so well together, they bring out the best in each other. Any other person in the role of Tommy, his character would not have had the same affect. I am glad they went for acting talent over looks, this film is an example of why I really adore Joe Pesci and why I think he is an excellent actor. If you have not yet seen this fantastic film, go see it right away. It might not be Scorsese’s best film but it is right up there and one of my personal favourites. Pesci’s performance is definitely one of my all time favourite’s and why it has made my list of Perfecting Casting, Perfect Performance.
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Posted by supermarcey
March 7, 2010
Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance #4
Michael Rooker as Henry Lee Lucas in Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer
This is a controversial film to say the least, and I have claimed it is one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen (In my Top 5 Disturbing Films Podcast this is what I named as Number 1 for me). The reason this film is so disturbing to me lies mostly in the performance of Michael Rooker as Henry. Now on paper the script for Henry is good, it set out to be something different, set it apart from a typical horror/murderer film. Loosely based on the real serial killer, they made changes appropriate for a film, and while they show the horror-able things he does, they also attempt to give us a glimpse at this man and what makes him do the things that he does. Michael Rooker took what he had and he turned into something else entirely, from the way he speaks his dialogue to the look in his eyes, everything he does here is stunning to say the least.
From the moments of madness to the moments of quiet, he plays everything perfectly. We see him killing, and the look in his eyes during some of the scenes is terrifying and I have no idea how he managed to pull this off. I really felt like I was looking into the eyes of a real killer, it chills me, no matter how many times I watch it. When he is sitting down with his friend Otis’s sister Becky, he tells her a bit about his past. He seems like a normal guy, the guy next door, he is quiet, almost a little bit shy. Becky develops romantic feelings for him, and if you didn’t see him killing anyone you would almost understand why she was. That to me was highly disturbing, the moments of normality which he portrayed, he was almost like someone you could be friends with, and then you remember he is a killer. I felt so highly disturbed by this and these scenes, and the amazing performance he does to convey this, it really is outstanding.
Michael Rooker in my opinion is an under-rated actor, in everything I have seen him in he always delivers no matter how good or bad the film is. Henry is his best role no doubt, he has never been better and this is the role which I think type cast him mostly as playing the bad guy. What he did in this film, that perfect performance that he does, it still amazes me and it still disturbs me. This film I think set a really high bar for serial killer films, and I think it is definitely above average. However if it weren’t for Michael Rooker it would not have been nearly as good, and this is a case where the performance is better then the film and it elevates the film. Henry is a difficult film to actually recommend, it is not easy to watch at all. It is worth seeing for this performance if you can handle it, Michael Rooker deserves some good attention. If you can’t handle this, at least give Slither a try, just don’t eat before hand.
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Posted by supermarcey
January 13, 2010
Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance #3
Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell in Moon
The last two editions of this feature, I had two pretty iconic actors and performances showcased. For the third edition I have chosen a film which was released last year and what I consider to be easily the best performance of 2009. Moon is a small indie film which has kind of gone under the radar and it is almost a crime that Sam Rockwell has not gotten more recognition for his role in this film. I have always been a fan of Sam Rockwell, he is a great actor. The role of Sam Bell is easily his best, I was blown away by this performance. This as I stated in my Moon review is the perfect example of Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance.
I really can not picture anyone else in this role, and I honestly do not think anyone could have pulled this role off the way Sam Rockwell did. Sam Bell is a complex character, and the role is a challenging one. Here is a man who has been alone with just a computer voice for three years on the moon. If that was me, I would have gone crazy after a few weeks. You can see the cracks starting to show. The way Sam shows this in his performance it really does affect you as a viewer. You feel his pain, you really feel his longing to get off there and go back home. It isn’t often when an actor can really make you feel what he feels, and it isn’t just once off, it is through out the entire film. From start to finish he is this character and you feel every second of it.
Now this is going into spoiler territory but Sam Rockwell successfully played the multiple characters as well, and you actually believe that there is more than one of him. We’ve seen the one actor play different roles in a film, and their interaction between the characters can make or break a film. If you aren’t convinced it does not work (I think back to the great performance of Cate Blanchette in Coffee and Cigarettes), but it works just too well here and I really thought they had cloned Sam Rockwell and he was playing the different roles. It is truly amazing what Sam Rockwell and Duncan Jones achieved with Moon, and I do believe this performance is going to be one that will stick with me for a long time.
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Posted by supermarcey
December 23, 2009
Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance #2
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Aliens
With my first Perfect Casting piece I chose Christopher Reeve as Superman in the Superman films, but for my second piece whilst Sigourney has played Ripley the same amount of times that Reeve played Superman I have decided to single out one film from the series. Why you might ask? Well read on ….
We first meet the character of Ripley in Alien, she is one of the crew of the Nostromo who come across a nasty surprise and Ripley ends up being the sole survivor (with Jonesy of course), which leads us to Aliens, the sequel. Aliens is hailed as one of the best sequels ever made, some people prefer it over the original. They are both completely different films, and in my opinion both perfect films. The tone and mood for the films are so different, but we still have Ripley. Ripley was developed in Alien as a character, but it is in Aliens she is really fleshed out a lot more and Sigourney really shines through.
There is a reason this is the role she is most remembered for and associated with, this is a role she was meant to play, no one else would have worked. This is a role she made her own, and the performance she gives in Aliens as Ripley is quite simply perfect. She was actually nominated for an Oscar for this performance and rightfully so too. James Cameron is known for his strong female characters, and made Ripley a real leader, but not only that he tapped into her natural nurturing instincts which is a main point of the film with the relationship she forms with Newt. It does not stop her from being the tough woman she is, she is a survivor and Sigourney with her performance makes you believe every little bit of it. You really feel for her and you really believe she can kick the aliens sorry asses too.
While I think Signourney was fantastic in Alien, she is the real star in Aliens and I do believe she gives quite possibly her best performance in this film. She was great in Alien 3, no doubt and also one of the good points with Alien: Ressurection although her character is a lot different. This is the crowning jewel performance of Ripley and truly one of cinema’s greatest. There are times when films just do not have a great strong female character and Ripley is top of the list with those. Without Sigourney I don’t think we would have had such a great character or such a memorable one. Without that, there wouldn’t have been such a demand for keeping that character alive and going in the next two films. I truly believe this was perfect casting and a perfect performance and one of the reasons why this wonderful actress is top of the list of my favourites.
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Posted by supermarcey
December 5, 2009
This is a new feature to Super Blog, I thought I would go through what I consider to be examples of Perfect Casting & Perfect Performances in film and TV. I used that term often when reviewing a film, perfect casting. There are times when someone is just so suited to the role, you just know that no one else would ever work. What I want to go through is the roles I really consider to be the best of the best. Now this is of course open to debate, but this is my opinion, no one elses. I know that people will agree and disagree and I encourage all feedback. So now on to the very first Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance column.
Perfect Casting, Perfect Performance #1
Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent in the Superman Film series
I have chose Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent from the Superman films because I truly feel as far as the perfect casting goes, this defines it! No one else has played the role of Superman and Clark Kent quite like Reeve, and I honestly do not think anyone will. Playing the double role of Superman and Clark Kent is not an easy task, they might be the same person but deep down they are oh so very different. Kal-El from Krypton is the superhero known as Superman but he has to protect his identity and live normally as reporter Clark Kent from the small town of Smallville. While Superman is this amazing unstoppable force full of confidence saving the world, Clark Kent is clumsy and bumbling, especially when around one Lois Lane. They are both so different, and Christopher Reeve played them both to perfection, you could actually believe they were two different people despite the fact they look exactly alike aside from those glasses.
In comparison to Brandon Routh for example who played the roles in Superman Returns, he made for a good Clark Kent, that he was suited to, but when it came to Superman he failed to deliver fully. Christopher had the confidence, and the power, everything he did from the way he spoke to the way he moved was so true to the character of Superman. While I think Brandon tried, he didn’t quite pull it off. Just watch as Superman talks with Lois at her apartment, the way he talks to her, the way he moves. Then watch the scenes where he is Clark Kent around Lois, he is hunched over and shy, lacking that confidence, you wouldn’t guess they are the same person. A reason why I think we can believe no one picked up that they were the same person. Brandon I think pulled off all the Clark quirks pretty well, but still Christopher did it better and Brandon had big shoes to fill.
Superman the movie is one of my all time favourite films and Superman is one of my all time favourite characters. Christopher really brought this character alive, and with everything you could believe a man can fly. The film itself is just so stunning and beautiful and really true to everything that Superman is about. I feel Christopher really understood this and was in touch with Superman and Clark Kent. The way he could change between the two characters is just such a delight to see. I have no issue with saying this truly is perfect casting and this is a perfect performance. In Superman the movie and Superman II, he really does just take my breath away and I am always in awe of his performance no matter how many times I watch it. When someone can do that to me, you know they have done something superb.
I truly believe this is one of cinemas greatest performances, say what you will but Christopher was Superman, and in more ways then one. He was a great man, and his tragedy and how he lived on after that I think proved he really was Superman. He did not give up on life, and he managed to live many years after his accident. I see him as a true hero, and may he rest in peace. With all the roles he played, none was stopped by this role and no one else has been able to replace him. I truly believe that Superman and Clark Kent is a role that is difficult to play, especially if it is written well and true to what Superman is all about. Christopher did what no one else has been able to do, they have come close but no one has been able to stop what he did, and I thank him for his amazing performance as Superman and Clark Kent.
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Posted by supermarcey
