The Performance Comes First

[Juan Aneiros]

Note: This article is not due to come out for another week and it is published here by courtesy of The New York Times. Copyright must be observed and the reproduction of any part is strictly forbidden.

The NYT Guide to Entertainment - excerpted from THE PERFORMANCE COMES FIRST to run 12/21/01 for NYTimes News Service.


LEE LOOMS LIKE ICON HE IS

....As fine as the principal cast members are, their peerless contributions are not enough. A film like THE LORD OF THE RINGS needs something more -- a performance of transcendant, spiritual brilliance, to fasten it all together. Fortunately it has one.

Christopher Lee, as the villainous Saruman, who instigates much of the trouble and cunningly perpetuates it throughout the film, adds one more shimmering layer to a half-century-layer-long career of often infuriatingly overlooked genius. But the fans remember: Lee is the only cast member whose entrance is greeted by cheers from the audience.

Perhaps the most satisfying quality of Lee's graceful, commanding portrayal is that it never for an instant feels like the crowning moment of a career -- but rather, merely the first step onto a new avenue. And, one hopes, a very long one.

[Juan Aneiros]

Viggo Mortensen in my opinion also gives a mesmerising performance. Him and Mr Lee make all the difference in the film. Saying that, all the others play their parts to perfection, but these two go the extra mile.

As I said before, he is no "Jinnah" but you can judge for yourselves next week. I also believe that "Count Dooku" will be at least as good, if not better than Saruman. Then again, two very different characters.

[Lamoreux]

Thank you for the wonderful 'first look' at the Times article; and for your great 'World Premiere' report. You do an impeccable job on this site and I truly appreciate your efforts. Christopher Lee deserved these types of reviews long ago and it's great to see he's finally receiving them. Holding my breath for Dec. 19.

[John Farrell]

What a wonderful appraisal--and who wrote this? For the Times?

Another excellent critic to keep your eyes open for is Anthony Lane of the New Yorker. Last week he gave a sort of coming attraction by writing about how he grew up reading the books several times.

Best,

John F