Thora Birch

[ColinM]

What do you guys think is Thora Birch's best performance? If you're like me, it comes down to either American Beauty or Ghost World. It's hard for me to decide between the two as she gives great performances in each of these excellent movies, but I'm think her performance in Ghost World was better.

What do you think? (And do you agree with me that Thora Birch is one of the better actresses out there today?)

[The Other]

You're not alone, ColinM. I would also narrow Thora Birch's best performances down to AMERICAN BEAUTY and GHOST WORLD. Even though I think AMERICAN BEAUTY is the better movie, I think Thora Birch's best performances was in GHOST WORLD. Of course, the two performances do share similarities, though.

[asyouwish530]

Yeah, she's gonna be around for some time. AMERICAN BEAUTY was a worthy performance, probably her best to date alongside GHOST WORLD. Remember her in NOW & THEN? She had flair as a preteen in that and MONKEY TROUBLE showcased her "family" appeal. She's going to be in some more standout films, and her willingness to do nudity "if it fits the role" doesn't hurt.

[urbanlegend23]

I've always noticed her. I haven't actually seen Ghost World (stupid New Zealand release dates) but she gave one of the top 5 OVERALL performances in American Beauty in 1999. Watch her fly.

[Horror whore]

I truly despised American Beauty....

So I'm going with GHOST WORLD...

[MiddleEarthArwen]

I have to agree with what appears to be the general consensus: American Beauty was overall a better movie, but she got more of an opportunity to shine in Ghost World.

[The Heart Collector]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by asyouwish530:
her willingness to do nudity "if it fits the role" doesn't hurt.</font>

Her mom's an ex-porn star, actually.

[mitty]

Before saying anything like she's one of the better actresses around I want to see her in different roles. She needs to try different(and more) stuff.

[Antonio]

THORA BIRCH
1. Enid in GHOST WORLD
2. Jane Burnham in AMERICAN BEAUTY
3. Billie Pike in PARADISE
4. Sally Ryan in PATRIOT GAMES and CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER

[BloodiedCelticVengeance]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mitty:
Before saying anything like she's one of the better actresses around I want to see her in different roles. She needs to try different(and more) stuff.</font>

I'm puzled here. Thora plays...teenaged girls. She was a teenage girl when filming her most recent flicks. What do you want her to play? A grizzled, wise, jaded, 60 year old detective like Morgan Freeman in Se7en? http://www.joblo.com/ubb/wink.gif
Her last 3 features: "American Beauty", "The Hole", "Ghost World" ( I leave out D&D, all thespians have a drkest hour) all showed trmendous range.
The only thing they had in common was the fact that they were teenage girls.

Jane in "American Beauty": Introverted, tortured, meek, insecure. Thora served as the emotional epicenter of the film, and gave a heart tugging performance. An utterly frustrated girl just aching for some truth and reason in her miserable life. She finds it in Ricky, and we see her shed her inhibitions, both literally (the topless scene) and figuratively (her reeming of Angela).

Liz Dunn in "The Hole": Thora as the manipulative, psychotic, perverse, sexxy, conniving bitch. Her performance here is so layered, crossing between feigned innocence and nefarious intent. A wanton c*nt on the loose.

Enid Coleslaw in "Ghost World": Thora as the misguided cynic. So gleefully caustic in her extroverted ennui. But, beneath that disenfranchised bravado, there was an underlying sadness, which permeated all of her actions. Enough of a bitch to fuck with Seymour, yet compassionate enough to make ammends...paradox to the max. A great performance, and a shining moment as her first starring role.

They are all girls on the fringe, as it were. But, I ask you, is this Thora's fault? Remember, the casting agents decide who to employ, not the actors. If Hollywood fails to see her awesome potential, gorgeous features and stunning talent...well, it's not actually their loss, it's ours, 'cause we miss out on her genius.
Face it, she's not the "American Pie, "Scary Movie", "Scream", ISKWYDLS", "Bring It On!", type. And, as a fan of hers, I kinda like the fact that, to the best of my knowledge, she's not ofered those roles, and if she is, that she turns them down. Thora excels in roles that challenge her as an actress, not as a piece of ass (though she really is, wow!)
I don't know of another actress her age (20) who has shown the emotional depth that Thora has. For the genre that she is cast in, she is undoubtedly the best out there, with an extremely promising future.
She has more than made the most of her opportunities, and that has been echoed on this here site. Both Joblo and Arrow included her 2 excellent flicks in their top 5 for the previous year: Joblo citing "Ghost world", Arrow citing "The Hole". To those who have seen these two flicks, you know that Thora all but carried them...they were her vehicles through and through (though Buscemi and Johansson were both excellent in "GW", it was Thora's show).
In summary, I feel that the last three
roles I pointed out were alike in some small ways, but, absolutely different in MANY ways, and Thora proved that she can play it any damn way they type it. Bravo, Birch...

Top 5 Thora performances:

5) Billie Pike "Paradise"
4) Jessie Barnes "ALASKA"
3) Liz Dunn "The Hole"
2) Enid Coleslaw "Ghost World"
1) Jane Burnham "American Beauty"

[Delmore Schwartz]

I just saw "Ghost world" last night. I think her best performance was in that.


However, it is not a great movie. The only scenes that really worked were the ones with the excellent Steve Buscemi. The rest of the movie was actually boring, IMO. Speaking of Buscemi, you really have to hand it to him. He has become a winner in his chosen profession by playing losers. Quite an achievment


PS, I was sitting one empty seat away from a man with a braying retarded laugh who kept talking loudly through the movie until I finally shooshed him, then he shut the fuck up. Assholes like him should be banned from ever going to a cinema.

[Toby]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I don't know of another actress her age (20) who has shown the emotional depth that Thora has.</font>

How'bout Christina Ricci?

[This message has been edited by Toby (edited 07-03-2002).]

[Delmore Schwartz]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Toby:
I don't know of another actress her age (20) who has shown the emotional depth that Thora has.</font>

How'bout Christina Ricci?

[This message has been edited by Toby (edited 07-03-2002).]

Very true. Christina Ricci is an excellent actor.

[ColinM]

Back when I made this thread I had trouble deciding which of her performances were better, Edin in Ghost World or Jane in American Beauty. I've since decided that she was better in Ghost World, and not by much. Both were Oscar-worthy performances.

[ColinM]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Toby:
I don't know of another actress her age (20) who has shown the emotional depth that Thora has.</font>

How'bout Christina Ricci?

[This message has been edited by Toby (edited 07-03-2002).]

Christina is great, but I still don't think she's in the same league as Thora Birch.

[BloodiedCelticVengeance]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ColinM:
Christina is great, but I still don't think she's in the same league as Thora Birch.</font>

Well said, Colin.

I think Ricci is a "good" actress, and she's appeared in some "good" flicks...my favorites being "The Opposite of Sex", "Buffalo 66", "Pecker", "Sleepy Hollow", "The Ice Storm"...
Along those lines, I see Thora as a "great" actress who has carried two "great" films ("Ghost World", "The Hole"), and more than held her own in some heavyweight company in one of the most talked about films of the last decade("American Beauty").
Ricci has never delivered the vulnerability that Thora has. The closest she came was, ironically, in a co-starring role with Thora-"Now and Then". Her Roberta was the most troubled of the cast, and Ricci handled it well...but, it's not even in the same league as Thora in "AB" or "GW".
There is quite a bumper crop of young actresses out there today...some are very talented (Johansson, Christensen, Stiles, Sobieski, Portman, Williams, Sevigny, Ricci, Malone, Polley) 'tis true. I just don't think that any other teen/young female thesp is/was capable of pulling off those two intense characters (Enid in "GW", Jane in "AB").
Whether you cared for the flicks or not, you must give Thora her due for reaching down and breatheing surreal splendor into those two difficult characters...and the copious critical acclaim she garnered was well deserved.
Okay...I'm going to quote Roger Ebert here...bear with me.
He was on Kilborn in December, and they were doing their "end of the year" wrap up of flicks. Kilborn asked him: "Of all the young actors out there...who is the best? The most promising future...the one you really look forward to seeing?"
Ebert immediately answered: "Oh, without a doubt, Thora Birch. She's an amazing talent."
Not that Roger is the final word on things or the "be all-end all"...but, it's still quite a compliment for Thora. She flies under the radar, so to speak...so, it was good to hear her praised in that kind of a forum.

PS- Delmore, you make an interesting point about "Ghost World" being...boring. Well, if art imitates life, than "GW" was a dead on re-creation of teen angst. Face it folks, life unfolds like the scenes in "Ghost World". It's not filled with car chases and shoot em' ups...real life is more likely to be filled with the ennui conveyed in "GW". What made it entertaining for me was watching the three main characters deal with the impending changes in their respective lives...changes that none of them were quite ready to handle...emotionally, spiritually, or physically.
The film leant intelligence and depth to the teens...without resorting to the cheap exploitation shit of most films in the genre. I prefer not to call "GW" a teen flick...but, the main protagonist was a teenage girl, hence the moniker.
Movies come in many different forms...and "GW" was not your typical blockbuster, popcorn, fantasy, escapist fare. Which is cool with me...to each their own!
I thought it was a remarkable achievement in film making by Zwigoff and Clowes...with the entire cast kicking major ass...especially Thora, our sweetly frustrated protagonist.

[Toby]

Admit it dude, you've got a crush on her...