Other Crap

"Gerard Depardieu calls Juliette Binoche 'nothing' in a provocative interview"

"Gerard Depardieu is not most people. To him, quite simply, Juliette Binoche is 'nothing.' In a no-holds-barred interview proving once again the rambunctious star's lack of social graces, Depardieu expressed incredulity that Binoche had met with such acclaim. He asked: "Please can you explain to me what the secret of this actress is meant to be? I would really like to know why she has been so esteemed for so many years. She has nothing. Absolutely nothing! Compared with her, Isabelle Adjani is great even if she's totally nuts. Or Fanny Ardant – she is magnificent, extremely impressive. But Binoche? What has she ever had going for her?"

I know exactly what she has. She is extremely good at looking like she is about to cry. And she rarely does anything else. That's the key in French acting - consistency! At least two French actresses that I can think of have managed to build an entire international career based on a single facial expression. Juliette Binoche always seems to look like she's just about to cry, and Isabelle Huppert always seems to have a haughty, contemptuous frown.

By the way, I agree with what Depardieu says about all three actresses he mentioned. Fanny Ardant has a majestic presence. Isabelle Adjani is nutty as a fruitcake. Binoche is barely noticeable. She would be the classmate you would not remember at your high school reunion. Before Depardieu spoke out, I thought I was the only one in the world who would mention this. It was like an "Emperor's New Clothes" thing that nobody would ever address publicly. Roger Ebert is not an inobservant man, and he noticed how she always seems paralyzed on camera, but he defends it as subtlety:

'Because she can convince you that she is thinking and feeling, she doesn't need to 'do' things.'

Well, OK, Rog, if you say so.

I broke the vow of omerta back in 1999, when I wrote, "There are so many fine French actresses in their twenties and thirties, I cannot fathom why this wooden woman with a minimalist acting style is getting the roles and the awards. It is a mystery. I watched 'Damage' recently, with Binoche and Jeremy Irons, and she was completely inexpressive throughout. She didn't even change her facial expression when her boyfriend caught her in bed with his father (the ever-lusty Irons). Her movements are always constricted and self-conscious. I find her irritating and not at all credible. Obviously, I seem to be in the minority on this. She won an Oscar in 1996, reflecting the fact that she has an excellent reputation as an actress, but she drives me crazy. She even looks wooden in still captures. The famous shot of her in the army helmet looks like Dukakis coming out of the tank."