... I watch the SAG Awards. Moments like this make it bearable when something like Slumdog Millionaire wins the Best Ensemble Cast over the likes of Doubt, Milk, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, or even Frost/Nixon. Sigh, I still don't get how it could have been nominated for Best Ensemble over Happy-Go-Lucky, Synecdoche, New York, Rachel Getting Married, or The Dark Knight.
(Also I think Meryl Streep's speech was amazing. Totally worth it.)
-Cigarettes
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Reason Why...
Monday, January 19, 2009
It's a Funny, Funny Feeling Down in Your Heart
This of course relates to my last post on Junebug. It just makes me happy when I hear it and it never fails to remind me of this wonderful film. Hopefully you enjoy it too! (The song and the film.)
I Was Born in Japan
(I love this movie so much, I just had to pick more than one quote from it.)"I wonder what she looks like. I bet she's skinny. She probably is. She's skinnier'n me and prettier too. Now I'll hate her. Oh, I can't wait!"
"All I really want is for Johnny to love me like he did in high school."
Let the Sunshine In
"We went to Tijuana, Mexico, you know? And we thought it would be fun, you know, to go to a show. Everybody says you gotta check out one of these shows. And... it's a woman fuckin' a horse. We get there and we think it's gonna be awesome and... it is not as cool as it sounds like it's gonna be. It's kinda gross."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Why All the Hate?
I think by now, any reader of this blog will know that I am a huge fan of Nicole Kidman. Whatever she chooses to do, whatever projects she blesses with her presence, I will be there.
What I am having some trouble understanding is all of the hate and negativity directed toward this woman. What has she done to deserve any of it? Some label her as box-office poison, and others just like to call her a terrible actress on completely unfounded and unsupported grounds. Look at the hoopla surrounding Nicole's latest interview with 2day FM. A few select quotes were taken out of context and blasted around the internet, painting a pretty awful picture. Why all the hate?
I'm just going to say it right now. Nicole can act. Don't believe me? The Academy, BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes have all presented their trophies to her so she may place them on her mantle. Can she really be that terrible, and have somehow magically convinced all of these people that she is worthy of honoring? Maybe you're not convinced and think that I am just hiding behind these groups because I don't have a real example of Nicole Kidman doing some fantastic work. Well go put your copy of Moulin Rouge! back into your DVD player and go to the scene where Nicole is looking at the birdcage, or when she ascends from the heavens on a swing, or perhaps when she desperately calls for forgiveness from center stage. I am telling you Nicole can act. For those of you who don't own the DVD (for shame!) I am going to provide the scenes I am talking about after the jump.NicoleKidmanVoguePC3.jpg)
I was just thinking about comparing Nicole to another one of my favourite actresses (who is having a banner year this year) - Kate Winslet. As far as I know, Kate Winslet is universally beloved by everyone in the whole world, and rightfully so. However, Kate has had her share of box office and critical bombs. Now I mean no disrespect, I love Kate with all my soul, but why haven't I heard websites going on and on about her box-office bombs, and critics smearing her with hatred. Now I will admit that Kate Winslet generally gives out performances that are always outstanding, whereas Nicole's performances can be a little shakey at times, but all the same, how come I find all the hate directed at Nicole? I hear people going on and on about how Australia was a huge bomb and whatnot, but I checked out Box Office Mojo, and I discovered that Australia has made a profit of $21 Million and counting. It may not sound like much, but I wouldn't consider it a bomb! Heading over to Rotten Tomatoes, Australia seems to be sitting at a luke-warm 54%, but Winslet's latest offering, The Reader, isn't doing that much better with a 60% approval rating.
How about we look at the box office receipts of The Golden Compass, Bewitched, The Interpreter, Birth, The Stepford Wives, and Dogville? All of these films, despite what critical reception they might have recieved, have all managed to turn a profit at the box office. Compared to the likes of Romance and Cigarettes, Little Children, All the King's Men, and Hideous Kinky, I think Nicole looks like a pretty good bet. Just to top off my point, Revolutionary Road and The Reader have yet to recoup their budgets (not to suggest that I don't want them too... I wish Kate all the success she can handle!) and if they don't receive any Academy Award nominations, I doubt the films will be able to recoup at the box office.
So why all the hate? Where has all the love gone? Both of these woman are fantastic actresses who have made fantastic films, and hopefully go on to make many more. So why does one side seem to bathe in praise, while the other is scorned and shamed by the public?! Can someone explain this to me?! Is it her personality? Her background? Her face? Can someone tell me why the whole world doesn't love Nicole Kidman? Because I do, and I think I will until the day I die.
Unfortunately I could not find the video for this, just the song, so I guess you will just have to hear the pain in her voice rather than see it.
Try to ignore the... Spanish?
Nicole is so lovely.
-Cigarettes
Perhaps We Can Obtain Another?
"Has your mind become as decrepit as your face Empusa? You speak as if such things are freely available."
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable
I just ran into these videos on Youtube thanks to Guy Lodge over at In Contention. I found the video so intriguing, that I checked it out a little further and found the channel for The Hollywood Reporter. Now here's the thing, this channel has been around for just under a year, yet they only have 152 subscribers (as of today) and their videos have not been viewed by very many people. I mean some of the older stuff in their video library is not that great, but I thought these round tables with writers, directors, and actors were pretty awesome. To have Amy Adams and Michelle Williams sitting and discussing their roles with Emma Thomson and Sally Hawkins... it just made me happy. I think the videos are fantastic, not long enough, and I still can't get enough. The video of which I speak is below, and if you want to see more, there are many more videos after the jump, or at The Hollywood Reporter Channel on YouTube.
-Cigarettes
[Source In Contention]
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