Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Open Thread

What's on your cinematic mind? I'm posting this very late at night hoping that you readers on the other coast or maybe cross the ocean in different time zones might speak up for a change.
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51 comments:

Michael said...

It's sad to see how few surprises have come in the Best Actress category for the last decade. I mean, Kidman, Berry, and Cotillard all had some pretty serious awards (Golden Globes or SAG), and those are the three who have maybe "upset." I hope this next decade will be full of upsets! Upsets would have let us see Laura Linney win, or Gabourey Sidibe. (I swear, this isn't a plug for their upcoming series "The Big C," they were just the first two who popped into my mind!)

Amir said...

just finished watching 'the big lebowski' again.
and i really think jeff bridges won that oscar (at least) a decade too late.

Andrew David said...

As I type this I'm in the middle of "The Last Temptation of Christ". Scorsese really is full of surprises... but I think the novel is a much better work than the film.

Henry said...

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And Kick-Ass, hopefully coming from Netflix within the next couple of days.

Hudsucker Proxy too, spurred on by this blog's post on Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Poppy said...

I don't understand the love Marion cotillard and Joseph Gordon-levitt get for Inception. I thought they were the weakest acting links of the film. Marion was just silly to me and just made weird acting choices. She never felt right to me. She played it like a child.
JGL was bland as hell. He was just trying to be this cool guy but I didn't believe it. I don't know, I've never found him charming which seems like his thing. At one point I forgot he was even in the film. He wasn't bad but I don't see why he was such a "scene stealer" like so many people claim.

Anyway, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is awesome. I gonna OD if this gets an oscar nom. If not I hope she get's an oscar the Mo'Nique way.

Poppy said...

I don't understand the love Marion cotillard and Joseph Gordon-levitt get for Inception. I thought they were the weakest acting links of the film. Marion was just silly to me and just made weird acting choices. She never felt right to me. She played it like a child.
JGL was bland as hell. He was just trying to be this cool guy but I didn't believe it. I don't know, I've never found him charming which seems like his thing. At one point I forgot he was even in the film. He wasn't bad but I don't see why he was such a "scene stealer" like so many people claim.

Anyway, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is awesome. I gonna OD if this gets an oscar nom. If not I hope she get's an oscar the Mo'Nique way.

Anonymous said...

'One Day', its being filmed in London now with Anne Hathaway playing the lead and Jim Sturgess her counterpart and a wonderful supporting cast of Brits. I loved the novel by David Nicholls and he has adapted it for the screen and its under the direction of Lone Scherfig (sorry for spelling) who I thought did a lovely job on An Education so it has a lot of promise.
I'm concerned about my lovely Annie however and I don't know why.
That is all.

Keegan.

al. said...

I just watched Letters from Iwo Jima, mostly because Ken Watanabe was so good looking in Inception. And then I felt guilty about being so shallow while watching such a serious film.

On the weekend, I was meant to go to a screening of Jacques Tati's Playtime, but played hooky and ate some gelato in the sunshine instead.

Wow, this comment is full of guilt. On a brighter note thanks for posting so late at night! It's just early evening here. :)

Jonathon said...

I'm still trying to figure out how Cotillard and Juliane Moore were snubbed for BSA nominations. Yes, I'm STILL trying to figure it out.

MRRIPLEY said...

I just saw nashville for the 1st time for my oscars project & now supporting actress is filled with 4 great performances from that film alone

gwen welles
ronee blakely
lily tomlin
barbara baxley

oh and lee grant from shampoo.

mrripley said...

Cotillard - campaign fraud

Moore - screen time but i would deffo have nommed her.

Unknown said...

I'm disappointed that The Kids Are All Right kind of stalled as it expanded nationally. I heart that film so much that I feel a certain ownership of it, and therefore want it to be an enormous success on it path to getting Annette Bening her first Oscar. I hate that what's on my mind has to due with box office receipts (usually an irrelevant thing with me revolving around films), but I so want this movie to succeed.

Mikadzuki said...

Just saw Peter Greenaway's Nightwatching. It was terrific -- intelligent, literate and surprisingly funny. Why didn't anybody talk about it when it was released?

NATHANIEL R said...

Mikadzuki -- i didn't know it was released. I like Greenaway's films (an unpopular notion these days i suppose) but it seemed like the last couple never came out. Or if they did they came out in such a miniscule way that i didn't even notice them here in NYC.

James -- eek. i didn't know there was trouble. I shall have to go and look now.

mr ripley -- you forgot barbara harris. that makes 5 for NASHVILLE alone. NASHVILLE is like the only movie that could have ever filled up that entire category with deserving nominees

al -- gelato in the sunshine sounds awesome but PLAYTIME is so great. so do try to see it.

poppy - i can't help you there. though those two were my two favorite after HARDY, i didn't think the acting was anything to yammer on about with that movie. I think love for the movie itself has bled into inappropriate places ;)

Alice Chuang said...

Wondering about Ewan McGregor's movie with Terry Gilliam and thinking about TIFF. I want to see Beginners!

Anonymous said...

You must be kidding! Cotillard scared the shit out of me. And personally, I thought the character itself was so-so. Let's face it, women aren't exactly Nolan's forte. Mal is pretty much a carbon copy of Rebecca Hall's character from The Prestige. They always play second fiddle to the men, and Marion Cotillard owned Dicaprio in every scene.

NATHANIEL R said...

alice -- i want to see that too. sounds intriguing.

Unknown said...

Since you summoned us in this part of the world (precisely Spain) I'll tell you that what I'm thinking now is about La piel que habito, Almodóvar's new film already in preproduction. He's casting extras in Galicia for a big party scene and all the people have to go to the casting dressed to the nines. Imagine all these people waiting in line and looking like wedding guests! So funny

Dimitra said...

Velvet Goldmine, which I watched last night and really enjoyed. Now I've watched all Todd Haynes' major films.

Kyle said...

I spent an hour of a very slow night last night rearranging our cabinet with my girlfriend...alphabetical just wasn't working out anymore (too much shifting with each new movie)...I wanted to do it by director and by genre (for the more one-off and guilty pleasure movies)...the lady was not having it and suggested instead lighter fare, middle of the road, and heavies.

She, of course, won out...though I will say, I got my Ang Lee, Nolans, PT Andersons, Aronofsky, Haynes, etc...all in order in the heavies cabinet :-)

Dan said...

Well...just got finishing watching Catch Me If You Can...I think for the third or fourth time in preparation for a Spielberg top 10. Have to say, although it's an entertaining movie, it's style and little substance. Not one of Spielberg's best.

...Oh, and while I'm here, we're debating which film is better - Godfather or Godfather part 2 over at my site!

MD said...

I just watched Happy-Go-Lucky and The Host for the first time. Not entirely sure what to think of either. Apparently I'm overly cynical, though, because I saw Poppy as trying to wind people up fairly often. Her driving scenes got me really annoyed sometimes. But she seemed so nice and others. I'm far too conflicted over this. Great performance, though. I loved Eddie Marsan and Alexis Zegerman too.

The mourning scene in The Host had me laughing harder than anything I remember in ages, though. I don't know what the motivation is, but I loved it.

And I'll assume that NZ is far enough away for me to comment. ;)

cal roth said...

Drew, do you really have to surf the web while you're watching a movie? A movie by Martin Scorsese, for God's sake?

cal roth said...

Poppy is more annoying than any part ever played by any of the Wayans brothers. Sally Hawkins is effective playing her, but I hate Poppy so much that I don't even complain for that Oscar snub. Role and acting are different things, but sometimes you've got to let your emotional side to take you and make you root against a performer playing somebody you hate. It's not like hating Idi Amin and Forrest Whitaker - it's a different kid of hate, the one that make the view of such a person absolutely unbearable.

cal roth said...

Seisgrados, do you know who Almodóvar is gonna cast for the part that was Penelope's? I'd love to see him and Victoria Abril back together.

James T said...

Nathaniel, why haven't you answered any questions at formspring? Just curious.

And I have to say, I'm not thinking much about movies these days. Just a break I guess.

Anonymous said...

For cal roth: Elene Anaya took the role.

pomme said...

in France, it's Cillian Murphy 's character and acting who works well in "inception".
Every one talked about him and Cotillard after the show in theather and how Nolan LOVE good-looking men in suit!

Glenn Dunks said...

Very busy atm with local film festival. Seeing something like 30 films in 18 days. Can't fathom how people see upwards of 70. I'm really looking forward to The Expendables tomorrow though for a change of face from all the glumness (although I saw the Danish film Brotherhood today and it SLAYED me, even if it is about neo-Nazis).

Also: I need a Rabbit Hole trailer yesterday.

Andrew David said...

@ cal roth... had to pause the film while a plumber fixed the sink. The break threw off the pace somewhat, but I'm familiar enough with the source material for it to not affect the flow of the narrative.

NATHANIEL R said...

seisgrados -- exciting! imagine being in one of those movies even if it was only for a split second.

kyle -- wow. how on earth would you split some movies into those three distinctions. what about dramedies. are they light, middle or heavy. or are they middle by deinfition. AND HOW COULD YOU FIND ANYTHING?

MD -- YES! and i love hearing reactions to Happy-Go-Lucky because that movie does get people reacting in very personal ways (see also other comments. haha)

James T -- i didn't know anyone had asked any. I shall start answering.

pomme -- it's true. Nolan is totally into that. Wasn't there some review that called allt he men in Inception good looking stockbrockers? or something.

SoSueMe said...

I watched It's Complicated last night...and I want to live in a Nancy Meyers movie, specifically in the film's main location, Meryl's house (I'll also take Diane's house in Something's Gotta Give).

Gemma said...

I've had my Best Actress Oscar ballot set for a long time and yesterday I decided to take someone off and put Julia Roberts in their place. I can't escape the current Eat, Pray, Love pandemonium that is going on and the reviews from screenings (not official reviews but still from the general moviegoing audience) is that the movie is great and she's fantastic. I think a Globe is guaranteed and an Oscar is extremely likely. Sorry Robin Wright, had to take you off (and Jennifer Lawrence).

Paul Dergarabedian saw it and said the following:
Eat, Pray, Love was excellent. Two Neil Young songs and Julia Roberts best performance since "Closer" and Richard Jenkins deserves an Oscar.
about 1 hour ago via web
http://twitter.com/PDergarabedian/status/19772232690

I think she might be in for an Oscar nom.

MRRIPLEY said...

Nat called on julia first he said "if the press and public have a falling back in love with her moment she is in" and we nedd a huge star is best actress this year.

Kyle said...

Nathaniel -
I guess it just depends on the dramedy and thematic weight it held for me (or her) personally...I put Punch Drunk Love in the heavies category, same for Before Sunrise/Sunset (they probably don't really count) Nashville would go in there too, if I owned a copy...still working on that. But most all the ones I have are pretty middle of the road (Funny People) or light (500 Days of Summer)

The finding will be interesting...we'll see how it works in practice, I honestly just feel better not having 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 Days next to 300 anymore :-)

Pal Joey said...

That scene when Cobb is going up the elevator and that look that Mal gives him (her eye is in betweeen her locks of hair) is enough to seal up Marion Cotillard's Oscar nomination for me. Homegirl scared the shit outta me. But then I adore her in general, and I think that her Oscar win is one of the best of the decade (best of the decade for lead actress). 2007's winners kicked ass across the board though.

Jeff M. said...

Thinking and obssessing about Meryl Streep and Tina Fey in a movie directed by Stanley Tucci - and praying that it will see the light of day.

Deborah said...

I have It's Complicated sitting in its red Netflix envelope since Friday. When O when will I have time to open it?

Valerie said...

^^^ No need to really rush with that. You're not missing a whole lot.

NATHANIEL R said...

Kyle -- if for that separation alone, i approve.

7Bis said...

I'm obsessing on Isabelle Huppert. Just watched White Material, Private Property, Merci Pour Le Chocolat and The Piano Teacher. I can barely think of another actress who has been SO heavily garlanded internationally and yet never racked up an Oscar nom. Oh well, at least she's a workaholic so I have 90+ films to watch whilst I wait for the Academy to wake the f*** up!!

Unknown said...

-cal roth
Yeah it's Elena Anaya stepping in for Penélope. Also in the cast is all time Almodóvar favorite Marisa Paredes. I can't wait

/3rtfu11 said...

I have a confession. I never saw Shakespeare in Love until this year. I must say that I can’t get angry at Paltrow’s win. I naturally assumed it was just Weinstein money!

No Bad Movies said...

I think a lot of people who are regular movie goers who follow the Oscar's are really sleeping on Michael Douglas in Solitary Man. I can " almost " see that, because many didn't see the film and it came out in the spring.
But... one thing that could possibly cement him a Oscar nod, is that the performance was critically revered, many saying Oscar worthy and some saying the best performance of his career. But what could really help his chances are that he is also supposedly ( from early reviews ) the best part of the Wall Street sequel coming in September. That could help push his chances over the hump. Oscar likes to reward actors having career years. For example Julianne Moore ( Far From Heaven, The Hours ) Josh Brolin ( No Country, American Gangster, In The Valley Of Elah ) Jamie Foxx ( Ray, Collateral ) Philip Seymour Hoffman ( Charlie Wilson's War, The Savages ) Kate Winslet ( Revelutionary Road, The Reader ) Tommy Lee Jones ( No Country, In The Valley Of Elah ) Leonardo DiCaprio ( Blood Diamond, The Departed ) George Clooney ( Syriana, Good Night and Goood Luck ) Meryl Streep ( The Hours, Adaptation )
And when it comes to critics, it was across the board in their praise of the performance and that helps as well. As for me, as of August 3 2010, I have seen a lot of movies this year ( 71 to be exact ), Douglas is the best male lead performace of the year so far.

Caden said...

Just saw Winter's Bone. How great was Dale Dickey?

NATHANIEL R said...

Caden -- very. and how about John Hawkes? i actually like both of them more than Jennifer Lawrence in that movie. Though Lawrence is strong, too.

Glenn said...

Yes, Hawkes and Dickey are indeed best in show for Winter's Bone!

Poppy said...

Haha I can't believe how wide the range of opinions are on Poppy. I loved her. I think it's interesting people have such strong negative reactions to such a positive person that obviously(atleast to me) means well. She's sincerely concerned about everyone around her, she's worried about people who are mean to her, she's infinitly friendly, seems like such a fun person to be around, still seems like a human, She's got a great sense of humor, ETC. (The fact that I have to etc. That says a lot) she's not perfect and she does take some of these traits to the extreme. She is the extreme of cheerfulness and it's funny to have people absolutely despise her because of it. Maybe it's that laugh....

I Yodel for New York! said...

hmm, I thought Jennifer Lawrence was the best in show but I understand the differing opinions. (beyond that fact that everyone's different and so on)
Also, I thought Dicaprio kinda bored me in inception. I never really watched his films as of late and I've always that he was probably a very versatile actor as his reputation is probably gonna reach legendary status soon but now that I've actually seen many of his films he isn't very exciting. The films I'm pointing out are The Departed, Revolutionary Road, Shutter Island, and Inception. I know his yelling very well by now and at one point found it catchy in an annoying way. His emotional flare-ups...flare up all the same. Maybe its the roles...maybe I font into his career at the wrong part and should go back a bit but...seriously, stop being THAT husband. And Marion, has her own set of the same character. Public Enemies, Nine, and now Inception. CURSE THAT SLY, SUCCESSFUL RUT! ORIGINALITY WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH! Or alteast chuckle.
And really? That stare scared someone? It looked like a focused version of staring into space. But her performance in its total sum is fine. Don't see all the Hubba in that final scene though. Thought Dicaprio outshined her everytime, actually.

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