The Real Deal
January 27th 2008 18:33
There are so many films based on actual events, inspired by true stories, etc, etc, ad nauseum, etc. Often it’s a load of bollocks – creative licence is used a smidge too creatively, events are ‘enhanced’ slightly for the sake of drama and happy endings, or history is just totally rewritten by Hollywood. But what sets quite a few of these films apart, whatever the take on the tale, is an utterly stunning portrayal of someone we all know.
Here are some of the instances where actors are truly keeping it real.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: Truman Capote in Bennett Miller’s Capote
Anyone who has seen Truman Capote; observed his mannerisms, heard him speak – will know that Hoffman’s transformation into the effete and rather self-absorbed creator of Holly Golightly is nothing short of genius. Credit also to Catherine Keener as Harper Lee.
Cate Blanchett: Queen Elizabeth I of England in Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth, Veronica Guerin in Joel Schumacher’s Veronica Guerin, Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There.
Whether it’s shaving her hairline, being wilful and Irish, playing other cinematic icons or becoming a man, Blanchett always seems to be up for a ‘real’ challenge – and it’s true she often wins.
Forrest Whitaker: Idi Amin in Kevin MacDonald’s The Last King of Scotland
Far from his days as giggling Ed Garlick in Good Morning Vietnam, Whitaker’s Academy Award winning portrayal of the charismatic, unpredictable and murderous dictator of Uganda is breathtaking.
Judi Dench and Jim Broadbent: Iris Murdoch and John Bayley in Richard Eyre’s Iris
Judi Dench is entrancing as the strange and singular novelist Iris Murdoch, capturing to perfection the unconventional, gleeful, cruel, heartrending vivacity of a woman whose brilliant mind was slowly stricken by the ravages of dementia. And Broadbent – obviously separated at birth from John Bayley (Murdoch’s husband and author of the compassionate and agonisingly honest Elegy For Iris, on which the film is based) – is a wonder to behold, absorbing every particle of Bayley’s gauche but genuinely devoted nature. Special mention also to Kate Winslet, who plays Iris in her youth.
Jamie Foxx: Ray Charles in Taylor Hackford’s Ray
He had every jerky motion, every stretched-wide smile, every soft-toned saying down. And – he can sing, though he doesn’t do so very often in this film.
Helen Mirren: Queen Elizabeth I in Tom Hooper’s Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears’ The Queen
Mirren certainly has a penchant for regal roles – she has played five different queens after all, but none so convincingly as these two magnificent majesties, despite their being not the least bit alike.
And other portrayals of real people, some a real success, some – not:
Who do you think is the real deal?
Michaelie Clark
Here are some of the instances where actors are truly keeping it real.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: Truman Capote in Bennett Miller’s Capote
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Capote - Image courtesy of geocities.com
Cate Blanchett: Queen Elizabeth I of England in Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth, Veronica Guerin in Joel Schumacher’s Veronica Guerin, Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There.
Whether it’s shaving her hairline, being wilful and Irish, playing other cinematic icons or becoming a man, Blanchett always seems to be up for a ‘real’ challenge – and it’s true she often wins.
Cate Blanchett and Bob Dylan - Image courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
Forrest Whitaker: Idi Amin in Kevin MacDonald’s The Last King of Scotland
Far from his days as giggling Ed Garlick in Good Morning Vietnam, Whitaker’s Academy Award winning portrayal of the charismatic, unpredictable and murderous dictator of Uganda is breathtaking.
Forrest Whitaker as Idi Amin - Image courtesy of guardian.co.uk
Judi Dench and Jim Broadbent: Iris Murdoch and John Bayley in Richard Eyre’s Iris
Judi Dench is entrancing as the strange and singular novelist Iris Murdoch, capturing to perfection the unconventional, gleeful, cruel, heartrending vivacity of a woman whose brilliant mind was slowly stricken by the ravages of dementia. And Broadbent – obviously separated at birth from John Bayley (Murdoch’s husband and author of the compassionate and agonisingly honest Elegy For Iris, on which the film is based) – is a wonder to behold, absorbing every particle of Bayley’s gauche but genuinely devoted nature. Special mention also to Kate Winslet, who plays Iris in her youth.
Jim Broadbent and Judi Dench in 'Iris' - Image courtesy of broadbent.org
Jamie Foxx: Ray Charles in Taylor Hackford’s Ray
He had every jerky motion, every stretched-wide smile, every soft-toned saying down. And – he can sing, though he doesn’t do so very often in this film.
Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles - Image courtesy of smh.com.au
Helen Mirren: Queen Elizabeth I in Tom Hooper’s Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears’ The Queen
Mirren certainly has a penchant for regal roles – she has played five different queens after all, but none so convincingly as these two magnificent majesties, despite their being not the least bit alike.
Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II - Image courtesy of azcentral.com
And other portrayals of real people, some a real success, some – not:
Anne Hathaway: Jane Austen in Julian Jarrold’s Becoming Jane
Joaquin Pheonix: Johnny Cash in James Mangold’s Walk The Line
Kirsten Dunst: Marie Antoinette in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette
Russell Crowe: John Forbes Nash in Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind
Nicole Kidman: Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s The Hours
Ben Kingsley: Mahatma Ghandi in Richard Attenborough’s Ghandi
Miranda Otto: Lindy Chamberlain in Through My Eyes
Will Smith: Mohammad Ali in Michael Mann’s Ali
Katharine Hepburn: Mary Stuart in John Ford’s Mary of Scotland
Liam Neeson: Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List
Gwyneth Paltrow: Sylvia Plath in Christine Jeffs’ Sylvia
Alan Rickman: Grigori Rasputin in Uli Edel’s Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny
Joaquin Pheonix: Johnny Cash in James Mangold’s Walk The Line
Kirsten Dunst: Marie Antoinette in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette
Russell Crowe: John Forbes Nash in Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind
Nicole Kidman: Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s The Hours
Ben Kingsley: Mahatma Ghandi in Richard Attenborough’s Ghandi
Miranda Otto: Lindy Chamberlain in Through My Eyes
Will Smith: Mohammad Ali in Michael Mann’s Ali
Katharine Hepburn: Mary Stuart in John Ford’s Mary of Scotland
Liam Neeson: Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List
Gwyneth Paltrow: Sylvia Plath in Christine Jeffs’ Sylvia
Alan Rickman: Grigori Rasputin in Uli Edel’s Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny
Who do you think is the real deal?
Michaelie Clark
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Comment by katyzzz
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Nothing to do over the weekend, Michaelie?
Go The Queen. She's REAL although often rumour would have us think otherwise.
Fancy me actually knowing something about any of this.
katyzzz
Comment by Chris Collings
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Forrest whitaker is just such a method actor, he really is believable in every film I see him in. And Helen Mirren, you should see her in prime suspect, that is even more impressive.
Chris
Comment by Mal
Mal
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
De Niro's Capone(Aunt-touchables).
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I just remember that Val Kilmer didn't do it for me as Jim Morrison.
But then again, I haven't watched it in years so I may think differently about it now.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
I've watched most from the list...and indeed did think that the portrayals were amazing -- such talent!
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I would add Bonnie and Clyde, Shine, Rudy, Selena, The insider, and Good Night and Good Luck
Mis
Great job
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Well, an Orbler's work is never done! Miss Golightly did get a mention, though our Orble lass was created by someone other than Capote... I imagine.
HAHAHA! Lucky I chucked Her Maj in there!
Thanks!
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I’ve seen an alarmingly low number of real-life films, or maybe I just can’t think of any at the moment. Hmm...
I definitely agree with your Capote choice, that was an excellent portrayal.
I’ll pop back if I can think of any others,
Tracy
PS Oh yes, I agree with Mrs M about Val Kilmer, he was lacklustre in that film.
Comment by Holly Go Lightly
Movie Mage
Holly..... you know the rest of it.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Forrest Whitaker really blew me away in The Last King of Scotland. He would laugh and I would actually feel fear - he just had that whole essence of irrational, dangerous charm so well played.
I can only imagine, from what I read, that Mirren is very tough and convincing in Prime Suspect. She seems to handle such a range of challenging roles almost effortlessly. I really liked her in The Comfort of Strangers.
Thanks Chris!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yes, Chopper probably does. Thank for giving him one...
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Follower of the Bouncer cult are we?
I think Ban Gazzaro gave Capone a good shot, and de Niro an even better one, but no-one has quite done him 'justice' yet. The Untouchables felt like it had something missing, to me.
Thanks!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I didn't mind The Doors, but honestly, Val Kilmer doesn't do much for me at the best of times. He's really unnecessarily strange in that movie where he's blind - At First Sight..?
Thank you!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Absolutely. I don't know that I would be thrilled exactly if I realised I could pull off looking like Bob Dylan or talking like Truman Capote, but you know - I'd deal with the fame, fortune and incredible talent I suppose! Playing a real person must put a lot of pressure on an actor though.
Thanks Lara!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Dammit, Shine was meant to be on there! That was an amazing role for Geoffrey Rush.
Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty for Bonnie and Clyde are good ones too.
I don't know Rudy, but Selena was one of J Lo's better performances.
Do you mean Russell Crowe's role in The Insider?
Thank you Mis!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I reckon the vast majority of them aren't worth watching. Daytime TV kind of stuff. But every now and then there will be one that really makes watching worthwhile.
I was so amazed by Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote, after having mostly seen him in supporting comic roles. He did a really good job.
Thanks lovey!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
No problem - least I could do after my Michael Buble surprise!
Comment by Krystal
feelings
Oh, well, each to his own.
Crystal
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
That's one queen, coming right up.
As to what I've got... I'm just holding court. He's in favour, she's in favour... who knows how it goes. Try screaming 'oi!' and banging your sceptre on the floor. What I want to know is - are you the court jester?
Michaelie
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Cheers
MNG
Comment by Anonymous
I thought Hoffman was fantastic in Capote - and like another postee - had only seen him in comedy roles.......... like when he 'sharted' his pants. (hehe).
I didn't even recognise him in Capote and it took some convincing from friends before I really believed it was him (actually I wasn't convinced until I saw the credits).
Blanchett seems never to fail as does Mirren and Chopper definitely deserves a mention.
Love your work.
Pamela
Comment by Louie
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yeah, and he had the voice and the angle of the jaw right as well. Too bad the movie was so boring!
Thanks
Mich
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I did too - I don't know how he managed to talk like that when his real voice is nothing like!
Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren are two very smart, enduring actresses. It will be interesting to see what they come up with in the next few years.
Thanks!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
That she does - she's no Lindsay, that's for sure! And she's pulled off some really great roles.
Thanks!
Michaelie
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I was actually surprised at how well Val Kilmer managed to capture Jim Morrison as well
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
As did I - Helen Mirren looked just like the Queen, only hotter. I don't like Jamie Foxx all that much, but I absolutely loved him as Ray. Val Kilmer - I'm really not into him, even though I didn't mind the movie.
Thanks Kylie!
Michaelie
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
As usual some I love and some I hate included in your list, a fun read as always.
A few of my favourites off teh top of my head:
Jessica Lange as Frances Farmer in Frances
Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff
Jack Nicholson as Hoffa
Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy and Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK
Crispin Glover as Andy Warhol in The Doors
Peter O Toole as Lawrence of Arabia
Sal Mineo as Gene Krupa in the Gene Krupa Story
Paul Giamatti as Harvey in American Splendor
Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata in Viva Zapata
Montgomery Clift as Sigmund Frued
George C Scott as Patton
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Some I love and some I hate in my list too. The worst is Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen. Ick.
Your faves - I can't really comment because have only seen a few of them! They are all great actors though so I will take your word for it
Good to see you!
Michaelie
Comment by Lilla
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This is my favourite genre of film and I loved so many of the ones you have mentioned, particularly, the Avatar, QEII, Queen Elizabeth (with Kate) superb... Walk the Line, Ray and Mohamid Ali.
I have just finished watching Marie Antoinette and can say I really enjoyed it, despite it's bad reviews. I think it showed the awful role she had to play so vividly... and in a time when a lack of an heir fell so squarly on a woman's shoulders for her lack of 'charm.' Never mind that Louie was a sap! *lol* yes, I enjoyed it and I didn;t think it needed the obvious 'punchline' at the end, to make it a great film.
I have also just watched Michael Apted’s amazing view of Amazing Grace - the story and the song - William Wilberforce, the abolishionist who popularised it at the turn of the 1800's. I think Ioan Gruffud took a huge leap from the Fantastic Four to play such a role ... with true elasticity (pardon the pun) ... and played it believably well.
One of the darkest stories was the 2003 portrayal of Hitler : The rise of evil - I guess because the story itself was how anti-semitist hatred allowed him to come into power.
I read somewhere that Robert Calyle (who played Hitler) was so convincing (in makeup and looks), that some of the other actors found themselves actually becoming fearful of him... a good lesson for the history books, no doubt and one hopefully, never to be repeated. But I have to say that Christian Dugauy's take on it was pretty engrossing on showing us who the mad-man really was in private ... quite mad.
Great Post, great genre.
Lilla ...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Poor old Marie Antoinette - the woman and the film - they both got such a bad rap!
I will have to watch out for Amazing Grace, and have been meaning to see Hitler: The Rise of Evil for ages. I love Robert Carlyle. He was so good in Angela's Ashes, Human Trafficking, Hamish MacBeth, The Full Monty... everything!
Thanks muchly Lilla!
Michaelie
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Lilla
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