I Love James Spader
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Radiant_Rose — 20 years ago(November 28, 2005 05:18 AM)
Sci fi: "Starcrossed", "Stargate", "Supernova", "Alien Hunter" and, fantasy not sci-fi, "Wolf". Two of these involved coloured contact lenses, someone suggested that maybe then is when he found out how much he hates them.
"Starcrossed" was released in the UK on video, e-bay and amazon sometimes have second hand copies. As with most of his best films, there is a strong brunette heroine. -
chelsea1440 — 20 years ago(January 05, 2006 12:17 AM)
It's so funny, because my first James Spader encounter was Pretty In Pink, and for YEARS I avoided seeing his films, because he played the character so well, I really thought he was an assI mean, he was so convincing, I just assumed he actually was that way :op But then I was procrastinating a few weeks ago and decided to watch this and was absolutely flooredI think he's my new favorite actor. I had such a crush on him after the first 3 viewings of this, that I decided to re-watch Pretty In Pink, to see if he still repulsed me in that, and, to my surprise, he still didhe's too talented! I just rented Secretary and LOVED it as wellI'm going to have to go on a little James Spader-a-thon nowheheI really like the way he speaks at different levelsso few actors really take advantage of the full range of speaking volumes to convey emotions; most actors just use "normal" speaking voices all the time, despite the fact that in reality, there are constant variances in volumes and inflectionsanywayamazing guy
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Radiant_Rose — 20 years ago(January 06, 2006 06:00 AM)
Goodness, chelsea1440, that is taking things very literally to assume he was like Stef(f) in real life. Which I ruddy well hope he is not, otherwise I have been doing my best to boost the popularity of his work.
I wonder if anyone who saw him in "Stargate" thought he was as virginal as his character appeared when Sha'uri reveals her breasts (to him, her back is to the camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it would be non-libellous to assume that he was not a virgin at the time "Stargate" was filmed as he had been married for years and his wife had had at least one of their 2 sons by then. He had also appeared in quite a few sex scenes by then also, although I suppose a person could act in a sex scene and still be a virgin. Unless it was a hard core porn film of course. -
chelsea1440 — 20 years ago(January 08, 2006 11:14 PM)
Well, so many actors basically play the same characteror at least elements of their personality come through all the characters they play (think: Sandra Bullock, Jude Law, Hugh Grant.most actors I can think of). And Spader was just SO convincing as the Steff, I figured that that was just his characterso few actors can so completely transform themselves as Spader does, I just didn't anticipate that he was this talented.
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Radiant_Rose — 20 years ago(January 10, 2006 05:26 AM)
Yes, he was good as Steff. Btw, did you wonder why he got landed with a girly name, Andy and her blonde nemesis Benny got boyish names, Ducky got called Ducky and Bla(i)ne got a name that, to quote Ducky, was not that of a human but of a household appliance?
I like it when someone responded to the "yoga" thread that I started on the J Spader board by saying they'd read an interview where Spader said he used to be a hippy. Had picture of confused hippy with flower tucked behind one ear plaintively asking his agent, "Why do you keep sending me to audition for all these roles as horrible people?"
Quite like that idea, actually. With the flower. Have no such proof that any such flower was worn. Just like the thought. -
vfrance-1 — 20 years ago(February 07, 2006 06:10 AM)
This is funny to me, because I LOVED James Spader as Steff in Pretty in Pink. Don't get me wrong, he was a complete ass in that film, but it was hilarioushe played it to the hilt. One of my favorite parts is when he is blocking Andi's car door and trying to get her to go on a date with him. When she refuses, he pauses, puts a cigarette in his mouth and says "You're a bitch. You know, that condition of yours could get a lot worse." Hilarious! Oh, and the scene where he's rolling up a joint in his father's den after the party and says, "I think this one might finally kill the old man, Blaine." And the way he treats his bitch girlfriend like beep What makes the character so good is that he delivers his line in such a snarky, deadpan fashion, that only James Spader can really pull off. That's good acting for you, when the actor makes you love the character despite the fact that the character is an beep
Andrew McCarthy's character was so freaking annoying in that film, Andi should have gone with Duckie. But that's a topic for the Pretty in Pink board I suppose.
Oh, and don't get me started on Secretary! I can't help but think that if I was single and he was my boss, well..I LOVE the part where he comes up behind Lee and slams the letter down on her desk and chastises her while almost touching her ear with his mouthwow!
"I guess I started smoking when I was aboutfour." -
Radiant_Rose — 20 years ago(February 10, 2006 05:33 AM)
Vfrance-1: did you deliberately choose his birthday to rave about him or was the 7 Feb date a happy coincidence? As this site uses US time, it may not even have been 7 Feb where you were. (I chose his birthday to review "sex, lies and videotape" for amazon.co.uk, let us hope they like it. There were 2 other customer reviews and they only gave it 3 stars! Out of 5. That is what I would have given it the first time I saw it, but now I think it deserves 5.
The only thing I would change about the film would be that I would ensure that Ann's job was something like recycling rubbish, or "garbage" as she would say.
I think Spader's gorgeous in "Pretty in Pink", but I think that it is sadly symbolic that Andie has to choose between (a) a gorgeous creep (b) a totally non-sexy nice guy and a good-looking but very weak and unreliable guy. So like my life, no suitable men whatsoever. Maybe the pink is a cryptic symbol and she became a lesbian because of the lack of suitable men in the world! Do you think I should post that on the board? -
vfrance-1 — 20 years ago(February 10, 2006 06:37 AM)
Actually, I happened to go to the IMDB home page and I saw his picture in the "today's birthdays" section. So I decided to post something in his honor.
I do know that John Hughes was pressured into the "Andi gets back together with Blaine" ending because of some really pedestrian test audiences, and he regretted it. He intended her to be with Duckie in the end. Honestly, I don't know if I would give Hughes that much credit that his film would be symbolic in any wayI enjoy some of his movies but they always have standard happy endings.
It seems that the "bad guy" is often the most desirable in films/TVon Twin Peaks, for example, Laura Palmer has two boyfriends: belligerent smart-ass punk Bobby Briggs and sentimental, vanilla biker dude James Hurleywell, Bobby Briggs is FAR more desirable than the annoying JamesI love Bobby Briggs! Actually, this also goes to illustrate the difference between directors like John Hughes and David Lynchin Twin Peaks, unlike Steff in PIP, Bobby wasn't really an beep he just had that facade.
"I guess I started smoking when I was aboutfour." -
kunalsen_7684 — 19 years ago(November 15, 2006 12:56 AM)
I looooove James Spader
Got hooked on to this stupendous actor during the last season of the Practice and then started renting his movies- he simply amazes me in Pretty in Pink. And this one just BLOWS ME AWAY. What acting! I'm somthing like his roles u know.gorgeous creep..hence the admiration I guess -
scarymonster33 — 19 years ago(December 16, 2006 11:05 AM)
Spader was sex on legs right up until the time of Secretarydon't know what happened since thenneeds to lay off the pies a bit.
Still got those lovely long eyelashes thoughand still a fantastic actor. -
indymovies — 19 years ago(December 16, 2006 12:05 PM)
He still looked good in 'I Witness', 'Alien Hunter' and 'Shadow of Fear'. I've said it before but I think it's the short hair and the way he holds himself in 'Boston Legal' that makes him look a tad pudgy (at least that's what I hope.)
I agree, though, about the lovely long eyelashes and that he's a fantastic actor. -
Radiant_Rose — 19 years ago(December 18, 2006 05:06 AM)
They worked together on 3 films:
Striking Back
, aka
The New Kids
,
Keys to Tulsa
and
2 Days in the Valley
, plus the full length TVM
A Killer in the Family
, where they played brothers, and the shorter TV project
Greasy Lake
.This is nicebat, my cyberpet.