"The Look" Gets the Gold

Some people are never down for the count. And Lauren Bacall is one of those people. The famously silver tongued siren began bewitching moviegoers when she was only 19 -- surely the most mature teenager the screen ever saw -- in To Have and Have Not (1944). Aside from a fallow 1970s, she's been working steadily since. In all that time she's never learned to hold her tongue (so many choice soundbites over the years, god bless) and she's still a lively soul at 84 going on 85. Her birthday is next week.

When she lost her only Oscar nomination (1996's The Mirror Has Two Faces) to Juliette Binoche in The English Patient, most assumed that she would be of the Have Not variety when it came to the statue, despite her marriages to two legendary Haves, Oscar winners Humphrey Bogart and Jason Robards. But now, the wait for her very own golden boy is over. She'll receive her honorary Oscar in November.





While we'll see a clip of Bacall at the Oscar ceremony in March, it rankles me that it'll only be a clip. Such a stupid move. The Oscar were made for live moments like that, moments where you can celebrate the last of dying breeds and/or movie legends on the industry's High Holy Night as they mingle with contemporary stars and gazillions of people watch. And make no mistake, there are still plenty of people watching the Oscars every year despite the media's constant reports of Falling Sky! Falling Sky!

Just for fun, here's some of my favorite Tweets from "Lauren" over the past few months as she sounded off on smoking, cats, an unfinished Tarantino script, vampire and horror movies. So what if they were fake? They were so fun. Legendary name dropping, opinions, project pimping...




Now that the news and the tweets are out of the way I have to admit that I'm not really that well versed in Bacall's long career. I've always enjoyed her as a celebrity but aside from To Have and Have Not and How to Marry a Millionaire, my mind goes blank when it comes time to discussing her films. What's your favorite of her performances? Give us rental suggestions in the comments.

Podcast: Kristin Scott Thomas Interview

Kristin Scott Thomas is "Extraordinary"

When I spoke with the acclaimed British actress in January, as we both recovered from Golden Globe parties, I discovered that she loves describing other actors that way. Yet the adjective fits her like a glove. "Versatile" would be another apt descriptor. She's equally at home in drama, comedy or in period epics. You'll find her in French, British, American and even Romanian cinema. She also treads the boards. Her recent performance in the Broadway run of The Seagull could bring her her first TONY nomination this summer. Her film career from Prince's odd con artist flick Under the Cherry Moon (1986) [think of his "Parade" CD if you're drawing a blank -ed.] through the Oscar stamped The English Patient (1996) to the recent French hits Tell No One and I've Loved You So Long (2008, just out on DVD!) has been alternately celebrated and underappreciated.

She likens her past twenty years in the spotlight to a rollercoaster

You have moments of complete grace and glory and heaven. Others of failure or rejection... So much of it is out of your control

That zen like acceptance of the ups and downs of a screen career threads itself throughout our conversation. She's benefiting from France's affection for mature women but she understands the irresistible beauty of youth. She credits much of her screen performance to what's built in the editing room but doesn't discount her own efforts in front of the camera "If you haven't got good raw material you can't create anything". She's just as willing to discuss that first high profile Prince dud ("a baptism of fire") as she is to chat about how proud she is of a small French/Romanian film An Unforgettable Summer. When asked about future roles she's interested in, there's also a little bit of the up and down balancing...

Once you've done something you're not really interested in doing it again. I'm quite glad to be rid of 'the withering remark'. But then on the other hand I really enjoy the withering remarks, the witticisms and the puff of the cigarette.

Despite the rich variety of characters she's essayed I half expected her stickiest screen persona, the initially icy aristocratic beauty familiar from Gosford Park and The English Patient, to bleed over into our conversation. Not so. She was congenial, down to earth and in great humor -- hardly ready with a "withering remark". Her co-stars performances are often deemed extraordinary but after our quick run through of her career, she does allow herself a minor pat on the back.

You know, I look back at the list... 'You haven't done too badly, old girl'

It's an understatement.
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*Go to iTunes for the enhanced interview or listen to the simple mp3

Listen and discuss.

What's your favorite screen memory of Kristin Scott Thomas? Are you excited for her pas de deux with Sergi López in Partir? Do you prefer those 90s arthouse films Angels and Insects, Bitter Moon or the big hits Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient? How drôle was she as "Alette" in Confessions of a Shopaholic? Finally, if you've just seen her Golden Globe and Cesar nominated turn in I've Loved You So Long (the film just hit DVD) what did you think of her performance as the withdrawn ex-con?

20:08 (Best Pictures From the Outside In)

screenshots from the 20th minute and 8th second of movies.
I use a VLC but different DVDs do come up with slightly different screenshots. It's an inexact exercize.

It's a very plum... plum

Even Pee Wee Herman would love this redundant statement from The English Patient. 'Mmm, plummy!' But it gets at one of the best things about the movie, the feast it offers the senses.


In this first frame from Gone With the Wind, "Good Morning Scarlett", our heroine is all ablur ready to wreak havoc at the Wilkes Plantation. In the second frame (20:08 if you remove the overture) she's transferring her affections to Charles when she can't find a wedge inbetween Ashley & Melanie, newly betrothed.

Charles Hamilton, I want to eat barbecue with you! And mind you don't go philandering with any other girls because I might be jealous.

Such a troublemaker, that one! Or as her husband hunting rivals call her, "a hornet".

Visit Nick's Flick Picks for the new episode of Best Pictures From the Outside In as Mike, Nick and I tackle these two film giants, two of the longest best picture winners evah. "Fiddle Dee Dee"

And here's a chart of all episodes as per requests
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Anthony Minghella (1954-2008)

Writer/director Anthony Minghella (most famous for The English Patient and Cold Mountain) has died at 54 years of age of a brain hemorrhage after a medical procedure. Condolences to his family. It's so sad. He's pictured to the left here with two of his (presumably) favorite actors Jude Law (who we were just discussing) and Juliette Binoche --both of whom he worked with repeatedly and directed to Oscar nominations.

The next couple of years were going to be busy for this multi-hypenate talent and Oscar winner who leaned toward literary adaptation. He was producing this year's Oscar hopeful The Reader. He had recently announced his next project, another adaptation, of the novel The Ninth Life of Louis Drax and had just completed the promising adaptation of the book franchise The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency for a possible television series. No word yet on whether Minghella finished his segment of the upcoming New York, I Love You (a follow up of sorts to Paris Je T'Aime) where he was one of several filmmakers doing vignettes. Some other names who will be featured in the omnibus project include The Hughes Brothers, Scarlett Johansson (her debut behind the camera), Mira Nair, Brett Ratner, and Fatih Akin (Head-On).

My personal favorite Minghella is also his first Truly Madly Deeply (1990, but released stateside in 1991). That's one film I always feel safe recommending to anyone. It's a really heartfelt romantic dramedy from the tiny romantic comedy subgenre of dead lover helps still living partner move on with life. You've seen a few of them in your life but none are as good as Truly Madly Deeply. Minghella was always a strong actor's director and Juliet Stevenson, the lead, is marvelous. Alan Rickman plays her dead lover. She probably would have been on my Oscar ballot in 1991, had I an Oscar ballot to scribble on.

more at twiigs.com...

Hump Day Hotties: Fiennes & Weisz

I am currently taking some much deserved time off from the day job grind. But, since it's Wednesday, I thought I'd throw a bone to everyone working with this new (weekly) daydream service: Hump Day Hotty/Hotties. Today's libidinally inspiring duo are the leads of the new Fernando Meirelles thriller The Constant Gardener.

Ralph Fiennes is one of the classiest and sexiest of British import stars. He first caught major notice in the Oscar winner Schindler's List (1993) with one of the top 10 all-time-best-nominated-performances-that were-inexplicably-passed-over-when-statues-were-handed-out (whew). I fell in love with his talent then. His beauty was harder to get a handle on due to the Nazi ick-factor. But the longer you look at him, the prettier he gets. He isn't often held up as a sex-symbol like, say, Jude Law. But he deserves to be. His sexual power onscreen is a little hard to deny if you stop to think about the extra juice he gives nearly every film in which he stars.

Three years after Schindler's his scorching desert coupling with Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient (1996) made audiences swoon and gave him his star-making role. And, though audiences weren't interested, his onscreen lust factor went supernova again in The End of the Affair (1999). Pared up and stripped down with a true peer in the school of pale beauty and genius acting (Julianne Moore), Fiennes was something to behold. 2005's current and steamy duet is no match for that one but it's still pretty hormonal. For one thing, since Fiennes never shuns character specificity in favor of star personae, Justin Quayle remains too subdued and careful for Casanova status. It's one of his quietest characterizations. He cedes all the sexual power to the female this time.

Speaking of... Rachel Weisz has made over 20 features in the past decade. Despite the requisite movie beauty, she hasn't exactly had plum roles. She is probably most well-known for her double love-interest duties with Keanu Reeves (Constantine, Chain Reaction), Brendan Fraser (both Mummy films), and now, Ralph Fiennes (Sunshine, The Constant Gardener). The little seen The Shape of Things(2003) a role she also originated onstage, got her some attention as well. Despite the prolific work, she has up until now remained a B-Lister. That could change if the public or the Academy falls for her bohemian fire and natural sexiness as Tessa Quayle inThe Constant Gardener. It's the best Kate Winslet performance ever that's not --er, performed by Kate Winslet. (get me?)

Whatever one may think of The Constant Gardener as a film, the chemistry between Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz is evident for all to see. Their beautiful interpretations of Mr & Mrs. Quayle's semi-ambiguous partnership is the best reason to see the film. To continue lusting after Ralph turn to Ralph Fiennes Corner. For more of Rachel's goodies visit Rachel Weisz Paradise.