Kristen Stewart is having a breakthrough year, with two strong supporting roles in films about women – the first, The Clouds of Sils Maria (with Binoche) and the second, Still Alice (with Julianne Moore). Stewart also carries the film Camp X-Ray. Working closely with Binoche the two actresses at different ends of the age and experience spectrum was partly a mentor/student relationship, says Binoche in an interview with Indiewire:
In “Clouds of Sils Maria,” you play an aging actress who sort of gets threatened by a younger actress. I’m assuming you aren’t actually threatened by Kristen Stewart or Chloe Moretz. Did you take on a mentor or teaching role during filming?
It’s interesting, because I read in an interview — and I don’t really read interviews — that Olivier said that there were moments when I was showing up Kristen, showing her how to act. For me it’s never been like that. Sometimes I push her, because I know her potential. When you see that, it’s very exciting as an actor to go and push someone. I think deep down I would like to teach one day. It’s about mothering, about giving birth, a midwife kind of situation, and there’s something very rewarding in a very hidden place. When you see somebody transforming and growing, it’s such a reward because it gives hope to everybody. With Kristen, in the films she’s done, I don’t think she ever really experienced how amazing she is. Actually, when I saw her in interviews, the way she listens and the way she answers, I said, “This is a great actress.” Just the way of receiving and giving back. I think she has an amazing career in front of her, and she’s gonna surprise us.
She will work again with Binoche in the upcoming The Big Shoe. In keeping with typical film critic groupthink were films starring women are concerned (except Gravity of course), Camp X-Ray got a roughing up. Like clockwork.
Either way, Stewart’s growing as an actress and looks to have a bright future ahead of her.
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Oh, Larson, did you change computers or just asked a fellow troll to help you out here ? By the way, I have been commenting on Awardsdaily for at least five years now, on hundreds of articles and out of those hundreds I’m guessing no more than five were Kristen Stewart related. So there’s that. Also, if you actually read the article you would know that it is about Binoche praising Stewart’s acting skills and potential so I hope you can understand that it will be international acting giant Juliette Binoche and NOT you Mr. “ohmygodsheislikesuchabadactresscozshelikecheatedonherboyfriendyearsago” whose opinion on acting I will value and take seriously.
I can see all the NON REGULARS of Awards Daily have tracked articles about Stewart down and are defending her honor.
… SNAP!
There’s so many ill-informed and ignorant comments here that if I had the time I’d treat it like a buffet — just plowing through the sheer stupidity of these Stewart bots.
” she’s still really great and was actually a great match to Binoche who had better material, she was able to go toe toe. I mean it’s freaking Binoche, if she was able to do that, it’s the ultimate proof, she is super talented, it’s just a matter of exploring and evolving but she does have the great chops.”
First, it’s cute that you try to make Stewart having “lesser material” while painting her as still prevailing against Binoche’s “better material.” It’s a nice spin. Second, Binoche and Stewart aren’t acting “against” one other so PLEASE drop the “held her own against freakin’ Binoche” because the last time I checked their characters weren’t enemies. Stewart acts ALONGSIDE Binoche, not against. There is no “versus” between the characters of Val and Binoche. Third, how on earth does it show that Stewart is “super talented” and her acting ALONGSIDE Binoche is the “ultimate proof” of her talent? Like wtf? There were other actors who had scenes with Binoche as well, like the actor who played Claus (the director). I thought he did well in his scenes with her, so is that a testament to his “super talented” acting skills? No. He did his job with ease.
Next time Stewart fans, try NOT to make it so obvious that you’re desperate.
And if Stewart does manage to gain an Oscar nom for Still Alice, it’ll be because she’s riding the coat tails of Moore.
…SNAP!
I watched Camp X-Ray and Fury yesterday and found X-Ray to be clearly the better film. Granted the two are very different in subject matter and content and a comparison isn’t exactly fair but it’s interesting what films some critics choose to praise or ignore. I found Fury to be ridiculous and superficial, culminating in a typical loud heroic hollywood mess. The scene with the only female roles was especially poor. Who goes from hiding under a bed in terror to happily fucking and flirtatiously exchanging numbers in mere moments. Ridiculous. I feel the role of the critic is in part to bring awareness to films of value that wouldn’t necessarily be noticed. Sadly, many drop the ball, salivating with the masses. Kristen Stewart, like Binoche and Moore before her, goes against the tide and judging by her choices this year, makes films worth watching.
I liked Stewart in the original “Twilight.” I thought she was very well cast by Catherine Hardwicke because she played against the grain of a typical young romantic lead. You could see her really resisting the romance situation. Then the series went on and on and became awful by the end.
Kristen Stewart has always had the potential and Im looking forward to see her opposite Moore and Binoche. Its amazing that a young actress gets this kind of comments that she needs to PROVE herself. For whom exactly?
Do you guys think that Jonah Hill or Bradley Cooper have shown bigger potential or that they were just lucky or that THEY have proved themselves? If Kristen Stewart was a young actor, people would have praised her / him much higher for the brave turn in working with great directors and actors. I can just see the headlines that former vampire heart rob is going the indie route and showing us his true promise. Kind of the prince that was promised prophecy.
Why is it always so much easier to be hard on women versus men in all ages? This is pure sexism right there. So you guys, I am so disappointed in your negative comments about Stewart. I think the negative perspective comes from her personal life which does not matter on the big screen at all. By judging her this way, you are not judging her work, but her persona. There have been and still are actors that are perverts, pigs and very difficult to work with, but still the public and critics praise them like nutty nutty cocoo heads.
I thought there were intelligent people on this site, not a group of baboons reading TMZ and gossip shit 3 times a day
Hate for Rob is what fuels your souls. Admit it once and for all. This is all frivolous and empty.
Glad you liked it. The critics have fallen hard for her performance, but unfortunately the incompetent IFC is the distributor and refuse to give it a qualifying run. It won’t be released until next spring sometime. They presumably do not want any distractions from Boyhood and/or are unable to push two movies. Which is a real shame.
Errata:
Please read above…
“She has not been doing wise choices of material and working with outstanding coworkers. She is not interesting in doing the girlfriend of the superhero.”
As…
She has been doing wise choices of material and working with outstanding coworkers. She is not interested in doing the girlfriend of the superhero.
Sorry and thanks
Let’s put this way…
-The best performance as support actor, female or male, in the criticware pool in Cannes 2014;
-The best performance as support actor, female or male, in the criticware pool in NYFF 2014;
– Between the five bestperformance as support actor, female or male, in the criticware pool in TIFF 2014;
NOW… more than 35 movies in a 15 yrs old career with praises from directors as David Fincher, John Favreau, Oliver Assayas, Walter Salles and Bill Condon, as also from monster actors as James Gandolfini, Juliette Binoche, Julianne Moore, Catherine Deneuve, Jodie Foster, Robert DeNiro, Bruce Dean, Sean Penn…
What the hell she has to prove yet to some folks? Nothing!
She is doing what always did… Help to bring to life interesting characters and projects. Even Twilight, that folks love to forget that was an indie.
She has not been doing wise choices of material and working with outstanding coworkers. She is not interesting in doing the girlfriend of the superhero.
Beside… People love to compare young actors with monster actresses who were already grown when they first appeared. Like Streep, she was 29 or Binoche, she was 19.
How a young artist will grow in his or her craft if people won’t let them do it.
Kristen Stewart have been doing outstanding job through the years. Range of different characters that people loved to forget after the Twilight mania… Like she had born in the industry at 17.
She is 24 did 6 movies and 14 months and now has 3 of these movies in festivals with o raises from very good to outstanding. If one actress has substantial work to be distinguished in the award season this year is her.
[sorry for my English. It is not. My first language]
I saw Sils Maria at the Philadelphia Film Festival over the weekend. More than half the movie is made up of scenes just between Binoche and Stewart. Typical of European cinema it’s a dialogue driven film, and while Binoche gives a fabulous, nuanced performance Kristen Stewart definitely holds her own. Oscar nomination worthy, probably not, particularly in a move that won’t be widely seen. However, I preferred Stewart’s performance to Keira Knightly in The Imitation Game and critics are already starting to slurp over that one.
Igor Sousa you’re right. Her interview is very interesting and she said that she would like teach some day. Here was reported only an answer when she spoke about topics much more interesting
Why exists this necessity to talk about Kristen Stewart? The greatesta cinema’s actress alive (yes, she is bigger than Streep, Winslet or Blanchett) gives a whole really interesting interview about her working method and then the only highlight on it is about Kristen Stewart! This is really stupid, specially coming from someone who is ALWAYS complaining about the lack of good middle-aged parts for women in cinema.
Alan Schurstahl (Village Voice) 60 on MC
“Let’s get this out of the way now: Kristen Stewart is fine in Camp X-Ray, the tough-minded/soft-hearted drama that packs America’s sweetheart off to Guantánamo Bay.” LOL she has never been America’s sweetheart not even in her days like an “it” girl
She has been getting singled out but this aren’t raves
That said I’m happy for Stewart finally branching out of the franchise that nearly ruined her and Pattinson, but may have ruined Lautner.
Xan Brooks (The Guardian) 40 on MC
“…while Stewart copes well as his pensive prison guard, constantly trying to act more tough than she is. It’s a role that reminds us what a fine performer she was in the likes of Into the Wild and Adventureland…”
Joshua Rothkopf (Time Out NY) 40 on MC
“And truthfully, Stewart isn’t half bad—”
Kyle Smith (NY Post) 50 on MC
“Stewart’s restrained performance is affecting…”
Eric Kohn (indieWIRE) 50 on MC
“Writer-director Peter Sattler’s frustratingly on-the-nose screenplay — which finds Stewart’s character forming an unlikely bond with an uncooperative detainee (Peyman Moadi) — only succeeds at emphasizing Stewart’s talent in an otherwise half-baked drama. ”
Amber Wilkinson (The Telegraph) 60 on MC, how dare a female critic give a “pan like clockwork” to a female-driven film?
“Twilight star Kristen Stewart gives a solid performance as a Guantanamo Bay guard, but Peter Sattler’s feature debut lacks punch.”
Alan Schurstahl (Village Voice) 60 on MC
“Let’s get this out of the way now: Kristen Stewart is fine in Camp X-Ray, the tough-minded/soft-hearted drama that packs America’s sweetheart off to Guantánamo Bay.”
Mike D’Angelo (The Dissolve) 60 on MC
“Stewart isn’t the revelation here that she is in Olivier Assayas’ forthcoming Clouds Of Sils Maria (which asks her to do more with less), but she does a superb job of silently conveying the internal struggle between Cole’s innate compassion and her desire to embody a badass military ideal.”
Elizabeth Weitzman (NY Daily News) 60 on MC
“OK, haters: Here’s the movie meant to silence your complaints about Kristen Stewart’s acting range. And it might, if you can sit through all of it.”
John Anderson (Wall Street Journal) 60 on MC
“Kristen Stewart’s ability to be both teen temptress and tabula rasa works to her distinct advantage in “Camp X-Ray,”…”
Bilge Ebiri (NY Magazine, Vulture) 60 on MC
“Kristen Stewart’s Tense Acting Style Serves Her Well As a Gitmo Guard in Camp X-Ray”
So as far as I can tell Stewart has been getting singled out while a lot of the criticism goes to the writer/director of Camp X-Ray.
Metacritic averages
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, 67
Clouds of Sils Maria, 78
Maps to the Stars, 71
Still Alice, 83
Gone Girl, 79
Wild, 75
The Homesman, 69
Lucy (a 61) and Maleficent (56) both had great praise for the performances. The criticism went to the filmmakers, both men. You don’t see anybody complaining about Limitless and Oz the Great and Powerful (their obvious counterparts) getting worse scores than Lucy and Maleficent. Let’s talk about the blockbuster movies starring men that didn’t do well critically: Hercules, both of them as a matter of fact. Pompei. And…I’ll just stop there because there will be way too many to name.
Shouldn’t someone be judged on the merits of his or her performance in the specific film for which he or she could be nominated for? I am not saying she should or will be nominated this year, but why the focus on insisting she, more than others, must continue to “prove” herself when she has over 35 films under her belt? Just for the sake of comparison, why can someone like Lupita burst into the scene, with nothing on her resume, and there is no problem nominating her immediately without the insistence on her “further demonstrating what she’s capable of,” whereas Stewart can turn in several outstanding performances in one year but people are still so focused on her Twilight background that they insist this is not enough and that she must show more (again, not trying to say that Stewart should/will be nominated or that her performances were on Lupita’s level). I’m just curious about this kind of disparity and why a performance can’t be viewed on its own merits. It’s a shame that that’s not the reality. Thanks.
Stewart isn’t material for Oscar for now
If there’s an authority on acting, Binoche is it, so this as high as praise gets. Having said that, far is still the day when Stewart can and should be considered for Academy Award recognition, she needs to further demonstrate what she’s capable of.