Is there anything more ridiculous, more self-parodying, more This is Spinal Tap, than this song? And yet they COMMIT like CRAZY to it, knowing that it is parody, knowing that it is ridiculous. It hits me right in the sweet spot.
“He can kill a YAK from 200 yards away … WITH MIND BULLETS …”
Jack Black’s performance, in and of itself, is magnificent. Magnificent. There’s not one part of himself that is removed from it, or detached. It’s not snarky. It’s a TRIBUTE. A tribute to the grandiose rock bands that inspire him. He is living the dream. He has become his own fantasy. In lesser hands, this would be horribly embarrassing. In his, it is not.
I maintain my wild-card position, that Jack Black is a future Oscar winner. At the very least a nominee. All it would take would be the right part. He has already been utilized quite well. High Fidelity: it seems like that part was written for him, and I get the feeling that Jack Black is a master at “making something his own”. When he’s not used well, he can get general, but that is true of a lot of highly talented actors. He’s specific. School of Rock tapped into that specificity as well. As far as I’m concerned, he can do it all.
If “they” just let him.
Or if Jack Black lets himself.
That’s the danger with a talent like his. He reminds me of Jack Nicholson. This is a good thing. Black’s survival instinct is his best ally. He won’t BE manipulated. He has the same mischievous spirit as Nicholson, the humor that cannot be tamped down, and he refuses sentimentality. He just can’t do it. It’s not that he WON’T cheapen himself that way. It’s that he CAN’T. Neither can Nicholson. His talent helps him wriggle out of tight spots that conventional directors place him in.
I’ll tell you why I think he is a future Oscar winner, and it has to do with one moment of his in the movie Shallow Hal. Scorn if you must, but realize that you may be wrong. In fact you probably are. If there’s anything I know about myself, it’s that I have a damn good eye for truth. I can see phoniness of behavior from 5 miles away. Now, “phoniness” in acting is not always malevolent (as it is in real life). Sometimes “phoniness” in acting comes from a variety of factors: the actor is in over his/her head, the direction is terrible, the script is bad. An actor does not act alone. Movies are a collaborative act. Regardless of the reason (and I am all about the reasons), I can clock it immediately. “Phony.” “Not real.” “Not coming from a truthful place.” Many major movie stars cheapen their gift. They can’t help it, or they just feel that that is what is required of them to be a star, or (worse) they can’t see that that is even what they are doing. They cheapen it by being pressured into being sentimental, cliched, by acting like someone other than who they are. If there is one selling point of the old studio system (and there were many) it’s that actors rarely were forced into roles that were against who they actually were.
The trend now in acting is “versatility”. I find it to be a trend that rewards facile talent, rather than deep talent. If you can do an accent, and and are able to embody a Siberian ice princess circa 4 a.d., then you have “talent”. I don’t scorn skill like that if it’s true skill, and not just a gimmick. But if you look at the Bogarts, the Cagneys, the Stanwycks, the Grants … they were not rewarded for their “versatility”. Cagney didn’t play things that went completely AGAINST who he was, thinking that THAT would prove he really had talent. Being able to do accents, and walks, and gestures is skill, and there are some who are highly skilled mimics, so skilled that it actually approaches channeling (phone call for Meryl Streep … ), but “essence” acting (as I call it) is out of style now. An actor who understands his own ESSENCE and can bring it to the screen.
Mickey Rourke is an essence actor. So is Jack Black.
Back to the moment that convinced me that not only is Jack Black talented (obviously) but that he has what it takes to sucker-punch an audience in the way that is required to be an Oscar contender.
So many comedic actors slide into schmaltz when they attempt drama. Comedy requires us to LIKE the comic, but acting has different requirements. Many comics fail in that transfer, because they still need to be liked. Even with Black’s abrasiveness, his ability to portray unenlightened and self-righteous individuals, it’s kind of impossible NOT to like him. He’s already got that in the bag.
In Shallow Hal he plays a dude named Hal who is, well, shallow. Hal seems to feel that he is entitled to a supermodel as a girlfriend. He has a warped sense of himself, which goes hand in hand with a disgust for women who are less than perfect. If he’s with a “dog” then what would that say about him? Through various magical moments (one involving an encounter with Tony Robbins), Hal becomes unable to NOT see inner beauty. He sees what he believes to be a beautiful babe walking down the street, he hits on her, and is amazed that she responds. His friends are horrified, because we see what THEY see: the girl has a snaggle tooth, or she’s chubby, she has straggly hair. He starts to date Rosemary, the most fabulous girl he has ever met, played (wonderfully, actually, and I’m not a fan) by Gwyneth Paltrow. We know that she is obese, we see her reflections in the windows and mirrors, but HE sees a lithe gorgeous Gwyneth. I was turned off by the ad campaign for the film (“hahaha look at the fat girl …” etc.) but when I finally saw the film I realized how subversive and pointed its commentary actually was. The best part of Paltrow’s performance is that she doesn’t play, in any way shape or form, a victim. No, she is an extrovert. A fun girl, who has a lot of interests, a sense of humor, and dreams (outside of finding a mate). She has opinions about things, she’s passionate and funny, and Jack Black (thinking she looks like Gwyneth Paltrow) cannot believe his luck. She likes him? And she looks like THAT?
The moment in this movie that gave me my “a-ha” moment in terms of Black’s ability as a dramatic actor is as good a moment as any heavy-hitting dramatic Oscar-winner has ever had in any Oscar-contending film. Rosemary volunteers in what we later learn is the burn unit of a children’s hospital. But we don’t know what these kids are in there for at first, because we see them through Ha;’s eyes. The children he meets are precious perfect little unflawed beings. Paltrow, unlike most fat characters in film, has a LIFE. She’s not immediately love-struck by Jack Black in a desperate way. She knows that she has to “vet” him, like any woman has to do with any potential mate in her life. How does he feel about family? How does he feel about kids? Who is he? What does he want? These are important questions any woman has to ask when considering a man as her mate, and Rosemary, by taking him to the burn unit, is doing that. How will he handle this? Will he cringe from the kids? Hal, still in the magical Tony-Robbins’-encouraged dreamspace, doesn’t see the burns, and freely plays with the kids, picking them up, and kissing them. Would he have cringed if he had been able to perceive their deformities, their scars, their burns?
Later in the film, the “veil” is ripped from his eyes. The magic is gone. He now knows that his girlfriend is obese, that she doesn’t look like Gwyneth Paltrow. He does not behave honorably. He blows her off in the most cowardly way possible. But he feels terribly about it. He starts to pursue Rosemary again, to apologize, he has broken her heart, she won’t answer the phone. He’s desperate. He goes to the hospital, to see if he can catch her during one of her shifts. As he wanders around, a little girl calls out to him. She recognizes him from when he visited with Rosemary. Black looks at her. Confused.
We see what he sees.
A tiny girl whose entire face has been burned off. We know who it is. He doesn’t know yet, but we do.
She says to him, “Don’t you remember me?”
It is in this moment that the light dawns over Jack Black’s face. He realizes what has happened to him. Not only does he realize what he has done to Rosemary, but he realizes what he has done to every single person he has ever met. Even precious innocent beings like this burned little girl.
He can’t hide what is happening with him. Everything goes soft and tender. He squats down onto her level, and she comes to him, and they hug. His heart is breaking. His voice is loving and soft – “Hi, beautiful …” but he’s playing so much more in the moment. Grief is there for him, grief at all of the time he has wasted not seeing people. In his “former life”, he might have missed out on this beautiful little human being, because of her burned face. He would have only seen that.
It’s a universal moment. It’s the theme of the movie. Jack Black embodies the theme easily, and deeply.
It’s my favorite moment of Jack Black’s acting. Ever. There’s a primal gentleness in him in the moment that seems to me to be wholly natural, not forced. He is brave enough to give us a good close look at his essence. No hiding. He can’t do it.
You show me a young actor today who could have played that moment better, without sliding into sugary sentimentality. Nicholson could do it. Bridges could do it. Cagney could do it. That’s the realm we’re in with Black.
Whatever he does, you can be damn sure it won’t be FACILE.
Or PHONY.
He is incapable of it.
In that vein, let’s just enjoy Tenacious D, helping us to rise above the “mucky-muck.”
Also: boy can SING.
Wow, you’ve really nailed why I’m a fan of his. His movies are spotty, and like you, I’m waiting for “the one” that pushes him artistically and shows everyone that he’s not simply playing the same character over and over like some (*cough* Will Ferrell *cough*) comedians turned actors.
And you’re right about his voice. (The final showdown scene with Dave Grohl in ‘The Pick of Destiny’ really shows it off, in my opinion. The movie was pretty bad but I’m easy to please when it comes to my B movies.)
One more thing, ok maybe two: When you said this bit, “Cagney didn’t play things that went completely AGAINST who he was, thinking that THAT would prove he really had talent.” I think that’s probably the root cause of most mis-casting – most times when they try to do that, they miss horribly. And two: High Fidelity. God, I love that movie. Do we look like the kind of store that sells ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You?’ Go to the mall.
Johnny:
Don’t write off Will Ferrell yet. He was wonderful in “Stranger than Fiction”. And completely without the usual schtick.
Red:
Now I wanna see “Shallow Hal”… I didn’t expect anything like that moment. The ad campaign completely turned me off.
Johnny – Yup, he’s got it all – it’s really a matter of the PART. I mean, he’s doing fine – he’s doing what he needs to do, I don’t see him completely WASTING his talent, know what I mean? But there’s a dramatic actor in there. He’s totally capable of it. He could do it with his eyes closed – it wouldn’t be a stretch at all. But it would have to be RIGHT. Like a One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, or something along those lines. Something that could utilize who he already is, that wouldn’t require him to CHANGE.
And i’ve always felt that self-knowledge is so important to actors – what is my essence, who am I … the old-school movie stars had it DOWN. Now, since that’s not the trend, many actors DON’T have that self-knowledge – but I think the ones who do stand out. I’d put Angelina Jolie in that category. She reminds me of one of those actors of yore. She, unlike any other actress I can think of right now, has a PERSONA. Her OWN. Her own essence. She’s slipped up a couple of times, but that’s understandable. She’s taking risks, etc. And then someone like Mickey Rourke. His ESSENCE has to be utilized – and he also seems to understand (at least now) that he doesn’t have to speak in an English accent and attempt a romantic comedy or a period drama in order for us to believe he has talent.
Jack Black (thank the Lord) is not trying to change his essence in order to “ingratiate” himself with more serious audiences. Jim Carrey (and I’m a fan) has done that quite a bit – and I think he’s a wonderful actor (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” may very well end up on my Top 10 Favorite Movies ever – just need to give it a bit more time) – and he’s GREAT in it. He’s rough around the edges. He’s totally real. But in most of his other “serious” work … it’s just not RIGHT. Because he’s trying to NOT be Jim Carrey – and he can’t do that. It’s just not right for him.
And to loop in the Will Ferrell thing: I agree with you that his career could end up being very boring. “Stranger Than Fiction” gave me a glimpse of his versatility, his fearlessness. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It’s up to him now. Will he decide to do that again? And, will directors even think of him when casting more serious parts?
I don’t want to seem like I’m dissing comedic roles. I love comedies, and don’t think of them as the bastard-child of dramas. I wish more comedic actors were considered for Oscars – that was Cary Grant’s problem (among many other things – making it look easy, for example).
And Jack Black in High Fidelity is just on FIRE. He is so outrageously pretentious and angry and self-righteous – so so funny.
I will just love to see what he does next!!
Alli – yes, it was a really bad and hostile ad campaign. Totally turned me off. I finally rented it, not sure why – and just love the movie. It’s irreverent, yes, and ridiculous – stupid in many ways – but it has the courage of its convictions.
Also the beautiful acting moment I described – which chokes me up every time I’ve seen it.
Johnny – and then of course there was Tropic Thunder. He was RIDICULOUS in that.
Not to mention his turn as Ben Franklin in the Drunk History series. He basically plays Ben Franklin as an evil madman. It is so so funny.
Hello everyone – glad to see you again…
Firstly if you want more excellent Jack Black, check out Lonely Islands Jazz Man.
Secondly, I’d disagree with you about JB needing the right part, I’d say he needs the right director and producer. The thing is, he can’t resist being…well… Jack Black. Which is great for box office and his bank balance. But he could work with a director who can get behind the ‘character’ of Jack Black, it could be awesome. I’m not sure I have seen much of it (he was okay in The Holiday) – but imagine a movie that was about what it was like to be Jack Black? Always having to be high energy? What is it like being Jack Black when you don’t feel like screaming at the top of your lungs? How does Jack Black take bad news?
Now THAT would be an oscar contender.
ilovecress: My point is is that he shouldn’t HAVE to resist “being Jack Black”. Why should he resist his actual essence? This is me being old-school.
Bogart didn’t feel the need to resist being Bogart. Cagney, Stanwyck … why turn away from the very thing that sets you apart?? I don’t think “playing yourself” is a limitation – I think it’s something that almost no one can do effectively, and those who can? Are usually stars
Black definitely seems to understand this, in a way that Jim Carrey at times does not. Black doesn’t seem to have the impulse to manipulate his persona/humor/whatever into something more friendly or cuddly. Thank Christ. (Speaking of Christ, just want to give a shout-out to Prop 8 The Musical, where Jack Black actually played Jesus. So funny.)
I’d like to see him in a Woody Allen movie, but then I’ve already said that. It would have to be just right, and that’s why I say it really is the PART that would matter. In a similar way, it was the PART Will Ferrell played in Stranger Than Fiction that made that acting job so … well … moving, and wonderful, and amazing. Because it was so much another side of Ferrell that I’ve never seen – and man, it’s not that he “nailed” it – I felt like he was actually letting us see who he IS. Not that the comedy is a pose – but beneath that, is an anal guy, an OCD type, maybe socially awkward … etc. etc. It was so so truthful.
Anyhoo, that’s neither here nor there.
Jack Black can clearly carry a picture. It’ll be interesting to see what he does next.
Johnny – I don’t think I’ve seen Pick of Destiny.
I love the friendship between him and Grohl – it totally cracks me up.
For those of you living under a rock – Prop 8 The Musical!
And! Jack Black as Benjamin Franklin, in the absolutely wonderful series “Drunk History”.
“There’s the hydra … bring out your broadsword … SLICE HIS THROAT! … then grab his scrot …”
hahahaha
Like – what??
When I say âresist being Jack Blackâ I mean resist playing up to the Jack Black persona he has created â and is assumed to be able to carry a film. The Jack Black that he always goes back to is a cartoon, a heightened cariacature. Every part he plays seems to be a varation on this cariacature.
Put it this way. I have a friend that does an AMAZING Jack Black impersonation. I doubt you could find anyone that does as good a Bogart.
The comparison with Will Ferrell is a good one â Ferrells persona is of the blowhard arrogant manchild (sound familiar?) and he took a role that showed the persona underneath that. I donât think I have ever seen a performance from Jack Black that shows what is underneath his Manchild persona.
What role are you waiting for Black to play, other than man child becomes teacher/rock star/caveman/ninja/wrestler/giant monkey showman/mafia shark?
As for what his next roles are â well heâs got School Of Rock 2 (Man Child Becomes Teacher) Kung Fu Panda 2, The Lost Adventures of Stone Perlmutter Jr (man child becomes archeologist) Gullivers Travels (could be interesting, but by the director of Shark Tale) Heavy Metal (hmmm) And Master of Space and Time (which is Michael Gondry, so I guess weâll see with this one)
Donât get me wrong, I like him â but I think he works best when the picture doesnât rely on the âJack Black does his thingâ formula â when he is supporting, he is great â see Margot at the Wedding, or to some extent, The Holidayâ¦.
There’s an entire cottage industry of Bogart imitators! That’s the thing about personae like that: they are immediately recognizable, and also highly imitate-able. But to do an imitation of Cate Blanchett – who is wonderful, but to me is the symbol of the trend in acting right now: facile, making a point of never repeating herself – but her persona? She doesn’t have one. It’s not a criticism. She’s at the top of the pack of the current crop, but “essence acting”, as I have mentioned before, is another thing entirely. Bogart’s ESSENCE is clear – his mannerisms, his way of talking, his gestures, the slight scowl of his mouth …
I’m not sure what I would like to see from Jack Black. Nothing specific. I have no requirements of him. To me, he has shown his range and gift already. I think the sky’s the limit. Abstracted professor of medieval literature trying to come out of his shell. A sociopath. Who knows. I think he could do it all. That’s the excitement of him for me.
Sorry – I am being totally unclear. I guess my point is that even Jack Black is doing a Jack black impression.
I guess I haven’t really been convinced of his range in anything I have seen him in. Don’t get me wrong, I love a Jack Black movie – I have just never seen him hold the screen with any subtlety for an entire movie.
Loved Shallow Hal and the moment that you described. It’s a shame more people didn’t see this movie…
Lynne
I love his Tenacious D stuff. I remember thinking that he was the best thing about Orange County. However, most of his films since High Fidelity have left me cold.
I do remember the scene youâre talking about in Shallow Hal and I remember being moved by that. I think itâs a credit to him that he could pull that off, but he just doesnât do it for me. I find his whole persona abrasive. I mean, everyone I know loved School of Rock and I just couldnât stand it because of him. Again, I TOTALLY know itâs me, but I find that the guy wears thin fast.
ilovecress: I guess my point is that even Jack Black is doing a Jack black impression.
Oh, okay, i see what you’re saying! yes, I totally agree – that’s what I meant in my piece when i said that when he is not used well, he can “get general”. He falls back on “schtick” – I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Like I mentioned, I think it’s his survival skills coming into play. Actors need those. If you DON’T have them, then you will look bad much more often than you already do, because you will be at the whim of less talented people.
But yes, that schtick can get general.
As I said in my piece, the moment in Shallow Hal that I described, is the evidence I need that he has the chops to handle truly dramatic material. I’ve always liked him, but that moment really has depth and resonance, in a way that the big dramatic actors has to have. He has it naturally. He was able to show it in that moment.
It has really stayed with me.
And yes, I could go look at IMDB and check out what he has in the pipeline – I’m talking more theoretically. What I would LIKE to see him do. My dream-part for jack Black, etc.
Besides a Mad Hatter rendition of Ben Franklin, that is.
Lynne – Yeah, I really think the ad campaign was off with that one. I saw it because of the directors – they have already proven themselves to me, I like them a lot (good old Rhode Island boys!)
Shallow Hal is a hard sell. I have described it to friends and even just hearing what it is about turns them off. I totally understand that.
It reminds me of Dogfight, another movie I love. If you describe what it’s about, what the “dogfight” is – you might think, Yuk, I don’t want to see that. It’s difficult material.
If it’s not handled just perfectly, then it will seem an ENDORSEMENT of the disgusting views shown by the characters in the film.
I thought Shallow Hal walked that balance pretty well. He was a shallow man. But the film let us see that his shallow-ness was really out of fear – fear of his OWN imperfections, etc. etc. It was a nice touch.
Has anyone seen Funny people? I’d love to see Judd Apatow write and direct a Jack Black movie. In fact if Funny People had been about Jack Black instead of Adam Sandler – that would have been awesome.
I’d be really interested to see what it is like to have to ‘be’ Jack Black all the time. he must struggle with the pressure of always having to be ‘on’.
Apatow produced Year One. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.
I thought Sandler was terrific in Funny People – and consider his performance in Punch Drunk Love to be a career highpoint. He blew me away. Talk about chops. Amaaaazing.
I haven’t done a post on Punch Drunk Love but I definitely put that on one of my favorite movies in the last decade.
I adore Punk Drunk Love. Just love it.
To take cress’ idea further, a Sandler/Black combo could work very well in a Saving Silverman kind of setting.
I’d like to see him in a PT Anderson movie, as well as Woody Allen – I think Anderson could do something really interesting with his already-existing persona (as he did so famously with Tom Cruise – and then with Adam Sandler, etc.)
I’m thinking outside the box here.
It’s fun.
Could be interesting. Could work well in a Kaufman film too.
I’m now thinking of Jack Black in Synecdoche, New York. I think I might have enjoyed that more than with Hoffman.
I bet Jack Black lobbied for that part. Wouldn’t surprise me at all. He’s smart that way. He and Philip Seymour Hoffman are always up for the same parts. Black refers to him as his “nemesis”, hahahaha.
I disagree that ‘Pick of Destiny’ was not so great. I love that movie to tears. I have watched it probably more than I’ve watched any other movie. It is like comfort food to me.
And ‘School of Rock’ is not just Jack Black being Jack Black either…
‘Be Kind Rewind’ is also a very interesting film where his presence is used quite well. I think that he is in that strange place where people want to watch him just go off and do his own thing but he really needs a great story and director to channel that energy.
I remember being so disappointed by ‘King Kong’ because it seemed all mixed up to me. Like, Adrien Brody is supposed to be the movie star who carries the movie and Jack Black is supposed to be the wacky character actor in the hammy part but they should be reversed. Adrien Brody is not that kind of presence and Jack Black is. He is not a character actor, he is actually a leading man.
I could talk all day about him.
And Sheila, do yourself a favor. Buy ‘Pick of Destiny’. It is up there with my favorite comedies of ALLL TIMMME.
Bren – Jean and I were laughing about tenacious D the last time I was home. And how he basically forced Dave Grohl (who was in NIRVANA) to say that “Tenacious D is the greatest band of all time”. hahahaha
I’ll definitely get Pick of Destiny!
And yes: I totally agree with your leading-man assessment, which is again what I felt from him in that moment in Shallow Hal.
Now that is a VERY interesting thing … one of those weird disconnects that happens sometimes with certain actors. It would be like realizing that Marty Feldman was actually Cary Grant on the inside. But stranger things have happened. Not every character has a leading man inside. And, on the flipside, not every leading man can be a character actor. Cary Grant was kind of the opposite – he was a leading man externally, but his sensibility was that of the wacky sidekick. hahaha
I totally agree that “leading man” is Black’s milieu – blurpy belly or no – and I’d love to see that explored more.
Also, back to the Tenacious D clip:
Look at the first closeup of Black’s face as he’s singing the first line. hahaha He is totally living out his dream in that moment, IN the dreamspace … being a big bad-ass melodramatic rockstar. So funny and awesome!
Okay, Sheila, I love Jack Black, and I agree with everthing you’ve said about him, but I just had to comment and say how good your writing is — I mean, it’s always good, that’s why I read your blog — but I just feel the need to say how good it is because you just made me cry reading your description of Shallow Hal. I really want to see the movie now.
Also, have you ever seen the D perform live? They ROCK IT hardcore.
Sheila-
I KNEW you were going to pick that particular moment in “Shallow Hal”. It’s the one part I’ll always remember as the one moment of sublimity (sp?) in a film NOT exactly known for being sublime. LOL
Fellow commenters, I think I know what part could bring Mr. Black at least an Oscar nom if nothing else. One that could build on his strengths while also take him a different direction previously only touched upon: Ignatius J. Reilly in the movie version of “A Confederacy of Dunces”.
Unfortunately, last I heard, they were going to have Will Farrell play it while wearing a fat suit.
(Sound of collective palms hitting foreheads).
Erik – hahaha
My goal in life is to make other people cry when I describe Shallow Hal!
My life is complete!!
But thank you so much for your nice words about my writing!
I have not seen Tenacious D – which is retarded. Must rectify that immediately.
I mean, that ridiculous dragon?
I love him!
I really enjoyed Shallow Hal too, despite the bad advertising. And for me, his voice work in Kung Fu Panda is up there with the best animated work of all time. It was perfect. I wish they had Oscars for that kind of acting too, or that they were included in the importance of awards and recognition.
there are many things you must see re: The D…the collected masterworks which has all of the TV episodes and a live concert and several short films.
hilarious.
then the pick of destiny.
oh my gosh.
I’ve seen the Masterworks of Tenacious D. Hilarious!
Oh my gosh I love ‘Tencacious D’.
I just re-watched ‘Pick of Destiny’ two nights ago so it is so odd that you posted this today.
I just want to talk about it all day long!
I was another one who didn’t want to see Shallow Hal becuase of the crap advertising. It’s like the advertisers set out to appeal to a completely different audience than the people that would actually end up enjoying the movie. While it does indulge in the occasional fat joke (Rosemary eating the giant piece of cake, etc) they do such a good job with Rosemary’s character that I can forgive it. She’s not some sad sack that is desperate for any man who’ll have her. She’s confident and has kind of a toughness about her – she is not at all insecure. I love that Rosemary has her own shit going on, her own journey as a character. I’m always pleasantly suprised when a romantic comedy gets that right, and doesn’t just turn the female character into the “love interest”. The movie makes it very clear that it’s Hal who has to become worthy of her, not the other way around. Its like the opposite of a makeover movie.
And I have to admit that I cracked up when Jack Black calls Tony Robbins “banana hands” in the elevator.
the main problem with the marketing for that movie was that they focused on gwyneth paltrow instead of black. like, there were all these news reports about how brave it was of her to play a fat chick, and how she walked around in the suit in REAL LIFE TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE, etc. by that point, the world had sort of tired of her and were more interested in black.
anytime a movie resorts to talking about how the part affects the actor in real life, you know the movie is in trouble. as in, jamie foxx almost went insane playing a homeless man! it must be great! like…no.
Desirae – it’s funny you mentioned that big piece of cake moment. Comedy like this is a delicate thing, and I felt like in that moment only it crossed the line. Rosemary is a good girl, who was raised well – she would really eat a piece of cake with her hands? Me no think so.
But yes – the rest of the film just handles her so well it’s kind of amazing to watch it unfold. You GET how funny she is, how much the Hal character is actually primed for a really funny woman if he would just stop focusing on LOOKS … and yes, he really does need to step up his game.
That scene in the elevator with Tony Robbins is very very funny. Banana hands!! haha I forgot about that!!
red – yeah, I felt like that was this moment where they make Rosemary a stereotype, and it’s very jarring because the rest of the fim isn’t like that.
brendan – it always annoys me when actors (or people in general) are like, I walked around in a fat suit to see what it was like! Fat people are judged by society, OH MY GOD! I’m like, no shit. Have these people no imagination at all? Have they no fat friends or relatives that they can empathise with, no way to step outside their own experience without props? Have they even LIVED in Western Society? Suprise, pretty people are treated better!
Okay, that was a bit of a rant.
It was especially annoying with Shallow Hal because, duh, that’s what the whole movie is about!
Thanks Sheila, now I know WHY I like Jack Black so much! I couldn’t really put a finger on it, other than he is always so believable in his roles. He ALWAYS makes me laugh. I get the impression that he doesn’t take himself seriously (though he should, he nails everything he does).
Great post!
This has been an awesome conversation everyone – thank you so much!!! It makes me want to rent all of his movies (the ones I don’t own anyway).
Maybe I’m due for another obsession.
One that won’t, uhm, end so badly. (that’s for my friends, who know my Secret Life).
Stay tuned for more Jack Black posts.