MovieChat Forums > Joan of Arc (1999) Discussion > So, am I the only one...

So, am I the only one...

posted 16 years ago by egypt13-1
11 replies | jump to latest

Who thought the girl that played Joan was really, really wooden in this? I've never seen her act in anything else, so I can't talk for her acting outside of this film, but jeez.

We watched this movie in my women's studies class, and I couldn't be more horrified by her performance. It was like she had three facial expressions: happy, sad, and blank. Her tone of voice was almost constantly the same, no matter what dialogue she was delivering.

The rest of the movie was fantastic in my opinion. I thought the other actors (with the exception of whoever played King Charles) was fantastic.

But she kind of ruined the movie for me.

[/end rant]

[–] banished_one 14 years ago

I agree i found her performance quite weak but it is a very demanding role and the lead actress was only 16 at the time if i'm correct.

[–] whitespirit26 14 years ago

I thought she was fantastic

[–] shadow_priest_x 14 years ago

I agree with you, whitespirit. I thought Sobieski was great. Her performance may not be the most polished, but it had a quality to it that I really enjoyed. I would not call it "wooden" at all.

Plus, she's really cute, and that always helps.

[–] whitespirit26 13 years ago

Agreed :) And she was cute; her entire performance and attitude endeared her, and I wished I could comfort and save her from such a horrible fate.

[–] Shaolin_Apu 11 years ago

She was a bit 'wooden' but considering the circumstances you could overlook it.

Nostalgy should be called nausealgy.

[–] Wuchak (8079) 6 years ago

It was like she had three facial expressions: happy, sad, and blank. Her tone of voice was almost constantly the same, no matter what dialogue she was delivering... she kind of ruined the movie for me

Incredibly, Leelee was only 15 years-old during shooting. She has her own unique style, like John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Jack Nicholson. You either roll with it or you don't.

I found her convincing. She struck me as a late teen who had the temerity and austerity of a proverbial "mission from God" to unite the French and motivate them in battle.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 6 years ago

I've liked her ever since I saw her in Joan of Arc, all those years ago. It's a shame she's basically retired now.

[–] Wuchak (8079) 6 years ago

I'm trying to remember the last movie I saw her in and the only one that comes to mind is "The Wicker Man" (2006). So, yeah, she's been absent from the acting scene for a while.

[–] Xenopharb (617) 6 years ago

Leelee Sobieski had many roles through 2009 but only a few since.

Wooden? Maybe, but how do we know Joan of Arc wasn't wooden?

[–] Wuchak (8079) 6 years ago

Wooden? Maybe, but how do we know Joan of Arc wasn't wooden?

Good point.

[–] Xenopharb (617) 6 years ago

I mean, she was easily burned at the stake.

[–] Xenopharb (617) 6 years ago

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