Rant about Natalie Portman in the movie Garden State

[vegankittykat]

I'm not sure if Natalie Portman is an ethical or a health vegetarian, so I don't know her AR stance. But her character in the new movie Garden State really annoyed me. When her character first meets Zack Braff's character, a dog is humping his leg. He asked her for a suggestion, and she said he should kick the dog in the ba**s. She said she has 3 dobermans at home and if she didn't kick them in the ba**s all the time she would get nothing done. Later on when he comes to her house for the first time, the dogs start jumping on him. Again, she told him to kick them in the ba**s. He didn't do it at least. I realize actors don't have any control over the scripts, and this would have bothered me no matter who said it, but I guess I was more disappointed in her because I thought she was an animal person. Anyway, besides the fact that this soured the movie for me, I wasn't too thrilled with it otherwise. Zack Braff's character was so lethargic and bland for the first half of the movie, and it just wasn't as funny as I thought it would be.

[IamJen]

Hmm...the dog bit didn't really bother me, I think mostly because he didn't actually do it.

Braff's performance was a bit flat, but I thought both Natalie and Ian Holm were wonderful. I found much to laugh about, my movie-mate and I both actually snorting out loud at one point. heh

[sky73]

This definitely does not sound like the kind of movie I would enjoy.

:junk: :gun:

[beforewisdom]

Look the studio up on the web and let them know you didn't like those lines in the script

[epski]

Some actors do have a quite a bit of control over what comes out of their mouths, and I'm sure Natalie Portman is one of them, especially when dealing with a first-time director.

[kristadb]

It's a script, people. She probably felt her character should says things like that. Not all her characters have to be a representation of her ethics. if that was the case, Charlize Theorn should be out walking the streets murdering people.

[sky73]

It's a script, people. She probably felt her character should says things like that. Not all her characters have to be a representation of her ethics. if that was the case, Charlize Theorn should be out walking the streets murdering people.


True, but it still sounds like a stupid movie. :think:

[kristadb]

Which one? CT killing people or NP wanting to ball-kick a dog?

[sky73]

Which one? CT killing people or NP wanting to ball-kick a dog?

The NP movie is the one that I don't want to see.

[Bobsy]

I have to agree with Krista here. She's playing a character. The things her character says and does don't have to reflect who she is in any way at all.

[colorful]

I agree with Krista and Bobsy.

A lot of religious actors have to come to terms with this, too. Their characters have to do/say things that they consider immoral, but it's their characters, it's not them. I think it would be really annoying to be a director and have to compromise all of your characters based on the actors' personal values.

I love Natalie Portman and I am excited to see this movie. Zach Braff always cracks me up in Scrubs. :)

[zoebird]

i really enjoyed the movie on so many levels. I laughed, i cried (not sure why, but it happened to all four of us at one point). i thought it was really interesting and well done. i'd like to see it again to get a real feel for it beyond visceral first impressions.

[skunkpumpkin]

I with Krista, bobsy and colorful. It's a movie.

anyway, I'm not a big fan of natalie portman but I was told that this movie is great sooo I'm looking forward to seeing it :)

[mayuko]

yeah dude. it's a CHARACTER, not the actual person. (for example, not that they're the same thing: ) i had to play a character in a play once, and i had to say a lot about eating things i wouldn't actually eat... the opening scene, i was talking about turkey, and i remember something about big macs.. all the while i'm thinking "ew!", but it's not me, it's a character :)

[Michael]

Personally I think talking about eating meat and telling someone to kick a dog in the balls are two totally different things. One I'd have no problem doing (in a role), the other I might.

[colorful]

Personally I think talking about eating meat and telling someone to kick a dog in the balls are two totally different things. One I'd have no problem doing (in a role), the other I might.

I was thinking about that. IMO kicking a dog (or a human for that matter) in the balls is a lot different than eating a dog (or a human!). If some guy was humping my leg I might have the urge to kick him in the balls. So why is Natalie Portman's line so terrible anyway?

[Michael]

Because people may think it's funny and actually do it. I don't think anyone would actually eat a dog just because they heard about it in a movie.

[zoebird]

i usually have to push dogs off of me. and men, strangely. where do they get those ideas to just start humping me--oh yeah, movies where they see dogs doing it. lol good thing i don't kick anyone in the nuts. it's just not nice. i'd go for the snout. one good push and a firm "go away" seems to work for both men and dogs. it also works for lizards and rabbits.

anyhoot. saw this movie again. same reaction as before--very interesting.

now my husband wants me to see "before sunset" which is the sequel to "before sunrise" with Julia Delphy and Ethan Hawke. i saw the first one and was *bored* so why would i watch the second? but, we're going to drive to where ever to see it.

but, GS was good a second time.

[Linzey]

LOL Zoebird....that made me laugh! ;0p

[Nix]

You're right--her characters don't have to embody the same principles she does, but seeing as an actor/actress' main form of spreading a message is via their work, it would be nice. I watched the movie Signs recently, after going vegan myself and discovering Joaquin Phoenix has been one most of his life, and I was pretty surprised to hear his character say he wanted chicken teriyaki.

[empathanimal]

One of the signs of a great actor/actress is being able to act completely opposite of your ethics/views/actions and still be completely convincing to those who behave the same way.