So anyone who knows me has likely heard my opinion on Zooey Deschanel...
I don't personally know the woman, but as a consumer of her acting skills I generally couldn't be more dissatisfied.
Somehow she's managed to land roles opposite some very entertaining actors. Perhaps it's here deadpan nature to their often comic mania that makes her seem like a compelling counterbalance, but I can't stand it.
In just about every movie I've watched her in she plays the same person...she's like the female Tom Cruise.
It's gotten to the point that I'll avoid a movie that I actually want to see JUST because she's in it.
I know, that's sad.
I shouldn't let it bother me that much, but I do.
Well, last night I succumbed to my interest in watching '500 Days of Summer'...anything that rates 87% on Rotten Tomatoes really can't be that bad even is Zooey's in it, right?
Right.
This movie and the role of Summer Finn was cosmically crafted for Ms. Deschanel. She plays a coy, moody, emotionally withdrawn bitch...I don't capitalize the 'b' because the character is just a girl, after all, who really likes the guy that adores her, but doesn't really love him. Oh, haven't we all been the 'bitch' of a relationship at some point.
I so enjoyed the movie and her performance that I forgot my standing loathing of her acting skills.
Perhaps this venture into a more neutral feeling toward Ms. Deschanel as an actor will lead me to discover other roles that will capture the essence of Zooey better than say, 'Elf'.
Peace
A Pink American
I found her to be the poor-woman's Winona Ryder, much like Skeet Ulrich is the poor-man's Johnny Depp.
ReplyDeleteI saw her in Douglas Adam's 'Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy' and thought she was adequate but nothing special.
You may be on to something here. Her deer in the headlights look may have been the one thing that has kept her from the glare of critics that would have already ruined her otherwise.
Something like that.
Nice post.