CHRISTINA RICCI

by Nate Lee 

BEST FILM:

Monster...

Possibly tied in the independent category with “The Opposite of Sex,” depending on your tastes, the film’s success is due to the performances of Ricci and Charlize Theron’s Oscar-winning performance

Addams Family...

Also qualifiying are the two “Addams Family” comedies, also driven in no small part by the brilliant macabre performances of Ricci as Wednesday Addams. 

BLOCKBUSTERS:

Addams Family

Addams Family Values

Sleepy Hollow

Casper 

 

GREAT PERFORMANCES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN:

The Opposite of Sex (a manipulative teen)

Monster (the lover of serial killer Aileen Wournos)

Ice Storm (a promiscuous girl)

Black Snake Moan (a promiscuous woman rehabilitated by Samuel Jackson)

Mermaids (daughter of Cher and sister of Winona Ryder)

Buffalo ’66 (a kidnap victim)

Prozac Nation (a woman dealing with drug addiction)

THE REAL RICCI:

Prozac Nation...

Not only did she act in the film about a young woman dealing with depression and drug dependency, Ricci produced the film, too. Apparently giving in to the Hollywood machine that was growing weary of her eccentric looks, Ricci went through anorexia and depression before emerging as a sometimes blonde beauty. 

ACTING STYLE:

Brainy sexy. Summed up in the quirky “The Opposite of Sex,” Ricci is either in your face or in some other body part. Hanging on to the cynical, smart outsider of her early films, most notably Wednesday Addams, she added promiscuity as one of her favorite roles while she was barely a teen. Also evident in “Opposite,” is a penchant for using sex as a manipulative tool. Watch “Monster” again, noticing that Ricci is the (perhaps unknowing) villain, manipulating the unbalanced Charlize Theron character. 

BITS AND QUIRKS:

The big-eyed stare. The condescending rolling of the eyes stare, mixed with a cigarette. Various ‘30s-style come-ons. A perfect sneer. 

GREAT SCENES:

MERMAIDS - Setting the table at the end

ADDAMS FAMILY & ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES - Every “Wednesday” line is a hilarious “deadpan” black-comedy punch >> Turning the Thanksgiving scene on its ear in a brilliant parody of amateur pageants > Succumbing to the camp counselors’ pressure to smile > Electrocuting her brother > Squirting blood all over the audience in the school play

CASPER - The dance and kiss with the real “live” Casper

THE OPPOSITE OF SEX - Seducing her brother’s lover > Restaurant scene where she holds the ashes for ransom > Giving birth > Tromping on her step-father’s grave at the funeral >> Various marvelous voice-overs

MONSTER - Meeting in the bar > Making out in the parking lot > The trial

 

GO TO THE... CHRISTINA RICCI BIO