The Matter of Joseph Gordon-Levitt
There’s a profile of Joseph Gordon Levitt, the star of Scott Frank‘s reasonably engrossingThe Lookout (Miramax, 3.30) in today’s N.Y. Times. In it, Franz Lidz declares that Gordon-Levitt’s performance of Chris Pratt, a brain-damaged janitor, is what “really moves this bank heist thriller along.”
Lookout star Joseph Gordon-Levitt (l.), costar Matthew Goode (r.)
“Chris is a promising high school hockey player whose daredevilry causes a fatal car crash, killing his friends and leaving him with little in the way of short-term memory,” Lidz writes. “Gordon-Levitt fashions him into a still but soulful character, lost yet somehow self-possessed.”
I saw The Lookout three or four weeks ago, and I ‘m sorry to lob a paint balloon at a film that needs all the help it can get, but I found Gordon-Levitt’s character frustrating as hell to spend time with. To me, he seemed lacking in self-possession and way too still for my viewing comfort. In the Times piece Frank calls Gordon-Levitt “one of the two or three greatest actors in his age group,” and costar Jeff Daniels says “there’s a mystery and a privacy to what goes on in Joe’s head…we can see him work through his thoughts. We can almost hear him.”
I really don’t get this. I think Gordon-Levitt is woefully inexpressive. To me, he lives in a little mood house, a house defined by that half-sensitive, half-hurting but mostly deadpan “look” with the frown and the very slightly Eurasian (i.e., island-Hawaiian?) dead-brown eyes. He walked through Brick with that look. He walked through Shadowboxer with that look. And he walks through The Lookout with that look. One way to be a captivating actor, I realize, is to do very little and do it extremely well. Gordon-Levitt has proven, I think that this approach doesn’t necessarily work.
And I hated the driving scene in the beginning. I can’t stand actors who drive and spend a good 50% of the time looking at the person they’re talking to in the passenger seat. You really do have to watch the road when you’re driving — you can kill someone if you don’t. Anyone who ignores that simple reality forfeits all respect and affection from this corner. Gordon-Levitt is worse — he spends 55 to 60% of that driving scene staring at the pretty blonde riding shotgun plus another 20% looking at the sky and the fireflies — the guy literally looks at the road for 20% of the time. It’s infuriating.
And on top of this he turns the lights off. Death wish! Moron! I didn’t just write his character off because of this — I wrote Gordon-:Levitt off, and as fast as I’m concerned he’s not getting back in for a long time. Unless, that is, he delivers an extraordinary rock-out performance down the road, in which case all is forgiven.
I thought Gordon-Levitt was astonishingly good in both Mysterious Skin and Brick. He has the potential to be truly great.
Not sure if it’s Gordon-Levitt’s presence or what, but my first thought was ‘Memento’ and ‘Brick’ for the price of one…
Sorry to disagree this time, Jeff, but I think this kid was fantastic in both “Mysterious Kins” and “Brick”. I haven’t seen “The Lookout” yet, but I’m sure Gordon-Levitt will become an actor’s actor sooner or later.
By the way, I do agree with you about the whole “driving while looking to the passanger” think. It makes me mad as hell too – and I can’t understand why directors and actor keep repeating this ridiculous mistake. Shouldn’t they know already that it totally kills any suspension of disbelief? (It’s really weird: I can accept Will Smith as a “man in black” hunting surrogate aliens, but the instant he turns to his passenger while driving I can’t stop thinking: “Bullshit!!!”.
Ops, “Mysterious SKIN”, not “Mysterious KINS”.
I was probably thinking about my cousin.
I thought Levitt’s deadpan “look” was perfect for brick, and I really liked the film because of his performance. But, I need to see him in some other stuff before I become a true fan. So I guess I’ll see The Lookout.
Not sure if it’s Gordon-Levitt’s presence or what, but my first thought was ‘Memento’ and ‘Brick’ for the price of one…
Sorry to disagree this time, Jeff, but I think this kid was fantastic in both “Mysterious Kins” and “Brick”. I haven’t seen “The Lookout” yet, but I’m sure Gordon-Levitt will become an actor’s actor sooner or later.
By the way, I do agree with you about the whole “driving while looking to the passanger” think. It makes me mad as hell too – and I can’t understand why directors and actor keep repeating this ridiculous mistake. Shouldn’t they know already that it totally kills any suspension of disbelief? (It’s really weird: I can accept Will Smith as a “man in black” hunting surrogate aliens, but the instant he turns to his passenger while driving I can’t stop thinking: “Bullshit!!!”.
Ops, “Mysterious SKIN”, not “Mysterious KINS”.
I was probably thinking about my cousin.
I was a little disappointed by “The Lookout” as well, and I agree that Gordon-Levitt didn’t exactly hit a home run with it. But for Christ’s sake – his work in “Mysterious Skin” was phenomenal. Easily the best performance of that year and on the short list for best performances of this decade. He killed in “Brick” as well.
Jeff, did you SEE “Mysterious Skin”? (No blame if you didn’t, because so few people did.) Not only is it a remarkable movie, but Gordon-Levitt gives a world-class performance in it, easily the equal of Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson” or “The Believer.” This is a smart actor who makes choices. Maybe you don’t like his choices in “The Lookout,” but don’t think for a minute that it’s all he can do.
They did in the other “Lookout” thread, but nobody’s mentioned Levitt’s performance in “Manic” over here, so I need to pipe in. He may not hit a home run every time, but (based on that & “Mysterious Skin” alone), he’s as good an actor as anyone his age group in this country.
Can’t wait for the film.
I saw this at SXSW and did a blurb on it myself. I disagree with Jeff on this one too, Levitt’s gold in this thing, so’s Goode.
Never mind “Brick”, what about “Third Rock From The Sun?”.
Transformers Games OnlineBarbie Dress Up Games For Girlsverizon wireless family plansverizon cell phone reviewsdebenhams discount code 2012Gatorade Coupons 2012best carpet cleaner in CarlsbadOceanside Water DamageDouble Glazing windowsDouble Glazing Doorsfemale infertility treatment Melbournelaser skin treatments geelongbodybuilding supplementsonline personal trainerconsignment victoriadog walking victoria bcBreast cancer awarenesspink ribbonbreast cancer pink ribbonspink ribbon productsfree prongaychat
1333624793