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'The Great Performers' New York Times Series: Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke, Kate Winslet, Robert Downey Jr…..

Posted on 09. Feb, 2009 by CSS.

Italian photographer Paolo Pellgrin captured mostly Oscar nominees in everyday moments and the results are both unguarded and moving. I’m not a skilled photographer and I don’t have a great eye for these things but these are some of the loveliest photos I’ve ever seen of celebrities. The slideshow online is accompanied by commentary from NYT Magazine editor Lynn Hirschberg and is highly worth a view and listen. I’m featuring a few photos here, with apologies to Pellgrin and the NY Times, and there are many more available online. The article notes that they tried to show celebrities in their element and in my opinion the photos succeed beyond any I’ve seen in a long time. Hirschberg’s commentary is both insightful and revealing of the personalities behind the famous faces:

Here are some highlights of the slideshow commentary:

Kate Winslet, genuine “What [Pellegrin] was trying to achieve in these photographs was a kind of emotional truth that you can’t achieve… with perfect hair, makeup and a stylist… there is a quality to these pictures of being a little undone.”

Frank Langella, patrician, controlled: “He looks out at the world with a kind of patrician gaze. At least on the surface he seems to be performing. Which is interesting when… you watch him because he rarely seems unguarded. He almost seems as if he’s playing the character of Frank Langella, which is a very imposing character.”

Robert Downey Jr., comfortable and relaxed: “An amazing year… he went from [someone people] had kind of written off to being the biggest star in America, and justifiably so…. Of all the people we photographed… Robert Downey Jr. was by far the most comfortable in front of the camera.”

Sean Penn, unguarded at home: “The Sean Penn that’s out in the world… has a kind of Brando-like intensity. He’s very very conscious of how his face looks when it’s photographed. Which isn’t to say he’s vain… he’s one of the few actors who will not allow himself to be styled… but at the same time he’s very conscious of what it is to be on camera… When he’s home, that’s immediately gone, that disappears.”

Brad Pitt, hounded: “Perhaps the most photographed person in the world right now… He wanted to go out on his motorcycle… He has to be followed by a [security] van… while Pellegrin was photographing him on the bike, his bike broke. Immediately Brad Pitt was besieged by paparazzi and he turned toward [Pellegrin] and said ‘Now you see what my life is like.’ The challenge in this portfolio was trying to capture [him] in a way that [he] had not been captured, as Brad Pitt rather than Brangelina or this persona… or any number of ways that he has been characterized by the public.”

Penelope Cruz, conscious of her image: “Was very self conscious about the idea of us shooting [a dance rehearsal for her film Nine] because it was not perfect.”

Mickey Rourke, loves his dog Loki: “The comeback story of 2008…. The Wrestler kind of mirrored his own story… he was traveling… with his beloved Chihuahu Loki. I believe he’s only gone four days of Loki’s life without being with Loki.”