On Cinema
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Exciting and dangerous though he is, Kevin Spacey (below right) will never be a front-rank film star: there's something a mite too mean in that pig-cum-pug face and beefy body. A demon inhabits him, a demon that takes no prisoners and tells no lies. It's the sort of quality Hollywood allows only character actors to flaunt (Elisha Cook Jnr and Hope Emerson spring to mind) though there's always the exception that proves the rule: Jack Nicholson.
Like the blessed Jack, Spacey goes all the way; he's Spacey by name and Spacey by nature. Playing the husband from hell in the current Hostile Hostages, he even upstages supposedly 'savage' stand-up comic Denis Leary, just as his blond, slimy con man / murderer effortlessly stole Consenting Adults fron Kevin Kline (file under Petty Larceny, not Grand Theft). Leary and Kline must protect themselves - we're talking multi-million dollar investments here - but Spacey knows no restraint. Take Glengarry Glen Ross. When salesman Jack Lemmon (whose daughter is dying, who hasn't shifted an acre of land in months) asks boss Spacey why he has been giving him bum tips in exchange for bribes, Spacey hisses, 'Because I don't like you', sounding very much like he means it. And enjoys meaning it.
Spacey's the sort of vile treat regular moviegoers look forward to, but you can't expect audiences to buy tickets to see him: the man's insane. Yet cast as a good guy (Dad, Working Girl) he's nothing - a vacuum with good dental work. Please, please, please, won't someone come up with a remake of Bedazzled and let Kevin inherit the role he was born for - Satan himself? Better the Devil you know. . .
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments