Nicole Kidman : Thoughts and questions on what's next…

Thoughts and questions on what's next…

Like many others here, I'm wondering about what she'll do next. But before going there, I must mention that I've FINALLY watched Lion. And it's every bit as good as everybody has said (god, I cried so much, I fled the theater red faced and puffy eyed...).

As for Nicole's performance, it confirmed (as if confirmation was needed) that she has few peers when it comes to conveying complex emotions within the blink of an eye. That dinner table scene was just phenomenal. She has that innate ability to let all sorts of emotions flash across her face, coloring it and darkening it all of a sudden. For me, the only other actresses who can do that (as well as Nicole can) are Streep and Blanchett. One prime example of this tremendous skill was the dinner table scene in Grace of Monaco - I think (in my own ignorant understanding of these things) that scene was the primary reason she was nominated for the SAG.

All in all, Lion shows an actress capable of working at the sort of level that so few are able. I can't, for example, imagine the likes of Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock (actresses that seem to garner similar levels of critical attention) pulling off the range of skills required by Lion, The Paperboy, and films like The Others and Birth. And yet, I can see Nicole pulling off every one of theirs (though perhaps not quite as well as Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality - I'll give that one to Bullock!).

So, to what she'll do next. And here's a question I want to pose to people who know more about these things than I do. She's obviously been doing a lot of supporting roles lately. Is that a strategic decision, do you think? I mean, has she been purposely seeking out good supporting roles in order to shore up her career after so many dicey leads, for example? Or, are these the only good roles being offered her?

Which leads to my next question. I'd love to see her in a good lead role of the quality she used to get (The Others, The Hours, Australia...). And so, is she still getting offered these quality lead roles? Does she still have the cache within the industry to nab roles like Blanchett's characters in Blue Jasmin and Carol? And if she does still wield that power, does anyone think that after the whole Grace of Monaco fiasco (and the under-performance of a host of supposedly heavy-hitting films), she still may be a little wary of taking on a high profile project in lead? I understand she's a brave actress, but you have to think that, beneath the surface bravado, her confidence must have been knocked.

I, for one, would give anything to see her next Oscar nomination be for lead. Moving forward, I want to see her in something weighty and serious, with a serious director stretching her yet again. Should she kind of wait for the right role to come along? It seems such a shame to see a talent like hers go underutilized in supporting roles, or through lead roles in films that don't match her skills (Queen of the Desert, for one - can you imagine how that film could have turned out were David Lean st da0 ill alive and at the helm...)

Re: Thoughts and questions on what's next…

I think her career looks the safest it has in fifteen years.
"Big Little Lies" has all the makings of being a real smash and "Top of the Lake" could be piss poor and it'll still be acclaimed. I personally would like to see her do more television and only take on films when they are really promising. If she wanted to make the crossover to TV then women like Felicity Huffman and Sarah Paulson would have some serious competition for their roles.

Re: Thoughts and questions on what's next…

Interesting - I agree, it would be great to see her more often on TV. She sure is a big player in that sphere - but where do you see her standing currently in film? Is she being overshadowed for good lead roles by the likes of Blanchett, Moore, Winslet, Adams?

Re: Thoughts and questions on what's next…


I want to pose to people who know more about these things than I do. She's obviously been doing a lot of supporting roles lately. Is that a strategic decision, do you think? I mean, has she been purposely seeking out good supporting roles in order to shore up her career after so many dicey leads, for example? Or, are these the only good roles being offered her?


Not really, Kidman doesnt plan things just happen with her, for Lion apparently she was in Australia promoting Paddington when her agent contacted her and asked her if she would like to meet Sue who wanted her to play her in LIon.



'd love to see her in a good lead role of the quality she used to get (The Others, The Hours, Australia...). And so, is she still getting offered these quality lead roles? Does she still have the cache within the industry to nab roles like Blanchett's characters in Blue Jasmin and Carol?


I dont believe so, I think it was Vera Farmiga who said this



When good roles do appear, the competition is fierce - most of them going to a small circle of established names. Farmiga came close to landing the role of the mid-1960s Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes's I'm Not There, but the part went to Cate Blanchett, who was subsequently nominated for an Oscar. 'The minute I knew Cate was interested in the role, I knew it wasn't going to happen.'


basically, she flatly states, Blanchett, Streep are at the top of the food chain are served all the best roles on a silver platter. whilst the rest have to scrummage through the reject piles and hope against hope a good role was overlooked.

Kidman has been trying to develop her own material for herself and or is approached directly by a

Director JCM, Sofia Coppola, Lee Daniels, Park Chan Wook/

or a

Producer Weinstein and co.

or by Actor friends,

Firth asked her for to fill in for Weisz who dropped out at the last minute or Julia Roberts sends her an email asking her "will you do this with me" for that awful secret in her eyes remake.

or her agents in Australia and America.


Should she kind of wait for the right role to come along? It seems such a shame to see a talent like hers go underutilized in supporting roles, or through lead roles in films that don't match her skills


You know one can argue both way, she releases alot of films, I mean alot of films and I might not like them all and more recently her performances in some of them I just dont get but I am thankful they;re there.

last year Lion surprised in what otherwise could have been categorized a tame year for her,

In 2015 I had Strangerland, which brought a part of Nicole I haven't seen for a long while and made me appreciate her talent all over again. and before that there was Stoker and the Paperboy.

so

I dont mind it if she keeps working and her performance quality is high, but unfortunately recently in some of her recent roles her performances have been subpar and or haphazard and that is when you know the directing wasn't there. Which is not an easy thing to watch as a fan. its one thing to see Nicole trying and failing but its another to feel like she's sleepwalking and not bothering with a role.

but 2017's outlook seems bright, with some wonderful but risky auteur driven projects, which always brings the best out of Nicole Kidman.



“Am I any good in this movie?", alleged Nicole Kidman 1c84 quote- Australia Premiere 2008

Re: Thoughts and questions on what's next…

i just read where she said once the awards season is over she wants to scale back on her work load and take a break.

Re: Thoughts and questions on what's next…

I want to see her in an action role. She will look really good firing bullets and throwing punches.
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