I’ve finally figured out why Jodie Foster will never be a great actress.
Keep in mind, I love Jodie. She’s intense and compelling and smart, and “Silence of the Lambs” was incredible. But the same things that make her interesting to watch are why she’s limited. She can’t relax. Her face always has that “my mind is racing 14 steps ahead” look, no matter what character she plays. When she smiles, it’s an intense smile, not a smile of pleasure.
A perfect example of this quality is in “Sommersby,” which I caught a little of on cable TV last night. Jodie did her best to play a rather ordinary Civil War wife caught up in a strange case of mistaken identity. But her intense little chin and her intense little nose and her laser-eyed look kept giving her away. She’s no more an average Civil War wife than she is a cantaloupe.
Relax, Jodie. Take up yoga or something.
But her intensity should serve her well in the upcoming “Panic Room,” where she struggles to defend her home and daughter from marauding robbers. Now there’s good casting. I can’t wait.
Maybe she is just smarter than everyone else? I know us smart people have a hard time looking relaxed even when we are. My massuse(sp?) nearly fell over lauhing because I was figity.
She IS a great actress – she’s just not right for a lot of the roles she has taken. If anything she could use a better agent… then again, I know her interest these days is more in the area of directing.
She’s also as cool in person as she seems. I got to see a movie with her and some friends several years ago. She is down to earth and friendly and not hung up on ceremony at all.
Don’t forget “Freaky Friday.” That movie will forever cast a shadow on all future acting Ms. Foster does. Just kidding. I agree. Drop the “pensive” face, Jodie!
Now…she was able to relax a bit in Maverick.
But I couldn’t imagine any other actress but her playing the roles in Taxi Driver, The Accused, Little Man Tate or Contact. No one else plays that like her…leave the namby pamby non-pensive seriousness to meg ryan or julia roberts or somebody.