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Zachary Quinto's performance as Spock has been hailed both by longtime fans and newcomers to Star Trek, and is the more impressive because there are so many things an actor can't do with the character. Spock can't lounge casually or put his arms behind his head, he can't sigh audibly or make "tchah" sounds, he can't wave his hands around or roll his eyes. Every actor has to know not just how to register, for example, concern, but also to consider how their would character register concern. With a character like Spock, paragon of logic and emotional restraint, the interpretation has to be extremely subtle. The part demands enormous effort on the part of the actor, because otherwise all you would have is a nice-looking guy standing around in Spock makeup, trying not to register emotion. Quinto is such a convincing Spock that you could take off his makeup, and Spock would still be there, disguised as Zach Quinto.
One extraordinary development in this Star Trek alternate universe is that this time, Spock "gets the girl". So Quinto has the challenge of performing romantic scenes in the Vulcan manner--and very appealing it is as he rises to that challenge, to see the young Starfleet officer's shyness and reticence intact, even with a woman who knows him so well. Fortunately director J.J. Abrams showed restraint in not providing a full-on "amok time" between Spock and Uhura; their relationship is sketched briefly. There is a telling moment between cadet and instructor as the shuttlecraft are boarded; the touching scene in the Enterprise turbolift as Zoe Saldana as Uhura comforts Spock after the loss of mother and home planet, which is intimate but in no sense provocative; and finally the public display of affection on the transporter pad, something that in real life would occur in private but happens for the audience (and for Kirk), in case anybody was still wondering what was going on with those two. Spock is established as--well, not fully human, but fully functional, and open to love from the sensitive and patient Uhura.
Comments
Totally agree with your post. Spock has always been my favorite and to see him become even cooler in this movie was awesome. It was so refreshing to see him get the girl rather than Kirk (yay for alternate timelines! Although ther was a lot of evidence of Spock/Uhura in the original series...)
I wrote something on my blog (mljblog.wordpress.com) about Spock identifying ways in which Spock has ushered in a new era of "Geek Chic", as it were. I think you'd like it.
Agreed
Quinto, an actor I had never hear of or seen before, performance as Spock was the highlight for me. He knew how to speak with his eyes. The best example is when he decline acceptance to the Science Academy. With his eyes and a bit of a tone: f-u, so comes across.
I do hope they keep with the minimal love scenes, because it is the Star Trek norm to imply not show. I did like how Quinto approached it.
Zachary Quinto was beautiful, sad, perfect as Spock. The story updated Spock for the modern audience without losing any of what made him such a great character. I thought the relationship between Spock and Uhura was the best part of the movie and the most surprising. Saldana did a grand job too.
Great article. Zoe and Zach were so natural and beautiful together. I really hope they continue there relationship in future installments. If they do another full-on male bonding thing again; I'll scream. Enough already. We get it Spock, Kirk, and Bones are friends. Now lets see some real bonding between Spock and Uhura. It's obvious they're in love with each other, so I hope Abrams and co. doesn't drop the ball with these two. And please; no love triangle. That would be so cliche. Again, great article.
Thank you all for your comments! I can't imagine the alternate-universe Uhura ever liking Kirk that much...
Would love to see how that relationship started though... was hoping for an arc over the next two movies of spock getting a brainy girl... gotta be happy with what they give I guess. I am glad though that they are starting from scratch rather then re-hashing the real characters and events... they could never match upto the past but at least they can have a go at portraying a alternative reality with some conviction.
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