Natalie Wood received her first Oscar nomination for her performance as Judy in Rebel without a Cause.
Rebel without a Cause is a very effective movie about a troubled teenager in Los Angeles who gets involved in a dangerous game that turns into tragedy. It's a great movie that is completely deserving of its iconic status, and the same goes for James Dean's leading performance. Nicholas Ray's direction is also terrific (the "Chicken Run" scene is masterfully directed) and I would also like to single out the gorgeous cinematography and the memorable score.
Natalie Wood plays the role of Judy, a rebellious sixteen-year-old girl who first appears in the movie at the beginning, in the scene at the police station in which she was brought because she was hanging out alone in the streets very late at night (and was probably mistaken for a streetwalker). Her conversation with the police officer is actually the highlight of her performance for me and I think she hits all of the emotional notes of the scene; I could see why someone would find her acting a bit too much but I think that in that moment the character is supposed to be an emotional mess and therefore her approach is perfectly fitting. She's actually quite heartbreaking in her portrayal of Judy's torment, whose rebellious attitude comes from an attempt to get her father's attention. She perfectly captures the angst and the turmoil that is common among teenagers and simply shows that Judy is just a girl that doesn't understand how everything around her, particularly her relationship with her parents, has changed so fast and why. She is also excellent in a later scene in which her father rejects her attempt to show him her affection - it's a rather touching moment entirely thanks to Wood's pitch-perfect reaction to the moment
In the scenes following the police station's one, Wood portrays perfectly Judy's façade that she puts on whenever she is with her friends. She properly shows that her behavior is very much a put on - in those scenes there is an underlying awkwardness and uncomfortableness in her portrayal that perfectly shows that Judy isn't really at ease with those guys and her fears of not being accepted by them if she acts sincere. The moment in which she suddenly drops the façade after Jim tells her that he's seen her at the police station is pitch-perfect and Wood does a great job in showing Judy's concern of having been seen in such a vulnerable state before quickly regaining the arrogance and self-confidence she needs to show in order to "go with the kids". But she is also very good in showing her growing admiration and interest towards Jim - unlike the others, he isn't afraid of being against the "kids" and doesn't need to be someone else.
After the "Chicken Run" scene, Natalie Wood gets more scenes devoted to her relationship with Jim and the two actors do a fantastic job in showing their mutual attraction and then sincere love, which could have felt extremely rushed but thanks to their incredible chemistry it works. In their scenes together, they achieve a poignant intimacy that isn't quite sexual but more emotional - their scenes together are so beautiful before they show perfectly how Judy and Jim understand each other's problems and find a connection because of them. Judy's monologue about love in the abandoned mansion is one of the best moments in the movie and Natalie Wood delivers it with such tenderness and sincerity it's heartbreaking.
In the last act of the movie, unfortunately, Natalie Wood doesn't get a whole lot to do but still her work here is extremely impressive and one of the best she has ever done. She delivers a moving portrayal of her character which she brings to life with vivid and compelling realism and shares a brilliant, tender chemistry with James Dean. She might not be what makes the movie iconic, but she is part of what makes the movie great.
4.5/5
0 Yorumlar