Actor's Month: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

While we here arbitrarily picked April for Actor's Month, it is actually National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Due to this fact, I figured we'd kick off both months by talking about a film in which an actor portrayed a survivor of sexual assault. This naturally made me think of one of my favorite, underrated actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

You probably know Gordon-Levitt from the recent film Inception. After all, it was pretty popular (and for good reason). You could also recognize him from the fun, indie film (500) Days of Summer or from his earlier work (10 Things I Hate About You, 3rd Rock From the Sun, and even Angels in the Outfield). One of the things I love about him (beyond his amazing acting ability) is the fact that since 2000, all the movies he chooses to do are for a purpose. He is not impressed with a huge payday, just as he isn't impressed at a false attempt at art. I can honestly say that he is one of the few actors that I trust so much about their movie choices that I will watch anything he's in without even reading a plot description.

His best performance is probably in the film Mysterious Skin. This would be one of those movies that I watched without reading a plot...which was probably a mistake on this time. So that none of you will be as shocked as I am, the film is about two kids who were sexually abused by their baseball coach when they were eight years old. Neil (Gordon-Levitt) has identified as a homosexual for about as long as he can remember (pre-abuse, one of the things I like about this is that abuse is not blamed for one's sexuality). When he first met his baseball coach, he found him attractive, like the men in his mother's Playgirl. And when he began to show him special attention, Neil was excited. But then his baseball coach began to abuse Neil, yet like most children who are abused, he believes they are in love and blames himself. Years later, Neil is a homosexual street hustler trying to figure out life.

Brian (Brady Corbet) has a different story. When he was eight, he blacked out and lost a chunk of time. This happened again a few years later. He has spent ten years of his life trying to figure out what happened to that time. He believes that he was abducted by aliens and begins a friendship with a woman who survived an abduction. Through this, he begins to piece together the real story of what happened with that time.

This movie is very in your face and doesn't hold back at all. It's one of the things I love about this movie. However, it isn't for everyone for that same reason. If you're in need of a happier movie, don't go anywhere near it. But this does have brilliant performances and a great story/direction. But, as for today, it's Friday.