MovieChat Forums > Miami Blues (1990) Discussion > Jennifer Jason Leigh is brilliant

Jennifer Jason Leigh is brilliant

posted 17 years ago by Gobet
16 replies | jump to latest

I see plenty of praise here for Alec Baldwin's excellent performance in Miami Blues and I must agree that it's some of the finest work of his career. But this film also contains one of my favourite Jennifer Jason Leigh performances. I found her both heartbreaking and very funny as this sweet, dumb waif who gets mixed up with Baldwin. Leigh is a fiercely intelligent actress and has played some characters whose smartness is important to the film's plot (The Hudsucker Proxy, eXistenZ, the writer Dorothy Parker in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle), but she's absolutely convincing here as someone so dumb that she knits her eyebrows and creases her brow in frustration trying to follow the simplest thing. Susie is so naive and gullibly trusting that she borders on childlike. Her deadpan line delivery was priceless throughout, but underneath the humour Susie is really a very sad, lost character.

I see Leigh won 1990's Best Supporting Actress award from both the New York Film Critics Circle and the Boston Society of Film Critics (actually it was jointly for Miami Blues and Last Exit to Brooklyn), it's a shame she didn't get an Oscar nomination for it too. Same goes for Baldwin.

[–] Thomasco 17 years ago

Putting too much vinegar in the mix to catch Junior in a lie didn't seem too dumb to me. I also disagree that she was sad, or lost. Maybe disappointed that the guy didn't turn out to be what she had hoped for. After all, he put on a good show and there is nothing wrong with her falling in love with him. She looked to me like she would have picked up the pieces and moved on with her life soon enough.

Anyways, great actress. I just perused the list of her films here at IMDB and I was surprised at how many I have seen, including a fair amount back in the 1980's (supporting roles). Be warned on "Heart of Midnight". Has good elements, some good acting, but overall it is a real stinker. Another that defies explanation is "Existenz". Has a fair amount of fans, though, so I guess to each his own.

[–] Gobet 17 years ago

Haha, yeah the vinegar pie scene was priceless. I always saw Susie as being extremely fragile and vulnerable, like a little flower you just know is going to get trampled on, but I'm interested that you saw hidden strength and smarts in her character… I guess I'll have to watch it again.

Heart of Midnight isn't a great film by any means but Leigh does put in her usual strong, committed performance even when the material itself isn't up to scratch. As for eXistenZ, I actually love that film, but then again I'm a big Cronenberg fan and he's a definite love-it-or-hate-it kinda deal. You're right she has been in tons of movies over the years (75 credits listed on IMDb), and she's also written, directed and produced a few films. I love some of those charmingly dated 80s flicks like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, or The Hitcher where she famously gets torn apart by the 24-wheeler truck!

Notice also what a prolific workhorse her Miami Blues co-star Alec Baldwin is – he has five films listed here for 2006 alone, plus a few TV appearances.

[–] anfinke 17 years ago

She is excellent in this movie!

The funniest part with "Susie" is when Baldwin comes home after the market robbery incident and asks her to sow his eyebrow back on. She looks like she is about to pass out from the disgust of the gore. He quickly grabs her and slaps her cheeks in an effort to revive her.

The seen plays out very funny! Baldwin's jaded expectations of her is obviously a tall order. Her naivity and softness really make the scene humorous!

Great acting!

[–] Gobet 17 years ago

I know, she is so soft, naive and doll-like that it adds a lot to the film's humour. The interplay between Baldwin and Leigh was amazing throughout, they had such a natural chemistry.

[–] dngynbdy 17 years ago

If you thought she rocked in Miami Blues, you MUST see the Hudsucker Proxy. She stole the show from Tim Robbins and Paul Newman. I totally cracked up every time she had a fight with Robbins. I am still at a loss as to why she has never won an Academy Award. She deserved one for Miami Blues or the Hudsucker Proxy at least. She was also great in Heart of Midnight.

[–] obtuse_angle 16 years ago

JJL was the reason I searched out this movie some 10 years ago (1998). I vaguely remember this movie when it came out in early 1990, I don't think it stayed in the theaters for too long, but I do remember seeing the ads for it in the newspaper. But being completely blown away by her role in Last Exit To Brooklyn the previous year, I was eager to see it. Unlike some of the other posters here, I really didn't care for her role in Hudsucker Proxy, nor for the movie. For me, Last Exit is the role of her career, and that movie MUST be released as a special edition DVD one of these days. Other favorites are Rush, Single White Female, Short Cuts, and who can forget Fast Times at Ridgemont High!

I have to say in regards to Miami Blues, this film introduced me to the great Fred Ward, what a performance!

[–] tjmeade-1 16 years ago

JJL is on of the most versatile, underrated actresses that I can recall. Same for Dianne Wiest

[–] Benedict_Cumberbatch 13 years ago

I agree that JJL is a very versatile and underrated actress, one of my all-time faves... but @ tjmeade-1: how can Dianne Wiest be underrated when she's won two Oscars? She might not be a movie star/household name, but I don't think she ever pursued that. As far as critical acclaim goes, she's been really appreciated.

"Live on, love all, and let live" - River Phoenix.

[–] BehindTheBeat 16 years ago

I thought her breasts were briliant.

[–] LofA 16 years ago

I agree. JJL was 27 or 28 when this movie was filmed. Her breasts were really perky for her age.

"Whenever I see a flash back, I immediately want my cash back." Peter DeVries

[–] Woodyanders 15 years ago

Jennifer Jason Leigh brought a disarming warmth and sweetness to the character of the naive Susie that was both endearing and heartbreaking at the same time. I agree that Jennifer was outstanding in this role.

"We're all part Shatner/And part James Dean/Part Warren Oates/And Steven McQueen"

[–] commanderjeltz 15 years ago

I found myself staring at her, knowing who she was from Ridgemont High and a couple of others, like the one where she is a Hollywood actress and throwing a party for friends like Kevin Kline...yet her acting is so amazing that I could almost completely swallow the part as it is written, that she is as dumb, as sub-normal as she is. The only thing is that she is so mousy in this movie that it is hard to believe she would be Freddy's type, he is so flash.

[–] corruptmatt 15 years ago

anfinke the pass out scene is excellent, her acting is superb, had to rewind it to watch her expression change when he asks her.

[–] Xcalat3 14 years ago

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] Zvoni 14 years ago

All the three leads are fantastic in this dark comedy/actioner.
JJ Leigh makes outstanding typecast, she's had quite many roles like this.

Amusing film with great rewatch-value!