Arts & Entertainment

Brody tunes talent in dramatic 'Pianist'

By Chris Brunt
The Daily Cougar

Predictions of critics are almost always wrong. As if the Gods of Cinema resent the arrogance of our pitifully mortal lot, it seems that somehow, no matter how shrewd and calculated our soothsaying may be, things don't turn out the way we expected.

Knowing this, I state with supreme confidence that Adrien Brody is the next Golden Child of Hollywood. He's this generation's answer to the method-trained icons of the '50s, '60s and '70s. Write it down people.

He may not have the smoldering brutality of Brando or the lunatic ferocity of Nicholson, but he has the expressive long face that directors dream of, and a fanatic commitment to the craft of acting that will no doubt benefit him in negotiating greatness. 

He was born and bred in New York City, (where any serious American actor should strive to hail from), and through a series of wise choices and a bit of good fortune, he found himself starring in Roman Polanski's newest masterpiece.

Knowing which directors to work with is the most important thing a young actor can have going for him (besides talent or a lax policy on nudity). Before signing on with Polanski, Brody had already done features with Stephen Soderbergh, Spike Lee, Barry Levinson and Terrence Malick. Not a bad resume for someone you've never heard of.

Playing the title role in The Pianist, a Polanski feature film, is by far his biggest break yet - the notorious Parisian-Pole auteur who was responsible for Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown has never been what one would call prolific. Brody approached this role like a prizefighter, knowing full well that this could be his shot at stardom.

In preparation for his role as a famed concert pianist in pre-WWII Poland who suffers Nazi occupation in a Krakow ghetto, Brody sold nearly all of his personal possessions, emaciated himself, and lived on the streets of Queens, NY - all voluntarily. His diet included abstaining from all carbohydrates. The film was shot in reverse chronological order, and the change in Brody's physical person is remarkable. He literally disintegrates as the war rages on and his misery intensifies.

Now imagine, if you will, a young actor with enough sterling credentials to attract a legendary filmmaker, but not nearly enough personal clout to ensure his job, day-to-day, while on the set with said tyrannical director-genius. Add to that already-precarious balance the variable of malnutrition and a lingering hangover from months of abject poverty. Got that in your mind? Now go see The Pianist, and pay strict attention to Brody as his sanity and health vanish from sight. If only all modern actors had such resolve.

When I met with Brody in New York several weeks before the release of the film, he had none of the attributes one expects from a Hollywood star. While no longer anemic and tortured, he was certainly more brooding and contemplative than, say, Owen Wilson; think Johnny Depp without the obvious indications of heroin-abuse. 

His voice was low and scratchy, his gaze would topple any barrier - he spoke in awe of Roman Polanski and in reverence about Holocaust survivors. When describing his meeting with the relatives of his character, Wladyslaw Szpilman, he gave a humble account of the experience.

"I met his (Szpilman) children, which was ... difficult at first. You can understand, you know, playing someone's father, especially someone who's undergone such tremendous suffering. I mean, I'm an American actor and everything. Eventually, though, they talked with me and they talked with Roman (Polanski) and I think they trusted we'd give an honest portrayal," Brody said.

While Brody was starving himself, and most likely wondering who was now enjoying all of his personal possessions, he was also learning to play concert piano. The film's soundtrack is comprised of difficult piano works of Chopin, and Brody, who had no prior experience with the instrument, had to learn quickly.

"I had a keyboard in my trailer all the time. I had a piano teacher in every city we filmed in. When I wasn't on the set I was practicing."

Ultimately, despite (or perhaps due to) the extremely demanding nature of the role, Brody's performance in The Pianist is remarkable. While in his interview the young actor gave nearly all credit for the film's success to Polanski, it is clear that his devotion to the art of screen acting will finally be recognized.

The Pianist

Rated: R

Starring: Adrien Brody 

The verdict: Ed Norton, beware: he's young, he's brilliant, he's a work-aholic and he's just as sweet as you are.

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