What the Hell Happened to Kirsten Dunst?

[tmc...@gmail.com]

http://lebeauleblog.com/2013/07/28/what-the-hell-happened-to-kirsten-dunst/

Posted by lebeau


Kirsten Dunst was a child actor who successfully transitioned into adult roles. She worked opposite Brad Pitt, Robin Williams and Jim Carrey. She was directed by the likes of Woody Allen, Sam Raimi and Neil Jordan. She played a cheerleader, a vampire and Spider-man’s true love. But when her web-slinging stopped, Dunst disappeared from the once-hot spotlight.

What the hell happened?




Dunst started modeling at the ripe old age of three. Clearly, she had committed herself to her craft rather than being pushed into the spotlight by a stage mom. Surprisingly, Dunst would later express some anger over having been “pushed” into show biz by her mom. Hard to believe since her mom waited three entire years to put her child to work.

Soon, Dunst was doing commercials like this one for Pillsbury microwave potatoes from 1985:



And here she is shilling for Crayola Christmas of 1989:



Good lord was she adorable! That same year, she was pitching Baby Doll Surprise, a baby doll whose hair grew:



This was also the year in which I graduated from high school which makes me feel a little weird about those Maxim covers I found while I was doing my research for this article. In 1989, Dunst had her first movie role in Woody Allen’s short film, Oedipus Wrecks. Oedipus Wrecks was part of a collection of films set in New York called New York Stories. Dunst had a small role as one of Mia Farrow’s children. Hopefully she kept a safe distance from Woody. He has a history with Farrow’s kids.





In 1990, Dunst had another small role as Tom Hanks’ daughter in Brian DePalma’s infamous adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities.

The book was an acidic social satire which took on race relations, journalism, and Wall Street amongst other things. DePalma decided to make it silly. It didn’t work at all. The movie received scathing reviews and flopped at the box office. It was a major career speed bump for Hanks (who reinvented himself as a dramatic actor shortly afterwards), DePalma (who was basically exiled for a while) and Melanie Griffith (who would continue working but stopped getting good roles). Bruce Willis was lucky he had Die Hard to fall back on.

For Dunst, the final fate of Bonfire wasn’t all that important. As a child actor, the fact she worked in a major motion picture with A-list talent was a stepping stone. Here’s a scene in which Hanks’ character tries to explain his Wall Street job to his daughter only to be corrected by his wife played by Kim Cattrall.



In 1991, Dunst appeared in a low budget comedy called High Strung. The movie was co-written by and starred Steve Oedekerk. It is best known for featuring a pre-fame Jim Carrey in a supporting role.





In the early 90s, Dunst paid her dues with guest roles on TV shows. In 1993, she appeared on the network drama, Sisters and the syndicated sci-fi show, Star Trek: The Next Generation. On Star Trek, Dunst played a telepath with really disturbing flaps on the side of her head that make it look like she has some kind of space mullet.



Once again, it’s kind of hard to believe you are looking at a future Maxim cover girl.



1994 was a big year for Dunst. She appeared in supporting roles in three films two of which were big hits with good reviews. Greedy, her first film of the year, was neither of those things. The comedy starred Kirk Douglas as a rich elderly man who’s relatives suck up to him in hopes of a big inheritance. Michael J. Fox played one of the only members of the family who wasn’t after the old man’s money. But slowly, he gets sucked into their competitive ways. Dunst played one of the younger kids in the family.



Later that year, Dunst had her break-out role as Claudia, the child-like vampire in Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s gothic novel, Interview With the Vampire.

Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise played immortal vampires caught in a love/hate relationship which was significantly less homoerotic in the movie than it was in the book. In a moment of cruelty, Cruise’s Lestat changes a child into a vampire in order to bind Pitt’s Louis to him. As time passes, the girl played by Dunst matures in spite of the fact she is forever trapped in the body of a child.



Dunst later talked about her first on-screen kiss with Pitt: “I thought it was gross, that Brad had cooties. I mean, I was 10.”

Reviews were mixed to positive, but Dunst was singled out for praise for her performance. She conveyed wisdom beyond her years. She was rewarded with several nominations including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She won some critic’s awards and an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.



Later that year, Dunst appeared opposite Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon in an adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott novel Little Women.



Little Women opened to low expectations. But it received surprisingly good reviews and became a sleeper hit of the Christmas season.



In 1995, Dunst starred opposite Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt and a lot of CGI animals in the big screen family adventure film, Jumanji.

Jumanji was based on a popular children’s book in which a board game brings the dangers of the jungle to life. Dunst played one of the children who inadvertently turn their house into a wild safari.


The special effects-driven movie got mixed reviews but was a hit at the box office.



In 1996, Dunst starred opposite Nick Nolte in the romantic World War 2 drama, Mother Night. The movie is based on Kurt Vonnegut’s book of the same name.

Nolte played an American playwright who wrote German-language plays in Nazi Germany. He is approached by a man who claims to be from the United States Department of War, and is recruited to spy for the U.S. But no one will ever know that he was not in fact a Nazi sympathizer.



Dunst played Nolte’s sister-in-law. After Nolte’s character learns that his wife has died, he goes to visit her family. Dunst’s character professes that she loves him. Later in the film, Nolte is reunited with his sister-in-law who has grown up to look like his late wife played by Sheryl Lee (aka Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks).

Mother Night received mixed to positive reviews, but it bombed at the box office.



Meanwhile, Dunst continued to pay her dues on TV. She played Randy Quaid and Laura Dern’s daughter in the CBS mini-series, The Siege at Ruby Ridge.





She played a sick kid who I’m guessing was miraculously healed on the show, Touched by an Angel.



And she appeared in six episodes of the hit medical drama, ER.



This time she was saved by a hunky miracle when she was touched by George Clooney.



In 1997, Dunst leant her voice to the animated feature, Anastasia. Dunst voiced the title character as a child. Adult Anastasia was voiced by Meg Ryan. Her young and adult singing voices were, respectively, supplied by Lacey Chabert (of Mean Girls fame)and Liz Callaway. So four different actresses were required to play a single character.

Anastasia received mostly positive reviews and was a modest hit at the box office.



Later that year, Dunst starred opposite forgotten 80′s icon, Steve Guttenberg (aka “the Gutte”) in the TV movie, Tower of Terror.

I don’t usually spend a lot of time talking about TV movies. Especially ones I haven’t seen. But this one has two things going for it. One, it stars a way-past-his-prime Guttenberg who just looks happy to be getting a paycheck. And two, it is based on one of the greatest theme park attractions in the world, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Walt Disney World (specifically Disney’s Hollywood Studios).



Regular readers know that Disney World is an obsession of mine. And Tower of Terror is my wife’s favorite ride. Every time we ride it, we see the DVD for this movie in the gift shop you enter as you leave (because all the good rides exit through a gift shop).



Much of the movie was actually filmed at the attraction! That’s pretty freaking cool if you’re a theme park nut like me. Not cool enough to get me to watch the silly thing. But still pretty cool.



Dunst played another sick kid in the sci-fi show, The Outer Limits. Although I don’t think George Clooney or that angel are going to be able to help her this time.



Heck, Dunst even showed up on Celebrity Jeopardy. Dunst played against Joseph-Gordon Levitt (then going by the name Joey) and some kid from The Nanny.


Spoiler alert: The Nanny kid wins.



Dunst ended the year with a small role in Barry Levinson’s satire of Hollywood and politics, Wag the Dog.

Robert DeNiro starred as a Washington spin doctor hired to help a president get re-elected after a Clintonesque scandal. He hires a director played by Hoffman to stage a fake war in the media to take people’s attention away from the scandal. Dunst has a small role as an actress in the made-up war coverage.



Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a modest hit at the box office. Although many thought that the real-life Clinton headlines hurt the film. Either way, Dunst got to work with some A-list talent.



In 1998, Dunst starred in the TV movie, Fifteen and Pregnant. I think the title says it all. Teen Mom for the Lifetime set.



Dunst also starred in a Canadian coming of age comedy called All I Wanna Do in the US, Strike! in Canada and The Hairy Bird in Australia. The movie co-starred Monica Keena, and Rachael Leigh Cook.



Dunst did some more voice work. This time it was for the American release of Hayao Miyazaki animated feature, Kiki’s Delivery Service.



Finaly, Dunst starred in Joe Dante’s action/adventure film, Small Soldiers.

The movie is about a couple of teens (one of whom is played by Dunst) who get caught in the middle of a war between two groups of rival action figures. I have never seen the movie, but a friend described it to me as Gremlins with toys.



Reviews were mixed and the movie disappointed at the box office.



In 1999, Dunst starred opposite James Woods and Kathleen Turner in Sophia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides.

Dunst plays one of five children of over-protective parents. The five sisters make a tragic suicide pact as an act of rebellion.



Reviews were good and the movie was a modest hit in the independent film circuit.



Later that year, Dunst played a beauty pageant contestant in the dark comedy, Drop Dead Gorgeous.

The movie depicts beauty pageants as a cut-throat world in which contestants will go to any lengths to win. Even murder.



Kirstie Alley, Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney and Denise Richards co-star. Adam West appears as himself. And yes, that was a pre-fame Amy Adams in the trailer.

Reviews were mixed and the movie flopped at the box office,



Finally, Dunst starred opposite Michelle Williams in the political comedy, Dick.

Be very careful if you do an image search for this movie. There are some things you can’t unsee.

The movie is set during the Watergate scandal with the always great Dan Heydaya playing Richard Nixon. The premise is that two not-so-bright 15-year-old girls were actually the informants known as Deep Throat. Bruce McCulloch and Will Ferrell appear and Woodward and Bernstein.



Despite mostly good reviews and a terrific cast, Dick flopped at the box office.



In 2000, Dunst appeared in the third movie in the Crow series, Crow: Salvation. The movie’s theatrical release was cancelled after the second film in the series received negative reviews and flopped at the box office. Crow 3 was released direct-to-video instead.



Later that year, Dunst starred in the competitive cheerleading comedy, Bring It On.

It’s part high school movie, part sports comedy, part exploration of race relations and part hot teen girls in cheerleader outfits jumping around.



Reviews were mostly positive and Bring It On was a surprise hit at the box office. The film has spawned several direct-to-video sequels. More importantly, Dunst had just headlined a hit movie.



Dunst started 2001 with another teen comedy. She starred opposite Ben Foster, Mila Kunis and Sisqó in Get Over It.

The film is very loosely based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s what you would get if Shakespeare had written a part for the guy who sand The Thong Song. The movie was originally rated R, but it was recut to get a PG-13 rating while retaining as much “girls in bikinis” content as possible,



Reviews were mixed. But what do you expect? Teens made the movie a modest hit at the box office.



Later that year, Dunst starred in the romantic drama, Crazy/Beautiful.

Dunst played a troubled teen who supplies the “crazy” part of the title. Dunst’s teen starts a relationship with a Latino boy from the other side of the tracks. Surprise, surprise! Her distant dad doesn’t approve. Soon, the young couple is trying to do for dark room photography what Ghost did for pottery.



Reviews were mixed to positive. It didn’t make much of an impression at the box office although it did manage to turn a profit.



Next, Dunst starred as silent film star Marion Davies in Peter Bogdanovich’s period drama, The Cat’s Meow.

The movie is based on an incident that was rumored to have taken place on William Randolph Hearst’s yacht on a weekend cruise celebrating film mogul Thomas H. Ince’s 42nd birthday. Bogdanovich became interested in the story after interviewing Orson Welles for a book. Welles had originally written a scene based on the incident into his film, Citizen Kane which was based on Hearst. Welles eventually cut the scene from his movie, so Bogdanovich decided to make his own movie about the incident.



Reviews were mostly positive. But despite good reviews and a low budget, the movie was still a flop. Box office was more or less besides the point. For Dunst, the important part was that she was being noticed by critics.



In 2002, Dunst starred opposite Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi’s Spider-man.

Spider-man had a long and difficult road to the big screen. For years, the film rights were tied up in a legal battle. An original script treatment was written by James Cameron. But by the time the rights were settled, Cameron had moved on. Several directors were considered before Raimi was eventually given the job. Raimi originally wanted Alicia Witt for the role of Mary Jane Watson. After Maguire was cast as Peter Parker, Dunst decided to audition. She thought Maguire would give the movie the feeling of an independent film.



Reviews were positive and the movie was a huge hit at the box office. The image of Maguire and Dunst sharing an upside down kiss in the rain is one of the most memorable movie images of the 21st century. Spider-man’s runaway success helped pave the way for the dominance of the super hero genre at the box office.



In 2003, Dunst starred opposite Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the period drama, Mona Lisa Smile.

Roberts played a teacher who inspires independence in her young students in the 1950′s. It aimed to be the female version of Dead Poet’s Society.



Reviews were mostly negative. The movie disappointed in the US where it failed to recoup its $65 million dollar budget (Roberts alone costs $25 million). Fortunately, the movie performed well enough over seas to turn a profit.



Dunst started off 2004 with a supporting role in Michel Gondry’s romantic fantasy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

The main story focuses on Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. They play a couple who have erased their memories of each other. Dunst played the receptionist at the company that provides the memory-erasing services. Her character has her own subplot which ties into the main story.



Reviews were positive and the movie was an art house hit.



Later that year, Dunst reprised her role as Mary Jane in Spider-man 2.

Raimi’s original treatment for the first Spider-man film included Dr. Octopus as a secondary villain. Since Raimi nixed the idea for the first film, he used Doc Ock as the villain in the sequel. Originally, Doc Ock was written to be younger. The script included a romantic triangle among Peter, MJ and Doc Ock. The studio nixed nixed the idea. So Raimi went back to the drawing board. The next treatment was partially based on a classic comic book story in which Peter Parker walked away from his duties as Spider-man and partially influence by Superman II - a sequel in which he hero gives up his powers to pursue romance.



Most everyone involved in the first Spider-man film returned for the second. However, Tobey Maguire almost didn’t reprise the title role. He claimed he had sustained a back injury while filming Seabiscuit. Some have suggested that Maguire was actually looking for a raise. If that was his intent, he very nearly got himself fired. The studio began serious negotiations to recast the role with Jake Gyllenhaal, who was dating Dunst at the time.

The sequel received even better reviews than the first film. It was also a big hit at the box office.



Next, Dunst starred opposite Paul Bettany in the romantic comedy, Wimbledon.

Bettany played a down-on-his luck tennis pro who begins a relationship with an up-and-coming tennis player played by Dunst.



Reviews were mixed to positive. But the movie was not a hit at the box office.



In 2005, Dunst starred opposite Orlando Bloom in Cameron Crowe’s romantic comedy, Elizabethtown.

Crowe had been riding high with hits like Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. Then, he had a pretty major misfire with the sci fi thriller, Vanilla Sky. Elizabethtown was meant to be Crowe’s return to form. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way.



Elizabethtown is best known for a term it inspired. Film critic Nathan Rabin coined the term “manic pixie dream girl” to describe characters like the one played by Dunst. He writes that the MPDG is “that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.”

In fairness, MPDGs have been around for decades. Katherine Hepburn played one in Bringing Up Baby. Dunst was hardly the first, but she was the first to be referred to as such. As it turns out, Dunst isn’t a big fan of the term. She says “it’s weird.” It’s also devastatingly descriptive of a certain kind of stock character frequently used by Crowe and other directors.

The reviews were negative and Elizabethtown disappointed at the box office. Crowe wouldn’t release another feature film for six years!



In 2006, Dunst reunited with her Virgin Suicides director, Sophia Coppola for the highly stylized period drama, Marie Antoinette.

Dunst played the queen who famously suggested that the peasants of France should eat cake. History tells us the peasants did not take kindly to the suggestion and as a result, the queen lost her head.



Coppola’s gave the film a very modern style and soundtrack in an attempt to humanize the characters. However, many critics felt the style dominated story and characters. Reviews were mostly negative and the movie bombed in the US. It managed to make its money back overseas.



In 2007, Dunst returned to the Spider-man franchise one last time for Spider-man 3.

As is typically the case with tent pole movies these days, a release date for the sequel was set before a script had even been written. Raimi had intended to use Sandman and the Vulture as villains. Ben Kingsley was even contacted about playing Vulture. But producer Avi Arad convinced Raimi to give fans of the modern Spider-man the villain they wanted to see, Venom.



That trailer looks pretty epic, right? Yeah. Unfortunately, nothing could prepare audiences for this:



But Raimi’s Spider-musical wasn’t done yet. He followed up his 70′s strut with a dance scene at a jazz club:



Rather than bringing the trilogy to a proper conclusion as intended, Spider-man 3 suffered from all of the problems that plague super hero sequels. Too many villains. Too many characters. Too many subplots. It was a big mess filled with some of the worst CGI in the series and topped off with “emo Peter Parker” doing ridiculous dance numbers.

Despite its many flaws, reviews were mostly positive. Though less so than the previous two films. And the movie was a hit at the box office. Although once again less so than the previous two films.

Following Spider-man 3, Raimi began treatments for Spider-man 4 and possibly a fifth film as well. Raimi was interested in seeing the Curt Conners character finally transform into the Lizard as the character had appeared in all three films. He was also in talks with John Malcovich to play the Vulture. Reportedly, Anne Hathaway (the future Catwoman) was considered for the role of Felicia Hardy. In the comics, Felicia Hardy becomes the Black Cat (a Catwoman rip-off). But in the movie, Hardy would have become the Vulturess whatever that is,

Raimi dropped plans for the fifth film and eventually pulled out of the project altogether when he felt he could not make the film’s release date. Sony was already considering rebooting the franchise, so they were more than happy to call it quits on the Raimi/Maguire Spider-man.



Following the Spider-man films, Dunst seems to have lost interest in big budget Hollywood movies. Her next film was 2008′s How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, a British comedy starring Simon Pegg. Jeff Bridges and Megan Fox co-starred.



The movie accomplished what the title promised. Reviews were bad and the movie grossed less than 40% of its production budget worldwide. Ouch. It opened 19th at the box office when it was released in the US. Double ouch.



In 2010, Dunst starred opposite Ryan Gosling in the thriller, All Good Things.

All Good Things is based on the fascinating true story of accused killer, Robert Durst. Gosling plays a troubled rich kid who finds happiness with a young woman played by Dunst. At first, the movie plays like a romantic comedy where the couple leaves the big city to open a health food store. The store was called All Good Things and as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Eventually the couple move back to the big city where Gosling’s character takes up the family business – which is criminal.



Once things go bad, they just keep getting worse. Before the movie ends, Gosling’s seemingly charming character has turned into a real-life Norman Bates. All of the actors deliver terrific performances. But some critics found the movie too formulaic. Reviews were mixed. The movie had trouble finding a distributor when the Weinstein Company backed out. It had a very small theatrical release before going to video.

Dunst actually filmed All Good Things in 2008 after spending some time being treated for chronic depression. Dunst checked herself out after a few months of treatment to make the film which was then delayed until its 2010 release.



In 2011, Dunst starred in Lars von Trier’s apocalyptic drama, Melancholia.

Dunst plays a chronically depressed woman who faces both marriage and the end of the world. Don’t we all?



Von Trier got the idea for the movie while he was being treated for his own depression. The talented and sometimes maddening director made what is easily one of the most beautiful movies of the year. It truly has to be experienced. Words fail.

Reviews were mostly positive. But the movie was never intended for mainstream audiences. Dunst was nominated for a whole host of critics awards and won quite a few as well.



In 2012, Dunst starred opposite Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden and Rebel Wilson in the comedy, Bachelorette.

Dunst, Fisher and Caplan play grown-up mean girls who are horrified to realize their dumpy friend is going to get married before them.



Most of the characters are pretty unsympathetic for most of the movie. But if you can deal with that, there are some really good laughs to be had. Reviews were mixed with some critics claiming that the third act betrays the characters by having them learn the error of their ways. It received a small theatrical release before going to video on demand.

So, what the hell happened?

For one, Dunst struggled with her personal life. She has claimed her mother forced her into show business at a young age. She was also the product of a broken home. Those two things are bound to do a number on a person. Factor in that Dunst never had a normal childhood and grew up more or less famous. All things considered, Dunst seems to have a pretty good take on it. She acknowledged that her mother had the best intentions. She described her childhood saying:

“Well, it’s not a natural way to grow up, but it’s the way I grew up and I wouldn’t change it. I have my stuff to work out … I don’t think anybody can sit around and say: ‘My life is more screwed up than yours.’ Everybody has their issues.”

After having spent three decades in modeling and acting and having earned enough money to not have to work any more, I think Dunst is only making movies that appeal to her. And those movies, like All Good Things and Melancholia, don’t really appeal to mainstream audiences. This has given mainstream audiences the perception that Dunst has disappeared. But the truth is, Dunst is still working. She’s just making movies most people will never see.