Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Potter - Book Report/Review Example

Harry Potter Was His The Magical Life and Career of Daniel Radcliffe Nothing prepared the world for the single most incredible phenomenon that defined the last decade, a frenzy that engaged young and old alike, a blast of the fantastic atmosphere of the ubiquitous Hogwarts. No, it had nothing to do with hurricanes or storms, but rather the frenetic energy brought on by the ancient tales of wizards and witches-illogical, true, but the old imaginations of these mythical beings were thrown out in favour of the young and adventurous, the fascinating and the curious, the wondrous and scholarly universe of Hogwarts and its related environs. At the midst of it all is the gifted yet all-too human Harry Potter, portrayed by young British actor Daniel Radcliffe. It is not surprising at all how people often interchange Harry and Daniel, assuming one or the other as a disrobing wizard or a Quidditch-playing actor, for the popularity of one has greatly defined the other. However, it may be correct to claim that Daniel owes much of his celebrity to the fabled young hero, whose transition from teenager to adulthood has been documented via the enchanting onscreen tales that have captured audiences all over the world. Though Harry Potter has become a pop culture icon, inspiring the birth of groups and communities dedicated to the pursuit of magical possibilities, the spell has rubbed off permanently on Daniel Radcliffe-making him possibly one of the most acclaimed young actors today. Born Daniel Jacob Radcliffe on July 23, 1989, the boy who would become Harry Potter did not traverse the fairy tale-like path to get to where he is now. As the son of literary agent Alan George Radcliffe and casting agent Marcia Jeannine Gresham, the concept of acting and the art of performance were not exactly foreign to the young Daniel. At age five, he professed his interest in the craft and eventually landed the title role in the televised version of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield aired on BBC in 1999. But the pivotal moment came a year later when producer David Heyman urged Daniel to audition for the main role in the film adaptation of one of the world's most talked-about books for children and young adults-the Harry Potter series penned by renowned British author J. K. Rowling. It was already then a predetermined success, with its huge budget and substantial media hype; whoever would be chosen to embody the character of the much-loved young wizard was assured of instant fame and iconic status. As history would have it, the plum role was won by eleven-year-old Daniel, who embarked on his stellar journey toward international superstardom with the launch of the first Harry Potter film in 2002-Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Four more were filmed and released within the next five years, which raised Daniel's star to almost improbable levels; the forthcoming showing of the sixth film in July 2009 and the two-part adaptation of Rowling's final book in the series in 2010 and 2011 are expected to commence-rather than end-Daniel's acting career toward more serious roles. And this is exactly what Daniel has been doing, notwithstanding his continuing portrayal of the wholesome Harry; he has taken on projects quite far from this stereotype, challenging his public and reputation with roles in the Australian independent film December Boys in 2007; in My Boy Jack as Rudyard Kipling's son; and in the play Equus, in which Daniel performs his most controversial role ever, complete with a scene calling for him to be completely naked onstage. This scene, as well as Daniel's much-lauded performance as a boy obsessed with horses, conquered the curiosity and acclaim of both critics and audiences (Daniel Radcliffe.com, 2007). The Harry Potter Magic From his selection as Harry Potter until today, as audiences await three more Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe has been indelibly connected to his equally-famous character. But the passion for acting was obviously a tad wanting for the rigors of the role, which was the realisation of what was perhaps the most enigmatic character of its time. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was not merely a first in the series, but also the beginning of a cult following with Daniel Radcliffe at the centre. Living the experience with young British actors Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who portrayed Harry's friends Ron and Hermione completed the dreamlike ensemble that would eventually find its way into the hearts of Harry Potter fans the world over. The innocence and freshness of Daniel, due to age and relative inexperience, was both endearing and credible-a fitting element to the world of Hogwarts, the wizard school that is the source and locale of all things magical. Daniel's believable rendition of a poor orphan subjected to the abusive rule of his ghastly relatives made him quite vulnerable, and the knowledge that he is gifted with the talent for magic never once made him appear frivolous or over-the-top. The cast of supporting characters are also depicted similarly, through a storyline that tried a viewer's perception of the real and the imagined. The following instalment, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is a clear affirmation of where Rowling intended to take the story-a factor that is evident in the film adaptation. Compared to the first film, The Chamber of Secrets showed a darker plot, as well as a more human Harry; this was not improbable, however, since the task then was to introduce the endless possibilities magic could offer, as well as Harry's transition toward adolescence. Daniel Radcliffe essayed this objective quite truthfully, for he himself was in the grey area between childhood and manhood. Thus his delivery of the quirks and nuances of the teenaged Harry is quite possibly of his own experience. This performance earned for Daniel several acting awards, as well as box-office success for the film. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third of the series, was acclaimed mostly for its visual technique; story- and acting-wise, critics claimed the film was somewhat frivolous and complicated. However, Daniel is seen here with an even more substantial and realistic portrayal of Harry in his early teenaged years, an age of confusion that goes perfectly with the discoveries of evil elements such as Dementors and the connection with family and loyalty in the person of his uncle Sirius Black, played by great actor Gary Oldman. The last two Harry Potter films released were able to transcend the unsatisfactory reviews given The Prisoner of Azkaban-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix did not merely widen the universe of the imaginary magical world, but also signalled Harry's growth. In The Goblet of Fire, Daniel had to appropriate more of Harry's human experiences, particularly in the area of love and romance. His scenes with Katie Leung, who plays Cho Chang, are indicative of how a boy his age would react to the frustrating thoughts and situations of love not confessed, amidst the grand competitions of Quidditch reminiscent of high school football games. In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter is shown coming to terms with various circumstances within Hogwarts, particularly the arrival of the cunning Dolores Umbridge and the eventual return of Lord Voldemort. At this point-his fifth year at Hogwarts-Harry is no longer the scared young boy he was in the first films; Daniel is able to capture the developing maturity and sense of leadership inherent in the character, specially as he led his friends in their revolt against the antagonists. It could then be said that Daniel's excellent performance as Harry Potter, which has made him a household name, is brought on by the fact that he has a clear affinity with the character. Except for the family background and gift of magic, Daniel is evidently going through the same experience as his alter ego, up to this day. In this case, the possible question could refer to Daniel's real acting prowess-has he been able to deliver great performances as Harry Potter solely because of their similarities This would be answered quite sufficiently. Equus, December Boys, and the Enigma of Daniel Radcliffe Perhaps to shake off the stigma of Harry Potter, or to satisfy his own curiosity regarding roles far from the Harry stereotype, Daniel decided to take the boldest step yet in his career by portraying the lead in Equus, written by Peter Shaffer. As a stable boy with a fascination for horses, Daniel redefined his acting reputation by showing his seriousness as an actor, as well as his capacity for raw, emotional delivery. While the role also called for the same teenaged angst as with Harry Potter, Daniel was able to move out of the standard adolescent expectation into a more individual dramatisation of confusion and the sorting out of complexities, finally allowing him to graduate from the box that contained his Harry Potter stereotype. Daniel was acclaimed as a serious stage actor (LA Times Blogs, 2008), surprising for most yet practically demanded by many critics quick to dismiss Daniel as but a product of media hype and unbelievable luck. The adult themes in the play, however, were met with considerable discomfort, particularly from Harry Potter fans (Daly, 2008) ; the controversial nude scene went completely against the wholesome image of Harry yet created new audiences for Daniel. The same could be said of Daniel's acting in December Boys, the 2007 Australian film that once more pushed him beyond the borders of the Harry Potter mystique. As one of four orphan boys wanting to be adopted, Daniel as Maps is more concerned about girls and adult activities-an image that goes against his wholesome reputation but sealing his fate as an actor able to essay roles other than those that require clutching a wand and spewing out magic spells. However, critics were not completely satisfied with Daniel's performance, and still relegated him to the Harry Potter corner (Ebert, 2007); but since this film came before Daniel's groundbreaking Equus project, it may be said that he had matured and learnt much within the year. What's In Store For Daniel Radcliffe Needless to say, Daniel will again enjoy public recognition for his remaining Harry Potter films, and rightly so-considering the evident maturity he has achieved for himself. On top of that, the two books upon which the films are based cover Harry Potter's final years at Hogwarts, which alone makes for exciting plots and assurance of box-office success. While nothing may be said currently about his acting in these films, Daniel's own admission regarding his satisfaction about the books' ending is enough to convince critics and audiences of his deep and personal involvement in the text that had made him the celebrity he is now (Daly, 2009). Apart from acting in films and theatre, Daniel is also known to have a talent for writing, which works well with his chosen career. Apparently, he does some his own screen tests and dialogues, and is wont to suggest his own ideas to his directors, as with his collaboration with his co-actors in Equus. This shows Daniel's intellectual prowess, as also evidenced by his brief but telling stay at university, where he received excellent grades (Daly, 2007). However, the lure of acting and writing proved to be stronger than completing a degree, for Daniel ultimately decided to postpone education for more acting and writing projects. This kind of passion and determination-as well as popularity among his legions of fans-has earned for Daniel substantial wealth that has placed him in several lists accounting for the richest actors to date. Daniel's personal fortune is estimated at GB17 million, which automatically places him near or at the top of statistics tallying the rich and young in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Despite this incredible status, Daniel insists on keeping simple, and counts books as his only major expense. He is also known to support several charities, and even engages the help of his fans to give donations instead of presents for him. Some of the causes and Daniel has been active in are children's orphanages, disaster relief, AIDS, human rights, poverty, and environment. Specifically, he has been associated with charities such as Book Aid International, Demelza House, Rebuilding Sri Lanka, Luke Neuhedel Foundation, UNICEF, and Save the Children (Look to The Stars, 2009). Daniel is supposed to be in talks with various parties regarding new film and theatre projects, which may be assumed to be along the lines of Equus and December Boys in terms of diversifying from the Harry Potter image. But he may be able to attend to those much later, since he is now preoccupied with the filming and pre-production stages of the remaining Harry Potter films. Beyond the Harry Potter Story Seeing as how Daniel Radcliffe is one young actor who prefers to look at his charmed and magical life without rose-colored glasses, it is quite expected that his career will keep changing as he ages. Unlike many actors his age or even older, who have succumbed to the flamboyant lifestyle and glamour of being in the spotlight, Daniel is able to think beyond what is in the here and now and delve into the many possibilities he can make available for himself in the future. It is quite refreshing to see a young actor who is not a tabloid staple for his wild antics and compromising situations, but a young man seemingly adult for his age and is aware of the hand he has been dealt. Dumb luck is what he calls it, and his participation in various social causes makes it clear that he intends to share his fortune with those who need it most. Therefore it would be a good thing for Daniel to maintain his presence in the acting world, and not simply be being a celebrity only known for his Harry Potter persona. He is probably one of the few who is actually meant to be in the industry, as evidenced by his interest in the different aspects of filmmaking; his seriousness and intensity toward his craft-which is apparently not merely a job-are qualities desirable in someone so young. Daniel Radcliffe is one who can be a real role model not just to his fans, but to other actors as well; values such as passion, priority, respect, charity and humility are clearly inherent in his character, and are integral in his further goals. Finally, after years of being the adorable young wizard loved by many, Daniel is coming out as an actor deserving of his status. And for the first time, the public is applauding the character of Daniel Radcliffe, and not the boy with a scar on his forehead. References Columbus, C. (dir.) (2001). Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Warner Bros. Columbus, C. (dir.) (2002). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Warner Bros. Cuaron, A. (dir.) (2004). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Warner Bros. Daly , S. (2007). "Mr. Wizard". Entertainment Weekly. Accessed 24 April 2009 from http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20044270_20044274_20045416,00.html _______ (2009). "Daniel Radcliffe Talks 'Deathly Hallows'". Entertainment Weekly. Accessed 24 April 2009 from http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20044270_20044274_20048635,00.html Daniel Radcliffe.com (2007). "Daniel Radcliffe-A Biography". Accessed 24 April 2009 from http://www.danradcliffe.com/biography.html Ebert, R. (2007). "December Boys (PG-13)". Sun Times, 21 September 2007. Accessed 24 April 2009 from http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20070920/REVIEWS/709200311/-1/RSS LA Times Blogs (2008). "Critics spellbound by Radcliffe's Broadway debut in Equus". Accessed 24 April 2009 from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2008/09/critics-spellbo.html Look to The Stars (2009). "Daniel Radcliffe's Charity Work". Look To The Stars: The World of Celebrity Giving. Accessed on 24 April 2009 from http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/197-daniel-radcliffe Newell, M. (dir.) (2005). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Warner Bros. Rowling, J. K. (1997-2007). Harry Potter series. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. Yates, D. (dir.) (2007). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Warner Bros. Read More