Daniel Auteuil did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Henri de Bourbon nor did Jean-Hugues Anglade for portraying Charles IX in La Reine Margot.
The shame marriage at the center of it being between Isabella Adjani's titular Margot, Catholic sister of the King, and Daniel Auteuil's Henri a protestant. Auteuil's whole appearance seems to be a story in itself. This with his frizzled hair and generally unkempt demeanor. Auteuil only amplifies this within his performance within the marriage scene with the expression of a man whose not quiet sure why he's there, and seems a little lost within it all. Auteuil's performance realizing as a man whose essentially a pawn as the film opens, both for the sake of the supposed alliance but also within his relationship to Margot who initially openly flaunts her intention both not to sleep with Henri but also basically sleep with everyone else she can get her hands on. His performance largely early on brings this right touch of affability with his state of consistent bafflement. He doesn't show a man completely out of his element, but rather one whose nature doesn't make him quite suited towards the situation. This as even when Margot declares her open disregard for their marriage Auteuil portrays just a bit of uncertain confusion rather than any kind of rage. This as he presents a man very much with the awareness of being stuck in not a particularly good situation but attempting to exist in it nonetheless. This situation that is only exacerbated when it turns out the marriage is but a ruse for the hierarchy to slaughter a massive group of the protestants with Henri only just barely escaping the same fate by being forced to convert to Catholicism.
Auteuil throughout this sequence portrays the same low key fear and more importantly the manner of the man completely out of his element. What he importantly maintains is a general likability within the character's reactions. This with a sense of empathy of a basically a much better man within a circle of vultures that make up the royal court. This creating an innate sense of decency that seemingly makes the natural transition within Margot as she becomes a better person, being horrified by the actions of her family while going to actually save Henri from an assassination attempt. The one actual scene of consummation between Margot and Henri, both actors portray well less as this overture of love between the two however a mutual sense of affection and tenderness within a difficult situation. The two attempt initially an escape however this fails when Henri stays back to rescue the injured King Charles IX during a boar hunt. This though saves Henri alternately as Charles comes to take a liking to the pure of heart Henri. I think what Auteuil's work does is make this exchange a natural one. This as more than anything he portrays a lack of deception within the nature of the man. This presenting even in his interaction with the King no sense of manipulation. This rather Auteuil brings a genuine warmth about just one man caring for another man. This consistently presenting Henri as someone who doesn't care about the politics, has no questionable ambitions as the royal family does, but rather just tries to be a good man. Auteuil makes that an honest trait in his performance, that doesn't make Henri this great hero, just a good man trying to survive and the right thing when he can.
This is followed by an excellent scene where Charles invites Henri to the room of his mistress for a quiet dinner. Anglade is terrific in this scene by offering so much insight within the character within this scene. This in presenting the only true moment of comfort as he speaks about not having to have his food tested, and showing the contentment of the King living not as one is the man's greatest gift. This while also so bluntly portraying the graciousness of Charles as a host in the moment. This presenting both the act of the man's adoration for being rescued but also the sense within his work that with Henri is one of the few people Charles seemingly can entirely not be suspicious around. This goes further though when Henri speaks towards Charles letting himself and Margot go off to live elsewhere. Anglade's reaction is wonderful as he brings this kind of knowing exasperation towards every moment of the discussion. This showing a man with a far greater knowledge upon the situation of Henri as he speaks with doubtful tones towards whether or not Margot could really exist without the debauchery of the court to enjoy. Anglade giving a great sense of Charles as a man within this world, neither overtly good or bad, but rather existing within the cutthroat place. Of course this backfires upon him soon when a second assassination attempt on Henri is thwarted by Charles again, this time unintentionally as he takes in a slow acting poison intended for Henri by mistake. This followed by what is almost a comical scene of Anglade learning from the court's chemist about the poison. This as his reaction almost has a moment of internalized laughing at the plight he has been given, while also still conveying the horror of the realization. The scenes following being Charles slowly dying from the poison, in a particularly grotesque way as he begins to sweat blood. Anglade's great in these scenes in showing the wretched state within every expression. Anglade conveying the overwhelming pain, but also the emotional distress and bitterness within every accusatory tone towards his family who has left him as such. It must be said Anglade dies well, bringing a certain flamboyance towards the character's unlikely and odd end, that is entertaining while never losing the body horror of the situation. As stated before, Anglade very much steals the film once the character has his turn. This as he makes the most out of the atypical and off-beat monarch, who is a true product of his cruel family both in life and in death.
(Auteuil)
28 comments:
So pleased you really liked Anglade here.
Ratings and thoughts on the rest of the cast.
My final supporting actor ranking 1994:
1. Martin Landau
2. James Whitmore
3. Jean Louis Trintignant
4. Raul Julia
5. Gary Oldman
6. Delroy Lindo
7. Jean-Hugues Anglade
8. Bob Gunton
9. Christopher Walken
10. Harvey Keitel
Thanks for reviewing Anglade, a great performance and my MVP as well.
your rating and thoughts on Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen's Gambit?
* if you're through already
Louis: have you seen The Sound of Metal yet?
So on a random note, I finished Season 3 of "Naruto" today - and by that, I mean the seasons as divided by Netflix, so technically a little after the "Chunin Exam" arc.
Honestly, I really don't have much to say about the show; It's fine a good deal of the time, and I like some of the characters, but the overall pacing brings it down for me. At this point I could continue watching the series or just leave it off here...and that indifference is something I wasn't expecting to feel.
Louis: your ratings and thoughts on Vanessa Redgrave in Little Odessa?
Luke:
Adjani - 4.5(She effectively throws herself early on the role in making the more vivacious elements of the character not seem over the top, or even as salacious as they could have. Instead she kind of owns it in a way that grants more of a power to the character than there might have been with a different approach. In all of her romantic, or at least sexual scenes, Adjani is very much the one in charge with a remarkable confidence within them. She's good though in creating a natural segue for the character becoming a better person. This in her reactions of overt horror that becomes genuine concern for the innocents in the way of the political plot like Henri. As noted before I do think the second half Anglande kind of steals it from everybody, but Adjani is still good in portraying the growing desperation as Margot's situation becomes more dire.)
Lisi - 4.5(Is very effective in sort of creating the power of mere presence. This in granting the sort of cutting manner of the character at all times even when she's silent there is the sense of her persuasive power. She's fantastic in all of her scenes with her children. This in Lisi plays each a little differently showing a different kind of manipulation for each. This with a manner more cold for Charles, more motherly for Margot, more overtly domineering for the youngest, and even overtly sexual for Henri. Lisi shows the manipulator in each place. She is also good providing just a bit of humanity in her final scenes with Anglande in presenting the bit of regret within the fallout of all her maneuvers.)
Greggory - 3(More forgettable in the scheme of the film however still good in providing enough slimy faces and sense of just the most reprehensible character of them all.)
Perez - 3.5(Good as basically the dashing hero of the piece. Playing much into that type in making the character's motivations particularly straight forward and pure. He's wholly good in this approach though and making him wholly honest within this respect. Even if this does make him a bit overshadowed by most.)
Lucas:
Redgrave - 3(It's not much of a role for her, you mostly just see her portraying a not of wrenching pain. She portrays that well, but it doesn't ask too much of her.)
Tim:
I haven't finished the series yet, nor do I give ratings for series performances.
Calvin:
Yes, I thought it was wonderful. The sound design is exceptional indeed. In a way it covers some of the material I wish Star is Born had given more time to, this in the struggle with deafness as a musician and honestly spending time with the idea of rehabilitation. I will say the third act loses a little momentum compared to the first two thirds, not that it becomes bad at all (just feels like an epilogue more than a proper ending), and the rest was so good and so unique. I loved that it really skirted a lot of expected cliches for a film about an addict, and fittingly played its own tune in that regard.
Saving Ahmed.
Cooke - 3.5
Raci - 4
Amalric - 3
Very glad to hear, Louis. I'd go the same ratings with you except higher for Raci, and the same thoughts overall. I will say though with time the third act is growing on me, especially when thinking about it overall more in context with the addiction idea.
Agreed too on the cliches part. It was kind of nice not to have him antagonise everyone at the camp, for example. A welcome change.
Louis: Where do Adjani and Lisi rank in your lineups for the year?
Has Anglade been downgraded, or was I hallucinating that he was a 5 in the morning?
Michael:
I'll answer that in the results comments.
Tahmeed:
No, I'm afraid you'd been hallucinating, I haven't edited the post since I posted it.
In regards to Sound Of Metal, I'm happy you really liked it and I think we're in for another strong year for Leading Actor which is amazing considering current circumstances.
I just saw 'Minari' and steven yeun is my best actor win with nawazuddin in 'Raat Akeli Hain' as second.
My body could not be more ready for Minari.
Calvin: From those that I've listed on the previous review, do you think 10 fives in Leading Actor is a reasonable best case scenario.
Luke: assuming all of theyr films are released within Louis' qualifying period, then maybe, I'm thinking 8 or 9 is more realistic though.
Louis: Your thoughts on the costume design of La Reine Margot.
Luke, 10 would be extraordinary in a year like this but the last 3 years ranged from 8-9 so I'll probably go the same way as Calvin. I do agree that those 10 are all possibilities. From what Louis saw so far, Jackman, Lindo, Rylance and Oldman are locks and Ahmed has a really good chance given how well received the film's been.
John: how did you watch Minari if you don’t mind me asking?
Louis: Your thoughts on this scene from John Wick? Rewatching the film recently, this alone made me bump Reeves up to a 4.5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51t2_o_H_Rw&ab_channel=Movieclips
Louis, your thoughts on the scene in the hurtlocker that takes place in a grocery store the contrast of that scene compared to the rest of the film really dttod out to me while rewatching the film.
Tahmeed: It's a well handled scene from Reeves, to be certain, as even with some very silly lines ("Killed that from me"), he still brings the needed depth and rage to Wick's outburst.
John: The "back at home montage" is my favourite part of "The Hurtlocker". This is mainly because it the truth it presents - that being the struggle soldiers have of mentally resetting themselves - and it also shows the strength and subtlety of Renner's performance.
Michael: I feel you. After all you went trough in warzone and then having to be the man you are supposed to be back home. That scene managed to convwy that.
Louis: Thoughts on these scenes from the Justice League cartoon?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0MRaLVATJ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYMBwqtMht0
Luke:
Wonderful costuming to be sure and an inspired nod given the recognition for a foreign film in the category. Period appropriate work with some minor riffs really for character that are particularly well realized. I'd say less luscious than many films of a similar ilk, however this is befitting the rather dog eat dog tone of the piece.
Tahmeed:
I mean nearly a now "classic" scene at least within Reeves's own oeuvre due to the "I'm Back". Having said that Reeves, largely, effectively unleashes the overt intensity in the scene of finally really blowing up past the cooler more internalized violence. The only criticism I have is the sort of growl he does as he lowers his register, is just a little much. Still striking work to be sure.
John Smith:
Not sure of your question.
Anonymous:
I mean a pretty clever way to depict the alternate world League, though I always found the directing not as solid in the series as in Batman and Superman, this is an instance as I think what was written could've had more impact in its visual depiction. Still striking in where and how it goes.
A fine scene in kind of verbalizing the line that really defines the character.
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