CATHERINE ZETA-JONES

by Nate Lee 

BEST FILM:

Chicago...

Though “Traffic” was astounding and important, Zeta-Jones could have done better as the wife of a drug lord (despite getting a Golden Globe nomination). She was brilliant, though, in “Chicago,” one of the best musical films ever.  

BLOCKBUSTERS:

Chicago

The Mask of Zorro

Ocean’s Twelve

The Legend of Zorro 

GREAT PERFORMANCES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN:

No Reservations (a high-strung cook, opposite Aaron Eckhart)

Death-Defyin Acts (opposite Guy Pearce as Houdini, a self-proclaimed psychic)

Intolerable Cruelty (opposite George Clooney)

Entrapment (opposite Sean Connery)

The Terminal (opposite Tom Hanks)

High Fidelity (opposite John Cusack)

America’s Sweethearts 

THE REAL JONES:

There’s not a lot of “real” to Ms. Zeta-Jones-Douglas, and, frankly, we don’t want a lot of real from such a classically gorgeous movie star. She’s not close enough to be a “Sweetheart.” Though she’s not (anymore) a gold-digger, she’s certainly a paid tease as with “Intolerable Cruelty.” Most of all, though, she’s a performer – the kind who, whether she knows it or not, reveals that she is performing. Sooo, “Chicago” anyone? 

ACTING STYLE:

Melodramatic. Trained in musical theatre, Zeta-Jones excels in comedies and adventures that work with her style of over-acting. With such unparalleled beauty and sex appeal, she gets away with a lot in the other genres, but it is the Zorros and stagey comedies like “Cruelty” – and, of course, film musicals – that best accommodate her style. 

BITS AND QUIRKS:

The hair, of course. Posey, girlish shots one moment and vixen-tiger the next. Great coy smile that nears a sneer, but relents to focus just on perfect lips. Displays of temper that, along with the Zorro films, a strange name and an unplaceable accent, give her a Latin persona. Great athletic poise, too. 

IF YOU LIKE HER, YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T LIKE:

Splitting Heirs

The Haunting 

GREAT SCENES:

ZORRO - Sword fighting in general, but specifically the mini-strip courtesy of Bandera’s swordsmanship

TRAFFIC - The Feds taking her husband away > Meeting with the assassin > Doing drug business in Mexico

CHICAGO - All of her cabaret scenes, particularly the duet with Zellweger

INTOLERABLE CRUELTY - The verbal sparring with George Clooney

OCEAN’S TWELVE - The reunion with her father

NO RESERVATIONS - Great dynamic with Aaron Eckhart > Describing food to her psychiatrist, Bob Balaban

ENTRAPMENT - Practicing for the museum lasers > Going through the actual lasers to steal the mask > Making the call in the phone booth, overheard by Sean Connery > Crossing the wire bridge