THE GWYNETH PALTROW REVIEW

by Nate Lee

BEST FILM: Shakespeare in Love... Not only is this one of the best romantic comedies ever made, it is so because of Paltrow’s transcendent performance, for which she more than deserved her Golden Globe and Oscar. She redefined the Shakespearean heroine and moved into the ethereal, her performance – about performing – was so joyous.

GREAT PERFORMANCES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN:

Sliding Doors (brilliant performance playing two lives of the same person separated by a single chance moment)

The Royal Tenenbaums (precocious playwright Margot)

The Talented Mr. Ripley (Jude Law’s girlfriend)

Shallow Hal (Jack Black’s girlfriend)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Emma (the matchmaking title role)

Infamous (Peggy Lee)

Proof (Golden Globe-nominated performance as daughter to insane professor)

Two Lovers (mysterious love interest of a disturbed Joaquin Phoenix) 

BLOCKBUSTERS:

Shakespeare in Love

Iron Man (assistant to Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role)

Hook (a young Wendy)

Seven 

THE REAL GWYNETH:

Shakespeare in Love...

It is tempting to say “Sliding Doors,” because the dual characters she plays – one successful and giving, the other a too-generous slave to a jerk, cheating boyfriend – reflect both her tabloid life as well as many of her characters. But the real Gwyneth still shines as a muse not only to her creative husband but to other actors and artists. 

ACTING STYLE:

Paltrow mixes a patrician intellectual look and sometimes quality with a completely accessible, almost innocent style; call it “mansion next door.” Her characters are so giving that one can only assume that comes from her own nature.  

BITS AND QUIRKS:

Various little pieces that marvelously convey modesty > Bowing the head while looking up > Sheepish smile > Quick little jerk of the head almost like a nervous tic, usually with an arched back 

GREAT SCENES:

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE -

The discovery that a woman is playing Juliet > The scenes with Judi Dench as Elizabeth > The audition > The performance as Juliet >

IRON MAN -

Witty repartee with her boss, Robert Downey, Jr. > Dancing at the Disney Hall > Stealing the files >

SHALLOW HAL -

Emptying the pool when she jumps off the diving board > The backyard “good-bye” party > The restaurant, after Jack Black is unhypnotized

SLIDING DOORS -

The whole film is constant brilliant scenes, particularly in being juxtaposed >> The actual “sliding doors” scenes > Catching her boyfriend > The true-love scenes > The hospital at the end

THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY -

Confronting Matt Damon