Hugh Jackman and the Art of Acting

[jo]

That scene alone showing Barnum reacting to the singing of Jenny Lind and watching the impact on the crowd and thinking about what that unexpected success would mean to his show -- acting lessons for any budding actor!

[jo]

Memorable acting moments --


PRISONERS

THE FOUNTAIN





LES MISERABLES





LOGAN





THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

[jo]

You forget you're watching an actor.

[jo]

Perfect acting from Hugh - Barnum so taken with the beauty of Jenny Lind's singing!

[jo]

[jo]

I just caught the tail-end of PAN on cable TV -- and the scene showing Peter and the fairies defeating the pirate Blackbeard brought home the point that some of Hugh Jackman's most memorable scenes in movies are those where he shows his acting talent in portraying the art of dying on screen!


*The Fountain

The ascent to Xibalba --





*The Prestige

I remember Robert Downey Jr praising Angier/Jackman's dying monologue --






*PAN

The dying gasp of the evil Blackbeard --





*LOGAN

The violence … and the peaceful farewell --





*Les Miserables

Valjean is brought home to his Maker!






In terms of emotional impact -- it is hard to choose between the finales of LOGAN and Les Miserables! In LOGAN, the emotional impact is brought home when he smiles at Laura and says " So this how it feels!" and the epilog of the turned-around cross. Not really due to the film, but there is more poignancy because fans realize that this would be the swan song of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine movies!

I thought what added poignancy to the finale scene in Les Miserables was when he started singing " Bring Me Home"...and then the chance to say Goodbye to his beloved Cosette. Ironically, it is somewhat of a happy ending because he finally realizes that he has fulfilled his life's mission and a happy afterlife is signified by the Bishop welcoming him to the heavenly gates. Ironic that the finale scene was populated by characters who were all dead at the end ( the rebel soldiers, little Gavroche, Fantine, and Jean Valjean).



PS: The character he portrayed in Deception also died but it was a forgettable end to his evil ways

And who knows what happened to him in Prisoners - did he or didn't he ?



Jo

[jo]

What's with Hugh Jackman and his extraordinary rapport with children in many of his movies?

The photos are with the cast of Prisoners, The Greatest Showman, Real Steel and Les Miserables.

Add to that PAN, even Swordfish...and of course the best illustration of the filial relationship was in LOGAN!

[jo]

He even has rapport with babies

At his Broadway to Oz concert. They do allow parents to take along their young ones in Oz for concert settings ( I remember that there were parents with babies at the Sydney TBFO arena tour in 2006).

[njr]

Won’t play for me. ☹️

[jo]

[jo]

I saw a tweet which was comparing present day actors with actors in the past of whom audiences are reminded of.



Hugh was compared with Howard Keel.


Presumably because both are tall masculine figures who are strong singers! Howard also portrayed Curly in Oklahoma! when it first opened/was revived in London, if I am not mistaken. Maybe that was why people tend to pick the role which Howard portrayed in KISS ME KATE for Hugh to portray? I don't remember Howard Keel as a great dancer, though. And I can't remember Howard acting in a serious, dramatic movie.


There have been numerous comparisons with the young Clint Eastwood. Personally, I do not see that much of a likeness. But maybe the air of surly masculinity ( and maybe some similarity in features or facial expressions) and the action movie portrayals of both tend to put them together as enjoying some similarity. Cliff has also acted in some serious movie but not overly dramatic ones.


The comparison with Gene Kelly is mainly on two aspects : that they are both song-and-dance men...and that both do/did well on stage. But I think acting-wise, I do not personally find any similarity in acting styles.


And then there is the Gregory Peck comparison!

To me, the similarity is more pronounced here. First, in terms of finely chiseled features which portray either an aristocratic façade or an evil-behind-the-handsomeness implications. That both men are tall and carry themselves extremely well further enhances the clean manliness image.

Acting-wise, both have featured in dramatic movies, in romantic comedy, in action movies, and in playing villains. But did Gregory Peck ever feature in a movie musical? Lol- that seems to be where the comparison has no basis

If a biopic of Gregory Peck is ever done, I think Hugh Jackman would be an excellent candidate for the role.


It's quite amazing that Hugh Jackman compares with quite a few outstanding male actors in the past. Although none of the four mentioned above can compare with the kind of beautiful smile and expressive eyes that are hallmarks of Hugh Jackman ... Given the kind of actors he has been compared with, it seems Hugh is generally considered a classic leading man type!


What are your thoughts?

Jo

[carouselkathy]

Musical wise, Howard Keel was more of a bass-baritone. Hugh is a baritone with a bit of a tenor-bass quality, more like John Raitt. If Gregory Peck sang like John Raitt, you might consider Hugh as their present day representative on screen and stage. Maybe add a little Gene Kelly as Peck & Raitt weren't known for their dancing.

[mamaleh]

Howard Keel was definitely NOT a dancer. I've seen many of his musical movies and don't recall his dancing in any of them. Usually his costars took care of that aspect. Offhand, I can think of SHOWBOAT, JUPITER'S DARLING and LOVELY TO LOOK AT (a bit of which I saw today). In those films, Gower Champion was on hand for terpsichore. And of course in KISS. ME, KATE Bob Fosse, Bobby Van and the vastly underrated Tommy Rall did the dancing honors. Rall and five other brothers in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS performed the exhilarating barn-raising dance while Keel looked on. His booming bass-baritone is always on fine display in these films, however.

Ellen

[jo]

Howard did portray the role of Curly in the London opening of OKLAHOMA!

I guess, unlike Hugh Jackman, he did not perform the Dream Ballet as it was customary then to have a different set of performers for that number...until Josefina Gabrielle and Hugh Jackman thrilled the London audiences when they actually performed it at the revival by the Royal National Theatre. The other musical numbers from Curly ( Beautiful Mornin'/Surrey with the Fringe on Top/People Will Say We're in Love/ Poor Jud is Daid/Oklahoma! title song) did not require dance interpretations from Curly. Although in The Farmer and the Cowhand, there is a bit of dancing from the cast.

It looks like compared to the 3 other actors, Hugh would be the complete and quintessential leading Man ( action/musicals/drama/rom-comedy). And in each of those categories, he does come out as an admirable example of the versatility required in each of them!

[jo]

When I first saw this interview, I am sure I rushed through it - because I think it was close to the time when THE GREATEST SHOWMAN was in the midst of feverish publicity ( and fans worrying how it was going to be received ).

Loved watching it again -- the One on One interview between Hugh and Willem Dafoe ( Actors on Actors series from VARIETY) --




You might enjoy watching it again. You learn so much about Hugh's regard about acting! Just as much as when I enjoyed the Times Talk conversation with NYimes's Patrick Healy and director Ian Rickson.

[jo]

Very interesting comparisons from 2 tweets -- reposting them and my response.

Oct 20, 2018 18:47:00 GMT -5 jo said:

Singing and dancing -- could be Kelly or Cagney

Acting -- maybe more like Cagney ( as he has appeared in more types of movies and considered one of best actors of his generation...Hugh is developing a reputation for his versatility now)

Oscar award -- Cagney won for Yankee Doodle Dandy; Kelly was nominated for Anchors Aweigh; Jackman was nominated for Les Miserables.

Theatre credits -- all three have Broadway credits

Tony award -- Hugh won for The Boy from Oz; Kelly and Cagney's theatre credits pre-dated the start of the Tony Awards (1947)

Action movies -- neither Cagney or Kelly as lead actor in (super)hero role requiring physical abilities; Cagney did some gangster-type and war movies.

Hosting shows or being MC of live entertainment -- not familiar with either Kelly or Cagney doing them.

Looks -- maybe neither one, but Kelly could be closer in appeal.


Jo

Three versatile actors! I would say James Cagney had more versatility compared to Gene Kelly as his reputation went far beyond musicals. Hugh is more on track with that career direction.


Jo

[jo]

Hugh did an impressive ACTORS ON ACTORS session with another great actor, Willem Dafoe, last year.

This year, when is also considered as a potential awardee, he did another session with another actor/actress Emily Blunt. Because of some similarity in their recent acting work, there is a lot of emphasis on movie musicals and the challenges they pose --




PS : Hugh finds another surprising Les Miserables fan in a famous person, Sen Gary Hart


Jo

[jo]

Which film crying scene in a Hugh movie affected you the most


The finale of LES MISERABLES?

Or the tattooing scene in THE FOUNTAIN?




Or the sight of the bloodied sock of his missing daughter (PRISONERS)?




Or Laura sobbing as Logan lay dying?

[jo]

Hugh was interviewed for Spanish media re the release of THE FRONT RUNNER there.

Interesting one-liner quote which must have come from him ( not in the body of the article though)

Translated from Spanish by
Microsoft

Culture Hugh Jackman: "My work allows me to remain a child"

Acting allows him to play many roles. Just like anything a child can choose ( any game or fantasy or imaginings) to play.


Hugh has a deep appreciation of the meaning of life.


Jo

[jo]

Transcript from BAFTA re Hugh Life in Pictures --

www.bafta.org/sites/default/files/uploads/transcripts/baftaalifeinpictureshughjackman.docx.pdf

[jo]

Mar 8, 2019 15:05:22 GMT -5 jo said:

http://instagr.am/p/BuwUrBxHa97

Who is your favorite leading lady in each genre for Hugh Jackman movies/musical theatre ?

Romance/Romantic Comedy :

*Meg Ryan ( Kate and Leopold)
*Rachel Weisz
*Nicole Kidman
*Scarlett Johansson (Scoop)
*Ashley Judd
*Claudia Karvan (Ruby in Paperback Hero)


Drama :

*Deborra-Lee Furness (Correlli)
*Michelle Williams ( Deception)
*Scarlett Johansson ( Prestige)
*Maria Bello (Prisoners)
*Vera Farmiga ( The Front Runner)


Action :

Famke Janssen
Anna Paquin ( XMen 1)
Kate Beckinsale
Halle Berry (Swordfish)
Lynn Collins ( Origins :Wolverine)
Tao Yamamoto (Mariko - TheWolverine)
Rila Fukishima (Yukio - The Wolverine)
Rooney Mara ( Pan)
Dafne Keen


Movie Musicals :

Anne Hathaway
Amanda Seyfried
Michelle Williams
Rebecca Ferguson
Keala Settle


Musical Theatre :

*Josefina Gabrielle
*Stephanie J Block
*Isabel Keating
*Debra Byrne ( Sunset Boulevard)


Awards Shows/Concerts/Animation :

*Beyoncé ( 2009 Oscars)
*Audra McDonald ( Carousel)
*Kate Winslet ( Flushed Away)



Did I miss anyone?


Maybe we should choose the 2nd Most Favorite Leading Lady, as the first place is likely taken by Deb


Jo

[njr]

Famke Janssen and Meg Ryan!

[jo]

Mar 10, 2019 9:54:18 GMT -5 jo said:

Hugh has acted out many scenes where he is shown crying with grief, sadness, regret, or realization of an elusive feeling...or when he could not directly express his feelings.

*The Fountain - especially when he starts tattooing his ring on his finger
*Prisoners - when he sees the bloodied sock of his missing daughter
*Australia - when he thought he had lost Lady Ashley and he was in the bar with his friend
*Real Steel - when he could not express his feelings to Max ( "Don't worry - your secret is safe with me").
*Les Miserables - the Soliloquy and the Death Scene
*Logan - did he shed a tear ( of peace) at the end?
*Greatest Showman - when he realizes what he almost threw away - FROM NOW ON

In the Wolverine movies, most of his feelings of grief were expressed with his scream of rage ( Silver Fox and Jean)!


*On stage - with A STEADY RAIN - as he reminisced about their youth, slumped on the front stage and with a solitary tear coursing down his cheek.


Jo

[njr]

You left out the most poignant one imo: on stage in The Boy From Oz! I only saw it twice, but it amazed me how Hugh could cry on cue!

[jo]

There were some sad scenes in TBFO, but I must have missed scenes where tears were coursing down his cheek. Although I wasn't sure in that scene where he came back to Australia and as he talked to his Mum. Sorry.

The only one where I actually saw his eyes welling up and a solitary tear course down his check was that scene close to the final scene ( before his character committed suicide). I was lucky to be seated in front ( or second row) for a few performances, which was why I could see it happening in every performance -- I could not quite believe that he could summon the tears in each and every performance. What an actor!


Jo