Film Performances

film performancesthis morning i'm thinking about my favorite screen performances.

1. gina rowlands in *woman under the influence.* this is an awesome movie that, despite the title, has nothing to do with alchohol. it's a john cassevetes film about a working-class wife and mother who supposedly struggles with mental illness. i say supposedly because to me this woman was just a bit eccentric, yet her husband, mother-in-law and others around her were determined to get her help. she even spent time in a mental institution, and comes back much more mellow than when she went in. i think most of the movie was shot with a "hand-held camera" of some kind, which was unusual for 1974 because there was no such thing as hand-held cameras. cassevvetes is carrying this huge (by today's standards) monstrosity on his shoulder filming the action. rowlands' performance is shattering.

2. charlize theron in *monster.* damn, what a tour de force. we all know this film is about aileen wournos and her "crimes" against sadistic men. the movie is distrubing, but i like how the film maker humanizes wournos, and the point of view is an explanation for her crimes - a social context that explains how people like wournos get created and cultivated. at the time of its release roger ebert said he was going to state without reservation that theron's performance was one of the greatest in the history of cinema. i'm no film critic, but i agree. theron is mind-blowing in this movie.

3. emma thompson in *wit*. i just saw this on friday. thompson is a 48 year old english literature professor dying of ovarian cancer. the movie not only explores what it's like to have cancer, and how the medical establishment treats some cancer patients, but it also makes comments about science verses humanity, and the life of the mind verses the life of the body. but, overall, it's thompson and this character, who carries viewers through with an infectious wit and attitude. oh, and one of the cool things about the film, technically, is how it breaks the illusion between viewer and characters. thompson directly address the camera in most of the movie, commenting on the action almost like a greek chorus. She is captivating in this movie.

i'm going to the movies today, but doubt i will see any film or performances as good as the above-mentioned.JB