For the life of me I'm still trying to figure why I just watched this screen test with the great Dennis Hopper, one of the most gifted actors of all time with a
varied career that went from the Golden Era of Hollywood to independent projects where he acted, wrote, directed and produced up to his new rise as a villainesque roles
in the 1980's and 1990's. As a big fan of the man, even admiring his performances on some lousy projects but I always liked the man. But better late than never. Here I
could appreciate his evident talents but this time using of silence - a big challenge since we're all familiar with his unique voice, specially when playing menacing guys.
Hopper did not disappoint. Unlike the other known screen tests by Mr. Andy Warhol, this one provides the chance for Hopper to show his skills when it comes to expressing a wide range of emotions and sensations in a matter of minutes. He begins the short film with a serious deadly expression, almost as if about to kill someone.
He stays that way for a long time. Then, little by little an expression of relief followed with a grin take over and he's no longer worried or upset.
Of all the screen tests I've seen this one takes the prize as my favorite, for letting the main star express himself in all possible ways and there's about how Hopper conducts himself here that it gives me the impression he's having instructions, some directions on how to act, which, fine that it isn't the actual being his natural self 100% but it generates a real emotion. My theory was that he begins all serious thanks to a certain bad thing he heard and only changed his mind and emotion after someone (Warhol, maybe) told him that it was a joke. The man's face is a pure fountain of feelings and emotions, an ability that isn't found on any actor. But here's a man of multiple talents, who survived the Hollywood system and also found a place in indie/underground circles proving that he could be part of both movements and perform or direct his art. A truly amazing figure in the world of arts. 8/10.
Hopper did not disappoint. Unlike the other known screen tests by Mr. Andy Warhol, this one provides the chance for Hopper to show his skills when it comes to expressing a wide range of emotions and sensations in a matter of minutes. He begins the short film with a serious deadly expression, almost as if about to kill someone.
He stays that way for a long time. Then, little by little an expression of relief followed with a grin take over and he's no longer worried or upset.
Of all the screen tests I've seen this one takes the prize as my favorite, for letting the main star express himself in all possible ways and there's about how Hopper conducts himself here that it gives me the impression he's having instructions, some directions on how to act, which, fine that it isn't the actual being his natural self 100% but it generates a real emotion. My theory was that he begins all serious thanks to a certain bad thing he heard and only changed his mind and emotion after someone (Warhol, maybe) told him that it was a joke. The man's face is a pure fountain of feelings and emotions, an ability that isn't found on any actor. But here's a man of multiple talents, who survived the Hollywood system and also found a place in indie/underground circles proving that he could be part of both movements and perform or direct his art. A truly amazing figure in the world of arts. 8/10.
