When Comparing Apples to Oranges...

I went to see Iron Man last weekend and I can't stop talking about it. I mean, it's a fun superhero movie and all, but that's not what made it stick in my brain. Robert Downey, Jr. is what what is sticking in my brain. I walked into that movie with absolutely no expectations and walked out enthralled anew. My first thought was, wow. I just want to go give him a hug right now and tell him how proud I am of him. It takes a shitload of strength and determination to live on the knife-edge of disaster and pull yourself out and keep working for something you love. We see too many stories of celebutants and pretty young things falling into notoriety and never quite bringing themselves out of it. Most of these people have so little talent, even if they were to truly clean up their acts it wouldn't matter. If your entire self-image is built upon nothing more than your celebrity status, then what do you have to fight for when being a fuckup keeps you a celebrity? Robert Downey, Jr. is an actor who - I believe - loves what he does. His self-image was apparently built upon something greater and more lasting than celebrity. And he cleaned up and took whatever jobs he could until someone gave him the break he needed to get where he belongs, on theater marquees.

And there's that little thing where, in Iron Man, he portrays a character of such confidence and intelligence with such conviction, I found him...compelling. Like, if I were single and he were single, after that hug of support, we would hopefully be finding somewhere to have hot monkey sex.

When I admit this to the husband (who gracefully takes such things in stride), he asks, So your #1 has been replaced?

I'm sorry, what?

Here's the thing, Robert Downey, Jr (why do I feel I need to write out his entire name?) is a very talented actor. He's a good-looking man. He's aged well. But he's no Vincent D'Onofrio.

This isn't about sex appeal. Whether or not I find one more or less attractive is irrelevant in this case.

Vincent D'Onofrio is a more compelling actor. He inhabits his characters so fully that one believes he is Detective Robert Goren; he is Private Pyle; he is every lovable, despicable, and irascible persona he's ever portrayed. Some accuse him of over acting, but I say pshaw, because:

Robert Downey, Jr is a great actor who's been given one great character to portray and he shined in that role. Vincent D'Onofrio is a great actor who has shined in every role he's played regardless of the quality of material he's worked with. His characters literally jump off the screen and into your face. They excite you, irritate you, scare you, creep you out, and turn you on. There is no middle ground. And during that time you are in the theater or on your couch, there is no actor playing a character. There is only that character.

Few actors have this ability to fully embody a role. Male or female, there is always this recognition happening, the visibility of acting. Book reviewers frequently make reference to the transparency of an author's writing. Transparent writing brings character, setting, and emotion alive without the reader even noticing. The writing may be beautiful or evocative, but it is simply the backdrop for more important elements to come alive. I believe transparent acting is the same. I've seen many die-hard Law and Order: Criminal Intent fans admit they took awhile to get into the show because the Goren character was so irritating to them. Then, after some time he grew on them (much like an annoying friend does).

That is transparent acting. That is compelling acting. That is why, in an industry of fakers and prettyboys, Vincent D'Onofrio will always rock my world.