When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
#27
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Not the performance so much as the choice of Nicholson. The trademark Nicholson performance began with Cuckoo's Nest. Even though he made great films prior, the popularity and success of Cuckoo's Nest is what made him a household name and after that audiences came to expect McMurphy in a Jack Nicholson performance. At the time audiences knew exactly how Nicholson was going to be in The Shining. And he was exactly as expected. No suprise there. That was King's beef. Jack Torrence was supposed to be a normal family guy, the last person you expect to turn psycho. King's top choice was Ron Howard.
#28
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Never.
I never understood these "he's playing himself" threads for any actor. All actors have different techniques and not all are the same.
I never understood these "he's playing himself" threads for any actor. All actors have different techniques and not all are the same.
#29
Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Nicholson's schtick was first visible in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960).
#32
DVD Talk Legend
Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Not the performance so much as the choice of Nicholson. The trademark Nicholson performance began with Cuckoo's Nest. Even though he made great films prior, the popularity and success of Cuckoo's Nest is what made him a household name and after that audiences came to expect McMurphy in a Jack Nicholson performance. At the time audiences knew exactly how Nicholson was going to be in The Shining. And he was exactly as expected. No suprise there. That was King's beef. Jack Torrence was supposed to be a normal family guy, the last person you expect to turn psycho. King's top choice was Ron Howard.
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Respectfully disagree. The fact that he was a little off kilter (prior anger issues with Danny, for example) helped sell his increased susceptibility to the madness as compared to Wendy. Also, it fits better with the denouement.
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
That's probably where he just stopped caring. He made an all time record amount of money off that film IIRC, a huge outright salary, and a relatively huge part of the back end including merchandizing and all. Which, on that film, turned out to be one of the most merchandized films since Star Wars.
He was set for life after that. I saw him say in an interview back then, when he was questioned about that massive financial gain off the film, that after that film he could buy the best weed and smoke all he wanted, and that meant he was rich. He was pretty much a caricature in part after part after that. I can't take even 5 minutes of his schtick in films like 'A Few Good Men' and other so-called 'acting' performances he did.
Except, in his Oscar nominated performance in 'Ironweed', as already noted, where he had the likes of Streep to keep up with, and under the skilled direction of Alexander Payne in 'About Schmidt', as already noted, which was cited by many critics and film fans as the first actual acting Jack had done in decades.
He was set for life after that. I saw him say in an interview back then, when he was questioned about that massive financial gain off the film, that after that film he could buy the best weed and smoke all he wanted, and that meant he was rich. He was pretty much a caricature in part after part after that. I can't take even 5 minutes of his schtick in films like 'A Few Good Men' and other so-called 'acting' performances he did.
Except, in his Oscar nominated performance in 'Ironweed', as already noted, where he had the likes of Streep to keep up with, and under the skilled direction of Alexander Payne in 'About Schmidt', as already noted, which was cited by many critics and film fans as the first actual acting Jack had done in decades.
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Not the performance so much as the choice of Nicholson. The trademark Nicholson performance began with Cuckoo's Nest. Even though he made great films prior, the popularity and success of Cuckoo's Nest is what made him a household name and after that audiences came to expect McMurphy in a Jack Nicholson performance. At the time audiences knew exactly how Nicholson was going to be in The Shining. And he was exactly as expected. No suprise there. That was King's beef. Jack Torrence was supposed to be a normal family guy, the last person you expect to turn psycho. King's top choice was Ron Howard.
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
"You're out of order! You're out of order! The whole trial is out of order!"
Pacino did do a low key performance in Jack and Jill last year.
Pacino did do a low key performance in Jack and Jill last year.
#39
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Pacino was great in You Don't Know Jack. It really depends on the material he's given.
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#42
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Or maybe he just had so much fun with Dick Tracy that he decided to carry some of it over to other performances.
#44
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#45
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Jack Nicholson seems to be in the first category. He does it very well, audiences buy tickets, and everyone is happy.
#46
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#47
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
We got to see what King always wanted with that godawful TV movie. Thank goodness that Kubrick didn't listen to him.
#48
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
#49
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Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Just the other day, I was watching the interviews on the DVD of Rosemary's Baby, and Polanski mentioned that Jack was considered for the role of the husband, but he thought Jack looked too sinister. The viewer needed to be unsure if Rosemary's husband could be trusted. It's kind of interesting that Stephen King ended up having a similar problem with Jack being cast in The Shining.
#50
DVD Talk Hero
Re: When did Jack Nicholson develop his schtick?
Just the other day, I was watching the interviews on the DVD of Rosemary's Baby, and Polanski mentioned that Jack was considered for the role of the husband, but he thought Jack looked too sinister. The viewer needed to be unsure if Rosemary's husband could be trusted. It's kind of interesting that Stephen King ended up having a similar problem with Jack being cast in The Shining.