General Discussion

BarackTheVote

(938 posts)

67. All that matters is the performance

Wed Jan 9, 2013, 03:48 PM

Jan 2013

The actor is merely an instrument, a complex, finely-tuned instrument, granted. But all that matters is the performance that flows through the actor. This is why I generally avoid the tabloids, and why I don't do a lot of research on actors, other than maybe to see what other movies they've been in, but that just to judge their capacity. Daniel Day-Lewis is a chameleon, a real actor, a serious actor; he was right for the part and that is literally all that is important.

As for the rest of it... Bill Murray and Brad Pitt are two of our best living actors, as far as their capacity to perform goes. They need the right director and the right script, and they need to be pushed out of their comfort zone. But once all that's accomplished, they are phenomenal. And Natural Born Killers is one of the best movies of the 90s.

In short:

Your argument is invalid.

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Thought-provoking article: "What 'Lincoln' misses and another Civil War film gets right".... [View all] OldDem2012 Jan 2013 OP

This is the reason why I WILL NOT see 'Lincoln' Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #1

I won't see Lincoln because I dislike an plethoro Jan 2013 #10

Xenophobic much? ButterflyBlood Jan 2013 #12

I reserve the right to select specific actors for that plethoro Jan 2013 #21

I'm with you Orrex Jan 2013 #23

Well, Superman is a fantasy character, so that doesn't bother me as much. With Lincoln, he is plethoro Jan 2013 #31

I know what you're saying, but it's just not an issue for me Orrex Jan 2013 #33

For me, it's just Lincoln. And just the same country. Let me give you an plethoro Jan 2013 #36

Ok, you're drifting into "that's just weird" territory Orrex Jan 2013 #47

I agree with your first paragraph--not the second. A man born of another country playing an American plethoro Jan 2013 #52

All that matters is the performance BarackTheVote Jan 2013 #67

If it is your opinion that Natural Born Killers was one the best movies of the 90s, we plethoro Jan 2013 #69

Your comments are getting Bainbridge Bear Jan 2013 #93

for someone who was an extra, you really miss the point of ACTING Skittles Jan 2013 #105

Lewis nailed Lincoln's voice sarge43 Jan 2013 #116

he did great Skittles Jan 2013 #117

Superb character actors are Britain's greatest export. sarge43 Jan 2013 #119

Thomas Cromwell is a hero of yours? muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #43

What does that have to do with it? Thomas Moore was an English hero in England. Lincoln was an plethoro Jan 2013 #49

I've never heard anyone call Thomas Cromwell a hero before muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #50

My fault. I meant Thomas Moore not Thomas Cromwell. I am conversing with Cromwell on plethoro Jan 2013 #53

Yes, Thomas Cromwell. That's why I talked about his 'master', ie Henry VIII, muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #54

I mean Thomas Moore. Sorry, I'm conversing with Cromwell from America Speaks plethoro Jan 2013 #55

Thomas More presided over burning of heretics too zazen Jan 2013 #56

Well, in More's mind the heretics represented those not of plethoro Jan 2013 #59

oh, I'm well aware of the historical context zazen Jan 2013 #60

Good.......nft plethoro Jan 2013 #63

"More." :-) WinkyDink Jan 2013 #74

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the land. Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, musket in his hand Bucky Jan 2013 #82

What have you against Lady Gaga? graham4anything Jan 2013 #103

by the way,Jesus did not look like Brad Pitt. More likely Billy Dee Williams.(Lando, Star Wars) graham4anything Jan 2013 #104

Well played. pampango Jan 2013 #86

No. The casting director reserves that right. You only get to second guess it. Heidi Jan 2013 #99

Really? You reserve that right? Lol! So, who's funding your movie and when's it coming out? Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2013 #108

Lol, silly! Logical Jan 2013 #66

I'm with you on that one. Aristus Jan 2013 #76

Only a Dane can perform Hamlet? sarge43 Jan 2013 #111

Anthony Hopkins played Nixon Blue_Tires Jan 2013 #83

That must be one of the silliest and most childish posts I've seen on DU DavidDvorkin Jan 2013 #85

I somehow relish your gratuitous reply. Maybe it's because plethoro Jan 2013 #92

You are compounding the foolishness. DavidDvorkin Jan 2013 #95

I'll defer to your post count and its plethoro Jan 2013 #96

the real problem is thinking Quentin Tarentino is an artiste'. No, he is not graham4anything Jan 2013 #106

Well, David, I went to see Lincoln. You were plethoro Jan 2013 #98

My daughter ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #15

Rebel? She was more educated than the teacher Demeter Jan 2013 #19

I invested a great deal of time and effort ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #24

You must have been a very busy 1StrongBlackMan! Cracklin Charlie Jan 2013 #28

So instead of turning to the class and saying, "See, this is what you are supposed to do. jtuck004 Jan 2013 #45

Ha! Love it! You've got one smart and wise daughter. nt historylovr Jan 2013 #30

Your teacher forgot to ask her... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #46

Except ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #51

Bravo!! You are raising her right Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #77

your daughter is my kind of gal Skittles Jan 2013 #118

I think the movie focuses on one aspect of Lincoln el_bryanto Jan 2013 #20

the historian in the CNN video questions their portrayal of the 13th amendment battle Enrique Jan 2013 #32

you are judging Dyedinthewoolliberal Jan 2013 #57

Doesn't matter Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #78

"His real plan" Democracyinkind Jan 2013 #102

I watched the first episode last night. sadbear Jan 2013 #2

A great series so far; it hasn't received much publicity that I've seen. eppur_se_muova Jan 2013 #4

Uhhh...ya think? Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #5

And Washington and Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves. Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #3

Abigail received a slave as gift or inheritance. John said no slave will ever live in my house. jody Jan 2013 #6

John Adams was a northerner. He did not live from cotton or the other crops of the South. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #42

It appears the growth of a technological economy will divide those with intellectual abilities in jody Jan 2013 #58

Are you suggesting that slavery or the master/servant relationship is inevitable in the workplace. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #88

I said nothing about a "master/servant relationship" only the impact of a technological economy. jody Jan 2013 #90

Actually, in some human produced disaster, brawn could well be just as important as brains. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #91

+100. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #71

No they were not saints, sdfernando Jan 2013 #7

And Adams became the first tyrannical President Larkspur Jan 2013 #8

Agree re the Acts but it wasn't clear how a president should use the veto. Washington @2, Adams @0, jody Jan 2013 #13

You need to read "The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family" Peace Patriot Jan 2013 #62

Thank you. Sounds like a good book (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #97

Can you provide documentation of the Jefferson-as-rapist claim? Orrex Jan 2013 #68

I do not believe that a woman who is a slave can truly consent to sex with her master. Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #70

So, you're speculating. Got it. Orrex Jan 2013 #72

Ummm.... yes, I'm speculating. For some reason I never saw the video surveillance footage. Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #73

Cute, but it's curious that you're so confident of your verdict Orrex Jan 2013 #75

Here's some FACTS that might help you out (along with some contextualizing speculation) Bucky Jan 2013 #84

No evidence Jefferson raped Sally Hemings and . . . DeltaLitProf Jan 2013 #100

Spielberg's film gives a non human view of Lincoln, I'll tolerate his faults knowing the good... uponit7771 Jan 2013 #9

Wish I had known about it last night JustAnotherGen Jan 2013 #11

You can watch it online... progressoid Jan 2013 #16

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jan 2013 #14

Good lord! I saw Lincoln and I loved it! An excellent MOVIE not a documentary rustydog Jan 2013 #17

Jesus, it was over 100 years ago! Lincoln's world was not the 21st Century RVN VET Jan 2013 #18

I agree with the bulk of what you say. EOTE Jan 2013 #26

There Were Others erpowers Jan 2013 #37

Bear in mind... Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #22

So in that same instance Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #79

The IQ in this place just sinks like a stone.... Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #81

I'm not excusing anything, but we're all flawed markmac Jan 2013 #25

Lincoln was a product of his time. We should surprised that he held belief's common to that time. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2013 #27

Yes, I read that Lincoln did not recycle aluminum, tin, paper, glass and cardboard either. The Midway Rebel Jan 2013 #29

OMG! Politicalboi Jan 2013 #34

And not one reference to his vampire killings either! nt Mnemosyne Jan 2013 #61

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Oy! First off, let's separate Lincoln the man from Lincoln the politician... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #38

Thank you, Moonwalk. mlevans Jan 2013 #41

No vampires were slain filming this movie Brother Buzz Jan 2013 #39

Watching the first episode as I type this.... WCGreen Jan 2013 #40

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... For the first time in my life, and I suppose the first time in any colored man's life, struggle4progress Jan 2013 #114