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Misery - How Kathy Bates Perfected Annie Wilkes

2024-10-09 Entertainment
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Just an Observation
Just an Observation
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Description

This video essay analyzes Kathy Bates' Oscar winning performance as Annie Wilkes in Misery. Misery is based on the novel by Stephen King, written for the screen by William Goldman, directed by Rob Reiner, starring James Caan and Kathy Bates and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Kathy Bates delivers an unhinged performance filled with contrasting parts of Annie Wilkes' personality in Misery by using her eye contact and lack of eye contact, coupled with her changing vocal delivery. FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyright material; the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is made available under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made "fair use" for the purposes such as criticism, comment, review, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that otherwise might be infringing. All rights belong to its owners. Music used: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven (YouTube Audio Library) Falling Rain by Myuu (YouTube Audio Library) Twin Lynches by Density & Time (YouTube Audio Library) Alien or Cake by Jimena Contreras (YouTube Audio Library) Timestamps: 0:00 Casting Kathy Bates 2:47 Eye Contact 6:48 Vocal Performance 8:59 Unhinged

Top Comments (10)

@henrywallacesghost5883 2024-10-09

What makes Bates so good is that she can appear warm and motherly but aggressive and intense as well. She can go zero to hundred in a second

348 4 replies
@veggiesarefruits 2024-10-14

Sir Anthony Hopkins said in an interview with legendary journalist Dick Cavett, while discussing his performance as Hannibal Lecter, that the single greatest portrayal of a mad person he'd ever seen was by Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 'Misery'.

244 7 replies
@cadillacdeville5828 2024-10-09

No one else could have ever played her... Perfect embodiment😊.

166 1 replies
@LargeLew 2024-10-12

Kathy Bates is literally perfect in this role. I’m so glad she was appropriately recognised with an Oscar.

164
@neon___am 2024-10-09

One of the most intense and stunning performances committed to the silver screen. The wild fluctuations between bliss and injured wrath is beautiful, it’s a work of art.

153
@I_LIKE_TATERZ 2024-10-10

One of those movies I saw as a kid that just stuck with me. The sledgehammer thing really got me.

90 4 replies
@ginao6810 2024-10-10

All I can think of now is Martha in Baby Reindeer. Annie is like her spiritual grandmother

65
@Rebecca-tj9ii 2025-09-07

Her first big movie at 41 and she managed to completely outshine Caan. What an icon.

57 2 replies
@Zenobiadream 2024-10-21

Kathy Bates mastered her craft of acting to perfection. Probably one of the best actresses of her generation

42 2 replies
@Shlogger 2024-10-12

She's scary af in the book too but she's also a lot more gross and psychotic. Bates humanized her a little more which actually kinds made her scarier somehow. Great performance. James Caan did a good job too.

41

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