Friday, November 26, 2004

• Eh, so let’s shake things up a bit and act like a professional writer again…

  Can Natalie Portman Become a "Real" Actress?

  Looking back on the cultural wasteland, it is amazing how BAD some of the stars we once looked up to were. Who can forget how unskilled some of our hyped entertainers, athletes, and politicians turned out to be: Gretchen Mol, Ryan Leaf, Shawn Bradley, Dan Quayle, New Kids on the Block, etc.  Few professionals can actually become "superstars" or establish long-term careers. There are many skilled entertainers who never find a role as their age and skills changed. The fun part is guessing whether “so-and-so” will become a real star. Natalie Portman is in that type of situation right now, trying to bridge the gap between “young pretty thing” to “real actress.”

  Whenever I watch an actor or actress, I try to summarize the sentiment they most nearly express in one word. For example, Ben Affleck is “Angry” or “Passion”. It is the emotion he best displays. Even his attempts at crying look like anger. Julia Roberts is “Unaware” or “Available.” She always seems to be mysteriously untaken, waiting for some opportunity or person to come to her. Then she reforms herself to accommodate the new entry into her life. Very few actor/ess do more than build some variety on top of their basic sensation.

  To me, Natalie Portman is “Awareness” or “Intelligence”; she always knows things that the culture around her doesn’t expect out of such an unassuming person. Comparisons to Audrey Tattiou (“Amelie”) are almost inevitable. Whether it’s assassinations (The Professional), what men are looking for (Beautiful Girls), or the future of the Republic (Star Wars), Natalie knows what needs to be done. This knowledge entertains the viewer; through the eyes of the camera, the viewer is in on the joke with Natalie. We know and she knows that despite being a short, brunette, somewhat plain-looking young lady, she actually knows more than all the impressive manly sorts running around pretending they know what they’re doing.

  The question is, how long can Natalie play this role and be accepted? We seem to enjoy a talented, precocious girl match wits with people who outwardly appear to be superior. Are we willing to watch a 30-something lady do that? Thinking about her skills long-term, I would say no. Not surprisingly, Portman has tried to significantly change both her looks (three shades of hair color) and her behavior (cruel and loose, apparently) in her newest movie, Closer. Reading some of her print interviews and taking into account that she went to Harvard, she seems to act out “aware and intelligent” because she IS aware and intelligent. As humorous as it sounds, her only hope to act for the rest of her life is if she’s NOT really as aware and intelligent as she seems.

  PS I’ve only seen Natalie in “Attack of the Clones”. The rest of the movies I mentioned, I read the summaries of on-line. So I'd like to hear from the more qualified movie-goers who read this. What do you think?

   

  PPS Sadly, we can put to rest any idea that Natalie would be a “moral” actress. Seems like her previously announced views (turning down roles in questionable films) have changed, if the ads for “Closer” are any indication. So now maybe one of you, my readers, can fill the need for entertainers with standards J

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