Timelessness: no matter the era, no matter the current cultural landscape, the subject remains unblemished and elegant, or at the very least unmoved by the passage of time, remaining relevant. Those objects, fashions, andpeople to whom the quality of timelessness can be attributed, can be immersed in any environment, and retain that certain air, that we often can’t quite put our finger on, that makes us unable to turn away.
Timelessness in a General Sense
Regarding fashion, items such as a tailored suit, or the “little black dress” have always been, and will continue to be staples of a classic, well put together wardrobe. There’s just something about these two pieces that give the wearer a boost of confidence, with a little extra panache in their gait.
In terms of possessions, a truly stylish watch, such as Rolex or Tag Heuer, as well as vehicle makes that have stood the test of time, such as the Chevrolet Corvette or the Jeep Wrangler, endure because of their ability to make the consumer feel elevated or dignified.
That’s essentially what timelessness boils down to - how the subject possessing this quality makes the consumer feel when experienced or interacted with. This essence, as it applies to Hollywood, is about having a star quality that makes fans, followers, audiences and admirers continuous in their support and attention through scandal, poor judgment, and abhorrent project choices. To be timeless in Hollywood means to resonate and transcend.
Timelessness in Film and Television
This transcendent appeal stipulates that films and television shows, and the characters the actors bring to life, have the ability to reach something within the viewer. Perhaps that something makes them feel deeper or think clearer; perhaps it offers a new perspective. Maybe what’s being offered is simply a momentary escape from reality. It is the entertainment industry, after all.
Take, for instance, Charles Dickens’ character Ebenezer Scrooge from his 1843 novellaA Christmas Carol. The story begins with Scrooge, the penny-pinching miser, miserable and closed off, with nothing but greed in his heart; whereupon a visitation from four ghosts – his old business partner, Jacob Marley, now bound in the physical chains of his greed for all eternity, followed by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future – reminds him of his own humanity.
A Christmas Carolhas been made, remade and reimagined on film several times over, and yet remains one of the most unforgettable Christmas tales across generations. The story in and of itself is a primary example of timelessness, as it deals with central themes almost anyone can relate to such as love and loss, loneliness and bitterness, and finally, growth and redemption.
Remaining Authentic and Riding the Waves of Trends
Timelessness in this arena is about being able toevolve as an artist. Trends exist in a perpetual cycle of upheaval and rebranding. What’s new and exciting was once old and boring, until it was reinterpreted to be made new again. To be able to ride these waves while remaining authentic to yourself as a person, and genuine in your efforts as an entertainer, be that an actor, director, musician etc., is to ensure that your body of work remains fixed in the minds of the many.
To be timeless in an industry that is constantly redefining the standards for what is valued as “good” entertainment, is to be somewhat of a chameleon, able to adapt on a dime to the ever-changing milieu of life in the public eye.Related:Best A Christmas Carol Movie Adaptations, Ranked
How an Actor Becomes Timeless
An example of this characteristic of adaptability is found in the skill of actorJoaquin Phoenix. Several of his movies are wholly different in setting and tone, yet he continues to fully embody each role to the fullest degree, suspending the reality of who he is, allowing room for the persona he is playing to thoroughly shine.
Films where this dexterity can be observed for comparison includeGladiatorandWalk the Line.
Both roles depicted intense, complex individuals. InGladiator, he portrayed the petulant and murderous son of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus. Throughout the course of the film, the viewer comes to receive Commodus as his own father had: weak, menacing in a most pathetic and self-serving way, and unredeemable. Commodus was already everything that Marcus Aurelius feared Rome becoming. By the film’s end, Commodus is truly despised by the audience as he is as haughty as he is genuinely inferior. This visceral hatred for a fictional character likely would not have come to fruition were it not for Phoenix’s masterful portrayal.
In stark contrast to Commodus’ outright malignancy, Phoenix approachedhis role as musician Johnny Cash inWalk the Linewith an inner angst that gave way to fleshing out Cash, not just as someone who was capable of substance abuse and infidelity, but as a complicated human being trying to live a dream while also living up to his responsibilities. The film details Cash’s humble beginnings and wrought relationship with his father, as well as his building a family with both his first wife Vivian and later, June Carter. Seeing a man go through the stages of addiction and cause his own suffering, as well as the suffering of those that love him, could easily make an audience turn on that man.
However, thanks Phoenix’s subtle sadness, we get to see Cash in a whole way, and not just as the sum of his misdeeds. It’s this quality in his acting that makes him an example of timelessness in Hollywood – the ability to move fluidly from one persona to the next, completely immersing the viewer in the intricacies of the story unfolding before them and the individuals about whom those stories are being told.
Of course, Joaquin Phoenix andA Christmas Carolare merely two examples of what it means to be timeless in Hollywood. A list of all the stories and actors who possess this quality could go on for pages.Related:Why Beau is Afraid Is Worth Your TimeThe most basic assertion here is that to be considered timeless, the subject must operate in a state of versatility, capable of evoking powerful emotions and responses within a diverse and complex audience with an elegance, nuance and relatability that transports the consumer from their current reality into the world in which the media resides.
