Queen of the Indies
Sep 12th, 2008 | By Rick | Category: People
I first came across Catherine Keener in Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich ,where she completely blew away Cameron Diaz. Diaz was “playing down,” with a frizzy brown wig that was supposed to show she was some kind of “serious actress.” But from the first shot of Keener, with her shark-like smile, threatening to engulf and devour poor old John Cusack, we all knew where the true acting heat was.
She’d been around for years, and in some fairly good films — LaBute’s Your Friends & Neighbors, Soderbergh’s Out of Sight, DeCillo’s Box of Moon Light — but it wasn’t until Malkovich that I knew who she was. Since then, she’s become one of those actors I look out for, one who elevates a film just by being in it. Only reason to see Death to Smoochy? Catherine Keener. Lovely and Amazing? That’s right: Keener. Something called Simpatico? Once again, I give you Catherine Keener (or so I suppose, if I’d actually seen the thing).
She is a ferociously intelligent actor, and I do mean ferocious: she can hold her own with the best of them. In Hollywood studio films, she’s often relegated to supporting roles … watching her alongside Nicole Kidman in The Interpreter almost made me feel sorry for old stick-up-her-butt Kidman. Almost.
It’s in the indies where Keener continues to shine; the most recent film I’ve seen her in is Into the Wild, where she played Emile Hirsch’s hippie mother figure. Though not a major role, she infused it with a worn, intelligent humanity that few actresses working today can match.
Keener continues to be in demand; IMDB lists four projects in development, plus two completed awaiting release. Of the latter, I am looking forward the most to Synecdoche, New York, written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, screenwriter Being John Malkovich.
Long live the Queen of the Indies!
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She was also better than the material in Hamlet 2, a movie I actually liked better than I thought I would, but it was no classic.
Keener was terrific and funny in it however.
A highlight of the somewhat overrated 40-year-old Virgin too.
Haven’t seen Hamlet 2, probably won’t get around it until it’s on DVD. Keener, however, elevates everything she’s in.
I too thought 40-year Virgin was overrated, but enjoyed it anyway. She was great, as usual.
Hi! Rick,
I think the “only” film that she appeared in that I watched is Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight”…and to be honest, with you I think my “eyes” were only watching…”Clooney” as in George!….Well, here goes the “drill”…My right pointer finger touching my right temple as I repeat these words….”Being John Malkovich,” “The Interpreter,” “Death to Smoochy,” “Into the Wild” etc, etc, etc…flicks that I must watch starring actress Catherine Keene in the very near future. Because after reading your review she sounds like a very interesting actress!….That is the “Queen of the Indies!”…I thought actress Parker Posey was the “Queen of the In….
tks,
dcd
Don’t bother with “Death to Smoochy” or “The Interpreter” or “Simpatico.”
Parker Posey is the Queen of the Indies.
So is Patricia Clarkson.
And Catherine Keener.
There’s room at the top for all!
Oops!…What I meant to ask you is this…
Hi! Rick,
You mean to tell me that actress Parker Posey is no longer the “Queen of the Indies?”
Instead of….
I thought actress Parker Posey [was] the “Queen of the In….
Rick, turn on your “delete” button!
dcd :O
That’s ok, DCD … I got the drift! Thanks for the comments.
I first noticed her in BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and have been in love with her ever since.
She’s incredibly beautiful, in a unique sort of way.
…I have nothing to say pertaining to film here. I just think she’s gorgeous.
That’s ok, Joe, I feel the same way. She’s also, as I think I said, a fabulous actress.
As I said, she’s one of the actresses I look for.
When I saw the “Queen of the Indies” headline, I too thought sure you’d be talking about Parker Posey.
But I love Catherine Keener, too - although, unlike Craig, I actally thought she was one of the worst things in “Hamlet 2.” Just something about her usual ferocity seemed almost cruel when paired with Coogan’s sweet, clueless loser.
Can’t believe no one mentioned her in “Capote.” She was wonderful as Harper Lee.
You’re right: she was great as Harper Lee.
Haven’t seen Hamlet 2, although perhaps that was the point? perhaps — as in “Being John Malkovich”, when she devours poor befuddled John Cusack?
Oh, Rick!
I gotta disagree with you on Cameron v. Catherine in Being John Malkovich. Not that Catherine was poor, but I felt that Cameron Diaz was incredible in that film. It was the first time I decided to keep my eye on her.
To me, Keener had a role - the bitch - that was much easier to play. Diaz had to ride a wave of innocence into anger into determination into resolve.
Conclusion: Diaz WINS!
p.s. you’re welcome.
I thought Keener was great in “Malkovich,” but there’s a difference between that role and her role in “Hamlet 2.”
To me, it’s one thing to see a beautiful woman torture the man who’s trying to get a date with her (as in “Malkovich” - and let’s not forget that Cusack’s character is married, so she’s actually right to be a bit frosty) but quite another to watch a woman being contemptuous and cruel to her own husband who’s really done nothing to deserve it (”Hamlet 2″). I think that’s why I didn’t like her in the latter film. Keener plays it too strident and nasty.
And I’ve gotta echo Fox - I think Diaz was great in “Malkovich, too.
Fox, Fox, Fox …
How can a person I respect so much be so sadly mistaken?
Diaz’ role might have required her to, as you say, “ride a wave of innocence into anger into determination into resolve” (nice phrase, btw), but that doesn’t mean she actually ACCOMPLISHED all of it …
Yur friend,
Rick
Pat
As I said, I haven’t seen “Hamlet 2,” so anything I said is pure speculative B.S. (wouldn’t be the first time!).
I look forward to seeing the flick to see if I agree.
Rick-
I just Twitter’d with Keener, and she said that I’m “probably right” about the Malkovich thing.
Also… I gave her your blog address, so don’t be surprised if she stops by soon! Don’t be nervous!
Rick - Hey, no worries - I’ve certainly contributed my share of speculative BSing to the blogosphere.
I’ll be anxious to hear what you think of “Hamlet 2.”
Fox, I am all a-flutter! I’m twitter-pated (get it? you said twitter, I said twitter-pated … har!)
That’s what the blogosphere is so good at, Pat … speculative B.S. In fact, I would say that speculative B.S. is it’s main export.
Uh… me and Keener don’t get your second to last comment Rick.
Oh yeah! She’s over at my house now. We’re making out and looking at blogs. We’re about to go swimming… hope your day is goings as good as mine… toodles.
Fox, that’s Keener and I … “Keener and I don’t get your second to the last comment”
I hope you’ve taken her over to “I can has Cheezburger.” I hear it just drives the chicks wild.
Wow. Death to Smoochy. Wow.
(That’s wow in a bad way.)
Yeah, I know … what a piece of crap. Keener doesn’t elevate it too high …
I’m proud (I guess) to be able to say that I’ve been a fan of Keener’s since Living in Oblivion and Box of Moonlight (a favorite of mine in the “no one has seen it” category - stars Jon Turturro and Sam Rockwell). Out of Sight (an all time favorite) and Your Friends and Neighbors (back when Neil LaBute was good) sealed it.
I really need to see Into the Wild already. Somehow, I missed both that and Jesse James last year and still have yet to see either. Boo me.
Fletch, your Catherine Keener fan-hood predates my own. “Out of Sight” is my second-favorite Elmore Leonard adaptation, right behind “Get Shorty.”
I liked “Into the Wild,” though I really didn’t want to see it. I had to get dragged into it by my wife, who sometimes knows what’s good for me better than I do.