Change Your Image
dharmulia
Reviews
Lost: The Whole Truth (2006)
Some notes on Henry Gale and his future
Every single woman, if she's not in her early teens and does have a taste, knows that men's sexuality consists of two things: brains and power. In combination these traits can neutralize any looks and any age, making them completely unimportant. And this is exactly what happens when we come to Ben Linus, or, pardon, Henry Gale yet.
The very first time when he shows a little of his skills is the you-guys-got-any-milk scene? Let's acknowledge the obvious: the strange looking, dirty, goggle-eyed bloodied character with a hole in his chest, who barely survived different types of tortures and was hold in a cell for several days already, is the most powerful man in that room.
Why? Because he has brains and knows how to use them. Henry/Ben overpowers everything only by sitting on the couch and talking in slow voice, when two big guys with big muscles (Jack) and big experience (Locke) find themselves absolutely helpless.
From this scene and forward Ben Linus is the only one that always has a plan. And he isn't afraid to take any decisions at any speed to realize it.
As for me - this scene is already enough to place Ben a way ahead of every brawny fellow appearing in one shot with him. And it really doesn't matter whether he's not tall, young and good-looking, because his power and brains make you forget about everything and just succumb to this brilliant man completely.
Shattered Glass (2003)
Glassing trough Stephen Glass
...As we all see now, the bad boys often sprung up from the best boys. And it's the undoubtedly best boy Hayden Christensen who knows it perfectly well. Perhaps, that's why he shows so much of persistence and trustworthiness while performing those, who are fated to be ruined by their own talent. There is an ancient eastern proverb: "the more gifted you are, the more troubled you are", and it's even more trouble - if you're gifted and young. Because young talent is unpredictable and unstable, it's necessary to be very cool-headed for not to fall into arrogance. "Vanity is my favorite sin", smiles Al Pacino in Devil's Advocate. "Twice pride double fall", - smiles Christopher Lee in Revenge of the Sith.
And there it is the double fall of Stephen Glass, brilliant story-maker who longed too much for people's attention. Besides stories, Glass is brilliant image-maker: he presents himself the nice bashful baby-like creature, who admires his work so deeply and feels so incredibly sorry for every mean-nothing-trifle, that you're up to defend him from anyone and anything. Just for him not to be so upset, oh, Stevie poor thing.
It was already noticed, that Christensen's Anakin Skywalker and Stephen Glass have so much in common. But there is also a very interesting difference. Anakin (in Attack of the Clones) does his best to look adult, but ends up with lots of childish actions and that - of course! - irritates his elder masters obviously. Stephen Glass is more, much more far-seeing. He commits very unchildish actions, but does his best to look sheep-like baby doll and that - of course! does not irritates his elder masters, but touches their paternal instincts. "How could you ever do this to Steve, he's just a boy!" New Republic stuff blames his editor for some strange suspicions towards 24 year old man. A true-life image: once you don't take too much upon yourself, you won't be asked. If so be ready for questions.
In other respects, Anakin and Stephen do really have very much in common. Hayden talks about that in some interview, he says, like, that's what the craving for powering people's mind can do even with so talented and so promising guys. Promising guys, you say? Hmm, they both really did plenty of very impressive things. But they didn't ever promised that things would be good