The War and other movies

[layne67]

I saw 'The War' the other day and rather to my surprise I enjoyed it very much. I didn't know what the story was about and I initially thought that it was about wars with the main focus on Kevin Costner. But I wanted to watch Elijah and I read somewhere that that was one of his best performances. And oh boy, what a performance it was. Elijah was good! I dont quite know why I was surprised. I already knew that he is a good actor. Maybe because his acting in that movie was above expectation. He wasn't Elijah at all. He was Stu just as he was Frodo Baggins.

The movie itself was good too. There were some moments of anxiety when I thought that Stu was going to die *insert images of Mikey here* and that scene when he accepted that dare to swim in that - what was that - water tank? - had me tearing my hair out No no no dont do it oh be safe be safe. And the ending, omg ... Oh yes, definitely one of his best performances.

He was excellent in 'The Witness' too. He had no dialogue at all but his eyes spoke volumes. Those huge eyes full of sadness and innocence lost *shivers*

As for Gary Sinise, one thing that struck me was that he looked almost exactly the same as he did in CSI NY. And wouldn't it be amazing if Elijah teams up with Sinise or Costner again.

And tomorrow, hopefully, I'd be able to watch Bumblebee.

Comments

[grievous-angel.livejournal.com]

Many years ago, when I worked in the theatre in London, we put on a play called 'Orphans' which was originally produced by the Steppenwolf Company of Chicago. Gary Sinese was the director and he came over here to do it, bringing the two original cast members. He was a lovely, quiet man, and I fell more than a little bit in love with him. It's never gone away!

[suzy-74.livejournal.com]

I knew you would like! :D He is so great in that movie. I think it's one of his best. Well, apart from LOTR of course.

That swim scene is something I remembered strongly from the first time I saw it. Waaay before I knew who Elijah was. I can't fathom why I didn't put his name in my memory then. But I sure did remember his face.

Hope you get to see Bumblebee. If you do I would love to hear what you think of it.

[shirebound]

I agree about "The War". That, and LOTR, were two of his supreme performances.

Omigosh, "Bumblebee". Wait until you see how much the camera loves him in that movie.

[illyria-novia.livejournal.com]

It's his accent. He got it down pat, and his body language is just oh so Southern.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

When I was a child in Kentucky, I knew boys like Stu. Elijah inhabited that part to perfection. I have The War on DVD, and I just watched it a couple of days ago. It never palls, never disappoints. Watching it is always a pleasure. I'm not a fan of Kevin Costner, but I liked his performance in the movie too. He and Elijah had real father-son chemistry there.

If Elijah never did another movie, he could point to The War and Lord of the Rings and be proud of what he's accomplished. But he's not the kind to settle for doing anything but what he truly loves. He's going right on, quietly building up a collection of roles that will someday be given the kind of respect they deserve.

[mother2012.livejournal.com]

I could just repeat what everyone else said. Wonderful performance. He *is* Stu. etc.

LotR, obviously, also brought out the best in him. I'd so love to see him in another comparable movie. I think Hooligans might have done it if they didn't have such a limited schedule for shooting and a more experienced director. In Sin City, his characterization was superb but so short. Ash Wednesday might have been somewhere near that if what's-his-name hadn't been so wrapped up in himself.

He needs deep roles with good directors.

[honeyandvinegar.livejournal.com]

I agree; he was SO "Stu"... just prving, once again, he's one of the best and most underrated actors of our generation.

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Elijah's acting talent has never surprised me, especially after Frodo Baggins. 'The Witness' - *cries*

And pray tell me where you got Bumblebee, please, because Amazon never has it. :(

[aredhelebenesse.livejournal.com]

Aw, the film was in TV here on Easter or so, but I missed it! I wouldn't mind to watch it too though.

[theartoffic.livejournal.com]

Omg I've never seen the War because I don't much care for Costner, but I love Elijah... I may have to rent it.

The witness was sooo, so sad, and so moving. At least I kind of suspected what was going to happen so it wasn't a total shock in the end.

I also wish i could see Bumblebee... gonna have to go on a mission to find that movie :) And Chain of Fools because I haven't seen that either... slowly whittling away at the ones I haven't seen. I will say that Radio Flyer is one of my fave movies, and long before he captivated me with Frodo I always thought his performance in there was amazing!

[majblomma2000.livejournal.com]

Oooohhh, I saw The War just before I left to visit my parents. I totally agree with you. I thought it was a really good movie but what really hit me was how amazing Elijah was!!! He was Stu!

And omg, The Witness.... starlit_woods sent it to me and it was just heartbreaking!! He was just.... gorgeous!

[arabia764.livejournal.com]

It's a good film and certainly one of his best. I just like it as a film, it's sweet with out being at all sickly.

[melyanna-65.livejournal.com]

I watched this movie several times, it is a great and touching story and Elijah's performance is stunning.

He is so young and so expressive! True, his eyes speaks volumes.

*hugs*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

You've met him in person!!! I've always like Sinise, ever since I first saw him in The Stand. It's not usual to fall for the person who almost always play the bad guy but there's something about him, a quiet intensity that makes me go all dewy-eyed :-)

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I can't fathom why I didn't put his name in my memory then

I only know Elijah after Frodo though I distinctly remember watching Flipper ( before LOTR )but like you, I couldn't put a name to the actor who played Sandy. Such is the power of LOTR - and Frodo of course.

I've got my copy of Bumblebee but havent watched it yet. Cant wait!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Wait until you see how much the camera loves him in that movie

Oh yes, I've seen the numerous screencaps and he looked absolutely stunning. I've got the dvd and am itching to watch it!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I thought the accent was excellent too.

But then I also thought that his Art Dodger's cockney accent was wonderful until Cass told me that it was actually quite bad!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I have The War on DVD, and I just watched it a couple of days ago.

We must have watched it at more or less the same time!

And I absolutely agree with you on his collection of roles. They were so diverse and each was so different from the other - from Frodo to Kevin to Sandy to Matt Buckner. He has a great mum and that helped him a lot I think.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Yes, good directors that know how to bring out the best in him. I'd say Peter Jackson, Robert Rodriguez, Ang Lee and the person who directed 'The War' had done excellent jobs.

Edward Burns? I kind of like him. What I didn't like about Ash Wednesday was the wife. I think it would have been better if Roxanne Dawson wasn't in it and Sean was just the little brother who had to go into hiding after the shootings.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Like Frodo was just, Frodo and Casey was Casey - you tend to forget that he's Elijah Wood once he got into character. And Kevin ... *shivers*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I got it from the Amazon website but not from them directly but from one of their 'associated' sellers. Tell you what, I'll send you mine after I've seen it maybe a couple of times. Just cant say when but I will send it :-)

[honeyandvinegar.livejournal.com]

Shite. Kevin. O_O
Uhhh yea. Yeeeea. *shivers with you but... oh fuck he was hot.*

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you'd better not because I can't see myself letting go one of my collections. Let me try again with the amazon. Is it video tape or DVD?

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Elijah's movies are so rarely shown on our TV here, except for LOTR of course. They did show The War, Flipper and Take Seventeen a little while back but that's about it. No The Faculty, no Huck Finn and the rest. Thank goodness for dvds!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

It's a dvd :-)

[aredhelebenesse.livejournal.com]

We had The Faculty here, Huck Finn, Hooligans, Flipper, Chain of Fools, Black and White and some others more, but they show only one part of LotR each Easter and now they are at part two. Now seriously, what shall that be? They behave as if these films were a big secret! *shakes head*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I havent seen Radio Flyer yet. Neither have I seen Huck Finn, Chain of Fools and North. But you really should see The War. I've had it with me for quite some time actually and didn't feel like watching it because of the subject matter ( or what I thought was the subject matter ) but yes, it's good!

I love Costner's earlier films but not the later ones. Each seemed to get longer and more tedious than the last!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

His eyes 'spoke' for him - dialogue not necessary. You simply cant imagine, say, Macaulay Culkin doing that!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I wish I have seen it earlier. I've had it in my keeping for quite some time but couldn't bring myself to watch it because I thought that the story would be some boring war narratives.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I'm planning to watch it again. IMO no other child actors hold a candle to him - he's brilliant!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I believe you're right there. Debbie gave him such a strong, loving, sensible base to ground him, and helped him make excellent choices when he was a child, but he seems so wise beyond his years in the way he goes about choosing the work he wants to do.