NYT Great Performances, or How look: gorgeous pics!

The entire NYT gallery "Great Performances" is gorgeous, but these three were my favorites (and that's not even going into the very ethereal "The Secret Lives of Girls" portraits which include 2009 it girls from Sidibe to Mulligan to Ronan).

Hunky "Brothers"

God! Julianne and Colin need to reunite ASAP (at least for another dance party, no?)

I don't know how I'm more jealous of.

Penelope and Pedro, or How they're a great pair aren't they?

While their latest collaboration (Broken Embraces) doesn't soar as high as their last outing (the beautifully and buoyantly effervescent Volver), there's no denying Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz make for a great cinematic pairing.

Their joint interview over at the New York Times is a joy to read. My favorite passage (mainly because it solidifies my idea of Penelope as coy and cunning, keenly aware of her disarming charm, but not without a sharp edge [in my head Penelope is part Maria Elena and part Raimunda]):

The chemistry Mr. Almodóvar, 60, and Ms. Cruz, 35, share would almost seem romantic if he were not one of the world’s best-known openly gay directors and she were not linked in the tabloids to the actor Javier Bardem. (Asked if a wedding is in the works, she said, with a pleasant smile and eyes of cold steel: “You are a writer for The New York Times, yes? I think maybe you are not supposed to ask that kind of question.”)

9 from Nine, or How in a very unusual way I think I'm in love with this trailer...

Rob Marshall's Nine - if nothing else - looks gorgeous. Also: it's an actressexual's wet dream with Nicole, Marion, Kate, Dame Judi, Sophia, & Penelope taking center stage around Mr Day-Lewis. 

And so, here are 9 still frames/thoughts from Nine's trailer:

9. Nicole giving Daniel a smooch. Just the fact that Nicole is doing her first musical role since the whirlwind that was/is Moulin Rouge gets me excited regardless. To see her all glammed up and working her ice-cool sexy demeanor, just makes me quiver with anticipation with what 'Unusual Way' will look/sound like.

8. Judi and the 'Folies Bergeres' = it's like Mrs Henderson is presenting all over again.

7. Marion playing sexy. Is it just me or what could have been one of those forgettable Oscar biopic choices turning out to be the start of a great career for Ms Cotillard, who not only has Nine coming out but also Public Enemies with Johnny and Christian? Seeing her act without makeup and the thrust of Piaf's tragic story will be refreshing (I hope).

6. Kate as a 90s blond pop star? I mean, that is what this frame suggests n'est-ce pas? As long as this reignites her non-romcom career, I'll take whatever I can get.

5. I have been scarred... why is it that I expect Sophia to yell "Roberto!!!" and wave an envelope every time I see her? But here she's all regal and better-than-thou (which, you know she is) so I think I'm safe from Benigni's blabbering speeches.

4. Fergie as Saraghina. What Marshall, Ms BEP, a host of dancers and sand (!) can do on screen makes me feel like 'Be Italian' might be this film's 'Cell Block Tango.' And that is always a good thing to be aspiring to be.

3. Penelope being sexy. Her Carla is already miles away (physically) from Jane Krakowski's TONY Award winning portrayal so I'm hoping Cruz's smouldering number will be able to work free from any comparison to Ms Krakowski's memorable sheet-ful number and well... if anyone can do that it's Penelope cause she doesn't just have talent, she has gee-nee-uss!

2. Daniel Day-Lewis. I can't be the only one anticipating Day-Lewis' first role since his Oscar-winning Daniel Plainview and his first-ever singing role. Gladly, the trailer shows him at ease (and smiling!) so I am timidly waiting to see the followup trailer to hear him.

1. The techs! The cinematography (those Felliniesque black and white shots of the boys at the beach!), the lighting (that entrance!), the costumes (Penelope's corset! Nicole's coat! Kate's ensemble!), the hair (Marion's bun!  Judi's bob!), the makeup (Penelope's eyes! Sophia's face!) not to mention what are bound to be top notch editing, sound mixing, sound editing... make me drool. 

Needless to say: I'm excited. And The New Broadway Cast Recording has been playing on loop on my iTunes all week.

Kate Holmes Next? or How Tom Cruise's Exes Strike Oscar Gold

So I was flipping channels and I ended up catching Vanilla Sky on Bravo, which just reminded me of the following piece of trivia:

Is Katie next?

Best Supporting Actress, or How Desire is the Word

A Blog Next Door's Oscar coverage 2009: for the lit theory junkine in me and the Oscar watcher in you.

Best Supporting Actress 2009: 'Lacanian Desire' 

Okay so we dealt with the crazy supporting boys, the 'manly' leading men and the motherly leading ladies... so what is left? Well, we have a lovely bunch of supporting ladies (don't they make a gorgeous lineup?) who exemplify to one extent or another the different models of desire that (just like 'motherhood' in the leading ladies) these characters exemplify. 

And so here we have a mother, a nun, a stripper mother, a foster mother and a power of nature:

Viola Davis is "Mrs Miller" in Doubt

'I just want what's best for my son.'

&

Amy Adams is "Sister James" in Doubt

'You just want your simplicity, back.'

If I'm lumping the two Doubt girls it is not because of any attempt at diminishing the individual impact but because they both showcase (I think) a similar drive: to keep things as they are (or were, as it may). Both Sister James and Mrs Miller function in the film as character who don't wish to face (or can't fathom to face) the revelation which Sister Aloysius wants to bear on those involved. While one appears more troubled than the other, they both show us women whose desire is for the 'status quo.'  Interesting because this desire for not-change as a model of a world outlook comes at once from a place of faith (Sister James) and a place of social inequality (Mrs Miller), yet it hinges on their role as women pit against men. Our desire contains.

Marisa Tomei is "Cassidy" in The Wrestler

I elicit desire.

Here is a woman who makes money off of men's desire. Cassidy sells the image of her body and is able to make dance that fine line between harnessing desire and letting it out of control. Indeed, her relationship with 'The Ram' suggests that she can only apprehend relationships within a policed desiring structure (client-stripper) and has a hard time figuring out how that desire can either transcend or be turned into something else. My desire titillates.

Taraji P. Henson is "Queenie" in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I desire to be a mother.

Here is a woman whose desires seem to be unconvincingly selfless. I say that because Queenie seems to not have any desire that is not directed/aimed at someone else (she wants to care for Benjamin, she devotes her life to helping older folks - all, it would seem at her own expense). The film (indeed the premise) cannot empower Queenie with any desire other than to be Benjamin's mother. My desire is muted.

Penelope Cruz is "Maria Elena" in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I am desire.

Here is a whirlwind of desire - unstoppable, misdirected and at times violent (but then, aren't all warm-blooded European female artists like this?) If there's one thing that Maria Elena epitomizes is the temptation (and curiously dangerous allure) of unbridled desire - be it sexual (with Juan Antonio), artistic (with Cristina) or both (with both!) Whether Woody presents us with a prescription or a warning is up to the audience, but compared to the pale (and might we even go as far as say 'frigid' and 'clinical'?) Vicky and Cristina, we can't fault the camera and the characters from being so seduced by Maria Elena's "ge-nee-uss" which stems from and is projected within her desiring/able body. My desire disturbs.

Kate and Penelope, or How I swear I'll stop posting Kate pics soon...

... As long as she stops looking gorgeous:

And some Penelope so that I'm not all about the Kate love:

[source]

Watch Out for 2009, or How what are you looking forward to?

Okay, so 2008 is far behind us, and it didn't quite make an impression on anyone (can someone tell me why Slumdog is taking every and all prizes other than because its competition is horribly weak?) In any case: let's look ahead people! I mostly look forward to films because of the people involved so that's why the list skews more towards films made by/starring people I love. "Big Movies" and the "Blockbusters" don't really get me excited though I do end up watching them, so that's why stuff like Watchmen, Terminator and Avatar don't quite make it to the list. Without further ado:

Top 20 Films I'm Most Looking Forward to

20. Cherie (Stephen Frears)

Michelle Pfeiffer in a costume drama. Need we say more?

19. Shutter Island (Martin Scorcese)

Despite The Aviator I still look forward to any Leo/Marty pairing.

18. Duplicity (Tony Gilroy)

You had me at Julia Roberts headlining a film. Add in Tony 'Bourne/Michael Clayton' Gilroy and a shirtless scene with Clive Owen and you've got me really intrigued for this film.

17. A Single Man (Tom Ford)

You have to give props to Mr Ford for bringing together three stars I love: Julianne, Lee & Colin. Also, I love the original story so I'm interested to see how this turns out.

16. An Education (Lone Scherfig)

If there was one deafening pronouncement coming from Sundance this year, it was the breakthrough of a certain Ms Carey Mulligan in this Nick Hornby-penned film. Add in Peter Saarsgard and an academic environment and I'm sold.

15. Rudo y Cursi (Carlos Cuaron)

Gael. Diego. 'Nuff said.

14. Brothers (Jim Sheridan)

Is it just me or was this supposed to be an '08 release? In any case, this remake of a Danish film of the same name has me intrigued, mainly for the talent involved (Ms Portman, Jake and Tobey).

13. Ponyo at the Cliff (Hayao Miyazaki)

I'm an animation freak, so of course I would be

looking forward to Miyazaki's new retelling of Anderson's Little Mermaid. Also, is this not the best voice acting cast since... ever? You had me at Tina Fey.

12. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (David Yates)

This was on my list last year: Warner Bros better make our wait worth while!

11. Los Abrazos Rotos (Pedro Almodovar)

Penelope. Pedro. 'Nuff said.

10. The Princess and the Frog (Ron 'n John)

These are the guys that brought us The Little Mermaid, Hercules and Aladdin, and while I'm unsure about the whole 'Randy Newman writes New Orleans tunes' is gonna work out, I have high hopes for this return to form among the Disney crowd.

9. Away We Go (Sam Mendes)

This is why doing research for upcoming films is fun: you realize John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cheryl Hines, Alison Janney and Catherine O'Hara are starring in a new comedy film by Sam Mendes!

8. Julie and Julia (Nora Ephron)

Meryl. Amy. 'Nuff said.

7.The Lovely Bones (Peter Jackson)

The novel tells the story of a girl who watches from heaven as her family deal with her murder. Intriguing no? We'll see what Mr Jackson cooks up for us.

6. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (Edgar Wright)

Have you really not picked up the wonderful comic books that trace the trials and tribulations of a certain Scott Pilgrim? What is wrong with you? And now, with a wonderful cast, I can't wait to see what this film looks like.

5. Sunshine Cleaning (Christine Jeffs)

Amy. Emily. 'Nuff said. (This film also closes the Amy-Emily-Meryl-Anne square - wait no. Amy and Anne now need to star in something...)

4. 500 Days of Summer (Marc Webb)

I already talked about how much I was looking forward to this film starring Zoey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt here.

3. Nine (Rob Marshall)

Nicole. Penelope. Kate. Sophia. Judi. Marion. 'Nuff said. Well, no - add to it the directorial vision of Rob Marshall and you've got yourself the most anticipated musical this year.

2. Talking Woodstock (Ang Lee)

When has Mr Lee disappointed us? (If you're answer was "Hulk" please go skulk in the corner right now, shame on you!) Also: Emile, Paul (Dano), Liev, Imelda, Demetri Martin (just saw him on Flight of the Conchords - so cute!) and Jonathan 'Spring Awakening' Groff!

1. Up (Pete Docter)

Is this a surprise to anyone? Of course PIXAR's latest installment would make my number 1 (the fact that Ratatouille and Wall‧E were my top picks for the last two years proves that I have yet to be disappointed by Lassetter & co).

The 20 Actresses Meme, or How my name is mB and I'm an Actressexual

This started over at The Film Experience, but I was tagged by JA over at My New Plaid Pants and it's already cropped up in a couple of other blogs I read, so here we go. 

My favourite actresses of all time:

(Clockwise) Felicity, Penelope, Natalie, Maggie, Emily, Amy, Tina, Bette, Lisa, Nicole, Judi, Alyson, Vivien, Mary, Kristin, Salma, Julia, Kate, Meryl and SMG

And now I need to tag some people:

POP COLONY

Rants of a Diva

Tapeworthy

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, or How Penelope will fuck you up!

Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Directed and Written by Woody Allen
Starring: Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson

Okay so the title is a bit of a mouthful. But then, this is a Woody Allen comedy, n'est-ce pas?

VCB begins with - what else? - Vicky and Cristina moving into Barcelona for the summer. Christopher Evan Welch, acting as Allen's narrator/voice-over lets us into Vicky and Cristina's minds and attitudes towards art, life and love. Now, while at first I found the voice-over a bit too much, I stopped noticing it after a while, and realised that it was organically tied to the way the plot and the characters moved forward rather than a cop out for giving us information we wouldn't have gotten any other way.

The plot is deceptively simple: boy meets girls, invites girls for a trip and a threesome, girls follow through with the former but not the latter, both girls 'fall' for the boy. (The film really stresses the differences between Hall's Vicky and Johansson's Cristina: one is sensible, the other is erratic; one is romantic, the other is a romantic... and the moment the film splits in two we see what the choices they make do for their personal relationships with men: Vicky with her cookie-cutter (and utterly BORING) fiancee and Cristina with Juan Antonio - the boy in question.

But the story doesn't really pick up until boy's ex-wife comes into the picture. The moment Penelope Cruz walks on screen, the picture gains a level of energy and vibrancy that only Ms Cruz could have brought with her. Her Maria Elena is unstable, frantic, psychotic, sensual, dangerous and sexy all at once. You can say all you want about Woody Allen (that his films are pretentious, that he's not that funny or that sexy, that he's a mysogynist) but I dare anyone to watch the scenes Cruz has on this film and deny me the fact that Allen is a master at eliciting such natural and electric performances from gifted actresses as he does with Cruz (and I would add Hall and Johansson here too, but Cruz is the woman to watch). Just like her character adds a sense of balance and artistic flair to Juan Antonio's painting and Cristina's photography, Maria Elena's imbalance offers Allen the perfect touch to give this 'romantic comedy' an edge without which it would have just been a sexy (albeit quite sexually neutered) romantic fling film with pretty stars in an even prettier setting. A