Calamity Jane kind of ruins the series
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Captain_Augustus_McCrae — 11 years ago(January 02, 2015 11:01 AM)
I disagree. Her portrayal in the series closely matches what is known historically about her. Meek, unassuming women didn't become legends on the Frontier.
"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae -
he88 — 11 years ago(January 11, 2015 11:48 AM)
I agree. From what I remember of her history she was indeed a boozer and manly enough to often be mistaking for a man.yet on the frontier women were so scarce that even she was a prostitue from time to time to make cash. Not a lot of other work available to single women back then.
This actress seems to do really well playing rolls where she's not very likable. The first time I noticed her was on chicago PD where she was a IA agent who was a real jerk. Very easy to dislike.
Maybe Clamity Jane isn't all that like able, but the way she came through when her help was needed, and her extreme loyalty really made her a lot more complex than just a manly female drunkard. Definately not the sweetheart Clamity that Doris Day played in that musical from way back. Now that was real fiction -
light-imagery — 10 years ago(August 15, 2015 04:30 PM)
Agreed, Jane was one of many brilliantly played characters on the show. There is enough historical reference to not find her to be overplayed much at all. One more thing, she was truly heartbroken at the death of Wild Bill. I find this Jane played so well by Robyn Weigert to be much more life-like and possibly true to the person than how Jane was played by Ellen Barkin in the movie Wild Bill with Jeff Bridges. Obviously the writing and direction go a long way to what the actor has to work with.
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Osmiumos — 10 years ago(May 25, 2015 11:38 PM)
The OPs claim os ridiculous.
Jane is one of my favourite characters, an independent self destructive vagrant alcoholic woman in a man's world, so foul mouthed yet so articulate.
As to the complaint that her character is exaggerated
Firstly, there are not too many entertaining dramas that focus on dull characters
Secondly, name a central character in the show that is not subject to some excess or exaggeration of character: Cy? Al? Trixie? Seth? Jarry (the politician)? EB? Joanie? Jules? Alma's father or her first husband? Wu? Mr W? Richardson? Leon? Reverend Smith? Steve? Samuel Fields? ?
All are drawn as larger than life characters.
I'll give you Ellsworth, Star, Tom Nuttall and Mrs Bullock as steady characters. But even Jerry Lewis needed a straight man occasionally.
The problem is that the OP reckons that only Jane's character is exaggerated and that consequently it is only character that ruins the show?
This is a ridiculous premise.
Perhaps there is some other unstated reason for the complaint?
Al and Jane both use complex phrasing and are highly articulate, and with the Doc and the likeable Ellsworth are my favourite characters.
It is the excesses and flaws of the larger than life characters that MAKE the show so wondrous. -
paramitch — 11 years ago(January 04, 2015 03:43 PM)
I totally disagree.
I love the way Robin Sweigert plays her and think she's just superb in the part, which is incredibly tough. She manages to play Jane as a woman who tries to fit into a man's world by ignoring her own femininity even though there's occasionally a subtle yearning in her to be a part of both worlds. Jane is a complete mess and a 24-hour drunk and yet Weigert imbues her with heart and a sweet, almost innocent sadness.
Jane is one of my favorite people in Deadwood, and I love that she wears her heart on her sleeve the way she does she's definitely one of the kindest people on the show, as well.I keep thinking I'm a grownup, but I'm not. -
watchkoreanmovies — 10 years ago(June 04, 2015 09:20 AM)
It's really an outstanding performance, especially when you see an interview with Robin Weigert and how totally different from Jane she looks and sounds and carries herself.
Totally, I couldn't believe it's the same actress as the lawyer in SOA -
Balthazar Bee — 11 years ago(January 06, 2015 09:32 AM)
I quite like her in the role.
Watching "Requiem for a Gleet" again last night I was particularly struck by how she conversed with Trixie on the state of Al's health. What could have been a very phoney baloney "meta" moment, with Jane trying to keep up to Trixie's lightning-tongued diatribe ("uhhhhh oooookay") managed to be authentically funny and true to the characters.
Tough to do. -
FiletMignonMediumRare — 11 years ago(January 08, 2015 08:43 PM)
"Oh yeah, SAMSONITE, I was way off!"
She makes it clear she was abused by what sounded like awful men throughout her childhood. Therefore, she is tough and yes over the top at times. I learned lessons from her character. I hated her at first on the surface then grew to learn about her character. It took more than 1 time watching the series. It's like wine I swear, Deadwood will just get better as you watch it. -
budsgrave — 11 years ago(January 17, 2015 08:57 AM)
Jane's school-girl crush on Bill, the moment she backs down from Swerengen in defense of Sophia, letting her guard down with Joanie, helping out in the pest tent (shall I continue?) all show Jane's humanity and are perfect examples of her NOT acting completely cartoonish or overplayed. Your comment is the type of Internet clutter which demonstrates a growing near-pathological need to opine despite how superfluous or tedious one's thoughts are. Do yourself a favor and excise your asinine judgment tout de suite, lest it remain one moment longer for future board members to view with its only purpose in proving you a cv-t.
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Timmian_The_German — 11 years ago(January 17, 2015 05:31 PM)
I hated her SOOO much watching the show the first time and then i fast forwarded her scenes on many of the subsequent rewatchings, but i dont remember when i started to enjoy her.
Or..
Maybe not "enjoy", but i stopped hating her and just let her waddle and curse her way on my TV screen. -
ipeedaily — 11 years ago(January 19, 2015 08:27 PM)
I don't knowof course she has been "Hollywood-ized" but I can't see the real Calamity Jane talking to men like that without getting her teeth knocked in.remember, this was the lawless ol' west and I doubt she was as portrayed in the series, telling men off and threatening them.
To be sure, she was a foul mouthed, hard drinking female more like one of the guys but I think she "knew her place" and was not as direct in mouthing off when she knew there was a good chance she'd be knocked out or even shot for daring to challenge men at a time when women didn't have all the protection of the laws that they have today.