Jamie Lee Curtis leads a multitude of magnificent lives. Hollywood Royalty holder, children's author, wife to Christopher Guest, AARP covergirl and staunch advocate for Activia yogurt. But then that's what she's shown to be so splendid at throughout her revealing and revitalizing career: balancing these many separate lives. It's enough to make anyone scream, but then Jamie Lee Curtis is also the queen of that.
The virginal high school babysitter with the homicidal, immortal brother; the hitchhiker with a past who's sure to put out. Jamie Lee Curtis is like an onion. As she progressed through the 80's we saw her shed layers... and eventually her layers.
A street-tough cop and undercover thief are both hard earned women's roles that transcend just just being topless. It's all about range, and Jamie's sensual and oft-victimized self takes some harder-edged turns. Not only is she playing the independent brains behind the operations, Jamie Lee proves she's a horror heroine, comedian and an action star! Maybe someone will have the sick humor to pair her with Arnold Schwarzenegger...
But first come see the softer of side of Jamie Lee... Although it's easy to understand this little girl's suspicions. There's definitely some backstory there - especially obvious when Jamie Lee shows up at a funeral home in her camper trailer asking for a cosmetology job. Is she telling the truth? Lies?
You don't marry Arnold Schwarzenegger in a movie and think all you're getting is a joint checking account. The jig is up: hubby's a secret agent and that mousy wife of his (Jamie Lee wears glasses!) has been sleeping with her own 007 on the side. But then we can understand why, given Jamie Lee's past. For one thing this new guy also lives in a trailer. Just peeling back the layers with Jamie Lee...
And I bet Jamie Lee Curtis's body is looking pretty good to Lindsay Lohan right about now... (Take that as you will.) Even if she needs to swap bodies with her daughter to gain perspective, Jamie Lee's found perfect balance when it comes to her body of work. She's managed to stay fearless and funny, taut and terrified. Her sparse appearances always remind me of why I loved her in the first place.
Few have managed to hold a horror film AND the sheer terror of the Disney summer movie. As organically as her career has unfolded, she's somehow kept that Hollywood legacy fresh. Either she's constantly swapping bodies with teenage girls or that Activia yogurt really does work wonders.
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9 comments:
The image attributed to "Blue Steel"...didn't I see that scene in "Trading Places"?
The image you mention is meant to tie in with her "shedding layers" and not "Blue Steel." The two images are from "Prom Night" and "Trading Places."
i so wish she would work more.
and i still maintain that she was way better than most of the oscar nominees in 2003.
Only Jamie Lee Curtis could have me promoting "Freaky Friday" or just any Arnold action movie. I would love the idea of Christopher Guest casting her - she's so good with natural comedy, even if it isn't improv.
she was splendid as a bd mom in a trashy 90's psych thriller called mother's boys i wish she worked in more comedies with good comedy director's i think she'd work wonders with nancy myers.
nat has she ever been close to a an oscar nom and if so why wasn't she nominated,some say her best role is 84's love letters.
Jamie Lee Curtis is a talented actress and a unique look. She will be remembered for the small body of work she has, and I, too, wish she would have done more.
mrripley... it's tough to say...
People LOVED her in Trading Place Places but her BAFTA win was the only real prize.
I suspect she got closest to a final Oscar shortlist for A Fish Called Wanda (1988) since she received both Globe and BAFTA nominations and (more importantly) Oscar voters liked the movie a lot -- but both of those nominations were for lead actress and back then campaigns weren't as savvy about placement (a supporting campaign might have won her an Oscar nomination).
The most vocal talk I remember was for TRUE LIES for which she won the Golden Globe, American Comedy and Saturn awards but since it was a genre film I highly doubt she made it that far on Oscar ballots despite being very well loved that year in that hit film.
Obviously the critical talk for Freaky Friday was only talk. Few people outside of myself and the Globes were smart enough to put her on final ballots ;)
so in short... er long... the answer to your question is "maybe in 1988 but otherwise not so much despite great performances and a smattering of other prizes"
Don't forget that she also was nominated for a SAG award (albeit for best supporting actress) for True Lies. Too bad she didn't make the short list (in either category) since '94 was such a "weak" year for actresses.
P.S. I always love what A.O. Scott said about Jamie Lee's performance in his review of Freaky Friday (http://is.gd/B8GG):
"Since her character wears no historical costumes and suffers from no debilitating ailment, it is likely that Ms. Curtis will be overlooked when Oscar season rolls around. This is a shame, since it is unlikely that any other actress this year will match the loose, energetic wit she brings to this delightful movie." [sigh]
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