Jeff Daniels is an amazing actor and I'd love to see him in one of my films one day. When I first saw DUMB AND DUMBER, I wondered why any actor would ever agree to shoot a script that frivolous, except for the money of course. But then I came to realize that he is actually a much better actor than he looks in that stupid little farce. He held his end pretty well, for example, in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and I think he deserved an Academy nomination which he didn't get. Then I truly loved his work as Col. Joshua Chamberlain both in GETTYSBURG and GODS AND GENERALS. Let's not forget his dual roles in the PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO either. Obviously, Daniels stored a lot more in his deep well than he revealed in DUMB AND DUMBER. A while back, Daniels was one of the guests on AMC's SUNDAY Shootout to plug in his new flick, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. It turns out he is probably the only A-list actor who lives on a farm in Michigan. Actually I believe he owns a lumber company in Chelsea, Mich. Daniels made it very clear that for him acting has always been just a job, not a career, and that his family life always came first. I'm sure he paid dearly for that choice in terms of money, fame, professional recognition and interesting roles - a choice that deserves respect. So how did he survive? He said it best: "The producers loved me. They would put me next to an A-list actor and I was good on takes one, two and three. They didn't need to worry about me." I always thought he was that good and then perhaps some, except for that D&D enigma which I could never decipher. No matter how good life is back in Michigan, I hope Daniels will never quit the movie business, at least not until I get a chance to have him star in one of my own productions. -------------------------------------- |
