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!

[–] lavashop 11 years ago

Well, unlike you, I actively seek out Nicole's work and her body of work has been extensive.
She has that special quality that so many producers and directors look for and want her in their movies.
I am glad that you are slowly warming up to her.
It's something we Nicole fans have been saying all these years.

[–] Bree_33 11 years ago

I think she is an interesting actress, very brave and versatile. I loved her in: To Die For, Eyes Wide Shut, The Others, Rabbit Hole & The Paperboy.

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[–] pd78w 11 years ago

Sofia Vergara (Gloria in Modern Family) was originally cast as Charlotte Bless. That she was replaced by Nicole Kidman made this movie decidedly more watchable, and maybe even saved the film itself.

[–] cool_cath123 11 years ago

I respect your opinion, but have you seen some of her performances in movies such as moulin rouge, dogville, rabbit hole, to die for, the others, fur. Nicole Kidman is a fantastic actress in my opinion.

But I do agree that her performance in The Paperboy is one of the best we've seen from her.

-“In life, It's difficult to succeed, but it's even harder to maintain this success.”- Naomi Watts.

[–] debrah-nava 11 years ago

I think Nicole was great in this movie, The Paperboy. I think some have forgotten a couple of other movies that she was excellent in, The Human Stain and Cold Mountain. She seems to be an better actress in those roles which calls out for a whole lot of vulnerabilities.

'those who were seen dancing were thought insane by those who could not hear the music'-Nietzsche

[–] bpollen 11 years ago

I've always thought she's an excellent actress. One of her best: To Die For - I think that was the name. The true story of the pretty young teacher married to a nice guy who gets some of her high school students to murder her husband. She nailed that character.

But she's been in some bad movies. She's made some bad choices. And she chooses too many so-called artsy films that are just weird. Her strong point are these wacko but pretty women roles. She knows those characters and does them well.

[–] juxtapose70 11 years ago

She's an okay actress. But I doubt she would've ever been much of anything without Cruise putting her in the spotlight -first with Far And Away.

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. What the hell did she do to her lips? The last two films I've seen her in ...her lips entered the room before she did.

"...I have nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?"

[–] lil_Scuba 11 years ago

People are so obsessed with her surgeries!

[–] fluffchop 9 years ago

I doubt she would've ever been much of anything without Cruise putting her in the spotlight

She'd be NOTHING without Tom Cruise. She owes him EVERYTHING. When they got divorced I thought it might finally have been the end of her pseudo-career.

The only movie she ever did well was To Die For. The reason being she was hardly acting because that's close to what she's like.

---
Scientologists love Narnia, there's plenty of closet space.

[–] activista 9 years ago

#fluffchop

Are you serious? Kidman was already acting and doing movies YEARS before she met Cruise. She was already on the rise when she met him, and certainly didn't need him to bolster her career. And she really brought her character in THE PAPERBOY alive---you really like her, even though she's misguided, and hope things go well for her--and,yeah, this was one of the better roles I've seen from Kidman lately.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] serenaylee 8 years ago

The only movie she ever did well was To Die For. The reason being she was hardly acting because that's close to what she's like.

And you know this - how?

[–] Princess_Ashmi 11 years ago

I agree, I thought she'd be her irritating, breathy self but she was surprisingly good. Did a pretty good southern accent too.

Ashmi any question

[–] jarredfosbery 10 years ago

I've been burned so many times by thinking 'maybe her role is simple', 'maybe the director sees that she is only a hot/smart woman learning to act'. I cant trust her yet. I just keep flashing back to her last scene in the interpreter and wincing.

[–] AidaClarkfield 10 years ago

I want to make a possibly controversial suggestion. When she is doing an accent, whether Australian or Southern, she is much more relaxed, and natural. This is a constant syndrome that I have noticed in a variety of British or Australian actors.
So...my thoughts.