OSCAR has mixed feelings about 'Dreamgirls'

[gypsysoul]

Helen Mirren was outstanding, but I think it is actually stronger acting to create a character than to mimic one. Either way, I will be happy, but I'm rooting for Dench.


Ricky, I don't think Helen Mirren was mimicking the queen.
The queen's whole persona is that of someone who aims to give nothing away.
As one reviewer said, Helen's achievement in this film is to take on an emotional journey a woman who lives to show no emotion (in public - which is all that we see of her).
I think Helen did actually create a character, that of the woman behind the royal mask. She said herself she had nothing to base that part of the character on and had to imagine what she might be like in private situations.

[Für Elise]

Originally Posted by gypsysoul

Helen Mirren was outstanding, but I think it is actually stronger acting to create a character than to mimic one. Either way, I will be happy, but I'm rooting for Dench.


Ricky, I don't think Helen Mirren was mimicking the queen.
The queen's whole persona is that of someone who aims to give nothing away.
As one reviewer said, Helen's achievement in this film is to take on an emotional journey a woman who lives to show no emotion (in public - which is all that we see of her).
I think Helen did actually create a character, that of the woman behind the royal mask. She said herself she had nothing to base that part of the character on and had to imagine what she might be like in private situations.

I agree about her creating that character but she also had to transform herself convincingly into what is about the most famous image for any Brit or anyone in the empire. It's almost like we're born knowing who she is and to convincingly portray someone who is so instantly recognisable must be incredibly difficult. Also when that person is still alive and still in the position that they're being portrayed as, that adds to the difficultly again. When I first heard about it it sounded like a bad tele-movie because you can't play the current queen without it coming off looking stupid. But she did manage it and there's no middle ground, if she slipped at all it would have turned the film into a mockery of itself.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by Für Elise

I agree about her creating that character but she also had to transform herself convincingly into what is about the most famous image for any Brit or anyone in the empire. It's almost like we're born knowing who she is and to convincingly portray someone who is so instantly recognisable must be incredibly difficult. Also when that person is still alive and still in the position that they're being portrayed as, that adds to the difficultly again. When I first heard about it it sounded like a bad tele-movie because you can't play the current queen without it coming off looking stupid. But she did manage it and there's no middle ground, if she slipped at all it would have turned the film into a mockery of itself.

I agree, what she did is extremely rare, because it's not imitation. She kept the aspects of the image and used them as mirror for us. Behind it there's an incredibly truthful and deep study of character. I think only Anthony Hopkins did something equally spectacular with Nixon but in that case there wasn't the image matching. With the Queen the illusion of reality is total.

Romy