MovieChat Forums > Kristen Stewart Discussion > High Praise for Kristen and Laura

High Praise for Kristen and Laura

posted 5 years ago by CKid (3816)
8 replies | jump to latest

I just read an amazing review of JT LeRoy from Joey Magidson of hollywoodnews.com.
While the author does point out some problems with the film itself, he has nothing but high praise for the performances brought to the screen by Kristen and Laura.

Laura Dern And Kristen Stewart Stun In 'JT LeRoy'

Anyone who thinks Kristen Stewart isn't one of the under-sung actresses of her generation just isn't paying attention. For years now, Stewart has been doing incredibly interesting work in films that fly largely under the radar. One of these days, it's going to turn into an Academy Award nomination. Last year, she was buzzed about for Oscar attention with the biopic 'JT LeRoy'. A somewhat mixed reception at the Toronto International Film Festival pushed it back to 2019, erasing the buzz in the process. Well, opening this week, I can vouch for Stewart being excellent in it, with a tremendous turn from Laura Dern as well. The TIFF reviews got this one wrong, plain and simple.
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First and foremost, Dern and Stewart are outstanding here, giving vivid life to this tale. If elements such as gender fluidity, self identity, and who the real you is get slightly short shrift, the central performances are above and beyond. The former steals numerous scenes with a complex turn, while the latter brings her damaged hypnotic quality to this story perfectly. Both are at the absolute top of their respective games in this picture. Even if the flick is not your cup of tea, it's hard to argue with how great they are in it. They, quite simply, deliver the goods.

The entire review can be found here ...
https://www.hollywoodnews.com/2019/04/22/laura-dern-and-kristen-stewart-stun-in-jt-leroy/

"WOW!," is all I can say. While I know that Academy Award consideration is not in the cards for the film nor the performances (for that I'm looking to 'Against All Enemies'), I do hope that Laura and Kristen's performances will not be overlooked by the Independent Spirit Awards. I really love how the author writes that Kristen is "excellent in it," about both actresses being "outstanding" and at the "absolute top of their respective games." Ditto for his description of Kristen's "damaged hypnotic quality" being brought to the film "perfectly."

Hypnotic, indeed!
Thus I think I'll end this with some early Fleetwood Mac ...
'Hypnotized' - https://youtu.be/8ZeTlMpnfHk

[–] LLOwens (983) 5 years ago

While the author does point out some problems with the film itself, he has nothing but high praise for the performances brought to the screen by Kristen and Laura.

This is pretty much the story of Kristen's career thus far. Strong performances in pretty much everything she has ever starred in, her performances being one of the best if not best part of the films, only to go largely unnoticed by most mainstream moviegoers because the direction and overall quality of the movie was average at best or even sub par. Hopefully Against All Enemies will be the exception where the overall film itself will be as good as her performance in it. Anyhow, thanks for posting this Carved.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 5 years ago

"This is pretty much the story of Kristen's career thus far. Strong performances in pretty much everything she has ever starred in, her performances being one of the best if not best part of the films, only to go largely unnoticed by most mainstream moviegoers because the direction and overall quality of the movie was average at best or even sub par. Hopefully Against All Enemies will be the exception where the overall film itself will be as good as her performance in it. Anyhow, thanks for posting this Carved. "

Yep, agreed. I think as we see how odd or industry political the awards can get then it makes it more difficult for some to garner the attention they deserve.

[–] CKid (3816) 5 years ago

You're welcome, LL.

And from the Well, Well, Well, Whadaya Know file, it seems that JT LeRoy will be playing on one screen here in Florida starting Friday, at least according to the info provided at https://www.jtleroyfilm.com.

The only problem however is that the theater in question is in Tampa, a four hour drive from Miami, where it will be playing twice per day at 3:25 and 10:20 PM.

So, do I really want to spend eight hours driving to and from Tampa just to see this film?
Or should I either wait to see if it will open a week or two later down here, or just watch the film at home through iTunes or Amazon (something I've never done), or wait until the DVD/Blu-ray is released.

For the record, as far as long drives go, I have driven from Miami to Orlando to see two films that Kristen has been in.
The first time was April 2008 when I saw 'The Cake Eaters' at the Florida Film Festival, which was the second time I saw that film (the first was when TCE played at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival five months earlier). I was real glad that I went because TCE would not get released for another year. The second time I drove to Orlando was to see 'The Yellow Handkerchief' when it also played at the Florida Film Festival.

I suppose I'll decide Saturday morning (that's the day I would go), but as of right now I don't think that I'll make the trip.
As for watching the film at home via iTunes or Amazon, I must confess that I'm not really sure how to connect my computer to my Samsung flat screen. All of the hdmi inputs on the flat screen are currently occupied by the cable box and Blu-ray player, so I suppose I'd have to disconnect one of those, assuming, of course, that this HP laptop has an hdmi output on it.

Hmm, the waiting for the release of the DVD/Blu-ray option sure seems to be getting more attractive, especially since I'm going to buy it anyway.

Oh yeah, I must add that I was kind of surprised to see that the film will open in 26 theaters!
BUT, I was a little annoyed to find that the vast majority of those screens are in the Los Angeles area.
Ron, for now it looks like you would have to travel to 13th Street in Manhattan if you wanted to see this on the big screen. But at least you could either drive or take the train. LL on the other hand would have to fly to L.A. in order to see it.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 5 years ago

CK, I wouldn't be wanting to make that 4 hour drive for the movie either. I'd wait for it to play via On Demand cable or get the DvD. I also don't have any Amazon or iTunes setups. Maybe someday I'll get a hookup to one or more of those providers or Netflix.

[–] LLOwens (983) 5 years ago

Yeah, Carved, my go to destination for small budget indies/art house flicks, Kahala Theaters, won't be showing it, so I'm a bit disappointed. But I'm still appreciative that I was able to watch On the Road, The Runaways, Clouds of Sils Maria, and Lizzie at this multiplex, so I am thankful that the owners of this establishment try their best to bring such films to our shores if it has a wide enough release.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 5 years ago

This is yet another top notch critique of Kristen's work. I hope the movie gets enough notice/buzz so that she is noticed enough for award consideration. As the article says, she's done so much good work but in smaller movies that don't get the notice. I don't really buy that so much though, because other actors have received the top nominations and/or awards for small movies. But it's perhaps just the luck of the way things go.

[–] LLOwens (983) 5 years ago

As the article says, she's done so much good work but in smaller movies that don't get the notice. I don't really buy that so much though, because other actors have received the top nominations and/or awards for small movies.

Case in point, Ron: "Beasts of the Southern Wild", "45 Years", and "Two Days, One Night" were all micro budget movies, yet that didn't prevent Quvenzhane Wallis, Charlotte Rampling, and Marion Cotillard, from receiving Best Actress Oscar nominations for their respective roles in the aforementioned films.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 5 years ago

Yep, agreed LL.