Meet 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' star Elizabeth Olsen
Searchlight rolls out the publicity wagon for the stunning debut performance
Elizabeth Olsen in Sean Durkin's "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
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Sean Durkin's "Martha Marcy May Marlene" is a film that has stuck with me, ever since I saw it well over a month ago. I imagine most who caught it at Sundance in January feel the same way. It's a film with a tangible presence, skillfully crafted and assembled and with a dynamite debut performance at the center of things.
Indeed, Elizabeth Olsen's performance is the impetus for an upcoming list that will chart the best of debut performances across the history of film (chime in with your favorites here if you like to make sure nothing is slipping through the cracks). It's absolutely award-worthy, and if you're asking me, more layered and achieved than the most recent Sundance babies in the Best Actress category, Gabourey Sidibe, Jennifer Lawrence, Melissa Leo and Laura Linney.
Fox Searchlight has always been an intriguing match for the material, but I'm happy to see that, as ever, they are clearing a path for people to get a load of the demanding material on their slate this year. For Olsen, the studio released a nice little interview featurette yesterday. Have a look at that after the jump, but beware, there is talk of the film's finale toward the end of the clip and that discussion might easily be considered SPOILERS to some.
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" opens in limited release Friday, October 21.
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2012-2013 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Makeup And Hairstyling
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
Best Production Design
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
Best Visual Effects
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature
Best Foreign Language Film
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupJesse Crall
October 4, 2011 at 9:24PM EST Reply to CommentGreat debut from another teenager: Linda Manz in Days of Heaven.
DylanS yes!^
October 4, 2011 at 9:50PM ESTwill Hunter McCracken as well ... who I think be the next Linda Manz and 'disappear.'
October 5, 2011 at 11:04AM ESTm1
October 4, 2011 at 9:57PM EST Reply to CommentShe's hot.
DylanS
October 4, 2011 at 10:02PM EST Reply to CommentI'd put either of the Wilson brothers into consideration for "Bottle Rocket". It's the rare occasion where I like Luke better than Owen performance wise, but I'm sure plenty like Owen better in the film.
Oak
October 4, 2011 at 10:11PM EST Reply to CommentNice interview. She seems very familiar with the interview process and selling a film even though she is not well known.
Chase Kahn
October 4, 2011 at 11:20PM EST Reply to CommentIt's such a great film. I'm worried it won't catch on this season, even though it wholly deserves it. I went in knowing that Elizabeth Olsen was supposedly very good in it, but it's so skillfully made and agonizingly tense that it really caught me off-guard. Hands-down the best editing I've seen so far this year.
October 5, 2011 at 5:05AM ESTJLPatt
October 5, 2011 at 12:31AM EST Reply to CommentEmily Watson, "Breaking the Waves"
David Bradley, "Kes"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"
Pelle Hvenegaard, "Pelle the Conqueror"
Keisha Castle-Hughes, "Whale Rider"
Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
Brad Dourif, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
Timothy Hutton, "Ordinary People"
Jamie Bell, "Billy Elliot"
Just to name a very few.
Oak
October 5, 2011 at 12:38AM EST Reply to CommentIn response to the breakout teenagers, Q'orianka Kilcher impressed me in The New World.
EllenAfterRipley
October 5, 2011 at 1:40AM EST Reply to CommentShe seems so self-possessed and lovely. She's one I'm rooting for just so we can get to know her a bit more throughout the season.
Laura Stewart
October 5, 2011 at 2:27AM EST Reply to CommentI always thought Liesel Matthews would go a long way after her mesmerizing turn in A Little Princess... but that never happened :/
ZacharyTF
October 5, 2011 at 4:53AM EST Reply to CommentOrson Welles in Citizen Kane.
wisconsinkel
October 5, 2011 at 8:36AM EST Reply to CommentI hold special places in my heart for Jocelyne LaGarde (Hawaii), Maria Falconetti (The Passion of Joan of Arc), Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Carlo Battisti (Umberto D.), Maria Ouspenskaya (Dodsworth) and Orson Welles (Citizen Kane)...so many great debuts!!
christopher
October 5, 2011 at 8:45AM EST Reply to Commenthardly her debut into the public, but Striesand in Funny Girl is one of the all time great first performances--and certainly launched her well.
Anita
October 5, 2011 at 10:38AM EST Reply to CommentEdward Norton in Primal Fear
Duncan Houst
October 5, 2011 at 10:41AM EST Reply to CommentSure, she hasn't done anything since then, but Bjork's debut in "Dancer in the Dark" has to have a strong place on that list. Fearless, heartbreaking, fragile, emotional, and from such an unlikely source.
/3rt Bjork made a film prior to Dancer.
October 5, 2011 at 11:03AM EST/3rt
October 5, 2011 at 11:04AM EST Reply to CommentWells already spoiled the ending to this film which means this is an HBO broadcast for me in the future.
Kristopher Tapley Damn, that sucks.
October 5, 2011 at 11:35AM ESTrentrobuff
October 5, 2011 at 7:09PM EST Reply to CommentDakota Fanning in "I Am Sam" (...or does her bit role in "Tomcats" rule her ineligible here?)