A man, his muscled body partially exposed by a torn t-shirt, yells in agony, "Stella! Stella!". Another scene shows a close up of his face and his tantalizing good looks are left unmarred by his macabre hunger for his aging sister in law. His luscious lips, otherwise exquisite, curls up into an uncharacteristic snarl. Years later, the same man, now much older, retains his beautiful face - his silhouette even more dignified as he lumbers across the room covered haphazardly with something that resembles a rag more than a shawl. Although heavier and more rugged, his method has become more impressive - better able to shroud his acting prowess with more wonder. Marlon Brando is an actor closely associated to The Method.
Another type of movie would display a different type of actor. In his last scene as King Richard, the actor displays a set of flailing limbs and contorted expressions so convincingly, the audience is compelled to ask for more at the end of the show. When the actor is older, he would play a dysfunctional dentist so well - beside a younger method actor - audiences can only close their eyes in horrified anticipation as they helplessly watch him torture a man. This actor applied the art of pretense with such great taste, he won the admiration of many. Laurence Olivier is one that many referred to as The Great Pretender.
Two acting styles, one result - awe and admiration from fans and moviegoers, the world over. The Method makes use of emotional memory whereby the actor is encouraged to use a personal emotional experience to evoke the desired reaction required by the character he or she plays. Whereas the technique utilised by Laurence Olivier has to do with the perfection of elocution, manners, fencing, and pretending. Either way, an actor is successful when he or she is believable - in complete control and fluid in his or her performance. These days you have actors like Christian Bale, Meryl Streep, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Jericho Rosales and Jeremy Irons - among others - who make you wonder what their motivations are. These actors emote everything flawlessly - some have impregnable focus, others have complete control - it makes one realise how intangible but real the power of film is.
The Method or Pretending are two techniques that gave a couple of actors the power to revolutionize their craft. These days, you have actors who stand on one side or the other and even in between but great actors are born, not made.
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