Wednesday, April 6, 2011
SHUT UP. WE DIDN'T LOSE VIETNAM. IT WAS A TIE! Kevin Kline does a thoughtful interview with Sam Adams about his past roles, and it's a fine jumping-off point for a discussion as to what his second-best role has been. (Seriously, is there disagreement about the f-f-f-first?) I'd likely go with The Ice Storm, but if you wanted to go comic with Soapdish or Dave I won't fault you. I just wish he worked more, because he's so damn good ... though, really, Wild Wild West?
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Kline is one of those actors who's good even in stuff that's an underwritten mess, including Wild Wild West and No Strings Attached, and really deserves credit for it.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably go with Dave, but I do have a lot of affection for his acting in De-Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI always thought he was pretty phenomenal as Bottom in an otherwise fairly meh Midsummer Night's Dream.
ReplyDeleteI'm biased but The Big Chill is among my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could pick. I have such affection for Dave and for In & Out ("My, what a fabulous window treatment!") for the criminally under-rated Soapdish, for January Man....he's just a delight to watch.
ReplyDeleteI was actually praising his performance as Bottom just the other day. Definitely the highlight of that version of Midsummer Night's Dream.
ReplyDeleteI'll second the votes for Dave and In and Out, though I also liked The Grand Canyon more than most people. Of course, his most enviable role is as Phoebe Cates' husband.
ReplyDeleteHe is so often the best part of meh movies. He was wonderful in Life as a House, hysterical in No Strings Attached, even as the voice as Phoebus in Disney's Hunchback. My favorite role that has nothing to do with K-k-k-Ken is Silverado. Not a great movie, but he is wonderful in it.
ReplyDeleteOr Dave. Or Soapdish. Or Sophie's Choice.
Hi, my name is LB and I have a Kevin Kline problem.
I have a vote in for Dave or The Pirates of Penzance.
ReplyDeleteFrench Kiss! He's absolutely, 100% the only reason to watch it.
ReplyDeleteI love Soapdish. That's my #2. And absolutely A Fish Called Wanda is first. One of my favorite comedies ever. "I've known sheep who could outwit you!"
ReplyDeleteSoapdish. Always and forever.
ReplyDelete<span>Cavalry Sgt.: How do I know this is your horse?
ReplyDeletePaden: Can't you see this horse loves me?
Cavalry Sgt.: I had a gal do that to me. It didn't make her my wife. </span>
Oh god, how could I forget French Kiss! (despite Meg Ryan being at the maxium quirky annoying) He sings La Vie En Rose in French over the end credits. poor mr. jen has to endure me watching it whenever it's on tv.
ReplyDeleteNathan Landau is Sophie's Choice. Meryl Streep was really brilliant in that movie but I've felt that his performance was overlooked.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to pick, I think I'd say "Dave." He's funny in it, but also a real person, and gets nice moments of sincerity and drama, too. But then I think of "A Fish Called Wanda" and "In and Out" and "Soapdish" ("America's sweetheart is climbing up my drainpipe!") that I really can't choose.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked him in a movie hardly anyone remembers, "Life as a House." Not a great movie, and kind of a sappy "learn lessons by dying" kind of movie, but he's very understated and wonderful throughout.
I love KK. I happened to have watched two of his movies recently- My Life as A House and The Anniversary Party.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Cry Freedom a dozen times (used to teach it) and really liked him in that, too.
He's definitely one of my favorites- so you'll understand my glee when I once saw him, Phoebe and the kids at Henri Bendel's. They seemed so normal! And man, his son really looks like him.
Oh I LOVE him in that.
ReplyDeleteI'd give him the edge for Dave over Wanda, simply because I'm more impressed when an actor does well with a less-showy role.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Soapdish more than once but strangely can't remember Kline in it at all. Robert Downey Jr., sure. Cathy Moriarty, Sally Field, even Teri Hatcher. Why am I drawing such a blank on Kline in that movie?
"I've worn dresses with higher IQ's!"
ReplyDelete"In and Out" is my #2.
I realize I'm in the minority here, but I strongly dislike Kevin Kline. I like naturalistic actors and abhor actorly theater-isms like unrealistic enunciation and overly mannered diction and gesturing. Kline always seems like he's playing to the back row, which I can't stand. And his italian accent in that movie where he was the pizza joint owner was astounding.
ReplyDeleteHe's the one who was previously on the show, got tossed and was found doing Death of a Salesman in Dinner Theatre in Florida.
ReplyDeleteI Love You To Death, one of the few great Keanu Reeve performances as a stoned hitman with William Hurt.<span> </span>
ReplyDelete@Joseph: And I thought I was the only I Love You to Death/Delovely adherent in the universe!
ReplyDelete@ Jen: I believe Kline sings "Beyond the Sea" (La Mer) over the credits of French Kiss.
As hilarious as he is, I don't understand why he has so few great dramatic roles. He's terrific.
I haven't seen a lot of the movies you all are mentioning, but I have a deep and abiding love for Dave. It's such a perfect fairy tale of a political movie. It's one of those movies that I just have to watch if I come across it on cable.
ReplyDeleteI also liked hm in Grand Canyon. I liked the movie more than most, too, but even if one didn't, he did a good job playing a well-drawn Amherst alum.
ReplyDeleteHe made a nice pile of cash for WWW, and then went off and did some theatre for a much smaller paycheck, so he's forgiven.
ReplyDeleteIt's a channel-stopper for me too. Along with other movies that aren't nearly as good.
ReplyDeleteHail to the Chief, he's the one we all say hail to
ReplyDeleteWe all say hail, 'cause he keeps himself so clean
He's got the power because he's in the shower...
I know it's not a great movie, but I Love You To Death amuses me mightily.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's it. That might be on my list of the 10 worst movies I ever saw in a theater. Wasn't Tracey Ullman his wife? Good lord, the thatsa-some-spicy-meatballa accents were breathtaking. I dare people to watch that and say that Kline always improves the part.
ReplyDeleteWe're walking, we're walking...
ReplyDeleteI'm with Isaac. Enh on the KK. Too showy, but I am fine with him in things where that showiness is an asset to the style.
ReplyDelete