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Why does everyone think DDL is so humorless?

posted 8 years ago by midwestmoviemaven
4 replies | jump to latest

I don't know why this bothers me so much. But I get the feeling that some people believe that even Tarantino is too light or frothy for DDL. What a stifling image of Day-Lewis?

What I have always loved about Day-Lewis was his undercurrent of humor. The man in real life is a hoot according to many co-stars (despite his extremely dedicated approach to acting.) Is there an assumption that method=humorless?

I am not going to write too much here, because it will be construed as a rant most likely. But even Scorsese said that DDL was hilarious as Bill the Butcher in between and during takes. there is humor in My Left Foot, in the name of the father, dark humor in TWBB, and even a bit in Lincoln. A "lighter" film would not mean selling out. If it is an intelligent comedy, it can be just as edgy and thoughtful (see "Dr. Strangelove") or as emotional or impactful (see "About Schmidt" and "In Bruges".).

I am not interested in seeing DDL as some dramatic event symbolic of an artistic integrity and greatness and occurring once a decade.. He can still have integrity and greatness in a lighter capacity or at least more frequent one.. Are we saying that Peter Seller's three brilliant performances in Dr. Strangelove are less brilliant than DDl's admittingly stunning work in TWBB?

"You are not only wrong. You are wrong at the top of your voice."

[–] cbarlow-1 8 years ago

In short, I think it is because he mostly acts in dramas. People are too lazy to actually analyze the characters themselves, who as you mention have a lot humorous elements to them. People are short sighted and think drama=humorless and comedy=funny..when it's rarely that cut and dry. There are a lot of posts saying the same thing about Dicaprio now, which is equally ludicrous. WOWS was probably his most comedic role to date.

[–] midwestmoviemaven 8 years ago

Totally agree. DiCaprio is comedic gold in WOWS.

"You are not only wrong. You are wrong at the top of your voice."

[–] chewtoy45 8 years ago

He was priceless as Cecil Vyse in A Room With a View. Obviously he has the talent to do comedy, but perhaps it just doesn't interest him.

I think I'll have a large order of prognosis negative.

[–] sarizonana 8 years ago

I think people confuse taking their profession seriously to taking themselves too seriously.

Ive seen many interviews with him and he does have great sense of humor and he also whowed that while reciving all his awards for Lincoln. He even made fun of his image with his speeches during those times a d thank his wife by being to necwith so many man at once.

I think he is in redibly likable on interviews so it doesn't surprise me his co stars and directirs love him.