Attention to Detail

[mlm828]

Another amazing thing Ron Eldard did when playing the role of Jim Dunbar was reacting to what he heard, not what he saw. Two examples come to mind. The first is in "Seoul Man," when Marty starts to come after him after he tells Tom and Marty they have to talk to Dorsey again. A still picture doesn't really capture the reaction, but you get the idea:



The second example is in "Doggone," when Tom is calling Debbie on her phone, and Johnny answers. Jim doesn't react -- by leaning forward in his chair -- until he hears something, but Karen and Marty have already seen the visual clues that tell them Tom has gotten through to someone.

[inuvik]

Thanks so much for this Shmeep. The screencaps were well chosen. The head tilt is one of my favorite things about his portrayal. Reading this post, and seeing your screencaps, really tugged at my heartstrings, believe it or not. You are right--it makes him seem so vulnerable.

[maggiethecat]

mlm828 said:

Another amazing thing Ron Eldard did when playing the role of Jim Dunbar was reacting to what he heard, not what he saw.

This really is a fine actor at work, so invested in the role that his reactions are so natural as to be unconscious and reflexive. I actually first noticed this in The Pilot, when Fisk slams shut the file cabinet and Jim jerks his head around, startled.



A tiny little moment, to be sure, but I notice it every time. I'm not sure you could even call it acting. He was Dunbar.

[Katryna]

inuvik said:

Thanks so much for this Shmeep. The screencaps were well chosen. The head tilt is one of my favorite things about his portrayal. Reading this post, and seeing your screencaps, really tugged at my heartstrings, believe it or not. You are right--it makes him seem so vulnerable.

I agree, Shmeep. You did a fantastic job of choosing the screencaps and describing RE's portrayal, which was just amazing. It did tug at the heartstrings, inuvik. And mad me sad that we only had thirteen episodes of this amazing show and Ron's amazing performance.

[mlm828]

Another example of getting Jim's reactions exactly right is in the locker room scene in "Seoul Man," when Marty slams the locker room door. Edited to add: Maybe I should read the previous page of posts, so I don't mention something that's already been pointed out!

Shmeep, you are so right about the tilt and turn of the head -- it was perfectly done. And oh, did I love those screencaps! It must have been so carefully thought out, but it seems so natural -- or is the proper word "seamless"? As maggie says, it's hard to call it acting, he was Jim Dunbar.

[Forensic Paws]

Okay, to start with, I'm sitting here giggling like a mad thing- these sorts of things are exactly what my friend and I are constantly discussing and even gushing about!!! It makes me so happy that there are others as obsessed

Ahem. On topic now.

Aside from things that others have mentioned, I must bring up Jim's reaction to Hank, especially when he's ruffling his head/neck. You can see the man has a very deep affection for the dog, but he never looks directly at him, he never looks at Hank's face.

Reiterating what other's mentioned, I do also love the usually subtle, head and body movements. Several times in film and TV I've seen the blind people stand stock-still, not moving an inch, never reacting to anything around them. But Jim's head tilts and natural movements are fantastic.

Oh! I must also mention how he runs his hand along the edge of the wall when walking around. Constantly keeping the back of his hand in contact with something.

And when he drinks from either a bottle or a glass/cup, he has a slight hesitation, as if he's making sure it's going to the right place.

And possibly my favourite of all time- the dancing scenes. I cannot for the life of me imagine how difficult it must be to be 'blind' AND dance like that. I'm constantly rewatching those scenes (in particular the very first dance class) and going "wow".

I remember the first time after really knowing who Ron was, after seeing him as Jim, it took me a few seconds to adjust to him playing a sighted person. There was a moment of "Oh yeah- he's not really blind!". That was of course, partly my brain registering him as 'Jim Dunbar' but I believe it was also due to his extraordinary portrayl.

[bjobsessed]

forensicpaws said:

I remember the first time after really knowing who Ron was, after seeing him as Jim, it took me a few seconds to adjust to him playing a sighted person. There was a moment of "Oh yeah- he's not really blind!". That was of course, partly my brain registering him as 'Jim Dunbar' but I believe it was also due to his extraordinary portrayl.

Someone said it before, but I think that's why RE never gets typecast by one particular role. He seems to become whoever he is portraying at the moment. It never feels like he's acting. I also forgot he was sighted on many occasions during and after Blind Justice. I think that's one of the reasons I like him so much. He has the ability to make you think he's really Jim Dunbar or Father Flynn etc.

[rducasey]

Another little blind nuance I always notice is in the very beginning of Four Feet Under, I believe it is when he tells Christie, "Just take yes for an answer" about Clay's party. He leans in to kiss her, and his eyes remain staring off. It is from the side but still easy to see that he does not put his eyes toward her face coming in, which would be a natural response to make sure you will not bump. No one would probably even notice if he did, but he remains 'blind" and keeps his gaze distant.

[shmeep]

rducasey said:

Another little blind nuance I always notice is in the very beginning of Four Feet Under, I believe it is when he tells Christie, "Just take yes for an answer" about Clay's party. He leans in to kiss her, and his eyes remain staring off. It is from the side but still easy to see that he does not put his eyes toward her face coming in, which would be a natural response to make sure you will not bump. No one would probably even notice if he did, but he remains 'blind" and keeps his gaze distant.

I remember noticing that! Again, subtle, but one of those touches that made all the difference.

[rducasey]

admin said:

rducasey said:

Another little blind nuance I always notice is in the very beginning of Four Feet Under, I believe it is when he tells Christie, "Just take yes for an answer" about Clay's party. He leans in to kiss her, and his eyes remain staring off. It is from the side but still easy to see that he does not put his eyes toward her face coming in, which would be a natural response to make sure you will not bump. No one would probably even notice if he did, but he remains 'blind" and keeps his gaze distant.

I remember noticing that! Again, subtle, but one of those touches that made all the difference.

Oh Shmeep thank you for that. That is it exactly. Someday I will learn how to do those screencaps. But each time I watch that scene I look for that. Not for a moment does Ron step out of character.

[anna]

Shmeep mentioned there not being caps of Jim immediately after Marty slams the locker door in Seoul Man. I went back and took a few, just because it's such a great scene.

[mlm828]

Another detail in Ron Eldard's portrayal of Jim Dunbar that I don't think has been mentioned before is the distinctive gait he adopted for the role. It could be described as a rolling, side-to-side gait. At least, that's the best description I can come up with at the moment. I'm sure others have noticed it, too. Here's an example from the Pilot, in two successive screencaps which show it (kind of):

[Forensic Paws]

mlm828 said:

Another detail in Ron Eldard's portrayal of Jim Dunbar that I don't think has been mentioned before is the distinctive gait he adopted for the role. It could be described as a rolling, side-to-side gait. At least, that's the best description I can come up with at the moment. I'm sure others have noticed it, too. Here's an example from the Pilot, in two successive screencaps which show it (kind of):

YES I was going to mention that in my post above but thought I'd already rambled on enough for one post lol.
It looks almost as if he's off-balance, which I find if I'm walking around in the dark (or with my eyes closed), I tend to wobble a little. It's a very deliberate movement as opposed to a casual saunter.

[inuvik]

forensicpaws said:

mlm828 said:

Another detail in Ron Eldard's portrayal of Jim Dunbar that I don't think has been mentioned before is the distinctive gait he adopted for the role. It could be described as a rolling, side-to-side gait. At least, that's the best description I can come up with at the moment. I'm sure others have noticed it, too. Here's an example from the Pilot, in two successive screencaps which show it (kind of):

YES I was going to mention that in my post above but thought I'd already rambled on enough for one post lol.
It looks almost as if he's off-balance, which I find if I'm walking around in the dark (or with my eyes closed), I tend to wobble a little. It's a very deliberate movement as opposed to a casual saunter.

Maybe it's because he is walking with a dog? I've never walked a dog but that might interfere with your normal walking style.

[mlm828]

inuvik said:

Maybe it's because he is walking with a dog? I've never walked a dog but that might interfere with your normal walking style.

I've noticed the same gait when he's not walking with Hank, so I don't think it's because he's with the dog. The screencaps just happen to be of him walking with Hank because they (kind of) show what I was talking about.