MovieChat Forums > Sabrina (1995) Discussion > Slumps anytime Ormond's on screen..

Slumps anytime Ormond's on screen..

posted 13 years ago by skit-8
15 replies | jump to latest

Which isn't really the best thing when she's playing the title character.
As I was watching, I would be enjoying the scenes with Ford and Kinnear and then she'd appear again and I'd think 'Oh yeah, it's called 'Sabrina''. She just doesn't have any presence.. just kind of.. damp.

Also, if they were going to remake a film, I wish they would have updated it more.. bring something new to make it worth watching if you've already seen the original.

Anyway, Ford was okay, but I couldn't imagine wanting to watch it again.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rizdek 13 years ago

I like Ormond in this, can't see how she "damps" her scenes. I've seen both versions and can't understand your comment, "wish they would have updated it more." What do you mean? I kind of thought they had updated it in several ways...the Concord so he beats her to Paris, fiber optics, flat panel monitors, jets, helicopters...

I actually like the remake more than the original...not to downplay the significant screen presence of Boggart, Holden or Hepburn, I just liked the main characters in this movie AND the way they updated it (IMHO).

my god its full of stars

[–] Val-El 13 years ago

I prefer this version over the version with Bogart.
Having Bogart and suave "anything" in the same sentence just makes no sense.

[–] jac91604 12 years ago

She was miscast to say the least.

Remake or not she was just wrong for the part.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Whoah10115 10 years ago

OP should be beaten.

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 10 years ago

Ormond was not Audrey Hepburn, DUH. Not many women could ever truly, fully replace Audrey Hepburn in anything. Her and Grace Kelly were two of the classiest women ever put on film.

BUT, I don't think Sydney Pollack was trying to beat the original Sabrina as much as tell the same story with a different tone, a little more realistic tone. Yes, he threw out the dark suicide attempt inside the car garage... which is actually kind of warped and bazaar for a family film. But, I actually believed Greg Kinnear and Harrison Ford were perfectly cast as brothers... especially compared to Bogie and Holden... and they are two great, respectable actors themselves.

Ormond feels more real for this role than a princess-like woman... like Audrey Hepburn. Not to say that I didn't love seeing Audrey in anything. But, I'm just saying that Ormond felt more accurate as a poor girl, raised by a chauffeur, over a garage. HOWEVER, she was cute, beautiful and wholesome... everything likable.

[–] lantzn 10 years ago

I thought Ormond and Ford did a wonderful job but just didn't care for Kinnear as the brother. I've liked him in everything else I've seen him in. He just wasn't right as the playboy type. When he spastically said the I told you he loved her line to the group I just cringed. At least they didn't make him roll over back words on a table when giving it.

[–] Whoah10115 10 years ago

Ormond is incredible in this.

When he asks her if she knows how beautiful she is...her response? Completely had me.

[–] shoobe01 10 years ago

The one thing this movies has is an impeccable cast. Everyone. Every single supporting role is wonderful, and also well-written and well-acted.

But the leads were pretty much perfect also. Greg Kinnear was great as the playboy, and he was acting; he's not just himself.

Julia Ormond was great also. If I had to nitpick, the accent wasn't very sensible. She didn't live locked in a room with her dad, or move over when she was 16, but grew up here. But she has a convincing house mouse thing going on till she transforms to a relatively (trite as it may be) glowing muse thing when she gets back. Tell me in the Ferrari when she first arrives back in the US she is not the perfect person to fluster Kinnear as he played that scene. Could not imagine anyone else.

[–] gennie_cooper 8 years ago

Well my parents are English and I grew up in Scotland and I still have an English accent at 34, so I can believe her accent. Although as an English person Julia Ormond's accent does sound like she has some American inflections, but then I am from the North. Maybe she's just southern.

[–] Sugarminx 8 years ago

Tell me in the Ferrari when she first arrives back in the US she is not the perfect person to fluster Kinnear as he played that scene. Could not imagine anyone else.

That scene was very good, but I thought that was more due to Kinear's incredible charisma and talent.

Lovely though Julia is, she's never really inspired me as an actress.

All the leads were great in this, but I agree with OP. Julia's performance is a bit flat.

Do the P-I-G-E-O-N

[–] nzpedals 8 years ago

whoever wrote the outline at the first imdb page describing Sabrina as "ugly duckling" needs a slapping. ok, she's got glasses, and we know that as soon as she takes them off she will become, as she always was, stunning and beautiful.

■-■
...it's a whole lot harder to shine, than undermine.

[–] lollipop15 8 years ago

I agree with OP.

Julia Ormond was miscast in this film. She was too mature (Sabrina was supposed to be 22?), she over-acted and made Sabrina seem pretentious and stuck up after her trip to Paris. I found it hard to like or sympathise with Sabrina.