Transamerica starring Felicity Huffman- Page 2

[sabrelady]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 2:27pm

Felicity really seems to be on a roll right now- think it is 80% in her favour right now. She's my pick in our balloting here.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 2:33pm

I said this elsewhere, but I'll repeat it here. It might swing in Reese's favor because Felicity Huffman's talent is well known and respected already. She's had Sports Night, Desperate Housewives and truckloads of acclaimed theatrical performances. But everyone is watching Walk The Line and going "holy s**t, is that Elle Woods? Really?"

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 3:06pm

Except that that is what I did think in too many scenes--oh look! Elle Woods with dark hair. Don't get me wrong--Reese is lovely. I adore her. If she wins, it's not a total scandal. But Felicity is brilliant.

bta--I really hope you enjoy it!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 3:10pm

Well I didn't. I thought she was great and the chemistry she had with Joaquin was just out of control.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 3:12pm

Well, I don't deny that! And he was ASTONISHINGLY good. She was good--just not brilliant for me. I know I am not in the majority on this opinion.

[bta212]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 6:19pm

Wow. Amazing. Thrilling.

This movie was so off my radar screen until today. When it was first released, I read "Pre-operative transexual drives cross-country...." and I just tuned out, knowing (I thought) how the self-loathing closet cases in Hollywood would deal with the idea of trans-gendered or gender-dysmorphic people.

While not without flaws, this movie, and Ms. Huffman, are so incredibly thoughtful and respectful in the treatment of the main character; I was blown away. As A.O. Scott said in the Times: "Her performance is a complex metamorphosis, and it is thrilling to watch."

I think she deserves whatever little gold statuettes they can give her.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:03am

So glad you liked it. The film treats the "issue" so beautifully. And, they were soooo correct to cast a female actress in the role. The character is a female--before surgery and after. :)

[DBillyP]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 9:40am

I think Reese was good, but she did not surprise me. I think she has been a solid actress since her debut in "The Man in the Moon." The singing aside, perhaps, June Carter is a "character" she should have been able to play, and she did it very well.

Bree in "Transamerica" is a much bigger leap of faith. Felicity Huffman went far out on a limb and succeeded in spades. That is why I favor her performance over Reese's.

[PJ]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 9:19pm

I just got back from seeing the movie, and I think Felicity is wonderful in it. She was laugh out loud funny one moment, and heartbreaking the next. A truly fantastic performance. Unfortunately, I do not believe it was enough to beat Reese on March 5th. But there's no doubt in my mind that she will garner the second highest amount of votes.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 12:27am

We shall see. We SHALL see. I think Huffman will take it!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 12:29am

I hope Huffman does take it. I don't even understand why Reese won any award for Walk the Line.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 12:49am

If Reese were to win, it would be very similar for me to the 2000 race where Julia Roberts beat the astonishing Ellen Burstyn. There is no question that Burstyn's performance was the greatest that year, and I am bold enough to say the same of Huffman's.

Julia's winning and should Reese win will be the bittersweet honoring of the American sweetheart who sells tickets and is a good actress--just not the best that year or possibly any year.

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 12:50am

I saw this tonight and really enjoyed it. I thought Huffman was wonderful and hope she wins on Oscar night.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:16am

jrb-Exactly-only Burstyn was even in another class over Huffman--don't even bring that total fiasco of Julia Roberts-OR ANYONE winning over Burstyn that year. I invite anyone to watch Requiem for a Dream and even considering another actress in that same class.

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:21am

I've never understood the allure of Julia Roberts. Never ever ever.

[PJ]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:26am

Burstyn's performance was excellent in that film. However, that movie wasn't exactly catered to the likes of AMPAS. It's not an Academy-friendly film. So I think Ellen really had that factor working against her the whole time.

And I don't know where all this Julia negativity is coming from. She deserved that Oscar for Erin Brockovich.

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:28am

All Julia Roberts deserves is a one way ticket back to Smyrna.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:30am

I get the allure of Julia--I've always adored her work in films like Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, Erin Brockovich, and others. She is very good. She just isn't the kind of actor who puts on characters very different from herself--and that can underrate her.

I think she was worthy of that Oscar, but Burstyn WAS the best performance of that year and most any year.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:34am

"Burstyn's performance was excellent in that film. However, that movie wasn't exactly catered to the likes of AMPAS. It's not an Academy-friendly film. So I think Ellen really had that factor working against her the whole time.

And I don't know where all this Julia negativity is coming from. She deserved that Oscar for Erin Brockovich."

Let me get this straight-you're saying Julia Roberts' performance was better than Burstyn's? that's all I'm asking yes or no.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:36am

Jerby, I agree-I can't think of a better performance by a female actress-ever.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:38am

Burstyn's is def up there with Geraldine Page in Trip to Bountiful and Katherine Hepburn in Lion in Winter--which may be the two greatest on film in history.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:41am

I'm going to bed now, but I'll end by saying I think Julia Roberts is a fair actress, limited in the type of characters she can play-sort of like Scarlett Johansson-just ok.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:44am

BUT--acting ISN'T about the amazing externals. It's about being able to execute a series of actions in order to obtain a goal. And this is why actors like Scarlett and Julia ARE good. They just don't have the smoke and mirrors of others. And those that do have the smoke and mirrors wouldn't be so great if THEY weren't accomplishing the original thought in this post.

It's also the difference between character actors and ingenues/leading actors. The latter don't get away with external so much.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 2:45am

I'm still up. Coincidently, I just watched "Closer", a film starring Julia Roberts . She was good, but I thought Natalie Portman was just as good.

Anyway, about acting-I think Julia and Scarlett are good-I didn't say they weren't. I'm just putting Burstyn and also Meryl Streep in a different category. I think in time we'll see how the other women grow.

[PJ]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 2:48am

"Let me get this straight-you're saying Julia Roberts' performance was better than Burstyn's? that's all I'm asking yes or no."

Yes, I do believe that Julia's was better. I watched Requiem again this past summer for the first time since it was released and I think Ellen was great in it. However, I do believe that it just wasn't her year and Julia deserved it. I didn't realize you weren't permitted to not think that Burstyn's performance wasn't the Second Coming. I think the truth of the matter is is that I just didn't enjoy Requiem all that much. I really liked the first hour or so, and then it was just got way too out there for my personal tastes. I'm currently in college, and my roommate and his pothead friends watch that movie only when they're high.