Friday, March 16, 2007

Cate, We Need To Talk...

Dear Cate Blanchett,

Please stop! Weren't you supposed to be taking a vacation or something? Or a new job, I mean. Weren't you supposed to be running a theater company in Australia. That sounds like a noble "give back to the community" kind of thing to do. Good for you. Go for it. They need you.

See, you're turning into such a problem for me. I run a movie website that's kinda [understatement] actress-obsessed and most of my readers love you and your ubiquity is going to turn them against me! I am so sick of looking at you. I won't be able to help mentioning it since I have this version of Tourettes that is connected to my 75 wpm fingers rather than my tongue. There's no cure.

If you don't stop making movies soon my readers will be surrounding me with torches and pitchforks. Just one year off. I beg you. One year. Every actor does it eventually. And, anyway, why on earth would you need to be in an Indiana Jones movie? You're already famous. You're already rich. You're already respected. You're already obviously in demand. What could you possibly have to offer that series that a million (literally) actresses couldn't and for them it could be career saving or boosting. They'd call it "the role". For you it's just something to do inbetween #31 and #33.

Rich and famous people aren't supposed to work day in and day out, Cate. You're throwing off the natural order of things. We civilians only work that much because we have to. You can take as many vacations as you like. I'm not asking you to go all Foster on us. That girl has no work ethic. But you're rich and famous! Enjoy it. If you want I can send you travel brochures or something. I'm eager to help. There's lots of places you could go to relax. I went to Cabos once. It was lovely. I went snorkeling, I drank a ton of tequila, I got a sunburn. I totally recommend the first two.

Leave me alone!

All my love,
Nathaniel

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bravo.

gabrieloak said...

Yes, it's odd especially since she just finished several interviews (one of them in the New Yorker) saying how she was going to concentrate on the Australian theater she's codirecting with her husband. Maybe she needs to get away from hubby now? Or maybe she only appears in a few scenes in the film?

Anonymous said...

Oh God.

maybe focus your intentions more on the Scarlett Johannsens or Jessica Beils of the world.. you know, the girls who get a shit load of work and still manage to suck. Certainly plenty of ingenues deserve a chance and would benefit from those two (as well as many, many others) going on a prolonged sabbatical. =-p

As for Blanchett being a household name.. close, but not yet. She's definitely growing in notoriety but for those of us who aren't cinephiles (like my mom, who says 'I know I've seen her.. was she in 'Shakespeare in Love'?) she's nowhere near the likes of Roberts, Kidman, Witherspoon or even Cameron friggin' Diaz - who all rake in a fair amount more than her and maybe Indy 4 will bring Blanchett more into the mainstream and give her a little more clout in terms of her income.

But yes Nat, I generally agree.. bitch be working too much and needs some sort of break. Maybe after the possible success of Indy she can finally rest on her well deserved laurels.

-Eli

Anonymous said...

i love love love her!

Anonymous said...

Good job. I'm tired of her too

Jason Adams said...

BUT IT'S OURS EENDEE! YOURS AND MINE!!!

Beau said...

Should've been Virginia Madsen. Damn it. I love me my Blanchett, but Madsen looks as though she was born to play in an Indy film. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I've been one of Blanchett's staunchest admirers for years, and I love the fact that she works constantly, but I'll agree with Nathaniel on this one - I don't really want to see her in the Indiana Jones movie.

Corey S. said...

I can't believe my ears! Make it stop! Cate, If you can read this, I still love you. in whatever and whenever you do. Keep them coming, Make all the other gals catch up to you! don't follow the trend and only be brilliant every other year, show the world that you are the second coming of MERYL! HALLELUJAH!

Glenn Dunks said...

Yeah, I love Cate but Indiana Jones? Really? That movie is probably gonna another one of those desperate last-grab efforts for fame by Harrison Ford. Who wants that?

Eli, there are plenty of lesser-talented people than Johansson and Beil. Like, so many that it boggles my mind that you mentioned them. Well, maybe not Beil, even though she is good, but yeah. Johansson? Really?

Anonymous said...

Blanchett got paid $1500 for the Good German and $1500 for Babel - she got a bit more for Notes but not much more - the total budget for Notes was 17 mil - she is gonna get paid 125,000 australian a yr for being co artistic director of the sydney theater - oh yeah - and the sydney theater is on the verge of bankruptcy - soooooo - I suspect a nice paycheck from Indy and the chance to work with Spielberg may have been the motivating factors here - consider too that her last four films were all heavy dramatic fare - her next three are all heavy dramatic fare - maybe the lady wants to have some fun ???

film freaks know Blanchett - but she has yet to get that popular acclaim - and she is 37 and did not reALLY GET NOTICED IN THE us TIL SHE WAS 29 ISH - - she has a small window of opportunity as a female in the movie business - before she enters Annette Bening territory - she has to establish herself NOW -

she has also been saying in interviews she wants to do an action or comedy - and she wants to play a villain - I bet she is the villain in the Indy film - i'D rather see Blanchett three times a year than Zellweger or Dunst and the rest of the usual suspects.

Anonymous said...

BTW _ The letter truly is funny Nate - lol - however - lord I am in a ranting mood today - how come no one complains when Clooney or Damon or Decaprio knock out three films a year ???

Anonymous said...

Because all the Blandshit fanatics are so fucking annoying!!

Anonymous said...

No.. the Nathaniel fanboys, who follow him like sheep and echo his opinion while lacking their own are annoying. =-)

Barry said...

You're so mean. I love it when I hear Cate Blanchett is making more movies. She is one of the BEST actresses working today. If she can get oscar nomination after oscar nomination, I would be happy. She was robbed of the oscar for Notes on a Scandal.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe cate blanchett of all people is desperate to be a Movie Star. I thought she was a Serious Actress? Very bizzare. Though even Judi Dench did that vin diesel film.

Also to the person who said that blanchett is "only" earning $125,000 a year for her theatre work - oh I'm totally crying for her, the poor thing. Most people would kill for that kind of wage.

Anonymous said...

but she's great in everything she does and I don't have a problem with her... ok, she was in 3 good films last year but there are many actors who are in more films in 1 year but with some films that aren't that ambitious as "Good German","Babel" and "Notes On a Scandal"...
or soon "The Golden Age", "Benjamin Button" and "I'm Not There".

NATHANIEL R said...

it's not just the number of films. it's the repetitive numbers of films. a lot of people have big years but she is relentless. i mean she has only been making movies since, waht 1996, and she's already signed for #33. That is crazy.

Anonymous said...

I agree.
Though I do think Blanchett could make for a great Indy dame (she really has that 30's star radiance), I totally agree that she is securing way more "heavy" roles than she needs to.

Anonymous said...

Nat, I actually seldom agree with you on say Blanchett or say Kidman (only other actress I can think of who makes that many films that I usually love) when you say that they make too many movies at a time. Both of these women have more then 6 movies in the works from here to 2008. That is CRAZY. And I love that I get to see them as well as some other favorites at least twice a year.

But in this instance, I agree. When I read that Blanchett signed on to Indiana Jones I seriously said out loud, WTF? It was the most random news I've seen all day. I can understand Blanchett trying to get in a bigger film so people will actually know her name for once (I'm so sick of people calling her Kate Blanchette, spell it right, lmao) but she could do better then this. And all this after she did state that she wasn't doing any films for two years? I guess she couldn't do it, lol. Or maybe AFTER she gets done with Indy she's going to go away to Australia? I dunno but I will say that I'm not anticipating this that much.

Anonymous said...

It might feel like we've been under the force of a Blanchett deluge but looking at her filmography on imdb, it doesn't seem to be the case.

(2007)
I'm Not There
The Golden Age

(2006)
Notes on a Scandal
The Good German
Babel

(2005)
Little Fish (barely a blip on the radar)
Stories of Lost Souls (??)

(2004)
Life Aquatic
The Aviator

(2003)
The Return of the King
The Missing
Veronica Guerin
Coffee and Cigarettes

Eh, I can't be buggered typing out the rest. Button and the latest projects she's been attached to seem to be scheduled for 2008 so they don't count as much. Anyway, it's enough to say that the main reason why she seems to be so ubiquitous is because all three of her 2006 films came out late in the year in time for Oscars, which has been immediately succeeded by news of her other films. If you look at it, since her big break through in Elizabeth she's been cast in, on average, 2-3 films a year, many of which are ensemble pieces where her screen time is heavily compressed. Her average is probably a bit less than Julianne Moore's and a bit more than Nicole Kidman (although hers are largely headlining acts so that might be a factor), which seems appropriate given her status in HolyWood

So don't worry everyone, come the middle of the year, she'll seem far less pervasive.

NATHANIEL R said...

well yeah. the middle of the year is usually bereft but i feel like i get her for christmas every year and I am tired of that gift under the tree! Something new please.

it's like 'she who must not be named's endless bait. I'm like ENOUGH. I know it seems crazy to say but it's greedy. There are so many talented actresses who we never get to see much of. I think Blanchett is super talented but she is NOT right for every role.

Why do we have to have the same people in all the prestige films. zzz.

Anonymous said...

Awesome !

Can we send it to Terence Howard also ?

Please? I beg you.

Anonymous said...

Okay, this made me want to check out how many films our top working actresses have coming out between here and 2008. I've done my research so someone better talk about this!

Nicole Kidman has 6 films coming out between here and 2008. Nicole even has one film, Rabbit Hole, that is in development that she is due to shoot after Australia and Need, but it isn't added yet. So that would make 7 for La Kidman.


Reese Witherspoon has only 2 coming out between here and 2008.


Cate Blanchett has 4 films listed coming out between here and 2008. Indiana Jones hasn't been added yet. So that would make it 5.


Renee Zellweger (Nat's favorite!) has 3.

Julia Roberts has 3.

Angelina Jolie has 5 coming out between here and 2008.

Naomi Watts has 3 coming out between here and 2008 but has The Birds remake as well coming out in 2009.

And last, but not least, Meryl Streep has 9(!!!) coming out between here and 2008 although a lot of those are supporting roles. Still, that's alot.

So if we want to go by that list, Meryl Streep is working too much, followed by Nicole Kidman and Cate who is tied with Angelina.



But I don't like Cate Blanchett that much so I don't have a problem with Nat's letter at all, lmao.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand this obsession with Blanchett's ubiquity. She's not the only actress working non-stop, but she gets media atention every year for the projects she choses. Kidman does 2 movies a year, but since Bewitched she's out of the spotlight.

Blanchett is in the peak of her career, about to take a break from movies... Why not? And she always chases directors to her resume and it's a Spielberg. I trust her choices and the screenplay must have something good for her.

You love Scar-Jo, write her love letters every week but can't stand Blanchett? Something weird huh? The woman choses characters so different from each other and yet so appealing acting wise it's not funny. Meryl Streep is also cleaning up the roles for women her age, while Sarandon, Weaver, Close and Thompson aren't even working anymore. At least, not doing quality work. And you get to hate on Blanchett, while all other actresses from her generation are doing just fine.

And she isn't that exposed to the overall public. I mean, if you love the Oscars, she'll have something for you every year, but herself have made complaints about all her movies opening in December. If you get offered the roles in Babel, Notes, German, Golden Age, I'm Not There, Button would you turn them down? These are great talent involved, great characters opportunities, good screenplays... That she always gets this heavy dramas and then picks and action adventure is a big plus. Directed by Spielberg and loved by millions and millions of people? BRING IT! Spielberg said in the Oscar luncheon he would do anything to work with her. And he tried already in Minority Report.

She did The Aviator in late 2003, got pregnant, gave birth, won an Oscar in 2005 and then started working again in late 2004 in Little Fish. Then Hedda Gabler in NY Theater, Babel, Notes, German. Little break. Golden Age, I'm Not There. Oscar Season. Starts working in Benjamin Button. Oscars. Wraps Button. June starts Indy 4. Nothing out of this world for a working actres?

Anonymous said...

I dunno, but I wouldn't have mind if she skipped the sadistic Babel.

That said, lets take a moment to imagine what would happen if CLint Eastwood and Cate Blanchett worked together on a film.

Barry said...

Getting Cate Blanchett is never enough and it is crazy to say that its greedy. Other actresses are making more movies than Cate Blanchett, but u don't bother to mention them.

and I agree with anonymous person before arkaan.

Javier Aldabalde said...

Considering she has the most stunning FACE since probably Isabelle Adjani, I can't fathom anyone getting tired of LOOKING at that, but if you mean recent choices career wise, I agree with you. 2006 was a dull, mediocre year for such a great actress but I'm Not There and Indiana Jones seem like stupendous career moves to me. So happy about these news. I'd rather talk to Meryl Streep instead, who "Adaptation" aside hasn't done anything truly awesome in more than a decade, and pretty much every 2007 movie stars her anyway.

Anonymous said...

Angels in America. Angels in America. and Angels in America.

Colin said...

JavierAG:
I hope Meryl doesn't take the type of roles that she used to -- I love her recent work in Adaptation, A Prairie Home Companion and The Devil Wears Prada far more than her past melodramatic work. She lights up the screen when she's got a vivacious character to play with.

Glenn Dunks said...

"Meryl Streep is also cleaning up the roles for women her age, while Sarandon, Weaver, Close and Thompson aren't even working anymore."

That is sad, but if you're a filmmaker and Meryl freakin' Streep agrees to be in your film it's sort of impossible to say no.

Gotta say that I absolutely loved Blanchett in The Good German (a movie I liked, much to the disapproval of others I assume) but Babel and Notes on a Scandal weren't the best from her (although Notes clearly was a good choice considering it gave her her third Oscar nod).

Plus, she was really great in 2005's Little Fish. I predict she'll be great in I'm Not There and The Golden Age.

NATHANIEL R said...

i loved Blanchett in The Good German too actually. but i don't wanna encourage her ;)

Anonymous said...

Jealousy will get you nowhere Nathaniel.

Anonymous said...

Cate Blanchett can do as many films as she damn well pleases. Stop hatin'.

NATHANIEL R said...

SEE WHAT I MEAN, MS. BLANCHETT! POINT PROVEN. PEOPLE TURNIN' AGAINST ME

;)

Anonymous said...

"That is sad, but if you're a filmmaker and Meryl freakin' Streep agrees to be in your film it's sort of impossible to say no."

The same applies for Blanchett??? She's not as acclaimed or famous as Meryl, and B.O. wise she doesn't do anything, but she kinda brings confidence to the project. I mean, after she signed to Indy 4 many many people were saying " So this must have something interesting after all?". She'd an actress and not a star, if you know what I mean.

And Nhat, I love you and I love your site, but this obsessions with Blanchett is for all the wrong reasons.

MadHatter said...

The reason why Cate Blanchett is so overused is that there is no other actress that can turn in such routinely excellent work in everything. Even when the movies are horrible (Missing, Heaven, Veronica Guerin) she somehow comes out looking marvelous. If there was one actress who you knew could make your movie better, wouldn't you want to cast her?

NATHANIEL R said...

but that's just it madhatter. there are several actresses who people should know will make their movies better.

I'm not disputing that Blanchett is talented. that's not the issue.

i just don't get the weird non-distribution of roles. And I also maintain that she is not rigth for every role. I think she's been majorly miscast AT LEAST twice.

Anonymous said...

I guess when Stephen Spielberg, Todd Haynes and Shekar Kapur call... you don't say no.

Ever.

Anonymous said...

Oh, if Kapur calls you, don't say yes like that...

Anonymous said...

Which two times? You mentioned Notes on a Scandal, but given that she was nominated everywhere for it, it seems bizarre to suggest that Eyre et al shouldn't have worked with her *(which by saying she was miscast you essentially are) and who would you have replaced her with (in fact, for all the times you think she was miscast, who would you get to take her place).

She didn't bring anything special to Babel, but I'd argue that the role did her no favours and that no one in the film brought anything great to the table.

My only problem with you using her list of films against her is that a good portion of them weren't media-sensations, big hits, critical successes or anything. She was in them, but they don't count towards overexposure because they were hardly exposed (I'm thinking of Coffee and Cigarettes, Heaven, Little Fish).

Or do you have this phase where Aussie actors get overexposed and you need to get another one (I recall you calling Crowe and Kidman overexposed at one point. Are you, in fact, an Aussie-hater?)

Anonymous said...

I like Cate Blanchett, but I don't love her, mainly because she's one of those actresses that despite being technically excellent, comes across as really cold on screen. The only movie where I've bought her as a part of a love story was Thank God He Met Lizzie, a tiny film from years ago.

Kate

NATHANIEL R said...

arkaan --funny. a secret aussie hater. I need a replacement stat! HEE

Glenn Dunks said...

*gasp*

UNAUSTRALIAN!

(I got called unamerican once by someone who emailed me from my blog. It was one of the oddest things I've ever been called.)

Anonymous said...

Blanchett Rocks!

Anonymous said...

can you imagine cate doing Moulin Rouge? Birth? Dogville? Cold Mountain?

Anonymous said...

I can imagine her in Cold Mountain. Maybe even Dogville. But certainly not Birth or Moulin Rouge. Not sure your point, though.

AMMONART25 said...

I was sitting in there watching Hot Fuzz at the weekend and recognised the voice and eyes of Cate Blanchett but thought it could'nt possibly be her...WRONG!
I reckon Cate only took on the Indy role so she could get to play a juicy villain. I love everything she does(even if the movie is shitty)and don't think she does enough...The bunching of her movies as oscar bait is annoying though...

Anonymous said...

Such a BS post!! Nat, you're getting more and more personal. If it was Moore, you wouldn't be complaining, right?

Anonymous said...

Keep them coming, Cate. I love you.