Lee Marvin plays Chino the leader of a rival biker gang named The Beetles who decide to match "wits" with Johnny (Marlon Brando) and his gang. Lee Marvin's role here isn't really a substantial one by any means as Chino comes in makes some trouble then proceeds to make more trouble by getting arrested. Marvin technically could be considered the antagonist but that's not the way he plays it. He's the rival gang leader who purposefully starts a fight with Johnny but Marvin does not have an ounce of maliciousness in his portrayal. Marvin in fact plays Chino as a bit more of an approachable sort of guy than Johnny who Brando plays with a bit of a perpetual brood. Marvin instead shows Chino doesn't care like Johnny but in a completely different way. Marvin shows Chino in not caring about much of anything, not even getting beaten up or arrested, but he intends on loving every minute of it. Marvin quite simply is a hoot in the role as he plays the role with such a constant boisterousness. Marvin is extremely flamboyant within his performance and it completely fits his role. He commands the screen despite playing the role in such a frankly wacky fashion but he completely nails this sorta guy who is practically drunk on life despite not necessarily having had anything to drink. Marvin is incredibly entertaining in his constant bravado as Chino plays up every moment as he seems to be trying to get out every bit of fun he can get out of it. When Chino is beaten down by Johnny and technically has his pride taken from him Chino responds by saving he loves Johnny. Marvin absolutely makes you believe this reaction as he realizes Chino so perfectly as the gang member who is ready to go with almost anything because he's just going to love in anyways.
Lee Marvin effectively steals the show as he turns all of his scenes into the most memorable. Where most the other behavior of the bikers is quickly repetitive and quickly obnoxious Marvin always energizes the proceedings whenever he shows up. His performance is just a whole lot of fun in a film that is sorely lacking in it otherwise, and I think this likely where he stole the film far more than what was intended. Marvin just pretty much takes the picture as his own whenever he gets to grace the screen. The only problem I would say is there is not a whole lot of Chino to go around as the film is obviously not about him and he's only a fairly brief side show. That being said he's quite the enjoyable side show for the film and easily the highlight of it all. For a performance that was fulfilling what could have been another throwaway role, and has very limited screen time that's not too bad of an accomplishment.
31 comments:
100% agree :)
What are your thoughts and ratings on the cast of Les Misèrables (1935)? Also, ratings and thoughts on Elsa Lanchester in The Bride of Frankenstein and Olivia DeHavilland in Captain Blood.
Everyone: What are your favourite portrayals of Jean Valjean & Javert from Les Miserables, as well as your thoughts on them. (Film, TV or Stage/Musical).
Also your favourite Hanna-Barbera Cartoon.
Well, I've only seen the 2012 movie so Jackman and Crowe :) I really loved Jackman's performance by the way and I also really liked Crowe, but I haven't seen any other portrayal of Javert and Valjean. As for Hanna-Barbera cartoons, Scooby Doo would be my favorite :)
=D I havent seen any version except the 2012 version, which I liked Jackman a lot, and thought Crowe was fine, I hear the original stage versions were the best.
Scooby Doo (the originals) were actually good, they had a great atmosphere to them, the only bad thing was the jokes lol and the audience laughing at them.
Jean Valjeans:
Jackman - 4.5 (very close to a 5)
March - 4
Neeson - 3
Javert:
Crowe - 4
Laughton - 4.5
Rush - 3.5
Favourite Hanna-Barbera? Johnny Bravo haha
@RatedRStar: I saw your earlier mention of Gieguld being Rain's tutor, I can see it actually, they have very similar acting styles :)
Also I had a dream last night, a 1950s version of Django Unchained with the following cast:
Sidney Poitier as Django
Claude Rains as Dr King Schultz
William Holden as Calvin Candie
James Cagney as Big Daddy
Paul Robeson as Stephen
It was a great dream.
I thought Jackman was quite good (acting wise), but I thought Crowe was awful in pretty much every way. I think if it hadn't been the musical, he would've been great, but he seemed like he was having so much difficulty singing that he forgot to act.
I think the best Javert I've seen on screen is Anthony Perkins in the 1978 TV movie, he was great at being completely stony while expressing everything that was teeming underneath.
Philip Quast is the best stage Javert but I also love Norm Lewis. I think for Valjean I'd give Alfie Boe a slight edge over Colm Wilkinson.
I can't even give Jackman credit for acting. Man, that movie still gives me migraines thinking about it.
The movie was pretty disappointing, yes. A different director and a more vocally talented cast could've nailed it.
I actually really liked the movie. I thought Jackman was absolutely outstanding, as were Anne Hathaway and Samantha Barks in my opinion. I also thought that Crowe, Redmayne and Seyfried were solid in their roles and I personally was very moved by the film. But I can understand why some people hate it.
On the whole, I do think Jackman did a good job, except for when he sang Bring Him Home, which he sang ALL wrong. I also loved Sam Barks, but I'd already seen her play Eponine so I knew she was going to nail it. Hathaway sounded great, and her performance was effective even if it was slightly OTT. Crowe sounded awful, which sucks because Javert's songs tend to steal the show when they're in the right hands. Seyfried's voice got on my nerves, which was a problem because Cosette is more of a plot device than an actual character so all she really had to do was sing well. Redmayne sang and acted surprisingly well, but he had a lot of problems with his technique which was very apparent to me. This is coming from a vocal music major, mind you.
I'm not gonna be too hard on Jackman in terms of Bring Him Home because that is one of the hardest songs in the world to sing.
I know, but if you're gonna make a movie of Les Mis you gotta get things like that right, and I'm sure there are menu actors who could have. Most musical theater fans know that Bring Him Home is meant to be sung almost entirely in falsetto/mix. He belted the whole thing.
I don't even care about that. The movie was just such a miserable (no pun intended) experience for me that the performances seemed off no matter what. Only Redmayne and Tveit came close to impressing me.
^many, not menu
Also I automatically agree with any positive comment about Aaron Tveit.
Yeah, Tveit had a few smaller moments I liked.
1. Gielgud
2. Borgnine
3. Robinson
4. Preminger
5. Marvin
Since Supporting Actor seems to be pretty thin so far this year, does anyone think Robert Duvall has a chance of being nominated for The Judge?
No way. Chances are Simmons, Norton, Rufallo, and Hawke all are guaranteed at this point. The fifth slot may be up for grabs, but he has no shot. Probably Logan Lerman in Fury or Waltz (assuming the push him Supporting at the last minute) for Big Eyes.
I am not sure we can say actors are locks at this point, except Simmons and Ruffalo (and that depends where Tatum goes) Norton isnt a lock at all, his performance looks very average, and all the buzz for Birdman has been going to Keaton and the film itself, Lerman and Hawke seem decent enough bets depending how Fury does (I hope it fails because it looks generic).
I should say the best actor lineup has more locks in it, since that is thin, there must be about 7 contenders which isnt many, Carell, Keaton and Cumberbatch seem like the 3 locks, Phoenix is still in there but only just, Redmayne looks likely to get a spot.
Inherent Vice only has 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, people giving 5 out of 5s and one out of fives lol, I think its oscar winning chances are gone, with only nominations possibly.
Also, one more thing to say,, FUCK YOU Brad Pitt, Shia La Shite is not one of the greatest actors you have ever seen you stupid idiot.
RatedRStar: I'm praying for Spall to get nominated.
Also, message for everyone, please save some of your requests for '14 Lead, since I want a review for Fiennes & Serkis.
@RatedRStar: I hope Norton gets in, I have faith, he has been getting lots of rave reviews. He needs to make a comeback, I don't want to see his talent wasted.
I'm gonna change my predictions slightly:
1. Gielgud
2. Borgnine
3. Robinson
4. Preminger
5. Marvin
I will change as well, I think Gielgud will win now having seen it just yesterday although I still need a rewatch of Stalag.
1) Gielgud
2) Robinson
3) Borgnine
4) Preminger
5) Marvin
1. Gielgud
2. Preminger
3. Borgnine
4. Robinson
5. Marvin
Louis, what are your thoughts and rating on Jane Alexander in All the President's Men? To me, she was quite terrible.
Sorry about the late response, but due to various circumstances my internet access was rather sparse the last few days.
Anonymous:
Except for Laughton and March I felt the rest of the cast of Les Miserables was either forgettable or in parts that were too simplified.
March - 4(A solid Jean ValJean to be sure. March does the quiet virtue of the character without becoming bland in the role instead bringing the needed understated passion)
Lanchester - 4(She doesn't have much screentime but makes quite the impact. She firstly is so lovely and elegant in the prologue. Then when she finally appears as the monster she makes her own iconic creature in just a couple of creatures. She's brilliant in that way The Bride is disjointed as she seems to be trying to understand the world, and her scream couldn't be better)
DeHavilland - 2.5(Unlike Robin Hood where they had great chemistry DeHavilland and Flynn did not quite connect that wel in this one. She still has a certain charm but not enough to make up for her character's limitations)
Luke:
Very easily Colm Wilkison and Philip Quast in The Concert Film.
Anonymous:
I found her performance dull and forgettable. In fact if she wasn't Oscar nominated for it I doubt I'd remember she was even in it.
Louis: Thank Christ, you're back, really thought that you may have caught Ebola.
From the photo, it looks like Lee Marvin has an Oscar tied to his bike's handle bars.
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