I too love what he did with this role, just nailed it. Hard to separate the characters as written from the actors, but it's hard to congratulate the other people for playing whiny, marshmallowy types. I know Eckhart, Stiller and Brenneman can act, and that they've played the roles as written, but we're really not sposed to like them in this movie.
Cary is the worst character in many ways, and definitely has the most issues, but (assuming he's telling the truth in the sauna, which actually I do, this being a Neil La Bute movie, but even if he's supposed to be lying, he's revealing more by the lie than the others do with their truths) there's an honesty and a strength to him that's sorely lacking in the otherwise enervated cast. I know La Bute likes things to be discussable, but it's clear we should, if we're honest, be both repulsed and drawn to Cary. You need chops to pull that off, though, and Patric definitely has em.
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17 years ago
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nogodsnomasters85
14 years ago
Jason Patric was amazing. I agree, as several have pointed out, it's difficult to judge if he's really as horrible as he portrays himself to be. It is left somewhat open ended. However, as has also been said, that he can convincingly portray himself as such a monster speaks volumes in itself. We are given two major insights in some of the few scenes where he's away from "the gang." (Stiller/Eckhart) The scene of the woman crying while he screams at her about having her period, and the confrontation with Catherine Keener. In his confrontation with Catherine he's truly menacing, when he threatens her it's totally believable. I'm inclined to think the shower story is true, but that's just my perspective. Either way, Patric is amazing. Sometimes it takes skill to play such an amoral character, a great bad guy can be fascinating, and his character is about as bad as they come. One of several incredible performances that make this movie so great.
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