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The most powerful performance of all time?

posted 15 years ago by Bertaut
7 replies | jump to latest

Pretty simple really. I think Harris' performance in this film is one of the finest cinematic performances of all time.

His speech about the death of his mother is unbelievably powerful. Goosebumps all over. I've seent the play live a few times, but it's not a patch on the film. Harris' performance is just awe-inspiring. Who cares if he was a complete ass on the set? It's like Brando in Apocalypse Now. So he was a giant raving dick head. So what - look at the damn results.

I was reminded this year of how annoyed I was when Harris didn't take the Oscar. The same thing happened at this year's ceremony. Sean Penn winning instead of Mickey Rourke. I'd actually rank Rourke's performance in the Wrestler as one of the top five of all time (I really was that impressed), but so too would I rate Harris' performance (and Brando's). I think I'd round out the top five with Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot, and (I know this won't be a popular choice) Tommy Lee Jones in Cobb. And for what it's worth - best female performance of all time didn't take an Oscar either - Ellen Burystn in Requiem in for Dream.

Anyhow, back to Harris. Yeah, that speech. Jesus it's powerful. I know a couple of guys who worked on this film as crewmen, and they said that that scene was shot three times. The first two times were poor, and Jim Sheridan took Harris off the set for about 20 minutes. They spoke in private, and when they returned the shot the scene that's in the film. According to my mates, no one on the set liked Harris at all, but as he gave that performance, everyone was just stunned. One of my friends said that when it was finished, Jim Sheridan said 'Cut' really quietly, and there was a dead silence on the set. He looked around, and saw guys in their 40 and 50s who've worked on hundreds on movies and seen everythign wiping tears away. He actually said that everyone was so shook up by the whole thing, Sheridan called a wrap for the day.

I've actually posted this story before, so apologies if you've already read it, but it no longer seems to be online for some reason.

[–] Boab-The-Fly 14 years ago

Nice post Bertaut. I agree- one of the greatest performances of cinema and theatre of all time.

While the chief puts sunshine on Leith I'll thank him for his work & your birth & my birth

[–] IrishLumog 14 years ago

Nice story. I wonder what Sheridan said to him

[–] bejasus 13 years ago

Bertraut -- Thanks for that story. Very interesting. I actually think there are several "show stoppers." The one about his mother, yes, it's the best. But also the one in the pub ("Gone, gone because I DROVE them out, me and my kind . . .") and the one at the churchyard gates, about how no priests died in the famine. As others have said, there's an Old Testament quality to this character, and when Harris is in full Old Testament mode, the movie just moves off the scale from good to beyond great.

Bronagh Gallagher/The Commitments: runner up to Joe Pesci for times f* was said in a movie.

[–] leehindmarsh4 13 years ago

"*Gone*, because I drove em out: me and my kind. Gone, but not forgotten Flanagan. No outsider will bid for my field"

[–] shepardjessica-1 8 years ago

Harris definitely should have won Best actor for this film.

[–] bear022013-909-645034 8 years ago

You are so right, sir.Best film that I have ever seen.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I agree!