Birthday Suits, Funny People

Your cinematic birthdays for December 1st. This post is dedicated to frequent reader/commenter Chris Na Taraja who celebrates the big 4-0 today. Happy Birthday, Chris!

1521 Takeda Shingen, Japanese warlord who Kagemusha tried to impersonate. Oopsie. I've actually never seen that Akira Kurosawa picture. How quickly should I rent it?
1913 Mary Martin, broadway star of Peter Pan, The Sound of Music and South Pacific fame. Those famous roles hit silver screens, but without Mary
1935 Woody Allen, legend (abundant posts)
1940 Richard Pryor, influential comedian
<---- 1945 Bette Midler the divine. In a fit of complete absence of budgeting sense I nearly purchased a flight to Vegas and a concert ticket last month. Just because. I've never seen her perform on stage but I did used to love her in the movies. Particularly: The Rose, Beaches (so underrated... weepies can't get no respect) and Big Business
1951 Treat Williams enduring B lister. Among the highlights: Hair, Prince of the City, being married to Michelle Pfeiffer in The Deep End of the Ocean, and memorably seducing an underage Laura Dern in Smooth Talk
1955 Verónica Forqué "Kika" herself, a three time Almodóvar alum
1956 Julee Cruise, the haunting siren voice of Twin Peaks

"The World Spins" one of my single favorite scenes on television ever.
Although it doesn't really work out of context. So sorry

1958 Candace Bushnell aka "Carrie Bradshaw" minus the perfection of SJP
1961 Jeremy Northam I bought the Gosford Park soundtrack just to hear him sing over and over again

1967 Nestor Carbonell tv series regular (Suddenly Susan, Lost, Kim Possible), occasional screen actor (The Dark Knight) who may or may not nab the famous "Khan" role in the sequel to this year's smash Star Trek reboot
1970 Sarah Silverman who is no longer f***ing Matt Damon
1971 Emily Mortimer (right) fine actress, Mrs. Alessandro Nivola. Not shy about her bod either, witness Lovely & Amazing in which she poses for a lengthy inspection or Young Adam in which she lets Ewan McGregor rub custard and ketchup all over her. But then again... who wouldn't? Next up for Emily: a key role in Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island. More on that here.
2005 Violet Affleck, Spawn of Bennifer, beloved by all gossip blogs.
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Books @ the Movies, Shutter Island

As you may have noticed with recent Mad Men & Project Runway posts I've become enamored of references to movies in other mediums. I thought I'd share them as they occur to me. On that note, I recently picked up Dennis Lehane's mystery thriller Shutter Island which is set in the 50s on an island for the criminally insane. Figured I had time to read it before the movie version arrives given its abrupt move to February 2010. The jacket blurb claims that it's "instantly cinematic" and for once the blurb ain't shamelessly overstating. Not only does the book read like a zippy movie-movie, it mentions movies, too. Here's one example.

page 168...
Rachel Solando (to be played by Emily Mortimer) and Teddy Daniels (to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio) meet. This is not a spoiler ~ please DO NOT post spoilers in the comments!

"Are you accusing me of being a Communist?" Her back came off the pillows and she bunched the sheet in her fists...

"A Communist, ma'am? You? What man in his right mind would think that? You're as American as Betty Grable. Only a blind man could miss that."

She unclenched one hand from the sheet, rubbed her kneecap with it. "But I don't look like Betty Grable."

"Only in your obvious patriotism. No, I'd say you look more like Teresa Wright, ma'am. What was that one she did with Joseph Cotton, ten-twelve years ago?"

That'd be Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt and if Hitch' were alive, he might've wanted to adapt Shutter Island himself. I giggled at the patriotism line and hoped it made it into the screenplay. Then I thought 'Does Emily Mortimer look anything like Teresa Wright?'

You be the judge.

Emily in 2007 at 36 years of age | Teresa in 1943 at 25 years of age
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Padded Link

<--- Last week Rope of Silicon shared the creepy teaser poster for Shutter Island (previously discussed here) and now JA is all hyped up. Has Scorsese made a picture as brutal and scary as Cape Fear since? I'm not thinking "Whatever Happened to Patient 67?" So much as "Is Emily Mortimer Patient 67? And if so, will people finally realize how versatile and quite awesome she is?" I know that's not quite how the marketing folks wanted me to react but I'm a special case. I think only of actresses whenever possible. I guess I really need to read Dennis Lehane's novel before this picture opens.

links
Tapeworthy shares the news that Friday Night Lights has been renewed for two more seasons. Grand news for any fans of quality television.
The Big Picture wonders about the idealogical inconsistencies of snubbing movies because of an actor's politics.
Empire on the girlpower casting of Zach Snyder's Sucker Punch. I was going to say Snyder doing a movie with female leads? ... but then I remembered the wonderful Sarah Polley and she sure as hell anchored and powered Dawn of the Dead. May one of his new actresses can do the same for this film.


Boy Culture points us to an inspiring new site inspired by Harvey Milk's activism.
MightyGodKing finds the difference between Pixar and Dreamworks Animation
My New Plaid Pants wishes Ewan McGregor a sweet birthday. I miss Ewan. Please make lots of good movies very soon.
Extra Criticum offers some excellent DVD rental ideas on that "10 Characters" meme I struggled through earlier today.
Cinemavistaramascope enthuses about the trailer to Taking Woodstock. He worked on the film.
The Exploding Kinetoscope RIP Andy Hallett, Angel's colorful demon host "Lorne".
MTV News Eastern Promises sequel? I am totally willing to go back for seconds although I can't imagine what plot point could get Viggo Mortensen completely starkers again. Bummer.

Red Carpet Lineup

because someone is always walking one...

The glamour is a bit toned down this time of year but here's a handful of actresses that were lit by flashbulbs in the past couple of weeks.


Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz hold hands for the world premiere of Broken Embraces in Madrid. They won't have to smile for stateside paparazzi for awhile yet. It's a rule of distribution that everyone in Europe has to have a chance to see each new Pedro movie three times before it opens in the US. There are several reviews of his Volver follow up floating round the web but I'm avoiding them. Spoilers, ya know. Almodóvar movies always hold surprises of plot, theme and/or character and it's best to see them unfold organically.

Emily Mortimer seems stunned to be photographed in her sparkly maroon cocoon... maybe she's just stunned that the flashes don't go off more often. She and hubby Allesandro Nivola should both be much bigger stars than they are. But then, as I've said before, Hollywood is no meritocracy. Scarlett Johansson continues to be absurdly beautiful. That is all. Gemma Arterton wants to know why I included her. Consider it a thank you gift, Gemma. You're the only one that got Daniel Craig out of his clothes in Quantum of Solace.

I saved Marcia Gay Harden for last. She's currently treading the boards on Broadway in God of Carnage with three other fantastic actors: James Gandolfini, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels. One of my friends has already seen it twice and keeps saying "it's great!"

How many of you are watching Damages? but I love her confidence and sensuality as "Claire Maddox". Marcia's roles usually leave her fighting for scraps on the sidelines. But there she is on Damages completely unafraid to play in Glenn Close's sandbox. More to the point, she acts like said sandbox is hers. While a handsome woman, she's not a typical screen beauty and she's pushing 50. But there she is on Damages languorously scrunching up her curls, seducing younger men and pulling up her stockings like some Attorney for the Defense of Mrs. Robinson. More to the point, she acts like those men are already hers.

She makes a strong case. Marcia Gay Harden can strut on my screen (big or small) any time she likes.

for previous related posts, click the labels below
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We Can't Wait #6 Shutter Island

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Elias Koteas, Jackie Earle Haley and Patricia Clarkson
Synopsis: Marshals Leo & Mark attempt to find murderous Emily! She escaped from Ashecliffe Asylum where Dr. Ben & Max both work!! She might be hiding on Shutter Island!!! (I'm gagging on multiple exclamation points because it sounds like such a pulpy thriller. Wheee)
Brought to you by the novel by Dennis Lehane by way of Paramount Pictures
Expected Release Date October 2nd

In our mad rush to complete the We Can't Wait series, my blog buddies and I zoomed right by Scorsese and Co. So, there's no conversation. Still and all... I doubt you need any convincing. A Scorsese picture is an event and when you combine what sounds like addictive actorly narcotic (insane asylum setting!) and a cinema friendly plot with this enticing cast ... well, it's an embarrassment of (potential) riches, isn't it?

What we have here is a highly anticipated picture but it could also be an Oscar hopeful, too. How sweet would it be to see Mortimer & Clarkson taking up the semi-annual 'two supporting actress nominees from one film' tradition? And how far ahead of myself am I getting!? Too far. Pull it back, pull it back. (whew. it's not time for that yet. April 1st Nathaniel, April 1st)

Ruffalo, Haley, Williams and DiCaprio on set (photos from Just Jared)

Not that Shutter Island (also known by its alternate title Ashecliffe) will have to bear the weight of golden expectations. The Departed finally put that "Give Scorsese the Oscar!!!" cause to rest. Finally we can get back to the more important business of enjoying his mad cinematic skillz. Great movies (and we hope it is one) are their own reward.

On the other hand, aren't we going to run out of Lehane novels to adapt pretty soon?

In case you missed any entries they went like so...
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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)
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How I Spent My Summer Five Day Vacation

I want to thank my guests JA, Robert and mB for keeping the place warm and sweaty in my absence. Speaking of warm and sweaty, can summer be over now? I'm not a summer person. I spent my short break sweating. A lot. Summer is hateful. Anyway, here's the parts from my break worth sharing with you, my hundred thousand closest friends strangers... "frangers?"... "striends"?

Where I've been...


@ the Met's Superheroes: Fashion & Fantasy exhibit.
Among the many delicious sections was one on Catwoman (pictured above, La Pfeiffer's actual costume stitched seductively over a mannequin) and the "paradoxical body" I love this bit

Superhero comics have tended to promote an ideology that is both masculinist and driven to mastery. Nowhere are these biases more blatant than in the representation of female superheroes. With unabashed and unapologetic obviousness, women are portrayed as objects of male desire and fantasy with absurdly exaggerated sexual characteristics ... the frisson of fetishistic sexuality presented by female superheroes is adduced with one hand only to be dismissed with the other. This offering and denying of sexuality, which helps to resolve the sexual fears and desires of developing males, is the eternal paradox of the superheroine.

Offering and denying of sexuality, indeed. The same can easily be said of the superhero movie genre. God forbid if women actually got to do anything in the genre outside of being indisputably hot. There was a lot more to this exhibit including costumes for films from Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Batman franchise, and couture inspired by the same ("A Must See!" -The Film Experience) but I spent the most time with Catwoman. It was a bittersweet moment since I knew that as I stood there contemplating the costume, Michelle Pfeiffer's reign over the kingdom of "best performance in a superhero movie. ever" was coming to the end of its 16 year reign. The "now now now" of pop culture demanded that the crown be passed. I have no wish to rain on the Ledger worshipping parade --I too loved his performance-- and quibbling with The Dark Knight this week seems about as smart as strapping an explosive to yourself and handing a convention of fanboys the detonator. Will they think you deserve to live if you only liked the movie? They don't believe in anarchy like The Joker. They don't believe in good citizenry like Harvey Dent. They don't believe in whatever it is Batman believes in. They demand conformity! I am trying valiantly to not let this mass craziness spoil my pleasure in parts of the movie and in the wondrous Heath Ledger. It's too bad that bandwagons get so crowded.

@ the Movies
I saw the thriller Transsiberian (which I've reviewed for Pajiba) and The Dark Knight. I'll try to write that one up here. Perhaps in a few days. Once the villagers have put down their torches or lowered their guard a little. Everybody gets hungry eventually and returns home. Mobs dissipate.

@ the Yazoo reunion tour
Gah. This night was so cool. I've listened to Upstairs at Erics (be suspicious of all 'best album' lists that don't include it) and You and Me Both more times than I can count. They're embedded in my DNA. I was able to listen to both live for the first time ever (they performed every song but two I believe), with Alison Moyet doing her supersized vocals and Vince Clark doing his trademark shy genius keyboardist/computer guy thing "How did I get to be a famous gazillionaire rock star responsible for Depeche Mode, Yaz and Erasure? I hate being on stage. Don't look at me! Why are you here?!?"

Only You Them: Vince Clark & Alison Moyet

That was my week that was. Was yours eventful?
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20:07 (Rich Men, Poor Man)

Each morning a screenshot from the 20th minute and 7th second of a movie


Chris Wilton: [To waiter] Um...Roast Chicken
Chloe Hewett: God. Boring! Honestly they have the greatest caviar blini here. You should try them.
Chris: That's OK.
Chloe: No. Do you like caviar?
Chris: so so
Chloe: (laughter) so so... [To waiter] He's been brought up as a good boy to always order modestly. I'm very sorry.
Tom Hewett: He'll have the blini
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