Okay, this one might take a bit of explanation. I’m looking for physical bits, not grand gestures like losing weight, studying dance, or fight choreography. Just bits. Small bits.
In Sanctum, there’s a part when one of the actors is braiding mountain climbing rope during a conversation. It adds to the scene by showing us something about the character because of something physical the actor is doing. And, like our 3x3 of actors playing musical instruments, I’m particularly fascinated by these when they’re not faked. For instance, Bishop’s knife trick in Aliens is accomplished not by Henriksen learning it, but by Cameron speeding up the film.
So what are you favorite examples of actors doing non-faked physical bits in a movie?
By the way, it looks like we were wrong on the podcast when we said the prequels didn’t acknowledge Guinness’ hand gesture. You have to look closely, but it’s definitely there.
Jennifer Lawrence rowing the small boat in Winter’s Bone.
Natalie Portman falling onto the mattress/padding in Black Swan.
This one was a hard pick for a #1, but I’m going to have to go with Hailee Steinfeld handling a revolver in the river in True Grit. She fumbles and it’s clearly too heavy for her, but she makes the scene just come alive.
edit:
0: It is impossible to top this. Catinca Untaru in The Fall. She wasn’t even aware that she was in a movie, so every physical action was completely real. She also basically dictated the narrative, not knowing Lee Pace’s character wasn’t really paralyzed, and every reactive moment was hers, and hers alone. This is something that transcends filmmaking, really almost to the point of child abuse. Those tears were real when Lee Pace was grabbing at the curtains. The happiness was real when she finds out that he’s actually okay. Again, all of her physical actions weren’t dictated; they were her own.
I’ll see your basketball shot and at least honorably mention Sigourney Weaver’s over-the-shoulder, backward shot, right into the basket, in Alien: Resurrection.
Kellywand specifically mentioned picking the Kurt Russell shot over the Sigourney Weaver shot for reasons that you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out.
Actors in Michael Mann movies have to go through significant firearms training, but my favorite bit is Val Kilmer reloading his rifle during the bank heist shootout.
Yeah, that is a beautiful reload. Val Kilmer looks like he’s operating on three glands worth of adrenaline but manages to get that reload to look like muscle memory.
Oh wow, that’s a good call. That shot has stuck with me forever. The combination of coldness and a bit of confusion was really something else. It doesn’t hurt that he was in an impossible situation, making the quick reload even more effective. It was amazing.
Mann does a lot of great stuff. Miami Vice, for example, while not his best film: Jamie Foxx and the grenade. So taut, so full of tension; and all about the physical reactions of him as well as the rest of the actors in the scene. Absolutely amazing.
What is it with you guys and the whole listen-to-the-podcast thing? Sheesh.
(Okay, Tom.)
Also, I must say, I’m surprised there’s no repeat appearance here for Max von Sydow versus the birch tree. According to this interview, he had to do it twice.
Awesome link. I loved the bit about the tree – it actually makes me want to see a Tarvoksy movie! – and I look forward to reading the rest of it. Man, it sucks that Sydow is doing stuff like the Robin Hood movie. :(
