Chris Pine’s poker face is a masterclass in acting
Idon’t know what the beef is between Chris Pine and Harry Styles, but there is beef – apparently (even if it’s curated: but more on that later). It’s such obvious, eye-watering beef that it makes you cringe to look at it, even if (like, err, me) you have to Google what exactly some of them are famous for (Pine: made his feature film debut as Lord Devereaux in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, and there we have it), because it’s writen so clearly all over their faces. Well, one of their faces. Chris Pine’s face, to be exact.
The moment Harry Styles opens his mouth, Pine’s visage becomes the Japanese Noh mask of steadfast fixed expression; his “I will not let my emotions give away” poker face the masterclass in acting Styles badly needs, if reviews of his performance in Don’t Worry Darling are to be believed. And it seems to keep happening every time the two of them are together. So, where does this all come from? I did a deep dive because — frankly — I have no particular or vested interest in either of them; save for appreciating Styles’… well, style. A global pop star turned actor turned fashion icon who looks that good in a cardigan and pearls? Styles for PM, I say, once Joe Lycet has finished his turn.
At least get him in to No 10 to give the dry and sensible-shoed Liz Truss a few sartorial hints and tips.
Yet it isn’t Styles’ textile creds that are up for debate here – but his acting. The former One Direction frontman has been accused of being “leaden” and “robotic” in his new movie, which is a psychological thriller directed by actress Olivia Wilde – who happens to be Styles’ girlfriend.
But if Styles’ acting creds are negligible, his Wonder Woman co-star’s are not — and if a recent promo interview is anything to go by, it is Pine who deserves an Oscar.
In clips that have since gone viral, Styles can be seen filibustering about what it is he exactly likes best about his partner’s film – culminating in this bizarre quote: “You know my favorite thing about the movie? Like it feels like a movie it feels like a real like go to the theater film movie that you know you kind of... the reason why you go to watch something on the big screen,” Styles said during the press conference.
Like the greatest cinematic moments, however, it wasn’t what was going on in front of the camera that told the tale — but what was happening behind the scenes. Next to Styles, looking thoughfully at his lap, Pine’s face careered from bemused to despairing; quite clearly determined not to react and so become the story. As Styles waxed philosophically like someone at a house party at 4am, Pine winced – and switly fought to collect himself. Oh, to be a body language expert in close range of these two men.
On Twiter, the clip was shared with the standout caption: “You can almost see the screams catching in his throat.” One critic even described Styles as having “seemingly just figured out what acting is” — ouch.
But it’s clear what acting is, we know precisely what acting is: just look at Chris Pine. His face is the epitome of keeping a straight face at a wedding when your dad busts out the dance moves and your insides collide in horror; your eyeballs physically retract and dry up, aching to close, but you don’t let them because you have to be supportive — so, instead, you clap. The corners of Pine’s perfectly-chiselled mouth (is he even real? He must be, he was in Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods in 2014) belie that he is faintly amused, but absolutely determined not to show it: a feat of stoicism the Greek gods themselves would be proud of.