Jake Gyllenthal has accomplished almost the impossible, to give a performance that will rank among the best ever. He channels the ferocity and pain of the best work by Denzel. His "Fences" work might have been depended on a combination of fine acting and his masterful command of theatrical delivery, but Gillenthal here makes you recall how wonderful it can be when the delivery is raw, pure, and intelligent. There's the fire that Jamie Bell brought to "Billy Elliot", and I can certainly could see and feel the pain, much like Eddie Redmayne showed it in both "The Danish Girl" and "The Theory of Everything". It emanates from the soul of an actor who has connected with his part and reaches sublime levels.
"Stronger" has Gyllenthal showing us what his character went through as a result of losing both legs during the Boston Marathon attack. We know we're dealing with a man who has faults but is able to show the fact that he has a tremendous emotional core. He is not afraid to reach to show his passion, with a touch of insecurity, and suddenly, the tragedy makes him grow up when he has to deal with issues that shatter both his body and his spirit. He must climb out of the place he is in to learn how live a completely different life. He now relies in others in ways he could have never imagined. His nerves are overactive, giving him anxiety attacks, bouts of depression which can only sabotage the little progress he makes.
His face is a mask of frustration, terror, anger, confusion and so many emotions that arise as his life changes. He is in the middle of public events; something that is affecting him in more negative ways because he's frail and lost. He has the support of a few people, some like his mother, tries hard; yet she drinks and is easily seduced by the spotlight. She praises her son, yet ignores the torments he goes through.
Jeff's girlfriend remains at his side, enduring the not so easy task that caring for him entails. They have a connection, but there is much that needs healing. Unless, people face their demons, talk frankly, and go through some type of therapy, the pain will become something uglier, and this is where the performance takes your breath away. His rage and cries of desperation when he should be thankful for a new gift, leaves you speechless. There are many amazing parts to his performance, and the degrees of anger and ache are intense and varied. It's not a simple performance. Here's not a man who just looks devastated. Here's an actor whose body, eyes, voice, and who uses anything he can to bring those moments to life. Gyllenthal is absolutely brilliant in what appears so simple but is so powerful. He's not afraid of quiet moments. His voice work here is among some of the finest on film. We have seen him lose weight, add muscle, take chances few actors do. Here he has reached the finish line, giving us something that will probably never be improved upon by him and many others.
Gyllenthal does wonders when he's in the hospital in recovery, in his discovery of how difficult it is to use his home's facilities, how hard it is to tell anyone what he is really feeling. His hands shake,his mouth is frozen as he is unable to cry out how much he is suffering. He doesn't understand what he symbolizes for many because he is now in a place which few of us visit, a hell that has taken over his world and makes him hurt in unspeakable ways. He will make, but the road is long and full of all kinds of obstacles. Here's a performance that needs to be seen, admired, rewarded, and applauded because the actor has done exactly what he needed to do: Show us how complex emotion can be.
"Stronger" has Gyllenthal showing us what his character went through as a result of losing both legs during the Boston Marathon attack. We know we're dealing with a man who has faults but is able to show the fact that he has a tremendous emotional core. He is not afraid to reach to show his passion, with a touch of insecurity, and suddenly, the tragedy makes him grow up when he has to deal with issues that shatter both his body and his spirit. He must climb out of the place he is in to learn how live a completely different life. He now relies in others in ways he could have never imagined. His nerves are overactive, giving him anxiety attacks, bouts of depression which can only sabotage the little progress he makes.
His face is a mask of frustration, terror, anger, confusion and so many emotions that arise as his life changes. He is in the middle of public events; something that is affecting him in more negative ways because he's frail and lost. He has the support of a few people, some like his mother, tries hard; yet she drinks and is easily seduced by the spotlight. She praises her son, yet ignores the torments he goes through.
Jeff's girlfriend remains at his side, enduring the not so easy task that caring for him entails. They have a connection, but there is much that needs healing. Unless, people face their demons, talk frankly, and go through some type of therapy, the pain will become something uglier, and this is where the performance takes your breath away. His rage and cries of desperation when he should be thankful for a new gift, leaves you speechless. There are many amazing parts to his performance, and the degrees of anger and ache are intense and varied. It's not a simple performance. Here's not a man who just looks devastated. Here's an actor whose body, eyes, voice, and who uses anything he can to bring those moments to life. Gyllenthal is absolutely brilliant in what appears so simple but is so powerful. He's not afraid of quiet moments. His voice work here is among some of the finest on film. We have seen him lose weight, add muscle, take chances few actors do. Here he has reached the finish line, giving us something that will probably never be improved upon by him and many others.
Gyllenthal does wonders when he's in the hospital in recovery, in his discovery of how difficult it is to use his home's facilities, how hard it is to tell anyone what he is really feeling. His hands shake,his mouth is frozen as he is unable to cry out how much he is suffering. He doesn't understand what he symbolizes for many because he is now in a place which few of us visit, a hell that has taken over his world and makes him hurt in unspeakable ways. He will make, but the road is long and full of all kinds of obstacles. Here's a performance that needs to be seen, admired, rewarded, and applauded because the actor has done exactly what he needed to do: Show us how complex emotion can be.