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In all the annals of Hollywood and Broadway, few actors are as celebrated as those who practice ‘the Method.’ Known far-and-wide as method acting, this immersive style of an actor getting into the headspace of a character was originally championed by the renowned Konstantin Stanislavski and found such ardent supporters as Lee Strasberg. When this unique style of channeling a fictional character jumped from the stages of Broadway and onto the silver screen, it was like a tidal wave sweeping over audiences who had previously only been versed in the acting worlds of Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Joan Crawford and Olivia de Havilland (all brilliant thespians, by the by). Faster than you could bellow out the name ‘Stella!’ a bevy of talented actors versed in the Method – Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, James Dean – took over movie screens with a raw intensity never before seen by John and Jane Q. Public. And, in later years, other actors took on the Method mantle such as Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Dennis Hopper, River Phoenix, and Jared Leto, thrilling and inspiring new generations of moviegoers. And if some of the actors that practiced the gospel of Stanislavski garnered the reputation of being…difficult, so be it, right? After all, pain is temporary, film is forever. There is, however, one notable and surprising detractor of the Method, and his identity might surprise you…
From our ‘Wherever. Whenever. Have a nice day’ pals over at Variety comes the news that Academy Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Whale) is full-on not a fan of actors who practice the Method.
During a masterclass symposium last weekend in Paris, France, Aronofsky left little doubt about his feelings regarding actors who lose themselves in their characters during production: “I hate Method actors,” Aronofsky railed, asserting that this slight-of-hand trick implemented by some actors is “just something to hide behind, as opposed to doing the work and being professional.” OUCH.
The Fountain director went on to lay out his argument against the Method, explaining that “(By all means) do a tremendous amount of research and really work hard, but acting’s make-believe. If you’re going to do an intense scene, (there’s nothing wrong with) keeping yourself isolated, focused and ready in between takes to maintain that emotion. It’s a sport, a game – only to be a great basketball player, you don’t have to be dribbling all the time. That’s not how it works. You do your homework and get yourself ready. It’s only a fake reality between action and cut.”
Aronofsky has directed some of the finest films in cinema history and has garnered a reputation himself for working with actors who are renowned for their use of the Method, lending a hint of irony to his objections. To his good credit, the Black Swan director is not out and out opposed to the Method being used on the set of his films, provided that “it’s not debilitating for the rest of the crew.”
We’re big admirers of both the traditional and the more intense Method-style of acting here at Vents. And, as Aronofsky points out, if cast and crew not practicing the Method are spared any undue drama, we don’t see any reason why co-habitation isn’t possible!
