ST Carrie Fisher (Leia) in Episode VII (Sad News posted on Page 269)

Yes.

And almost none of them answer my enquiries about Carrie's other work on non-Star Wars films and TV shows. All this insistence that she's too limited of mind and body, yet no explanation as to how she continues to get hired, and in some cases acclaimed, for her acting work.

 

And this doesn't include her offscreen work as an author, screenwriter and script doctor.

 

Seriously can nobody else notice that her voice and mannerisms have that sort of slurred ex-addict quality to them at times?

To me it's a valid point to say that I hope she doesn't display those traits in her delivery of lines in TFA. I don't think there's anything wrong in saying that either.

I will reiterate again it's nothing to do with how she's aged. It's not about not being a fan. It's not about trying to beat a dead horse either. When I've seen her in interviews I think it's instantly noticeable how she's changed audibly. Some people are too defensive. But that's fine, everyone has their own opinion.

I can't wait to see the new film and 100% I really hope the big 3 pull off their roles to perfection.

 

White Lightnin' has exactly 14 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I don't think we can use 14 reviews of one, not so well known film, as a popular critical consensus on Fisher's post 1980's film career. And if we can, how damning is that? And I find it quite odd that you think infrequent support/bit parts on TBBT, 30 Rock and Family Guy compare in the slightest to playing Princess Leia in a brand NEW Star Wars film... unless you think her role in TFA will be as fleeting?

 

Ok, I'll simply say there's a big difference between giving an interview on a talk show and filming a movie. I'm all but 100% certain that if JJ had a problem with how Carrie was delivering her lines during filming he would have taken steps to deal with it immediately.

That being said, can anyone point to a specific, verified report of Carrie being anything less then totally prepared and totally professional when the cameras are rolling? And I'm not talking about the occasional flubbed line of which all actors are guilty of.

 

I hope you're right. The performances of the big 3 will be the ones most under the spotlight from fans and critics alike. There is huge focus on this film, arguably more than any of their other work since ROTJ. Specifically for mark and carrie who've been nowhere as high profile as Harrison has.

 

It has nothing to do with not being a fan. I am a fan. I can just recognise that her performance is impaired in the things I've seen her in recently. It's not that I think she is being impaired by her own lack of talent, far from it. So I'm not sure why some are being so defensive. I like Paul McCartney, but I can still recognise that his voice is shot.

 

I dig the idea that Leia would feel compelled to take a backseat with regard to the Force/Jedi - especially in light of the papa Vader arc.

**Conjecture follows, based off of various prior posts**
1. If Luke is actually in seclusion - perhaps Leia dispatches a young investigator to find him.
1a. The investigator is confused and torn by the hidden truths he discovers on his path to finding Luke.
1b. A solo kid may have been previously involved with the investigator (friend or love interest) and breaks loose from the family expectations and enjoins the investigation as a team-mate.
1bb. Solo kid may depart from the investigator in-light of twisted discovery/character development and seek out Luke independently to put a stop to the investigator.

2. If Luke isn't in seclusion - perhaps Leia dispatches a young investigator to piece together the true history of the Skywalkers.
2a. The investigator is confused and torn by the hidden truths he discovers on his path to confirming history.
2b. A solo kid may have been previously involved with the investigator (friend or love interest) and breaks loose from the family expectations and enjoins the investigation as a team-mate.
2bb. Solo kid may depart from the investigator in-light of twisted discovery/character development and seek out Luke independently to put a stop to the investigator.

Either way - I kinda like it.

Stop the s!thspit regarding Carrie Fisher - not only is she a decorated professional - she's a survivor of whatever imposed or self-inflicted problems she has faced in her personal life.
Sound familiar - Leia, maybe?
I have no doubt she'll own her role - regardless of how the story pans out.

*edit* the more I think about it - the more I really like the idea of establishing an official history within the new storyline, as a means of closure for the PT/OT (Vader and co.) remnants and clearing the way for new characters and arcs.

 

The reason, in the posts before that, I mentioned certain roles was to combat the point I KNEW you'd try and make, which is namely that Fisher has only done "bit parts".

Except, well no, she hasn't. She's had several hefty, significant supporting roles in her career, up until more recent times. Which is what I'm expecting for TFA...a considerable supporting role.

Sorry, I didn't realize her performance from White Lightnin doesn't count because it was a small indie film and didn't get a ton of reviews. Who knew?

Which is besides the point. Cillia is a FAR more challenging character than Leia ever was. And even with those "only 14 reviews" (there are much more outside of RT by the way), Fisher got more acclaim for her acting chops than she ever got for Star Wars.

Why? Because as much as I adore Star Wars and Leia, it's never, ever been a challenging role. So if Carrie has done BETTER, more acclaimed work since Star Wars, why in the world is this conversation even happening? Star Wars ain't Shakespeare.

 

This.

To me Fisher and Hamill are far better actors now than they were back then, and I find myself very much excited to see how much more life, experience and skill they can bring to Star Wars today. I think the very issues Fisher is getting knocked for in this thread are the very things that will actually help her give possibly the best acted Leia performance of her career.

And for crying out loud I do hope Kasdan and JJ take advantage of this woman's laser wit. I hope they give her some really great dialogue.

 

The most interesting thing for me about Leias character is if, in the intervening years since ROTJ, it's become common knowledge that she's a descendant of Darth Vader and what ramifications that's had.

 

The explanation is that she does NOT get hired for major acting gigs. I thought that was evident enough without being circumscribe? She obviously had that supporting appearance role in 30 Rock circa 10 years ago... but that does not constitute 'some cases'. That was clearly the exception and not the rule. If your point is that Carrie Fisher, for a short period one of the most famous faces in the movie world, is 'functioning' adequately enough that she can still get offered occasional bit parts, then yes... the iconography of SW/Princess Leia is still that powerful... but in relation to Carrie, I think that's something to commiserate and not celebrate... given her potential.

 

I'd really be interested in seeing that... but I firmly believe, unfortunately, Leia will be pushed to the sidelines.

 

Of course Carrie has changed. Some of it is probably due to her self admitted issues, but some of it is just that she's aged, period. Actors can undergo voice training and coaching and absolutely no expense is going to be spared to make Carrie be at her very best. I WANT to see an older, confident, seasoned Leia. That's waaayyy more interesting than the young, albeit strong and arrogant Leia from 30 years ago. Even Carrie at the time was frustrated with Leias character arc(or lack of one).

Harrison, Mark and Carrie all took part in the drug culture that surrounded Hollywood during the 70s and 80s. Let's not be precious about it. People make mistakes but they hopefully learn from them. This is a tempest in a teapot.

 

Have you considered that maybe she hasn't been all that interested in pursuing major acting gigs? She's had a fairly decent career away from the movies as I mentioned in a previous post. I'll concede she probably doesn't get every acting gig she's interested in but she's hardly unique in that case.

 

I don't believe that after such a high profile start to her career that she decided not to pursue jobs. It's more a case of either not fulfilling that early potential or not being offered those jobs for whatever reason. Arguably she should have had a bigger career than she's had that her talent deserved I think.

 

My belief is that Leia will be vital to whatever political arc exists in the ST. And, while I don't think politics will be as prominent in the ST as they were in the PT, I do believe they will be focused on in the ST more so than they were in the OT. I think the role of Leia will be smaller than Padme's in AotC but bigger than Padme's in RotS.

 

Ignore. I'm an idiot.

 

I think we're talking about two distinct things here... Fisher's ability as an actor... which I'm fine with by the way (I've never once said she's a bad actor)... and how her physiological/psychological problems will be an inhibitor to a convincing portrayal of an older version of an iconic character. It's the latter that will (IMHO) see her with the least amount of screen time of the 'big 3'... but we shall see.

 

Welcome to the club.

 

I believe she had a 'reputation' after ROTJ that closed some rather big doors to her. She recovered it somehwat by the end of the 80's, but then she had some more personal problems which resulted in smaller roles being offered. This is of course hearsay.

 

Carrie has mentioned that she likes acting, but she hates the process acting requires. Especially auditioning. So the reason perhaps we haven't seen her in any big roles is because she hasn't felt like going through the whole audition process, she has many other means of supporting herself. I know she is writing another book (not sure if it'll be a novel or a collection of short stories) due out within the next year or two.

Also consider the limited roles for older actresses. Not just Carrie, there is a limited number of actresses from the 80's still working at all, let alone as regularly as Carrie. Another factor regarding her cutting her roles back starting in the 90's.... in 'Shockaholic', she discusses how she tried to spend as much time around Billie when she was growing up, because her own mother was constantly working and she didn't want Billie to be raised by nannies.

She tends to 'act big' on talk shows. I think it's the natural performer in her, and probably how she was raised, she tends to put on a bit of a show.

She is very different (I suppose you could say more 'Leia-like', as I guess some people are imagining her) in this recent interview. More muted and chilled-out. Because she is an actress and is able to behave and perform differently in various settings and scenarios as the situation calls for. Imagine that. Also note the difference decent hair, lighting and makeup can make.

 

Let's illustrate the character priority, by 1-3 rank, per episdode (Luke is an obvious 1 in all cases):
IV: Luke 1, Leia 2, Han 3. Leia the princess, the rebel, the one being saved. Han the hired support. *Note: only other female speaking role was Aunt Beru.
V: Luke 1, Han 2, Leia 3. Han the Commander, rescues Luke, escorted Leia, his past touched upon, tortured and used as bait by Vader. Leia was honestly a tag-along character, even after Han was frozen. *Note: Leia only female speaker of note?
VI: Luke 1, Han 2, Leia 2. Han rescued, the General, leader of assault on Endor, yay. Leia, rescued Han, tag-along character, Luke's sister/Vader's daughter. Yub Nub. *Note: Mon Mothma brief cryptic dialogue.
*Note: jawas, ewoks, musical numbers aside.

Long story short - Leia was already just breaking up the sausage party, in the end.
Are you worried that she'll actually be a stoic decider of fates in this go-round?

Hell - even if her role is limited - how will it be any different? Because she's not a tag-along?
That might make her character BETTER.

Let's get real.

 

You don't bring back the BIG 3 and have them on the sidelines. I believe the focus will be on the big 3 for episode 7, then they will be playing more supportive roles as the new cast are brought to the forefront. That's just my view.

 

Given the younger leads... I'd imagine, with some in-universe irony, that Leia's role will be comparable to Bail's role in the PT.