Actress picks - Behind the scenes

I thought I will give a short explaination for each of my favorites on the sidebar. I'll start with the actresses.

I don’t base my favorites on the quantity of films I’ve seen them in, but rather their qualities in the film(s) I have. I look at how interesting they can make a character. I also like to see unique qualities in their features…something that sets them apart from the rest. (Note that my favorites list is suspect to change).

Saoirse Ronan is obviously a very young actress, yet she was even younger when she started her acting “career”. At the age of only 12 she received significant recognition with an Oscar nomination for Briony in Paul Wright’s 2007 “Atonement”. Then 2 years later she appeared as Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones, which is primarily what I base my choosing of her.

Some actresses you wish would never grow up, and Saoirse is one. She has a bright future for success, but Hollywood can so easily snuff one’s light (and purity, in many senses of the word). At this point though, she is putting her brilliant, bright eyes to good use. She has lovely expressions and a great natural posture.

Romola Garai is not yet a household name, and has had few leading roles. You might mostly know her from Wilberforce’s wife in “Amazing Grace”. Although she can generate a genuine smile, I think she has really mastered the smug look, which I think may work better on her than say…Keira Knightley?

No one stands in for Bryce Dallas Howard...she’s one-of-a-kind. As hinted at before, “The Village” is the film responsible for her being on my favorites list. The plays flawlessly the complex character of Ivy Walker. She has good interpretation and delivery of dialog.

I suppose I hesitated putting Jennifer Connelly on here. No doubt people like her looks, but I can’t help but think her distinctness is getting lost in her stardom. I find her approach slightly high-heeled for my taste, which may be just as much her director’s fault. All that aside, she can be a very good actress, no doubt about it. Her roles are often difficult emotionally, so I think with all the practice, she excels in that area.

Who in the world is Mira Sorvino? An Academy Award winner for one thing. But I haven’t seen her in the role, so I suppose that doesn’t mean much to me. I’ve actually seen her in very little, and never in a leading role. And yet there is a gem of a film in which she shines. Wipe away the polish and discover “Like Dandelion Dust”. She doesn’t let us down in this meaningful role as Wendy Porter. At every turn she delivers just what her character needs, without trying to show off. She’s real. I mean, she acts real.

The Village

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Editor: Christopher Tellefsen
Composer: James Newton Howard
Lead Actor: Bryce Dallas Howard
Year: 2006

This film has an interesting and unique setting and message, a part of which may be yet for me to grasp. We have a group of people who have chosen to live separated lives from the evil “towns”. They have created for themselves a make-shift setting where nothing tragic is supposed to happen. The threat of horrific creatures dwelling in the surrounding woods scares the young people into staying within the confines of their community.

We don’t bother the creatures, they won’t bother us. This is the understanding. But the sad part is, there was a violation. What they thought was their safety had become their harm when this fragile community’s law was broken. Their last resort for recompense is to cross the border of the forest. Will the innocent intentions of a blind girl restore the peace this village lives for?

The settings are among the strongest elements of this story and film. Apparently set in the 1800, things were not as ‘developed’ in “The Village”. Which was intentional; they are living simply on purpose. The costumes were very well done. The actual village was constructed specifically for the film. It all gives a sense of a set-apart community.

One wonderful thing about this film is the music. I had been listening to James Newton Howard’s score for a half year prior to watching the film (I already had about 120 plays on the OST). The music is a masterpiece in and of itself. So full of feeling and character. A solo violin, played by Hilary Hahn, is the prominent voice of the score.

Lengthy edits are done a lot in this film. The camera rolls and the actors do their thing and keep doing their thing for, as in one case, nearly 3 minutes! That’s a long time when we’re talking about dialog and performance. The very last scene is over 2 and a half minutes long with 10 characters to coordinate (and several background characters). From an acting standpoint, there are a few things to be said.

The way the film is put together with the long cuts, presents a challenge to the actors. They need to be able to hold up to the length of the shot. Adrian Brody played a rather schizophrenic character which was pulled off quite well (and rather comical at times). Joaquin Phoenix was brilliant…enough said. The only one I had a small issue with at times was William Hurt (who played the lead’s father). I thought his performance was a little stiff and theater-ish at times.

Bryce Dallas Howard, the main character in The Village, did some fine work for her part. She plays a sober yet playful young lady with a lot of heart. Her character is as innocent as she is blind. She, along with Phoenix, pulled off what is perhaps the best romantic moment I have seen in a film. The 68 second take, is personal, simple, nuanced, and heartfelt. It is for this film only that she is a favorite actress. Until just recently I didn't know she was the daughter of the successful and skilled director Ron Howard. Is James Newton Howard in the family too? I think not. Not enough red in his hair for one thing.

The Village is an interesting story and a well made film. I would classify it as more of a drama than a thriller or horror, although it does have its scary moments. It’s really unlike any picture I’ve seen.

What Are You Asking Me? - Jame...