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- The Substance Gives Demi Moore a Return-to-Form Career-Best Showcase
- Demi Moore Relates to Her Role in The Substance
- Will The Academy Acknowledge Demi Moore’s Performance in a Body Horror Film?
As a film enthusiast and critic with over three decades of watching movies under my belt, I must say that Demi Moore’s performance in “The Substance” is truly captivating. Her fearless portrayal of a woman grappling with her past and present is nothing short of mesmerizing.
In Coralie Fargeat’s satirical body horror film, “The Substance“, there’s a poignant scene featuring star Demi Moore at her most exposed. As an actress past her prime in the eyes of her aerobics TV show bosses, she embarks on a date following the use of an illicit drug that causes a youthful version of herself to emerge from her body. At this juncture, Elisabeth Sparkle has transformed back to her original self. Just before departing, she hesitates and instead returns to the bathroom to apply extra makeup and adjust her attire, still seeking perfection in appearance before leaving.
In this film, the character repeatedly goes through a process until she experiences an emotional collapse and spreads her makeup across her face in a burst of insecure anger. This scene is considered the actress’s “Oscar-worthy moment” because it exposes both her and the character in a vulnerable state, emphasizing the movie’s conflict and explaining why she makes such an effort to keep her appearance pristine. The film, titled The Substance, has garnered significant attention during awards season, particularly for the actress, but it remains to be seen if the Academy will have the courage to recognize a satirical body horror movie that doesn’t shy away from harsh realities.
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The Substance Gives Demi Moore a Return-to-Form Career-Best Showcase
Regrettably, Hollywood often gauges an actor’s value based on their failures, and this was evident in Demi Moore’s case during the ’90s when she was associated with a series of box office disappointments like “The Scarlet Letter”, “The Juror”, and “Striptease”. These movies didn’t meet the industry’s expectations given her significant compensation for the projects. To combat this, she sought to defy these expectations by starring in the 1997 film “G.I. Jane”.
After starring in that movie, Moore decided to take a lengthy hiatus from acting, only to resurface later with a significant supporting part in 2003’s Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. This comeback was highly anticipated, as it was primarily about how fabulous the actress appeared. Moore went on to take on smaller roles over the following years, but her character Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance has brought her back into the limelight in a substantial manner. This film isn’t held back by its box office earnings, although it’s doing quite well for an independent project. It features an actress who, at 61, feels completely at ease with herself. The elements that might have characterized the initial phase of her career are absent now. This role has brought all eyes to Moore’s performance, and it’s a performance that has everyone in the industry talking excitedly.
Demi Moore Relates to Her Role in The Substance
It’s plain as day that the character conversed with Moore, and there are striking similarities to how the entertainment world may have handled her transition from being the ’90s darling to someone they perceived as past their prime. In the movie, Elizabeth was a much-adored actress, currently hosting a popular aerobics TV show. However, on her 50th birthday, she is let go from her hosting position by the show’s producer, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), due to her age, implying that viewers prefer to see someone youthful, attractive, and vibrant.
Overwhelmed by these recent developments, Elisabeth discovers an illicit drug called “the substance” that momentarily transforms her into a younger version. However, being a body horror movie, this metamorphosis doesn’t come without consequences. As her youthful self clashes with her older one, the guidelines for using the drug start to blur, making each subsequent transformation even more grotesque and unsettling.
As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always admired Julianne Moore. While promoting “The Substance,” she shared that she contemplated leaving acting because the roles didn’t resonate with her anymore. However, this film presented a character that truly challenged and utilized her talents to their fullest extent.
In essence, “The Substance” primarily unfolds as a blend of dark humor and melancholy. While it appears that Elisabeth’s downfall is due to the illicit drug she consumes, the true villain lies in her own ego and self-doubts. Elisabeth has always been accustomed to adoration and praise, and without it, she experiences a profound sense of loneliness and insignificance, which Moore portrays poignantly in various scenes. One striking setting for these moments is Elisabeth’s immaculate bathroom, artfully lit by cinematographer Benjamin Fargeat. Some of Moore’s most impactful performances are encapsulated here, as the actress simply gazes into the mirror, grappling with her insecurities that gnaw at her, demonstrating that sometimes, the most powerful scenes and acting don’t necessitate dialogue.
As a cinephile, I must say that Moore’s performance in this film is truly deserving of award recognition, and it’s all about the versatility she showcases. One moment, she effortlessly delivers the satire, and the next, she switches gears to portray the deep pain and pathos of her character. What’s fascinating is that as her character starts exhibiting negative effects from her transformation, Moore takes us to some truly unsettling places. Despite the impressive prosthetics and makeup, it’s Moore’s unwavering dedication to the downfall of this character that truly resonates with the audience. This performance is raw, authentic, and free from any glamour or ego, allowing Moore to fully immerse herself in bringing Elisabeth to life. It’s as if she’s finally shed the Hollywood constraints that once defined her early career.
Will The Academy Acknowledge Demi Moore’s Performance in a Body Horror Film?
Critics across the board have lauded Demi Moore’s acting in this recent film, with numerous critics describing it as her finest performance yet. Nicholas Barbe from the BBC noted that “Demi Moore delivers an outstanding big-screen role in decades, fearlessly satirizing her public image.” Phil de Semlyen from Time Out remarked that “Moore masterfully holds everything together, showing remarkable range and delivering a vanity-free performance filled with wounded pride, growing terror, and vulnerability – reminiscent of Isabelle Adjani’s role in Possession.” Furthermore, Clayton Davis from Variety concurs with the consensus of other critics, suggesting that “Demi Moore gives an exceptional performance that warrants serious attention from The Academy.
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but notice that, despite its Oscar-worthy qualities in various categories, horror films often seem to face an uphill battle with the Academy. In contrast, the Golden Globes have shown a greater inclination towards recognizing exceptional performances such as Moore’s, perhaps placing her in contention for the Best Actress – Musical or Comedy category. However, when it comes to the Oscars, their tendencies have historically leaned differently, offering a unique challenge to genre-defining films like the one Moore stars in this awards season.
Horror films, seldom applauded, have only a few notable instances that are widely recognized. These notable instances can be traced back to the 1970s with movies like “The Exorcist” (1973), which was nominated for ten Oscars including Best Picture, and more recently “Get Out” (2017). “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) and “The Sixth Sense” (1999) also fall into this category, each earning nominations for Best Picture, along with other major categories. Daniel Kaluuya was nominated for Best Actor in “Get Out,” while Jordan Peele won the award for Best Original Screenplay for that same movie.
Movies like “The Exorcist” and “The Silence of the Lambs” have made an impact at the Oscars, with the former winning Best Adapted Screenplay for William Peter Blatty (and Best Sound) and the latter sweeping every major category. However, “The Sixth Sense” was unsuccessful in its bid but its presence at the ceremony was almost as significant as a win itself. It’s worth noting that horror films have had limited success at the Oscars, with their footprint being relatively scarce to nearly nonexistent.
In Moore’s case, her return to prominence is being favorably viewed by Hollywood due to its affinity for comeback stories, despite her consistent work since resuming her acting career in 2003. The industry will classify this as a comeback because of the intensity of her performance and the buzz it has created. Moreover, she has been actively promoting the film, attending screenings across the country, showcasing the movie with several SAG members, as well as influential figures in Academy Award voting.
The response has been extremely favorable, as numerous attendees have showered the actress with even more accolades for her performance. Moreover, The Substance is making headlines in the box office world, setting a new record as Mubi’s highest-grossing film in the U.S., and experiencing minimal decline week-to-week, despite losing over 100 theaters last week. On a global scale, the movie continues to perform well, and given its success, Hollywood, always keen on box office earnings, is particularly pleased.
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2024-10-19 20:32