Joaquin Phoenix left the best impression to me throughout the whole movie.
Perhaps that includes his character that is more dynamic than Marion's, which is especially visible near the end of the movie.
The first part seemed a little slow to me, but after perhaps one third of the movie, it started drawing my attention.
- The power of free entertainment - http://bit.ly/1g2enyY
umm no, the movie is all Marion. Phoenix is really great with what was given tho
shareAs great an actor that he is, I think he was quite sub-par in this role, though no fault of his own.....the script and his character was very bland, and I think this confined him some what. Still a good performance though, he's a terrific actor.
shareI thought it was his worst role ever.
Kaia N. Tucker
I'm not sure it's his worst, but I felt I could see his acting gears turning.
I saw it twice and still felt the same...not in every scene, but enough to be distracting.
It's a shame. The film is beautiful and and I liked so much about it.
"a malcontent who knows how to spell"
I felt the same way and was disappointed. Especially in the scene when he introduces the girls on stage, you can watch him "acting."
Now, the farther the film went on and the more complicated his character became, the better his performance was--but I think that's because "complicated" is Joaq's wheelhouse. Haha.
I read an article in which James Grey didn't like the idea of swapping Renner and Joaquin for the roles but I think it would have elevated the film. For as many films as they have done together, I don't think Grey understands Phoenix. Renner would have made a great Bruno. I think he would have played him much more sympathetic at the end. And Joaq would have made a great Orlando. He could have played him much more charming and boyish in my opinion while still having questionable motives.
But I agree that this was MC's film. She just shines.
That scene on stage was meant to show how bad Bruno was as a showman. He's supposed to look awkward and amateurish.
That scene worked.
I was thinking more about the scene meant to show Bruno's mercurial nature when he confronted Ewa about the theft.
It just seemed forced to me.
"a malcontent who knows how to spell"
I thought he was supposed to be a good showman. It was mentioned that the theater was losing business to movies which I thought was supposed to be an indication that he had been successful but was in a slowing business. Also the pull he had with guards at Ellis Island should suggest he was a good businessman.
Jo
A little messed up but we're all alright.
I agree. I thought his character was supposed to be confident and a good showman but Joaq didn't come across that way.
***
Truth be told, I had to see you one more time, even if it was from a distance.
Well when he was playing Ewa at Ellis Island he was very confident. I don't remember him being very awkward when he introduced the girls at the theater. When they were in the park he was noticeably awkward but I am assuming that was because his world was shattering. I might have to re-watch the theater scenes again.
Jo
A little messed up but we're all alright.
Awkward in his movement and amateurish in his performance. Bruno thinks himself very good at what he does.
James Gray even took issue with that interpretation as an indication of poor acting. The British critics interpreted it as bad acting by Phoenix.
Bruno thinks he is indispensable, along with his girls. He thinks he is bringing the audience in. He says so.
"a malcontent who knows how to spell"
Burlesque theater in the early 20s is so campy and corny by today's standards. Bruno was a man of his generation; his presentation of the women on the stage was meant to entice the audience but we, the audience 100 years later, see his failings. Bruno's failings, not Joaquin's. Joaquin did an excellent job of portraying Bruno's embarrassing showmanship.
shareAgree.
Bruno is first and foremost a pimp. He does the stage schtick to show off his wares.
"a malcontent who knows how to spell"
exactly! i thought Joaquin was brilliant in that scene, it's bad acting by Bruno not Joaquin.. it's supposed to look campy and awkward
shareI thought he was terrible when he confronted Ewa about the money.. also in the scene where he (spoilers) kills Orlando. It just seemed forced and overplayed; his voice quavering being the major dissolution. Even my hubby noticed it... I guess Phoenix is best when he's playing a drunk (2 of his best movies) or a "fake" cokehead, or the total opposite: a calm and depressed character with no personality as á la Her.
When there is no more room on IMDB, the trolls will wheel to 4chan.
I thought he was great in this film. Phoenix always plays the "villain part" great, and he is wonderful when he shows his vulnerability too. He breaks my heart every time.
The Divine Genealogy Goddess
I was thinking more about the scene meant to show Bruno's mercurial nature when he confronted Ewa about the theft.
It just seemed forced to me.
bluesdoctor nails it, and worth repeating: "Phoenix is the best thing about this movie, as he was in Walk the Line and Two Lovers. He's especially surprising and excellent in the last act. His transformation is not only credible, but profound and moving."
Life is a state of mind.
[deleted]
I agree with one of the previous posters that he wasn't too convincing as a charismatic showman but otherwise he did a good job, the final scene especially was powerfully acted.
FYC - ICC Awards 2014: http://oi62.tinypic.com/2mg0cbt.jpg
I think the fact that he didn't come off as a charismatic showman was deliberate. To me it was as though Bruno saw himself as some kind smooth operator, a big man on campus so to speak, but in actuality he was socially awkward and a pathetic schlub.
shareAbsolutely. Bruno didn't realize how bad he was, but his real purpose was to show his "wares".
a malcontent who knows how to spell
I think the fact that he didn't come off as a charismatic showman was deliberate. To me it was as though Bruno saw himself as some kind smooth operator, a big man on campus so to speak, but in actuality he was socially awkward and a pathetic schlub.
Phoenix was great. I didn't think so at first but then you see a new facet of his character come to light in the last third of the film that really lifts it as a whole. You're really surprised as a viewer to suddenly start feeling sad for him near the end.
shareI thought that all the performances were great, but loved Phoenix's the most. He was all the right degrees of charming, sleazy and self-loathing.
share