Iconic Movie Performances: Actors Who Embraced Real Drunkenness on Screen
Several famous movies feature actors who were completely drunk during filming. Here are some notable examples:
- Leaving Las Vegas: Nicolas Cage portrays Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic who moves to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Cage incorporated actual drinking into his performance, even hiring a "drunk coach" to help him embody the character's state of inebriation. His portrayal is both tragic and empathetic, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor
- Bad Santa: Billy Bob Thornton played a con man dressed as Santa who drinks heavily throughout the film. During one scene, Thornton was actually intoxicated, having consumed multiple drinks before filming. He reportedly fell asleep while shooting a scene due to his level of drunkenness
- Apocalypse Now: Martin Sheen was "dangerously drunk" while filming key scenes, including the intense opening sequence where he punches a mirror and injures himself. Director Francis Ford Coppola chose to continue filming, capturing Sheen's raw and unfiltered performance
- Jaws: Robert Shaw drank alcohol before filming his famous Indianapolis speech, which added authenticity to his performance as Quint. However, he became too intoxicated at times, leading to unusable footage that ultimately inspired a more relaxed approach to the scene
- Splash: John Candy arrived drunk on set after a night of drinking with Jack Nicholson. His inebriated state contributed to the authenticity of his performance in a memorable racquetball scene
These films highlight how some actors have chosen to embrace real intoxication for their roles, resulting in memorable performances that resonate with audiences.
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