She is at her absolute cutest and most appealing in this movie (basically the same era as "Fast Times" and "Flesh & Blood", but a little earlier).
I also found it interesting that even playing a completely ridiculous character in a cheap horror movie, she really give it her all (and bares her breasts too). That's the kind of commitment you just don't see in any young actresses today.
Sorry to bump my own thread, but I was thinking about this again recently. JJ Leigh is nominated this year (2016) for Best Supporting Actress. One of her main competitors is Rooney Mara, who really reminds me of Leigh--she's very pretty, very talented, makes interesting film choices, and is fearless about nudity. She really got the kind of breakout opportunity with "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" that Jennifer Jason Leigh never really had, but they are very similar actresses.
The one thing that sets them apart though is Rooney Mara's attitude toward roles. I really like her butt when she was the "Nightmare on Elm Street" reboot (a worse movie than this really, but certainly more high profile), she REALLY phoned it in. Jennifer Jason Leigh would never do that even in her worst movies. (And I can imagine how Mara would have reacted if they'd asked her to show her breasts in "Nightmare" like Leigh does in this one). Leigh has always had a real "blue-collar" attitude towards acting that has really disappeared among the more entitled younger Millenial actors.
"Let be be finale of seem/ The only emperor is the Emperor of Ice Cream"
I agree. She's my favorite actress and I I'm glad she finally got a nomination at least. I've never seen her phone it in, but her performance in Backdraft was lacking, then again-so was the role. She's admitted acting in that movie she said she "felt like I was lost in the ocean".
Have yet to see Eyes of a Stranger, but I just ordered the VHS.