Matt Damon (Benjamin Mee character)
Personality Type Actor~~ "an actor playing themselves, (that's the perception)" (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014).
For this movie, one could argue that Matt Damon's plays a role of impersonating another person (impersonator type actor), since this movie is based of true events. That is the case, however I still think for this particular role, Matt is using the personality type acting. This movie is based on a recently widowed dad that just needs to learn how to move on in life without the love of his life, while raising their two children. Now in real life, Matt Damon has not lost his wife, but I am guessing the thought of that, would make his world fall apart. Not only is Matt a husband, he is a father as well. He and his wife are happily married, raising four girls. The scenes throughout this movie is true to any parental obstacles we come across. Some examples in this movie is, Dad hanging out with Rosie while looking for a house; Dad realizing what talent his son has in art; arguing with son; having to keep it all together for the sake of the children.
As parents, we must decide what is the best decision to make for you and your children. Dealing with those decisions are something parents struggle with on a daily basis. Benjamin is dealing with a teenage boy that is getting in trouble at school, reflecting on how he acts at home. Matt Damon can relate with those struggles since he was a teenage boy once himself. Benjamin also has a little girl that needs stories told to her of her mom, each night before bed. Buying the zoo, moving to a new area, a fresh start, is the decision that Benjamin thinks will be best for his grieving family but again it causes another argument between him and his son. (See Clip: "We Bought a Zoo Fight!) However, Rosie, loves the idea of living on a zoo.
Matt Damon also doesn't own a zoo. In this movie, Benjamin didn't own one before this time in his life either. I think Matt can relate to the characters confusion, and frustrations with all that there is to be learned to fully operate a functioning zoo, one that is licensed too. He buys this house, thinking, "Oh a zoo, I can handle this", only to realize that the zoo is in much need of renovations and the cost alone is quite overwhelming. I think that if Matt Damon were to buy a zoo and plan to run it, his reactions would be the same, with the exception of a money issue, he is Matt Damon after all.
Scarlett Johansson (Kelly Foster character)
Impersonator Type Actor~~ "an actor that had simply copied the manner, dialect and behavior of a character" (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014).
Scarlett Johansson is an amazing actress, having major roles in many major films. Therefore, by no means is she a zookeeper. For this film, Scarlett plays a 28 year old, single female, with practically no life because of her time and dedication to the zoo. Real life, Scarlett is of course married, with a child, and on all accounts a very busy lady, with no regards to a zoo. The real Benjamin Mee said that the character that Scarlett plays, actually was three people in real life. The director of this movie, Cameron Crowe, wanted it to be more simplex, with added drama, so he cast Scarlett as Kelly, but with the responsibilities of three people. She is impersonating three different people for one character. She had to learn the ins and outs of the zoo, learn what certain animals would eat, what kinds of medicines they'd take, and for what reasons. She even had to learn the sounds they make. Not only is she acting, she is very much impersonating three different people from Rosemoor Animal Park.
John Michael Higgins (Walter Ferris character)
Character Type Actor~~ "an actor who specialization in playing a wide variety of characters, most often supporting or minor roles rather than leading roles" (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014).
John Higgins plays Walter Ferris, a rude, obnoxious jerk that has no interest in seeing the zoo re-open and tries everything he can to make sure it doesn't. Obviously, he is not liked very much. His character is not one of the main characters, but without him, the movie would be less exciting. He challenges Benjamin and Kelly to do all they can to get the zoo up to par to re-open on time. Each time Ferris shows up (sometimes unannounced) he has the look of, I'll get you, and you will lose. John Higgins again is one that is in a lot of movies, playing different characters, usually not main roles. He seems to be liked by most, which is not the case with his character in this movie.
Matt Damon is a very talented actor. I believe him to be a "Wild Card Actor". A wild card actor is one that "is difficult to classify as a certain type because this actor can play a wide variety of characters" (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014). In this particular movie, it seems Benjamin Mee and Matt Damon have very similar personalities, which made acting for this character more easy and relaxing. However, Matt has been in a variety of roles, that aren't anything like the character of Benjamin Mee. In the "Jason Bourne" movies, there is much more action and violence. In the "Ocean's Eleven" movies, there is deception and again violence. Then in "Good Will Hunting" there is a more relaxed type of character again, but one with anger issues, one that a rough start to life, and Matt's character in this movie is a genius. Matt Damon is a type of actor, that molds well to the character he is portraying.
References:
Goodykoontz, B., Jacobs, Christopher P. (2014). Film: From Watching to Seeing. Second Edition. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
IMBD. (1990-2015) Matt Damon . Retrieved From: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000354/IMBD. (1990-2015) Scarlett Johansson. Retrieved From: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424060/?ref_=nv_sr_1
IMBD. (1990-2015) John Michael Higgins. Retrieved From: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0383422/?ref_=nv_sr_3
"We Bought A Zoo" (2011, December 1) Why did you buy this place? [Video File]. Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc80eNzxpJo
"We Bought A Zoo" (2012, November 18). We bought a zoo fight! [Video File]. Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbDfEKC_Xs
"The Bourne Identity" (2011, June 16). Pen vs Knife [Video File]. Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFnmq5PPScA
"Ocean's Eleven" (2010, April 19). Linus [Video File]. Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FeqJkfrilc
"Good Will Hunting" (2014, August 11). The best Robin Williams Scene [Video File]. Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AvxR5vVgY4
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