King Kong : I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
I disagree completely. Lange completely convinces as the airhead Dwan who then gets a conscience. She even won a Golden Globe as best newcomer.
You've just answered your own question. It's the character you don't like. Lange plays the character well enough. She really does convince as a dizzy airhead, who then grows up somewhat.
Decent acting in my view.
I know some people are saying that it's her character not her,
You've just answered your own question. It's the character you don't like. Lange plays the character well enough. She really does convince as a dizzy airhead, who then grows up somewhat.
Decent acting in my view.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Whether it was a case of Jessica not being a good actor in this her first movie or the role not being demanding enough, she made the movie worth watching because of her shapely, well-toned legs.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
I can just imagine being alive in the 70's and someone saying "you know that hot girl playing Kong's girlfriend? She's going to become one of America's greatest actresses." I would have punched that guy in the face.
That taking it a bit too far, eh?
Jessica Lange, does a good turn playing a ditzy bimbo earth girl, but she definitely plays in better roles in later years.
And, she is hot as heck in KK.
That taking it a bit too far, eh?
Jessica Lange, does a good turn playing a ditzy bimbo earth girl, but she definitely plays in better roles in later years.
And, she is hot as heck in KK.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Dude, this was her first movie considering you feel she is one of the greatest living actresses, which she is, I would have assumed you would have cut her some slack (although she played the role exactly as intended by the director). There was a love story between she and Kong, as weird as it may seem to you.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
This film was a big production in its day. I love it. With John Barry's score, Rambaldi's effects, the great cast, etc. It beats the hell out of today's CGI crap, and actually tells a good story. You really just don't get that in movies much any more. But that's really hard to explain to people like you.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Jessica Lange actually does pretty good for her first acting job ever. It's the script, not the actress, that made Dwan a bimbo. For the record, while Dino Kong is the least of the three versions of KING KONG, I'll still take it over that piece of lizard dung the 1998 GODZILLA.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
I don't think King Kong 1976 is lesser than King Kong 2005. It's about on a par. In some aspects it's poorer (Kong himself, the bad sets), but in a lot of other aspects it's superior (better casting, better script, pacing, editing, directing, music)
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Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
It's so weird watching this movie and knowing what an excellent actress she really is. It's one of the oddest performances I've ever seen. It's not just that it's bad, it's inexplicable; a plain old bad actor would have been a lot more predictable. It's like the dumber her lines get, the less appropriate a tone of voice she decides to use saying them.
As for experience: none at all professionally, if I'm not mistaken, except working as a model and a mime. I presume she studied acting as well, but I dunno. After 'King Kong' it took a few years before any casting directors gave her another chance as you might imagine, ha ha.
As for experience: none at all professionally, if I'm not mistaken, except working as a model and a mime. I presume she studied acting as well, but I dunno. After 'King Kong' it took a few years before any casting directors gave her another chance as you might imagine, ha ha.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
What are you talking about? She does very well acting wise in this film. She totally convinces us she's a ditzy blonde who ends up with a conscience. She nails that last sequence.
It's the character you find weird, not the acting. Don't confuse the two. She plays the character well.
It's the character you find weird, not the acting. Don't confuse the two. She plays the character well.
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Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Lol what? You would have punched him in the face? I could understand laughing in his face, but punching his face? For that? Damn, I hope I never come across you and accidentally step on your foot or something, or you might stab me.
I can just imagine being alive in the 70's and someone saying "you know that hot girl playing Kong's girlfriend? She's going to become one of America's greatest actresses." I would have punched that guy in the face.
But anyway yeah, apart from her beauty she was probably the weakest part of this film, although I don't think that's entirely her fault. Her character was written in a really shallow way. She wasn't given much to work with, plus it was her first role. I like the King Kong story but let's be honest, it really is incredibly sexist (cue the conservatives channeling Rush Limbaugh and blowing a gasket over "feminazis" in 3 2 1), and that's why she really couldn't have done much with this movie. She had to play the role they gave her, and it was a very shallow role. The character really just existed to be Kong's plaything and get rescued by a man. She was just an object in the whole thing. That's not Lange's fault.
The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of history.
-Mao Zedong
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Perhaps even more mind blowing is that Meryl Streep auditioned for the part. But Dino rejected her for being too ugly.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
Like others have said this was her very first major film she was in. You know even Jack Nicholson was in some bad films before he got to be in great big budget movies. Though honestly I love this movie and I don't get why everyone bashes it.
Green Goblin is great!
Green Goblin is great!
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
I hate to tell you this buddy, but Miley Cyrus (and no, I'm not personally a fan) is a great singer and could very well become one of our greatest given time. Don't knock her talent for her reputation - she's got serious pipes, and not just the kind for smoking dope.
As for Lange, this was her first job. I agree, she is not in top form here, although it's easy to let the air-headedness of her character create bias (in real life, then and now, she is nothing like Dwan, so that alone confirms she was a good enough actress to make us think she was that vapid).
As for Lange, this was her first job. I agree, she is not in top form here, although it's easy to let the air-headedness of her character create bias (in real life, then and now, she is nothing like Dwan, so that alone confirms she was a good enough actress to make us think she was that vapid).
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
It was her character and she played it very well. Her character was appropriate for the time, but they made it PC for Naomi Watts, who was also played it very well.
After seeing the original in the theater, I didn't watch this movie against for many years. When I did finally watch it again, I remember being somewhat surprised by Lange's character, because it differed some from how I remembered it. But that just made the movie better, imo.
After seeing the original in the theater, I didn't watch this movie against for many years. When I did finally watch it again, I remember being somewhat surprised by Lange's character, because it differed some from how I remembered it. But that just made the movie better, imo.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
I definitely think the fault lies with the character and not with Ms. Lange. Despite the poor dialogue she managed to portray an unforgettable damsel in distress. I must admit the first time I watched this film it didn't pique my interest until Dwan appeared. From the moment she was rescued at sea to every subsequent scene she appeared in, Lange was so captivating I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I realize now, it is she, Ms.Lange, who makes this film so endearing to me.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
it's 40 years ago , were you even born yet
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
No, you can't imagine being alive in the 70's, hence why you can't understand the character, you don't know what the 70's were about.
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
This really is the key here. It's a 1976 film and an actress like Jessica Lange knew what she was doing. The best you can do is make a "bimbo" character into something full. She's completely acting here and it's a role that just screams "1976".
Re: I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
In one word, that's "hollywood" for you where actresses are just supposed to look pretty on screen.
nobody lives forever
nobody lives forever
I can't believe this is the same Jessica Lange…
And then this.wtf?
She's so cheesey. I know some people are saying that it's her character not her, but getting turned on when a gian ape is blowing on you? I hope that was the directors choice and not hers.
Watching this movie you would never think that she would someday become one of our greatest actresses. It's like if someone told me today that Miley Cyrus would someday become one of the world's greatest singers or actresses. I would say "buddy, you're smoking crack." I can just imagine being alive in the 70's and someone saying "you know that hot girl playing Kong's girlfriend? She's going to become one of America's greatest actresses." I would have punched that guy in the face.
Lange just gives so much depth and nuance to her roles (except this one). She's three dimensional. Every line is believable. Her facial expressions, her mannerisms, she just becomes her characters and gives them so much life.
In this movie it looks like Jenny McCarthy would be able to out-act her. I'm so glad someone gave her another chance after this movie and that she was able to have the career she had. She's awesome. I love her. But if I had been a casting agent and had seen her in King Kong I would have said "honey, you're pretty and all..but acting is just not for you. Maybe modeling. But you're not an actress. Sorry." I'm so glad she got a second chance.
But seriously, what was going on in her life? Had she had any experience acting before this? Was she a model who got hired for her looks? I just don't get it. The only good thing about her in this movie is that she looks amazingly hot.
Maybe she couldn't start acting until she started aging and realized her looks could only take her so far? Still, I couldn't imagine a porn actress getting old and then deciding to get serious about acting and turning into an actress of the caliber of Jessica Lange in her later years.
Nothing about this makes any sense to me. Anyone know a backstory or have a theory on how this happened? It's like if Jenna Jameson is someday going to turn into Dame Judy Dench. It makes no sense.