Scenes We Love: Charlie Bartlett
Filed under: Comedy, Trailers and Clips, Scenes We Love
You might have heard of a little summer blockbuster called Star Trek, which everyone has been raving about. I slid into my seat on Friday night, partook in all the space adventure, and came out with one strong thought: Anton Yelchin is seriously, almost criminally underused in Hollywood. Luckily, I think that may be changing, between his take on Pavel Chekov and his upcoming Kyle Reese for Terminator Salvation. At least, it better!
The 20-year-old is cinematic gold. He made Chekov a wonderfully sweet and smart part of the crew, but before that he was Charlie Bartlett. Where most kid movies consist of teen actors doing a specific part and doing it well -- the jock, the nerd, the beauty, etc -- Charlie Bartlett forced Yelchin into a pretty layered character for a high-school movie about the loser-turned-hero.
Layered how? He's smart, yet naive. Rational, yet idealistic. He's the Igby, the Harold, but with a distinct inclination towards contributing to society rather than merely mocking it. Or specifically for this clip: Charlie seems jerkish with his drama audition as a girl who got her period, but then he ends it with earnest eyes and not the slightest gleam of devilishness.
My dream: Someone teams Yelchin with Sam Rockwell for some kind of darkly comedic caper.
Robert Pattinson Talks 'Breaking Dawn' & 'Unbound Captives'
Gwyneth Paltrow Joins Nicole Kidman in 'The Danish Girl'
Discuss: The Movies That Haunt You_thumbnail.jpg)
'Yogi Bear' Will Cry Me A River With Its Cast
Watch This: Movie Titles That Slip Into the Dialogue
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-12-2009 @ 8:58AM
Chelsea said...
Cinematical's staff's once again misfires by constantly throwing their weight behind a poorly-written, poorly-directed mishmash that purports to be a tribute to a genre or director, but is actually an insult to both director and audience. Plot points are picked up and discarded, characters go against character for the sake of convenience, and the director and screenwriter's constant references to HAROLD AND MAUDE made this steaming pile look as though it was straining for significance. Go support an underrated indie that deserves it, not...this.
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 8:58AM
crashcarstar said...
I loved him in Charlie Bartlett but didn't think he was so great in Star Trek. I have my doubts about Kyle Reese too, but not that he can't be fantastic at what he does.
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 9:43AM
Chris said...
I'm stoked for Terminator. I agree with the statement that Anton Yelchin is underused. He did a great job with Chekov, never did see Charlie Bartlett, but he performed SUPERBLY as Jacob Clark in what I feel is one of the finest pieces of a television miniseries in history, Taken. Definitely cast him in more projects!!!
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 10:29AM
Travis Tidmore said...
I love Anton Yelchin as well. He's been on my radar since the criminally overlooked Alpha Dog, where he does just an amazing job. Also loved him in Charlie Bartlett, which is another over looked film.
And he did a great job capturing Chekov and he was damn funny.
Can't wait to see how he does in Terminator: Salvation.
And I'm hoping that Hollywood will take note and start using him more.
If you haven't seen Alpha Dog, rent it, it's got some great performances from a lot of amazing young actors. (Chris Marquette, Ben Foster, & Justin Timberlake just off the top of my head)
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 12:45PM
Dan said...
Monika, you might be a genius. I just finally got around to buying this about a week and a half ago, and watched it for the third (?) time and I'm totally with you on two fronts. Yelchin is criminally underused, and he's going to blow up after this summer (or he had damn well better!) Charlie Bartlett was a great flick.
And by the way, what a great combination-Rockwell and Yelchin, you deserve a royalty for the idea if they put it together lol...that would be AWESOME.
Reply