Here are a few films where I realized the true, great acting of some of our film stars.
Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch" (1955) - Marylin's whole film career has been to combine the innocent with the totally sensual. The film version of the Seven Year Itch was greatly modified to giving her that perfect role.
Sidney Poitier in "Lilies of the Field" (1963) - The sharp and shrewd Mother Mary Marthe manages to keep on Poitier (Homer Smith - Mr. Schmidt to the German nuns) - as a handyman despite a lack of salary. She finally convinces him to materialize her biggest ambition of all. Poitier plays an array of moods, from serious to mischievous. But, he could instantly gauge the needs of the nuns, while teasing them at the same time. He understood Mother Mary better than even her sisters.
Audrey Hepburn in "The Nun's Story" (1959) - Audery Hepburn plays a lanky nun who shows moments of grace and beauty. Her journey through the nunnery and into the Congo reveal to her many of her characteristics, which she has to deal with to make her final decision.
Owen Wilson in "The Darjeeling Limited" (2007) - Again, it takes great acting ability to make a character who is both so naive and so self-aware. Owen Wilson, as Francis, manages to convince his brothers to take a "spiritual" journey across India, to reconnect with each other. Of course, he has another, big motive/mission in mind.
Nicole Kidman in "Margot at the Wedding" (2007) - A story about a woman who, despite her deep self-centeredness, cannot fathom what she's really about. Kidman plays this role with such intensity, one wonders if she really does associate with the character.
I have to admit that the older actors (Marilyn, Poitier, Audrey) were in classics. There is a buoyancy about all three of them, and in the stories they acted in. Even Audrey's difficult role was ultimately optimistic. I'm not sure if the two modern, morose films will ever last as long as the others to be considered classics. But, the acting was undoubtedly superior.
Here's the enigmatic Marilyn:
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