Halfway Mark: Screen Hotties of 2010

I blame the heat and nothing good in theaters but for the holdovers from previous weeks (go see Winter's Bone, I Am Love, Toy Story 3 and I Am Love if you haven't. Uh... I Am Love you're required to see twice, apparently -- Freudian typo!) for this week's Towleroad article. After assessing the Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man announcement I obsess over the Year in Screen Hotties (thus far).

Click over!

Since Towleroad is all about the Gay the list is men but since I'm an actressexual and since all the best people are at least bi-curious when it comes to the movies, you know I can't ignore the silver screen sirens. I haven't seen all of these movie but here's an incomplete overview of the year thus far.

The Girlie Show

Jan: Portia Doubleday torments Michael Cera (both of him) in Youth in Revolt. Kristen Bell can't pick a man in When in Rome. Can't pick screenplays either. Niche hotness, GMILF Edition: Helen Mirren wants her man crowing like a cock in The Last Station.

Feb: Amanda Seyfried, Our Lady of Annually Increasing Beauty, stars in Dear John. The Wolfman follows Emily Blunt's scent no matter the consequence; Who wouldn't? Uma Thurman turns men, not just man parts, to stone as Medusa in Percy Jackson.

Mar: Double Team Alert! Amanda Seyfried rocks Julianne Moore's world in more ways than one in Chloe. Plus, Dakota Fanning unleashes her scandalous Cherry Bomb whilst Kristen Stewart works a Bad Reputation in The Runaways. Niche hotness, Macrophile/Microphile division: Mia Wasikowska can't pick a dress size in Alice in Wonderland.

April: Erika Alexander is a boho honey in La Mission. Zoë Saldana holds a hot piece in The Losers. Niche hotness, Gothic division: Christina Ricci gets yet paler (c'est possible?!?) as a perpetually nude corpse in After.Life.

May: Ari Graynor's tongue brings ecstasy, albeit in pill form, to Holy Rollers. Scarlett Johansson wears ringlets and leather for Iron Man 2 and may or may not have speaking lines though no one can recall. Naomie Harris handles the first part of sex & drugs & rock and roll with her usual style. Love the 'fro in that first scene. Niche hotness, The Alex Forrest "I'm Not Going to Be Ignored" New Generations Award to Naomi "seduce & destroy" Watts in Mother and Child.


June: Colin Farrell's little mermaid is full grown Polish beauty Alicja Bachleda in Ondine. Please note how many reviews of Winter's Bone describe Jennifer Lawrence's long tresses and full lips in as much loving detail as her performance, even though the movie is about as far from "sexy" as a movie can be. Marisa Tomei is still working the 'dream girl for losers' track in Cyrus. Can you blame the losers? Tilda Swinton is a prized pale gold Russian collectible in I Am Love. Cameron Diaz in primary colors, yellow bridesmaid, red bikini for Knight and Day. Gina Gershon is a whore! (not a dancer) in Love Ranch... the less said about the rest of the movie, the better.

Which actors and actresses grabbed your eyeballs this year?
It doesn't have to be for, uh, performance reasons.

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Sundance Day 8: Parker Posey, Cyrus and Nowhere Boy

In which all celluloid begins to bleed together, sickness wins out, and Nathaniel loses his mind (from now on, shorter festival trips!). But, just when all hope for sanity is lost as Sundance winds down, Nathaniel dances with Parker Posey at a party! Nathaniel is elated. And no, I don't know why Nathaniel is speaking in the third person either.

Awesome Parker. As friendly as she is talented.
And fun to dance with, too. She was on the competition jury

Cyrus
The Duplass brothers (Mark and Jay), have been steadily rising stars in the indie scene with contributions to films like Humpday, Baghead and The Puffy Chair among many others. Their latest, which they wrote and directed, looks like a breakthrough... at least where mainstream attention is concerned. This is why people cast "name" actors. It wins attention and quite often name actors are names for a reason: talent. There's not a dud performance in the film. John C Reilly plays a sad sack divorcee, Catherine Keener is his ex-wife who worries about him, and Marisa Tomei is the angel he falls for. Because this is a movie, she falls right back. It's all quite funny and just off kilter enough to be surprising. All this despite being the umpteenth billion flick to reinforce that venerable straight male fantasy: yes, any type of guy no matter his appearance, serotonin levels, aspirations, past history or employment status, can and will win incredibly hot chicks. One wonders where homely girls are supposed to go for love?

A few notes on the performances: Catherine Keener is playing warm Catherine Keener [there's two primary modes: smart-bitchy and smart-warm. Both are wonderful... though the most exciting are the performances that veer off into complicating Keenerisms like in Capote and Please Give]; Marisa Tomei continues to be one of the most enduring and endearing actresses of her generation. She's wonderful here as a fun-loving woman who loves too fiercely and impulsively not be blinded by it; Jonah Hill plays her needy manipulative son (he's very funny) and John C Reilly her needy and only slightly manipulative boyfriend. The film is smart enough to see the parallel even if it finds that more amusing than worrisome. B/B+

Finally, I ask you this: Parker Posey was the queen of '90s indies and Catherine Keener the queen of '00s indies. When exactly is Keener going to be dethroned? It seems like she's still pretty comfy on that throne. Or am I forgetting someone...

Nowhere Boy
Director Sam Taylor Wood, who previously made the great short Love You More (see previous post) and her star Aaron Johnson (soon to be seen in Kick-Ass), pictured right, were much talked about at Sundance. Both of their stars are rising (this is her first feature but she's already a famous artist, this is his first high profile role with a probable blockbuster to follow) and they're also engaged and pregnant... not just with possibility. She's 42 and he's 19 which helps with the 'much talked about' bit.

Nowhere Boy, which has already been up for film prizes in Britain, will make it to the States in 2010 hopefully and it's well worth seeing. It's a biopic on John Lennon. The Young John Lennon as it were. Like Capote, it gains a lot of impact by tightly focusing on one specific time period and arc in its subject's life. Taylor Wood definitely has a gift with visuals and the film is always pleasing to look at. Johnson holds his own in the central role as the cocky but emotionally confused Lennon but the true stars of the picture are Kristin Scott Thomas as "Mimi" (interviewed here a year ago) and Anne-Marie Duff (James McAvoy's wife) as "Julia" who play estranged sisters -- Lennon's aunt and mother respectively -- and the most formative women in the musician's life. Pre Yoko that is. Both actresses are wonderful, refusing any standard biopic reduction into "mother figure" and becoming as compelling and three-dimensional as John Lennon himself, without the aid of the audience's pre-identification or projection. The Beatle's teenage anger at his mother figures gets a little wearying before the movie is over (grow up already!) and it ends rather abruptly but, all in all, it's a fine first film. I can't wait to see what Taylor Wood does next.


Cyrus: B/B+ (leaning B+)
Nowhere Boy: B/B+ (leaning B+)
Dancing with Parker Posey: A/A+ (leaning A+)

Which celebrity would you most like to dance with? Do tell in the comments.

Previously
Day 1: Travel Nightmare
Day 2: Late Arrival for Asian Day: Last Train Home, Vegetarian
Day 3: Marathon Day: Waiting for Superman, Splice, Bran Nue Dae, Boy, Please Give
Day 4: I Am Love, Buried
Day 5,6: Holy Rollers, The Runaways, Mother and Child, Catfish
Day 7: Gay Day: The Kids Are All Right and Contracorriente

next: a few more movies and my personal awards for the fest.

Marisa vs. Miranda vs. Judy ~ 1992 Smackdown

I regret to inform that I had to bow out of StinkyLulu's Supporting Actress Smackdown for 1992. I haven't participated in a long time and I had really hoped to. 1992's women offer a wealth of Oscar discussables and tropes: the wisecracking dame, the old biddy, the longsuffering spouse, the maligned winner, the nominee who maybe isn't being thanked for the performance she's nominated for but for her entire year, the Woody Allen player, Oscar's perceived anglophilia versus its perceived nationalism.

The nominees were:

• Judy Davis, Husbands and Wives
• Joan Plowright, Enchanted April
• Vanessa Redgrave, Howards End
• Miranda Richardson, Damages
  
• Marisa Tomei, My Cousin Vinny
  

My vote would have gone to Judy Davis (Husbands and Wives) and by quite a large margin. To drive the point home further, she is roughly tied with Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights) for my favorite supporting actress performance of the 1990s altogether. Unless you count Michelle's Catwoman (Batman Returns) as supporting... and I'm never sure that you should. If I had a nominating ballot back in the day, these four women would have made it.

• Helena Bonham-Carter, Howards End
• Judy Davis, Husbands and Wives
• Miranda Richardson, The Crying Game (I'm not sure what it is about this performance that I find so spooky but she really puts me on edge. 1992 was such a peak year for Richardson: This film, Damage, Enchanted April, the BAFTA & Globe win, the Oscar nom. When will she get another chance like this? She was even better in Spider (2002) but no plum parts as of late)
  
• Marisa Tomei, My Cousin Vinny [new readers take note: she talked to me about this Oscar win on the first episode of the Film Experience Podcast]

Not sure about the fifth slot. I love Alfre Woodard in Passion Fish but it's kind of a dual lead film, isn't it? Who to put in slot five... Hmmm. Any suggestions?

Now get on outta here and enjoy Stinky's Smackdown!

P.S. Oscar prediction updates coming June 1st and 2nd. Sorry for the delay
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Red Carpet Lineup. Hot Streaks

We haven't done a fashion lineup in a while, so here goes...some ladies walking the flashbulb-lined red this past week.


Even though Rumer Willis (who turns 21 this summer) is not what you'd call traditionally beautiful I admire that her public persona often screams "I'm hot shit!" I think you have to respect that. Martha Plimpton is hot shit on Broadway (where she's currently enjoying her 3rd consecutive TONY nomination) if nowhere else. But isn't Broadway enough? She seemed to give up on her dwindling movie career just as the new decade began. It pisses me off that most people only think Goonies! when they see her because, helloooo, she was so good in other 80s gems like Shy People, Mosquito Coast and Running on Empty back in her River Phoenix days. And though I barely recall it I seem to remember that she was hilarious in 200 Cigarettes (1999). Does anyone remember that holiday comedy?

Anne Hathaway is fierce. It's like she just stepped out of the opening credits of Dynasty -- loves it.

Audrey Tatou is... I have to admit I don't really get her though she was cute in Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie. I'm vaguely curious about (Le Fabuleux Destin de...) Coco Avant Chanel but isn't it weird how there's always a glut with bios? First the Shirley Maclaine TV movie and now this AND Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. No Coco and then Coco tripled.

And I have to give credit when it's due: Renée Zellweger looked amazing at the Met Costume Ball. I'm totally confused. Gone is the weird 'she'll break in half' hot mess we've been seeing for years. The skin looks fresh, the dress is flattering... the eyes are open! It's a small miracle.

I've hidden Kerry Washington behind Renée because none of us should have to see that dress full on. Y'all know I've been rooting for Kerry for years but if she doesn't ascend in some memorable way in the next two years I don't think it's ever going to happen. She's got three movies on the way: Life is Hot in Cracktown with other semi-famous B & C listers, A Thousand Words with Eddie Murphy and what looks like an important supporting role in the acting showcase Mother & Child starring Annette Bening and Naomi Watts.

Marisa Tomei is here because I'm addicted. Why isn't everyone? I don't understand why she doesn't have 12 projects lined up post Wrestler. And as StinkyLulu pointed out -- here's to her longevity. She's been Oscar nominated in her 20s, 30s and 40s -- a rare feat. It's like Cher with #1 singles. Here's to a fourth Oscar nomination once Marisa hits her fifties.

And finally, one more note on "Miss Golden Globe 2008" (that'd be Rumer). She co-stars in her mother's directorial debut, a short film called Streak (pictured right). Brittany Snow plays an uptight sorority girl who is always counting calories and making herself miserable. One day she meets free spirit Rumer. There's some lesbo subtext/teasing and eventually the girls end up streaking together across campus. Streak beats you over the head with a 'love your body no matter what you weigh!' message but then when Brittany finally does love her body, stripping off her clothes in a moment of joyous abandon, we only see her from the neck up. It's total Message Dysmorphia. It's... unfortunate.

Love your extra lbs ... from the neck up!

I'm sorry Demi. I still love you. xoxo
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I Dream of Celebrity

In slumberland I was at an exclusive celebrity shindig directly following a mega budget photo shoot by David LaChapelle that I had starred in (Thank you id! Be silent superego). Details are fuzzy but I saw/spoke with Jackie Beat, Judy Davis, Tahmoh Penikett, Rufus Wainwright, Terence Stamp and Marisa Tomei. One can't imagine the filofax that would contain each and all of them but it surely belongs to an oneirologist.

I shared a table with Olivia Newton-John and Cyndi Lauper who both smiled at me simultaneously. For a split second I was 10 and unimaginably happy but then I became my jaded adult self again. I tried not to mention that the dream would have been better if Madonna had been seated between them. The last thing I remember was chatting up Reese Witherspoon. I told her that her drink looked like a candy cane and she laughed. Her civilian guest glared at me, angry to see her meal ticket's attention temporarily diverted.

I didn't want to wake up.

Who is the last celebrity to make an appearance in your dreams?
(Not the daydream variety. We'd be here all day!)

White Weddings (Oscar Night Review ~ Pt 3 of 3)

It's all over but for the fashion talk...

To those who are ready to move on: Back to regular cinema soon. Stick around.
To those who can never get enough Oscar: I'll wean you away gently until the 2009 contest begins in a month and you know I'll drop the Oscar talk back in when appropriate. Stick around.
In short: Stick around.

This Oscar fashion roundup is dedicated to Billy Idol. For apparently Sunday in LA was a "nice day for white wedding". Remember that year when everyone wore champagne dresses to SAG and how irritating it was that all the actresses looked the same? Does Hollywood's army of stylists have spies in each other's camps or are they operating in strict adherence to pack rules. Perhaps they're a lycan society with an Alpha Dog stylist residing somewhere deep in the Hills, howling at the full moon monthly as it reflects off the Hollywood sign.

What was with all the white?

As far as I know Amy Adams is the only star that's about to get married and she was in red!

Rather than do a whole 'nother permanent page at the mainsite I thought we'd just finish the wrap up here with photos. Some of my bests may be your worsts but that's the way it goes with fashion (and acting, actually, as the annual wars over the Oscar shortlists attest)

I'm ignoring the men this time 'round. I didn't mean to and there were lots of sharp dressed men and one handsome boy who could just as easily have been starring in a Gus Van Sant picture as writing it (Dustin Lance Black) but time is short and I really need to put this year's Oscars in the rearview mirror.

I'm not quite sure about this...
Actually all of these goddesses look beauteous. But we're not talking A+ Oscar wear. The Doubt actresses (Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis) look better as a trio, all earth and fire and well matched. Probably the point... great for photo ops. But apart from each other the outfits were a little busy (Amy... but I actually love the huge necklace) plain (Meryl) or risky (Viola). Perhaps I should explain: I love the gold dress and the woman inside it but unless you're a lock to win, I always think that color is asking for trouble. That statue looms large you know.


It was nice to see Bridget Fonda and Phoebe Cates dolled up again but something is missing in both cases...and not just their careers (har dee har har)

What are you wearing?


Beyoncé's a little teapot, short and stout. Why is she always there? You don't see Amy Adams at the Grammy's every year? Robin Swicord's color choices and pattern (!) are disturbing me... even more than her screenwriting for Memoirs of a Geisha and Benjamin Button did. Heidi Klum usually makes best dressed lists but there was something atrociously busy about this number. Nice color on her (which color isn't?) but all the cut outs and sharp angles and then all the bangles. Any of the elements are okay on their own but all together?, Miley Cyrus has been at the Oscars two years in a row and... I... I... don't understand. Or I don't want to understand. And we'll wrap up with Mary Hart. She never leaves the house without a frozen smile. Even if she forgot to buy a new dress or iron an old one to go with it.

YUMMY...


My choices for best dressed are the always ravishing Nicole Kidman (love the feather and shiny details which rescue this from being another boring white dress, Freida Pinto (Latikaaaaaa!) in blue and that sleeve is a beauty, Leslie Mann because her dress reminds me of a disco ball and I've been totally on a 70s kick (I blame Milk) and there's something about her whole look, hair, attitude and all that screams decadent/sexy/underestimated woman. Amanda Seyfried continues to be awesome, despite Mamma Mia! And finally there's my girlfriend Marisa Tomei. I have nothing to say about the dress but to tell you that Nick describes it perfectly on the upcoming podcast. From the back it's even more deconstruct as if the strap was barely hanging on to itself to keep the entire dress together.

Which fashions did you go gaga for at home?
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Girl Fight!

If you haven't had a change to check it out, StinkyLulu has corralled some movie loving boys together to throw down with the Oscar's Supporting Actress Nominees just in time for the big night. Smackdown '08! Who comes out on top? Here's a little visualization for the straight boys reading (just something to reward you for your patronage as you suffer through repeated references to Hugh Jackman and Haaz Sleiman in their undies) don't say I never do anything for you here at the Film Experience.

Who would win in a wrestling match between Penélope Cruz and Marisa Tomei? What if we threw Viola Davis, Taraji P Henson and Amy Adams into the mud with them? Fantasize about it Predict what would happen in the comments.
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More Links Than You Can Click On

Off Oscar (it's so rare this time of year! But my brain is wandering)
All Things Fangirl worries about the soon to open Watchmen adaptation
Funny or Die have you seen their Wrestler parody? It's kind of clever but it actually made me sad so I'm thinking... not funny. That said I think Alyssa Milano does a great Marisa Tomei. Who knew?
BlogStage Spider-Man: the Musical. More on the Broadway casting
Popnography is starting a series looking at gay superheroes
How to Learn Swedish in 1000 Difficult Lessons "Strollers" this has nothing to do with movies but it cracked me up.
You Are So Famous ObaMadonna
MNPP on the Watchmen / blue penis issue. Clearly the answer to this question is not Crudup, the public or the agent. It's Zach Snyder.

All Oscar All The Time
The Guardian has a great interactive chart on Oscar win statistics. So fun. My favorite part is the hair chart. Did you know that Oscar prefers their women brunettes. I certainly didn't. Though it was clear that they hate men with long hair so if Mickey Rourke wins Sunday he'll be only the second long haired Best Actor winner!
Boy Culture Hugh Jackman in L'uomo Vogue
Just Jared Hugh's Oscar rehearsal
The Envelope the mysteries inside the Kodak. What is the show going to be like? No one seems to know but to get people talking is the multi-year plan apparently
The Wrap Audiences still love awards shows ... online, that is.

Who will be liveblogging the Oscars?
I'll be doing the Indie Spirit duties tomorrow and I'll pop in a couple of times Sunday night but I'm not live blogging the Oscars per se. If you know of people who are, point us to them.

Just Because
Help me continue to pretend that Bruce Springsteen is taking home his second gold man on Sunday.

He's not nominated but denial is fun. Try it!

Final Oscar Predictions (Elsewhere)
In case you can't get enough. You can't, can you, sicko?
Coming Soon sees only 5 prizes for Slumdog. I'd certainly be happier with that than my predicted 9. And foreign film to Departures. Hmmm, could be
The Vulture Nate Silver (Mr. Statistics), having conquered electoral maps completely, now tries AMPAS. If you saw him on Keith Ulbermann you'll know that he blames "the computer" for his Taraji P Henson for Supporting Actress prediction. But he admits there's very very little data. Thanks, Kate!
Week in Rewind thinks Viola's trump Penélope's gee-nee-us
NY Post Lumenick thinks it's two repeaters for lead acting: Penn & Streep
NY Times David Carr suspects it's The Dark Knight in both sound categories. I hope it's WALL•E personally but either would be a-ok.

Steaming Hot

Too darn hot. They're having a heatwave. Et cetera.

I meant to toss this out on Wednesday but here are my choices for sexiest of the year. Yes, I'm back to the FB Awards. Gotta wrap these up. Medalists in every category have to be announced a week from today!

I decided to give Daniel Craig a vacation this year (no blue speedo. no nomination!) even though he's already a double medalist in this category. Who I really wanted to include was Haaz Sleiman from The Visitor. That was a good film but while we're wading into shallow waters, wouldn't it have been a better film if he had drummed in his underwear in every scene. Haaz doesn't make the nominee shortlist because carnality seemed to be the last thing on his mind in the film (legal troubles will kill the sex drive). The choices might seem a bit more obvious than in past years, but sometimes obviousness hits the spot.

Read on...
Strip with Marisa Tomei. Kill for Angelina Jolie. Put your fists up for Hugh Jackman.
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BAFTA Winners and Moments

The BAFTAs were once a shrug. Then a raised eyebrow. This year they were a scratched head. To me at least. So let me just speed through this. The last round of pre-Oscar winners. In other words, rehearsals for Oscar speeches. That's the only point.

Best Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Score & Sound (and more prizes later too) Slumdog Millionaire
I wish there was a Best Craft Services Oscar so Slumdog Millionaire could win that one, too.

Best MakeUp, Visual Effects & Art Direction The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I know there's been a lot of talk about Button going 0 for 13 at Oscar which would be a record but it's not going to happen. It should have an easy time in a couple of technical categories as it did here at BAFTA.

Carl Foreman Award Steve McQueen Hunger
That is such an amazing movie and I happy that they recognized it in a small way. I still remember whole passages vividly. I hope it can make more than 2 dollars once they finally deign to release it properly around the world.


Introducing this award was the ridiculously lovely Thandie Newton who was introduced in exactly this way

recently attracted attention for her uncanny portrayal of Condoleeza Rice.

"attracted attention" heh. What a shrewdly diplomatic way to put it.

Original Screenplay Martin McDonagh In Bruges
Michael Sheen and David Frost (whom he played in Frost/Nixon) introduced this prize. How fun. I hope the Oscars get similarly frisky with their presenter pairings and choices.

Costume Design Michael O'Connor The Duchess
I imagine he'll be repeating this win at the Kodak (as will many of these winners come to think of it). He kissed his boyfriend. Awwww. I love that at awards shows.
Foreign Film I've Loved You So Long
Outstanding British Film Man on Wire
Rising Star (voted on by the public) Noel Clarke



Best Supporting Actress Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
James McAvoy (sigh) gave this one out. Heart. I hope we see Cruz repeat at the Oscars as I've said before. On the way up to the podium she grabbed Kate Winslet for a hug... And then Kate positively beamed with joy through Penélope's whole acceptance speech. I so want to understand the backstory here, don't you?

Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
I desperately hope that the Oscars will not follow or precede Ledger's win with the "In Memoriam" segment as SAG and BAFTA did. I understand the sweep since he was phenomenal in the movie but all of this "ooh, he's DEAD" fetishizing is so reductive. Quit proving to us that you only voted for him because he died. It's so cynical and disrespectful. Let's honor the greatness of the actor instead.

They weren't kidding around with their nickname the "Orange" Film Awards.
Or is that just my television? My god the set was garishly colored.

Best Actress Kate Winslet, The Reader
Kate has been under a lot of fire for her acceptance speeches this season and it's getting a little strange. Certainly many (one might even say "hundreds of people") before her have been worse at the "thank you"s when handed a statue. I think what's been happening is that a) she's the heir apparent to Meryl Streep in terms of nomination & statue pulling and anyone would suffer in comparison, speech-wise and b) she's been denied for so long that everyone who has ever had any interest in seeing her win has already imagined it too many times for the real thing to live up to their fantasy. I liked this speech: short, to the point, and genuinely happy for the honor.

Tribute to Terry Gilliam. Right on. Would Oscars ever honor someone that crazy? I guess the American equivalent might be a tribute honorary award for David Lynch?

Best Actor Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
This speech was a little like a rusty rehearsal embryonic version of his Golden Globe speech last month. Is Mickey Rourke time travelling? He'd be a great candidate for "do it all over again!" so good luck with that, Mickey. Two new bits for this speech though: One dedicating it to his late friend King Arthur himself, Richard Harris. The second was a hilarious bit about how brave Marisa Tomei was to take off her clothes and how much he liked looking at her do just that.


Best Director Danny Boyle Slumdog Millionaire
I wonder what's going to happen at the Oscars this year. It's SO suspenseful. On a less snarky note the speech was sincere and well spoken and there was a fun rousing "I love you Dad!" shout-out from his son in the crowd.

Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire
But more importantly: Angelina Jolie laughed in the banter intro! One might even say she giggled. Guffawed would be an overstatement. But she did seem genuinely amused by presenter Mick Jagger's joke that her brood should perform The Sound of Music on stage in a Movie Star / Rock Star Exchange Program.

She's been getting progressively more cheerful as we march towards Oscar. Will she eventually leap on chairs at the Kodak? That's what the last impossibly happy person did, right?

That's it.

P.S. I dread all the added weight the oft ridiculous BAFTAs will get after their sure to be excellent correlation to eventual Oscar wins this year. Do you?
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Best Actor Lineup

If you combine all of this year's nominated Best Actor Nominees into one composite character you get an 6' tall old pro of 55 years of age who's making his comeback playing a disgraced ex president of the New Orleans Drummers Association who wrestles at nights in gay bars for extra cash.

Will someone please make a movie about that guy?


Click on over to the Best Actor page to vote on your preference (not prediction) for Hollywood's top honor for male actors and see my theories as to how they all got nominated. Do you love Frank Langella's Nixon, Mickey Rourke wrestler, Sean Penn's gay politico, Brad Pitt's southern drawl and magically disappearing wrinkles. Or maybe you'd prefer a visit from or a drum circle with Richard Jenkins?

And in the comments here, who do you think is going to win... Mickey or Sean or (gasp) someone else?, perhaps slipping up into the indecision between them.

I wish I could say I had some clever reasons for including Marisa Tomei in this lineup but it doesn't go much deeper than that I love to look at her.
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SAG Live Blogging (Part 1)

7:03 or thereabouts. The first star I see is The Lovely Laura Linney so I know this night is going to be special. [and by special I mean bearable]


Her dimpled cheeks are so wholesome they're hypnotic. The mere mortal she speaks with probably doesn't feel condescended to at all when Laura drops the name of her friends.

What is TLLL looking forward to?

I'm thrilled to be able to grab Kate Winslet for a second, grab my friends, say 'hi'

If you were close enough to grab KATE WINSLET, would "hi" be your first choice of words? Something less intelligible would spill out, I suspect.

7:15 Melissa Leo looks super happy and the dress is great. But I'm already worried for Princess Anne (Hathaway), who, didn't look so cheery when the camera caught her. She walked with head down. Did that Golden Globe Kate fest crush her Oscar dream?

Maybe "hi" wouldn't be the first thing she said to Kate Winslet, either.

7:18 Evan Rachel Wood is really proud of her shoes. If I were a drag queen I totally would be too. I was Once a major ERW cheerleader and I hope to be so Again. Did you catch that wordplay. yuk yuk. I'm on fire tonight. (special = bearable! remember it. It'll help you get through, too)


7:32 My favorite moment of the night has already occured. It shan't be beat, I swear it. The E! girl (I can't be bothered remembering her name Guilisomething?) is trying to "connect" to Angelina Jolie who has deigned to descend from the heavens to speak with her. So she's nervous and so she's going on and on about how amazing Brad Pitt is and she says to Angelina, and I quote:

There's nothing sexier or more heartwarming than seeing a man who is good with children. Would you agree about that?

Angelina -- and this wouldn't even be worth capturing in a screen shot it's so tiny and perfect -- says... nothing. She merely almost imperceptibly nods and lets out a little hum/sigh.

Perhaps she's wondering why the reporter hasn't yet spontaneously combusted.

7:50 Every actor who ever plays gay needs to take lessons from James Franco about how to handle the inane media questions about it. The reporter is trying to ask him which is harder, pretending to be high onscreen (Pineapple Express) or to pretend to be in love with Sean Penn (Milk). Franco's reply...

I... I don't know. In life I am in love with Sean and I don't smoke weed.

I love it. Franco is like this year's James Marsden right? He was once kinda not really ascending as a star and then, in one year, he just proved there was so much more charisma and A list within him. I love him. Love him with me in the comments. Free Love!

8:05 They just finished that "I am an actor" part. It wasn't as good as that time (last year?) when Jane Krakowski said "I'm Johnny Depp and I am an actor". But then few things are as good as the time when Jane Krakowski did them.

8:06 Tina Fey won "Only Actress in a TV Comedy". There's only her right? She's the only thing I remember about 2008. She even ran for public office. Her co-star Alec Baldwin won the corresponding award for people with penises.


8:09 Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto are trotted out to introduce Slumdog Millionaire. They didn't waste any time. Dev & Frieda both look really cute and the crowd loves them and I'll be TOTALLY nice to them tonight.

unless they win
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8:21 There's a montage now. I'm glad I'm recording it because I need to watch it again to understand properly. It's called "trailblazers" which seems to be another word for famous people in famous movies. And that's not what I thought that word meant so I need to be schooled.

8:26 The Boyfriend says "we're half an hour into the show and only 30 Rock has won anything" Unfortunately Jane Krakowski spoils my 8:05 compliment above with a bad joke. Yeah, the Ally McBeal cast was emaciated. We remember. I don't think Sally Field at the Brothers & Sisters table thought that was funny. Neither did I.

<--- 8: 28 Marisa Tomei jostled by someone's mink.

Hey, it doesn't happen every day.

8:30 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS is... Kate Winslet in The Reader. I'm not including a picture because Marisa Tomei's fur collision was more interesting.

Ponder that for a moment.

I love Kate Winslet so much. How did I ever become so jaded that I wouldn't enjoy seeing her win awards? Is it her dully sincere speeches or the inevitability of awards season?

8:53 House won Best Actor. Sally Field won Best Actress for Brothers and Sisters but the most important thing that happened in the past 15 minutes is that the camera went to Michelle Pfeiffer.
I imagine cameras are drawn there like moths to a flame. That's my cliche of choice. I couldn't think of a funny.

I'm spent (special!)

Sometimes I hate David E Kelley from stealing her away from her career to such an extent but then I remember that without him we'd probably never see her at these events and she's always there as the dutiful wife. Now if only he would make good television again instead of [shudder] Boston Legal. I hope she made him sleep on the couch on Monday nights.

8:55 Mad Men wins Best Ensemble for TV. Damn straight. Now if only the SAG voters will choose as well with the cinema. The correct answer is Milk people. Don't let me down at 10:00 PM

9:00 end of part one. here's part two.

Supporting Actress Lineup

If you combine all of this year's Best Supporting Actress nominees into one Imaginary Oscar Bait Woman -- why wouldn't you? All the crazy people (i.e. me) are doing it -- you get a 5'5" thirty-eight year old struggling single Catholic mother who moonlights as a stripper and occasionally engages in menage à trois with her ex-husband. And yes, my friends, she has a heart of gold.

They always do.


The Supporting Actress page is updated with info, statistics and "how'd they get nominated?" snark for these five lovely actresses: Taraji P Henson, Penélope Cruz, Viola Davis, Marisa Tomei and Amy Adams. Plus: You can vote in the poll to choose the reader favorite. Make sure to be right here Sunday night for the SAG Live Blogging when four of these women (minus Marisa + Kate) square off for that particular statue. Consider it a warm up to the big show.

Golden Globes:Best Red Carpet Moments and Quick Thoughts

I haven't been very coherent today so I'm not trying to type much at you. But here's a little 7 minute video I prepared with some fun Golden Globe arrival moments and subtitles to show you what I was thinking at the time. Just for... well, for no reason whatsoever.



I hope you're not Globed out yet. Here are a few thoughts on the wins at my Golden Globe category pages

Motor City Mama

As In Contention recently reported, the Detroit Film Critics have given another Supporting Actress prize to my girlfriend Marisa Tomei. I couldn't let this pass as, despite my critical fatigue I am a Detroit boy. I grew up dreaming about being the film critic for the Detroit Free Press. Which means of course that I wouldn't have a job anymore.

Pic & Dir: Slumdog Actor & Supporting Actress: Mickey Rourke & Marisa in The Wrestler Actress: Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

This is great fun since Tomei's character in The Wrestler , "Cassidy/Pam", could so easily have been imagined as a Motor City transplant (the movie takes place in New Jersey). Apparently this puts Marisa at a tie with Penélope Cruz in most supporting actress precursors (I wasn't aware... pile enough critics awards on me and my brain goes as slushy as Detroit roads this time of year) though of course teensy critical notices are not as powerful as a SAG nomination in drawing Oscar's attention. Still, I think she'll be nominated. I spoke with Marisa again last week and I'll share some of that conversation with you after Christmas. But I'll drop this little tidbit for now: I was pleased to hear that she's a big fan of Milk --"it blew me away" she said. Here's hoping it blows other movie-loving Academy members like her away since Slumdog, Frost/Nixon and Doubt seem to hogging the media attention (at least this week).

Two other critical awards I haven't yet discussed in case you're less insatiable than I: The Women's Critics Circle which have rather unique awards no Best Picture just "Best Film About Women" which went to Changeling (how anyone can think that's a better film about women than Rachel Getting Married or Frozen River I will never in a million years understa--oh, right Clint Eastwood. Got it) and The African American Film Critics Association which went like so...

Picture & Supporting: The Dark Knight & Heath Ledger Dir: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Actress: Angelina Jolie, Changeling (her only critics award this year (no the Satellites aren't "critics" prizes) Actor: Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Doubt

I am making a vow for next year right here and right now. No critics organization that doesn't keep an updated webpage will be included in my awards coverage. I'll just ignore them entirely. It'll make things more professional and easier on me. The AAFCA and the WFCC are yet two more that haven't updated their websites in several months.

Red Carpet Lineup

A random sampling of actresses from premieres, parties and events this past week...

[original images]

Amy Adams may be playing a nun currently but she still steps out looking like a cartoon princess. I think it's been much too long since we've seen Alfre Woodard, don't you? Have you seen Passion Fish (1992)? It's been on my mind lately for some reason. Cate Blanchett apparently just stepped out of a time machine direct from the set of Björk's "Who Is It?" video. But that's a compliment. Anything that reminds us of Björk is very welcome, indeed. I've been noticing that Marisa Tomei's red carpet wear is getting increasingly outre as the weather gets colder. If she keeps this up she might be in Tilda territory by the time the Oscars roll around in February. One can always dream. I can't wait for you all to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button because Taraji P Henson gives her character this one little physical gesture in a church healing scene that just made me grin from ear to ear. I'm so glad her career is taking off. Did Kim Basinger think she looked fat in The Door in the Floor or something? Is it wrong that every time I see Heather Graham I want to hand her a pair of rollerskates? I never want her to take them off.

Signatures: Sissy Spacek

Adam of Club Silencio here with a look at my favorite actresses and their distinguishing claims to fame.

Sissy Spacek is the rarest of Hollywood starlets. Nowadays she contently weaves her wonder into tiny, thankless roles, and so rarely glams up the red carpet or graces the tabloid page. She makes it almost easy to forget her certifiable A-list rank, even as we watch her dazzle and disappear in films like the upcoming Four Christmases. But never turn your back on her; Sissy's always been one for the third act stunner.

Consider it a lesson learned: It's always the quiet ones...


Sissy has mastered the ability to go from meek to madwoman in the blink of a telekinetic eye. How easy we forget that she torched her entire graduating class and took out a sizable portion of the Midwest population. Blame it on her strict religious upbringing or a boyfriend with homicidal tendencies, but Sissy's never one to be underestimated. That pleasant homegrown beauty and peaceful naivete can so readily warm our hearts like a smooth country ballad, but one should always be prepared for Sissy to steal an identity, or something far worse.


Fair enough, her characters often have good reason for turning on a dime -- things like public humiliation or familial loss. But if you think Sissy's always justified in this momentary madness, try saying it to Marisa Tomei's face...


Sissy says of her startling, unhinged moment with Tomei, "She was a really good sport about it, but I felt awful. I mean, she had a bag of ice on her face, to keep the swelling down between takes. And that was our first scene together."

Upon playing Ruth Fowler, her Oscar-nominated role from In the Bedroom, Sissy says she initially found little in common with the emotionally reserved character. But rest assured Sissy quickly found her creative spark as only she could, "I'll be in the middle of throwing a fit and I'll think, 'I've got to remember this, I can use this. This is going in my toolbox.'"

Red Carpet Rendezvous

Little known fact: Marisa Tomei is planning to play Mrs . Roper next. I have nothing to say about Deborah Harry but we were just talking about her so why not include? You know what Diane Keaton needs to do next? A meaty dramatic role like she had in Reds or Mrs Soffel -- but oh right ... Nobody remembers how strong she is in dramas, including maybe Diane herself. Winona Ryder was hospitalized for a mysterious illness this week . Here we go again. I mean this next statement in the nicest least snarky way I could mean it. I honestly thought that Natasha Lyonne was dead. So this year hasn't been as big for Elizabeth Banks as we all were thinking, has it? Still, she looks fab. So does my fab Mad Men cast member Christina Hendricks Yumyum. Is Hollywood going to pounce on her? At the very least, can't they throw her some supporting work in period pieces.

Careful Now

Marisa knows you're up to something!
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