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The Playlist: Nicole Kidman Is Spectacular In Karyn Kusama’s ‘Destroyer’
ReplyCopy URLErin is quite simply a piece of work. She’s rude, crude, devoid of any apparent emotion and, arguably, one of Kidman’s finest cinematic creations.
Just been a press screening in Toronto, and early tweets from critics have mostly been raves (for Kidman and even some for the movie).Erik Davis from Fandango loved the movie and Kidman. Matt Goldberg from Collider says it’s one of Kidman’s best performances and he dug the movie.Jason Baily of Flavorwire says it’s basically Karyn Kusama remaking Heat, with Kidman playing Pacino and DeNiro (Baily loved it). Kyle Buchanan of the New York Times seemed to really dig the movie in a very brief tweet. Chris Evangelista of slashfilm thought both the movie and Kidman were great.
Kayleigh Donaldson of Screenrant praises Kusma’s direction, says the film has an amazing third act and of course says Kidman is exceptional. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com says he’s in awe of Kidman.
Sean O’Connell of Cinemablend said there are only 4 best actress slots left (basically saying Kidman has booked her spot at the oscars)
The were a few naysayers, most passionately Alex Billington of Firstshowing, who pretty much hates it and thinks it’s unoriginal and derivative of Heat and The Departed. Alison Wilmore of Buzzfeed found it unconvincing. Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out found it overly serious and is one of the only critics who thought the role didn’t play to Kidman’s strengths.
But overall, a much stronger reception than I actually expected. More raves for the actual movie as well this time, as opposed to mainly raves for Kidman in Telluride.
ReplyCopy URLIt’s a Best Actress play only.
I agree (like Theron in Monster as well). But the danger was the movie getting a much more mixed leaning to negative reception at TIFF, which would have seriously damaged Kidman’s Best Actress play. The movie won’t contend for much beyond Kidman, but the film’s reception is good/healthy enough not to seriously drag her down.
Everything about this, from Kidman’s reviews, to her role, to the critical reception of the film actually reminds me of how Training Day was recieved. Except there’s no obvious equivalent of Ethan Hawke that can coattail a nomination on Kidman’s back.
ReplyCopy URLAre you rooting for Kidman to clench it in Best Actress? Aside from wanting her as a double nominee this year I’m team Close. Glenn getting it competitively means witnessing another triple crown coronation. It also alleviates the resentments I harbor to her consecutive Best Actress defeats in the 80s.
ReplyCopy URLI am rooting for Kidman, mainly on the basis that considering the consistent strength of her output, she should have been a 2 time Oscar winner by now already (and she should have way more nominations as well). But also for the fact that Destroyer sounds like the most interesting and atypical role for an actress this season. It sounds like Kidman is crushing a role/type usually reserved for men. Kidman takes such huge risks, it’d be nice to see her get her 2nd with what sounds like a very risky role for her. It’d be fitting.
Obviously Close is a truly great actress and should have an Oscar already, and if I had to root for someone else (without seeing the performances) it’d probably be her. I’m much less invested in following Close’s career, as her film career peaked quite a long time ago, but her peak years were something special (I feel similar about Sigourney Weaver).
ReplyCopy URLIt’s a Best Actress play only.
I agree (like Theron in Monster as well). But the danger was the movie getting a much more mixed leaning to negative reception at TIFF, which would have seriously damaged Kidman’s Best Actress play. The movie won’t contend for much beyond Kidman, but the film’s reception is good/healthy enough not to seriously drag her down. Everything about this, from Kidman’s reviews, to her role, to the critical reception of the film actually reminds me of how Training Day was recieved. Except there’s no obvious equivalent of Ethan Hawke that can coattail a nomination on Kidman’s back.
Both of your opinions are right.
Destroyer will only gain awards (if it could) for Best Actress. However, as the reviews of the film go more mixed, it will definitely affect Kidman since we have so many awesome actresses competing this year.
ReplyCopy URLI am rooting for Kidman, mainly on the basis that considering the consistent strength of her output, she should have been a 2 time Oscar winner by now already (and she should have way more nominations as well). But also for the fact that Destroyer sounds like the most interesting and atypical role for an actress this season. It sounds like Kidman is crushing a role/type usually reserved for men. Kidman takes such huge risks, it’d be nice to see her get her 2nd with what sounds like a very risky role for her. It’d be fitting.
Obviously Close is a truly great actress and should have an Oscar already, and if I had to root for someone else (without seeing the performances) it’d probably be her. I’m much less invested in following Close’s career, as her film career peaked quite a long time ago, but her peak years were something special (I feel similar about Sigourney Weaver).
Weaver may have to settle for an honorary. But I understand your feelings beloved on Kidman. I want her to Lange it if she wins a 2nd this year.
ReplyCopy URLNice write-up on Kidman from John Powers, the film critic at Vogue. Calls Kidman’s performance the 2nd best thing about the Toronto International Film Festival so far (A Star Is Born is his #1, but he’s nowhere as high on Gaga’s performance as he is on Kidman’s). Another one saying she matches Charlize Theron in Monster.
https://www.vogue.com/article/five-things-to-know-toronto-international-film-festival-movies
2. Nicole Kidman in Destroyer
If you asked me to name the bravest actress in Hollywood, I’d instantly name this fearless Australian. There’s no better evidence of this than her performance in Karyn Kusama’s extreme, and extremely divisive, movie, which leaves even those who don’t like it raving about how good Kidman is. Not to give too much away, she stars as Erin Bell, an L.A. cop who has become a boozy, unlikable burnt-out case who looks so shockingly ravaged, so gaunt and scuzzy, that she could get the roles that used to go to Harry Dean Stanton. The movie cuts back and forth between her current ferocious state and flashbacks to the events that caused it, twenty years earlier, when the lovely young Erin and her partner (Sebastian Stan, good) went undercover to take down a charismatic gang leader (Toby Kebbell), who’s the kind of guy who’ll quote Nietzsche at you, and we all know that there’s no villain more evil than a pretentious one. Now, there are scads of movies about crazy-ass, kick-ass, out of control male heroes, but very few about women, in part because audiences tend to be put off by behavior in a female star that they would adore in a DeNiro or Nic Cage. Kidman and Kusama don’t care. Heck, they just keep pushing things to the point that the movie sometimes borders on the dementedly comical: I never thought I’d ever seen Kidman pistol-whip somebody! And that’s only part of what she does in this movie. Astonishingly intense and immersive, Kidman achieves here what Charlize Theron accomplished in Monster—she remakes herself as a nightmare, which is another way of saying that any talk of Best Actress prizes has to reckon with her.
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