One Foot in Front of the Other

"My Left Foot"

The first film I had seen actor Daniel Day-Lewis in was Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York.  I was in complete awe of the actor's methodology, craftsmanship, and overall quality of acting this guy was able to bring to the silver screen.  Every scene he was in beemed with such a commanding presence; it was hard to take my eyes off of him.  The intensity he brought to the character of Bill the Butcher was quite the spectacle to behold.  I wanted to see more of his films.  Earlier in his career, Day-Lewis worked on a couple films with Irish director Jim Sheriden.  Those films were My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father.  Deservedly so Day-Lewis earned his first Oscar win from the former film.

Conflict in films can take on many different forms:  man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. himself (just to name a few.)  In My Left Foot the conflict lies within Christy Brown (Day-Lewis.)  Christy's mind and body act as a prison.  He was born with cerebral palsy.  And in the 1930's there was still much to be discovered about the disability.  The film is told through a series of flashbacks as described in Brown's autobiography.  It's very apparent that Christy had a strong, loving relationship with his mother (Brenda Fricker.)  Despite having received the cold shoulder from his father (Ray McAnally) for much of his childhood, the rest of Christy's family and his doctor, Eileen Cole (Fiona Shaw) gave him great encouragement in overcoming his disability to become an accomplished writer and painter.

Day-Lewis and Fricker give incredibly strong performances.  The mother, son bond the two of them have on screen is quite touching and poignant.  We don't feel sorry for Christy because he rarely feels sorry for himself.  Despite his physical appearance he is amazingly able-bodied.  There is no question the believability of Day-Lewis' performance.  You can just tell that he takes his job seriously.  There have always been reports of the actor going to great lengths to embody whatever role takes on.   Also Fricker provides this beautifully warm and nurturing quality to her portrayal of Mrs. Brown.  She’s everything that we’d expect from a mother.  Ms. Fricker went on to win a Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film.

This may sound cliché to say but My Left Foot truly does show us the triumph of the human spirit.  Sheriden’s direction appears effortless in bringing Christy’s story to big screen.  He is able to capture not only the physical but more importantly the emotional struggle that resides within Christy’s body and mind.  The collaboration between Day-Lewis and Sheriden is quite an accomplishment.  There is such control and discipline from both parties that allow us to see this intimate view of an extraordinary man.  Just about every performance Day-Lewis gives I’m in admiration of.  He is more than just a celebrity or a movie star.  He is an actor.  His portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming Steven Speilberg project, Lincoln should be one of 2012’s best.  Will a third Oscar statue make its way on to Day-Lewis’ mantle?  We’ll just have to wait and see.