MovieChat Forums > Country Strong (2011) Discussion > Proves Leighton Meester can act

Proves Leighton Meester can act

posted 14 years ago by denniskriz
39 replies | jump to latest

No matter how the film does, Country Strong will probably be remembered as Leighton Meester's break-out film. Simply put, she proved that she can act (and _sing_ for that matter, but above all, act). Leighton had a _very different_ role in this movie from Gossip Girl or her other upcoming movie, the Roommate, _stepped into the role_ and nailed it.

Not to diss GG or The Roommate, but Meester's performance as the "damaged but still smiling smalltown prom queen" Chiles Stanton could put her in the league of other younger actresses now destined to have long careers in Hollywood like Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway.

[–] frankstallone1 13 years ago

I really thought that the title of the thread was a joke. Gwyneth Paltrow was awful in this movie and she was still 1,000 times better than Meester.
The OP must not have seen many movies in their life if they believed this was a good piece of acting.

[–] denniskriz 13 years ago

For the record, I see a whole bunch of movies ;-) and certainly stand by my original post, LM stepped up and hit her role out of the park. If anything GP was weak.

But then, that was also the script (GP was playing a 40-something CW diva on her way down, and LM was a 20 something former small town prom queen trying to grab at the few threads that have fallen her way to claw her way up).

It also took some guts on the part of LM to take the role as she _could have_ stayed in a NYC "hip hop" environment where she would have been buried in a sea of other Lyndsey Lohan wannabee party girls (how sad would that be?)

Instead, LM took a chance, _nailed it_ and now has a chance of following an Anne Hatheway / Amy Adams trajectory instead. And good for her!

[–] frankstallone1 13 years ago

Paltrow was very weak, the movie was very weak. And that includes Meester. She added nothing. She was not believable as a country singer, but more importantly, her relationships with all three of the other characters were not believable, specifically the one with Hedlund (who was tolerable), and that was largely her bad acting.
Just because she chose to play a supposed ex beauty queen who wanted to be a country singer instead of some party girl, does not mean she did a good acting job. If by the same trajectory as Anne Hathaway you mean an awful movie like Get Smart, maybe. But I promise the only way you'll ever see her at the Academy Awards would be if she were dating someone who got invited.

[–] jeanniemotherof3 13 years ago

I thought she did great! as well as the rest of the cast. This was an excellent movie!!

[–] frankstallone1 13 years ago

Did you have an extremely high fever when you watched the movie, jeannie?

[–] jeanniemotherof3 13 years ago

Ha Ha! No, I just really liked it! I loved the music and the love stories!

[–] kmp206 13 years ago

Leighton can definitly act. I have know this since watching Gossip Girl. I just think LM should pick better roles that's all and stay away from stupid movies like "The Roommate." I think more people will appreciate her acting talents more once Gossip Girl ends.

The whole cast was great. So I don't understand why some of you were saying oh Gywneth is better than Leighton. Maybe so since Gywen has been around longer but anyway both actresses were great.

[–] frankstallone1 13 years ago

Actually keisha, I said she and Gwyneth both sucked. As did the movie, and the songs within it. Also, your statement that you know Leighton Meester is a good actress from watching gossip girl, tells me a lot.
You may like her, and like Gossip Girl, but that does not mean she acts well. Liking someone does not necessarily mean that they are the best at what they do.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] agnieszka01 13 years ago

You're right! It proves she can act like Blair Waldorf with a bad Texas accent and big hair.