Lindsay 4-Eva.
Listen up, haters.
While I am extremely troubled by Lindsay Lohan’s recent behavior - she’s truly testing the loyalty of her most ardent fans - I am even more troubled by the backlash she’s getting. Paris Hilton is the very definition of a talentless, useless "celebrity," and even though she has been involved in just as much (if not more) legal drama as Lohan, people still rooted for her! So, where’s the love? Lindsay actually has talent... not to mention a personality!
Here’s the thing: I don’t typically like people that are "easy" to like. (There are some exceptions, of course. Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman, for instance.) But overall I mean, celebrity idols that are smart, sophisticated and always turning up in good movies? BORING. Of course everyone loves them, it’s a no-brainer! Me? I like a challenge. Someone who should be a star, has real talent and true beauty, but just can’t seem to get it - and keep it - together? THAT’S what I find intriguing. Someone like that catches my eye and holds my interest.
Having said that, LiLo is a mess right now. No question about it! Drunk driving? Cocaine? Car chases? The girl’s got problems! Still, I’m rooting for her. Why? Because that’s what FRIENDS do. Besides, it’s not like she has any supportive, trustworthy people in her life. Her dad is crazy, her mom’s a media whore and everyone else in her family - and circle of friends - wants a piece of her. This doesn’t excuse her actions, but it does warrant sympathy.
And then there’s the new movie. I Know Who Killed Me (or I Know Who Killed My Career, as it’s also being called) opened last weekend to awful reviews and poor box office numbers... and I wasn’t surprised. Even I wasn’t planning to praise what looked like drivel. Still, I saw it (duh), and you know what? It’s not that bad AT ALL. I can confidently say - as I always have - that Lohan has more raw, natural talent than most actresses of any age. This isn’t her best performance, but it’s another great one on a list of many. (At first I was confused as to why she’s been choosing such flawed scripts, but now I understand: She’d rather play a fascinating character in a mediocre movie than a boring character in a good one. I love that; it’s gutsy.) And while the film itself is imperfect - with that muddled plot, lurid tone and highly implausible third act twist - it does have its merits... the crafty direction and gorgeous cinematography, for example. All those reds and blues pervading nearly every frame have a cumulative effect; the story thrives on dream logic and, for the most part, it works. Contrary to popular belief, I Know Who Killed Me is more similar to David Lynch’s feverish Blue Velvet than something like Basic Instinct. It’s all a bit too dark and murky overall, yes, but there are also too many magnificent moments (including a beautifully acted scene between Lohan and Julia Ormond, who plays her mother) and elements (the meaning behind the red vs. blue symbolism is especially intriguing) to write the whole movie off as bad. If only the filmmakers had a smarter secret up their sleeve for the big finale - and the setup wasn’t as clumsily put together - critics might’ve been less harsh. (The idea also feels like it’d work better as an intense short story than a full-length film.) In regard to Lindsay Lohan specifically, would reviews of her performance be stronger if she had less personal drama going on? I have to believe so - what other reason could there be? She’s a terrific actress, even when surrounded by grimy perverseness. Or did the character just remind critics of what they don’t like about Lohan herself? Maybe, but if so, that’s both lame and sad. I’m so sick of everyone hating on her! Honestly. Say what you will about the 21-year-old, but she took on a difficult, challenging role here and handled it with gusto.
And as far as the actress/singer/model/socialite/vixen/partier/drug doer/car crasher/celebrity idol’s real life goes, let’s just hope that, one day, she can keep it together.
Man, I really need to start a Lindsay Lohan-only blog! The girl seriously gives me enough daily material to do so.
On another note, I can't get "You Can't Stop The Beat" - the theme from Hairspray - out of my head. Loves it!