tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post626758895403324010..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: Oscar's Best Actress Hierarchy. A DiscussionNATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-7403449844960919772007-08-29T20:47:00.000-04:002007-08-29T20:47:00.000-04:00sigh.... Whenever I hear someone describe an actr...<I>sigh....</I><BR/><BR/> Whenever I hear someone describe an actress as "cold," my first instinct is to wonder if "cold" should be read as intelligent (ie, displaying intellect before open, feminine emotion). The answer is generally yes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-25111025823578375082007-08-29T08:39:00.000-04:002007-08-29T08:39:00.000-04:00thank god someone sees through the kidman performa...thank god someone sees through the kidman performances<BR/>and sees that she is TRYING sOOOOOOO hard that you NEVER empathasise or feel for her<BR/><BR/><BR/>Its beautiful to look at that..but then so is a prada ad<BR/><BR/>lets have more warmth ala close, pfeiffer, winslet, linney, hunter, even lange and of course LA STREEPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-8054927382891875642007-08-28T22:36:00.000-04:002007-08-28T22:36:00.000-04:00I need to see To Die For but I've seen Birth, Dogv...I need to see To Die For but I've seen Birth, Dogville, Moulin Rouge, The Hours, The Others, and Cold Mountain. She was great in Moulin Rouge and ok in The Hours but I don't unerstand that people can look at those other performances and call them good, I just don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-43354049945736668992007-08-28T20:19:00.000-04:002007-08-28T20:19:00.000-04:00well they're listed on IMDB which as far as i'm aw...well they're listed on IMDB which as far as i'm aware doesn't usually list the "in talks" efforts or if they do it says that.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-25236655868105646212007-08-28T17:31:00.000-04:002007-08-28T17:31:00.000-04:00But are Dirty Tricks and First Man solidly committ...But are Dirty Tricks and First Man solidly committed to? I've read about them now for two years... also one with Anthony Hopkins ( a historical drama ) has been discussed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-78132876582103413982007-08-28T11:27:00.000-04:002007-08-28T11:27:00.000-04:00no no nicole was perfect heartbreaking,luminous,fu...no no nicole was perfect heartbreaking,luminous,funny,touching,star making lets not start on nicole in mr her best work was to die for in 95,the portrait of a lady in 86 people really need to reassess that film to see she was robbed of a best actress nom,she was also v v good in eyes wide shut but maybe suffered form category confusion who thinks she was lead and who like me feels she was supp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-44859888173162132052007-08-28T10:14:00.000-04:002007-08-28T10:14:00.000-04:00//Arkaan said... I find it interesting to see Kidm...//Arkaan said... <BR/>I find it interesting to see Kidman called out for her ambition. For me, her best performances have been the ones that operate nearer to the fringe. You can label it pure ambition, but to me her best performances have been in Dogville, Eyes Wide Shut, Birth, The Others, Moulin Rouge, The Hours etc... She's just not particularly interesting in the mainstream vehicles of Bewitched/The Invasion/whateverthehell else. When she chooses interesting projects with interesting directors (auteur lust is a very good color on this performer), the results are often spectacular and even when they don't work (Fur), they are certainly interesting and commendable.//<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the Nicole-love (or at least a solid defense) arkaan. I'm really finding it tiresome that she is criticized for "ambition" - first of all, why is it such a monstrous thing in a woman? (It's still considered so unseemly in a female even in this day and age that she has to pretend she hasn't any just to be given a pass as sufficiently feminine for our judgement.) And why is she being "Called out for it" as you said, when in fact ALL actresses need at least an iota of ambition in order to want to keep working. Without ambition you have Debra Winger, who got tired of the guff in Hollywood, got tired of being an actress, and dropped out. Such is the tale of many an actress who falls by the wayside. You don't have a career of several decades without it, even if you have to protest it was all luck and chance - whether you're Nicole, Meryl, or Katherine Hepburn.<BR/><BR/>Nicole is still my favorite actress. Not the warmest, most incandescent (that'd be Meryl, of course)but her perfs have done something to me that no other actor's work (male or female) has ever done - made me forget entirely that I am watching a movie, that the character in front of me isn't as real as I am, and indeed drawn out from me unbidden and unawares some of my darkest internal shadows of the heart. She doesn't achieve that every time - if I could criticize her for anything, it would be overreaching, trying to be old-fashioned cinema star and respected indie actress all at once. I think she really needs to make up her mind about what kind of career she wants. She was wrong, oh so wrong as Ada in Cold Mountain (how much so becomes clear now as I'm reading the book), and of her bombs, the less said the better. But it has to be admitted she has fewer bombs than quite a lot of actresses of her generation, and some genuine masterpieces. (And as arkaan noted, even those indie efforts that "fail" are at least interesting films.)<BR/><BR/>As for the person who said that she was "wrong for Satine" - I can't even go there. The qualities that so many people criticize her for are part of what made her exactly right for the role - but here I defer to Nathaniel's brilliant Moulin Rouge essay as the definitive word on that subject.<BR/><BR/>RedSatinDollAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-28826887283536952912007-08-28T08:21:00.000-04:002007-08-28T08:21:00.000-04:00arkanthse nicole films you pointed out were certai...arkan<BR/><BR/>thse nicole films you pointed out were certainly interesting<BR/><BR/>but nicole was always cold in them-its the way she says her lines with a certain breathlessness that is meant to mark pain and intensity<BR/><BR/>and the long hard stares that end up emotionless<BR/><BR/>its useful when its dogville-a bretchtian piece that asks for little displays of emotion<BR/>ditto: eyes wide shut, birth, others,<BR/><BR/>hours: she was good but she was NOT v woolf<BR/>and moulin rouge--oh she was so so wrong. the rest of the film was spectacular but i dare say this: when the film is re-assessed 10 years from now-there will be a hollow core where satine was meant to fillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-64179222954481876352007-08-28T07:32:00.000-04:002007-08-28T07:32:00.000-04:00Re: Streep again. I'm working on a new series that...Re: Streep again. <BR/>I'm working on a new series that I hope will eventually clarify this issue (over and under casting) but for anyone who doubts my Streep love --go back and read <A HREF="http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2007/01/meryl-streep-in-prairie-home-companion.html" REL="nofollow">my gushing <I>Prairie</I> piece</A> and my <A HREF="http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2006/awards2.html" REL="nofollow"><I>Prada</I> awards</A>. I LOVE THE STREEP.<BR/><BR/>but as for the numbers here's her current slate. Still plenty of time to add for 2009 ;)<BR/><BR/>2009<BR/>Wanted (unknown)<BR/>A Question of Mercy (unknown... but this one is from Rodrigo Garcia who has previously championed a bunch of mature actresses who don't get enough work) <BR/><BR/>2008<BR/>Dirty Tricks (lead. great role)<BR/>First Man (co lead w/ DeNiro. political comedy)<BR/>Doubt (co lead w/ Hoffman. great role)<BR/>Mamma Mia! (lead. musical)<BR/><BR/>2007<BR/>Lions for Lambs (supporting?)<BR/>Rendition (supporting)<BR/>Evening (cameo) <BR/>Dark Matter (supporting)NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-89289092560961954222007-08-28T06:45:00.000-04:002007-08-28T06:45:00.000-04:00nat i agree it's the fact she thinks she is some g...nat i agree it's the fact she thinks she is some great star like julia roberts,meryl streep,cameron diaz,nicole kidman,cate blanchett those are all recognisable stars who get good roles and some are more box office than others,she's ok in small supp roles a la esoftsmind she was ok in c/b but nothing that special well people go around slamming charlize theron,hilary swank and renee zellweger it pisses me off,i agree none are meryl streep but they have proved themselves time again with good perfs and good films,yes they make a few bad choices but dunst purrrrrrlease why does she go the oscars she has never been in an oscar worthy per se film or given and oscar wothry perf,shes there to get teens to watch but no one likes her not oin hollywood as she has an overinflted opinion of herself compare her to kate winslet our very own streep and then sing from the rooftops.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-69139911170719389112007-08-28T00:28:00.000-04:002007-08-28T00:28:00.000-04:00Why all the hassle about Streep hogging mature wom...Why all the hassle about Streep hogging mature women roles? Last year she was in 2 movies ...this year 3 ( if you want to count the 5 minutes she was in Evening ) .. next year maybe 2 will be released.. (Mama Mia and Doubt ) .. that seems fair to me... the blogger who said that roles are NOt being written for mature women, hit the nail on the head.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-38578799485399308372007-08-27T23:48:00.000-04:002007-08-27T23:48:00.000-04:00Aw, I loved Dunst in the Spider-Man movies. Reall...Aw, I loved Dunst in the Spider-Man movies. Really, I loved the performances in all of them (well... mostly the first two... and definitely not Dafoe).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-13121706359188545392007-08-27T21:41:00.000-04:002007-08-27T21:41:00.000-04:00I find it interesting to see Kidman called out for...I find it interesting to see Kidman called out for her ambition. For me, her best performances have been the ones that operate nearer to the fringe. You can label it pure ambition, but to me her best performances have been in Dogville, Eyes Wide Shut, Birth, The Others, Moulin Rouge, The Hours etc... She's just not particularly interesting in the mainstream vehicles of Bewitched/The Invasion/whateverthehell else. When she chooses interesting projects with interesting directors (auteur lust is a very good color on this performer), the results are often spectacular and even when they don't work (Fur), they are certainly interesting and commendable.<BR/><BR/> Dunst is an interesting case. I saw her first in Bring It On and followed that up with Crazy/Beautiful and was convinced she was the real deal (Crazy/Beautiful in particular is one hell of an underrated film/performance). I don't think she's always successful (Marie-Antoinette, Wimbledon, The Cat's Meow), but there are other performers that I have my claws out for before her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-79831441399321468702007-08-27T21:24:00.000-04:002007-08-27T21:24:00.000-04:00i agreedunst is so painful to watch. she tries to ...i agree<BR/><BR/>dunst is so painful to watch. she tries to be so "indie" but ends up looking just bland<BR/><BR/>as for stae and kidman-at least cate has real talent. with kidman-you just see her ambition and her desperate longing to be "important" coming through<BR/><BR/>as for meryl--goddess!!<BR/>but yes- i wanna see more lange, close etc<BR/>but hey-lets not forget judy davis, barbara hershey, dianne wiest of course, <BR/>and nathaniel: pffeifer i am afraid may be haeading the way of those 2nd rans. although she has been more prominent this year, theres nothing to suggest a big comeback which is a shame<BR/>i saw hairspray and realised that she is the most stunningly beautiful actress since monroe.<BR/>and such a good actress too--kidman pales so so in comparison<BR/><BR/>if the gods were just: we would have streep, pfeiffer and one more (your choice) as the triumvirate:<BR/><BR/>meryl:the acting god who hides her natural beauty<BR/>pfeiffer: the beauty above all who can act<BR/>isabelle huppert: all that is wondrous in foreign cinema and in daring cinema<BR/><BR/>hey-whats happened to cecilia roth?<BR/>she gave possibly the best...no...the most moving performance in the last decadeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-77729818846565794892007-08-27T20:13:00.000-04:002007-08-27T20:13:00.000-04:00cibbuana -thanks for the link. I like inspiring re...cibbuana -thanks for the link. I like inspiring related articles.<BR/><BR/>anonymous --my advice: see more of Dunst. Half the time i feel like the mass hate is coming from spider-man but she's been SO much better in so many other films. It's just a matter of what people see before they form their opinionsNATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-68245392412909267192007-08-27T19:39:00.000-04:002007-08-27T19:39:00.000-04:00the thing is some actors roles dry up but it would...the thing is some actors roles dry up but it would be nice to see weaver,lange,spacek,winger,close,huston,wiest,hunter,clarkson etc etc instead of rachel mcadams,kirsten dunst who have 0 the charisma of any of those actresses,sl ot of those actresses did not fingd good roles and fame till they were 30 with exp behind them they looked like women,todays actresses are to anamoured with aimage and there over inflated opinion of themselves dunst is a prime example of this,i doubt spidey 4 would not make cash if she were not in it as for her playing debbie harry what a big joke shes not old enough for a start!!!<BR/>she has never anchored a film or given a performance besides mary jane anyone can remeber her name means nothing to me in a film in fact replace her with any of the bove mentioned,keep her away from the screen keep her away from debbie harry's biog please!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-76277365539618799932007-08-27T19:38:00.000-04:002007-08-27T19:38:00.000-04:00Also, great post. I linked to it hereAlso, I've go...Also, great post. I <A HREF="http://www.moviecritic.com.au/on-the-oscars-best-actresses/" REL="nofollow">linked to it here</A><BR/><BR/>Also, I've got a thing for Shirley Maclaine... I recently saw Irma La Douce in a cinema, and she was really quite captivating.Cibbuanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699916749080010975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-4623788583559449442007-08-27T19:36:00.000-04:002007-08-27T19:36:00.000-04:00how the hell does Streep make so many movies? Hard...how the hell does Streep make so many movies? Hard-working lady, that's for sure, and one that's quite discreet in the public eye.Cibbuanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699916749080010975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-52313943771446394862007-08-27T17:36:00.000-04:002007-08-27T17:36:00.000-04:00And I also would like filmmakers/casting directors...And I also would like filmmakers/casting directors to give more roles to other actresses. I don't want less work for Meryl - let her work as much as she likes. I don't want less roles for other actresses, either - oh, wait, that isn't possible, because the roles don't exist in the first place. My point really is that I want the roles to BE there, period. I want screenwriters and producers to open their eyes, I want women in Hollywood with any modicum of power to use that power to do something besides get a once-yearly facelift, I want audiences to go see quality films, to demand better roles for women, to stop going to the same old dreck. Yes, I know I am demanding quite a bit.<BR/><BR/>Any wonder that Wiest, Hunter, Sedgewick etc are seeking out new venues in television? At least they are creating roles for women on cable because they recognize that women (and actressexuals of both/all genders) are a huge part of the audience share. The movie studios forgot that decades ago.<BR/><BR/>RedSatinDollAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-16801523062154410952007-08-27T17:16:00.000-04:002007-08-27T17:16:00.000-04:00They probably aren't but I really wish Oscar was d...They probably aren't but I really wish Oscar was done with Kidman and Blanchett. I think they're so overrated. Kidman was awesome in Moulin Rouge and passable in The Hours and Cate was only good in The Aviator. Past that I care for neither of them. Give some nominations to some more deserving people!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-45407782502538016102007-08-27T13:06:00.000-04:002007-08-27T13:06:00.000-04:00nobody here wants Meryl to quit. we just want some...nobody here wants Meryl to quit. we just want some other late 50s / early 60s wonderfully talented women (meryl --who is divine --is not the only genius) to get meaty roles.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-58208686268593234322007-08-27T11:29:00.000-04:002007-08-27T11:29:00.000-04:00hurrah red satin doll for championing merylthink a...hurrah red satin doll for championing meryl<BR/><BR/>think about it-she is still the ONLY actress of her generation then and NOW that is still working, still THE FEMALE ICON, and still the inspiration for combing not only work and family but most importantly, a healthy dose of self deprecation<BR/><BR/>i say go on forever...MERYLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-77515209903210070142007-08-27T10:52:00.000-04:002007-08-27T10:52:00.000-04:00That just missed the entire point of what people w...That just missed the entire point of what people were saying about Meryl being all too happy to be in roles that could be better suited for other actresses. Booo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-87088880779214178622007-08-27T09:30:00.000-04:002007-08-27T09:30:00.000-04:00First off, having just seen A Prairie Home Compani...First off, having just seen A Prairie Home Companion the other day (finally) I am in love with Meryl all over again - simply divine. And, yes, go Meryl! Other actresses (Debra Winger amongst them) have decided that trying to deal with the nonsense that Hollywood was dishing up was too exhausting, and have fallen away. (I attended a screening of Big Love, produced by Winger and directed by/starring her husband, who was for me a real revelation, and she was clearly not in love with the whole business of acting but her face lit up when she talked about on-line producing, which she likened to being a mom for a very large brood.) But no, it is NOT Meryl's fault that casting directors are clueless, that the people who make films fail to cast their nets wider or lack imagination when it comes to other actresses, that some actresses get tired of the nonsense and pursue other interests, or that our (Western) culture in general does not honor "mature" women. (As one female producer was quoted as saying in AARP's magazine before this year's Oscars, most Hollywood studio execs were "Fetuses in suits".) The films and the roles have to be there - the writers need to be writing the scripts which then need to be greenlighted by the studios, etc etc in which real women of all ages are featured. Contrast Western cinema with the local bookstore, which is full to bursting with stories (fiction and nonfiction) of interesting women of all ages, classes and races. <BR/><BR/>So if Meryl's willing to hold up the banner of "I'm over 40 and I'm still here, dammit" more power to her, especially since she is that damned good. With so much dreck in the cinema, why complain about a surfeit of quality? It sounds self-indulgent (children are starving in Africa, folks.)<BR/><BR/>RedSatinDollAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-40698954562671457772007-08-27T02:48:00.000-04:002007-08-27T02:48:00.000-04:00any1 think there is a chance gwyneth palytow will ...any1 think there is a chance gwyneth palytow will get another nom shame about the lack of love proof & sylvia,what about samantha morton,naomi watts and keira knightley,i feel reese is in for 1 more in 08.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com