That was an interesting read, and it has a point, but I have so many problems with the way it made that point.
Firstly, Daniel Day Lewis, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Christian Bale and also Di Caprio are actually good, definitely among the best traditional actors of our day, so if they have a common approach to acting, the argument that it's of necessity bad doesn't fly for me.
I have no idea why a nullity like Jared Leto should be spoken of in the same breath as them in relation to a shit ten minute reenvisionment of a caricature. The "method" aspect of Leto's Joker performance is empty hype.
Secondly, I enjoyed The Revenant while recognising it as what it was, Oscar-bait. Luzbecki's cinematography was enjoyable against the beats of an actual story (as opposed to a Malick indulgence) and although the relentless tale of masculinity and revenge was histrionic, marginal, and at times offensive, I enjoyed that too.
The problem is the Oscar-bait structure and the way projects are selected, timed and promoted, and the kinds of stories that keep getting told to the exclusion of others much more than it is acting methods.
Thirdly, at the end of the article Swinton, Johannson and Tomei are mentioned as particularly admirable actors, and of the three I only particularly like Tomei, though I enjoy the roles of Swinton for the edge of her amazing physicality and appearance.
There are many women actors I prefer working, for example Cate Blanchett, Angela Davis, Kristen Stewart, Isabelle Huppert, Jennifer Lawrence, Maggie Smith, etc, many of whom also work extremely hard on character in a way that I really enjoy.
