Emilio Lizardo, You Say?
John Lithgow, The Actors Split & Raising Cain
Written By: Peter Zimmer
Mondo Film & Video Guide Contributor
When I think of John Lithgow my heart melts with thoughts of Harry and the Hendersons and the precious kookiness of 3rd Rock from the Sun. His crooked little teeth and and clumsy smile paint him as a kind of nanny or ninny. I first think of him as the goof, sometimes the good guy and rarely as even the most innocuous villain such as Lord Farquaad. These innocent and paternal qualities counter and enhance his most terrifying and creeped out roles in films like Cliffhanger, Ricochet, and Raising Cain. I’m not saying that Lithgow is his best in the family friendly roles, quite the contrary. It’s like when you first watch Robin Williams’ stand up set after watching his feel good movies like Hook, Toys, and Mrs. Doubtfire, not that I would really suggest watching those last two.
But you think to yourself, wow, this guy is sick. In a way that George Carlin isn’t sick, since Carlin, Yaweh rest his soul, doesn’t switch hit. Having a simultaneous image of Robin Williams donning a wig, a fat suit and a floral print dress while ranting about prolonged erections and capricious ejaculations all the while his hairy knuckles cut off circulation to his… mic, of course, is cinematic gold. That is one of the finest moments in role reversals and audience perception. It’s much like the cameo of Bob Saget in Half Baked, unexpected, disturbing and pretty much great… now picture him getting numbies heading out the door on the set of America’s Funniest.
What I’m getting at here is that Lithgow has the same potential and ultimate ability to be the family, goofy, friendly guy and also the menacing, terrifying, stalker/murderer/kidnapper. He doesn’t use sexual depravity to make his reverse. Lithgow is a fantastic actor, he isn’t stuck in one model or character like plenty of ‘good’ actors are these days. When was the last time you saw Denzel in a role where he wasn’t hard, clever, and brash? He’s good at it, sure, but I need more! Raising Cain is obviously De Palma’s nod to Psycho, go ahead, count the allusions. I feel like De Palma just stole the wig straight from the Hitchcock vault. But rather than using the twist of who is the killer, De Palma reveals why he kills in a psychological thriller with a flair of Miramax independent film style. The opening scene sets the stage, Lithgow is fatherly, neighborly, overall friendly and nearly simultaneously calculating, malicious and overall awesome! A psychological split leaves the whimpering Carter relying on his evil twin, Cain, to do most, though not all, of the mayhem. The film is great.
There’s murder, sex, lies, psychosis, foreign accents, it’s all there. Not to forget the the wide angle lenses and tripped out lighting. For me, really all I need is a good tip o’ the hat to Hitchcock and Norman Bates, and an actor who can actually act, and Lithgow delivers. He’s got multiple roles with multiple personalities, literally, and each one is better and as convincing as the one before. I say check it out,…and go watch Cliffhanger and Ricochet and then maybe Harry and the Hendersons, John’s the man and he’s just plain GOOD at what he does.
Peter Zimmer is the newest contributor here at the Mondo Film & Video Guide. For more information on Peter please visit our “About Us” section.
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