Hugh Jackman and the Art of Acting

[jo]

In his senior years, if he still lives in NYC, he could be a professor of film in Columbia, for seminars discussing filmmaking from an actor's perspective.

He is one of the few actors whose range expands to so many genres -- action/drama/dark comedy/musicals/romcom/sci-fi.

Plus he can also make comparisons between 2 performing arts - filmmaking & the theatre.

Jo

[jo]

From exchanges on "X" ( formerly Twitter)

Conversation
Film Updates
@filmupdates
·
39m
·
Martin Scorsese says he didn’t always agree with Leonardo DiCaprio’s improvising on set of ‘KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON’

“Every now and then, Robert De Niro and I would look at each other and roll our eyes a little bit. And we’d tell Leo, ‘You don’t need that dialogue.’”…



PHØN3HØM3
@ph0n3hom3
·
25m
That's what life becomes when you work with the same actors as a director. DiCaprio is GOAT level as an actor, but Scorcese missed some opportunities with Hugh Jackman or Bradley Cooper in roles DiCaprio also did amazing in. Regardless, I love some DiCaprio improv. He's great.




JoAB
@joab46466753
·
14m
Hugh Jackman has the widest range of senior actors. Be it drama, action, dark comedy, musicals or even sci-fi. Also has the commanding presence that works as well on stage ( his B'way credits are for both musicals & drama).




JoAB
@joab46466753
Years ago, when Martin Scorsese wanted to remake SUNSET BOULEVARD, in its musicalized form, that would have been an excellent chance to work with Hugh Jackman. The lead role required a commanding presence in drama, set to music. PS: I doubt he would have cast Leo D 😊

[jo]

PHØN3HØM3
@ph0n3hom3
·
51m
That would have been amazing. I'm sure. Hugh Jackman still needs to work with some directors, and they him. He's one of the most talented actors alive.



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
23m
HughJackman has worked with Chris Nolan (Prestige), Darren Aronofsky(Fountain), Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners), Tom Hooper (LesMiserables), Baz Luhrmann (Australia), Woody Allen(Scoop) & Florian Zeller (TheSon).



JoAB
@joab46466753
How can I forget James Mangold who directed LOGAN and was nominated for an Oscar Adapted Screenplay?Previously, they worked together in The Wolverine & Kate&Leopold.



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
20m
Upcoming : Cory Finley in Bad Education (Emmy Winner for Best TV movie, even if the film premiered at Toronto filmfest & was intended for the big screen). On stage, he has worked Trevor Nunn (Oklahoma/Sunset Boulevard) & Ian Rickson from 1 of the National theatres in The River.




PHØN3HØM3
@ph0n3hom3
·
19m
His Oklahoma performances are moments of life I'm glad I was watching him. His range is superb.



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
16m
I saw Oklahoma! live in London in 1999. But I did not know the lead ( Saw it because of composers Rodgers&Hammerstein). What a commanding stage presence & a powerful legit stage voice! Interesting fact: XMen producer LSDonner saw him in it...&eventually suggested HJ as Wolverine!




JoAB
@joab46466753
I've seen all his performances in the theatre since then. Too bad his work in a police drama on B'way, co-starring Daniel Craig, called A Steady Rain never got a film adaptation ( even if there were early plans then, with a film script already done).



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
9m
His work portfolio in musicals, film or stage, is exceptional. On film-LesMiserables& GShowman. On stage - B&TBeast(Gaston), SunsetBlvd(JoeGillis),Oklahoma!(Curly),BoyfromOz(PeterAllen),SteadyRain(rogue cop Denny), BackOnBway variety show,TheRiver (TheMan)&MusicMan(Harold Hill).

[jo]

PHØN3HØM3
@ph0n3hom3

All Amazing works.




JoAB
@joab46466753
He can also pick new directors whose work gets impressive results. GreatestShowman was directed by first-time director MichaelGracey, who worked with HughJackman on a commercial ad years back. We know how successful that collaboration turned out. 1/2



JoAB
@joab46466753

Also worked w/ playwright-director CoryFinley on Cory's 2nd movie called BadEducation( 1 of highest rated on RTomatoes)&attracted HBO atToronto filmfest, enough to make a record-festival bid for film rights(for HBO programming slate). Won Emmy for BestTV movie & acting nod for HJ

[jo]

An article with British media (The Independdent) from 2014, but some new insights on Hugh --

Hugh Jackman: Wolverine has not eclipsed my career- I could still play any character
Hugh Jackman speaks to Stephen Applebaum about the secrets to a long showbiz marriage, and why he still feels guilty about money

Stephen Applebaum
Tuesday 21 January 2014 19:04 GMT
Comments


Hugh Jackman at the UK premiere of 'The Wolverine' in 2013. The film star has denied feeling frustrated when people say Wolverine has overshadowed his career (Getty Images)


“Not really, because if I want to play a certain character I could. But I'm surprised pretty much by everything that has happened in my career.

“I was hoping to pay the rent as an actor one day and before I was an actor I was acting at the amateur musical society. I never thought I would make a career out of it. So if it stopped tomorrow I would probably go back to the amateur musical society.

“I'm someone who always tries to remember how lucky he is. And even if it's only Wolverine, it's pretty good.”




Were you worried when reports came out claiming you were being offered huge sums to do four more Wolverine films?

“Yeah, because obviously it is bull***t. It was the National Enquirer. I couldn't believe anyone picked that up. Apart from the first movie, for which I had to sign a two-picture deal, I've never done more than one at a time.

“And now what happens is the IRS and every taxation company goes, “Hang on, you didn't declare $100 million. So where are you hiding it?”



You recently received some lifetime achievement awards, are you still looking forward rather than back?


“Sometimes I say to my wife that maybe they're giving them to me as in, 'Please stop. That's enough of your lifetime. If we give you this, will you just go away?'


“I haven't told anyone this before but when I was auditioning I had this superstition that you can't ever repeat a monologue that you've done, because I was afraid that I would just do it as I always did it.

“It's tempting, sometimes, to fall back on the things you know you can do or the things you know have been successful, but you've got to keep trying to do different things and risk failing. Hey, look at Movie 43.”


I'd rather not

“Or don't [laughs]. I ran into one of the producers a little while ago and he said, 'Mate, I've got two things to say. I'm sorry. And, I'm sorry.'”

It was just a day of your life

“It was two days. With Kate Winslet with balls hanging from her neck. It wasn't that bad.”




Your Prisoners character, Keller Dover, is a pretty tormented guy. Was he tough to play?
“I don't stay in character but I can't say I was fully relaxed at the end of a day. It's a weird thing. Acting is like the greatest privilege: you get to inhabit lives and you get to touch real emotions, and at the end of the day you're calm, like you've had a great bath.”

He's driven mad by his daughter's abduction. Did having kids yourself mean you were able to go deeper into the character?

“Probably. I always like to think as an actor, arrogantly, that you can play anything. But just reading the script, I felt it in the pit of my stomach.”



You have said you're not materialistic. What do you do with your money?

“My wife has taught me a lot about money. We didn't have any when we first met. I was at the Royal National Theatre earning £375 a week and we were as happy as we are now.

“Money doesn't make you happy, and I know that. And sometimes I get embarrassed by it and sometimes I feel burdened by it.

“My wife's line is, 'You've got the wrong attitude about money. Money is energy and there's no point trying to save energy. You use it and you give it away.”




You have been married a long time for a showbiz couple. What is the secret?

“I'm almost positive 80 per cent of it is finding the right person. And when you're lucky enough to meet the right person you just know it 100 per cent.

“Like all couples there's strains and there's compromises, but she's honestly the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”



Finally, you've been working with the original X-Men director Bryan Singer on X-Men: Days of Future Past. Is it different playing Wolverine with him than it is with, say, James Mangold, who directed The Wolverine?

“It's always special for me working with Bryan on this character. He gave me that break, he gave me that character, and I can't believe, 14 years later, we're working on it again.

“He's a great friend, and he's a very smart man. I can tell you right now, he has made a great movie. I don't know if it's going to surprise people but I think people are really going to like it.”

[jo]

SitoCinema
@sitocinema
·
7m
¿Qué interpretación te gusta más?
Tuconity Nick
@nicolsf70967901
Básicamente las dos mejores interpretaciones en el género de superhéroes

A nivel de mostrarte la debilidad del personaje, ahí es Hugh Jackman

En cuanto a alto expresionismo, Joaquin Phoenix



Translated from Spanish by Google:

Basically the two best performances in the superhero genre

At the level of showing you the character's weakness, that's Hugh Jackman

Regarding high expressionism, Joaquin Phoenix

[jo]

Responding to the same question on who has interpreted their characters better --

JoAB
@joab46466753

HughJackman takes the character from the deepest tragedy (hardly able to articulate his feelings at the death of his mentor Prof X) to his most murderous stance when confronting enemies. Gentle w/ the young Rogue or his love Jean...badass humor w/ other mutants.
Very fine actor👏

Truly an injustice that Hugh Jackman was not given Oscar acting honors for his much-admired portrayal of "Logan"

vs the Oscar-winning interpretation of Joker by Joaquin Phoenix.

Jo

[jo]

2008

to --


2017


seems like a lifetime ago


Jo

[jo]

How to choose movies --

[jo]

x.com/JoAB46466753/status/1720812213727121907?s=20

Michael Warburton
@michaelwarbur17
·
3h
“Shall I go on?”

THE BIG COUNTRY (1958)

#GregoryPeck #JeanSimmons #WilliamWyler
From
Michael Warburton




Kate Nash, SW Witch 🟧🤦🏽‍♀️🧘🏽🏈 🧙🏼‍♀️🇺🇦 ☮️
@katenas26841402
·
44m
This is the first time I saw a little bit of Hugh Jackman in Peck’s acting. 🧐🤔




JoAB
@joab46466753
There is also similarity in the facial features - classic & well-chiselled - between Gregory Peck & Hugh Jackman!

[jo]

Post
See new posts
Conversation
Liam McIntosh (He/Him) 🇵🇸
@liammci1996
It’s a shame Hugh Jackman got pigeonholed playing gruff stoic Wolverine-esque characters in movies when he really is the most flamboyant ostensibly straight man possible, coming from a country that also brought us Baz Lurhmann.

Liam McIntosh (He/Him) 🇵🇸
@liammci1996
·
5h
Just let this man do the film version of Oklahoma! as God intended already. twitter.com/discussingfilm…
9:09 AM · Nov 19, 2023

·



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
3m
Not only can he play action movie hero and triple-threat showman, he is also best in heavy drama (Prisoners/Prestige/Fountain/TheSon) and can do dark comedy as well (Bad Education)!

[jo]

Kevin Dudginski
@kdudginski
·
31m
Okay I finally saw “Barbie”. I liked it. Liked the themes. It’s gotten a lot of Oscar buzz and while I think Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling were good, are they Oscar worthy?

Think about how many movies had GREAT acting and they didn’t get nominated, i.e. Leo in Django Unchained.



Kevin Dudginski
@kdudginski
·
29m
Another example is the movie “Prisoners”. Have you seen that movie? Both Hugh Jackman & Jake Gyllenhaal are great in that movie. No nominations. But Gosling gets it for Ken??? Again I liked the movie! I just don’t know if the acting is nomination worthy.



JoAB
@joab46466753
Not just for Prisoners, but neither did Hugh Jackman get it for LOGAN! Or even Greatest Showman which was a crowd favorite as well. Does
@theacademy
not like giving acting honors to someone with such a wide range? HJ can even host the Oscars!

[jo]

Alex
@alexsaltertv
·
2h
Young Avengers is pretty big in the comics. It's clear y'all want these 50 year old actors to play in Marvel movies forever. Get over it.




noah
@bestreviewsevr
·
30m
Who said that? I think Hugh Jackman returning is stupid as hell, and RDJ returning would also suck. you marvel stans look dumb assuming I’m an old head. I just want good movies and this sounds like it’s gonna be awful. Get over it




JoAB
@joab46466753
Don't prejudge the movie before it comes out 😊
Hugh Jackman does not do stupid movies when he is the lead or co-lead. You may not like the type of movie but that does not mean that the quality is poor.

[jo]

Daily Mail Online
@mailonline
·
57m
EXCLUSIVE: Newly-single Hugh Jackman is focusing on getting 'ripped' for Deadpool 3 instead of 'chasing new love' - as he uses work to distract himself from 'civil' Deborra-Lee Furness split trib.al/gWgSrH7




JoAB
@joab46466753
Hugh Jackman is such a great talent - on film & stage. He could now concentrate on his career and maybe chase after that EGOT stature that has eluded him. He deserves it... having proven to be an excellent actor/artist/ceremony host in many films & events!

[jo]

CannoliSasquatch
@cannolisasqtch
·
8h
Am I the only one who's not excited about this movie anymore?

DiscussingFilm
@discussingfilm
·
20h
Ryan Reynolds on if Taylor Swift appears in ‘DEADPOOL 3’:

“Yeah, I’ve heard that one... Every single one of these secrets & spoilers will be revealed on July 26.”

(Source: vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ryan-reynolds-order-bc-exclusive-interview/wcm/4d7a4f43-96fb-42c7-8b02-48695e3e3caf/amp/)

J LaMarca
@bladelam
·
12m
I never was. Deadpool 2 sucked. The MCU is trash now. The multiverse gimmick is played out. And no interest in seeing Hugh Jackman recycled to play Wolverine again just to be clowned on in a comedy.




JoAB
@joab46466753
HughJackman occasionally does comedy, but usually dark comedy. RealSteel ( story w/ a heart),Bad Education (an embezzlement story but funny in many scenes w/ HJ)& EddieTheEagle(re a real Olympian but w/ many light moments with HJ). I wouldn't put his film choices as thoughtless.

[jo]

A reply --

CannoliSasquatch
@cannolisasqtch
·
5s
Replying to
@bladelam
and
@joab46466753


Completely agree. I don't want a cringe wolverine

[jo]

That was incomplete --

It should be :

J LaMarca
@bladelam
·
4m
It's not that Hugh can't do comedy. It's a matter of placing the Wolverine character in a comedic setting and turning him into a clown for some cheap laughs. Not the kind of Wolverine I wanted to see in the MCU. The character is worthier of much bigger things.




CannoliSasquatch
@cannolisasqtch
·
3m
Completely agree. I don't want a cringe wolverine

[jo]

More thoughtful opinion --

J LaMarca
@bladelam

There is a big void that still hasn't been filled since Robert Downey and Chris Evans left the franchise. The MCU needs characters that the viewers can really connect with and care about. Wolverine is someone who could really take the audience on a journey if it's done right.

This is of course in the MCU context. Wolverine in the XMen franchise has definitely taken the audience on a journey, ending with LOGAN.

IIRC, isn't Hugh JaCkman supposed to have script approval for this movie?


Jo

[jo]

Someone suggested 2 HJ movies among choices offered to someone asking for movie recommendations --

Mattheo 🇫🇷
@boooby_San
·
3h
The Danish Girl c’est pas mal mais je sais plus où je l’ai vu
The Son aussi avec Hugh Jackman
Prisoners si t’as pas vu
American Psycho



JoAB
@joab46466753
Two completely different portrayals by Hugh Jackman. In Prisoners he is an alpha male father out to hunt his daughter's kidnapper, at all costs. In The Son, he tries to help his adolescent son struck w/ depression not realizing that he was part of the problem. Very strong actor!

[jo]

I can see how the streaming facility has helped people recognize the range of Hugh Jackman's acting skills. By facilitating access to his past movies, they are able to see how Hugh has spent different acting strategies to portray completely different types of characters. Prisoners & The Son are completely different roles and required different acting finesse.

Even within the same genre, such as musicals - he is able to play distinct characters called for in the storyline. Compare his portrayal in Les Miserables and in The Greatest Showman. His Valjean became a man of God when the grace of redemption touched him to lead an exemplary life. His singing fused with his dramatic ability gave life to his portrayal of the convict turned town mayor turned revolutionary. In The Greatest Showman his singing and acting introduced the main character generally attributed to introducing the concept of mass entertainment to the public (aka showbiz), through a public spectacle type of entertaining the public, via a circus. His character was a strong leader but with a failed moral character.

Then there is Harold Hill on stage. This time a conman trying to foist a great idea to a vulnerable town...but becomes converted in the process. To do his magic trick - he sings, he dances, he acts like the perfect gentleman. A true triple threat! Much earlier on the legit stage, he plays a character who brings joy through his joy of performing and weaves magic to a blase town like New York City - that is Peter Allen for you, the former Boy from Oz!

See the variety of talent that Hugh Jackman uses to create acting magic in the same genre!


Jo

[jo]

Dec 11, 2023 9:58:09 GMT -5 jo said:

Someone suggested 2 HJ movies among choices offered to someone asking for movie recommendations --

Mattheo 🇫🇷
@boooby_San
·
3h
The Danish Girl c’est pas mal mais je sais plus où je l’ai vu
The Son aussi avec Hugh Jackman
Prisoners si t’as pas vu
American Psycho



JoAB
@joab46466753
Two completely different portrayals by Hugh Jackman. In Prisoners he is an alpha male father out to hunt his daughter's kidnapper, at all costs. In The Son, he tries to help his adolescent son struck w/ depression not realizing that he was part of the problem. Very strong actor!

JoAB
@joab46466753
·
5s
Yet the woke
@theacademy
fails to recognize such a talent! Someone who has arguably the widest range in Hollywood, someone who can even host the Oscars with finesse! Hope Hugh Jackman eventually gets the Oscar recognition for his contribution to cinema!

[jo]

Nadia Ramos Serrano
@ramosnadia
Hugh Jackman en la película de Woody Allen "Amor y muerte" allá por el 2006 nunca en mi vida había quedado hipnotizada con ver a alguien en la pantalla, desde entonces soy fan de él a morir <3

Translated from Spanish by Google:

Hugh Jackman in Woody Allen's film "Love and Death" back in 2006, I had never in my life been hypnotized by seeing someone on the screen, since then I have been a die-hard fan of his < 3
11:58 PM · Dec 11, 2023




Replying to @ramosnadia and @adriana3ta

JoAB
@joab46466753

Lol - and you haven't even seen Hugh Jackman perform live in the theatre, on stage! The charisma pours out even more, together with his triple-threat talent ( act/sing/dance). But I do like him best when he does dramatic movies or plays, as he has very strong acting skills.

[jo]

Some discussions from London --

tapeworthy
@tapeworthy
·
1h
yah (though does explain the popularity of jukebox musicals and the behaviour of the Brits in UK at said musicals).

Also we DO pay to see these stars (and also explains stunt casting and why it does so well. And prices on Broadway every time Hugh Jackman is on stage).




JoAB
@joab46466753
HughJackman is considered stunt casting? Background is in the theatre(dramatic theatre degree,played in B&TBeast/SunsetB/Oklahoma! before being discovered for H'wood). Appeared on Bway a few times(BoyFromOz/SteadyRain w/DCraig/BackOnBway/TheRiver/MusicMan).
A theatre performer!
7:31 AM · Dec 15, 2023




tapeworthy
@tapeworthy
·
21m
yes I get it. Not lumping him per se as stuntcasting but he's a megastar commanding megaprices on the Broadway.
Many megastars appearing in West End too that have the theatrical chops background, but still bumping up those prices (which, fair enough).



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
19m
When HughJackman went on a 2019 music/concert tour, he called the show as more of a theatre show because he sang songs from musicals (LesMiserables/GShowman/EvanHansen/Carousel/
Oklahoma!/TheBoyFromOz & Hwood Golden Age Musicals (Singin' in The Rain/AmericanInParis, etc).

[jo]

x.com/GMA/status/1736144175274357128?s=20

[jo]

The List
@thelistdaily
What is #HughJackman's best role?






Replying to @thelistdaily
JoAB
@joab46466753
·
3s
LesMiserables, for w/c he received an Oscar nomination for acting honors, displays his many talents : dramatic acting,singing,some action moves. What's impressive is how he conveys the evolution of a man saved through the grace of redemption. Must be HughJackman's best film role!