As a fan who has followed Javier Bardem’s career for years, I can confidently say that his versatility and range as an actor are unparalleled this year. From playing the terrifying José Menendez in Ryan Murphy’s true-crime series Monsters to voicing the whimsical purple people eater in Spellbound, Bardem’s performances have been nothing short of remarkable.
In the year we’ve seen so far, has any other actor demonstrated the versatility displayed by Javier Bardem? This talented man, known for his role in No Country for Old Men, has impressively switched from portraying José Menendez, a chilling patriarch in Ryan Murphy’s true-crime series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, to lending his voice to the quirky purple creature in Vicky Jenseon’s animated musical Spellbound. Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón, portraying both pre-and-post-transition roles in Emilia Pérez, is the only one who comes close to matching Bardem’s range this year.
For Bardem, these roles in “The Little Mermaid” and “Killing Eve” represent uncharted ground. Although he has portrayed numerous unsavory characters before, such as the top-haired killer Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men”, the spectral pirate hunter Captain Salazar in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”, and the cruel cyberterrorist Raoul Silva in “Skyfall”, his first significant television role as José Menendez in “Monsters” presented a fresh challenge. The series “The Stranger-Than-True Story of the Menendez Brothers’ Murders” by Murphy adopts a Rashomon-like narrative to revisit the overly familiar tale of the 1989 murders committed by Lyle and Erik Menendez against their parents, José and Kitty. The series presents not only the parents’ perspective but also scenes that mirror the brothers’ allegations of years of physical and sexual abuse inflicted upon them by José.
Bardem describes José Menendez as a monster due to his alleged heinous actions, some of which are confirmed, others merely suspected, and still more about which we remain unsure, such as the accusations of sexual abuse. As an actor, Bardem found it difficult to portray him in a way that left room for viewers to either believe or disbelieve the sexual abuse allegations. Ultimately, the audience will have to make their own decisions, much like citizens do during trials, since there is no definitive proof.
Despite delving deeply into the investigation, Bardem remains unsure about the authenticity of the facts. “Sometimes I’ll feel convinced, yes, José definitely did it. Other times, I’ll wake up and wonder, you know what? I’m not entirely certain, and that’s what makes it so intriguing.
The broader implications of the case, concerning intergenerational trauma, struck a chord with the actor. It was revealed that José Martinez, both victim and perpetrator of abuse, was himself abused by his parents. This idea that he couldn’t express this abuse because he didn’t feel empowered or capable, and then passed on this suffering to his own children, powerfully illustrates how unaddressed pain and harm can ripple through generations.
However, Bardem mentions that playing the character José wasn’t as daunting or distressing as the idea of starring in a musical animation like “Spellbound”. This Netflix release, set for launch on November 22nd, revolves around Princess Ellian, played by Rachel Zegler, who embarks on a journey to break a spell that has metamorphosed her parents, King Solon (Bardem) and Queen Ellsmere (Nicole Kidman), into monsters.
Javier Bardem openly confesses that he’s not much of a singer, but rather strains his vocal cords when attempting tunes. He deeply appreciates the Broadway musical performers who can sing, dance, and act simultaneously. It seems like magic to him! However, since it was a film production, he had the luxury of multiple takes. Editing, as he puts it, is magical; it makes even mediocre voices sound beautiful. He acknowledges his lack of singing talent and admits he’ll never reach Rachel Zegler’s vocal prowess (her voice is truly remarkable!). But instead of aiming for the caliber of Pavarotti, he decided to embrace the character as a purple monster, relax, enjoy himself, and give it his best.
53-year-old Bardem, a parent to two teenagers with wife Penelope Cruz, has moved away from roles portraying terrifying human creatures. Instead, he’s focusing on more family-friendly productions such as Spellbound, the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, and the kid-friendly film Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.
At some point as a parent, your children might ask you, “Dad, where are you going? What do you do?” And it’s challenging to explain the graphic content of movies like ‘No Country for Old Men.’ Instead, he chose to work on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ thinking that it would be suitable for his 7-year-old. This way, they could visit the set and understand why he’s not always at home when he’s working.
For Bardem, crafting films that his children can watch has taken on great significance. “The first time you screen one of your own movies for one of your kids,” he muses, “is an unprecedented feeling. All your effort, your entire career, the countless hours spent climbing and descending suddenly seem worthwhile in that moment when you’re sharing what you love with the person you cherish the most, and they value it, they comprehend your essence. That’s a profoundly moving instant of realization.
Monsters and Spellbound are streaming on Netflix.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-21 19:24