The group of regular critics at Rogerebert.com weighed in on what we consider to be some of the Great Performances of 2017. It was my great pleasure to write about Garrett Hedlund’s performance in Mudbound (streaming on Netflix: you need to see it.) I clocked Hedlund as somebody to watch from the moment I saw him in his nearly wordless role in Inside Llewyn Davis (thoughts here: interesting – when I wrote that, I was not aware he had actually played Dean Moriarty in On the Road.)
He is incredible in Mudbound and you know me, I love to wax eloquent on why.
Check out the full list of Great Performances over at Rogerebert.com.
He played the youngest brother in a movie called Four Brothers, which may not be great movie making but it was entertaining. I also remember him in a incredibly silly movie called Eragon. Now you know my taste in movies. Decidely low brow but it must be entertaining.
Carolyn – I have some catching up to do.
I LOVE him.
And, yes, he was absolutely perfect for and in “On the Road”.
He’s an “erotic muse” – everyone just loses their mind about the Dean Moriarty character – and how do you even CAST that? I thought he did a wonderful job – I mean, he IS that.
and he did a similar thing – only with no lines – in Inside Llewyn Davis. He played the most taciturn “erotic muse” possible. Fascinating character. I need to see that movie again – he was so memorable.
Have you seen Mudbound yet?
I haven’t yet. I’m definitely keeping an eye out for it since you’ve written about it quite a bit.
I don’t have Netflix and it doesn’t look like it has a South African theatrical release yet. Sometimes we only catch on here when something gets a lot of awards recognition (outside of blockbusters). Call Me By Your Name only very recently got a release date for next year, and I’m assuming it’s because of the Golden Globe/SAG nominations it’s received.
If I can get my hands on Mudbound I definitely will.
Beatriz at Dinner as JUST opened here and I’m super excited to catch up with that one. And I saw Battle of the Sexes last week and loved it so much more than I thought I would.
Beatriz at Dinner! Excited to hear your thoughts on it.
Your comment shows one of the real “perks” of the Oscars. It means stuff is made available. I am hopeful Mudbound will at least get some nominations, although who knows, the Oscars get things wrong all the time.
Hedlund was great in Tron: Legacy too. The movie is uneven and he got to play a stock, bland hero character but he was memorable in the role: cocky, magnetic, dashing and game. That’s when I first noticed him.
I have to see that. To me, he is one of the very few “heirs” to Jeff Bridges. They have the same farm-boy athlete looks … but also that depth of emotion. Bridges is such a great and interesting Leading Man – he always brings something interesting to the table – and so far Hedlund does too. He’s so damn handsome – his career could have gone one way. (I know he auditioned for Captain America and a couple other Marvel movies). But he’s chosen interesting projects, and he’s not afraid to get dark. Same with Jeff Bridges. Hedlund is 34 now. He’s not a kid. So I’m excited to see what he does next!
Hedlund had a big role in Peter Berg’s Friday Night Lights and was excellent. Agree he is an actor to watch.
I missed that one – must catch up on it!
Ooh, it’s one of the better sports movies ever made.
damn and I love sports-genre movies. will see as soon as possible. Thanks!
Todd – watched Friday Night Lights. :) Add it to the list of stuff you’ve recommended.
It was so great! Berg really captured that small-town Texas vibe. and Hedlund is awesome – I’m very worried about that character. He’s so abused by that father. Lord knows what kind of a man he will grow up to be – I thought – “I hope you’re gonna be okay!”
But everyone was great.
… to be continued below, because this thread is very unwieldy at this point.
I saw Beatriz at Dinner and liked it a lot. She was great but I thought Lithgow stole the movie. I love Lithgow.
This was a rare movie that I wish were longer. I think some of the character dynamics could have been fleshed out more than they were. Certain scenes and sequences seemed to end abruptly. I’m also not sure I love the ending of the movie, seems like it couldn’t commit to where it really wanted to go. But overall very interesting, really good acting, glad I saw it.
I love Lithgow too but I love Hayek as well. What moves me about this film is the disturbances it brought up in me – the viewer – like, I kept getting horrifed: “Oh my God, Beatriz, you’re coming back into the room???” which of course then made me realize that that’s the whole point: why SHOULDN’T she come back? why should she “know her place”? The film is really quite brilliant in how it works with those societal expectations, with those incorrect assumptions. Who gets to feel free and safe to speak their mind? Who is shushed and shunned for doing the exact same thing? Beatriz is a “member of the family” my ASS. I was thrilled to see Hayek in a role that required THIS from her – something I haven’t seen from her, something she’s never been asked to play.
I loved the whole ensemble. It would work really well as a play. I don’t know much about it – maybe it started out as a play.
In re: Friday Night Lights:
One of the things Berg did so well was show – from the get-go – what football meant to this town and he did so in a way that was not condescending. However, he also allowed for it to feel as oppressive as it must have felt to the coach, the players.
Hedlund has that one line – someone says, “You need to chill out – you’re 17” – and he says, “Do you feel 17?”
All of the kids look weighted down with the responsibility and public expectation.
But it was very moving – especially how the coach clarified what he meant by “being perfect” in his final speech to the team. Quite amazing.
and Hedlund’s character – having to live with a dad who is a total MANIAC – because the best moment of his life was when he was 17 and he can’t get past it. I think we’ve all known dads like this. (I thought McGraw was terrific!)
Thanks – AS EVER – for the recommendation. :)
My sister was obsessed with the TV series – and binge-watched it during her first pregnancy. I’ve never seen the series although I love everyone involved.
So happy you saw it! This rec was a no-brainer.
“Hedlund has that one line – someone says, “You need to chill out – you’re 17” – and he says, “Do you feel 17?””
Amazing you honed in on that, it’s probably the key line of the movie. You nailed it, sports are supposed to be fun, ( a recruiter asks Mike Winchell if he’s having fun, and he has to grit his teeth when he says yes.) These kids have the weight of the world on them. And yet, they also enjoy popularity at school, girls, status. But the pressure seems insane, and makes you really sympathize with the players. It’s a great look at that world.
Hedlund’s relationship with his father was so messed up! And at the end there is a postscript saying that they are “still close”, and I was like WTF?! But I think the movie makes the message clear. Those Dads are everywhere at little league games, screaming at officials and everybody else, living vicariously through their kids games, and the movie really shows just how stupid that behavior is.
It’s one of those films I’ve seen over and over and kind of know by heart at this point. I read the book after seeing the movie, and it’s amazing, and really gets into the town dynamics in a deep way. The town of Permian was upset with the book at the time, but much like the movie there is a toughness of grit and survival that comes through and sort of excuses the obsession with the football team. It’s a great look at America, really.
Berg did a wonderful job of capturing the feel of the book in the movie.
I’ve watched all the special features on the DVD, see all the Boobie Miles clips from high school (you can YouTube them).
And yes, I saw every episode of the TV show, and it’s every bit as good as you’ve heard.
They smartly created a fictional town and people so as to not offend any of the real people in Permian. Among other things, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton create one of the more believable and relate-able marriages I’ve ever seen on TV or in film. They’re both amazing. And the long form of TV really allows them to dive into the characters. It was wonderful and highly worth checking out.
// But the pressure seems insane, and makes you really sympathize with the players. It’s a great look at that world. //
Totally. It reminds me of the mother-daughter dynamic in I Tonya. To the mother, Tonya was a champion only. Maybe even a meal ticket. The regular parent-child contract is altered in these circumstances.
I also liked in the movie how whatever it is that is wrong with Mike’s mother was not explained. Everyone knows about it because it is that kind of town – and all she wants is for her son to “get out.” I was heartbroken by the exchange with the recruiter from the Kansas university – Mike asks how long is the drive, because clearly in his mind he would have to commute to school because he couldn’t leave his mother.
// here is a toughness of grit and survival that comes through and sort of excuses the obsession with the football team. It’s a great look at America, really. //
I totally agree. I loved that the film immersed us in the world without any superior judgmental attitude like “My God, look at these crazy people.” He didn’t glorify it either. He just showed it. This is how much sports mean to this community – and for good reason. There’s nothing else there.
// Those Dads are everywhere at little league games, screaming at officials and everybody else, living vicariously through their kids games, and the movie really shows just how stupid that behavior is. //
I have a friend who coaches a Pee Wee league, and he throws parents out all the time. He reminds the kids over and over that if it isn’t fun, it’s okay if they don’t want to play football.