Do you have a favorite character?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Mia Wasikowska
LifeVsArt — 11 years ago(December 06, 2014 08:58 AM)
Mia has created so many different characters. Someone asked me if I have a favorite, but it's hard for me to pick just one. When I first saw her as Sophie from HBO's "In Treatment", that was my favorite character. I thought I was going to see more of that person, because I thought I was watching the actor herself, but I really wasn't, I was seeing a character who I'll never see again. There are many wonderful actors, but most of the time you can easily recognize them from film to film, a variation of themselves, playing a different part. Mia just seems to disappear into the role - there is very little similarity between Jane Eyre, India Stoker, Ava from "Only Lovers Left Alive" and Robyn from "Tracks". So, I have a number of favorites that I now miss, but it's hard for me to pick just one - maybe others can.
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RavenDarkholm — 11 years ago(December 07, 2014 09:14 PM)
Since I can watch her version of Jane Eyre repeatedly, I guess that would be my favorite.
Looking forward to Madame Bovary.
I'm still upset that Tracks wasn't properly promoted and Mia is not being pushed for awards contention. -
LifeVsArt — 11 years ago(December 07, 2014 11:07 PM)
Since I can watch her version of Jane Eyre repeatedly, I guess that would be my favorite.
Yeah, that's a great one, Jane Eyre is definitely one of my favorites - it doesn't hurt that it's such a beautifully made film, I've watched it multiple times, too. I'm also really looking forward to Madame Bovary, which is one of my favorite novels, I'm fascinated by that book. Emma Bovary is a really complicated character and can be seen in many different ways, she's a real piece-of-work, and in my mind I can easily imagine Mia taking on her form. "Tracks" definitely didn't get the push it deserved - it really is a beautiful, poetic film and Mia's performance is remarkable. I'm hoping that they market it better on VOD so that a lot more people get to see the film and experience what so many critics praised, an amazingly authentic and moving performance by Mia, and, of course, the gorgeous cinematography of the australian outback. I'll be getting the blu-ray as soon as I can. -
RavenDarkholm — 11 years ago(December 08, 2014 06:45 AM)
You know about half of the way through Tracks I just thought what an amazing film. All the long delays with this project was very worth it because can you imagine another actor in this role?
It was interesting watching the video of Mia and Robyn being interviewed together. Wish I would have read the book first but I am about to read it now.
I haven't seen Maps to the Stars yet. I think the only role that I didn't particularly care for Mia's portrayal was surprisingly, Stoker.
Still disappointed that she had to drop out of Carol, would have loved to see Cate and Mia play off of each other. I haven't read a lot about Mia but she seems quiet and quite satisfied with the way her career is going (and she should be). But this role next to Cate I'm sure would have brought her into the award season conversation.
Just my thoughts.
Edit: Tracks blu-ray is a must and I hope it has a lot of behind the scenes clips. -
LifeVsArt — 11 years ago(December 08, 2014 10:20 AM)
You know about half of the way through Tracks I just thought what an amazing film. All the long delays with this project was very worth it because can you imagine another actor in this role?
Mia was absolutely perfect for the role, she brings a depth and honesty that's timeless, the film won't appear dated thirty years from now. They were looking to make the book into a film and trying to cast it years before Mia was even born. Robyn Davidson is quite proud of the movie and she's thrilled with Mia's portrayal of her, and she's a tough person to please, she doesn't do b.s. I read the book before I saw the film - it's a wonderful read, Davidson is a brilliant writer, but it doesn't really matter if you've seen the movie first, they both stand on their own.
I think the only role that I didn't particularly care for Mia's portrayal was surprisingly, Stoker.
For me that is surprising because I was completely fascinated with her India, and I've seen "Stoker" multiple times, as I have "Jane Eyre". But different people respond to different things - India was definitely different, it's hard to fathom that the same person plays both Jane and India then you see her as Ava in "Only Lovers Left Alive" and it's almost disorienting - another distinct, indelible character. Ava was extroverted and showy but Mia still made her feel real, not some caricature.
Still disappointed that she had to drop out of Carol, would have loved to see Cate and Mia play off of each other.
I think that would be something to behold, hopefully it will happen in the future. I was disappointed, too, but when I read that she had instead jumped into Guillermo Del Toro's "Crimson Peak" I got really excited. The film is suppose to be in the spirit of Del Toro's two masterpieces, "Pans Labryinth" and "The Devil's Backbone", both of which I have on blu-ray - they're two of my favorites. It's a totally different kind of film, but Mia is the female heroine and she gets to act opposite Tom Hiddelston and Jessica Chastain. Hiddelston was wonderful in "Only Lovers". "Crimson Peak" is the film I most look forward to for 2015.
I think Mia is happy living in australia and going out to do films she finds challenging and that she believes in - I think she'd just as soon keep as low a personal profile as she can, given that she's in films. For me she's a special talent and I just want her to keep making her own choices, that's what works for her, and it also works for me. -
SwingBatta — 11 years ago(December 08, 2014 09:04 PM)
Choosing the best Mia role is like being forced to choose the best ice cream flavor. However, I'm going to make the ballsy choice of her portrayal of Alice.
Not only did that movie officially introduce me to her (as I've said a gazillion times already), but she was the one reason I plunked down my money multiple times. Most importantly, she stood out amidst all the Burtonized craziness, and while her performance wasn't
great
, it was believable. That's pretty damned difficult for an unknown actor to pull off in a movie of that magnitude, combined with Depp's then-megastar status. She was definitely still raw at the time in terms of her acting ability, but there were times where she looked like a seasoned veteran onscreen.
You four-eyed psycho. -
LifeVsArt — 11 years ago(December 09, 2014 07:22 AM)
That is a ballsy choice, given all the other roles you could focus on, but obviously that performance made a big enough impression on you to open your eyes to Mia. I think she works beautifully in that film, as the Alice that Tim Burton conceived. She doesn't come off as some wide-eyed cartoon Alice who's going "mercy me5b4" all the time, and she wasn't meant to - she's an Alice who doubts what she sees, doubts her own imagination and has a critical eye - she also has an other worldly quality, a perceptive intelligence. As far as being seasoned, Mia had already played Sophie on "In Treatment", a performance for the ages, a tour-de-force if ever there was one - of course, she also got to bounce off of the real life, wonderful Gabriel Byrne, as opposed to a tennis ball in front of a green screen. I am looking forward to "Alice Through the Looking Glass", not as much as "Crimson Peak", but I'm really curious to see how the character is evolved - also from what I've read the new film is much more set oriented, which I see as a real positive.
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SwingBatta — 11 years ago(December 09, 2014 02:32 PM)
That is a ballsy choice, given all the other roles you could focus on, but obviously that performance made a big enough impression on you to open your ey2000es to Mia.
I wouldn't call her my definite favorite, but more of a sentimental one. In all honesty, if I don't see Alice, I don't watch her in The Kids are All Right four months later and then ignore most everything else Mia's done since then. Until she came along I never pursued movies just based on a single actor.
You four-eyed psycho. -
LifeVsArt — 11 years ago(December 09, 2014 04:40 PM)
Actually, I never have either, until Mia came along. It's not like she's doing one specific kind of thing or has a public personality that you latch onto - it's about her acting and her choices in films. I think it helps that she keeps her personal life private - for the most part you seldom encounter Mia outside of the roles she's playing, through the forms she takes on in her characters - it keeps things hidden but also more open, a little more mysterious. I continue to be impressed by her talent - that's probably the most mysterious thing of all.
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bigbadwolf666 — 1 year ago(March 14, 2025 11:16 PM)
Sophie?
I actually like her, in the kids are alright,
But this character is much better!
Without strife, your victory has no meaning.
Without strife, you do not advance.
Without strife, there is only stagnation.