MovieChat Forums > Lonely Hearts (2006) Discussion > About Salma Hayek's Martha Beck...

About Salma Hayek's Martha Beck...

posted 17 years ago by rojoazulx
14 replies | jump to latest

I've read several of your comments saying that Hayek was miscast because the real Martha was overweight (230 pounds) and she was not Hispanic either.

One of you mentioned Charlize Theron in MONSTER, for which she won the Oscar in 2004. Well...let me ask you a question: Isn't far more challenging to portray someone without turning "physically" into the character?

I'm still mad that Theron won that Oscar for "imitating" the real killer. She did not rely so much on her acting skills, but those extra pounds, that make-up and constume helped her a BIG DEAL. She only transformed "physically" into the killer...but not emotionally. That OSCAR should have gone to Naomi Watts, who was breathtaking and electrifying in 21 GRAMS.

But now, Hayek did not have to go through a "physical" change in order to give a scary, intense, high-votile performance. She does not "imitate" Martha Beck, she becomes her. Yeah! She is beautiful, but she's rotten from the inside! Her performance is raw, powerful, and madly intense. And where does all of this come from? This comes from Martha's internal conflicts. How can someone so beautiful be so rotten?

Hayek delivers the performance of a lifetime! I hope this time she's not ignored by the awards just like she was for ASK THE DUST, another fine performance from her.

Honestly, Salma Hayek wasn't one of my favorite actresses, but she's grown so much and proven that she's not just a bomb shell, but a real actress as well.

My predictions so far:

Best Supporting Actress= Salma Hayek for "Lonely Hearts".

She, at least, deserves a nomination.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] cloudyski 17 years ago

" by - TinaStar on Sat Apr 14 2007 04:41:50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I understand you arguments,rojoazulx,but what you need to understand is that the appearance of Martha Beck was essential to explain her insecurity into holding on to a man and her jealousy.Because she was morbidly obese in real life,she was seen as undesirable and desperation was more alert.

Because Salma Hayek s Martha is beautiful,it makes no sense her motivations.This role should have been played by someone like Camryn Manheim.
"

I disagree. Even beautiful women can be insecure and have severe mental probs.

[–] gryffindor249 17 years ago

The thing is, there are so few leading roles for overweight women and I don't think they can justify having an absolute knockout Latina play an obese WASP woman whose physical appearance is well-documented. In a Hollywood where a woman who is a size 4 is considered "fat" how could they cast such a bombshell and take an opportunity away from an overweight actress. As another posted said, Camryn Manheim would have been a terrific choice.

Having said that, I must admit that Hayak gave one hell of a performance, but it was in the wrong movie. I would love to see her play a true femme fatale in a neo-noir flick. But everyone, EVERYONE should check out "The Honeymoon Killers" to get an accurate depiction of who and what Martha Beck was.

[–] Nawlins44 17 years ago

Kathy Bates would have been perfect for this role. Salma Hayek is way out of line here. But it's about selling tickets not telling a good story.

[–] break79 17 years ago

Sure Kathy Bates would have worked in this role.....as Raymond's MOTHER !!!

[–] EarlWeber 17 years ago

Should check out a movie called "The Honeymoon Killers" circa 1968...

It's a raw version of the same true story. Martha Beck was a 'morbidly obese', lonely nurse who lactches onto a con man. Accoding to this version of the film - the decision to begin killing was not planned out; it just grew out of their relationship - whatever it was. The real events took place in the late forties (1948?) My only criticism of teh film was it seemed more like it was 1968 - instead of 1948 - in the flavor of the film. Also, this was Martin Scorsese's first job as a director - buy was fired after a day (or a week?)

Why they cast Selma Hayek for the role - makes no sense? Unless she put on weight and toned down her natural beauty. Jared Leto? I guess it's all about the pretty faces. The real couple were hardly attractive. Ray was bald/balding & even wore a hairpiece (not that balding is unattractive - just that he looked like a ding-a-ling.)

[–] PhoenixFire07 12 years ago

Jared Leto's hair was made up to appear to be balding and his Raymond also wore a hairpiece. Definitely not one of Jared's more attractive roles. Selma still looked beautiful, though.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] act928 15 years ago

I always admired Salma Hayek for her beauty. I watched Frieda and wasn't that impressed but in this she really wowed me. This is definately her best performance. She proved she's really an actress. I would love to see her in different roles like this. Usually she's just this bombshell but in this, yes she had depth, character, everything. She changed definately into a different person we're use to. Wow! She should have won an oscar or at least have been nominated. WOW!! I'm now a huge fan now.

[–] oceena 15 years ago

Having seen 'The Honeymoon Killers' (1968) and reading information about this couple, it's difficult to see the beautiful Selma Hayek in this role. Did you notice how many times the camera stayed on her swaying ass?
The real Martha was born with a medical condition that rendered her obese (300 pounds). She was also unattractive. When Ray first met Martha and to his surprise, he found himself turned on by her large frame. It's been noted that part of the reason Martha murdered was to 'get even' with thin women for making fun of her all of her life. Her large size also intimidated many of the woman she and Ray charmed.
She had difficulty getting jobs as a nurse because of her weight and hated thin women for getting the jobs for which she was qualified. Her first 'nursing' job was working in a funeral home preparing the bodies. This was very upsetting to her.
Her weight did play a significant role in their lives and should have been depicted in the movie.

[–] loviatar9 14 years ago

I'm having a real hard time with the people who think Selma Hayek was so amazing in this film. One of the reviewers said something about her performance being Oscar-winning! Now, don't get me wrong... I like Hayek alot, both as an actress and as an incredibly hot female. But I think both she and Leto were badly miscast in this movie. I agree with the poster who blamed it on the desire for "pretty faces". I think Hollywood really missed the boat on this one.

Like "oceena", I saw "The Honeymoon Killers" and have read a bit about the real couple. Everything she (?) says is right on the money. Being overweight was the main motivating factor in Martha Beck's life. So who on god's green earth decided that Selma Hayek should play this character? The voice-over in the film points out "she was damaged goods" as she's sitting there waiting to meet Ray for the first time in person. She didn't look damaged to me! She looked far too attractive to be projecting the internal strife of Martha Beck.

If it was only internal turmoil and emotional instability that she needed to portray then acting, (and wardrobe too, btw) could have overcome the huge difference between Beck & Hayek but SOMETIMES an actors physical appearance must match the character's. I think that fact was far more important in this movie than in "Monster" (for example). It's no fault of Hayek's nor a lack in her acting ability. Meryl Streep is an amazing actress but I wouldn't want to see her cast as the lead in a movie about Shaquille O'Neal.

[–] dirtbunny199 9 years ago

I haven't seen "The Honeymoon Killers" but would like to as it sounds interesting & much closer to the real story. I was familiar with this couple from watching true crime shows on DiscoveryID so I was shocked to see someone as stunning as Salma Hayek playing Martha. She didn't even try to tone down her beauty - she was the same gorgeous gal she always is, which couldn't have been further from the truth to what Martha looked like in real life. I think a heavy set actress would've been a better choice because like it or not, Martha's obesity was part of her identity & part of what drove her to kill other women. She hated thin women & got off in killing them with Ray. Seeing beautiful little Salma as Martha was very odd to me since I knew what Martha really looked like.

I thought Salma was very good in this movie as was Jared Leto but contrary to what a few other posters have said, I wouldn't exactly call her performance Oscar worthy.

[–] screenscreams 13 years ago

The least they could have done was put fat makeup and a fat suit on Salma.

[–] pullomeri-1 11 years ago

Well Salmas ass and tits should be a nominee every year.

In Vino Veritas.