So after writing about Eye Acting the other day, I haven't been able to get the idea of it out of my head. And it got me to thinking...besides the scene in "The Quick and the Dead" (Which I had to go back and watch last night...it's so good!) and, of course, "Robin Hood," (Which I'm seeing again today!) what are some of my other favorite "eye acting" moments?
Here's a partial list...and some of them surprised me!
Russell Crowe, "3:10 To Yuma." This a brilliant remake putting Crowe and Christian Bale against each other was a stroke of casting genius. But there's a quiet little scene between Crowe and actress Vinnessa Shaw that takes very little time, but wouldn't every woman want an outlaw to look at her that way?
David James Elliott/Catherine Bell "JAG: LIFELINE" JAG fans waited and waited and WAITED for almost five seasons for Harm and Mac to get together. True, they were going to wait another three before that happy event, but this episode, set against the back drop of Mac's engagement party, brings out the best of both of these actors. The final shot is the icing on a brilliant cake.
David James Elliott/Trevor Goddard "JAG: MUTINY" Harm and Brumby (played by the late and much missed Trevor Goddard) battled for Mac's heart endlessly, but never better than in this brilliantly written episode. Take my word for it...the final shot is a stunner.
Rick Springfield "General Hospital 2005" In the early 80's Dr. Noah Drake was a hot doc on the make. Fifteen years later, he was a sad, broken version of his former self. And Rick brought it all at us with his eyes.
Rick Springfield "LEGION" Terrible movie. But I keep it on my shelf for one reason and one reason only. Watching Rick's character, seeing the depth of despair in his eyes before you ever know what's up...it's spellbinding. By the end you're cheering and weeping for him, in spite of yourself.
Danny Masterson "That 70's Show" I know...I was shocked when I came up with this one. But in the rare moments Hyde takes off his sunglasses in scenes involving his rocky romance with Jackie, Mr. Masterson gives us more good eye acting than a sitcom probably deserves.
Russell Crowe, "3:10 To Yuma." This a brilliant remake putting Crowe and Christian Bale against each other was a stroke of casting genius. But there's a quiet little scene between Crowe and actress Vinnessa Shaw that takes very little time, but wouldn't every woman want an outlaw to look at her that way?
Rick Springfield "General Hospital 2005" In the early 80's Dr. Noah Drake was a hot doc on the make. Fifteen years later, he was a sad, broken version of his former self. And Rick brought it all at us with his eyes.
Russell Crowe "HEAVEN'S BURNING" This movie confuses me...did they mean for it to be a dark comedy? Because there are moments so over the top you can't help but laugh. But there are two scenes, both with actress Youki Kudoh, that make the movie an eye acting milestone for me. I'll give you a hint...find the scene where they're not wearing much, and then find the scene where they're really dressed up.
Clark Gable..."Gone with the Wind." Ah, Rhett Butler. The original movie bad boy we all wanted to fix. Even under the censorship constraints of 1939, Gable manages to evoke an awful lot with his eyes...like the scene where he leaves Scarlett on the road to Tara, right before a big kiss. Breathless!
So there you go...some of my favorite eye acting moments. Not all of them are a surprise, I'll grant you, and I could add a ton more, but let's not get boring.
Think about your favorite movies or TV shows...what draws you to a character? I'll just bet there's a scene or two of eye acting in your memory banks.
Now, go forth and WRITE!
NOW AVAILABLE!
A HERO'S SPARK: the final book in the Wicked Women series!
Showing posts with label eyes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eyes. Show all posts
Friday, May 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The eyes have...part one!
Good morning!
I have been watching some of my favorite movies with Girl Child lately. She likes it because it's the only time she, as a thirteen year old, is going to get a sniff of a rated R movie, and I like it because no one else in the family is interested in watching my big budget historical movies with me.
It started out easily enough. "Gladiator." "Braveheart." "King Arthur." (The one with Clive Owen.) Girl child developed a taste for big battle movies where the hero dies. She cried right along with me. (I'll admit it. I tear up every time I watch Gladiator. Can't help it.) So we delved into my extensive Civil War movie collection. "Glory." (That one shreds me too.)
But then she picked a rather odd movie the other night. "The Quick and the Dead." For those of you who have seen it, you know it's not a normal Western. It's not even a normal movie. In fact, it's actually sort of terrible, in spite of great performances from a trio of very talented actors: Gene Hackman, Leo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe. (Girl Child and I both agree that Sharon Stone is fairly horrible in this.)
Girl Child didn't care for "Quick" quite as much as she did the others. But watching the movie led us to a great discussion about what makes a great character and what makes a great actor. She's an aspiring writer, so I was very impressed by her depth of understanding about what, visually, makes a character/actor great.
I've said it before, I'll say it again, I believe Russell Crowe is one of, if not the, greatest actor of all time. I know that here in the States, where we like our stars all nice and fluffy and very, very available every minute of every day, most folks are insulted by Russell's impatience with the endless media drech. (I'm not defending the phone incident, but I do understand it. And if you say you've never had the urge to chuck something at someone, then you're lying to yourself. We all have those feelings. We just don't have the media following our every move.)
But push all that aside for a moment and ponder this: as writers, we struggle to make our characters flesh and blood. The best authors create characters that the reader feels, understands, or even becomes. It's not an easy thing to do, to create a visual aspect on paper.
Which is why a great actor can make a character amazing with one blink of an eye. A picture is worth a thousand words, but an actor that can act with his or her eyes is worth millions. And there aren't many actors that are good at it. Russell Crowe is the master of acting with his eyes.
Don't believe me? Go see "Robin Hood." (And you Robin Hood pursists, get over yourselves. It's FICTION!) There is a romance, a full on hot and sticky romance smack dab in the middle of that movie. And it's a romance that only Russell Crowe and the amazing Cate Blanchett could pull off.
Why?
Because so very, very little is said. There's no hot sex scene, (They both are covered in filth for most of the movie...) no gauzy curtains and soft candle light. But you know the exact second Robin falls in love with Marian and vice versa simply by looking in their eyes. And by the time Robin says, "I love you," by that point you've melted in a puddle under your chair. Both actors play out the entire romance with their eyes. Few actors can do that, and even fewer writers can write that. It's a visual and it's a moment on film that is a rare treasure.
Which brings me back to "Quick." Why do I keep it in my collection? Again, because of what Russell Crowe does with his eyes. His part is pretty much the only one worth watching in the movie, and his scenes with Gene Hackman are worthy of watching. But when he faces Sharon Stone in the gun fight and he tucks his hands in his belt and pleads with her to shoot him...
Go get the movie. Skip everything until almost the end. Then, go and try to write that expression into your hero. Better yet, go watch "Robin Hood," because not only has Russell now perfected the art of eye acting, but he's up against a worthy actress who holds more than her own. And it's a good movie.
Come sit next to me. I'll be there!
I have been watching some of my favorite movies with Girl Child lately. She likes it because it's the only time she, as a thirteen year old, is going to get a sniff of a rated R movie, and I like it because no one else in the family is interested in watching my big budget historical movies with me.
It started out easily enough. "Gladiator." "Braveheart." "King Arthur." (The one with Clive Owen.) Girl child developed a taste for big battle movies where the hero dies. She cried right along with me. (I'll admit it. I tear up every time I watch Gladiator. Can't help it.) So we delved into my extensive Civil War movie collection. "Glory." (That one shreds me too.)
But then she picked a rather odd movie the other night. "The Quick and the Dead." For those of you who have seen it, you know it's not a normal Western. It's not even a normal movie. In fact, it's actually sort of terrible, in spite of great performances from a trio of very talented actors: Gene Hackman, Leo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe. (Girl Child and I both agree that Sharon Stone is fairly horrible in this.)
Girl Child didn't care for "Quick" quite as much as she did the others. But watching the movie led us to a great discussion about what makes a great character and what makes a great actor. She's an aspiring writer, so I was very impressed by her depth of understanding about what, visually, makes a character/actor great.
I've said it before, I'll say it again, I believe Russell Crowe is one of, if not the, greatest actor of all time. I know that here in the States, where we like our stars all nice and fluffy and very, very available every minute of every day, most folks are insulted by Russell's impatience with the endless media drech. (I'm not defending the phone incident, but I do understand it. And if you say you've never had the urge to chuck something at someone, then you're lying to yourself. We all have those feelings. We just don't have the media following our every move.)
But push all that aside for a moment and ponder this: as writers, we struggle to make our characters flesh and blood. The best authors create characters that the reader feels, understands, or even becomes. It's not an easy thing to do, to create a visual aspect on paper.
Which is why a great actor can make a character amazing with one blink of an eye. A picture is worth a thousand words, but an actor that can act with his or her eyes is worth millions. And there aren't many actors that are good at it. Russell Crowe is the master of acting with his eyes.
Don't believe me? Go see "Robin Hood." (And you Robin Hood pursists, get over yourselves. It's FICTION!) There is a romance, a full on hot and sticky romance smack dab in the middle of that movie. And it's a romance that only Russell Crowe and the amazing Cate Blanchett could pull off.
Why?
Because so very, very little is said. There's no hot sex scene, (They both are covered in filth for most of the movie...) no gauzy curtains and soft candle light. But you know the exact second Robin falls in love with Marian and vice versa simply by looking in their eyes. And by the time Robin says, "I love you," by that point you've melted in a puddle under your chair. Both actors play out the entire romance with their eyes. Few actors can do that, and even fewer writers can write that. It's a visual and it's a moment on film that is a rare treasure.
Which brings me back to "Quick." Why do I keep it in my collection? Again, because of what Russell Crowe does with his eyes. His part is pretty much the only one worth watching in the movie, and his scenes with Gene Hackman are worthy of watching. But when he faces Sharon Stone in the gun fight and he tucks his hands in his belt and pleads with her to shoot him...
Go get the movie. Skip everything until almost the end. Then, go and try to write that expression into your hero. Better yet, go watch "Robin Hood," because not only has Russell now perfected the art of eye acting, but he's up against a worthy actress who holds more than her own. And it's a good movie.
Come sit next to me. I'll be there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)