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August 14, 2007
So Much Time, So Little to Say
No. Really. I can't think of a thing to write about.
It's punishment, I think. I spent the last several days wanting to write (but resisting furiously) a review for Stardust, which my lovely, lovely Dave drove me all the way to SpokeVegas to see. I wanted to see it on opening weekend in a real movie theatre, so that's what we did on Saturday. And then we ate at the Olive Garden and then we went book shopping and it was all lovely.
I even saw a shooting star on the way back.
And now, because I am refusing to write the review that's in my head, my brain is refusing to let me write anything else. All because I don't want to say what I think about Robert De Niro's performance.
Okay. Fine. You asked for it. (At least one spoiler below, by the way, but I'll warn you when it's coming.)
I really enjoyed the movie. It had one or two missteps, but it was overall a great story well told.
Charlie Cox is brilliant. Brilliant. His performance is quiet, subtle and nuanced, so much so that you don't notice the confident, sensitive man replacing the geeky, bumbling boy until you see a moment repeated and discover how much he's grown. About the same time that the character figures it out, actually. It's gorgeous.
Claire Daines was lovely as the star. Lovely. Bitchy, and her monologue of unrequited love to the doormouse is perfect. It made me cry.
Mark Strong's Septimus was devilish, sexy, driven and frightening. An awesome bad guy. I loved him and hated him and fully reveled in every possible combination of those two emotions in re: him.
Michelle Pfeiffer? Hilarious. Intelligent. Subversive. Heartbreaking. Terrifying. Genius at times, like when her old, tired eyes look out of an old, old face and you know that that look was not the result of makeup or camera angles, but a gift straight from the actor's soul. She's wonderful. Worth the price of admission all by herself.
The gallery of dead princes was sort of a Dead Prince version of a Greek Chorus, and it was to die for.
Other wonderful cameos abound in this film. Truly, truly great performances, almost the entire cast adds a special glow to an already witty, fun and thrilling script.
And then we come to Robert De Niro.
I know that I am most likely in the minority of audience members when it comes to his performance. I am under the impression that people are loving it. Me? I was disappointed. It's really the one sour note in the entire film. (Aside from Sienna Miller, but her version of vapid works okay for Victoria's vapidity, so I'll let it pass.)
I don't have a problem with his playing a pirate. That part was great. It was the closeted gay part of his pirate that got to me. Why? Because it was a caricature. He wasn't playing an honest and true character. He was running as far away from that as he could, simpering limp-wristedly at every step, and as an audience member, I was insulted. (Both because I believe gay people are more than objects of derisive humor and because it was making the easy choice as an actor and I expect better of artists at his level.)
Why were you so afraid to be honest with this, Mr. De Niro? Why couldn't you give us a complete person instead of a cardboard cutout of everything that signals effeminate? Let your pirate be warm, feminine and mothering, completely vulnerable when nobody else is around. That would have been much more interesting. In fact, I think that could have been transcendent. And then ***SPOILER ALERT*** when you were taken by surprise and got pounded, I would have felt a great deal more sympathy for your exposure and subsequent struggle. As it was, I was merely annoyed by your presence, which I can guarantee was not what either you or the filmmakers wanted from me emotionally at that point.
I mean, come on. If Michelle Pfeiffer can relish playing a beautiful woman rapidly decaying, why can't you play a pirate who hides his warm, feminine, squishy side behind a brutish exterior? That would have been interesting. That would have deserved comments like, "they really take his character to another level", which I read in the blog of one enthusiastic audience member.
As I said above, I realize that I am going to be in the minority here. Part of my problem is my acting training coming out. It means I can't stand to have my time wasted by someone who is hiding behind a role rather than stepping forward and embracing it and it's one of the reasons I don't go see much theatre anymore. However, when we get to A-list actors, I think I'm fully justified in setting high expectations. De Niro didn't come anywhere close to meeting them. A pity, really, since there were so many good things about the film, and yet I clearly can't help but obsess about how disappointing his performance was.
Dave described it really well. It's the gay version of Mickey Rooney's character Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It makes the whole movie harder to watch because I keep having to unclench from the embarrassment I feel in my participation as an audience member. A blot on an otherwise brilliant film.
There. I've said it. May I please be free to think/write about other things now?
Posted by sally at August 14, 2007 09:53 PM
Comments
I whole heartedly agree with you on DeNiro. It was very odd to be sitting in a pretty packed theatre listening to people howl with laughter as Anna, Branson, and I sort of blinked at it. We all had the, "That gets credit for acting, instead of really terrible caricature?" looks on our face.
Loved the movie though. Michelle Pfeiffer is freaking ruling as a villain right now. She was one of the best parts of movie musical Hairspray. I do categorically HATE Clair Danes, and I mostly liked her as the star. I was not so moved by her monologue to doormouse because I was watching her head bobbly-whiny routine at that moment (a little like Hugh Grant's blinking bumbling Englishman) thinking seriously? You have held your head on your shoulders like a normal person (and mostly unlike yourself) for most of the movie, and you ruin your good big moment with the neck thing coming back. Did you not watch your dailies? If I saw myself doing the shoulder thing, I would want another crack at it. Why don't you want to stop the unnecessary and ridiculous wobbling? Why? Plus, stop stealing men from pregnant women! Even if it was only that one time. I will probably never, ever forgive you for it.
Posted by: fire4hairlady ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.sallyacious.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 15, 2007 10:16 AM
Well, I liked Stardust, too. I even liked De Niro, although you're right about the caricature part. Even so. He made me laugh. I guess I didn't take the film that seriously, and, perhaps, neither did Mr. De Niro. Which I can see might not be a good plan if you're a serious actor... Er...I am not an actress, nor have I been trained in theater, so I guess my angle would be a bit different. I guess I must agree, though; a different performance by De Niro might have taken the film to "another level." Good luck writing! :)
Posted by: glasbeth at August 15, 2007 10:21 AM
Heather - I didn't even notice the neck wiggle/head bobble thingy. I was that caught up in her story at that moment. And the guy-stealing thing? I've always disliked Billy Crudup. I think she did Mary Louise Parker a favor.
Glasbeth - I don't actually expect most people to be as hypercritical about performance as I am. It's an occupational hazard. My parents won't go see theatre with me any more. Or at least, won't ask me what I thought of a show. They've discovered that I won't volunteer negative comments, but once asked, well, stand back.
Posted by: Sallyacious at August 16, 2007 12:14 PM
My friend Margaret thinks what you think almost exactly. She reviewed it in her blog too! She is a pretty fabulous lighting designer in KC.
Posted by: fire4hairlady at August 21, 2007 02:54 PM
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