I read a very interesting, and rather dated article, about the death of method acting in today's films.
David Thomson's article discusses how acting has changed since the grand shift to method acting post WWII. For anyone that's not aware, method acting was once the go-to manner in character development for some of the greatest actors and movies of all time. To be a method actor, one simply inserts him or herself into the character entirely. The actor also draws on his or her own life experiences, and uses the emotion attached to that experience. For example, if an actor was portraying a character in a scene in which he/she just found out his/her mother had died, the actor would draw on a similar loss, break-up, what have you, from his/her life, and essentially relive the emotions felt while being totally immersed n his/her character. Today, method acting is condemned by most schools, as it is considered to be an unhealthy way to portray characters. Gee, I wonder why.
The fact still remains that some of the greatest acting performances of all time and been delivered by method actors. Sean Penn and Meryl Streep are common day examples of method actors, and currently regarded as two of the greatest actors in the business. A story has long been circulated that upon hearing the news of his father's death, Sean Penn went entirely still, and nearly everyone around him believed he had gone in to some kind of shock. Minutes passed, and it is then believed that he said he was "saving" what he felt, so that he could the emotion later. If anything, this story could simply be acting-legend; but considering the lengths some method actors will go to to create the most real and honest character possible, it doesn't seem too extreme.
I guess that's the best way to examine actors like Penn and Streep. They're trying to create the most realistic character possible, even if it means exploiting their own emotions and rehashing their worst memories. It's hard to deny, however, that their work hasn't paid off. Both actors are recipients of an armful of awards both from major award shows, or from schools commending them on their dedication to the craft.
If you're looking to watch two really great movies, one featuring Penn and the other featuring Streep, I would highly recommend "Milk" a film in which Penn portrays the first openly gay man ever elected to public office, Harvey Milk; and "Doubt" a film in which Streep portrays a nun in the 1960s struggling with her faith theologically and with the catholic school system. Both were produced within the last three or four years, and they're simply magnificent. Admittedly the subject matter of both movies may not be for everyone, but if you're out to watch two amazing actors, they're prime examples.
I find method acting to be a very interesting subject. I definitely agree that it can be unhealthy to a point, but it is still an amazing art nonetheless. One actor that comes to mind when talking about this method acting is Heath Ledger. His role playing the Joker in "The Dark Knight" is probably the best role that I've ever seen played in a movie. I could barely tell it was even him. Also, the little things he did in that movie like constantly licking his lips and his laugh throughout the movie made it truly amazing. I'm sure Ledger drew on some personal emotion to insert himself into the role of the crazed Joker. His death came from an accidental overdose from various drugs which were prescribed for anxiety and depression. This is where the concern for method acting being an unhealthy way to portray characters comes in. I think Ledger may have taken it to far and became somewhat crazy himself to the point where he needed various medications. Anyway, Sean Penn and Meryl Streep are both prime examples of method acting without a doubt. I have not seen "Milk" or "Doubt", but I think I'll have to take your word and try to see them.
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