MovieChat Forums > Onegin (1999) Discussion > movie spoiled by liv tyler

movie spoiled by liv tyler

posted 17 years ago by jonis-3
42 replies | jump to latest

This movie really had some fantastic moments but i could barely stand to finish it because of liv tyler's terrible acting. Fiennes really was robbed of a swell performance because it was overshadowed by such a dismal performance by Liv.

She wore the same face throughout the entire movie despite all of the dramatic events which happened to her and I could not force myself to believe onegin really loved her because Live didn't not sell herself more than a retarded girl who mopes around all day. I really think Liv is capable of smaller rolls in movies less complex but this role really was too much of an undertaking for her to be fair.

[–] youaresquishy 16 years ago

Agreed.

Not to mention that she's ugly as hell--that doesn't help persuade us that Onegin could possibly be all that attracted to her. When I look at her, I mostly see her father Steven.

And every woman I've ever known who has said anything about the topic agrees that Ralph Fiennes is very attractive, and Onegin is wealthy as hell, so presumably there would be many women much more attractive available to him.

But I guess any thin white woman with long hair who is a movie star is considered beautiful nowadays. Her character is supposed to be beautiful. She just isn't though. Not physically, certainly, and I agree that personality-wise her character didn't seem to have that much to offer.

Ralph was great, as usual. Liv Tyler was a miscast for sure.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] jonis-3 16 years ago

I have said nothing about her appearance although I do not find her attractive. But her looks are beside the point, which is she could have been played much better by someone else. Imagine Naomi Watts playing this role!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] movie80 16 years ago

In my opinion Liv was very beautiful in this movie.

[–] hour100 16 years ago

Hey! maybe Paris Hilton would have been more to your liking.

Politicians are like Nappies. They should both be changed frequently
and for the same reason."

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] cthulhulurks 16 years ago

she fits well in this role

my vote history:
http://imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=27424531

[–] youaresquishy 16 years ago

Paris Hilton is almost as ugly as Liv and doesn't seem to have any real movie acting ability at all, so no I'd take Liv over Paris.

I think Kate Winslet might have been nice? I guess. I feel kind of like the age of the truly shockingly beautiful starlet with real acting chops ended long ago. I am having trouble coming up with a single name of any actress who both strikes me as particularly beautiful and who has especially remarkable acting ability, actually. I think there's plenty of decent actresses out there, and plenty of pretty faces out there, but I can't think of one person with a whole lot of both qualities, y'know, now that I think about it.

I guess I shouldn't be criticizing the casting in Onegin so much if I'm having so much trouble thinking of anyone who might've been better.

[–] ssons-1 16 years ago

She really did ruin this film, I so agree. How about natalie Portman, but she would have been way too young for when this was made. But, seriously, they certainly could have come up with an actress with a heavy hitter like Fiennes footing the bill. Lovely photography however....and Mr. Fiennes was totally tortured and dreamy. Hubba!!!

[–] lovekat-1 16 years ago

Well, youaresquishy, I guess you didn't consider Cate Blanchett - THE female actor of the decade, with a hauntingly ethereal beauty to match.

[–] elisabetta611 16 years ago

Her character is supposed to be beautiful.
_____________________________________

Tatyana is NOT supposed to be beautiful but an every day girl.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] cgm2812 16 years ago

Nah, nah, nah...

This chick was well-suited for the role and I thought she did rather well. Even though, I must admit, she did seem to mope around and not emote much. But, I couldn't think of any other for that role. Don't listen to 'em Liv (although you probably will never read this)! She IS NOT unattractive but very lovely and she was so in this film.

I absolutely loooove this film and Martha did an excellent job!

[–] nipsu1 16 years ago

I agree with you Liv was good as the young object of desire in Stealing Beauty but since then it's been a sled ride downhill.The camera angle has to be just right and she absolutely cannot smile or the illusion of beauty is gone.If by some stretch you call Drew Barrymore beautiful Liv is as well.Or Julia Roberts who might have been a better choice for Onegin.

Selah.

[–] SaintAndy 16 years ago

I think she is a beautiful and talented actress, and was excellent in playing this part. I read some of your disparaging comments, and it makes me wonder what you guys&girls really look like, if you so easy dismiss her as unattractive and boring.

People have definitely become very choosy and superficial these days, and they rant on about beauty, as if that is the only thing that gives value to a person.

[–] nipsu1 16 years ago

When they cast a movie and use an actress that has,shall we say,very little experience in motion pictures.It's just a face they want.I do not think that she is a very attractive person and considering,her fathers horsey appearance, you can understand why she looks as she does.
I am just a plain looking individual but I'm not in the business where I have to be beautiful.
The role she played in Onegin was small which just about matched her talents.

Selah.

[–] SaintAndy 16 years ago

You have to be beautiful to be in the acting business? Oh, boy! I could give you a couple of examples, off the top of my head, such as Seymour Hoffman, or Bette Davis, or Hillary Swank, who are, or were, very talented people, without being drop dead gorgeous. Whatever happened to being talented in order to be an actor?

[–] luxmissus 16 years ago

Onegin's early rejection of Tatiana was made more believable to me because Tyler's looks are unconventional. I thought it was extremely well cast and well acted.

Of course, by any measure Ralph Fiennes (IMO) is one of the best looking and most talented actors out there. This film was made nearly 10 years ago. I just recently rented Spider. He's one of those men who age very, very well. He's also an actor who continues to take chances (outside Voldemort but I suppose he has mouths to feed too). There would have been any number of women. As a viewer I could read much into many of the scenes and the shape the story to suit me. I could imagine, for instance, that Onegin may have thought other women were not genuine in their attraction to him.

Back to Tyler, I thought she was perfect in this role. I thought her underlying passion was clear from the first scene and her eyes spoke everything I needed to see from the character. Seemed to me, the character (in the movie) felt deeply but she only let herself go to express her passion and need for Onegin. After that, she assumed her shell and walked her life out in duty.

Beautifully done.

[–] MariaLoathesDTWig 16 years ago

Absolutely agree with luxmissus.Liv was perfectly cast as Tatyanna.Her caracter was even more complexe than Ralph's (who was AMAZING as well).She delivered a very beautiful and honnest performance.
ONEGIN is gem.A masterpiece :-)

[–] agera 16 years ago

I don't know if Liv Tyler was perfectly cast as Tatyana because I'm not familiar with the work on which the movie was based.

But I agree she delivered a beautiful and honest performance. Her face was so expressive that I felt I knew at each moment just what her character was thinking and feeling. Also, the way she moved was very expressive.

[–] MissAnnThrop 16 years ago

B.S. I didn't expect anything at all from her performance before I saw this movie, but I was wrong. I can't think of an actress who would have done a better job. AND she had a natural, earthy beauty that fit her role very well. I'm guessing that whoever suggested Natalie Portman hasn't actually seen her in anything except maybe Closer, and Mike Nichols could get an Oscar-caliber performance out of a grapefruit.

[–] widescreenguy 16 years ago

as in spoiled rotten by the erroneous belief that a rock star drug addled father with oversized lips is the key to getting roles in hollywood.

and it is.

good chance she boinked one of the producers to get the role. its been done before; a telltale sign is good looks and NO TALENT.

"google it if you dont think so ...."

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] K_Sear 16 years ago

Not everything can be reduced to sex. Take a step out of your preconceived idea of what the role should have encompassed and look at what she brought. Sincerity requires talent.

[–] MissAnnThrop 15 years ago

Sincerity requires talent.

Very true, and an often overlooked fact. She was great. Yeah, nepotism is a pain in the ass, but sometimes it really isn't the only thing that gets someone somewhere.

[–] austin_legacy 15 years ago

I thought she was great in her role- very natural and expressive.

[–] srigby-2 16 years ago

I'd have to disagree, I enjoyed her very much in the flim. I found her haunting. But everyone is entitled to their opinion!

[–] vampirock_x 15 years ago

The problem with Liv Tyler is that she still wore the same face from "Stealing Beauty" to "Onegin". She should try different roles to prove her acting talent -- if there's any...and maybe I just watched so few of her films.

Anyway, this glamorous film should be in no way overshadowed by her performance. The other actors were all great, especially Ralph. What a group of brothers and sisters the Fiennes' have! And it's so underrated here.

ps. I don't know what happened as earlier I tried to post a topic but the site told me to verify my account first. I didn't, and now I can post again. Cheers!

What made the universe made me.

[–] boolingallee 14 years ago

geez guys..like I'm sure if you discovered your father was a rock star and you suddenly had every opportunity to do anything you dream of that you wouldn't do it? Pure jealousy, you haters. She's not the most talented actress out there and I doubt she's striving to be. Just doing what she loves.