Ben Mendelsohn Bloodline performance
by Capucine · old hollywood: Ben Mendelsohn
That 2015 show BLOODLINE had Ben Mendelsohn doing some of the most unsettling work I've seen. The way he'd flash that smile and then just go quiet mid-scene, plus how he'd talk to his on-screen family, made his character impossible to read. You genuinely had no clue what was happening inside his head.
Transcript (en)
Do you want to go first? No? I'll go first. Okay. Mom, I'm sure there's a whole bunch of stuff that John's told you about me. It's all true. I fell in with some bad people. I needed money. I saw an opportunity. the bullshit paycheck you were giving me wasn't going to cut it, so I started doing drugs. So I guess what happened tonight is partly my fault. What happened tonight? A guy tried to kill me. What? Oh, God, Danny. Who tried to kill you? There's a guy I know. He's a business associate. Did you call the police? I didn't call the police, because if I call the police, then I get arrested. You know what This is crazy Mom doesn need to hear all this No Meg Let him talk I need to hear this You done Okay you need to get the fuck out of here right now Just hold on Get the fuck out of here Quiet Just let me finish okay Just a couple more words, and then I'm gone, okay? So, clearly I'm in danger, because these guys are really pissed off. I don't know what they're going to do to me, but since I used the inn to bring the drugs through, now you're all in danger. What do you mean you used the N? Normally I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not, because you're all liars. I always have been. Danny, would you just please stop it? And you are the worst. You always took Dad's side. You never protected me. I never felt safe in this house. And now none of you are safe in this house. What the fuck is that supposed to mean, huh, Dan? Huh? You have finally lived up to your father's expectations, Danny. Mom. Leave me alone, please. Just leave me alone.
