Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Open Thread

What's on your mind? Tell us. I'll go first. I just saw The Kids Are All Right again and I love everyone's performances even more on second viewing. The Bening is so going to be Oscar nominated. How about you? What movie / actor / people, place or thing is racing through your brain right now?

44 comments:

Michael said...

I'm SO jealous that you've seen The Kids Are All Right twice! I can't wait for it to come out.. I've been thinking of how I'm going to see it though. I won't be old enough to buy my own ticket, and I asked you before how appropriate it was for son/mother viewing and the answer I got was the one I feared: not so much.

Damn MPAA.

Ashley said...

I'm hoping that Inception can live up to it's hype!!! I fear it will under perform.

Hopefully more reviews will be coming soon. It would be nice to see Nolan and one of the actors get some kind of recognition.

James T said...

I'm thinking that when I start watching a movie, I should finish it in less than a month! Tomorrow I'm finishing New York, New York. That's it!

Ben said...

"No Hay Banda"
"No Hay Orcestra"

Because I'm constantly haunted by how great Mulholland Drive is.

I'll put it out there: Naomi Watts gave the performance of the decade.

Ryan T. said...

Right now my mind is pretty preoccupied with Wimbledon. The tournament, not the movie. But if I was thinking about the movie, then my mind would be focusing on James McAvoy. He's been on my mind a lot recently as well...

Philip said...

I'm thinking that Thirteen and Mysterious Skin are definitely two of my favorite movies ever and are just my kinds of movies...I love that kind of in-your-face harsh honesty. Idk. I love them though. And I'm still sad that Evan Rachel Wood wasn't nominated for an Oscar, like for real. :( Maybe a screenplay nomination too...? Idk, I just loved that movie a lot. Movies like these are what make me want to act even more. Independent films with deep, honest subject matter.

I need to go to bed.

Devin D said...

John Hawkes and Winter's Bone.

Kevin P. Durkin said...

It makes me sick thinking of how many people are seeing "Eclipse" as I type this.

Henry said...

Invictus was the least inspirational sports movie I've seen in a while. I'd imagine it would be a more dynamic film if it were in younger hands and not ancient Clint Eastwood. Even Freeman couldn't really save it.

Alex said...

I'm really curious what you think about Bening and Moore in terms of the Oscar race. Will Bening finally win? Will she cancel herself out with Mother and Child? (Will she OWN the year like Winslet did back in 2008, especially the Globes?) Will Moore steal votes? Do we think they'll both get in? Will one go supporting? And any other random thoughts on the Oscar race for those ladies

Philip said...

Oh, and I think Bette Midler is AMAZING in The Rose. /random thought

I've been needing an open thread...

Daniel Armour said...

Inception and Harry Potter: DH. Both look more and more impressive with each new bit of footage and both could turn out to be major disappointments.

MD said...

Tilda Swinton. I just saw Michael Clayton for the first time, and I saw Julia not long ago too. What else should I look for?

adam k. said...

I often randomly feel like popping in Julia again just to get another dose of Tilda being awesome (yay Netflix instant).

It's totally not the type of film that should beg repeating viewings, but Tilda is so riveting that she's literally just a joy to watch. I can't think of another example of such a thoroughly unlikable character being that much pure FUN to watch. She's so much like people I've met in many ways, and Tilda brings that out even when she's doing the most despicable things... the way she uses her body, her voice, how unlike herself she looks and acts... 180 degrees from Swinton's usual androgynous, frosty reserve.

I still find it appalling that she got no awards traction whatsoever. Easily one of the performances of the decade, right up there with JMoore in FFH, Uma in Kill Bill, Watts in Mulholland, and Kidman in 2001-2004 in general. In fact, I'd say it's easily the best lead female performance of the second half of the decade (give or take 2006, where there are several that are in the same league, but if pushed, I'd say Tilda's slightly better than all of them).

So curious to see just how high she gets on your "Actress of the Decade" list.

anna said...

Frank Giering. Fantastic German actor who played Peter in "Funny Games", though in my mind he'll forever be Floyd (from my favourite film ever: "Absolute Giganten").
He died last Wednesday at only 38. :(

Jeff said...

what did you think of Moore this time around? you didnt like her too much the first time. Who's going lead?

Deivith Coast said...

A Star is Born (54) is on my mind since yesterday night. Please Nathaniel write about it no matter the poll!!! I´m sure you prefer writing about it...You know, democracy is not always that good... Sometimes you have to tell the others what they want to read about... I´m kidding but just a little. Nobody, nothing in this world is better than Judy Garland...Yesterday I went to sleep with my eyes aching me due to all the tears I cried.I´m Mr. Judy Garland!! Everything is perfect in that movie, it is so epic...And the use of the songs is amazing...And Judy is funny, is moving, is heartbreaking...is just perfect! Nathaniel, which is your favourite moment?

Stefano said...

Same questions of Alex... what about the Oscar chances of Annette and Julianne in the next Oscar race? Is it possible that Julianne Moore will be campaigned as supporting, with Bening alone in the Best Actress race? And will the film be considered a comedy in the Golden Globes race, right?

Stefano said...

Same questions of Alex... what about the Oscar chances of Annette and Julianne in the next Oscar race? Is it possible that Julianne Moore will be campaigned as supporting, with Bening alone in the Best Actress race? And will the film be considered a comedy in the Golden Globes race, right?

NATHANIEL R said...

@STEFANO -- i'm hoping they push it as a comedy because it is really funny. But you never know. Sometimes those categorizations are bizarre.

@EVERYONE ON "KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT" I'm assuming they'll push Moore supporting since she's the bottom in the relationship (and you know my theory about that ;) but they're both leads and Julianne has the most screen time. I liked Julianne much more the second time. I always have to adjust to her in comedies. Her best comedic performance is BIG LEBOWSKI Otherwise i require adjusting ;)

@MD -- if you're just starting on TILDA, you should try something earlier like Orlando (super-amazing) or Edward II (intense/gay)

@MICHAEL -- well it depends on your mom/son relationship. The movie is about parents and their relationship to their children. so if your mom can handle frequent sex scenes...

@ASHLEY -- i hope it can too but what would it take?

@JAMES T --that's a toughie to sit through in a way but it's very good in another.

@PHILIP -- i was like one of the only people that gave that movie multiple awards. what were people thinking? it's fantastic.

@KEVIN -- you and me both.

Anonymous said...

I just watching Rango trailer, and I want to see it right now!!. I can´t wait to see Toy Story 3 and Inception too!. And your predictions...

Unknown said...

I just celebrated my 30th. That's still the only thing going through my mind right now. Though, speaking of Bening, my favorite local theatre ends its run of "Mother and Child" tonight. Is it worth it?

Volvagia said...

I agree with Rango. The aestethic looks risky for an animated film, being photo-real and everything. Yet Depp looks like he's playing a variant of Tweek Tweak. Could be great, but could also be boring. In short: I'll wait for the reviews to decide if I want to see it.

Volvagia said...

Mid way through a watch of Shock Corridor. Fuller! Wow! Certainly a hard edged and efficient American filmmaker, a Scorsese type with a stronger gift for coaxing out the great performances I love.

SoSueMe said...

I've been waiting for an open thread so I can tell you about my new fave performer I discovered on this site! Ever since you mentioned Raven (from Rupaul's Drag Race) in a piece you did on screen bitchery ("I was giving Michelle Pfeiffer bitch"), I have been obsessed. Not only did I watch the entire season of Drag Race on Logo's website, I discovered a ton of Raven's performances on YouTube, shot at his homebase California nightclub. Drag Race didn't he touch upon what he can do on stage...he really is a great performance/drag artist. I'm officially a drag hag now.

TylerPratt1 said...

i've been watching eastbound & down lately and it seems obvious to me that there is some truly untapped depth and emotional honesty in the work and talents of jody hill and danny mcbride

Sara said...

Vera Farmiga! Since the AMPAS nominations came out I've been obsessing over her and her performances. I recently watched the whole season of Roar which is pretty much her first acting gig. The show's writing and much of the plot were terrible but it made it hilarious to watch. You can really see the potential that Vera has and also a very young Heath Ledger. I also started calling her Crazy Eyes, affectionately, after your write-up of the AMPAS nominations.

Runs Like A Gay said...

I was thinking about the upcoming Criterion release of Everlasting Moments, and how Nat still hasn't watched it even though he got a copy for free.

FrenchGirl said...

iNCEPTION!!!

Sara said...

Pardon moi, AMPAS invites, not nominations!

Unknown said...

I Love bening, especially in being julia. ready to see tilda swinton's performance. but just watched the new trailer for eat pray love- the one theyre debuting before twilight- n all I could say is that Im excited about Julia Roberts being back. her first real star vehicle since Erin Brockovich. n even though she is more of a movie star than an actress, I would have to say that she's still one of the most underrated actresses we have. Best performance in CLOSER!!but most of all she's a bonafide movie star, n from the looks of it on the trailer, she's finally accepted that role, n a good JULIA ROBERTS MOVIE is something weve been lacking this past decade. A real movie star showing how its really done.

NATHANIEL R said...

@SARA & @SOSUEME ... i feel so... influential Tell 'em I sent ya! :) glad to hear it. It's always heartening to know that people are actually reading rather than just staring at pretty pictures.

@RUNS... ugh. way to induce GUILT.

Josh said...

Not a particular film, but I've been thinking about the Anthony Mann retrospective going on at Film Forum now. I've already missed two movies that I very much wanted to see on the big screen (well, big being relative vis a vis Film Forum), but there's still a lot of wonderful movies coming up like Man from the West, The Man from Laramie, El Cid, etc, etc. One of my favorite directors.

/3rtfu11 said...

I would attend the movies more often if matinee prices were about as bargain as AMC’s AM Cinema – everything $6 plus tax and of course the IMAX stuff is more.

Runs Like A Gay said...

I try my best... But I'm only saying it because I want you to enjoy the experience.

vg21 said...

It's Love Ranch. I have been reading some reviews and I'm sad it didn't turn out to be a particularly good movie. I can't get your C-/D+ rate out of my mind either, Nathaniel. I wish it were better, even SATC managed to receive a C+.

Of course, I will have to wait another century for Love Ranch to come out here, so now all I have is reviews, which are not so uplifting (although some of them seem to be really generous).

Dominik said...

Re: Philip - I just want to say that I like „Thirteen“ very much, and that my guess why (that year's Golden Globe nominee) Evan Rachel Wood wasn’t nominated for an Oscar would be: she was 15, playing a 13-year-old doing drugs and sexual acts – there is no way in hell they would want to reward that. I guess like Hollywood in general, the academy likes their little girls talking very smart-ass and know-it-all about love, sex and how many boyfriends they’ve had, but at the same time the audience has to be reassured they’re not even holding hands with said boyfriends. See Chloe Moretz in “(500) Days of Summer”. Don't get me wrong, I like Chloe very very much, but you can’t deny her character was cheesy and unrealistic. Not her fault. Know-all, do-nothing, that’s acceptable, cute, funny. Tracy in “Thirteen”, to the contrary, knows little, clearly has insecurities, just does it… Satan must be involved here!
I was really glad to see Evan in The Film Bitch Awards' nominees for best actress for - when was it again - the 2003/04 season? It's a great performance. Holly's too, of course. But... this is directed towards the academy... an alibi nomination for ignoring Ms. Wood?!

Amy said...

Dear Nicole Kidman and Per Saari, please release another still for Rabbit Hole, say something, anything about the movie. Come on!

Samson said...

Annette's really that good to be nominated? Be-still my heart! It looked like the kind of dramedic film that the Academy would never touch, but I'm not hearing much for lead actress right now besides Jennifer Lawrence, so who knows? Will she split votes with "Mother and Child"? Will the media incessantly play up the Hilary vs. Annette wars, round 3? (You know the answer already to the last question).

Dominik said...

Re: Samson - 3 Oscars for Hilary Swank? If that happens, maybe it is true: the world will end in December 2012, or even before that! Have I actually seen her in anything? I don't think so... but wasn't she in Karate Kid 3 or 4 or something? From there to Oscar... that always sounded kinda strange to me...

austin 111 said...

Chloe Moretz has amazing screen presence. I can only imagine what she could do if allowed to escape her almost inescapable cuteness.

Samson said...

You haven't seen "Boys Don't Cry" yet, Dominik? Get on that ASAP, sir! You won't regret it. "Million Dollar Baby" though, that's another story. Take that one or leave it by the curb. But see "Boys Don't Cry" definitely. It's Hilary Swank at what's sure to be her career pinnacle.

Philip said...

Yeah, she deserved it for Boys Don't Cry. Million Dollar Baby is very hate it or love it, but I think she's far from a BAD winner. People just don't like her.

Nathaniel, I know it's a lot to ask, but will the previous years' film bitch awards ever be back up? Cuz I really want to check them out. :)

Dorian said...

Great news for Annette Bening and all, but what about Julianne Moore? Is she getting in too? You know they won't campaign or place both of them in lead, so is Julianne in supporting actress a done deal too? And could Bening be competing with Moore there for "Mother and Child"? Could those two films give Bening the momentum she needs to win one, preferably lead? Questions, questions!