Thursday, June 30, 2011

Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones's Diary

Name: Renée Zellweger
Movie: Bridget Jones's Diary
Number of Oscar nomination: One
Other awards: None, some nominations
Chances of winning: Not much, might have been fourth.

I saw this film Bridget Jones's Diary about some lunatic spinster. Sad, funny, entertaining. I guess it was meant for other lunatic spinsters and such. I cannot think of anything else. Casting two British heart-throbs (Hugh Grant and Colin Firth) made a sure audience among women. And it's about some British spinster really. OK, it's fun but is it that much? Yeah, why not? That bloke called Jim Broadbent must have had a great year in 2001. He starred with three Best Actress nominated gals and won an Oscar. Damn it, lucky guy.

An American gal Renée Zellweger plays the British spinster. Gosh, I really dislike her. I mean, she really pisses me off sometimes. I mean what the hell was she doing in Chicago or Cold Mountain to be praised? She's really not my type but f*ck cares? She's really bloody great as Bridget Jones, "verbally incontinent spinster who smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish and dresses like her mother". Guess, she's a very ordinary gal who has just as many problems as anyone else.

How does a comedy performance get nominated at the Oscars? Hell, I don't have a clue but I'm sure that they were charmed by Renée as much as I was. She really rocks as Bridget and those old guys must have liked her, too. She's really adorable and so lovely. She always made me think about Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine. They are so different and yet so similar. And anyone who can be as bloody great as Pauline was as Shirley deserves some credit, for sure.

Renée narrates the movie and tells us Bridget's thoughts on her life and prospects. And those are really hilarious and they are probably the best things about the whole movie. Basically she has two ways: becoming Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction or trying to become happy. And she chooses the latter. I guess she was the best at showing Bridget's optimism and hope. Bridget is not a quitter by any means despite some bad times.

And yeah, I love how ironic she really is. Zellweger is seemingly having fun with the character but she also seems to really love her and care about her. So do we. Who wouldn't feel sorry for her after we see the scenes where she's publicly humiliated. I mean, she's an almost pathetic person and yet we don't think of her as inferior in any way. She's so lovely but she can be very unlikeable. But even Bridget's lowest point is as funny as it gets. When she says "BUGGER OFF!", I almost died of laughing. She was just unbelievably hilarious.

Renée's chemistry with the two guy is just great and we really don't know which one she's going to end up with. Funny, isn't it? She doesn't give a performance that you would like to preserve for other civilisations after us but still... She's so cool.

All in all, this gal, Renée Zellweger is really great as Bridget Jones, this crazy, pathetic and loveable spinster. This is not Sex and the City style "acting", she's truly great as Bridget and she gives a heart-warming portrayal of this lovely character.

No wonder that she was nominated for an Oscar.

I love her! LOVE her!
What do you think?

6 comments:

Malcolm said...

I think she's gonna be the winner.

She's definitely fantastic, playing the character with full dedication without becoming "in-the-face".

Anonymous said...

I really like her performance, and I'm happy you like it too.

dinasztie said...

Malcolm: I don't want to give away anything yet but she can only be 2nd at best as I gave 5 to Halle and Renée "only" got a 4,5.

mrripley said...

I loved her but am a bit like the academy tend not to go for comedy perfs but see why they did,she just seems lightweight,maybe i am biased,i always put tilda swinton ahead of her in my line up.

Malcolm said...

oh golly. I didn't see that. I thought you gave her a 5 too. :)

joe burns said...

Love her!