Wikipedia.com
defines a breakout role thusly: “A breakthrough
role, also known as breakout
role, is a term in the film industry to
describe the performance of an actor or actress in a film or television show
which contributed significantly to the development of their career and
beginning of critical recognition. Such a moment in an actor's career may often
occur some time after they begin acting as their roles become more substantial.
Often a breakthrough role is a significant increase in importance in the
actor's part in the film moving up from a minor character or extra to one of the
leading cast, or a "high impact" role in a film which has mainstream
success and results in the widespread recognition or popularity of the actor.”
I can’t help but think the way we perceive talent and star power is hugely
connected to an actor’s initial success – the moment of critical recognition as
having talent to keep one’s eye on, garnering attention from either the masses
or someone important as being “someone to watch”. I want to explore this idea with a few
actresses, because what kind of American would I be if I wasn’t conscious or
subconsciously buying into the draw of the male gaze?? We keep “pitting women
against each other” because it’s entertaining, and whether they admit it or
not, they love it. ANYWAY.
Jennifer
Lawrence is a great actress, yes, but would we believe that if her breakout
role wasn’t in Winter’s Bone (2010), where she played a destitute stricken
gritty teenager gutting squirrels and searching for her meth making father in
the back woods of Missouri? What if her breakout role was actually (what we
would all agree is) Blake Lively’s breakout role, the over eager and
flirtatious soccer star in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)? Would
Jennifer Lawrence become a David O. Russell darling had she played Blake’s
horny jock pre nose job? (YOU KNOW Blake’s nose is post op. Google it.)
Methinks not.
When you’re
interested in an acting career, one of the most common phrases you’ll hear is
“being in the right place at the right time.” Maybe Blake was too busy getting
her nose done to go to the casting call of Winter’s Bone, but she either didn’t
audition for it, or the director wasn’t interested in casting her because of
her previous role(s). Do you see what I’m getting at here? Other than Blake’s
nose? (I’m done with the nose jokes, I promise. LUV U BLAKE.) The director of
Winter’s Bone presumably wanted an actress who no one was too familiar with,
who we could buy into as being rough and tough and Sundance-ready.
After
Jennifer proved her acting chops in a meaty role that garnered her an Oscar
nom, she eventually moved on to more Serious Actress films including Russell’s
Silver Lining’s Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), and Joy (2015) - all
of which received rave reviews and various noms on her part. Let’s not forget
X-Men and The Hunger Games franchises. Yes, Jennifer was good, but could Blake
have played these roles just as well? Theoretically. Arguably. In Lawrence’s
latest Vogue cover story, she mentions being relieved at having finished her
contracted franchises. She understood that she had become a new “tour de force”
(UGH. So overused, that phrase) and wanted to hand pick her roles accordingly. I
was a fan of Lawrence until I read her story. She came off as conceited,
snobby, and a bit too self-important. The actress who was once endearing has
tipped over the line of too try-hard. I suppose it was about time, it’s pretty
much inevitable when a star is so upfront about themselves. Their likability is
almost always going to have a downfall. (In regards to likability/downfalls -
Amy Schumer also comes to mind. And Anne Hathaway. See the pattern here? It has
to do with reproductive organs. Can I be sexist as long as I acknowledge I’m
being sexist? No? I digress.)
Meanwhile,
Blake became the new Cali girl beach-babe, and starred in the CW’s high school
version of Sex and the City – Gossip Girl (2007). This role simultaneously
solidified her hotness, Barbie bod, unrealistically perfect hair, and mediocre
acting chops. Although critics have cited her Elvis and Anabelle (2007) role as
being her breakout, Imma go ahead and assume you’d all agree with me in saying
you’ve never even heard of it. Lively attempted to flex her cRaFt when she
played a gritty Bostonian in Ben Affleck’s The Town (2010) – her moments where
both anticipated and forgettable. SIGH. A swing and a miss, Blakey. She then
starred in Green Lantern (2011) with her future (and my future 2nd)
husband, Ryan Reynolds. The film was a flop, and you already knew that. Did
ANYONE see it?? No I didn’t think so. (I just caught parts of it while I
switched between that and the last debate and MY GOODNESS they were just as bad
as each other.) Lively then ironically replaced Lawrence’s character in Oliver
Stone’s thriller Savages (2012). I haven’t seen it, but I’ve been wanting to. I
am prepared to yet again be let down by Blake and watch her get seriously out
acted by her costars – John Travolta, Benicio del Toro, Salma Hayek……I believe
this is an actress who is given second, third, and forth chances to show her
skill and can never quite commit to ‘being ugly’. Can you imagine her playing a
role like Charlize Theron’s in Monster? I can’t. If she were trying to sell
that to me, I wouldn’t buy it. But she doesn’t sell that, she sells the Pretty
Girl. It’s what she likes to sell. And I know plenty of people who buy it…..I
saw The Shallows this summer, and Blake was yet again making a pointed effort
to play a more challenging role who shifts from moments of screaming in
unimaginable pain to delivering dialogue for the sake of dialogue: “NOT TODAY
(SHARK).” Even in this bikini-clad shark attack thriller, Blake managed to
maintain a certain level of prettiness. It’s like she’s unable to make herself
look ugly. Or she’s just THAT attractive. I just couldn’t take her seriously.
I know the
things I’ve said here are sweeping generalizations, but……what do YOU think? Are
actors actually capable of playing many levels of roles? Are our opinions of
their abilities solely based on their career paths?
