November 7, 2004
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MICHAEL SHEEN - Consummate Thespian
Were Master Giovanni himself alive and walking amongst us, I would not be happier because I live in a time where Michael Sheen is performing his craft! Movies and theatre are arts that I find more than casually fascinating. I tend to watch movies repeatedly, viewing different aspects of the production. My favorite �study� is the acting. As with any art form, it�s a privilege and a significant event to view a masterpiece from the artist who�s work exceeds any other in their media. As my formal training has nothing to do with the entertainment arts, I�m sure I�m neglecting numerous other elements the actor must apply to their art during performance. These are the main points I watch for before I consider someone the �Most Consummate of Thespians.�
How an actor uses the camera angle or the expanse of the stage �to sell their portrayal,� is critical. I�ve heard the camera referred to repeatedly as the �actor�s lover.� In other words, the element that ultimately receives constant consideration regardless of all other activity. It�s of ultimate importance that the excellent work they put forth for us gets to be seen by the camera, and things that need to remain hidden in order to sell the illusion, remain hidden. Much of the time when we see the full spectrum of the character portrayal, it doesn�t come from a script or a director, but from the actor themselves. Obviously, the director has influence over �feeling or direction� of the character but the detail that sells the character, comes from the artist. The actor�s vocal delivery will make or break a performance. Since stories are all about �feelings� of one kind or another, emotional representation of each �feeling� the character undergoes and the associated body language is highly critical. The timing of each body and facial movement combined with the other aspects of their character, brings the package together and promotes cohesiveness with other characters. Research and development of the character with it�s relationship to history, the storyline, the other characters and the director�s vision, allows the artist to decide how all these elements will be played. Okay, all of that is probably worth what you�ve paid for it, irregardless, it�s essentially how I look at it when I�m watching a performance. (I can�t help it -- I could spend the greater part of my life talking about this stuff -- so long as I didn�t have to actually do it personally.)
I�ve never been convinced an actor is �the best� from a single performance. It�s usually that single performance that gets my attention, however. To be the best, excellence should be consistent from role to role. Also, with regrets to those who play a single �type� of character their whole careers, �the best� actor must be able to play a diverse range of roles and sell each one wonderfully. Jeez -- I'm reading this over and have decided I�m a nasty, tough nut to crack on this issue. Sorry� I have no idea why I look for such perfection. Gad!! I guess it�s because there are wonderful artists who keep delivering it better and better.
Obviously, this is where Michael Sheen comes in. I may be able to talk about elements of his performances for days on end and I haven�t had the privilege of witnessing even half of his work. The man is absolutely brilliant! I can not even fathom I EVER will observe a finer thespian than he. He can do anything, it seems. I do mean, anything! His roles have ranged from formal Shakespearian stage work to non-human beings. He�s played lover and seducer of persons not of his own preference and leaders of nations. He�s taken on the �ultimate� loser and the �ultimate� stupid rock-star. The list goes on and regardless of what he plays, he plays it excellently! Regardless of the result of the entire project -- people consistently say, �Michael Sheen was shining!�
A person has absolutely no problem "getting" the character he's portraying without having to stumble over inconsistencies and uncharacteristic behaviors. Now, this is the piece that has me convinced I shall NEVER see another artist perform with a higher level of excellence, than he. We humans communicate using a range of technique. Less than 30% of our communication is verbal. The remainder is obviously, non-verbal. Gesturing and movement emphasis takes a percentage. The less obvious detail that completes our picture of communication is done with �body language.� Between 10 - 20% of our true message is communicated with body language we have little or no control over. The most proficient thespian breaks into a couple of percentage points of that �uncontrollable stuff,� by installing it as deliberate movement in their performance. Until now.
Michael Sheen somehow manages to tap into a majority of that remaining 8 - 18% of otherwise �uncharted territory.� The resulting effect is that if you allow him, he will take you with him in the performance. You can feel the emotions of the character or the character opposite his character, depending upon the type of scene. This type of emotional response is generally only mustered for actual people standing in our presence and not for images on a screen. It�s true we all feel some emotion watching movies or theatre. At the height of emotional interplay, we feel the appropriate swell of the moment. This isn�t what I�m referring to. Michael brings such a level of communication into his performance that without thinking about it, we can physically and emotionally respond as if we were with the character, instead of the theatre or a living room. In all of the years I've watched and studied movies and actors, never have I experienced such a thing.
Impressive, amazing, frankly -- it�s overwhelming. When I first noticed this phenomenon, I felt overwhelming sadness and frustration, a few moments later, I�m grinning ear to ear. Before long, I�m feeling a huge surge of indignation followed by a feeling of, �So back off you creep and crawl back under the rock you crawled out from under!� At that point, I�m wondering what�s going on because this generally isn�t my nature. After noticing a second and third round I started thinking that maybe I should be calling my doctor or checking the expiration date on that dinner we ate. When I paid specific attention, I realized it was Michael�s character -- this roller coaster was coming from his character! A flat image on a small screen in the dark of my bedroom was seriously causing me to respond as if I were there. I wondered if this was a fluke. It wasn�t.
I have a new favorite actor! I can�t imagine anyone ever changing my position.
Thank you for your dedication and perfection, Michael Sheen. You are beyond awesome, Sir!
I feel an overwhelming sense of compassion for Michael Sheen. It seems he�s not lacking for company. Does the man really have evenings out with six women on his arm? -- Well, I�m not sure who�s luckier there! Whew! Ultimately, I�m going to have to go with the women being luckier -- I�m not into women and Michael Sheen -- well, this man seems to be a really cool person, as well as the best artist in his field.
I �ve got to tell you, I admire the way he prefers normal/cool over red carpet. He�s a true artist - a perfectionist in his field. I know this is why he�s the best. I aspire to be such a perfectionist in my work. (Glass being what it is, I�m not sure I�ll ever get there -- it�s inherently inconsistent -- but I will continue to work it.) Some of the things he�s done just being himself are confirmation of the person people say he is. It�s gotten to the point where when I read something about him, I shake my head and say, �Of course! He just seems to be this kind, unspoilt person that even under everyday circumstances, I�d give an eye tooth, (or at least a drink or coffee,) to call friend. Reportedly, he prefers a "regular" or "disheveled" look to spiffy, he'll do a striptease at the spur of the moment on an appearance, he wears shoelaced shoes, (which seems inconsequential until you realize that snobber folks, generally don't,) the bit with the underwear and the photoshoot capped it for me. All I can say is the guy is a true artist and I respect the dickens out of that. Yes!! Keep up the good work in not losing those special qualities that are you.
Jeez -- would you just LOVE to talk to this man about the things that he�s passionate about and listen to how he thinks! I know he�s been through it -- pretty much been there, done that -- I�m sorry -- and I hope life�s getting better. I don�t know why we can�t get through life without the world suddenly shifting off it�s axis and taking it�s bloody time to spin properly once again. New beginnings are great, though, aren�t they? I know it can still be a solitary existence even though one has a date every night. So, I�m glad you�re not lonely, Sir. I hope you�re not, for you deserve all the happiness in the world. Consider yourself virtually hugged, Sir, with more than a couple of pats on the back. You know, you ARE the best, really! There�s no one in the whole world who is better than you. I believe that whole heartedly and I believe it�s an opinion I will have for a very, very long time. After all, I�m an eccentric artist, unfettered by pop trends. And, well, I should know!!!
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