So many young starlets crash and burn that you have to really treasure the smart and sane ones. Beauty is a given with Young Hollywood, Talent is not altogether uncommon, Brains and Common Sense though... thems rare commodities. Anne Hathaway is only 24 and she's got all of the above.Here's the best part: she knows it. Rare is the young movie star who can charismatically walk the tightrope of self possession (often required of stars) without coming across as arrogant. Too confident to be unnerved by her fame and too smart to take it for granted, this girl will be in it for the long haul.
I was doing behind the scenes maintenance on the blog a few days back and noticed that I had called Anne Hathaway "pretty" approximately 11 times in the past 7 months and often the adjective was doubled up for emphasis. It's not that I was unaware that I was repeating myself or that I don't own a thesaurus. It's just that... well, when has one word described someone so perfectly...
I'm thinking of Anne today because she's a cool would be salve for my fresh Lindsay Lohan wounds (a talented girl who isn't chucking it all away!) and because Becoming Jane is expanding on Friday (my review) . I was also pleased to read recently that she'll be working with Jonathan Demme. She told Black Film that they're making Dancing With Sheba together. It's a dark comedy about a f***ed up frequently rehab'ing model who attends a wedding.
I recently lamented that Demme the director isn't what he used to be since winning his Oscar for Silence of the Lambs but ...Sheba sounds like the type of thing that might trigger his sorely-missed livelier instincts. I'm crossing my fingers that it does and that Anne benefits from the spark.
As much as I like her as an actress and a star, she still needs to find a great role to help her to the next level of her career. Demme could be the director to hand it to her. Look what he did for the careers of previous leading ladies: Melanie Griffith (Something Wild -Golden Globe nomination), Michelle Pfeiffer (Married the the Mob -first of six consecutive Golden Globe nominations) and Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs -the Oscar).Good luck to them both.
tags: Anne Hathaway
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I must confess, I'm not a huge fan of Hathaway. Though I definitely respect her as an actress, especially in her ability to choose projects (Brokeback + Devil + Jane = the right career path). She's kind of the female Tobey Maguire in this respect. But, like Maguire, she's just kinda "blah". She's not terribly interesting in interviews, and she always plays kinda boring characters, however competently.
She is very pretty, though. I wish her luck. But sadly, that self-destructive bent in Lindsay is a lot of what fed her talent. Sigh. Hard to get one without the other. I'm still mourning my Lindsay. But I'll get over it.
I have a bet with myself whether Hathaway or Gyllenhaal is going to be getting her Oscar nomination first. I suspect it will be Gyllenhaal, but I thing amongst young Hollywood women, either one of them will be taking a nod very soon.
see --i actually really like her in interviews adam. she speaks her mind more than is usual and is sometimes pretty quippy. seems smart in other words.
but yeah. mourning Lindsay I am. though i'm not sure that i'd agree that a self-destructive bent feeds the talent. seems like cynical artist stereotype. look how good robert downey jr still is all sobered up.
and as for nominations: yeah. gyllenhaal is a given and hathaway i think too --not because she's so rangey or dramatically potent so much as because she has a great eye for film choices... which is VERY important.
i'm still angry that DUNST has gone without but i don't expect any correction there.
1. I sorta agree with adam k with Hathaway. I liked her well enough until everyone thought she was underrated (blame Brokeback and being the only one of the main quartet without an oscar nod). Then everyon seemingly loved her at the same time, and I was kinda left in the dust.
2. Maggie before Hathaway, though Maggie's downfall is that she's really awesome in comedies, and the academy doesn't care for them. I have no real desire to see Gyllenhaal in a costume drama, anyway.
I've loved Hathaway for a while, ever since the one-two punch of Brokeback and Havoc. In Brokeback, I thought she was just as good as Michelle Williams, but Hathaway didn't have the benefit of Dawson's Creek on her resume to offer perspective that the Academy seems to go for (hey! look how far she's come! nom!). Not that Williams wasn't deserving, but Hathaway was just as much, methinks.
Havoc, too, might not be the greatest film, but Hathaway was pretty amazing in it, actually. So kudos to her. In The Devil Wears Prada, I thought she got the raw deal just because it was Streep's show and Emily Blunt had the showier supporting role. Still, shrewd choice of role for her blockbuster slot.
And I still maintain that La Lohan could have a still-viable career if she just gets her shit together. Big if.
"She's not terribly interesting in interviews"
You mustn't be watching the right interviews because holy crap she can be a riot! She's very self-depreciating.
I really like Hathaway and, as loathed as I am to say it, I really do think she is the "next Julia Roberts". They both have that likable every-woman thing going on. And they have big mouths and addictive personalities. She needs a Pretty Woman role to really kick things in gear, but I definitely think she's got the goods to be an audience favourite and be critically acclaimed (which she already is, quite frankly).
On the matter of Gyllenhaal and Hathaway, Gyllenhaal (to paraphrase Mulholland Drive) will be the "great actress" and Hathaway will be the "movie star".
Now here's a question... McAdams or Hathaway? In terms of talent and first Oscar nomination.
BTW Anne went to my college a few years back never graduating, but I saw her drunk at a party with a colorful short wig singing to the crowd and having fun. This is a GOOD thing.
Nathaniel...I have to say that Lindsay Lohan is not as talented as you want her to be, or want to believe she is.
Anne Hathaway is a much more boring person, but she is a true actor. I mean that in the full sense of the word. Tell me, could you really see Lohan doing Broadway? Singing in Les Miz or something similiar? Hathaway is a triple threat real honest to goodness talent.
I hope she get's more fire in her belly to go with it.
I've loved since I was 8. She's just awesome. One of my faves.
BUT SHE NEEDS THAT ROLE NOW!!!!!!!!!
O, how I would have loved to see her in Knocked Up...
She was supposed to be in Knocked UP????
Wouldn't Anne be great if they did a film version of the new Thoroughly Modern Millie musical? That role could definately win her an Oscar nom
She would've been sooooo wonderful in Knocked Up. Nothing against Heigl who I thought was perfectly charming (though to be honest I felt that role was the least well-written of the bunch) but Anne could've given it... something extra, I think. And no matter what that thing was destined to be a big hit, and she needs a big hit! Becoming Jane, as its replacement... notsomuch. She'll get there, though; I have faith in Anne.
I like Anne Hathaway alot and I agree that all she needs right now is the 'perfect' role to pedigree into the Academy's hands - and I have a feeling that Dancing with Sheba will be it.
I really think she was overlooked for Brokeback Mountain, I mean the phone call scene , PHENOMENAL.
I actually think Heigl was a much better choice for "Knocked Up." Though it would have been a nice test of range for Hathaway, Heigl really fit into the part very, very well.
I think the McAdams v. Hathaway comparison is a very good one to make. I prefer the former, but damnit, when is this girl going to wake up and realize she needs to start seeking out roles more frequently?
And something no one here mentioned from the blackfilm article - Debra Winger is making a comeback as Hathaway's mother in Sheba?? YAY
Anon is exactly right. The phone scene was wonderful. Ditto the scene at the cattleman's ball, or whatever it was, when she asked why don't men ever dance with their wives. She was not just overlooked in the Brokeback buzz, she was labeled as the weak link, the lightweight. It was absolutely unfair and did not reflect the reality of her performance.
Yeah, Nat, I guess you're right about the "elf-destructive bent feeding talent" thing being a dumb stereotype. I guess it's just easier to believe that. But she seemed perfectly healthy back in 03/04, and was still totally talented.
I just can't think about all that could've been. Oh Lindsay. If only she'd been raised better (see, there I am doing it again, blaming everyone but her...)
I agree that Hathaway's smart (quite obviously so), but in the more boring way. Maybe it's just that I'm comparing her interviews to those of Streep, Winslet etc. who are unparalleled in this arena. But she's just not my favorite celebrity. I like her just fine, but I don't think I'll ever LOVE.
Plus, her voice kind of annoys me. I'm very susceptible to weird little things like that.
Totally agree that she picks great projects, though. That ability will take her far (and has already).
Haha... "elf-destructive bent"... that's funny to think about.
mcadams >>>>>>> hathaway so much it's not even funny.
Adam, I think you may have had Orlando Bloom on your mind when you wrote "elf-destructive" bent! :)
But seriously, I don't think there's a link between being self-destructive and being talented/creative. At least not in the case of Lindsay Lohan. I'd chalk up her behavior more to being unable to deal with the early fame (and the priveledges/attention that go hand-and-hand with that) which was thrust upon her. Rather than an indication of a deep, brooding, creative soul, I think it's much more a matter of her being self-centered and immature. Perhaps she'll grow out of it eventually.
i.e. BAD PARENTING.
I think it's a combination of her felon father, her stage mom, and all the genetic predispositions they imply. Plus the fact that she's a raging alcoholic/drug addict to the point of not being able to function in society. Too much fame, too much money, too much access, too much excess, too much dependence, not enough role models, not enough reality. Sucks, it does.
It just seems like she used to be a pleasant enough person who could've dealt with all of this with proper guidance and perspective. I really blame her parents. It was their job to make sure this didn't happen.
And on the topic of Anne Hathaway, the Get Smart remake seems like another big commercial possibility for her. Girlfriend REALLY knows how to choose projects. That one looks really good. I just hope it doesn't manage to somehow miss the mark tremendously. So far, it looks very good.
Wow, I just read all this stuff on Anne's IMDB page and I really like her more now. I feel bad calling her boring. I still kinda feel that way, but I'd be happy to have my mind changed. Very smart, classy, pretty girl.
Wow, I am responsible for almost 1/3 of the comments on this thread. Sorry.
you just have a lot to say about YOUR NEW FAVORITE MOVIE STAR
Oh, come now. I'm not all THAT into her. But perhaps she can fill the void in my heart left by Lindsay. We all need a young starlet to love. I'm not a big Portman fan, and ScarJo has been annoying lately, so where else have I to go? At least until Emily Blunt kicks it into high gear.
Just admit it Adam, you love the Hathaway! LEARN TO DEAL!
All those who find Hathaway boring need to see HAVOC, which is not a very good movie, but she is remarkable.
Also, regarding SHEBA, you know the studio would change the title to just DANCING SHEBA if it could.
Too me, she's just sexless and bland. Everyone in Prada was better than her.
Even Simon Baker?
oh touché
i also noticed that adam k has suddenly gone quiet. perhaps he's hard at work building a shrine to hisnewfavoritemoviestar Anne Hathaway in his bedroom!
naw, i bet adamk tried to hit on her, and got blown off.
and then someone had to whisper to him 'uh duh, she's a lesbian adam'.
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