MovieChat Forums > The Paperboy (2012) Discussion > I am hesitantly suggesting that Nicole K...

I am hesitantly suggesting that Nicole Kidman's acting improved...

posted 11 years ago by normabette
39 replies | jump to latest

I often avoided movies just because Nicole Kidman was in them, because I found her acting to be so distractingly awful (and while she continued to be cast in leading roles and acclaimed for her performances). I was always especially befuddled because she seemed to be objectively considered as a "good" actress and I wondered why she didn't get better with all the amazing opportunities she was given to practice and challenge herself.

In the past couple of years I have seen her in a few films, including Rabbit Hole and the comedy with Dave Matthews/Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston (can't remember its title) in which i have thought "her acting is getting better in that i don't think she ruins a movie anymore - she just blends in with everyone else and does an acceptable job on par with the others".

The Paperboy, however, is the first film in which i have actually thought she is great! She no longer seems cold or contrived or wooden. She seems to have accessed her own vulnerabilities and it suits her to be an early 40s hot mess. She doesn't seem like she's pretending, she's actually revealing herself.

I'm really just impressed that she's embraced her good fortune and gotten better!

[–] Mr-Dedlock 11 years ago

I’ve been a fan of her work for a quite some time but her role in this film is just something else, Kidman expertly portrayed Charlotte’s desperation, stupidity, cunning, self loathing, self destructive and angelic nature in a very poignant and gut wrenching manner.

During that rape scene, you visibly can see, hear and feel how much pain , revulsion and anguish she is in but at the same time she makes you understand that this is what Charlotte believes she deserves. After the traumatic event hearing her in agony mumbling I don’t want to go live in the swamp made my heart shatter.

Somebody else said it perfectly she manages to portray Charlottes hellish anguish and angelic demeanor with such bravura, her performance has been haunting me for a couple of months now.

“If anyone’s gonna pee on him, it’s gonna be me,” Nicole Kidman-The Paperboy 2012.

[–] sjs03-1 11 years ago

I agree. I too avoided films that she was in, but I was intrigues by the one, due to liking Lee Daniels and the rest of the cast. Kidman can actually act in this one, she deserves some accolades but the part is probably too controversial for her to get any. She may still get a SAG or a Golden Globe though.

"In the depths of Winter, I finally found that within me, there lay an invincible Summer"

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[–] slobone 11 years ago

She was also really good in Birthday Girl, which I guess not many people have seen. She seems to be more at home playing slutty/psycho characters than in hoity toity stuff like The Hours (which needless to say is the one the Academy loved).

[–] Clearlylosingit 11 years ago

Kidman was wonderful in To Die For, Dogville, Rabbit Hole, The Others, Eyes Wide Shut, and Birth. With proper direction she can be a great performer. This was an awful and surprisingly dull movie that she made watchable.

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[–] normabette 11 years ago

You make a point that I will reflect on.

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[–] billpeter 11 years ago

In this film she's like a young(ish), bottle-blonde Ann Margaret. That's great as far as I'm concerned.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

[–] billpeter 11 years ago

Sorry, Margret; http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_psyaKGj1os4/TDnxuxEHnxI/AAAAAAAABLM/_nyYEy-cJpE/s640/ann-margaret-005.jpg

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

[–] VoulezVous100 11 years ago

You are forgetting she was in TO DIE FOR which reminded me alot of her acting in the Paperboy. Don't be mistaken, she has acted badly in many films over the years but did do some great work earlier on like TO DIE FOR and DOGVILLE. Biggest problem for Kidman in recent years was her decision to take so many bad films in a row which shot her to "BOX OFFICE POISON" status. They included Stepford Wives, Bewitched, The Interpreter and Birth. Plus she became laughing stock from all the botox work and plastic surgery - this caused many issues as she was unable to express emotion in her face. The media had a field day with that. Apparently she has stopped using botox and is learning to age gracefully, but it will be hard for her as she is extremely vain.

She is quite good in the Paperboy, just a pity the film overall is a pointless waste of time.

[–] lil_Scuba 11 years ago

She's always been amazing and hasn't changed her style much at all, as one poster already said.

You're full of *beep*

[–] Clearlylosingit 11 years ago

Did people just forget that she was nominated for an Oscar two years ago for Rabbit Hole? Though I know very few saw that movie.

[–] VoulezVous100 11 years ago

Rabbit Hole was OK, her acting was average though. As the person I saw it with said "what? you mean she was nominated for an Oscar for that? Her acting was average at best".
Rabbit Hole just didn't work properly overall. Based on a play, probably better on stage than on film.

[–] Clearlylosingit 11 years ago

Eh, I thought she did very good work in RH. She was my favorite nominee of that year after Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Ball. It's a pretty basic, not very impressive domestic drama, but her performance was pensive and grounded.

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[–] lindugh 10 years ago

Nicole is great in everything she does. I became a huge fan when she did To Die For. She was awesome in Rabbit Hole too. Wish she'd stop messing with her face.

[–] vandyke50 11 years ago

I can't believe any true film lover would criticize Nicole Kidman!
Maybe count the awards she has received from the industry and her peers!
Her range is truly amazing, not one actor ever does all great films but they still
can create great characters.