"I hope she'll be a fool..."

.

"... that's the best thing a girl can be in this world -
a beautiful little fool." - Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

(pic by Baz Luhrmann) JA from MNPP here. Deadline reported a little earlier today that Carey Mulligan will presumably play Daisy Buchanan for Baz Luhrmann's Gatsby, you know, if he gets around to making a Gatsby. (Who knows with Baz?) But for now as the Magic Eight Ball says signs point to yes. And perhaps the best visual I'll be given today is in their article:

"Mulligan was on the reception line for The Fashion Council Awards in New York when she got the call on her cell phone from Luhrmann, just a few minutes ago. She burst into tears on the red carpet in front of Karl Lagerfield and Anna Wintour."

Thanks for that, Deadline. They forgot to mention the part where the tears of an innocent caused those two's fangs to burst forth.

Anyway I think she's a great choice. What about y'all? And will Baz really get around to making this movie for real? And what do we think about Leo DiCaprio as Jay and Tobey Maguire as Nick?
.

Actors on Actors: Zoe's Lust, Tobey's Caution

I love New York Times "T Screen Tests". Thanks to In Contention for pointing out this beautifully minimalist video. I sometimes miss them. This one is hot actors of the moment talking about favorite performances from this past decade. It's pretty interesting.



I love reading between the lines on things like this. The questions it raises. Is Jake Gyllenhaal just a fundamentally unserious person? Is Tobey Maguire sincere when he chooses super close BFF Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator or just not committing to the exercize (though I love his acknowledgement that there needs to be more to biopic acting than mimicry)? Is Christoph Waltz hoping to be employed soon by the Coen Bros? Who is Sandra Bullock's hairdresser?

There's also Carey Mulligan freaking out over Saoirse Ronan's baby blues (don't we all?) and hip Vera Farmiga singing the praises of TFE's current It boy man Michael Fassbender in Hunger.

There's something about his face that is unlike anyone in the way it conveys emotion.

I also like imagining which actors might have totally whacky off-consensus Oscar nomination ballots (Jeff Bridges obviously) and which might be total conformists (Morgan Freeman, Julianne Moore?!?)

But my favorite of all has to be Zoe Saldana's left field praise of Tang Wei in Lust, Caution. You don't hear that performance brought up every day but it's simply beyond. God Tang Wei was great in that movie. And just this acknowledgement makes me love Zoe Saldana way way more. And the fact that she dwells on the physicality... I think she's telling filmmakers she's totally down with the sex scenes if anyone wants to offer her a truly meaty part.

Natalie Portman and "The Three Block Rule"

Do you hate it when people ask you what you think about a movie while the credits are rolling? Probably not. Everyone asks me this and it makes me crazy. I need time!

Haven't my friends heard of the 'Three Block Rule'? I've always tried to lived by it even though I didn't know the name. Last week at the Brothers' press conference -- same day I met Jake (only earlier) -- Tobey Maguire recounted his first meeting with Natalie Portman.

I remember the day that I met her she taught me a valuable lesson there which is the “three block rule”. We were at a screening of a movie and I don’t think I liked the movie that much and I was going to talk about it...

And she just said 'Wait a second. You don't know the three block rule?'

'What's the three block rule?'

'You don't talk about the movie until you're three blocks away because you never know who is listening'

Even at 14 that girl was damn smart. If you want to read my piece about Tobey, Jake and Natalie promoting Brothers click over to Tribeca Film.
*

Two Brothers

Here's the poster for the December drama Brothers.

Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman are married.
Jake Gyllenhaal comes between them. Sort of.

I can already hear Glenn at Stale Popcorn gnashing his teeth over that empty white space up top. He hates that! But I personally love the poster. It strikes me as appropriately minimalist and I love the delicate severity of that thin cleaving white line. The movie spins a rather simple story of a woman whose heart is split between two brothers, her husband (who goes missing in The Middle East) and her brother-in-law (who comforts her at home).

I love the poster but I'm worried.

The trailer is as In Contention suggests, way too shrill. I saw it a week ago and chose to ignore it since I'm eager to see this. It suggests a film that's twice as histrionic as even the climax of the Danish film that this is based on (a film which I've raved about in the past and which you should rent not only because it's good but for compare/contrast purposes). Said trailer also gives far too much of the story away. It's one of those trailers that tells you the whole story from beginning to end. It doesn't even stop at the 2/3rds or the 3/4ths mark.

Tobey Maguire has serious PTSD issues

Nevertheless, we'll hope for the best. Brothers opens almost exactly 5 years to the day since Closer ushered in Natalie Portman's graduation to adult roles. Good sign? Plus, director Jim Sheridan has a way with actors and he's a bit of a gold magnet. He's only made six films prior to Brothers, two of which were best picture nominees (My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father). His films have garnered eight acting nominations with two wins. Quite an enviable track record, yes?

Any hunches on how Brothers will fare?
*

"We Can't Wait" 2009 Preview

Tomorrow the blog will begin to be invaded by brief peeks at 20 films we're excited to see in 2009 (at least at this writing -- trailers could change our pre-viewing feelings). Who is "we" you ask? This year I did the anticipatory mindmeld with Whitney of Dear Jesus, Fox of Tractor Facts, Joe of Low Resolution and JA of My New Plaid Pants to come up with the top 20. I am horrified to inform you that these so called "friends" did not help me place Stephen Frears Chéri on the list. The plentiful posts I've already done on the matter will have to be enough until its Berlinale premiere later this month. The other highest ranking "orphans" from my own personal list function as an accidental Natalie Portman Double Feature.

Brothers is from actor-friendly director Jim Sheridan (In America, In the Name of the Father) and its based on the Danish film by Susanne Bier which I've recommended for rental many times. In the original film Connie Nielsen (in a terrifically engaging and warm star turn) is an army wife whose husband (Ulrich Thomsen) has been shipped off to Afghanistan. His troubled brother (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) helps her out around the house and they form a makeshift bond in his absence. If the plot sounds similar it's because Bier herself didn't stray far from its distraught wife and uncomfortable romantic triangle that also characterized the plot of her English language debut Things We Lost in the Fire.


In the American remake Natalie Portman plays the tearful wife. The title characters are Tobey Maguire as the soldier hubby and Jake Gyllenhaal as the ne'er-do-well brother. I'm interested to see what mojo Portman can work on both of them. Think of how bewitched bothered and bewildered Clive Owen, Jude Law (twice!), Timothy Hutton and Jason Schwartzman have become in her presence onscreen. Even wooden Hayden Christensen was thrown by her. He was haunted by the kiss she should never have given him [gag] !

17 Photos of Isabel comes from writer/director Don Roos and I think he proved with The Opposite of Sex and Happy Endings that he definitely has his own voice as a filmmaker. It's a voice worth hearing from time to time. He's also the filmmaker we can thank for Lisa Kudrow's best performance (The Opposite of Sex) and even, arguably, Maggie Gyllenhaal's (Happy Endings) which is saying a lot. The film is about a woman who is having trouble with her stepson but I don't know who plays whom. Neither Kudrow (returning for a third round with Roos) nor Portman are playing a character named "Isabel". The working title was Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.

Did you like Roos' previous films? Do you share my intermittent Portmania?

The Official "We Can't Wait ~ Top 20 of 2009" kicks off tomorrow @ Noon. You can see other "orphans" at Low Resolution, Tractor Facts and My New Plaid Plants

In case you missed any entries they went like so...
*
We Can't Wait:
#1 Inglourious Basterds, #2 Where the Wild Things Are, #3 Fantastic Mr. Fox,
#4 Avatar, #5 Bright Star, #6 Shutter Island, #7 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
#8 Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, #9 Nailed, #10 Taking Woodstock,
#11 Watchmen, #12 The Hurt Locker, #13 The Road, #14 The Tree of Life
#15 Away We Go, #16 500 Days of Summer, #17 Drag Me To Hell,
#18 Whatever Works, #19 Broken Embraces, #20 Nine (the musical)
intro (orphans -didn't make group list)
*

Once More Into the Web. No... Twice More

Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4 & 5 deals are super-sweet. $50 million plus for two films back to back with lots of time off for being Daddy Maguire, too. Score for Hollywood parents there... [Spider-Man's creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko never pocketed this kind of change. Anywayyyy. That's another topic] Color me shocked that this is actually happening --not the money but the films... and so soon, too. I love the first two franchise entries with all of my superpowerless heart but can't they quit while they're behind? Spider-Man 3 was just... (sigh). I still have to eat my feelings when I think about it.

The news currently hints that Kirsten 'Mary Jane' Dunst is either still in talks or that the studio is trying to decide how to announce her departure. I love my Kiki (despite that love winning me no fans) but I hope she's out. That'll give her more time to pursue more creative performance challenges. And as an added bonus if she departs: Mary Jane's absence would force the filmmaking team to come up with a new emotional dynamic rather than repeating themselves twice more. Comic book relationships do tend to cycle endlessly (Superman & Lois / Peter & Mary Jane / Scott Summers & various incarnations of Jean Grey) but in movies... well, that constant retelling dynamic doesn't work as well.

Sam Raimi is a resourceful, creative director. He should be able to find a way to keep Peter Parker's moony-eyed feelings in play even without his on again/off again girl in the mix. What's more, Raimi should. Spider-Man's unashamed earnestness (some might say corny sincerity) provide a nice counter-balance in the superhero movie culture. It's decidedly different than the stuff that's in vogue, i.e. the fanboy comfort foods moods; Batman dark, Iron Man snark, Wolverine bark.

Good luck to all.
*

Vanity Fair's Hollywood ~ Episode 4 (1998)

The recent release of the new "Hollywood" cover photo has reminded me that I've shirked my Hollywood Historian duties for a month now. If you missed previous episodes of my Vanity Fair Hollywood cover investigation here's 1995 , 1996 and 1997 and you'll be caught up.

In 1998, photographer Annie Leibovitz threw us for a loop. Boys and Girls. What a concept --but it was the first time the two sides of the gymnasium were forced to intermingle. (What? They say Hollywood is like high school, right?) The cover was called "The Hot Next Wave" but judging from the color scheme and styling, they were thinking more along the lines of new Oscar cool. 1998 Also marked the first year they started overstuffing the cover --11 people this time in place of the usual 10.

From left to right

Joaquin Phoenix was 23 when this cover premiered. I'm old enough [gasp] to remember that he started his career as "Leaf" Phoenix. He had not yet moved out from under his brother River's long long shadow though people began to suspect that he might with his affecting work in To Die For (1995) as a none too smart and lovestruck teenager, coldly controlled by Nicole Kidman in her artistic breakthrough. He had just had a mild success with Inventing the Abbotts which was to launch both he and Billy Crudup as new Hollywood heartthrobs. And he was due in theaters twice later that year with Clay Pigeons and the grueling Return to Paradise (both with cover companion Vince Vaughn). But it would take his overheated villain in Gladiator (2000) to raise him to the next level in Hollywood and garner him the first of two Oscar nominations.

Vince Vaughn was a skinny 28 year-old, all the casting rage since his "money" breakthrough in the beloved indie Swingers (1996). He had four movies coming out in 1998: A Cool Dry Place, Return to Paradise, Clay Pidgeons and Gus Van Sant's Psycho. None of these dramas were what you would call "hits" but superstardom was still on its gradual (comedic) way.

Natalie Portman, soon turning 17, had been cast as Luke & Leia's mother in the Star Wars prequels. In 1998 nobody knew that that would mean she would be giving terrible performances that we'd all love to mock for years to come! But Queen, excuse me, Senator Amidala aside... Natalie was already a big deal. She had hit the movies with pretenatural force in The Professional (also known as Leon, 1994) and had been the best thing about the ensemble dramedy Beautiful Girls (1996) with much bigger stars swirling all around her. Once Star Wars was behind her she was free to become an Oscar nominee and an all around badass superstah.

Djimon Hounsou who was turning 34 had already f***ed Sandra Bernhard ("onscreen!" he adds quickly) in Without You I'm Nothing, danced with Janet Jackson in the desert in the video "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" and, of course, sailed on that slave ship in Amistad (1997). He was still a decade away from modelling Steel underwear in his late 40s. Damn, he's aging well. Hollywood still likes to cast him in nothing muscled exotic parts (Eragon, Gladiator, Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life) but when they give him a real opportunity (In America, Blood Diamond), they usually reward him with an Oscar nomination. So... one wonders why they don't give him more opportunities.

and now we've reached the first fold out.

Cate Blanchett was turning 28 and, though I haven't done the research, I feel safe telling you that this was the last time she didn't make the cover of anything. When this cover premiered she had just come off of kind reviews for Oscar & Lucinda (with Ralph Fiennes) which approximately 100 people, besides the reviewing critics, saw. Elizabeth was on its/her way, though, and that would change everything.

Tobey Maguire turning 23, had been working in the industry for about eight years at this point but had yet to "break." Spider-Man was still four years away from being a reality but big roles had already started to fall his way (though we hadn't seen them onscreen yet). Later this year he had the lead role in the black and white gone color drama Pleasantville and Cider House Rules and Ride With the Devil (for Ang Lee) were not so far off.

Claire Forlani nearing 26 had already been seen in Julian Schnabel's Basquiat and the action hit The Rock. But it was surely her impending co-starring gig with Brad Pitt (Meet Joe Black, the coming November) that nabbed her a coveted cover spot. The film was not what people were hoping for and an A list career never materialized for her. But she's never lacked for work since. Recently she's been veering toward television work (CSI was the main gig) but you'll next see her opposite Daniel Craig in Flashbacks of a Fool.

Gretchen Mol 25 would appear on two Vanity Fair covers this year (two! in one year!! before she had ever been seen in a substantial role!!!) The second (pictured, right) arrived in the Fall, leading people to believe that maybe Conde Nast had bought shares of her career. Unfortunately it also set her up to become the butt of never-was style has-been jokes. But at this point Hollywood, or at least casting directors and her agent, was counting on her to skyrocket. It wasn't completely impossible to imagine numbers-wise. She appeared in an incredible 15 (yes, 15) movies from 1998 to 2000 but it wasn't until 2006 and her leading role as The Notorious Bettie Page where she began to turn the career around. The next couple of years are crucial. It's her second chance.

Christina Ricci, 18 had been a wee star since 1990's Mermaids, her film debut opposite Winona Ryder and Cher. She had already delivered two Oscar nomination worthy performances (in Addams Family Values --sheer brilliance-- and as a sexually curious teen in The Ice Storm) by the time this cover suggested she was a real star, not just a famous child. She had 7 (!) movies coming out that year including Pecker and Buffalo '66. By December she was winning critics awards and her wicked star turn as DeDe Truit in The Opposite of Sex (1999) won her her first and only Golden Globe nomination. Strangely, her career seemed to go into freefall almost immediately after this sensational year. But her recent work in Black Snake Moan (2007) and participation in the upcoming Speed Racer (2008) could return her to her former stature.

Edward Furlong, 20, had been famous since his debut (a leading role as the future savior of mankind no less) in the envelope pushing blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). He hung around in leads or large supporting roles up until the time of this cover (when he headlined John Water's Pecker, opposite Christina Ricci and appeared with Edward Norton in American History X). He has appeared in several movies you haven't heard of since then, but 1998 was his last year of playing in the majors. Like so many young stars, there were drug abuse problems and arrests.

Rufus Sewell who was 30 had made a big name for himself on the British stage and Broadway, too. After well received turns in the 1996 Hamlet movie (there's soooo many of those) and Cold Comfort Farm he was in demand. In 1998 alone he had roles in Higher Love, Illuminata, The Very Thought of You, Dark City and Dangerous Beauty. He was less prolific with movies thereafter but you could spot him recently in The Holiday, Paris Je T'Aime, Tristan and Isolde, The Illusionist and Amazing Grace.

median age: approximately 25. Youngest: Natalie Portman ~ sweet sixteen. oldest: Djimon Hounsou @ thirty-four
collective Oscar nominations before this cover: Nada!
collective Oscar nominations after this cover: 10 (half of them are Blanchett's). 1 win (also hers)
fame levels in 2008, according to famousr, from most to least: Vince Vaughn, Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Christina Ricci, Claire Forlani, Djimon Hounsou, Gretchen Mol and Ed Furlong (Rufus Sewell is not listed on the website) ... I'm confused about how Forlani is more famous than Djimon. Hmmm
see also: 1995 ,1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001
*

Entertainment Weekly's Summer Movie Preview

I sat down to the computer and I swear to god I was about to start liveblogging the entire issue of Entertainment Weekly's Summer Movie Preview. What wrong wit me? That From Justin to Kelly recap must have done a whammy on me. But sanity has returned.

Let's just liveblog the cover...

When I took this issue out of my mailbox I secretly hoped that one of the potential Best Actress nominees would be on the cover so I could give some of y'all points (more on that contest very soon) Instead it's Tobey Maguire who is...not an actress. Why didn't they let Kiki share the cover with him. She's Mary Jane. What up wit that? This is one of the many reasons I'm holding that Action Heroine blog-a-thon in June. The girls never get enough action ... literally or figuratively.

Where were we? Oh yes, the cover. I sometimes wish that The Film Experience were famous enough that I could totally cover up the logo with a photo and everyone would still know where they were: Hey, it's The Film Experience! Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly both regularly obsure their logos. Tobey's head is huge here. I hear Mike Myers voice in my head shouting at him to move his giant cranium. Quick --what movie is that from? With Tobey's head in the way the magazine is now called 'Ent Ent weekly'. How guttural sounding. How very Mars Attacks ("ack ack")

or maybe it's a hot periodical in Middle Earth [click to enlarge]


I love Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker but I don't love Tobey Maguire himself. I can take or leave him outside of Sam Raimi's inspired webslinging. On an entirely superficial note: Tobey has the most nonexistent movie star lips since Kenneth Branagh who, perhaps you've forgotten, basically just had a horizontal slit between his nose and chin from which Shakespearean dialogue could escape. I can't picture Tobey reciting Shakespeare. It's impossible not to notice the Spider-Man 3 overkill in this magazine. "115 New Films" they promise to chat about inside. Meanwhile the cover has four photos and two of them are for Spider-Man 3. It's as if only that film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Oh My God It's Trilogy's End and Harry Potter and the Order of So Many Sequels are the only movies opening this summer. And maybe they are to John Q Public but whatevs EW, share the wealth. I wouldn't normally care but since Premiere folded Entertainment Weekly is basically the undisputed print power in mainstream moviegoing. Does this make Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum the most powerful critics in the world?

Speaking of print --I should probably confess: I barely read magazines anymore. That's a pity because in theory I love them. I still have subscriptions. I mourned the loss of Movieline and Premiere. And yet... and yet... the only print thing I read regularly is books. I get so much more entertainment news online than I know what to do with anymore.

And thus concludes the live blogging (i.e. brain vomiting) of EW's Summer Movie Preview. It's been sitting beside my computer for many hours now and I have yet to open it and look inside.