Poster for 'lovely, still'

Here's a poster for 'lovely, still' with Ellen Burstyn and Martin Landau. Shot in 2008, being released this fall.

The snippets of Landau's performance in the trailer for 'lovely, still' reminds me of his turn as Bela Lugosi in 'Ed Wood'. He is radiant in an unaffected way and completely inhabits his character. By itself, Landau's rendition of a proud but fading Lugosi is reason enough to watch the movie.

The only other performance on this level I can think of (although, I'm sure there are several) is Vincent Price's in 'Edward Scissorhands'. The scene in which The Inventor gives Edward his hands, and the delight in Price's eyes turns to shock, then horror, as he sinks to the floor and dies, will always be stamped in my memory.

There's something about these portrayals which transcends acting. This level of ability becomes available to an actor only when he or she reaches a certain age, is less hindered by self-awareness and concerns about stage-presence, and is able to give a more fully internal delivery.

The technique, or non-technique, as it were, informs a performance with a rare magic, although it might be more correct to say the elusive glint of 'effortless effort', as the zen monks say, allows the actor fleeting freedom from studied craft which is required in order that a performance may attain such heights.

In simpler terms, you might just call it 'heart'. I wish it happened more often in movies.

It's hard to get a feel for the story quality from the trailer and 'lovely, still' is director Nicholas Fackler's first time out, so it remains to be seen whether the narrative will match the acting from Burstyn and Laundau. Reviews from the festival circuit are pretty good, though.

Here's hoping for some cinematic magic. Opens September 10.