In many of his most recent films, Daniel Day Lewis hasn't even been recognizable. From Gangs of New York to There Will Be Blood to Lincoln (we'll just pretend that Nine never happened), he has had completely different accents and appearances. This was thanks in part to great makeup as well as his absurdly impressive method acting, which he began utilizing when he played a paraplegic in his first Oscar-winning role, My Left Foot. To most people, this was a brave and daring commitment. To the film crew, it was kind of a hassle, since they had to lift Day-Lewis over lighting setups due to his refusal to move... pretending to be paraplegic and all. I can't imagine how intense it must have been to hang out on the set with a guy who would not break character from the murderous Bill the Butcher. Let me say that again... a guy who would not break character from the MURDEROUS Bill the Butcher, even if it meant catching pneumonia and refusing treatment not from the period in which the film was set. I can't imagine Daniel Plainview would be any less unsettling either. Abraham Lincoln, on the other hand, is a different story. If I were Spielberg, I would have never wanted to actually shoot, just sit on his lap and have him deliver charming anecdotes in his endearing tenor voice. Day-Lewis tops this list easily; his sometimes unhinged method acting always shows up in his performance on screen and never fits the mold of the typecast.
I am a writer based in Salt Lake City, UT. I am currently revising a novel and maintain a feverish, certifiable obsession with all things film, literature and politics.
