Thursday, May 07, 2009

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
*

26 comments:

john said...

Did you see Liv Tyler at the Met Costume Ball? (swoon) She's clearly not from this era.

NATHANIEL R said...

yeah. she looked great.

i wonder why her career isn't bigger after LotR

Robert said...

So there's a movie about loving your body no matter what your weight is and the star is "fatty" Brittany Snow.

Got I hate Hollywood.

Derreck said...

"not traditonally beautiful". ah, i love a good ol euphemism. :P

bitchiness aside, Renee Z. looked great. I'm still feeling that she looks ten times better with a few pounds, but great, nonetheless. lovely colour.

and the whole Anne Hathaway/Dynasty pic? just reeks of brilliance.

Derreck said...

also, i love the whole Lynda Carter/Glam Wonder Woman thing Anne has going on.

NATHANIEL R said...

Derreck. thank u thank u. I was staring at her going WHAT DOES SHE REMIND ME OF... and Dynasty came to me in a flash. Although at first I thought she was channeling Angelina when Angelina goes for the big hair.

NATHANIEL R said...

Robert. yeah. she actually wears those control top pantyhose (or whatever they are) because otherwise her fat will show. Her friends are horrified to discover!

Victor S said...

Zellweger's 2nd best ever!!! - she will never top the "bright 'n' bubbly" joie de vivre of that yellow dress in the 2001 Academy Awards.

Derreck said...

haha, you're welcome, Nat. i hate that feeling when you know you know something but can't place your finger on it.

btw, i do see the Angelina in her. I think Angie had the big hair during one of the pregnancies.

but the Lynda Carter channeling really stuck out with the Wonder Woman stance she has in the pic. The hair was just an added bonus. :)

and Prova, what about that Carolina Herrera dress she wore when got the Oscar? now THAT was a dress fit for an Oscar winner.

Anonymous said...

I guess you're just showcasing actresses because Rihanna was the definition of fierce at that gala.

Wayne B. said...

"200 Cigarettes" captures the utter randomness and desperation of New Years Eve. I love Martha's rant about how no one's going to show up except all the losers etc. Saw it because I'm devoted to Christina Ricci; liked Kate Hudson after I saw it. She's so cute and charming as the klutzy ex-virgin. Casey Affleck and Angela Featherstone gave me some laughs also.

NicksFlickPicks said...

I was ready to be all, "Nat, don't we all sort of hafta fess up that Renée looks kind of great...," and then you had already said it. Proving once and for all that your mind is never made up ahead of time.

Don't deny your readers the info that Streak is also Moore's debut as a writer, and features some of her personal philosophy, shoehorned Paddy Chayefsky-style into her characters' mouths. That isn't pretty, either, folks.

NATHANIEL R said...

Nick, do you speak of the 'not leaving your comfort zone makes you uncomfortable which means you're kind of leaving your comfort zone' speech? that was a true keeper

Karla said...

Speaking of Anne Hathaway.. What do you think of Hugh Jackman begging Anne to be in the 'Carousel' remake with him?

I will have Hugh and Annie in a musical anywhere anytime, I mean their 'duet' at the Oscars, *love* *love* *love*

... BUT I don't think Anne is suited for the part :( what do you think?

BeRightBack said...

Audrey Tatou is lovely in Hors de Prix, though! What is there not to get?

Jae Ly said...

BeRightBack, I agree! Tautou was so charming in "Priceless" (English title). I don't blame her for the boring but visually pleasing Jean-Pierre Jeunet-directed Chanel commercial too.

Robert, Brittany Snow has openly talked about her nine-year (and possibly still continuing) battle with anorexia.

It's not so much what one's weight is, but how one perceives him or herself.

The Pretentious Know it All said...

It's interesting what you say about Kerry Washington. I was just talking to a mutual Washington admirer and we pretty much came to the same conclusion. "She's awesome, but seriously, she doesn't have a whole lot of time to make it happen." Hollywood is much more cruel to women as they age, than they are to men. Moreso to black women. It's just a matter of time before Tyler Perry gets his hands on her, then she's lost forever...

john said...

Hhey Nathaniel, oddly enough Liv Tyler has just been confirmed to be in a film with Marisa Tomei.

Janice said...

OMG, you spoke Miss Z's name! *lol*

Seriously, she did look good at that gala. Probably helped that so many attendees were WTF? in comparison, Marisa excepted.

NATHANIEL R said...

anon 6:23 exactly... the only time i stray from the actors is if i'm particularly enthused (i.e. bjork, pink, madonna...) about someone. But I was strong and left Madonna out of this lineup despite her, uh, memorable outfit.

Actionman said...

Rumer Willis looks like she got hit in the face with a heavy bag of nickels.

Cinesnatch said...

I've only seen Rumer Willis in "The House Bunny." She was part of the non-memorable camp.

Martha was the only good thing about awful 200 Cigarettes. She was excited about Van Morrison coming to her party the whole film. Then, when he finally does come, she's already passed out, but I believe there was photo documentation that made her feel better. I went to grade school with a girl who I thought was a brunette Martha Plimpton. Her name was Shannon Price.

Karen said...

Many of my favorites mentioned here! Anne and Marisa are top notch indeed.

Wayne B. said...

vince - It actually was Elvis Costello, not Van Morrison

luka said...

Renee knows how to dress. She looks great but she could gain a few pounds.

But did you see La Kidman new advert ? Boy, she's really working the glamorous angle in order to pre-hype "Nine"... which is already overhyped

Derreck said...

someone mentioned the Kidman. I must reply. lol.

but yeah, i saw the ad yesterday and i thought the same thing about Kidman and "Nine". I thought she looked just as glam as she did in the pics of her as Claudia in the movie. The hair and white dress even look the same.

The commercial is not better than the Chanel No.5 ad with Bazzy Luhrmann though. That one makes the new Chanel ad with Audrey Tatou look ridiculous.