kongisking said:
Yeah, the best case scenario is him making a RDJ-style turnaround, but it seems highly unlikely.
Oh, I think it's possible. And that as bright as RDJ's future looks, scenario's don't have to stop there. They (scenarios) can/do get even better than that.
Funny you should mention RDJ. A lot of people used to think he was too far gone, and a has-been. I remember I was glancing at a story about him, in a magazine,
when he was going through his drug problems, and troubles with the law. I felt compassion for him, and literally felt led by God to pray for deliverance for him, his life, his spirit, and all the trials he was going through.
Not with an attitude of "oh, look at the poor celebrity, and feel sorry for him", and not an attitude of "pray for him because he's a celebrity, and more important than others". And I certainly didn't have an attitude of looking down on him, as if I thought I am more or less worthy (I state these things to make sure, I'm abundantly clear).
No, quite the contrary. I felt such compassion for him, and a desire for reconciliation and healing in his life, that it moved me to tears (I feel quite vulnerable sharing this, but we're all human, and surely have thoughts/feelings that transcend our love of cinema, and all things Indy. And I think that sometimes the deeper subjects are worth mentioning).
Well you can imagine how thrilled I am for Robert Downey Jr, seeing his career, and possibly his life turn around! All, while playing one of my favorite super heroes to boot!!
I already believed he was/is one of the finest actor's of our generation. And I don't know where he's at in life, but I hope/think he's better than before. I'm thoroughly convinced Someone is looking out for him. And I suspect RDJ's been taking the high road lately (And not the one to China).
Originally posted by [highlight]Moedred[/highlight]
Shia hasn't hit rock bottom (cocaine and heroin) like Robert Downey Jr, and has avoided public drunken scuffles lately (knock on wood). Like Richard Dreyfuss, he was in some blockbusters and can do whatever he wants for the rest of his life. Working with aging legends (Oliver Stone, Robert Redford) if a good move for now.
It's true that Shia doesn't seem to have all the same battles as RDJ, although his extreme method style, and compulsive/kneejerk behavior, seem to be red flags that he's not out of the wood's yet, (especially when combining this with growing up with a father whom Shia has stated used to sell illegal drugs).
No, Shia's trials seem to be more of a matter of public image. And quite frankly, I don't think it matters what I, or anybody else thinks. Even before doing Blockbusters, Shia was free to do what he wants. Unfortunately for him, like it or not, public image does matter to some degree, in whether, or not an actor continues to have a career, and what form that career takes.
You can start out with your face alone opening blockbusters, and then wind up, starring in After Dark movies, or Sharktopus, wondering how you got there in the first place. He could start off with his movies selling a lot of Popcorn. And then wind up with just him. In the lobby. Selling a lot of popcorn. And some of his behaviour as of the last few years, are potential career killers.
Moedred said:
I think he overstated the lengths he would go for the moonshine scene in Lawless and the sex scene here, which will probably be tamer than some of us feared
Perhaps, ....hopefully. I tend to appreciate, and have used method acting myself. Even, one of my all time fav's Daniel Day Lewis is said to be method, and i can only assume Method Man is method (duh). But sometimes an actor needs to reel it in, and remember "this is
link."
Btw, all this method acting can make one wonder if Shia asked to be Donkey-punched in the groin, so that he could truly feel like the vines were pelting him, in the Jungle Chase scene, in KOTCS.
Imagine if Tony Hopkins, (another fave) of mine, had felt he needed to cut a person's liver out, and eat it with Farva beans, and a nice Chianti, in order to truly convey the character of Hannibal Lecter. Acting tutorial books actually do warn and instruct actors, in being careful not to lose one's self in a role so much, that they have trouble discerning reality.
If someone merely imitates,or acts as though they're having sex with someone, they are still only acting, and haven't actually done it.
But even if it's for the sake of a movie, if the actor actually has sex, be it Shia, or a stunt double, while they may use acting to convey they liked, or hated it, they have still actually done the deed. Essentially the same as filming porn, or physically being unfaithful to their girlfriend/ wife.
I liked Shia from the beginning, and i still hold out hope, and wish great things for him. But for his sake, I hope he doesn't have to learn the hardway. Actors with greater talent, have had their careers derailed over smaller things. And Shia has had his share of detractors from the get go. He's free to act how he wants. And he's free to reap the results of that.
I feel we shouldn't give up on people, and I'm personally convinced there's a God that holds out hope for us, always sees, and believes the best for us, and never gives up on us. Doing everything to make the way for us, and I'm thankful for that, cause man, do I need it too.
In regards to turnaround seeming unlikely, I think kong's mention of RDJ is a great example. When talking turnaround, from purely a career perspective, I submit the exhibit B) of John Travolta. He's been an acting failure, and success so many times, that Hollywood has dubbed him the comeback kid! I guess it also doesn't hurt to have a few friend's at Mindf- head.
Originally posted by [highlight]Finn[/highlight]
The word is that von Trier will add stunt genitals on the actors via digital composition to create the illusion of unsimulated sex.
*sigh* So it's yet another movie for LaBeouf that allows people to complain that CGI has taken over actual human-made performance.
BWAAHAHA! Well that works out great, that they're using fake cgi genitals, that way they can give him fake herpes, or maybe have the Blaire Monster, from John Carpenter's The Thing nuzzle him, and no one gets hurt, except maybe their feelings
link.
I can assure you, that's one digital effect I won't be scrutinizing ad nauseum
Thank you, NO. Pass. Steering clear of that one. I'll take your word for it.
Although, maybe it's lucky for Shia, that they're using digital and/or stunt genitalia, because I seem to remember certain KGB agent skilled in psychic warfare saying that he does "it" "like a young man. Eaguurr to begeen, qweek to veenish"