Oddly dark but a wonderful film performance from Renee Z

Rating: 10/10 (31 July 2001)

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I saw this film at its previews in Australia in July and was hesitant and a bit resistant because of all the raves from overseas. Also Renee Zellwegger had only come to Oz very briefly three weeks before for about a minute and there was no real premiere. I was glad she came but I suppose I felt it would have been nice to have her there for a premiere...I though maybe there was something wrong with the film...
On first sight I thought the film awkwardly directed, not as smooth as Four Weddings and a Funeral, a bit oddly darker and Hugh Grant seemed to be hamming it up. Also there were some faltering, unbelievable moments towards the end of the film: like the big fight scene between Daniel and Darcy (they smash up a restaurant and the owner says NOTHING!)and the rather ridiculous ending (American style)where Bridget runs semi naked through the snow in pursuit of 'Mr Darcy'(who walked out of her flat to buy her a new diary without so much as mentioning to her that he was doing it! (He'd just stopped her from going to Paris for New Year with her friends!) Has anyone EVER seen a British woman run out into the snow in her knickers and camisole and a cardigan? I think not. British women are the greatest overdressers in the world, at least when I was there. They are very vivacious women but bold, ridiculous displays of emotional longing are not their forte. Still, I am not British so what do I know?
Despite all this I thought the film VERY funny and on second viewing, despite still some of the sometimes formula direction (wide shot, medium shot, close up) there was also some very imaginatively directed scenes (the aerial shot across the wheat paddock seeing Daniel's sports car and Bridget doing her Grace Kelly impersonation was bold and effective and must've taken an age, the title sequence when Bridget mouths to the song 'All By Myself' was inspired as were some of the drunk scenes in her room...the falling out of the taxi etc, and the fire pole sequence.
However, for my money the most riveting thing about the film (and the director has to take full credit for this too)was Renee Zellwegger's performance. Considering she's a Texan this was a truly wonderful demonstration of cinema acting. To me, though she still stumbled a little with the accent, she was entirely convincing as the person 'Bridget Jones', she created a very believable person, at least in emotional tone. Perhaps not totally English because Renee Zellwegger has more direct access to her emotions than one sees in English women in general (I'm not saying they're not emotional just that they don't seem to display it!). Well, even more than Australian or American women if it comes to that. What distinguishes her performances (and it's true also of Jerry Maguire)from other actresses is her belief in the intensity of the moment, especially in moments of intimacy in relationships. Renee Zellwegger takes enormous emotional risks all the time (look at her weight gain for this film) and she understands the way cinema acting works outwards from sincerity and emotional openness and spontaneity. How it can radiate if you only let it. Even Julia Roberts can't get near her in this department.
There is an intimate moment with Hugh Grant when they are in bed together on the 'weekend', when he tells her that he has to go back to work and not to the Tarts and Vicars party, when, for a few seconds, she looks at his face(a few feet away)with such intense and painful longing and love that she transcends the moment in that radiant way that only cinema can capture. I don't know any other actress who does this with such easy passion. It looked effortless.
There's another moment with Daniel, near the lift after she's been gawked at by the 'tits pervert' Mr FitzHerbert, when he tries to take her aside to ask her out and she suddenly giggles. It's only a moment but the giggle means everything...embarrassment at FitzHerbert, anticipation of Daniel's interest and just general sense of fun. Was this directed? To me it's an undirectable magic moment that must surely come out of Renee Zellwegger's spontaneity. But Sharon Maguire knew about it and got many of these moments out of her actress.
When Daniel tells her he's engaged to the American publisher, the camera dwells on Renee till she goes out the door. The subtlety of the pain and emotional transition in her face as she leaves and the subsequent shot of her sitting at her computer, to me, is cinema acting at its emotionally balanced best. It might seem obvious to the eye but I think it is very difficult to get it on film. How often does one see even an attempt at subtlety and understated intensity in big budget movies? Most film acting, especially in love stories, is overstated and over controlled. Renee Zellwegger conveys the inner life of Bridget, the inner passion of Bridget (and all of us) so truthfully that you hardly notice it.

She also allows herself to be dressed in the Bunny outfit, not very flattering, and to pull on huge knickers in a not very flattering shot. This only added to the emotional range and truth of the character. To me, it's great to see an actress (now an A list actress I guess) not protecting her image of herself all the time but actually trying to act the part.
I think this attitude, plus Renne's magic intense moments, made Bridget Jones more than it might have been. It still has some very funny lines, a wonderful performance from Bridget's gay friend Tom (?) and from Gemma Jones (as her mom) and some great use of music, though I thought putting It's Raining Men over the fight scene was a bit insensitive. It'll be big hit in Australia. So well done Working Title in general and Sharon Maguire in particular (though with a slight reservation).