KK
The film A Fish Called Wanda is on the AFI's (American Film Institute) Greatest 100 Comedies list. Although this film features talented actors like John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline easily steals the show. Kline gives a brilliant performance as the pseudo-intellectual Otto. What makes Kline so remarkable is the way that he moves and makes his character dance across the screen. Right from the outset, in one of the film's first scene, we see that Kline's Otto is no normal jewel thief. Even though Otto is supposed to be working under the guise that he is Wanda's (Jamie Lee Curtis) sister, he quickly gives her breast a squeeze in full view of Ken, one of the other robbers. What makes this movement work comically is that Kline does it so lightening fast and that if you blinked you might miss it. He has such control over his arm that he is able to extend it, and withdraw it in a matter of maybe a second. This allows for the suspended disbelief that Ken does not see him do it. Another movement that Kline makes also speaks volumes about his body control. Otto and Wanda are together in what I take to be Otto's quarters. They are
When Archi refuses to apologize and take back his insults, Otto takes Archie, who is a much bigger man, and dangles him by the feet out the window until he says he is sorry. While we do not see how Otto gets Archie into the position of hanging out the window, we assume that he quickly and decisively over powered him. He overhears the two of them making fun of him. When he goes try to Archie, he does a quick, clean backwards somersault and leap into a stride. He goes over to kick a car out of anger. He takes what is just a simple movement and makes into something much more. In one scene, he grabs Wanda by the back of her head and tosses her onto a bed like she was a rag doll. Something I find personally fascinating about Kline as an actor is the way he seems to be so centered. When he goes try to Archie, he does a quick, clean backwards somersault and leap into a stride. You can read all you would want to know about Otto by the way he moves. Another movement that Kline makes also speaks volumes about his body control. Another example he shows of this type of body control is when angered Wanda, he grabs an 8x10 photo of her and punches through it without hurting his hand. Kline shows the control of an acrobat. This allows for the suspended disbelief that Ken does not see him do it. Something I find personally fascinating about Kline as an actor is the way he seems to be so centered.
Common topics in this essay:
Kline's Otto,
Kevin Kline,
Lee Curtis,
Otto Wanda,
Cleese Wanda,
Wanda Otto's,
Otto Archie,
Wanda Doesn't,
Film Institute,
Called Wanda,
kevin kline,
body control,
kline's otto,
jamie lee curtis,
lee curtis,
otto supposed,
john cleese,
jamie lee,
called wanda,
fish called,
otto wanda,
fish called wanda,
quickly decisively powered,
decisively powered towards,
powered towards middle,
|
Acceptance Essays
