Film Discussion Paper 2

You must review the following biographical film performances by the actors listed: Boys Don't Cry (Swank) and Monster (Theron) and discuss the actors' performances. Each of these performances were considered outstanding and, in most cases, the actors received nominations and awards for their in-depth research and embodiment of their role. In at least 500 words, discuss why you think these performances were given such acknowledgements and whether or not they were deserved - for posting on your blog. 

In a number of interviews Charlize Theron had stated that she was fed up of being a part of unsuccessful films so in 2003 the film ‘Monster’ could not have come at a better time. Theron’s performance was described by industry professionals as “one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema” (Reviews: Monster: 2011) and in this role she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Throughout the process of ‘Monster’ Theron embodied the role of Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer of men, adding to the effect of her overall performance within the role. In an interview Theron said that “I knew I had to transform my body to get myself into her physical skin” (Bad-girl lookalikes: Aileen Wuornos: unknown) so she gained 30lbs, had her hair thinned and fried, shaved her eyebrows and wore prosthetic dentures; the transformation is unrecognisable. Even though a lot of the character came from the appearance there is no doubt that Theron deserved her Academy Award. During the court room scene at the end of the film you can see the character breaking down and I was unsure whether or not to feel sympathy for her or rejoice in the fact that she had been sentenced to death. This split emotion can have only been down to a strong performance and I believed throughout the film that I was watching Aileen Wuornos’ breakdown in reality.

This is exactly how I felt when watching Hilary Swank in ‘Boys Don’t Cry.’ Like Theron she won an Academy Award and her own body under-went change throughout the process. The film is a dramatization of Brandon Teena, a trans man, and when he is found out he is beaten, raped and murdered by his acquaintances. To successfully portray this role Hilary Swank shaved her head and lived as a man for a month. She too changed her weight to make her face look thinner and more defined. This method worked as I did believe that Swank was a boy who was confused about his sexuality. The film is very difficult to watch just like ‘Monster’ as both of them are based on true stories however; Swank’s performance is one of the greatest pieces of acting I have ever seen. The good thing about Swank’s performance is the fact that she does not over act the role it is done through physicalisation and the true crisis is shown through, sexual identity. This film could have gone horribly wrong and turned out to be more of a mockery than a serious and hard hitting film and that is due to Hilary Swank’s dedicated performance. Both actresses deserved their Academy Awards and both of their performances were truthful and inspirational.

                                                                                                            

Ebert, Roger (1 January 2004). "Reviews: Monster".Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.

unknown. (unknown). bad girl look a likes: Aileen Wuornos. Available: http://www.themakeupgallery.info/lookalike/badgirls/monster.htm. Last accessed 11th Dec 2012.

Sense Memory

Taste: Omelette

I can no longer eat Omelette due to the fact that I had a stomach bug once when I tried to eat one. It's not just the taste it's the smell as well but a few weeks ago I tried to eat one as all I had left in the fridge were eggs and I instantly had a bitter taste in my mouth when eating it and I went cold then suddenly sweaty at the thought of finishing it. I could not eat any of it as I did not want to make myself ill again, even though I know that's not what made me ill. 


Sound: 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from Carousel

Not the Liverpool football team anthem but the musical version of this song always brings me to tears. Besides the meaning of the lyrics it takes me back to happy time in my life when I was part of a youth theatre company. We performed this song in our final show as a company and it was a sad time but reflective too as we would never be performing again but we had so many memories together. It was difficult to perform the song on the night as emotions were high and I remember the feeling of being chocked up and trying not to cry. Even though the moment was a happy one I cannot help but cry whenever I hear it because we were a 'family' at the youth theatre group and we have not performed together since and I do miss it.

Touch: Cold Buttons

When I was younger I slept with one of my mum's blouses because it smelt of her and that was the only way my parents could get me to sleep in my own bed. I used to rub the cold buttons of the blouse on my nose to help me get to sleep. Whenever I get the cold side of a pillow or the buttons on something are cold it makes me feel relaxed and sleepy. I also feel safe as I feel as if my family are close and protecting me. I can now only sleep with a cold pillow as well and I think that the cold buttons when I was younger is due to this.

Smell: Freshly Baked Bread

Whenever I smell freshly baked bread it reminds me of Christmas time when I was younger. The overwhelming smell would always fill our house on Christmas morning as my dad used to wake up early and prepare it for the big family breakfast. As I am at university and whenever I smell it I feel nostalgic and I instantly am bought back to the kitchen at home on Christmas Day where I am surrounded by family but have not yet opened my presents. Even though it takes me back home, and I am often homesick, it also makes me feel excited as for any child Christmas Day is exciting. It does not help as well that I work in the bakery section of a Supermarket so I am constantly thinking it is Christmas Day.

Sight: A Summer's Day

When the sun eventually comes out it makes me feel happy. Summer is a time when I go home from university and I do not have many cares. I can relax and socialise without feeling guilty that I have work to do. Therefore, whenever the sun comes out I want to get up and do things which make me feel happy with my friends. During term time this is bad though as when the sun came out I was very unproductive and spent most of the sunny days relaxing around my friends and getting no work done. However, it is nice to feel happy so when I'm down I always remind myself that Summer will always (eventually) come around again and everything will look and feel better.

Uta Hagen Questions- Blanche DuBois

Blanche Dubois- 'A Streetcar Named Desire'

These questions are a reflection of how I think Blanche DuBois would feel and act during the scene in which she confesses to Mitch about her first marriage to a homosexual.

Who am I?

I am Blanche DuBois, a woman running from my past and afraid of it catching up with me.

Where am I?

I feel very alone but I am currently courting Mitch we have returned home and I am forever surrounded by the thought of Stanley. Everywhere I look I can see Stanley's belongings, now I live here I feel I own nothing, everything I once owned is now his, even my sister Stella

What time is it?

I am unsure of the time but it is evening and there is only simple lighting.

What surrounds me?

Stanley surrounds me, I am in his house which makes me feel uneasy as I am unsure as to what time he is returning.

What do I want?
I want to feel free from my past and the only way I can do that is tell my good friend Mitch about it. I feel overcome with it, especially living with Stella and Stanley. I need a release and I want to escape.

What is in my way?
The fact that I know I was in the wrong for doing what I did in my past and I do not know how Mitch or Stanley will react. Stanley is the main thing in my way, I want my sister to realize what sort of a man he is: bestial, direct and a bully; almost animalistic.

What do I do to get what I want?
I want my sister to leave Stanley and we can restart a new life together. I know this will be difficult as she is pregnant however I need my past to be forgotten but Stanley will not allow it. I tell Mitch of my past in Belle Reve so that he will sympathize with me and see that I am just as vulnerable as he is.

American Actors: Character Research

A Streetcar Named Desire

by Tennessee Williams

This is a character study of the character Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar Named Desire. During this moment in time Blanche is on a 'date' with Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

Given Circumstances

Blanche DuBois, the protagonist of the play, has recently left her family home in Belle Reve to visit her sister Stella in New Orleans. In New Orleans she meets a man named Mitch and during this scene they are on an evening out together. Mitch has asked Blanche how old she is and after this question she relives her previous life and tells him about her unsuccessful marriage to a man named Alan. 

Back Story

Blanche has a very complex back story which is why she wanted to escape Belle Reve as there were too many memories.
After her eviction from the family home in Belle Reve, Blanche becomes a woman of loose morals, taking up residence in a hotel in Laurel. With loose morals in tact she begins an intimate affair with one of her seventeen year old students at the school in which she teaches.

In a heated scene between Blanche and Mitch, Blanche says that "I used to sit here and she used to sit there. And death was as close as you are. Death. The opposite is Desire." (Filmsite Movie Review: unknown) 

The reason as to why Blanche becomes the way she is is due to the fact that she has been constantly surrounded by death- her family and then her ex-husband Alan. During the date scene with Mitch, Blanche opens up about her marriage with Alan. "When I was sixteen, I made the discovery love." (Film Experience Blog: 2009) However she later says that Alan "wasn't the least effeminate looking." (Film Experience Blog: 2009) and tells him of how Alan was gay with a friend of theirs. When Blanche caught them together she told Alan of her disgust towards the idea of homosexuality and after that Alan committed suicide, feeling ashamed that he was a gay man in the 1940's.  The death of Alan haunts Blanche for the rest of her life.

Relationship to other characters

Stella: Blanche's relationship to Stella is the strongest within the play. Stella is five years younger than Blanche therefore Blanche feels it necessary to stand up for Stella when Stanley takes his anger out on them during the play. When Blanche arrives in the play Stella's loyalty to Stanley and Blanche is tested and in the end she chooses Stanley, who domestically abuses her, over Blanche. Even though she loves Blanche she cannot come to terms or believe Blanche's accusations that Stanley raped her. Stella's denial at the end of the play makes her more like her sister than she thinks.

Stanley: is the husband of Blanche's sister Stella. He is a proud family man who fought in the second world war. He is loyal to his friends, 'passionate' yet abusive to his wife and wants to ruin Blanche's new life through revealing her past. Towards the end of the play it is suggested that Stanley rapes Blanche but feels no remorse to it. Blanche then becomes an outcast in society but Stanley remains the family man in which he cleverly portrays.

Mitch: is an army friend of Stanley and is introduced to Blanche through Stanley. Mitch and Blanche court until Mitch finds out, from Stanley, about Blanche's past. Mitch and Blanche are an unlikely couple as Blanche always dreams of a hero rescuing her from her life. Towards the end of the play when Blanche is taken away by doctors Mitch is the only one, other than Stella, who shows some sort of despair towards the tragedy.

Objectives and Obstacles

Blanche escapes her previous life to start a new one and try and forget. She does this by moving in with her younger sister who does love her. 

However, slowly through her mental decline she begins to show how her past has seriously affected her with the added obstacle of Stanley knowing about her past through a work friend. Blanche's main obstacle throughout the whole play is her secretive past which is made worse by her mentality as well as alcohol problem.

Contextual Research

A Streetcar Named Desire was written between the years of 1944-1945. When the play was opened in America the characters resonated the culture of the time due to the end of World War II. During the war men were sent to fight whilst the women were left to run and support the country and consequently when men returned there was a Gender struggle as women were once again seen as second class citizens in comparison to the men. This is a constant theme throughout the play with the character of Stanley dominating both Stella and Blanche. However, Blanche, in this sense, is seen as a stronger person than Stella due to the fact that Stella allows Stanley to bully her but Blanche stands up to Stanley.

The theme of homosexuality was a taboo subject during the 1940's and was not widely discussed or mentioned especially in plays. When the play was placed on stage and even during the film production, directors were faced with how to stage the strong themes. In the film version the director Kazan, turns Blanche's monologue to Mitch into a confession "where Blanche reveals how 'she killed' her husband." (Film Experience Blog: 2009) Williams makes no point of hiding the fact that Blanche's husband was gay. Audiences across the world would have been reminded of suicide and death after World War II during this play making it a hard hitting play.

Audiences would have also been reminded of violence during the war when looking at the character of Stanley. The rage in which Stanley feels could have come from his time in the war "once you understand the distress that soldiers face during war, they find it hard to be the same, emotionally, ever again." (The Emotional Effects of War on Soldiers: unknown) As Stanley fought in the war this could explain why his emotions are so unstable and many soldiers would have been the same and represented through the character of Stanley.

unknown. (unknown). A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). Available: http://www.filmsite.org/stre.html. Last accessed 20th Nov 2012.

Rogers, N. (2009). Monologue, He was a boy.... Available: http://filmexperience.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/he-was-boy.html. Last accessed 20th Nov 2012.

Tian, S. (unknown). The Emotional Effects of War on Soldiers.Available: http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/11261/1/The-Emotional-Effects-of-War-on-Soldiers.html. Last accessed 20th Nov 2012.

Physical Movement of Uta Hagen Basic Object Exercise

In my previous blog post I considered Uta Hagen's questions on the Basic Object Exercise. I chose to pick a two minute scenario from my everyday life; being on the phone. In this particular moment I was on the phone to the water bill company trying to change the payment method urgently so that we did not lose out on money that month. Below are the movements that fit with the thought process I was going through at that point in time.

I am relaxing after a Physical Theatre morning workshop around the small table which is situated in our large kitchen. I notice the water bills which are incorrect so pull them toward me and immediately know that I have to ring the company to change this so that we are not left short of money at the end of the month. As a result I pull out my Iphone from my right jacket pocket and type the number into my phone. I then place it to my right ear ready to talk to someone at the other end. Whilst I am doing this my housemates are walking in and out of the kitchen, preparing for lectures or making lunch. As they are not being quiet I look to my right and express to them that they need to be quiet whilst I am on the phone talking to the water company as I have never paid a bill before. No one listens so I grow a little more tense in my facial expressions and perse my lips. I hear a voice on the other end of the phone however it is automated which frustrates me further. It asks me to type in the houses account number, so I do this. I take my phone from my right ear and hold it in my right hand. With my right thumb I key in the numbers of our account and then return the phone to my ear. After I have done this I hear caller hold music which irritates me as I know the call is not free so become a little more uneasy in myself. The longer I am on hold for the more bored I get, therefore I pick up a pen with my left hand and begin to doodle slowly on the bill and letter next to me on my left. I doodle various paterns on the page for a good 20 seconds but then once again become bored of this. My house mates are growing ever louder and it is beginning to infuriate me as I am doing this for their benefit. My body becomes more tense as does my face and I begin to fidget and tap my left foot. The sun is shining brightly through the kitchen window to my left so i turn my head and look out of it attempting to block out the noise coming from my housemates.

After the two minutes I am hold for a further 10 minutes, when I begin speaking to the man I am lot calmer due to the fact the majority of my housemates have left for their lectures and the remaining two have become quieter.

Uta Hagen: The Basic Object Exercise

Uta Hagen was a German born American Actress and Drama Teacher. She believed that all acting should be that of realism and "the actor puts his own psyche to use in finding identification with the role." Hagen, Uta 1991. A Challenge for the Actor. New York: Scribner's.

To begin to use our own psyche when finding an identification in a role we were asked to take 2 minutes of our everyday life and ask questions such as 'Who am I?' 'Where am I?' etc. I decided to use the scenario of when I was on the phone to the Water Company trying to sort out a bill. Whilst I was doing this I was asking myself the questions which later distracted me even more.

Who am I?
I am a 19 year old student living in Bath and studying Drama. I tend to leave work till the last minute so that I know it will get done. Everything I do is rushed but I think this is due to my fun loving and carefree outlook on life, which can sometimes get me into trouble.

What time is it?
It is Tuesday 22nd November 2012, roughly 2pm and I have just returned from my 9am Physical Theatre Workshop. It is sunny outside but there is a slight breeze in the air which makes it feel colder. Everyone in my house is preparing to go to lectures or to town so the house is not quiet.

Where am I?
I am sat at our small kitchen table surrounded by letters from the Water Company and notes on what to say. There is a huge pile of washing up on the right of me and the sun is blaring through our kitchen window on my left. 

What surrounds me?
I am surrounded by different bills and a note pad which will help me when talking to the water company when I have finally got through to them. My housemates are coming in and out of the kitchen, making noise, food or washing up. Lots of pens surround me which distract me as I keep clicking them up and down as the company have placed me on hold.

What are the given circumstances?
As the cleverest in my house and the most responsible I have been given the role of making sure that all the bills are paid on time and her coming out of my account. We have just received a letter through explaining to us that 6 months of water bill money will be taken out on the 1st November, however no one can afford £50 each for this at the moment so I need to see if we can change our payment plan to a monthly system.

What is my relationship?
As I have never had to pay bills before I am heavily influenced by what my Dad has to say on the issues above. Therefore my notepad has come in handy as I have written down questions that he would ask if he were in this situation. As the man who placed me on hold was polite I do not mind holding as this issue needs to be resolved so that we can save money for the month.

What do I want?
I would like to speak to someone intelligent, rather quickly, as this call isn't free so that we can save money and not have all of our bills going out at once. I would also like my housemates to be a little quieter just in case I get through to someone so that I can hear everything they say as I tend to get distracted easily.

What is in my way?
1) Being on hold for five minutes and listening to irritating music constantly.
2) My housemates who are unable to stay quiet for more than 2 seconds
3) The fact that I am thinking about these questions and analyzing myself whilst I am on the phone.

What do i do to get what I want?
I remain on the phone for another five minutes, making the hold time total 10 minutes, and speak to a polite man who tells me that he can sort out a new payment method straight away. My housemates stop shouting as soon as I begin to talk to someone on the other end of the phone.

When using this technique I quickly became aware that I was over thinking what I was doing. Nothing came naturally anymore for instance, picking up a pen became- "why am I picking up this pen?" "oh yes because I can't concentrate for long periods of time or I am bored." I also realised that I am very critical of myself when I analyze myself. You will notice this in the above answers to the questions, however what I am doing is a positive thing because I am not helping just myself I am also helping out 6 other housemates so that they can save money.

Early American Acting- Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is one of the most influential actors of the twentieth century and this is evident in his films ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘On The Waterfront.’ He is renowned for using the Stanislavski System within his work and this method gave him great success and acclaim in one of his first films “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

His onscreen performance with Vivien Leigh in “A Streetcar Named Desire” is one of the best that has ever been seen. Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Stan showed him as a sweaty, animalistic, brute compared to Blanche’s character-frail and faded. When Stan and Blanche first meet the audience believe there to be some sort of sexual tension between the two of them however it soon comes apparent that this desire turns to despise. One of Stan’s stand out lines within the film is “Every mans a King and I am the King here…” (A Streetcar Named Desire: Kazan: 1951) From Brando’s performance in the film an audience can see that this line is significant to how Brando prepared for this role.

According to a blog entitled ‘Old Movies’ Brando’s performance of Stanley was based upon “a reflection of the complicated nature of people and the key to his own philosophy of acting…that people are neither inherently good or evil and that even the most villainous role should be tempered by a realistic helping of humanity.” This theory worked in terms of the character Stanley and it is apparent throughout the film. In particular the scene after the Poker Night when Stanley hits Stella, after this Brando has a close up and an audience can see the realisation in his face as to what he has just done. Is it remorse or confusion? Whatever the emotion is it is Brando’s truthful performance in this scene that helps an audience understand why the character of Stella is sexually attracted to a thug like Stanley. 

In comparison to Brando’s performance of Stanley in “A Streetcar Named Desire” the character of Terry Molloy in “On the Waterfront” is a much more sensitive character. This performance cemented Brando’s film career and he won an Oscar for his performance. His ease within this role made it easier to watch and once again the Stanislavski system can be seen.

“On the Waterfront” was visually based upon “Crime on the Waterfront”- a series of newspaper journals which exposed the problems in the New York dockyards. Arthur Miller began writing a screen play for Kazan but he soon broke ranks and handed it over Kazan. It has been said that Brando used some of these journals to create a broken failure in Terry Molloy. 

The characters of Stanley and Terry are complete opposites with Brando allowing the audience to despise Stanley but empathise with Terry. In one of the most famous scenes from “On the Waterfront” Brando used improvisation to create the famous lines “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.” (On The Waterfront: Kazan:1954) The director later admitted that he did not direct this scene he “let Rod and Marlon work it out in improvisation. Marlon showed me how the scene was to be performed.” (Brando Unzipped: 426) Due to the improvisation an audience can see the true emotion of Brando, creating one of the most famous scenes in film history. This scene is not the only pinnacle moment within the film, others include: Terry discovering that all his pigeons have been killed and Terry beating down Edie’s door and forcing a kiss upon her as they slide down the wall.

Both the performances Brando creates are hindered by his infamous mumbling which makes it fairly difficult to understand what he has to say however, his training in method acting overrides this issue and from an audiences point of view both of his performances deserve the credit in which he received. No one will ever forget the high pitched screams of “Stella!” from Stanley in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and the famous “Contender” speech by Terry Molloy in ‘On The Waterfront’ and that is all due to Marlon Brando’s raw and irreplaceable talent.


Porter, D (2006). Brando Unzipped. New York: Blood Moon Productions. 426

Luke. (2006). Marlon Brando: A Guide to his Film Roles (Part 1- the 1950’s). Available: http://www.oldmovies.net.au/marlon-brando-1/. Last accessed 19th Oct 2012.

A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951. Film. Directed by Ella KAZAN. USA: Warner Bros. Pictures

On The Waterfront, 1954. Film. Directed by Ella KAZAN. USA: Columbia Classics