Apologies that posting has been scant. I haven't had the time I expected between movies / schmoozing / boozing and whatnot. I grow weary of sitting in movie theaters. Took a break yesterday to see Nashville itself. So...
What's on your mind right now, cinematically speaking?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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I had an argument with my friends about who basically 'owned' this decade. I came up with Peter Jackson (director), Johnny Depp (Actor) and Nicole Kidman (Actress). They disagreed with all my choices and picked Eastwood, Pitt and Jolie.
And by owned, I mean the person whose career has reached new heights, became a star even if they faltered with a movie or two but also made great films.
Director: Peter Jackson. Just the 3 Lord of the Rings pictures and King Kong would have put him easily at the top of the list but I also can't wait to see how he ends the decade with The Lovely Bones and Tintin (Which comes out in 2010 which and is still considered part of the 00'S)
Actor: I would have to say Johnny Depp. I didn't know much about him but after I saw Pirates, and then I saw all his early work and was confused at why it took so long for Hollywood to embrace him like that. From Jack Sparrow to Willy Wanka to Sweeney Todd to Johnny Dillinger (And I've seen Public Enemies didn't like it but loved the performance)
Actress: Nicole Kidman. I was going to say Kate Winslet (since she holds my favorite performance of the decade as Clementine in Eternal Sunshine and Winslet plays it somewhat safe ), but after looking at Kidman's body of work as a whole I've come to the conclusion that she is so versatile and even if she does falter with something like Cold Mountain, she comes back and takes on something as risky as Birth and knocks it out of the park. I'm surprised at how diverse Kidmans films have been over the past decade.
Performance Highlights:
Moulin Rouge!
The Hours
Dogville
Birth
Margot at the Wedding
Golden Compass
Australia
Interesting. I would say Spielberg, DiCaprio and Winslet.
I want to see Willy Wanka, especially if it stars Johnny Depp.
Just watched LEMON TREE and its amazing, amazing I say.
Hiam Abass could be this year's Melissa Leo if supported enough from the media, the critics and of course the studio itself.
She is absolutely terrific in her role. Everyone of you who can see this film should, really.
Too bad nobody took the risk of predicting her in the Actress Psychic Contest. She is definitely a contestant.
I finally shut-up a friend of mine who I've been arguing with for years about the Brokeback/Crash debacle (I know, I know. Get over it, already.) This person is a "Crash" fan and says he doesn't see how historically unprecedented the victory of "Crash" and the loss of "Brokeback" was. He was also a "Slumdog" fan. And when I said "It would be like it "The Reader" had beat "Slumdog Millionaire" for best picture." That shut him up forever I think...
I just saw DAZED AND CONFUSED for the first time this past weekend, and I LOVE it! L.O.V.E. it!!!
I couldn't stop thinking about all these characters...
Then I rewatched FREAKS AND GEEKS, and the same thing happened.
That's what's called excellent writing and acting!
I also saw A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE and hated it while watching but really liked it the next day.
MARY POPPINS on the other hand, sucks!
Just saw Coppola's latest Tetro. Very mixed feelings but Gallo was superb in it.
Your friends are wrong 18 year old blogger, Jolie and Pitt have owened the past 4 years, not the entire decade. I think its worth tossing George Clooney in there somewhere, though he may be a bit too 'recent' as well.
This kind of borders on Nathaniel's Actress of the Decade feature which we can look forward to next year! ;)
Cinematically speaking, Billy Bob Thornton's been on my mind because of his disastrous tour through my home Canada. Can't help but be a little hurt by his remarks on Canadians, I think he's a strong actor (Monster's Ball) never knew he was bit of a douche as well.
I saw The Soloist today and even if Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx give good performances I was disappointed with the finite product. Such a good story , it had a much bigger potential.
Nathaniel - "I grow weary of sitting in movie theaters."
*That must be a really weird feeling especially for a cinephile.
it's strictly a festival problem ;)
hmmm...even though i love the Kidman, i doubt that she "owned" this decade...
yet.
She hasn't had the best success post-Oscar but she has made a great career for herself. Diverse roles, good directors, and all sorts of promising future roles. The real height of her stardom was around the years of Moulin Rouge, The Others and The Hours
i'm surprised at myself. i'm usually heavily biased towards the Kidman. All my friends know how i'll defend her to death. lol.
but honestly, that is a super-interesting topic. i'd have to really think about that one.
Right now, i'm thinking about a couple of things, film-wise.
1) after watching The Talented Mr. Ripley for like the 6th or 7th time, i still can't believe how much i want to hug Tom during that scene where he talks about keeping his secrets locked in the basement. I'd hug him and tell him to give me the key and it'll be alright. God, i love that movie. You just feel for Tom the entire time.
2) after watching The Hours for the third time, i'm beginning to marvel at Phillip Glass' score and how it just embodies so many facets of the movie...and how Virginia Woolf's suicide letter to her husband was depressing, yet so beautiful.
"I don't think two people could have been happier"
"Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness".
3) after seeing The Wrestler for the first time this weekend (dodges tomatoes and a Ram Slam), i'm wondering if Mickey Rourke made Randy such a lovable, endearing guy or was he just written that way? maybe it was both.
4) that i'm so behind on schoolwork because i've been watching films.
My opinion on who "owned" this decade so far is: Ang Lee (director), Will Smith and Anne Hathaway. All three of them have put out quality movies since 2000 began and they've each reached new career heights in these past five years.
Regarding Nat's Best Actress of the Aughts countdown I sent him a message recently asking how high Penelope Cruz could feasibly debut (she wasn't ranked on the first list since he hated her at the time), but with Volver, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Elegy - and I'm presuming here - Broken Embraces and Nine... that's quite a roster of BIG movies and roles and if she is indeed as good in those last two as many expect her to be then it's hard not to see how her last few years qualifies her to leapfrog over many many names. Although I still reckon Nickers will be #1 with Nine on the way.
Hmmm.
TOO EARLY.
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