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Natalie Portman Strips and 13 Other Actors "Acting"

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Videos | Comments (41)

portmanstripping.jpg

The New York Times commissioned a stellar project that features 14 actors “acting” in short little vignettes scored by Owen Pallett and directed by Solve Sundsbo. It can be best described as neat.

Natalie Portman wins the award for most titillating; James Franco for most adorable; Michael Douglas for Worst Hair; Robert Duvall for Cleaning Shave; Tilda Swinton for Degree of Difficulty; Jennifer Lawrence for Most Bizarre; Matt Damon for Most Profane; Chloe Moretz for Most Toothsome; and Anthony Mackie for what I thought was the Most Entertaining.

Check them out.

Natalie Portman

Noomi Rapace

Anthony Mackie

Tilda Swinton

Lesley Manville

Vincent Cassel

Chloe Moretz

Jesse Eisenberg

Javier Bardem

Matt Damon

James Franco

Jennifer Lawrence

Robert Duvall

Michael Douglas










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Comments

That really *was* neat. Thanks for the posting.

Where's the subtitles button though? I couldn't find it.

Posted by: MsMoMo at December 8, 2010 4:49 PM

Javier Bardem: "I AM THE VIOLENCE!"

Posted by: Alex at December 8, 2010 4:55 PM

If you got "strips" and "titillating" out of Natalie Portman's vignette, I think she did it wrong. I definitely got "undressing" and "tired".

From the music, slow-mo, weird-focusing, and overblown music choices, this seems more like directing/editing exercise to me. Vincent Cassel's 40-second dance number had thirteen edits.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at December 8, 2010 5:01 PM

Looks like Douglas' hair is doing its best Cronenberg impression.

Posted by: headmonkeys at December 8, 2010 5:09 PM

It's official: I've got a huge crush on James Franco now.

Tilda Swinton had a sort of David Bowie/Thin White Duke thing going on, and it made me hot for her.

Posted by: Rest In Peace at December 8, 2010 5:12 PM

Sorry. Nope. Those were tedious.

Posted by: Lauren at December 8, 2010 5:18 PM

I don't get it.

Posted by: junierizzle at December 8, 2010 5:35 PM

Does anyone else watch these and hear Jon Lovitz (as the Master Thespian) saying "ACTING!"?

I think the most titillating is the one with Javier Bardem. He can come break my plates any time.

Posted by: pickled tink at December 8, 2010 5:44 PM

Boring is not acting.

Taking off your clothes is not stripping if I fall asleep halfway through.

WTF was Tilda Swinton looking at? Ah, screw it. I don't care.

Posted by: BWeaves at December 8, 2010 5:52 PM

This is some boring-ass stuff.

The image I get is Solve Sundsbo rolling around in the pile of money the New York Times paid, laughing like a child.

Posted by: Starvin Spielberg at December 8, 2010 5:54 PM

Is it just me or does douglas remind you of chris walken in sleepy hollow?

Posted by: the tremenator at December 8, 2010 6:02 PM

James Franco, don't you ever dare to shave that mustache. EVER!!

Posted by: MissRos at December 8, 2010 6:07 PM

And..now I love James Franco.

How the fuck did that happen?

"You want more?" *Saucy wink*

Posted by: Meggrs at December 8, 2010 6:16 PM

It definitely looks like Portman just got home from a huge night.

Either way, kinda hot.

Posted by: Sage at December 8, 2010 6:17 PM

I was going to say it was a tedious waste of time, but then I became intoxicated by the Franco-stache and forgot. And boy, I've never found Matt Damon attractive before. And being on 30 Rock too, it's like he really does want me to like him.

Tilda Swinton is radiant from certain angles. And then she tilts her head a bit, and BAM! Alien-looking. I kind of like it. She captains the boat of "easily-shifts-from-pretty-to-weird-depending-on-angle-of-face" actors. The first-mate would have to be Cillian Murphy. And Maggie Gyllenhaal is the cabin-boy.

Posted by: penelope at December 8, 2010 6:19 PM

I would let Javier Bardem lay waste to my "good china" any day.

Posted by: Vee at December 8, 2010 6:33 PM

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Posted by: kristin at December 8, 2010 6:51 PM

pretentious

Posted by: mothy at December 8, 2010 7:08 PM

James Franco is so freaking sexy in that thing. The mustache is doing it for me. Total Seth Bullock 'stache.

Posted by: becks at December 8, 2010 7:28 PM

Angry Matt Damon is adorable

Posted by: Ari at December 8, 2010 8:20 PM

This seems less like acting and more like 'emotional choreography'. There's a distinction, I swear; I just can't put my finger on it.

Also, Tilda Swinton is amazing. Fucking amazing. And an alien. Alien Swinton, please take me to your stark-androgynous-glam homeworld.

Posted by: Hayden Tompkins at December 8, 2010 8:34 PM

Oh, I have to go with Franco as most titillating! I want to see more of his perfect cheekbones make out with themselves.

Posted by: Lola at December 8, 2010 9:32 PM

Was I the only one who realized Tilda Swinton was doing an absolutely brilliant imitation of Renee Falconetti from The Passion of Joan of Arc? She, like Falconetti, killed it.

Some could have used more thought. Eisenberg was carrying the hard-faced gangster/tough cop thing pretty well, but in action, wasn't doing so great. That last look at the camera was not in the least convincing.

Anyone else get a Five Obstructions vibe from Duvall?

I don't think these were pretentious, but maybe a bit too minimal and failing to convey what they were really trying to go for. They were acting, but not all of them had enough to go on.

Posted by: vic at December 8, 2010 9:58 PM

If it didn't say Natalie Portman above her youtube video I would have though that slumped over, skinny, blond was La Lohan and suddenly I'm not too sure how much I want to watch Black Swan.

Posted by: Brdkelli at December 8, 2010 10:09 PM

(yawn) Did someone say tedious? After watching these I'm eager to get back to my law books, and that's saying something! The music was ok, and I'm sure these would be great samples for an Acting 101 class somewhere. That's about as much good I can say for them.

Pretentious, artsy, dull wastes of time.

Posted by: lordhelmet at December 8, 2010 10:09 PM

Portman is the most boring famous person ever.

Posted by: jzhz at December 8, 2010 10:25 PM

They're just portraits without being photographs. I'd rather look at Solve Sundsbo's photography, but I liked Franco and Cassel's videos.

Posted by: Uda at December 8, 2010 10:43 PM

I'd have to say.... Fail.

Posted by: logan at December 8, 2010 11:28 PM

Black Swan featuring La Lohan? I'm for it. Fuck 'em.

Also: Matt Damon is gorgeous. WHEN did THAT happen?

Posted by: seeder at December 9, 2010 12:07 AM

Lovely, some other stuff for the win.

fuck off.

Posted by: idleprimate at December 9, 2010 12:36 AM

Yeah ship them off in the tedium boat.

Posted by: Jiggles at December 9, 2010 2:39 AM

Oh, Franco. Isn't he just lovely? Also: put him on his own and he still manages to do something homo-erotic. Props.

Posted by: Caspar at December 9, 2010 7:23 AM

Mostly, I think this is an interesting study in the power of a musical score. I found that the music dictated my emotional reaction far more than the performances. And I find that fascinating.

Posted by: KatSings at December 9, 2010 8:15 AM

Does anyone else watch these and hear Jon Lovitz (as the Master Thespian) saying "ACTING!"?

YES, pickled, I did in fact!

Hayden, that is the first time I have heard the phrase "emotional choreography", but it resonates here.

Maybe it is because I'm an actor (going to my first audition in ages this weekend), but I found these fascinating. Too brief on occasion, and a few were awful (Eisenberg mostly), but they definately made me feel.

I can never find Matt Damon that cute because he has the exact same face as my brother, only softer. And seeing him yell "I will punch you in the fucking face"... doesn't do it for me...

Posted by: Patty O'Green at December 9, 2010 10:25 AM

More than anything else it made me think of Tyler Shields' work.

http://www.tylershields.com/

If you haven't seen his Alison Brie video, go fix that. Plus a rather suggestive Linda Lovelace inspired shot with LiLo. ::shudder::

Posted by: Patty O'Green at December 9, 2010 10:31 AM

Owen Pallet can score anything, anytime.

Posted by: ChristianH at December 9, 2010 10:54 AM

Meh.

Not crazy about the Franco 'stache.

Posted by: Slash at December 9, 2010 11:01 AM

"Also, Tilda Swinton is amazing. Fucking amazing. And an alien."

Agreed.

Posted by: samantha t at December 9, 2010 3:25 PM

Loved Mattie D. pissed-off! He reminded me of P.S. Hoffman.

Posted by: samantha t at December 9, 2010 3:26 PM

"Was I the only one who realized Tilda Swinton was doing an absolutely brilliant imitation of Renee Falconetti from The Passion of Joan of Arc? She, like Falconetti, killed it."

Nope, I was right there with you. I've loved Swinton since I first saw her in Orlando. If anyone out there was unaware, she is a Go Fug Yourself favorite for her weird alien clothing choices too. They refer to her as The Swinton.

None of these had vocals, right? Some of you seem to either have heard something or have much better lip reading skills than I do.

Bardem scares me still. He was way too effective in No Country for Old Men, and I'm always afraid he has that cattle-killer thing behind his back.

I don't know, I thought the guy running was compelling. I wanted to know what was chasing him.

Michael Douglas: Watching someone think hard can be compelling when you have some background information and know why they are so internally focused. If, as an audience member you are agonizing over their decision, it can keep you on the edge of your seat, but without that context, it just isn't interesting.

Posted by: Viking at December 9, 2010 7:20 PM

Some interesting, some not so much. Still, actors "acting" is preferable to "actors" acting. Or "actors" "acting".

Posted by: xte at December 10, 2010 12:18 AM