Upcoming
December 31
January 2
Cargo 200
January 7
Silent Light
January 9
How About You
Yonkers Joe
January 16
Cherry Blossoms
January 21
Of Time and the City
Economy
In telling a story about a distinguished middle-aged man who has a reckless affair with his son's fiance, you might expect a brief scene or two early on explaining why the older man might be hungry or unsettled or desperate enough to do such a thing. But in Damage ('93), director Louis Malle explained it all in a brief silent moment, which can be found between 3:36 and 4:03. Home from work, Jeremy Irons sips his drink and looks around his living room, and you can just see it in his face.
Just In Case<< previous
|
next >>Slumdog Wowser
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 30, 2008 at 6:58 PM
comment #1
NDH
says ...
I agree. A perfect example of how a simple, all too familiar moment of solitude can speak volumes. Totally authentic and not in the least bit forced. Irons was great in this.
Posted by NDH
at August 30, 2008 8:00 PM
comment #2
Doug Pratt
says ...
Nevertheless, Damage was an awful, ridiculous movie with completely unbelievable emotions and most reminiscent of 'I Want You to Meet Pamela.'.
Posted by Doug Pratt
at August 30, 2008 8:07 PM
comment #3
Jason
says ...
As I was watching the clip and waiting for the economy to begin, I secretly hoped Jeremy Irons would exhale loudly, make a big frown, shake his head, and mutter, "This sucks!"
Posted by Jason
at August 30, 2008 8:24 PM
comment #4
Joe Leydon
says ...
Even now, Jeremy Irons is a ridiculously under-rated actor. Wait until you see him in Appaloosa.
Posted by Joe Leydon
at August 30, 2008 8:25 PM
comment #5
T. Holly
says ...
Joe, are you making any preps in Houston for getting soaked?
Posted by T. Holly
at August 30, 2008 10:04 PM
comment #6
Joe Leydon
says ...
T. Holly: Seriously, thank you for asking. I spent a goodly portion of today preparing for the worst. But I am more worried that my home town of N.O. will get hammered again.
Posted by Joe Leydon
at August 30, 2008 10:26 PM
comment #7
T. Holly
says ...
Yes, but get a dingy anyway and look after your fellow Houstonians. Adios.
Posted by T. Holly
at August 30, 2008 10:45 PM
comment #8
Spacelamb
says ...
I saw Damage with friends when it came out and we all thought it was wildly, WILDLY overrated rubbish. That said, Miranda Richardson was astonishing and deserved her raves. That gets me thinking: how about a list of bad movies with an awesome performance? I'd nominate Damage and also Helena Bonham-Carter for The Wings of the Dove (terrible, shoddy film, incredible acting from Helena). Comments, suggestions anyone?
Posted by Spacelamb
at August 31, 2008 12:27 AM
comment #9
bmcintire
says ...
I recall reading the hardback of DAMAGE back in the day (though I can't remember whether or not I did so in anticipation of the film or on its own merit). I fell in love with the narrative and could not believe a woman caught a man's inner life so succinctly (men seem rarely able to do so with women).
Wanted to love the film, but remember dismissing it. Watching it again, I can't help but love every performance. What film from today will fare so well - at least in my own recollection?
Posted by bmcintire
at August 31, 2008 1:34 AM
comment #10
Griff
says ...
I drove 90 miles to see Damage. It was one of those films, the parts of which (the acting in many cases) were greater than the whole.
Posted by Griff
at August 31, 2008 8:08 AM
comment #11
Gaydos
says ...
Minority report: I love this film. Though I remember clearly the year we (LA Film Critics) gave it the best score award (one of three years in a row for Priesner) that one of my colleagues said "I am emabarassed that we are giving any award to this trash." I disagreed then. Still do.
Posted by Gaydos
at August 31, 2008 11:36 AM
comment #12
frankbooth
says ...
Joe,
He DID win an Oscar, so I'm not sure how underrated he is. "Fallen on hard times" is how I'd put it after the last few years of stuff like Dungeons and Dragons.
Is "once respected" too harsh? I'd love to see him make a comeback.
Spacelamb,
Last Tango in Paris. And at least three-quarters of the movies Robert Downey, Jr. has ever been in.
Posted by frankbooth
at August 31, 2008 1:41 PM
comment #13
frankbooth
says ...
It's an oft-cited example, but Morgan Freeman in Street Smart. It's the role that pretty much started his career.
Posted by frankbooth
at August 31, 2008 2:04 PM
comment #14
astrophore
says ...
agree with spacelamb and griff on this one. i'll out myself with my ridiculous crush on miranda richardson, and then point everyone to the scene near the end where she confronts irons. an unbelievable, powerful scene, a masterclass in acting, it transcends the material.
Posted by astrophore
at August 31, 2008 2:32 PM
comment #15
lipranzer
says ...
I thought the novel of DAMAGE was great trash, but the movie didn't work for me. I admired it, but I couldn't connect to it, though Richardson was good.
As for your question, Spacelamb (I do have to disagree with you re WINGS OF THE DOVE, though I agree Carter was terrific; she should have won the Oscar that year), in a fanzine I write for, I made up an award addressing that question: The "Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Award" for Best Performance in a Bad Movie. Last year, for example, there was ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, watchable only when Abbie Cornish was on-screen and Terrence Howard doing the only really good work in THE BRAVE ONE. And not a lot of people know about this one, but there was a really bad movie almost 30 years ago called THE AMATEUR (not to be confused with the Hal Hartley movie) that nonetheless contained one of Christopher Plummer's best performances.
Posted by lipranzer
at August 31, 2008 8:10 PM
comment #16
Joe Leydon
says ...
Actually, Street Smart was a very good, media-savvy drama -- and it holds up surprisingly well. But, you're right: Morgan Freeman is so freakin' great in it, his performance does upstage every other element of the film.
Posted by Joe Leydon
at August 31, 2008 9:09 PM
Post a comment