You are so right about Miller. He is brilliant in this film, and I don't know if that gets talked about enough when talks of this movie go on.
And I can't think of another movie I've seen him in. What happened to the guy???
Fox | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 3:07 am | #
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I agree as well. He really gave this film an echo of tragedy that still seemed to cut through all the hystrionics of the film. I remember seeing him in Rudy as Ara Parseghian, a welcome sight, but he probably got moved to the horror movie ghetto.
Marilyn | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 9:57 am | #
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Fox - He had a few brief parts in film but stayed close to theatre. In 1973, the year he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Exorcist, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his play That Championship Season. I also mentioned in my post on Charlie Murphy, who went to Catholic U with me (Jason Miller went there as well) that he played Oscar to Charlie's Felix in a production of the Odd Couple in 86.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 10:19 am | #
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Marilyn - Though it was such a small role I really liked him in Rudy. He died in 2001 so he never had a chance to play any great old wise men roles (like Ara in Rudy kind of) that I know he would have excelled in.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 10:21 am | #
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Miller did a lot of TV work in the years immediately following The Exorcist, all of it interesting stuff if not always good - he played F. Scott Fitzgerald (an odd choice, certainly, in terms of age and physicality) in
Arbogast Up Your Ass | | Email | 08.02.08 - 10:46 am | #
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Wow, I wrote three LONG paragraphs in response and that's all that showed up? What a gyp. And you'll never know what I wrote.
Arbogast Up Your Ass | | Email | 08.02.08 - 10:48 am | #
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Arbogast - That sucks, what happened? Just a suggestion, whenever I write a long comment (having lost many on blogs over the months) I quickly highlight it and copy it - it takes two seconds. When I post if the whole comment isn't there (and it's happened more times than you know) I simply paste and post again. I've lost a few big ones on Dennis' blog only to re-paste them and have everything work out fine. Wish I knew what you said.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 12:22 pm | #
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By the way Arbo, I checked the edit section and noticed on homepage you have "ht" only. Either put nothing there or the whole page. I think that may be what cut it off - maybe. Can't say for sure though. REPOST your damn comment! please...
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 1:23 pm | #
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One of the all-time great performances, in the single best horror film ever made.
Don't forget Miller's roles in William Peter Blatty's terribly underrated The Ninth Configuration and Exorcist III.
bill | | Email | 08.02.08 - 1:40 pm | #
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I'm ashamed to say I never saw either of those because quite frankly no one ever recommended them. I always got the feeling they were lesser efforts best ignored. However, in the last year or so I've heard from a few people, yourself included, that The Ninth Configuration is pretty good although I still can't shake the horrible reactions it got when released. I'll have to check them out.
And I know we've talked about Miller before in this movie but it really is a performance that doesn't get the credit it deserves. John Houseman was fine as Professor Kingsley in The Paper Chase but his role required no depth, it's all surface as he hard noses his students in the classroom. Definitely not worthy of an Oscar over such a contender as Miller in The Exorcist.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 2:48 pm | #
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You should really see Exorcist III, as well. Keep in mind that it was compromised. I think Blatty wanted a far more low-key ending, and the studio forced him to go with a more traditional horror ending, but quite frankly, even though I'm sure Blatty's original ending is probably better, the ending they have still works. And the beginning of the film, especially the opening credits, is fantastic.
Also, not to bring up The Dark Knight for the umpteenth time, there's something about Heath Ledger's performance in that film that reminds me of Brad Dourif's in Exorcist III. Maybe I'm off my rocker, because I haven't seen the latter film in some time, but I think there's something there.
bill | | Email | 08.02.08 - 3:27 pm | #
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Oh, but also, yes, Miller's work in the first film is really beyond praise. And, for a performance and character that is so filled with rage and despair and self-hatred, it's so quiet. God, this is going to get me going on another horror rant, but it really depresses me to think that, these days, a movie like The Descent or the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (both of which I like) are seen as the bar. The Exorcist should be the bar for horror films, and it's not. Maybe it's too daunting, I don't know.
bill | | Email | 08.02.08 - 3:32 pm | #
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I always thought The Exorcist was kind of held up as the bar, not the others. It's always listed number one on polls and lists.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 4:47 pm | #
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Yeah, but filmmakers never aim that high. They acknowledge its greatness without ever showing similar ambition. The two movies I mentioned, that level they'll shoot for. But it's as though it's secretly understood that both The Exorcist and The Shining are unapproachable. And maybe they are, but it would be nice to see that kind of effort again.
bill | | Email | 08.02.08 - 5:35 pm | #
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And they were within seven years of each other and now 28 years since.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 6:04 pm | #
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Well, there you go. Although, I guess I should be a little less pessimistic. Guillermo del Toro is pretty great. He has it in him to reach those heights.
bill | | Email | 08.02.08 - 8:59 pm | #
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"Grave Bloggers" is your best banner yet! HAIL CRISWELL!
Flickhead | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 10:47 pm | #
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Did you know the future is where we're going to spend the rest of our lives? It's true. Criswell told me.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 11:06 pm | #
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Future events such as these will effect us, in the future.
bill | | Email | 08.02.08 - 11:12 pm | #
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I see. I am interested in the unknown, the mysterious, the unexplainable. That is why I am here.
Jonathan Lapper | | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 11:22 pm | #
