GREAT PERFORMANCES
Iron Man 3
The Avengers
Sherlock Holmes
Tropic Thunder
Iron Man
Heart and Souls
Chaplin
Soapdish
Chances Are
Less Than Zero
Robert Downey Jr. is arguably the
biggest movie star in the world right now. If you calculate a star's
power by how much money they can demand and receive, then there is no
question that he is at the top of his game. I have a soft spot in my
heart for him after watching him nearly lose everything through
addiction and then struggling to get everything back through hard
work. His personal life is almost worth of a movie.
But even without the box office draw,
Downey Jr. is one of the finest actors working. Watch him in any
movie that he is in and you can see the work going on behind his
eyes. He is completely present in each moment in a way that most
actors are not. He has fun with his audience without winking at the
camera. But you can't feel like he is letting just you in on the
joke.
First, let's start with the obvious:
Iron Man. I have maintained several times on this blog that there
would be no cinematic Marvel Universe if anyone other than Robert
Downey Jr. was cast as Tony Stark. He had to make Tony an
unapologetic scoundrel and yet we had to care enough about him to
follow his journey. Downey Jr. emanates charisma and he let that
happen with Tony in a way that did not ring false. He tries so hard
to never let that smirking veneer down. And yet his performance is
not of simple ironic detachment. There is a beating heart underneath
it. In his last moment with Yinsen, Downey Jr. delivers his line
with utter vulnerability and simplicity: “You saved me.”
You can find this charming performance
in many of his films including the very much underrated Chances
Are, which also shows off his comedic side. His has a sense of
timing and a deadpan delivery that makes the jokes fly off of the
screen. Even when he took a horrible risk in playing an actor
pretending to be a black man in Tropic Thunder, he played it
with the intensity of the most passionate human drama that he became
the only truly funny thing in that movie.
But when I think of movies where his
talent truly shines I actually think back to earlier in his career.
It is true that his performances are more mature and seasoned. But
as a younger man, he was still bristling with talent. Heartwarmers
like Chances Are and Heart and Souls showcased his
ability to pull heartstrings. But he was capable of so much more.
Watching Less Than Zero is
heartbreaking mainly because it is hard to distinguish the actor from
his part. As a young man who is spiraling out of control and yet
still reaches out to his friends for comfort and help, Downey Jr.
makes you yearn to reach your hand out as well. You can see the toll
that the drugs and his empty pursuits have on him. You are
disappointed, but never fully repelled by him, making his descent all
the more tragic.
But his greatest performance to my mind
was his leading role in Chaplin. I remember when I heard
about him being cast in the part, I did not think he was up to it.
Those are (literally) some big shoes to fill. Downey Jr. would not
only have to inhabit a believable character, but he would have to
convincingly match the physical genius of the iconic actor. And I
was blown away by the result.
Watching Chaplain was a revelation to
me, not just of Downey Jr. as an actor, but of the art of acting
itself. Perhaps I am being overly effusive in my praise, considering
that the movie itself is a bit on the long side, bordering on
tedious. But Downey Jr.'s Chaplain is egotistical, kind,
infuriating, perverted, profound, sympathetic, cold, and warm
alternately and at the same time. Watching his incredible portrayal
of Chaplain showed me the difference playing a character and doing an
impression. It is much easier to pick up on the superficial traits
to do a good impression. Watch some of the talented impressionists
they've had on SNL over the years to learn more. But Downey
Jr.'s body language and action are not mere pantomimes. He brings
them forth from the depths of his character so that they have an
emotional impact. When he is playing the jester with his food at a
fancy dinner party, it is his way of showing his utter disdain for
those around him. When he does a pratfall in full costume, you can
see the concentration of a dedicated perfectionist. And all the
while you come to feel as though you've experienced not Robert Downey
Jr., but Charlie Chaplain himself.
While enjoying his current career
Renaissance, Robert Downey Jr. has his pick of projects. And I can't
wait to see what he does next.
No comments:
Post a Comment