Presenting the "Scary Face" series. Watch at your own risk. Images are terrifying. Small children should be gently but firmly escorted away from computer before playing. Not for the faint of heart. You've been warned.
I've had Sardonicus Face for years now, so nothing can hurt me anymore. At least not as far as permanent rictus grins go.
Will any film blogger* ever step up to the plate and write a post about how good Shatner was capable of being at one point? He's a loon now, and his acting style is so often and understandably mocked that I think people forget, or can't see, that he had something. I mean, he was great as Kirk! For the most part, anyway! And has anyone here seen the George C. Scott directed TV adaptation of The Andersonville Trial? Shatner plays the prosecuting attorney, and he's great, recognizable hammy Shatner style and all.
*I suppose I could do it, but I don't feel like it right now.
He started off doing things like playing opposite Spencer Tracy in Judgement at Nuremberg so he was respected enough to land roles like that. And for the record I've always liked his "take no prisoners" approach to acting. I wouldn't go nuts and say he's great because I don't think he is but I do think he is underrated due to the hamminess. I absolutely love he and Montelban in Khan. It's like the greatest one/two punch of ham acting in history.
Well, you know what I mean by "great". I'm not trying to put him up there with the true powerhouses or anything, but before he went off the reservation he could be very compelling. And Khan is wonderful, watching those two go at it. But goddamnit, Spock should have stayed dead! Off topic, I know, but that still pisses me off.
Have you seen The Andersonville Trial? If not, see if you can find it. I'd love to know your thoughts on it. And I mean by, like, the end of the day.
No I haven't seen The Andersonville Trial, I'll try and find it and watch it... in the next fifteen minutes.
I've never had a strong opinion on Spock's death/ressurection one way or the other. I will try to share in your righteous indignation if presented with compelling evidence.
Well okay, Spock dies, right? And it's all sad and Scotty plays the bagpipes, and Kirk says that Spock had the most human sould he'd ever seen, but Spock, remember, isn't human at all! He's a Vulcan! So that's touching.
But then in the next movie, hey, look, he got reborn on that one planet with all the trees. Sadness is over!
Exactly. It's a big fat cheat, is what it is, and if you're involved enough in Khan to be moved by the ending, it's kind of like a slap in the face. What were my tears for, Greg!? What were my tears for!?!?
Also, I think a guy insulted me at my site for not getting around to reading GHOST STORY yet. Am I misreading it? He's commented a lot on my blog this month and has always seemed friendly and informative.
Why is anyone still talking about William Shatner? He's just our generation's version of Raymond Massey. Send him back across the border where Massey should have been shipped and be done with him.
Pshaw! This post was up for an hour and a half before you stopped by and except for one comment by Marilyn it's pretty much been a conversation between you and me (although Marilyn you're always welcome of course). It's Friday, that's all.
And The Invisible Edge gets two or three comments a week! Although in the last two months it has become almost as popular hits-wise as Cinema Styles thanks to several high-profile photo blogs linking to posts almost daily. It's just that nobody comments.
I wasn't really complaining. For one thing, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that if the majority of people haven't read the stories I'm writing about, they won't have much to say -- that's how I am when I read posts about movies I haven't seen. But as a result you also get used to not checking your own blog, or at least I do.
But as a result you also get used to not checking your own blog, or at least I do.
I have the e-mail notification when there are new comments. When I'm at my computer I keep the e-mail up in the background so a ding alerts me to any new comment.
Make your case all you want, Bill. The history of entertainment is littered with people who, after doing one thing for which they could justly be proud, ran screaming for the cover of mediocrity.
Marilyn, if that's your description of Shatner, I don't disagree. I just think the guy had (note the past-tense) something at one time, and it's worth remembering, that's all.
Christopher, I think medical journals need to acknowledge the very real condition of Sardonicus Face. It could be in degrees, like burns. Seeing your dead hamster or something would be 1st degree Sardonicus Face and then seeing your dead father after digging up his grave would be 3rd degree.
Re: Shatner... He sure had that something on the first season of Star Trek didn't he? Then he turned up the hamminess on Kirk from season 2 on and it just never went away after that.
His part in Nuremberg is so tiny it's not even worth mentioning. I've got 3 other movies lined up at home that I'm interested in watching to see how effective he was outside what I know of him: The Brothers Karamazov, The Outrage, and The Intruder. Then I'll write him up on my site.
Interesting anecdote: Meyer implies in his Trek II Blu-ray commentary that he got Shatner to "act" by shooting take after take of the poor guy, getting him too tired to "ham" it up. When Shatner complained, he buttered him up by comparing him to one of his acting idols, his costar in Nuremberg, Spencer Tracy.
P.S. I thought he was great in three B-movies I've seen with him: Big Bad Mama, Kingdom of the Spiders, and The Kidnapping of the President.
Tony I look forward to your write-up on Shatner. He has some fun qualities as an actor but I'd never call him great by any stretch. And I must admit Meyer has me confused with his statement. Anyone who has seen Khan and ever also seen a restrained modulated performance knows that Shatner did ham it up in the movie. If Meyer doesn't think Shatner hammed it up in that movie I'd love to see just what Meyer does think is ham acting.
I agree Shatner hams it up in Trek II ("Khaaaaaaannn!" and so forth). But he has far more subtle moments in this film than he ever has in the latter part of his career ("Okay, Khan. Here it comes.") It is definitely a dynamic performance due to Meyer's intercession.
And don't forget, as I've said here many, many times before, ham acting is not necessarily a bad thing. There are good ham actors and bad ones. Among the greatest is Charles Laughton. I meant what I said to Bill earlier, Khan may be the greatest one/two punch in the history of ham acting, and good ham acting at that. Especially Montelban's readings of the Moby Dick lines. My God those are great!
Yeesh, what's with the Shatner hate? The guy's not a "good" actor maybe, but his hammy schtick is pretty fun to watch. And his current over-the-top self-parody on Boston Legal is a blast. No one would ever mistake him for talented, but within his "what you are I wouldn't eat" range he's about as good as it gets.
Ed, Marilyn is the only one as far as I can tell. The rest of us from me to Bill to Tony are talking about the positive side. I'm going to watch Khan again really soon in tribute.
Yes, Ed. There is no doubt that despite my love for all things Kubrick, my estimation of Marlon Brando as perhaps the greatest of all American actors thus far, and a soft spot for the works of Lynch, Mann, and Malick, my favorite actor of all is William Shatner.
58 comments:
I just shit myself.
It's pretty frightening. I hope no one suffers from Mr. Sardonicus face because of this. 'Cause that could happen you know!
I've had Sardonicus Face for years now, so nothing can hurt me anymore. At least not as far as permanent rictus grins go.
Will any film blogger* ever step up to the plate and write a post about how good Shatner was capable of being at one point? He's a loon now, and his acting style is so often and understandably mocked that I think people forget, or can't see, that he had something. I mean, he was great as Kirk! For the most part, anyway! And has anyone here seen the George C. Scott directed TV adaptation of The Andersonville Trial? Shatner plays the prosecuting attorney, and he's great, recognizable hammy Shatner style and all.
*I suppose I could do it, but I don't feel like it right now.
He started off doing things like playing opposite Spencer Tracy in Judgement at Nuremberg so he was respected enough to land roles like that. And for the record I've always liked his "take no prisoners" approach to acting. I wouldn't go nuts and say he's great because I don't think he is but I do think he is underrated due to the hamminess. I absolutely love he and Montelban in Khan. It's like the greatest one/two punch of ham acting in history.
Well, you know what I mean by "great". I'm not trying to put him up there with the true powerhouses or anything, but before he went off the reservation he could be very compelling. And Khan is wonderful, watching those two go at it. But goddamnit, Spock should have stayed dead! Off topic, I know, but that still pisses me off.
Have you seen The Andersonville Trial? If not, see if you can find it. I'd love to know your thoughts on it. And I mean by, like, the end of the day.
No I haven't seen The Andersonville Trial, I'll try and find it and watch it... in the next fifteen minutes.
I've never had a strong opinion on Spock's death/ressurection one way or the other. I will try to share in your righteous indignation if presented with compelling evidence.
Well okay, Spock dies, right? And it's all sad and Scotty plays the bagpipes, and Kirk says that Spock had the most human sould he'd ever seen, but Spock, remember, isn't human at all! He's a Vulcan! So that's touching.
But then in the next movie, hey, look, he got reborn on that one planet with all the trees. Sadness is over!
You see what I'm getting at?
"I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human."
Gets ya right here. And then he's back. Hooray! Right?
Exactly. It's a big fat cheat, is what it is, and if you're involved enough in Khan to be moved by the ending, it's kind of like a slap in the face. What were my tears for, Greg!? What were my tears for!?!?
To remove irritants from your eyes and keep them from drying out. Same thing they're always for.
No, that's why your eyes water. That's not why you cry! God, you sound just like Spock, or possibly the Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
"I now know why you cry... but it is something I can never do. Here. I cannot self-terminate. You must lower me into the steel. Goodbye."
Jesus...NOW look at me! Crying at work! Thanks a lot, Greg!
Sorry. Skynet made me do it.
So... pretty much dead online today huh? Me, you and Adam. That's about it.
Who are you talking to?
Also, I think a guy insulted me at my site for not getting around to reading GHOST STORY yet. Am I misreading it? He's commented a lot on my blog this month and has always seemed friendly and informative.
Why is anyone still talking about William Shatner? He's just our generation's version of Raymond Massey. Send him back across the border where Massey should have been shipped and be done with him.
Also, I think a guy insulted me at my site for not getting around to reading GHOST STORY yet.
I made a joke about that in the comments there like an hour ago. Do you even check your own blog during the day?
Massey would have made a great starship captain. He could have helmed the U.S.S. Solemn.
Marilyn - I've made my case for Shatner, and I stand by it.
Greg - When you don't get any comments for four hours, you tend to think there won't be any.
Pshaw! This post was up for an hour and a half before you stopped by and except for one comment by Marilyn it's pretty much been a conversation between you and me (although Marilyn you're always welcome of course). It's Friday, that's all.
And The Invisible Edge gets two or three comments a week! Although in the last two months it has become almost as popular hits-wise as Cinema Styles thanks to several high-profile photo blogs linking to posts almost daily. It's just that nobody comments.
I wasn't really complaining. For one thing, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that if the majority of people haven't read the stories I'm writing about, they won't have much to say -- that's how I am when I read posts about movies I haven't seen. But as a result you also get used to not checking your own blog, or at least I do.
I absolutely love he and Montelban in Khan.
But grammatically you love him and Montelban.
Spock, remember, isn't human at all! He's a Vulcan!
Spock is half human, on his mother's side.
So... pretty much dead online today huh? Me, you and Adam. That's about it.
Yep, just you three. Nothing going on over at my blog, nope, not at all.
Yep, just you three. Nothing going on over at my blog, nope, not at all.
Well, no, there wouldn't be if you go around correcting grammar everywhere.
"Hey, want to go see what Arbo's up to?"
"Eh, I don't know. He's such a smartypants."
Boy it's a good thing for you I are a good-humored person, me am.
But as a result you also get used to not checking your own blog, or at least I do.
I have the e-mail notification when there are new comments. When I'm at my computer I keep the e-mail up in the background so a ding alerts me to any new comment.
You're the Good Humor Am!
Ice cream, get your ice cream here!
Shit, he IS half Vulcan! How could I forget that? As usual, another missed opportunity.
You mean half-HUMAN. Yet another missed opportunity!
Oh, fuck you.
November is "Garbage Mouth Month" not October.
Did you see what him write Arbo?
And I commented on Arbo's blog immediately after he complained here and he STILL hasn't put it up.
What a fucking cunt that guy is.
Make your case all you want, Bill. The history of entertainment is littered with people who, after doing one thing for which they could justly be proud, ran screaming for the cover of mediocrity.
Marilyn, if that's your description of Shatner, I don't disagree. I just think the guy had (note the past-tense) something at one time, and it's worth remembering, that's all.
Yes, that's fine. Now go away.
I just want everyone to live long and prosper. That's all.
Well, I'm not going anywhere. Just so everyone knows.
lol..suffer from Sardonicus Face..that used to happen after a night of LSD trippin'
What movie is that clip of Tyne Daly from?
And I like your banner. I've always preferred the Tyne Daly version of The Lodger to the Hitchcock version.
Well, I'm not going anywhere. Just so everyone knows.
Then stay right where you are and prosper.
Christopher, I think medical journals need to acknowledge the very real condition of Sardonicus Face. It could be in degrees, like burns. Seeing your dead hamster or something would be 1st degree Sardonicus Face and then seeing your dead father after digging up his grave would be 3rd degree.
What movie is that clip of Tyne Daly from?
Kirkey and Lacey.
Sardonicus sufferers ultimately have to be fed Dr. Phibes style..
Re: Shatner... He sure had that something on the first season of Star Trek didn't he? Then he turned up the hamminess on Kirk from season 2 on and it just never went away after that.
His part in Nuremberg is so tiny it's not even worth mentioning. I've got 3 other movies lined up at home that I'm interested in watching to see how effective he was outside what I know of him: The Brothers Karamazov, The Outrage, and The Intruder. Then I'll write him up on my site.
Interesting anecdote: Meyer implies in his Trek II Blu-ray commentary that he got Shatner to "act" by shooting take after take of the poor guy, getting him too tired to "ham" it up. When Shatner complained, he buttered him up by comparing him to one of his acting idols, his costar in Nuremberg, Spencer Tracy.
P.S. I thought he was great in three B-movies I've seen with him: Big Bad Mama, Kingdom of the Spiders, and The Kidnapping of the President.
What a fucking cunt that guy is.
With teeth!
Tony I look forward to your write-up on Shatner. He has some fun qualities as an actor but I'd never call him great by any stretch. And I must admit Meyer has me confused with his statement. Anyone who has seen Khan and ever also seen a restrained modulated performance knows that Shatner did ham it up in the movie. If Meyer doesn't think Shatner hammed it up in that movie I'd love to see just what Meyer does think is ham acting.
Hello Arbo.
I agree Shatner hams it up in Trek II ("Khaaaaaaannn!" and so forth). But he has far more subtle moments in this film than he ever has in the latter part of his career ("Okay, Khan. Here it comes.") It is definitely a dynamic performance due to Meyer's intercession.
And don't forget, as I've said here many, many times before, ham acting is not necessarily a bad thing. There are good ham actors and bad ones. Among the greatest is Charles Laughton. I meant what I said to Bill earlier, Khan may be the greatest one/two punch in the history of ham acting, and good ham acting at that. Especially Montelban's readings of the Moby Dick lines. My God those are great!
Hola!
Greetings from Draculand: The Dracula´s Blog.
I´ll add "Cinema Styles" to my Blog List.
And I yours to mine.
Yeesh, what's with the Shatner hate? The guy's not a "good" actor maybe, but his hammy schtick is pretty fun to watch. And his current over-the-top self-parody on Boston Legal is a blast. No one would ever mistake him for talented, but within his "what you are I wouldn't eat" range he's about as good as it gets.
Yeesh, what's with the Shatner hate?
Ed, Marilyn is the only one as far as I can tell. The rest of us from me to Bill to Tony are talking about the positive side. I'm going to watch Khan again really soon in tribute.
Yes, Ed. There is no doubt that despite my love for all things Kubrick, my estimation of Marlon Brando as perhaps the greatest of all American actors thus far, and a soft spot for the works of Lynch, Mann, and Malick, my favorite actor of all is William Shatner.
And I wish I was saying it facetiously.
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