Willem Dafoeis regarded as one of the greatest living actors because of his ability to do almost anything; whether it’s an intimate character drama likeThe Florida Project, an action-packed superhero adventure likeSpider-Man, an arthouse biopic likeAt Eternity’s Gate, an outrageous horror film likeNosferatu, or a quirky cult classic likeStreets of Fire, Dafoe is willing to show an uncompromising level of dedication to the specific genre that he is operating in. While he would make his first screen appearancein the infamous box office flopHeaven’s Gate, Dafoe would earn his first major role one year later when he starred inThe Loveless, the feature film debut of the future Oscar-winning directorKathryn Bigelow.The Lovelessis a nostalgic examination of masculinity in the 1950s that features Dafoe in a cool, yet sensitive role.
What Is ‘The Loveless’ About?
Set in the 1950s,The Lovelesscenters on a group of tough motorcyclists that stop in a small townas they make their way to Daytona. Dafoe stars as Vance, a particularly charismatic biker who has put the town on edge due to the sharp ways in which he interacts with the various citizens. Despite wanting to be taken as seriously as possible, Vance begins to fall in love with the teenage girl Telena (Marin Kanter), whose father Tarver (J. Don Ferguson) has a strong opposition to the bikers’ presence within the community. As the tensions ramp up between the locals and bikers, Vance is forced to question whether he will be able to protect Telena and if there isany hope for the future of their relationshipif he continues to live a nomadic lifestyle.
The Lovelessis clearly inspired by many of the “anti-establishment” films that were popular in the 1950s, as there are signs of bothMarlon BrandoinThe Wild OneandJames DeaninRebel Without A Causewithin Dafoe’s performance. However,The Lovelessgoes much deeper in its commentary about what it was like to be one of these nomadic riders; as exciting as it was to live a life on the road that seemed filled with adventure, not being tied to one space meant that they were deprived of specific cultural opportunities. Vance is trying to impress people throughout the film, as he fixes a woman’s car and makes strange orders at a local cafe. However, it is unclear if these actions were taken purely to leave an impression on those that he encountered,or if Vance is desperately trying to convince himself that he chose the right path.Although Vanceis often a very physical character, Dafoe shows the feelings of doubt and fear that appear within his impressions, implying that he is far more vulnerable than he would ever admit.
‘The Loveless’ Was a Breakout Film for Both Willem Dafoe and Kathryn Bigelow
Dafoe proved inThe Lovelessthat he could create empathyfor an unusual protagonist,who viewers would want to root for in spite of their flaws. Vance is prone to violent behavior and often makes offensive comments, but compared to the other bikers in his gang, he is often willing to diffuse a situation before it spills out into violence. While many of the other bikers look towards the local women as an opportunity to take advantage of them,Dafoe’s relationship with Telena appears to be completely sincere,which makes the dramatic stakes of the final act even more heartbreaking. Given thatThe Lovelessis only 85 minutes long and is fairly light on plot, much of the film has to coast purely on Dafoe’s charisma.
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The Lovelesswas an impressive debut for Bigelow, who proved that she couldhomage a classic era of cinemawhilst also providing commentary about what aspects of it have aged. The study of how men put pressure upon themselves to have a certain image is an interesting concept inThe Lovelessand would be one that Bigelow would continue to develop within future films, such asPoint BreakorThe Hurt Locker. Although Bigelow is deserving of much praise for her many achievements, the fact that she identified an all-time great actor in Dafoe and gave him a breakout role is one of her coolest accomplishments.
The Loveless
