Where to Now, Ms. Close?
Monday, July 29, 2013 at 10:51PM Andrew here to talk about one of the finest women in the last decade of television, and the woman who created her. Let's talk Patty Hewes. With all five seasons of Damages newly available on DVD and Amazon Instant Video, it's time.
When Glenn Close won her second of two Emmy Awards for her work on Damages she coyly thanked the creators of the show for giving her what was...
….maybe….the best role of my career.”
At the time I couldn’t help but react with incredulity considering this was the woman who had given us Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction), Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil (Dangerous Liaisons) and Norma Desmond and Paulina Salas on stage. Could this TV role really be the role of her lifetime?
Mind you, at the time I had only seen a few episodes of the show and it wasn’t until that August I fully watched the first seasons completely, watched the third in real-time, experienced in unfortunate cancellation, then resurrection on DirectTV and ultimate series finale last September. Along the way I became a big fan of the show, but her "maybe" statement has always made me ponder.
Damages only finished its run last year but chances are not many knew it was still on air up to 2012. For a show that was so successful (with critics and awards at least) the final two seasons were significantly under-discussed. The fate of moving from a popular network like FX to DirectTV: no one watches. That's a shame since with its last season Damages’ creators Todd and Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman and their team seemed intent on proving just how fantastic Patty Hewes, but more importantly how fantastic Glenn Close, was.
Not to inundate The Film Experience with too much TV fodder, but it’s been an interesting past two weeks for the television or “television”. Emmy nominations, the Television Critics Association Press TOur, a fresh new Netflix series (it’s not TV, but…what is it?) and last week when Emily Nussbaum wrote an impressive and evocative piece on Sex and the City, its faded glory and its anti-heroine roots my thoughts immediately went to Patricia Hewes. Nussbaum’s piece (it’s great, go read it) had some hardhitting things to say about women and their representation on television and the way that it was the ghost of The Sopranos which had maintained as the default mode for recent television - Homeland, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, House of Cards - four of the six Emmy nominated Best Drama series all surround an ambiguous male-lead we’re not completely certain how we should regard – the antihero, if you will. And someone had asked on twitter last month- when has there ever been a show of that ilk – thematically, if not qualitatively – about a woman?
The obvious answer for me was, of course, Damages. It would be an obvious answer for many more if people still remembered the show. The end of the show saw Patty Hewes complete her journey as a brilliant, ambiguous, tortured female lead with the precision of something like an Aristotelian tragedy. Her downfall? Hubris. What else? The show's final season was, perhaps, its weakest on plot but it was consistently strong on character adding layers and gradations to Patty Hewes and continuously giving Glenn Close material that she probably would not be receiving for work on the big screen. And not for a lack of talent.
I promised Nathaniel that assuming Glenn earned a deserved fifth Emmy nomination for her work on the show I had a monologue prepared for our Monday Monologues. There was a moment in the series' final episode which stood as resolute proof that Close continues to be a fascinating screen performer, and it extended the case of Patty as her magnum opus. Sometimes cold, occasionally ruthless Patty Hewes goes to visit her father in hospital. They've had a historically estranged relationship, and she vows that she won't ever forgive him for the childhood he gave her. You’re tied to that hatred, it’s all you’ve got, her father says. It’s all I need, she replies launching into her declaration.
I am who I am despite you.
It’s too late [for sorry]. You did everything you could to crush me. My mother would go to church and pray for you and I never understood why because I thought that you deserved to go to hell; - for your cruelty, your brutality, for every night you came home in a drunken rage. You terrorised us, you bullied us, and our fear made you feel big and important. Mama never judged you. But, I will. I want you to remember this moment forever. This feeling of helplessness, of weakness, of me looking you in the eyes and telling you how much I hate you. There’s no forgiveness for you, no mercy. Only death.
It's a wonder what a good actor can do with their face in a few moments. (The full scene is here if you're interested.)
It may sound like exaggeration, but with that monologue Glenn out-acted every performer I can think of in the past season on TV. Even if I'd been wavering on what Glenn had left in her as a performer (the accusations that playing one role makes actors lazy is a poor criticism, but persists nonetheless) this monologue gave me fresh hope. At 66 Glenn has so much left in her.
But, where to now?
Glenn visits Jimmy Fallon in June 2013
It’s no secret that great actresses have been moving to television which has increasingly been offering more exciting roles than film for women of a certain age. In a way, maybe Patty was the role of a lifetime, mine at least. I wasn't alive during Close's 80s domination, so as much as I adore her work then, the immediacy was lacking. And maybe this is the part of her lifetime. Which film has allowed a woman aged 60-65 to luxuriate in such definitive complexity. Which woman not named Streep, that is?
What’s next? She has no films lined up for 2013 but 2014 could be something and not just for potential Marvel blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy in which she will play Nova Prime. She’s playing mother to Anton Yelchin in 5 to 7 a film about an aspiring novelist (Yelchin) who has an affair with a French diplomat’s wife. That sounds like a tiny sliver of a role, although I am intrigued that's she's playing wife to Frank Langella. Then, there’s The Grace that Keeps the World an adaptation of a Tom Bailey novel costarring James Franco and Brit Marling. Her role hasn’t been confirmed but it it's a good role, it'll be a nice chance for her to stretch her legs on the big screen again. Then there’s Always on My Mind, a music drama with Nick Nolte. Nolte, playing husband to Close, is a rock singer who suffers Alzheimer's leaving his wife to pick up the pieces which sounds like good enough material that puts Close front and centre. Something that, with the exception of her pet project Albert Nobbs has not happened since the 1990s on the big screen!
The final upcoming film she has seems to be another tiny part, this time playing “Gram” in Low Down a look at the pianist Joe Albany’s struggle with addiction in the 60s and 70s. With 53 year old John Hawkes attached as Joe I sincerely hope Glenn is playing his grandmother. Film nuts (that means you) will remember that Close earned her first Oscar nomination for her screen debut in The World According to Garp in which she played mother to Robin Williams who was only four years her junior!!!
Glenn has said she doesn’t care to do another TV show after Damages, so I cant hope that HBO lures her there with another role of a lifetime. But her work on Damages season 5 is proof that this woman’s wealth of talent has not run dry. I hope the cinema still knows how to use her.
With Damages over are you hoping for more Glenn? Will you remember her Patty Hewes?
Reader Comments (31)
Glenn Close denied an Oscar reigns supreme as the greatest injustice ever committed by the Academy. All current stories about her depress me due to the fact she's Oscar less. And some of the names being tossed around on the internet of who should have one makes it even sadder.
PS: How old are you?
Oh! we never get enough Glenn...
AH thank you so much for this. I haven't yet caught up with the 4th or 5th seasons but Damages is such an amazing show and Glenn Close is amazing. You're right, there really isn't any other female character like Patty Hewes on tv.
Plus, can I give a shout out to Rose Byrne who obviously plays a much more...subdued character compared to Close but is brilliant as well?
Like most of the viewing audience, I lost track of Damages after the second season. Those two seasons were gold, however. Not only because of Close, but Byrne and the rest of that outstanding cast.
It's a shame, but if you look at Close's pre-Damages filmography, there wasn't much of substance happening for her. I'm afraid the same will be true now that the show's over. It looks like her dance card is full for 2014, but how challenging will those roles be?
I'm finishing up season 4 on Netflix now. Glenn Close is an absolute titan. She does more with a simple line reading or shift in facial expression than some lesser actresses have done with their entire careers. Absolutely deserving of all the Emmys and praise.
Damages is my favourite TV show. Season 5 wasn't as good as the first two seasons, but the seventh episode (The storm is coming where there's a long, chilling, scary, intense, simply electrifying conversation between Patty and Ellen) and the last episode were extraordinary.
Yes, Glenn is the best actress out there without an Oscar. The others who are really deserving and overdue for an Academy are Julianne, Michelle, Annette and Sigourney. Period.
Finally a write-up on the Glorious Glenn, but I am stunned that you forgot to mention the biggest casting news surrounding Close in quite a while: She will be the Nova Corps leader "Nova Prime" in Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy", which is currently shooting. It's incredibly exciting that Close is getting the chance of such a big role (that would usually be cast with a male actor) in a big-budget-Comic-movie.
In terms of "Always on My Mind" and "The Grace that Keeps the World": Both projects are still in pre-production-hell, so who knows when / if they are going to be made. "Always on My Mind" was supposed to start shooting in February, but that never happened; it sounds like a great role for Close, so here's hope they'll get the financing.
Yes, she was amazing in "Damages", but it's good to see that she has several upcoming films again. I don't understand why she backed out of "Therese Raquin" last year (leaving the role for Jessica Lange) in which she would have had such a meaty part. But nevertheless, good to see she's getting work again.
Such a wonderful article! I love Glenn too, and I loved Damages and her fantastic, mesmerizing 5-years turn as Patty Hewes. Her final monologue during Patty's confrontation with her father is simply spectacular and chilling. Damages is my favorite TV show, and Patty Hewes is surely the best female character we've seen in a while. I hope now Glenn will get some interesting roles on the big screen too...
I finished Damages last year and loved it. Even when the plot wasn't as engrossing, you could always count on Close, Byrne and the amazing casts they asambled each season (seriously, all those big names proving why they're so big). It was a rewarding show and I'm glad that it's brilliance, as well as Close's, has not been forgotten.
I also remember that moment at the Emmys when she said it was maybe the best role of her career and I was also taken aback. Now, after having watched the entire series, I find it hard to argue.
Lovely words, Andrew.
If you ask me she got caught up by the moment. Nothing compares to Alex and Merteuil.
Having said that I'll add that I never missed an episode of Damages and that she totally deserved a 5th nomination. The monologue you mention and her final scene were brilliant.
None of her upcoming projects excite me, but I'll probably watch them anyway. I'm a big fan.
Patty Hewes was indeed the role of her career. She got to build that character and play it out over years, and was richly rewarded for her work. I gobbled up every episode of Damages.
I saw the first three seasons on FX, but never finished the show. The first season was spectacular though. Loved every twist and turn and was genuinely shocked at the end.
I actually think her work in The Shield is more outstanding than her work in Damages.
If they ever getting around to making Follies into a film, she should play the Phyllis role. That's how she'll get an Oscar.
William -- ooh FOLLIES. Not that it would work as a film but good lord that's a perfect stage musical.
I have to say something. Why the hell she didn't get the role of the Witch in the upcoming Into The Woods screen adaptation? Why do they always cast only La Streep for everything? I mean, I adore both of them but Glenn is a far better musical performer than Meryl and she would be amazing in this role not only for her acting but also for her still outstanding vocals (see her rendition of LOSING MY MIND at the Kennedy Center celebration for Barbara Cook last year).
Nathaniel: re "Follies"....you don't think it would work as a film?Why not? Of all the Sondheim musicals it (and "Company") seem to me the best choices for stage to film adaptation. Could you imagine the ghosts? Although William, I'm pretty sure when and if that gets made they wouldn't cast anyone above 50 for Phyllis and Sally. Glenn is already too old for it :( Even though she'd be great.
Everyone: Glad to see so much love for Glenn and "Damages".
3rtful: 22.
Robert; W.J.: Yes, major kudos to Byrne. Glenn was always great on "Damages" but one of my favourite things in the final season was watching Ellen mature and watching Rose Byrne develop so excellently as an actor. By the end of the show's tenured she had matured to a great performer. And, movies don't seem to be using her well for now. Hopefully that changes.
Ferdi: Yes, the season was not always on point in all aspects but it had an impressive focus on the two lead characters with great Patty moments.
Sakul: Aaaargh. Minus points from me for not mentioning "Nova Prime". It was great to hear she'd gotten the role for all the reasons you mention.
Ferdi: on her and "Into the Woods." That would have been fun. I have to at least think she was in consideration, because it's such obvious casting that would also actually have worked.
AndrewK: Do you really think that Glenn as The Witch should have been an obvious choice? I feel quite the opposite, it should have been a surprise. Meryl is the obvious choice for everything these days. I think that even for Doubt Glenn would have fit the role perfectly.
Your continued devotion to Glenn is an inspiration! I bought the DVD of the first season of Damages a while back during this weird sale in an office supply store -- I guess Damages is an "office supply" if you're trying to figure out how to take over or permanently fuck up the office? I'll get around to it eventually. Great piece.
Thank you Andrew for not only an article on Glenn Close, but also "Damages"!
That last shot of Hewes in the limousine is my favorite series moment from Close (and thank you for the lingering camera on her face to capture and illuminate the little change in expression and the thoughts behind Patty Hewes) ! Glenn Close is still stunningly beautiful :)
My god that woman is beyond talented! She rocked the boat with her season 4 appearance in The Shield. And you could tell that The Shield cast really had to work hard to follow her.
Close and Byrne are the essential of Damages. The one could not exist without the other. Close has always been edgy and great when it comes to the smallest detailed facial expressions and the enourmos shifting of emotions from 0 - 100. And back to quite again. Fascinating. Her work in Damages reminds a little bit of Dangerous Liaisons but also shows that she is still on fire.
Give that woman a lead chunky role. I think that Streep was miscast in Doubt because the role acquired a performer with dialectic and facial expression acting on super level. She failed to me. Close would have been the perfect choice. With Close in also means Amy Adams out. Brit Marling, Natalie Portman, Emily Blunt or Winona Ryder could easily have replaced Adams
Patty Hewes was a fantastic role, Glenn was perfect, and deserved that second Emmy. Equally good in The Shield, but she had less media fanfare. I was bored with "Albert Nobbs" and found Janet McTeer's performance far superior. That said, I already miss Damages and hope that Glenn will reconsider TV again. If the role is juicy, why not? Plus, it's not like there is a plethora of great film scripts with female leads of a certain age.
FYI--"The Iron Lady" was a plum role, but it was a terrible script and a meh film. Not convinced that Sigourney, Glenn, Susan, Helen, and all that cohort were banging on Phyllida's door.
"Doubt", on the other hand, should have starred Cherry Jones, and the "Into the Woods" Witch is rightfully owned by Bernadette Peters, who is still young/old enough to be play the part. Hmmpf.
That television writer seems to know nothing about Mary Tyler Moore except that Mary Richards was a role model. Sex and the City might have become a riff on MTM after 12 episodes? Puh-lease. The women could literally have nothing more in common. And Mary Richards would despise Carrie Bradshaw and her friends for their shallowness.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (the greatest sitcom of all time) was ultimately about fairness and love, not to mention Lou Grant and Ted Baxter, characters who, especially after Rhoda's departure, dwarfed the supporting female cast in their prominence by virtue of working in the newsroom. People love to reminisce about that show like it was this girly touchstone but that was neither the tone of the cast nor a focus of many of its stories. Those characters (even Sue Ann, who played a slut with a lot more wit and intelligence than Kim Cattrall) would have found the Sex and the City women absolutely ghastly.
I just put Damages in my instant queue thanks to you ;)
I was really sad to hear she didn't end up in Therese Raquin, I imagined her and Elizabeth Olsen having great screen chemistry. I was excited for that.
one thing i wanted to add. Andrew says 'what film allows a woman of a certain age' the chance for complexity. I must say there are a few though they are sadly few and far between. I think of AMOUR and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM and half the things STREEP stars in as shining examples that it does still happen for older women. I mean it even happened for GLENN too with Albert Nobbs. The role itself is complex even if the execution was problematic so I don't think Glenn escapes some culpability in not nailing that.
but anyway. I like her lots but to me that 87/88 moment is still the inarguable peak.
The demograhic says that the audience is getting older and look back at the success of the latest entries such as Amour, The Marigold Hotel, Quartet and so on. I think the studios must rethink about what kind of projects they can green light.
In France they just announced the result of a research that showed for the first time ever, older audience (60+) is the majority of moviegoers beating youngsters under 25 in France. The article continues with that the older ones is getting back because of their found love of French New Wave cinema when they were younger and their love for film in general. And they got time and money. This demography is happening all over the world, so juicy roles for women like Close, Weaver, Sarandon, Dench, Mirren, Deneveuv, Rampling and so on will be on demand.
Manuel--Hope so, but taking a closer look at the TIFF lineup, out of the 140 or so films being shown (and some of them look damn good!), only 9 or 10 have leading roles for women over 50. They include "Philomena" (Dench), "Gloria" (Garcia), "Violette" (Devos), "A:OC" (Streep et al.) and one for Tilda, Kate Winslet (even though it seems she's been around forever, she's only 37), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (with James Gandolfini in his last movie), plus an Emma Thompson rom com caper with Brosnan.
Not that I don't enjoy younger generations of actors, many of whom are giving amazing performances in great films. But I'm also not rushing out to see elderly couples help each other to the bathroom on the big screen There are stories to be told with people aged 40 to 70, and there is a lot of talent out there to help tell the tales. And I'm rooting for more roles for women of color OF ANY AGE!
Cheers to this fantastic blog that allows for and cares about the likes of Glenn Close, Viola Davis, and Annette Bening, as well as The Avengers!
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ferdi - There was an actual point where I thought Glenn of CZJ would get the role. I mean, theoretically Meryl is obvious casting but I was shocked she was considered obvious casting for THAT role. Although, I won't like that, like Pam, I think Bernadette Peters at any age IS the Witch. *boom crunch*, etc.
Nick - Your entire comment is deliciously perfect. Also, we all know that you're the authority when it comes to being devoted to actresses.
Lars - That last shot is something powerful and chilling, and I agree - one of my favourite beats of the series. I just couldn't find a way to mention it in this already lengthy piece.
Philip H - enjoy the ride. I was bummed about Glenn leaving "There Raquin" but having to choose between two ladies of the 80s is too tough. If I can't have Glenn, Jessica is more than good enough.
Also, yay to Pam for "Cheers to this fantastic blog that allows for and cares about the likes of Glenn Close, Viola Davis, and Annette Bening, as well as The Avengers!" - why we all love TFE, right?
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Where to now? The role of Elizabeth Sinskey in confirmed Dan Brown's Inferno adaptation belongs to her. God forbid Streep or Mirren steal it from her...