The Amazing Spider-Man Andrew Garfield's acting as Peter/Spidey

[paced]

I worry slightly that this role is too big for Andrew to play, because he's shown, to me at least, that he has phenomenal talent. He was great in Social Network, but simply incredible in Never Let Me Go. And I mean it, his performance in Never Let Me Go just blew my mind.

But now, put him in the shoes of his lifelong superhero, and he screws it all up. It's not totally shocking if he doesn't pull off this role, but I always hoped he could. Now it seems that he's succumbed to the pressure of the task that is maybe too big for him.

In that 40+ second doorman scene, his acting was over-the-top, almost bad. Even the doorman's acting was better. Here's how it went for me:

Setting: Peter, supposedly a bit jittery as he's going to Gwen's rich or high-class apartment for his first time. (As some of Andrew's advocates suggests here's your benefit of the doubt)

*Doorman steps in front of him*
Doorman: Woh, can I help you sir?
Peter: Ye-no-I'm good- I'm going uhh-um.. *fumbles with his backpack* (Terribly and very conspicuously exaggerated. Who stutters that badly? We're never even half as terrified as he seems in our most anxious days. And he's supposed to be a very intelligent and somewhat confident young man. Already very contrasting from his supposed Spidey persona with all that wit, confidence, even charisma)

carrying on...
Doorman: Are you dropping off or picking up?
*For a couple of seconds Peter squints/gazes at the doorman as if he's trying to read words in size 1 font*
(Again terrible. Who does that? Recall your own countless experiences when you didn't understand something someone said the first time. The most you've got was your mouth hanging half-open before your verbal response. Who squints at your fellow conversationalist as if you're counting the hair strands sticking out of his nose?)
Peter: Am I what? (Wow, the first realistic piece of acting here! So it's in green!)


Now that was just the first few seconds of their dialogue and I can't stand to all of the remaining details, which are mostly bad acting on Andrew's part as well. But, here's the worst part of it all:

Doorman: Your name?
*Peter stares ridiculously for a couple of seconds again.. as if he's asked a riddle only Peter Parker's supposedly genius IQ can answer*
Peter: Peter- sorry- Peter Parker- why? (and as he said that look at his body language and gestures. It's as if he (as mentioned above) just solved the riddle and snapped out of deep thought after figuring the answer to the doorman's enigmatic question: "Your name?")

Put how I criticised about his acting in that 40 second scene along with his badly delivered "you think I'm a cop?" scene and it looks like Peter Parker's going to be more of a spastic ****** with some sort of mental and social problem, rather than the genius with a dynamic personality we've all recognised Parker as.

--

Anyway, I want and hope you guys can counter-argue, convince me otherwise and completely change my opinion because I still hope that everything about the movie, Andrew's acting especially, turns out amazing in the film. If not, maybe it'll still be a good thing going to watch the movie with pretty low expectations eh?

Yes, it may look like I'm over-analysing, but that makes it more of an analysis than less.

 

[socool]

46 seconds and you already decided that he blew the role.

 

[BrollySupersj]

Uh huh...

 

[Mike]

Yeah big talk from someone hiding behind their computer.I don't think you can measure up to Andrews acting capabilities, not even 45 seconds worth. Please show us how peter should act, why don't you post a youtube video and show us how its done, if not ****.....please ;-) don't judge the movie based on a trailer and a viral clip.

 

[Web face]

Relax mike he was just stating his opinion. I personally thought that the acting was fine but that doesn't mean that his opinion is wrong.

 

[SpaceWay2009]

(Terribly and very conspicuously exaggerated. Who stutters that badly? We're never even half as terrified as he seems in our most anxious days. And he's supposed to be a very intelligent and somewhat confident young man. Already very contrasting from his supposed Spidey persona with all that wit, confidence, even charisma)

(Again terrible. Who does that? Recall your own countless experiences when you didn't understand something someone said the first time. The most you've got was your mouth hanging half-open before your verbal response. Who squints at your fellow conversationalist as if you're counting the hair strands sticking out of his nose?)
(and as he said that look at his body language and gestures. It's as if he (as mentioned above) just solved the riddle and snapped out of deep thought after figuring the answer to the doorman's enigmatic question: "Your name?")

Although I do think Garfield will do well as Peter Parker and Spider-Man, you do bring up some good points/observations. In real life, I would think that most of us wouldn't stutter that bad, or squint when asked a question. But you never know, though.

It's just a small clip. Can't really judge his overall acting in a short clip like that.

 

[WebbHead]

Seriously? ...seriously?


I feel foolish for even responding but I can't resist. That 46 second clip is taken entirely out of context, there's no introduction to it, and it abruptly ends before we even see how it gets resolved. You're writing this huge review up on a 46 second clip even though we've seen bits of excellent acting from Andrew from the two trailers we've received.

This goes without mentioning the sizzle reel shown at the screening event. I was there and can tell you with absolute certainty that Andrew nails this role. The scenes with Uncle Ben and Gwen were excellent showcases of what Andrew brings to the table as Peter.

Reserve your judgment. This post was ridiculous.

 

[Mike]

Relax mike he was just stating his opinion. I personally thought that the acting was fine but that doesn't mean that his opinion is wrong.

I'm just stating mine. I'm very relaxed. I actually had a grin while I was typing this.

 

[Web face]

I'm just stating mine. I'm very relaxed. I actually had a grin while I was typing this.

Ok then nvm .

 

[paced]

Yeah big talk from someone hiding behind their computer.I don't think you can measure up to Andrews acting capabilities, not even 45 seconds worth. Please show us how peter should act, why don't you post a youtube video and show us how its done, if not ****.....please ;-) don't judge the movie based on a trailer and a viral clip.

Wow so you made a deal with God that I was going to replace Andrew for his role then? Hahahaha...

Thanks for your relevant post good sir and keep up the purist fanboyism.

Seriously? ...seriously?


I feel foolish for even responding but I can't resist. That 46 second clip is taken entirely out of context, there's no introduction to it, and it abruptly ends before we even see how it gets resolved. You're writing this huge review up on a 46 second clip even though we've seen bits of excellent acting from Andrew from the two trailers we've received.

This goes without mentioning the sizzle reel shown at the screening event. I was there and can tell you with absolute certainty that Andrew nails this role. The scenes with Uncle Ben and Gwen were excellent showcases of what Andrew brings to the table as Peter.

Reserve your judgment. This post was ridiculous.

Unless Peter took some serious blows in an intense fight scene prior to that scene, the context of the scene is wholly presented in that 46 second clip. What would an introduction or knowing what happens next help to change that?

And I hope you're right about the sizzle reels and screening. As in I would like it too if I watched it.

And yes, a 46 second clip can be reviewed. Why not? It serves as judgement. Do you think people who audition as actors/actresses audition for 2 hours? I will still continue to reserve my whole judgement, but just so you know; in auditions, that's what judges do. They make judgement. Regardless of duration, or whatever.

 

[Web face]

I don't think Andrew stuttered that much. To me it didn't seem that way.

 

[WebbHead]

Wow so you made a deal with God that I was going to replace Andrew for his role then? Hahahaha...

Thanks for your relevant post good sir and keep up the purist fanboyism.


Unless Peter took some serious blows in an intense fight scene prior to that scene, the context of the scene is wholly presented in that 46 second clip. What would an introduction or knowing what happens next help to change that?

And I hope you're right about the sizzle reels and screening. As in I would like it too if I watched it.

And yes, a 46 second clip can be reviewed. Why not? It serves as judgement. Do you think people who audition as actors/actresses audition for 2 hours? I will still continue to reserve my whole judgement, but just so you know; in auditions, that's what judges do. They make judgement. Regardless of duration, or whatever.

I think your problem is more with the writing than it is about Andrew's acting.

For me personally, I connected to his situation and could relate to it. I feel like this is how I am whenever I have a run in with an intimidating authority figure. I'm not going to tell you to feel the same way, as you clearly don't, but I don't see how he was overacting or portraying the character unbelievably. He just seemed like the average, run of the mill, nervous kid. Adding to that is the fact that he's a lower class kid visiting his extremely wealthy girlfriend for the first time, whose father is the chief of the NYPD, who happens to be hunting you down and now this stuck up doorman is interrogating you and then asks to see what's in your bag, when your secret identity is hiding inside.

Doorman: Hello Mr. Stacy? Yes, I, uh, have a Mr. Peter Parker down here...and the funny thing is...you know that Spider character you've been after? Well, yeah, this Parker kid has his costume in his backpack...

That scenario is likely playing through Peter's head, making him even more nervous about his first date. I don't see the problem with the acting. I understand some of the complaints about how the scene might be a little contrived, but in terms of how Peter is reacting to the situation? It makes sense to me.

 

[PSYLENTGuardian]

Exactly. I get extremely nervous and jittery on regular old dates like Peter does here. This situation just escalates those stakes.

 

[paced]

I don't think Andrew stuttered that much. To me it didn't seem that way.

It's not too noticeable, I admit, if you're just watching for fun and enjoying the film.

Like in Raimi's films, watching them the first time, I felt the acting was ok. But it never impacted me as great films because the characters were not very well played, storyline was bad, and all that. They were movies that seem ok the first time I watched them, but re-watching reminded me how bad it was, overall, especially based on the scripts and acting.

Take Social Network for example, because it's another one of Andrew's film, not because of its critical acclaim. Bad acting may not seem noticeable when you're in the "just enjoy the film" zone, but good acting is very much so. Even while just watching and enjoying Social Network the first time, the great acting and scripts just pulled me into the film, and everything felt real, the characters, their stories, their motives, their part in the story. Everything felt seamless, fluid, and consistent.

Personally, that's when a movie is great. And I obviously want this franchise to be great, since Spider-Man is one of my favourite characters in any media.

Now it looks like the opposite of Raimi and Tobey, just not in a very good way. While Tobey and gang "under-acted", or "under-played" their roles, it seems that Andrew and gang could be overdoing it.

Exactly. I get extremely nervous and jittery on regular old dates like Peter does here. This situation just escalates those stakes.

You just corrected me in a way there. I do get nervous when I'm alone with a really hot chick. But hey, never with a doorman, or anyone else I encounter before, during, or after my time with them (the hot chicks).

 

[WebbHead]

I think you're looking into this clip just a bit too much. As I said, the sizzle reel was excellent, and everyone else who has seen it, be it at SDCC or at one of the screening events, will tell you that it was excellent.

 

[Mike]

Still no YouTube video huh?

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I think your problem is more with the writing than it is about Andrew's acting.

For me personally, I connected to his situation and could relate to it. I feel like this is how I am whenever I have a run in with an intimidating authority figure. I'm not going to tell you to feel the same way, as you clearly don't, but I don't see how he was overacting or portraying the character unbelievably. He just seemed like the average, run of the mill, nervous kid. Adding to that is the fact that he's a lower class kid visiting his extremely wealthy girlfriend for the first time, whose father is the chief of the NYPD, who happens to be hunting you down and now this stuck up doorman is interrogating you and then asks to see what's in your bag, when your secret identity is hiding inside.

Doorman: Hello Mr. Stacy? Yes, I, uh, have a Mr. Peter Parker down here...and the funny thing is...you know that Spider character you've been after? Well, yeah, this Parker kid has his costume in his backpack...

That scenario is likely playing through Peter's head, making him even more nervous about his first date. I don't see the problem with the acting. I understand some of the complaints about how the scene might be a little contrived, but in terms of how Peter is reacting to the situation? It makes sense to me.

Is Gwen Stacy's family wealthy? I didn't know that, thought they were middle-class if anything.

 

[WebbHead]

Well in the movie they live at 15 West Central Park which is one of the nicest areas in the city.

 

[PSYLENTGuardian]

Is Gwen Stacy's family wealthy? I didn't know that, thought they were middle-class if anything.

They're living in 15 Central Park West. A lot of high-class people have lived there. I think Denzel Washington did.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Is Gwen Stacy's family wealthy? I didn't know that, thought they were middle-class if anything.

This is per an article referencing NYC officer pay:

As with most occupations, the higher your rank, the higher your overall compensation. It is no different with the NYPD officers. According to the NYPD website, an officer with the rank of police officer earns a total compensation of $90,829 per year. Moving upward to the rank of detective, officers will earn $97,735 annually. After they have earned enough seniority and qualified to be sergeant, they'll earn $109,016 per year. Total compensation for the rank of lieutenant is $125,163, and for the final rank of captain $160,000 a year.

As a Captain...Stacy is making quite a bit of dough.

 

[mayo23]

Yeah, I thought Andrew's acting was okay and I don't think he stuttered that much. I don't know if we have the same idea on what stuttering is, but maybe you just have much better oratory skills than I?

But here's how I see it. Peter, an already awkward, nervous teenager with his spider-man suit in his back pack is going to have dinner (for the first time?) with his girlfriend's family, whose dad is the police chief, who also has a warrant out for Spider-man's arrest. He's just going to dinner, thinking he'll just walk into the building but then he's greeted with a random "are you dropping off or picking up?" Personally, if that was me, I would have a completely "WTF are you talking about look on my face" look on my face. Add to the fact that I tend to fumble my words on a normal basis when talking, and especially to strangers, and you can understand why I feel this scene at least made sense to me.

 

[chaseter]

Oh god the 40 second clip strikes again. We gonna doom Andrew over 3 sentences in a sucko 40 second clip? Jaysus wait for the movie.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Oh god the 40 second clip strikes again. We gonna doom Andrew over 3 sentences in a sucko 40 second clip? Jaysus wait for the movie.

And that's part of the reason I refuse to watch these viral videos or whatever. I don't need to see anything else beyond the two trailers we already have, well three if you count the international trailer.

 

[Micromind]

I have faith in Andrew Garfield's acting. I don't see any problem.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

The doorman was questioning Peter heavily about the backpack, so obviously he was nervous about the doorman finding or seeing the costume.