tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post7359215979992198489..comments2024-03-29T03:14:14.401-04:00Comments on Patricia Abbott (pattinase): OF MICE AND MEN and INSIDE JOHN MALKOVICHpattinase (abbott)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-83264928153377760732011-01-10T19:11:08.698-05:002011-01-10T19:11:08.698-05:00I'd say thirty and he did nail him.I'd say thirty and he did nail him.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-14545459932385664202011-01-10T18:51:22.525-05:002011-01-10T18:51:22.525-05:00I wonder how old or experienced the actor was. As ...I wonder how old or experienced the actor was. As a lot of writers learn their craft by knocking off their betters (Robert B. Parker unashamedly used to say his intent with THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT was to copy Chandler, but in the 70s), maybe that's the stage this guy ios at now. <br /><br />If he's going to copy/be inspired by an actor, he could do a lot worse than John Malkovich.Dana Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350344882342624735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-1355484364222057772011-01-08T19:14:57.066-05:002011-01-08T19:14:57.066-05:00I'm with George on this one.I'm with George on this one.Richard R.http://brokenbullhorn.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-36508079546946646392011-01-08T17:39:25.104-05:002011-01-08T17:39:25.104-05:00Oh, I saw that film. I am a big Horton Foote fan. ...Oh, I saw that film. I am a big Horton Foote fan. I can't remember the performance well enough to say, but it makes sense.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-53183660340966571502011-01-08T17:01:30.130-05:002011-01-08T17:01:30.130-05:00Very possible that it was the director who wanted ...Very possible that it was the director who wanted this performance, and not the actor.<br /><br />A grievance I have against Billy Bob Thornton is that for SLING BLADE he ripped off Robert Duvall's sharecropper character in a Horton Foote film nobody's ever seen called TOMORROW (1972). Duvall deserved the Oscar.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-4791871568877039102011-01-08T14:58:13.821-05:002011-01-08T14:58:13.821-05:00Facial expressions and hand gestures were perfect....Facial expressions and hand gestures were perfect.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-51254192798923732412011-01-08T14:38:57.252-05:002011-01-08T14:38:57.252-05:00Nope. Both directors did the smart thing and just ...Nope. Both directors did the smart thing and just pushed and pushed and had faith that I'd find the character's core. The key to playing Lennie is retraining your thoughts (to think like a five year old traumatized boy) and, as always, listening to others and playing the action/motivations of the scene.Kieran Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16681787953865476304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-13631459194007756392011-01-08T14:19:48.409-05:002011-01-08T14:19:48.409-05:00Well, this was amazing. Just that it was a replica...Well, this was amazing. Just that it was a replica of Malkovich. When you played it, did you have any earlier performances to deal with?pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-24957928526380467542011-01-08T14:14:55.607-05:002011-01-08T14:14:55.607-05:00I played Lennie, twice actually. One of the harde...I played Lennie, twice actually. One of the hardest roles for an actor to tackle in my opinion. Took "think the thought play the action" to whole new level. Not ashamed to admit it, but Lennie was one of two roles in my acting experience that pretty much scared me to death and took me out of my body entirely.Kieran Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16681787953865476304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-61449105490996237622011-01-08T09:56:43.406-05:002011-01-08T09:56:43.406-05:00Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row are pretty amazing t...Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row are pretty amazing too.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-52966618128176878352011-01-08T09:52:59.293-05:002011-01-08T09:52:59.293-05:00What a GREAT Play ... the Stella famiglia owes Mr....What a GREAT Play ... the Stella famiglia owes Mr. Steinbeck a lot because of how much reading my kids did because of this play (and probably Malkovich as well because his performance had them rereading it). <br /><br />I don't mind it if an actor recreates/copies/clones any given performance so long as it works on stage. I guess if we know the actor (i.e., he or she is well known), we might expect something new, but I can't blame someone making their bones to go for a specific effect (again, if it works). <br /><br />Back in my theatre days, I was happy enough when the actors remembered their lines, never mind went for a particular acting method.<br /><br />Ah, Mr. Steinbeck ... if only I can get my kids to reread Grapes of Wrath ...Charlieoperahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876755029099726686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-11710976997894832972011-01-08T09:47:13.734-05:002011-01-08T09:47:13.734-05:00And he sure could.And he sure could.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-11094413344699813232011-01-08T09:37:21.160-05:002011-01-08T09:37:21.160-05:00I'm always swayed by the quality of the perfor...I'm always swayed by the quality of the performance. If an actor can channel John Malkovich and deliver a convincing performance, it's okay with me.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-35235752047619220612011-01-08T09:13:19.421-05:002011-01-08T09:13:19.421-05:00It was a play in this case. Which made the imitati...It was a play in this case. Which made the imitation even stranger. <br />Oh, and the cover song idea is interesting too, Margot.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-23582364564358740102011-01-08T09:04:27.313-05:002011-01-08T09:04:27.313-05:00Patti - Really interesting question (but all of yo...Patti - Really interesting question (but all of yours are!). And I am so glad you enjoyed the film, by the way :-).<br /><br />I think actors should try to be unique and not be satisfied with copying another actor. That said, though, there is something to be said for learning from another actor's style. and using that as one learns the craft. Does that make sense? <br /><br />I wonder if the same thing goes for "cover songs." If a band covers another band or singer's song, should they try to sound just exactly like the original? Or should they do it completely differently?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-63920129390999070422011-01-08T08:53:58.513-05:002011-01-08T08:53:58.513-05:00Slater is an excellent example. And various actors...Slater is an excellent example. And various actors, such as Cusack, played Woody Allen, although it that case it may have been directed. Jason Alexander played him in the first few episodes of Seinfeld before he found his groove. <br />Nice when you don't expect to like a play (because I have seen it in every version) and then do. They really emphasized the other men--gave them time to develop their issues.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-20994850280721946812011-01-08T08:35:36.746-05:002011-01-08T08:35:36.746-05:00No, I don't think it's legitimate and it b...No, I don't think it's legitimate and it bothers me a lot when I see an actor so obviously (slavishly?) copying another.<br /><br />After all, how much of Christian Slater's career was based on him copying Jack Nicholson?<br /><br />Jeff M.<br /><br />PS - Glad you liked this so much. It's rare to be that affected by a play, in my experience. At least, it's rare for such a <i>positive</i> experience - I've hated shows so much I've walked out at the intermission.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com