Thursday, August 11, 2016

Quote of the Day

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"Watching Jared Leto tell one disturbing tale after another makes one thing abundantly clear: Method acting is over. Not the technique itself, which has fueled many of cinema’s greatest performances and can be a useful way of approaching difficult roles. But Leto’s stories show how going to great lengths to inhabit a character is now as much a marketing tool as it is an actual technique—one used to lend an air of legitimacy, verisimilitude, and importance to a performance no matter its quality. Leto’s Joker is the latest evidence that the prestige of method acting has dimmed—thanks to the technique’s overuse by those seeking award-season glory or a reputation boost, as well as its history of being shaped by destructive ideas of masculinity."

That is from this fantastic piece by Angelica Jade Bastien in The Atlantic which I highly recommend you read -- I was nodding my head in agreement so furiously I was spitting out vertebrae by its end. I especially love where she dives into why Brando is so revered for Method Acting over the likes of Gena Rowlands (or say Montgomery Clift, who came before and was so good that Brando himself idolized him) because Brando "reinvented" Masculinity itself - all actors in Brando's wake want some of what he had, that semen-soaked sex walk. The Dick Strut. To be Men, Manly Men, and prove that Acting is a not for Pussies or Homosexuals, take your pick.


2 comments:

Dan said...

"semen-soaked sex walk" I think I've found the title of my autobiography

Unknown said...

It's so awesome to see you shared my essay since I love this blog so much. Happy to see people really engaging with my work.