Opening this week in
theatres is Ender’s Game. A book released
in January of 1985 and has had a nearly 30 year journey to the big screen
including several false starts; finally it arrives at your local theatre this
weekend. The book’s author, Orson Scott Card, is very passionate about his
biggest success and actually says, “My works are better when listened to and performed
rather than just read.” Card had a big hand in getting this project to the screen.
One of the reasons this landmark sci-fi book has many issues getting to the big
screen is it’s predominantly child cast. In the book lead character, Ender, starts
as a 6 years old boy and is only 12 at its end; it’s clear based on trailers
that Ender will be slightly older than that, but a young boy nonetheless. Along
with Ender almost the entire cast is kids and this project had to come along
when there is enough talented, and famous, child actors to fill the parts.
Welcome to 2013 where we have more “celebrates” than ever
before, including lots of very talented young actors. Ender’s Game features Asa Butterfield (Hugo, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), Abigail Breslin Academy Award
nominee for Little Miss Sunshine, Hailey
Steinfeld Academy Award nominee for True
Grit, and Moises Arias a stand out in this summer’s Last Kings of Summer. These actors lead the large cast in a war
against the buggers and along for the ride is Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley and
Viola Davis.
What makes a good child actor? The same thing that makes
a great adult actor, honestly, layers, depth, emotion, and an understanding of
every aspect of the character; and all of that to come from a kid is just
amazing. On top of that, the performance needs to be iconic. Performances that
will be remembered no matter old or famous or off the radar an actor becomes
these performances will stand the test of time.
Left off the list this time are former child stars now
icons of the entertainment industry (Christian Bale, Scarlet Johansson, Jodie
Foster, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Leonardo DiCaprio), some of the most enormously
famous kids of all time (Shirley Temple, Haley Joel Osment, and Macaulay Culkin),
a few one-hit wonder standouts (Henry Thomas, Danny Lloyd and Linda Blair) and
a few young Oscar winners (Patty Duke and Tatum O’Neal). However, all these categories
are represented in the list below which features a one-hit wonder, an Oscar
nominee, a child icon, a young actor who now a huge star, 2 hard working 90s starlets,
and some iconic characters. Let’s jump right in!
5.
Jonathan Ke Quan: Indiana Jones and The
Temple of Doom (1984) – What used to be
considered the worst Indiana Jones film (thank you Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for saving this classic of my
childhood). As an adult I’ve revisited Temple
of Doom several times and I will fully admit to it being a very, very fun
film, nevertheless it’s not a terriblely good film. Sill my favorite of the
series and yes, that’s childhood bias. Deal with it. What I have always loved
about Temple of Doom is Short Round (yes,
that the name of a character in major motion picture) played by Jonathan Ke
Quan. This character kick butt, hangs with Indian Jones, and does it with
style. Quan is also known for his role in The
Goonies but its Temple of Doom
where he shines. And honestly who else could pull off the line “No time for
love Dr. Jones!” 
4.
Justin Henry: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
– A heart wrenching, gut
punch of a film; this 1979 Academy Award winner for best picture focuses on the
relationship of a newly divorced father and his son, during an UGLY custody
battle. A film that I wish I had seen much earlier in my life Kramer vs. Kramer is simply amazing and
deserved each and every of its five Oscar wins (best picture, actor Dustin
Hoffman, actress Meryl Streep, director Robert Benton and Adapted Screenplay).
One of the few categories that Kramer didn’t
win was best supporting actor, in which 8 year old Justin Henry was nominated.
From the moment Henry comes on screen you fall in love with this small child
going through an endlessly difficult situation and he is the emotional heart
and soul of the film, it’s because we care about him that any of the film
works. Kramer depends on single child
actor of the film and he nails it. 
The opposite of a short
peak is Christina Ricci; getting her start in the 1990 film Mermaids (staring Cher and Bob Hoskins)
but really breaking through in 1993 landing the role of Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, but in the rare case
of a sequel equaling first film Addams
Family Values is where Ricci really shines. In the first Addams Family film
Ricci was such a scene stealer that director Barry Sonnenfeld saw what he had dedicated
the entire midsection of the film to her, which was perfectly okay for little Josh,
who may have had a tiny giant crush on Ricci. Ricci continues to work and
deliver quality but under the radar performances in such films as Black Snake Moan, Penelope and Monster; I am looking forward to the
comeback and rebirth of Christina Ricci, which I hope happens any day now.
2.
Natalie Portman: Leon: The Professional
(1994) – Representing the “have-grown-up-to-be-huge-star”
category Natalie Portman makes the list. Portman has gone on to win an Oscar
for Black Swan, star in two giant
franchises (Star Wars Episodes I-III &
Thor) and become one of the hardest
working and most respected actors in all of Hollywood. At 18 she became a
household name while playing Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels but before that she was gaining a small following
with roles in Mars Attacks! and Heat. But it was her very films that stunned
audiences and holds up as one her greatest and most layered performances. In Leon: The Professional (or Leon as it’s known outside the USA)
Portman plays Mathilda, a 12 year old New York girl who’s taken in by a
professional assassin after a tragic accident involving her parents. The film
also features off-the-wall crazy amazing performances by Jean Reno and Gary
Oldman and is one of the better films by Luc Besson. If you’ve not seen Leon: The Professional you are missing a
fascinating film that has gained a large cult following and sits at #31 all
time on IMBD’s top 250 films. Seek out and enjoy!
1.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint: The Harry Potter Series (2001-2011) – How could they not be on the list? These three
actors carried one of the biggest film franchises off all time. For a decade Radcliffe,
Watson, and Grint played Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively,
and have burned themselves into the collective brain of pop culture. Going back
to 2001 and watching Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer’s Stone is like looking back at time capsule of these three
talented actors who have only gotten better with age, it’s much like everything
else, the more you do something the better you get. What faces these three is
the challenge that faces all child actors, finding a way to remain relevant,
working and not typecast beyond there star making iconic role. Although they
will always be seen as Harry, Ron and Hermione each has started to try to break
that image and become a working actor. Radcliffe is working hard in films such
as The Women in Black and Kill Your Darlings, while also staring
on Broadway in Equus and How To Success in Business Without Really
Trying. Watson is becoming a well-respected actress and is working the most
out of the three with recent roles in The
Bling Ring, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and My Week with Marilyn, she is also in the upcoming Darren Aronofsky
epic Noah. Grint, who has probably
worked the least since the Potter series may be the one who falls prey to the
curse of never working much, but he’s certainly trying; having been in CBGB and Super Clyde, both failed, however having seen both, Grint’s work is
solid it’s the elements around him that have caused failure. Being a child star
can be a difficult road to maintain stardom and work, which brings up the age
old question of is it good to shine brightest early and then fade away or to
never shine at all.
Below is chart that
shows the all of the actors under 18 years old who have been nominated for an Academy
Award for either best or supporting actor or actress. Sorted by age, and put
together based on an article that can be found at http://www.newser.com/story/162776/25-youngest-oscar-nominees-and-winners.html.
| Youngest Oscar Winners & Nominees | |||||
| Last Name | First Name | Age | Film | Part | Award |
| Henry | Justin | 8 | Kramer vs Kramer | Billy Kramer | Nominee Best Supporting Actor |
| Wallis | Quvenzhane | 9 | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Hushpuppy | Nominee Best Supporting Actress |
| Cooper | Jackie | 9 | Skippy | Skippy | Nominee Best Actor |
| Breslin | Abigail | 10 | Little Miss Sunshine | Olive Hoover | Nominee Best Supporting Actress |
| Badham | Mary | 10 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Scout Finch | Nominee Best Supporting Actress |
| O'Neal | Tatum | 10 | Paper Moon | Addie Loggins | Winner Best Supporting Actress |
| Paquin | Anna | 11 | The Piano | Flora McGrath | Winner Best Supporting Actress |
| Osment | Haley Joel | 11 | The Sixth Sense | Cole Sear | Nominee Best Supporting Actor |
| De Wilde | Brandon | 11 | Shane | Joey Starrett | Nominee Best Supporting Actor |
| Castle-Hughes | Keisha | 13 | Whale Rider | Paikea | Nominee Best Actress |
| Ronan | Saorise | 13 | Atonement | Young Briony Tallis | Nominee Best Supporting Actress |
| Foster | Jodie | 14 | Taxi Driver | Iris | Nominee Best Supporting Actress |
| Steinfeld | Hailee | 14 | True Grit | Mattie Ross | Nominee Best Supporting Actress |
| Duke | Patty | 16 | The Miricle Worker | Helen Keller | Winner Best Supporting Actress |
| Wild | Jack | 16 | Oliver! | The Artful Dodger | Nominee Best Supporting Actor |
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