In 2009 Amy Adams has solidified her position as the go to actress for female characters trying to find their place in a cutthroat world. I have friends who suggest that she doesn't show a lot of range but I don't really look for her to tackle roles like the raging alcholic or affect an accent. The gradations of character she exhibits are much more subtle. And part of this range problem is that her last 2 major releases have been in films in which Meryl Streep has shown buckets full of range. Compare anyone to Meryl in the range category and they take a loss. Amy has in 2009 carried or co-carried two outstanding films:
Sunshine Cleaning-Indies are great because they tackle subjects that mainstream studios shun like the plague or they offer you glimpses into characters that studio films don't have the time or inclination to explore. Sunshine Cleaning is a gem of the second category. Adam's Rose Lorkowski doesn't really know how to define herself so she relies on others to do it, especially her high school sweetheart. He's married now but knows Rose can provide a little on the side. As played by Steve Zahn he's a lovable user but he inadvertently throws her a life line by suggesting she go into business cleaning up crime scenes (or the newly departed and rotted) Adams uses the business to find the spine of her own life. It's charming and worth the time invested to take the journey. Two performances of note- Emily Blount is the best she has ever been as Rose's shleprock of a sister and Clifton Collins Jr., who is so good as the one armed cleaning supplies salesman that you'll think they just hired the one armed cleaning supplies salesman from down the block to play the role.
Julie and Julia-okay if your under thirty-five and have never asked yourself the question"How did so much of my life just slip away?", then this is probably not your movie. Oh, and if you don't like to cook or think that the latest Terminator installment had it's moments, then I'd give this one a pass. Otherwise this is a wonderful film. Won't talk about Streep here. She's brilliant blah, blah, blah. She is but enough already. The interesting thing about this film is how Nora Ephron told so compelling a story with almost no conflict. Yes Amy Adams' husband almost leaves but we know he's not really going to leave. He's too nice. The answer probably lies in how much you root for these two women to find fulfilment. Streep and Adams pull it off masterfully. It's becoming a habit with these two ("Doubt" pun--sorry)Loved every minute. And if anyone thinks it's easy to do what the blogging Julie did, I challenge you to make even one recipe from that cookbook. I have that book and I'm telling you, it was an almost impossible task.
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Just saw Sunshine Cleaning and I agree with you on almost every point you've made. Clifton Collins was terrific. Almost as good as he was in Crank 2, High Voltage (JK) Someone needs to take notice and put him in something with a broader audience.
ReplyDeleteEmily Blount wowed me. Such a departure from the role she played in Devil Wears Prada.
Which brings me to my next point and slight disagreement with your Amy Adams lovefest. There is no departure from what she has played in every film I've seen her in. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this movie but her performances are becoming a cookie-cutter recipe for her characters. (I thought you'd like that cooking metaphor) She seems on the verge of tears in every scene, even when the scene didn't call for the emotional weight of what she was playing. She is beginning to "PLAY" Amy Adams.
I'll still watch her for a while longer but I am becoming bored with the act in the same way the world has become bored of Julia Roberts.
I know she's no Meryl Streep but c'mon, even Anne Hathaway is showing more "Range".
:)