Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by sjb (A) on October 19, 2006 at 11:09:13

In Reply to: Can you feature a way to play an already over-the-top, oversize real person that differs much from Jack's? nt posted by clarkjohnsen on October 19, 2006 at 09:32:04:

I think it's like directing a Charlie Kaufman script.

Take Michel Gondry's work in Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.

Kaufmans' scripts are already over the top and when Human Nature was directed in a way that was also over the top it failed but when ESOTSM was directed with lighter touch it suceeded (brilliantly, in my opinion)..

I think it's a similar thing... if the character is so over the top you don't want to add all your own cliched over the top mannerisms... you want the character to come to you, to play their over the topness like it's the most normal thing in the world and let it speak for itself. Don't jump up and down going look how well I can play over the top even if I bring every tired trick I've ever used for such things to the role.

Playing it the way JN did the guy never felt menacing or like a homicidal maniac (and I'll bet if one were around the real guy in real life it would be extremely uncomfortable) he felt more like a clown. At least to me.

"Except for the point, the still point, there would be no dance, and there is only the dance. " T.S. Eliot