Great post! I love the transcripts from the director's commentary. This is really an excellent movie and a great CKR performance.
...and the reason is that he manages to play so many emotions in Leila (and the audience) at the same time.
Yes, I agree completely! You said that really well and very concisely. I'm gonna go the long way. :-)
One of my favorite things about Callum's performances is his ability to shift from one emotion to another so quickly, so lightly. He's got an automatic transmission, you know?
I'm thinking especially of movies like Falling Angels, Picture Claire, this one scene in The Invisible... Or even Due South: the scene where Ray sees his parents in the parking lot. His face. I said to my sister, watching with me, "Ok, that was about five different emotions right there." And after he hits Fraser. (Well, that was only two emotions, but both of them killed me.)
Sometimes it's on purpose (by the character) and used to almost hilarious effect. Right now I'm thinking of a scene in Shooting Gallery, where Mortensen pulls up in his car next to Jericho. Someone behind Mortensen starts honking, and he gets out of the car, yelling obscenities. But as he walks around the car to Jericho, there's the bright smile.
That one. *points to icon*
The scenes in Suspicious River that amazed me were that apology that Lynne S. talks about and also the scene out in the country, in the car. Yes, he's manipulating her, but there is also real stuff going on inside Gary. And I am in awe that Callum can SHOW us this. In the process of manipulating her, he reveals his own real emotion and real damage. That's what gets me --- the truth of his apologies and backtracking, even though he doesn't intend to be truthful. While he's playing his game, we see Gary shift unwittingly into an area of genuine emotion, then back again, in the blink of an eye. How does Callum do that? I demand to know. :-)
And, of course, Molly Parker. For me, her sweet spot is right here. These seemingly proper and resolute characters who hide a secret desire or flaw or pain. She's a master at the subtle shift that shows us how much there is going on inside her.
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...and the reason is that he manages to play so many emotions in Leila (and the audience) at the same time.
Yes, I agree completely! You said that really well and very concisely. I'm gonna go the long way. :-)
One of my favorite things about Callum's performances is his ability to shift from one emotion to another so quickly, so lightly. He's got an automatic transmission, you know?
I'm thinking especially of movies like Falling Angels, Picture Claire, this one scene in The Invisible... Or even Due South: the scene where Ray sees his parents in the parking lot. His face. I said to my sister, watching with me, "Ok, that was about five different emotions right there." And after he hits Fraser. (Well, that was only two emotions, but both of them killed me.)
Sometimes it's on purpose (by the character) and used to almost hilarious effect. Right now I'm thinking of a scene in Shooting Gallery, where Mortensen pulls up in his car next to Jericho. Someone behind Mortensen starts honking, and he gets out of the car, yelling obscenities. But as he walks around the car to Jericho, there's the bright smile.
That one. *points to icon*
The scenes in Suspicious River that amazed me were that apology that Lynne S. talks about and also the scene out in the country, in the car. Yes, he's manipulating her, but there is also real stuff going on inside Gary. And I am in awe that Callum can SHOW us this. In the process of manipulating her, he reveals his own real emotion and real damage. That's what gets me --- the truth of his apologies and backtracking, even though he doesn't intend to be truthful. While he's playing his game, we see Gary shift unwittingly into an area of genuine emotion, then back again, in the blink of an eye. How does Callum do that? I demand to know. :-)
And, of course, Molly Parker. For me, her sweet spot is right here. These seemingly proper and resolute characters who hide a secret desire or flaw or pain. She's a master at the subtle shift that shows us how much there is going on inside her.
Ok, shutting up. :-) GREAT post, and thank you!!