Boy was Julia Roberts misscast!

[SNAFU]

Her exit from her monologue at the end reminded me of Timmah from South Park. Why didn't they go with Joanna Gleason? Felix was way too healthy looking during the food throwing. See Kramer got his digs in to the Reagan's in a new way.

[CarlosAlberto]

You're entitled.to your opinion of course but I have to wholeheartedly disagree with what you posted. Julia Roberts was excellent as was the entire film. It's an important film and I for one am glad it was made.

[SNAFU]

I thought she played the whole thing one note. Joanna Gleason was much better at the Public. She kept her stern demeaner but you always felt there was a storm brewing behind there. When she finally blew, if was both a release and terrifying!

[MTVMANN]

I have nothing to compare it too...but she seemed much like she was as Barbara in August: Osage County.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

The appeal of Julia Roberts has always mystified me. I find her completely rangeless.

[SNAFU]

Can never lose her in one of her characters. EVER. It is always Julia Roberts playing (characters name here) as Julia Roberts.

[DAME]

She was lovely. And I thought it was very smart casting and Kudos to her for doing it. And I saw the original at the public many times during its run and the recent revival.

[CarlosAlberto]

Yes, DAME, I agree. Sorry to hear so may of you are mystified in regards to Julia Roberts talent. For someone so "one note" she sure does keep getting important roles for over 20 years.

[SNAFU]

So does Nicolas Cage, your point?

[DAME]

SNAFU; that is such a stupid comment. We get it. You didn't care for her. Julia Roberts is very charming, very talented and a huge superstar. One in a different class than a action B level star like Nicholas Cage. The comparison is desperate and moronic and a attempt for you to have the last word. Sorry you didn't enjoy her. I did.

[SNAFU]

And I am happy you did Dame. Many people seem to agree. I am sure she is charming, have never met her as of yet. That does not change the point that I and others don't see what the fuss is about. Oh, I am sorry, I am making a MORONIC attempt at having the last word in a thread that I started.

[theaternut]

I was happy with the whole thing. Julia Roberts was nicely understated in a part where many others have gone way over the top. Much better for me than Ellen Barkin whom for me gave a very distracting "performance". But I do understand I am in the minority in that opinion. I was happy to see Joe Mantello in it. And he was fine. But very easy to see why some stage actors just don't cut it on film or the small screen.

[CarlosAlberto]

My point: Just stating a fact to counter your opinion.

[DAME]

"Oh, I am sorry, I am making a MORONIC attempt at having the last word in a thread that I started."

Apology accepted.

[SNAFU]

"My point: Just stating a fact to counter your opinion."

There are actors out there who seem to snap up parts. With the Nick Cage comment I was pointing that out. I am sure he has had many more numerous starring roles but does that make him a great actor?

My opinion is based on my seeing two other actresses tackling the role with much better success causing me disappointment in Ms. Robert's portrayal of the good Doctor Emma.

[strummergirl]

I really thought the movie wouldn't be half-bad when it was largely the cast of Streep-Martindale-Cooper-Nicholson together. Then more characters were appearing and it just got swallowed whole. That end credits is laughably bad. I didn't hate Julia but I became confused as to why people were acting like she was the best thing about the film. I can understand being mixed on Streep and even hating her characterization but Barbara was Zzzzzz in this for me. Plus Julia had to interact with McGregor and Breslin for a good chunk of this film and those were among my least favorite performances.

[DAME]

Snafu; I understand. I guess I didn't read where anyone was making a big fuss about her or saying she was the best thing in the film. I didn't come into it with any of that. Either I missed all that or didn't pay any attention to it.

As far as Nicholas Cage.... I get the point you are trying to make... For me it was just not a good example.. ( i hold him in the same regard as Chuck Norris) .

[Reginald Tresilian]

There's a story about Montgomery Clift watching Judy Garland filming her big scene in "Judgment at Nuremberg" (stay with me a minute). When it was over, he walked up to the director, tears streaming down his face, and said "She did that all wrong."

That's kind of how I felt watching Ellen Barkin do the big number in TNH: she did it all wrong, and I was completely floored by it; one of the most thrilling things I'd seen in a long, long time.

I didn't have that reaction to Julia Roberts, but on the whole I thought she gave a lovely, sincere, passionate performance. I missed having that visceral response, but it may well be that on the small screen I wouldn't have gotten it from Barkin, either.

[SNAFU]

There are others out there. He just came to mind, more as a punch line to a joke.

I watched the film again and I question some of the directing choices for her. Maybe it is her fault maybe the direction. We did not need cut aways during her rant, she should have been allowed to build without distraction. For me she started the entire rant at a very high point so there was nothing to build to. I also cringed at her storming out at the end, the whirrrrrrring sound of her wheelcahir as she slowly manuvered through the papers. An awkward moment I found could boarderline comedy.

Emma is a very difficult role to play and to play with the depth the character demands. My favorite to date was Joanna Gleason.

[DAME]

Was Streisand also thinking of playing it at some point? Oy.

[SNAFU]

OY! Indeed!

[~~tiny3~~]

so....enough re julia, what about Alfred Molina!! That 5 minute "brother" scene in the mansion was devastatingly good!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Well, this thread is specifically about JR and whether or not she was miscast. Talk about whatever you want, but it might be better to discuss Molina in the big thread on the main board.

[blaxx]

She was also Miss Taken and Miss Guided.

[songanddanceman2]

I wondered how long it would take for a thread like this to start since the knives were out from the moment she was announced. I loved Joanna Gleason in the role but that portrayal would not have played on TV at all. I liked how understated Julia played the role.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Personally, I'm enjoying the Mrs. Danvers section of Julia's career right now. It tickles me.

I know a lot of people really questioned the dance scene between Julia and Mark...but I thought it was one of the most important scenes in the movie. On one level, we got to see the doctor luxuriate in the touch of another human being. She was consistently providing care and human contact to her patients, and it was beautiful to see her receive the same for a moment.

But only for a moment because Ned proceeds to make the moment about himself and his needs. It was so tone-deaf and crass, without even meaning to be. And that's why the moment was crucial. Ruffalo's Ned didn't act particularly strident, but the narcissism of this moment revealed a great deal about his character. I was very moved by it. Plus, Roberts played the marriage scene so marvelously. I also felt her 'monologue' was quite strong. She held back until she couldn't take it any longer. It felt very natural. No, she didn't hit the operatic heights Barkin did, but thank God. That performance would have been grotesque on screen.

And not to really talk about anyone else, but how someone could think Mantello was too showy is beyond me. That breakdown was harrowing and horribly real. I had my issues with the movie, but the good outweighs the bad in a major way.