Is This the Year Harris Dickinson Goes From Anonymous Hunk to Onymous Hunk?

As a seasoned cinephile with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I can confidently say that Harris Dickinson has finally found the role that will catapult him to stardom – Babygirl’s Samuel. Having seen countless British actors rise and fall, it’s refreshing to see someone who stands out in a sea of Callum Turners and George MacKays.

Approximately at 11 a.m. in Venice, our shared group chat among some fellow U.S. journalists became quite active around lunchtime on Friday.

“Harris is such a goddamn hottie, Jesus,” wrote one critic.

“I’m sorry, I can’t think right now, he’s so hot,” said a features writer.

As a movie enthusiast who recently attended the premiere of Halina Reijn’s film “Babygirl,” I can confidently say that it has all the makings of this year’s most captivating cinematic experience. The performance that left me spellbound was delivered by Harris Dickinson, a 28-year-old British actor who has been on the brink of stardom since his breakout role in Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” in 2017. In “Babygirl,” Dickinson plays Samuel, a corporate intern who ventures into a fascinating journey of self-discovery through a unique dom/sub relationship with his female CEO, Romy, portrayed brilliantly by Nicole Kidman.

It’s not Harris Dickinson’s fault if he hasn’t yet achieved widespread fame; the sheer abundance of talented, young British actors makes it hard for even the most attentive viewer to keep track. Amidst the sea of Callum Turners and George MacKays, I often found myself unsure about his appearance. However, his performance in the Best Picture nominee “Triangle of Sadness” was hilarious as an insecure male model, and he was endearing as one of the doomed wrestlers in “The Iron Claw”. But it seems that with the buzz surrounding “Babygirl”, Harris Dickinson has found a defining image that has brought clarity to aspects of his persona that were previously vague. Essentially, this film has helped establish Harris Dickinson’s star identity.

In the post-screening party for the film at Cipriani, Kyle Buchanan from the New York Times likened the impact of “Babygirl” on Dickinson to how “Challengers” elevated Josh O’Connor, who was known for playing nice guys and nerds. Here, Dickinson isn’t just a handsome man; he’s the dangerous, attractive man who becomes even more alluring because he’s potentially harmful. As Romy attempts to express her feelings, she mentions that the dominance/submission dynamic excites her only when there are real consequences. Reminiscent of a gender-swapped version of David Mamet’s “Oleanna”, Samuel is revealed to wield the true power – one conversation with HR could completely ruin Romy’s life. However, this dynamic works because he isn’t a fantasy like Christian Grey. As a dominant figure, he initially appears clumsy and uncertain. He seems real, even when he effortlessly delivers the intense orgasm that Romy has never experienced with her husband. (Following “The Paperboy”, Kidman is prompting critics to reconsider the debate about whether ‘squirt’ is urine.)

In her critique, my coworker, Alison Willmore, began by highlighting an intriguing scene featuring Dickinson in a suit with pleated pants and no shirt, lifting Nicole Kidman in a robe while ‘Father Figure’ by George Michael played in the background – a moment she described as “confoundingly attractive.” This sentiment wasn’t unique; many reacted to his performance on a deeply visceral level. As one publicist expressed, “Influence is significant, but sometimes you just crave not having to make tough choices.” After the Babygirl party, it seemed as if every woman in attendance was brimming with contented vitality. One individual shared with me, “I’ve been smiling so much my cheeks hurt!”

The advantage of portraying a character who is sexually proficient yet flawed in a movie that deeply explores female desire is significant. At the film’s press conference, Reijn stated, “There remains a significant discrepancy in sexual satisfaction between men and women,” emphasizing her point. She concluded with a joking remark: “This doesn’t apply to you, Harris” – as if Harris and Samuel were the same individual.

It seems like a lot of people watching Babygirl might find themselves in a similar predicament. As the event began to wind down, there were rumors circulating that Dickinson was planning an after-afterparty somewhere on the other side of the water. A few of us deliberated about it. In the end, we opted not to pursue it. One critic expressed disappointment, saying something like, “I don’t want to spend my night trying to get into a straight guy in his twenties’ hotel room.” However, one individual made a different choice and was spotted boarding Dickinson’s water taxi. We can only wonder what kind of tale he’ll spin from that adventure.

2024-08-31 19:54

Is This the Year Harris Dickinson Goes From Anonymous Hunk to Onymous Hunk?

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