An actor cannot try to feel a scripted emotion because trying will look inauthentic. As a result, the audience needs to sense that an actor is trying to *not* feel the scripted emotion. And is just overwhelmed by it. Yes, I re-watched John Q last night.

That John Q clip (of a father doing anything for his son) reminds me of this one from There Will Be Blood. I’d love to read more about acting as a form of mysticism or even possession. It’s truly mind boggling that Daniel Day Lewis’s speaking voice is soft and British.

Daniel and Denzel are my two favorite male actors. But, it’s interesting how they differ. Daniel totally loses his identity to his characters while Denzel’s identity swallows his characters whole. Two different approaches that both hit every single time.

This is a fact. If someone is crying, I probably won’t ever cry. If someone is trying hard to not cry, I probably will. In “Lessons with Kiarostami”, he writes: “The most effective tear doesn’t run down the cheek, it glistens in the eye.”

But, anyway. Daniel doesn’t seem like he’s trying because he has become the character. Denzel doesn’t seem like he’s trying because the character has become him. Love both.

I agree with this. Spike has talked about how Denzel seemed possessed while they were filming Malcolm X. I’ll also never forget this 60 minutes clip of Denzel talking about communicating with spirits. I think you have to decide if he’s being hyperbolic or literal.

The thing that I hate about people saying Denzel plays himself is that it misunderstands the gift an actor give us: Through the use of characters. Denzel exposes his essence to us and to see someone’s essence is to better know your own.

I have seen John Q maybe 500 times. Denzel is so captivating in this role. And talk about a film that still is relevant today…

Crimson Tide

His John Q performance is just another example of why people shouldn’t put too much stock into awards like the Oscars. Denzel should’ve won every award the year John Q came out

Denzel so goated.