10th Anniversary: Almost Famous

Today is the 10th anniversary of Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (2000). I never quite understood its appeal but I understand it's beloved. I have only a vague recall of it. I remember Billy Crudup arms outstretched "I am a Golden God!" (and that Brad Pitt was originally earmarked for the part) and Frances McDormand's funny bossy telephone calls. I also vividly remember Penny Lane's (Kate Hudson) coat. You know the one. She never took it off in my mind (but this photo says otherwise) or at least that's how much the coat stayed burned to my retinas. So thanks, Betsy Heimann... and sorry you weren't Oscar nominated. What was that about exactly?

Anyway... I only bring this up because I'm wondering if you, dear reader, are one of this movie's groupies? If so, please explain the magic. Or maybe you'd like to share your own personal "I don't get it" in response to an otherwise beloved movie. We all have them.
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Nine Posters? Nine Nominations? Nein Review!

The Nine embargo is still in place for "reviews" but lifted as far as any other discussion goes: awards and whatnot. I'm curious how there can exist an embargo on discussing a movie (outside of a review embargo which I totally understand) since people discuss movies freely for years before they come out. Free Speech! I'm joking. It's an awards season curiousity but I play along. After all, the game of waiting for something you desperately want can be fun. Think of how you felt about Christmas as a child. The problem stems from the studios making film fans wait way too long. Christmas should come every weekend, you know. Movies are not like gifts. You can't just unwrap them and move to the next and form a big pile. They take 2 hours just to unwrap in the first place. Spread them out!


You know what else is curious? The new posters. The marketing peoples for Nine made the numerically questionable decision to release 4 posters. I'd say why not 9 except the movie itself doesn't really seem to know why it's called Nine. I enjoyed the movie a lot but when you cut out the Nine song, you do sort of mess with the title... since there's only 8 characters. You have to count Guido twice. But without the song... oh, never mind. I'm still smarting from the dumping of that song. I love that song! And damnit, I wanted to hear Sophia Loren sing it.

The first two posters above are fine but I shan't say anything more about the crammed and ugly poster (third from left) that Jose savaged yesterday. He said it all. But this next one...

Huh ????????? (Nine question marks) Only 3 stars are featured on this poster to your left. I keep blinking and staring at it and yet my girl Nicki never appears. This poster is defective!

Seriously, what is that about? In another 58 years people our ages now won't have a clue who Fergie and Kate Hudson are but the movie freaks will be holding centennial parties for Nicole Kidman. It's so obvious. When will the goddess catch a break? I guess we have to wait until 2010 when Rabbit Hole reminds... Crossing my fingers for that at any rate. You never know. It could be another Fur (an effort but one that doesn't work).

I understand that Fergie is a hitmaker, musically speaking, but is she really more bankable for a m-o-v-i-e than Dame Dench, Kidman, or Daniel Day-Lewis. Bizarre. Not to diss Fergie. Her number "Be Italian" is terrific, the 'Cell Block Tango' of this Chicago sibling. Rob Marshall is the babydaddy again. If you haven't inked him down in your Best Director predictions, you should.

Nominations in order of likelihood

• Cinematography, without question
• Picture, easy-peasy
• Director, ditto
• Costume Design, in Atwood they trust
  
• Art Direction, they keep nominating John Myhre for dressing up theater stages (Chicago, Dreamgirls) so why stop now?
• Editing, Moulin Rouge! and Chicago factored in here. But not Dreamgirls so who knows...
  
• Sound Mixing it being a musical and all. Likely
  
• Original Song, after that debacle with The Wrestler last year and the "Come What May" situation with Moulin Rouge! back in the day I will never again assume that this category can contain locks. But I hope to see Marion Cotillard perform "Take it All" at the Oscars but not Kate Hudson shimmying to "Cinema Italiano".
  
  that's 8 nominations and that's where things get trickier...
  
  
• Supporting Actress This would be a slam dunk for Marion Cotillard except that she's campaigning for lead actress. So there's probably room for Penélope Cruz, unless they object to her garbling the very funny lyrics of "A Call From the Vatican"
  
• Actress More on Marion later. I need to discuss that specifically and all by its lonesome.
  
• Actor The novelty and his reputation might be an irresistable combo. but who knows before the precursors have their say in a race that looks pretty tight for the 4th and 5th spots
  
• Adapted Screenplay If they're feeling nostalgic to honor tAnthony Minghella (RIP)
  
• Supporting Actress Marion Cotillard if AMPAS rejects her Weinsteined categorization
  
• Supporting Actress Judi Dench if they flip their shit for the movie.

More after the holidays. Or maybe during them. You can't get enough of Nine can you? I hope the movie lives up to your dreams.
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Two Ladies

an update: The Nine embargo has officially lifted SORT OF. There be fine print. "Reviews" still have the embargo in place... so back to the drawing board for me. I'll write about the Q&A I attended or something else soon. Stay tuned.
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Nine "Also Starring..."

A reader who has seen Nine already, was invited to another preview screening. The luck of some people, I swear! He couldn't make it a second time but he did share the promotional text which read like so

"Nine." Rob Marshall, (Academy Award nominated director of CHICAGO), and an all-star cast including Academy Award winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman and Sophia Loren join forces on the vibrant and provocative feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical NINE. This inventive new film tells the story of world famous, genius film Director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he reaches a creative and personal crisis of epic proportion while trying to begin his latest production. On the verge of collapse, he finds inspiration from the numerous women in his life including his loving wife, his sultry mistress, his beautiful film star muse, his faithful confidant and costume designer, a sexy American fashion journalist, the village whore from his youth and the spirit of his mother. The movie also stars Kate Hudson and Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson

He notes that the "also stars" for Kate Hudson seems odd writing "I guess I'm one of the few to praise Hudson on those feedback forms considering she has more screen time than Kidman and Loren combined."

It may seem silly to post this but that's the thing with long awaited purposefully delayed releases. They make people so hungry for information that they're willing to gnaw on crumbs and digest them like they're full course meals. It's not just me, I swear! Since we can only make wild conjectures at this point, do you think ol' Kate's been purposefully demoted in promotional efforts or this is a mere quirk of star billing or copywriting?
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Nine for NINE

The first official trailer (not that blurry ET preview) has arrived for Nine the musical.

Nine Trailer from Daniel Shannon on Vimeo.

Naturally as a musical and actress nut, I'm beyond excited. It's a doubled whammy. My excitement is slightly tempered by the instant recall of that 2005 migraine known as Memoirs of a Geisha (Rob Marshall's got some atoning to do).

But it sure do look purty, don't it?

9 reasons I must see Nine right now

9. To witness the return of Sophia Loren (see previous post)



8. Because of the extreme likelihood of technical Oscar nominations. I need my own opinion on the cinematography, set, costumes, sound, editing but I can't get that until I see the damn thing. It's all about context. Especially when there's so much razzle dazzle.


7. To ogle the costuming. I'm not really one for gawking at Kate Hudson but I'm trying to be inclusive with these 9 photos. I'm a swell guy.


6. Perhaps I'll finally understand the world's Marion Cotillard fixation? Perhaps not. I won't know until she's singing "My Husband Makes Movies"


5. To parse the garish shots of Fergie as Saraghina, including the black and white beach shot. They make me curious to see whether Rob Marshall is going to either:

• ape Federico Fellini's 8 ½ whenever possible
  
• mimic the stage musical (the trailer looks really stage bound! Why does it look like all the musical numbers take place there? Is he using that Chicago framing device again?)
  
• awkwardly stitch them together into a glossy Frankenstein movie
  
• create a new beautiful hybrid we'll fondly call 9½

4. For the possible thrill of watching Daniel Day-Lewis give a loose funny physical performance. Can he sing? Can he dance?


3. To enjoy the chemistry between Dame Judi Dench and (Sir) Daniel Day-Lewis. It looks pretty appealing, yes?


2. To see, hear, eat, breathe, obsess over, drink up and drool on Penélope Cruz and her hopefully ace rendition of "A Call From the Vatican" (Though Jane Krakowski sure is a tough act to follow)

1. Nicole Kidman, duh.

A glamorous actress I love playing a glamourous actress who sings songs I love? I'm in. In fact, I don't just need to see this movie right now. I need to see it now and then I need them to respool the projector and show it to me again. And then I need to upload the soundtrack to my iPhone.

In a perfect world all of this would be happening today on May 14th rather than 194 days from now but this is not a perfect world.

Tell us your 9 immediate first reactions to the trailer. Don't censor yourself. Just nine bullet points off the top of your head...
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Red Carpet Lineup (Awards Show Edition)

It's that time of year. You're probably back at the gym trying to lose the holiday weight gain but the movie stars just get their cardio on red carpets for the next six weeks. So herewith, some gowns from the BFCA show and the People's Choice --and yes it's the last time I'll be mentioning "People's Choice". [sigh] People... they're always making the wrong ones!

images by way of @ JAMD

Anne Hathaway, who is a smart smart girl, was the princess of the ball in white -- she even referenced her Princess Diaries days in her speech. Don't think she doesn't know how much Oscar loves the princesses. Queen Latifah is always fun and Kate Hudson is always (no comment) but I include them to show that the color palette of the People's Choice Awards is very loud as if these mythical united People continually need to see bright colors to stay interested. Ooh, look...Shiny! Meanwhile, the critics and media types at the BFCA are treated to a solemn area of creams, whites, greys and blacks. Coincidence? I think not. Consider Dakota Fanning's color coding...


But back to the line-up.

Diane Lane is hot. I normally think it's silly how people imagine that actors can't handle seeing their husbands and wives kiss other people onscreen. It's such a "well, duh" part of their job who could be offended / jealous over it? It's like marrying a vampire and complaining about the bloodlust. But with Diane Lane and Josh Brolin, I always find myself wondering. When your spouse is married to someone else in the public consciousness (Diane has been romantically entangled with Richard Gere three times onscreen and she presents him with awards and they're always kissy kissy) might that be a little weird?

<-- Bassett in 1995, during her short but great movie peak.

Another weird thing: Angela Bassett's career. I know she's 50 and only actresses named Meryl Streep are allowed regular leading movie roles past that age. But should she really have to settle for running on ER's exhaust fumes? It makes me so crazy. Finally... Angelina Jolie is a goddess. And knows it. Hey, wait a second, why is Anne Hathaway here twice? Answer: She was smart enough to wear a two sided dress. Therefore you must see her from several angles to fully appreciate. Several angles means more air time and more magazine photos. Savvy girl, that one.

Seven For Nine

Hot damn!

[img src ~ better quality but smaller image here]

It's Dame Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Marion "Piaf" Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Fergie, the Goddess Kidman and Goldie Hawn's daughter for Rob Marshall's film version of Nine.

If I weren't so excited for another big studio/big budget film musical I'd nitpick that this looks like a lost still from Chicago. But who can express reservation whilst trembling with actressexual fervor*? The best thing about Nine the stage musical (adapted from Federico Fellini's autobiofantastical 8½) is the circus of women surrounding film director Guido and even with Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido Contini, the best thing about the movie will surely be this circle of divas.

Awards history:
Oscar speculation fanatics who aren't familiar with this musical should know that the show-stopping parts from the stage show belong to Cruz as Guido's horny mistress Carla (this was a TONY award winning role in the Broadway revival for the delicious Jane Krakowski) and Dench as legendary showgirl Liliane la Fleur (a TONY award winning role in the original production and a nominated role in the revival). Another reason why Cruz may be the one to watch: Carla gets not one but two of the show's best songs "A Call from the Vatican" and "Simple". Nicole Kidman plays Guido's actress muse Claudia. In a potential pop culture explosion she'll duet with the other Tom Cruise ex on "Simple". Kidman also gets the show's most haunting ballad "A Very Unusual Way". One final note: Oscar's obsession with long-suffering wives in the Supporting Actress category could put Marion Cotillard (Luisa Contini) into play as well. Fellini's 8½ was nominated for 6 Oscars but none for its cast.

Here's Antonio Banderas as Guido @ the Tony Awards and Chita Rivera as Liliane on Broadway. Just reimagine these numbers with Daniel Day-Lewis and Judi Dench


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*Among those who can nitpick are commenters at DListed. One of whom quips

This movie looks like its about a bunch of vampire hookers.

It's not... but let's get that movie made too, mmmkay?
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Nine is the New 10

So, casting for Rob Marshall's Nine - ie, the movie adaptation of the musical which itself was inspired by a play which was an adaptation of Fellini's 8 1/2 movie (dizzy yet?) has been a Hollywood wet dream. The latest news come from ComingSoon.net who are saying that F to the E R G to the I E is in talks to join the already star studded cast (a Chicago gal Ms Velma Kelly, an Edith Piaf, a milkshake drinking oil man (sans son), a Dame Mrs Brown, a smouldering temptress Satine, an always returning Raimunda, a certain Ms Penny Lane and Sophia Loren - yes, she's a character unto herself!)

First I tried to think whether spelling bee-licious Fergie had ever been in a movie and of course Planet Terror and Poseidon memories kept whopping back (I tried to keep the latter's at bay, of course)... and then I wondered: what is Mr Marshall thinking? In any other movie this would be stunt casting or a way to draw in the crowds - but really, isn't the star wattage and the solid fan base for the musical enough?

What do you readers think? N to a Ay Why or Why to Ay Y Re: Ms Fergie in Rob Marshall's Nine?

Vanity Fair's Hollywood ~ Episode 5 (1999)

The Hollywood Historian in me continues his work after a long sabbatical ... Missed other episodes? See: 1995 , 1996, 1997, 1998 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005

In 1999, Vanity Fair went both a little crazy (14 people? The most ever for a Hollywood cover) and a little blah (seriously now, zzz). This issue gets my vote for worst cover in their history of Hollywood editions. They called it "New Kids on the Block" as if they were trying to date it instantly. I called it "Call me in Spring 2000 when the next one comes out." None of them look like they're in the mood to due boy band choreography or even sing one bar of a power ballad.

Adrien Brody, Thandie Newton, Monica Potter, Reese Witherspoon, Julia Stiles,
Leelee Sobieski, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Polley, Norman Reedus, Anna Friel,
Omar Epps, Kate Hudson, Vinessa Shaw, and Barry Pepper.

Adrien Brody, newly 26 years-old, had just come off of an extremely disappointing role downsizing in Best Picture nominee The Thin Red Line (see fascinating time capsule interview from several years back) --originally touted as the lead he was barely in the film by the time notoriously slow filmmaker Terence Malick was through with it. He had not yet been cast in The Pianist which would prove his rather massive critical / awards / Halle Berry kissing breakthrough. He was on the cover, as they often are because he was busy... already popular with casting directors with 5 performances emerging between 99 & 00 (his stripper in Spike Lee's Summer of Sam and his union organizer in Bread and Roses chief among them).

Thandie Newton was also 26. 1998 had been a big year with both Bernardo Bertolucci's Besieged and Jonathan Demme's Beloved haunted by her beauty. All was not rosy thereafter. She snagged the female lead of Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) but it did as little for her as the previous film had done for Emmanuelle Béart stateside. Interest was renewed with her memorable supporting part in Crash (2005) and buzz has it that we'll next see her as Condoleeza Rice in Oliver Stone's Bush bio W. (2009).

Monica Potter, about to turn 28, was one of many actresses who were weighted down with "next Julia Roberts" buzz. Believe me, it was a plague that decimated the female 20somethings of Hollywood that entire decade. She had been in two hits Patch Adams and Con Air and would be in a couple more (the already forgotten Along Came a Spider, 2001 and the unfortunately remembered franchise-spawning Saw, 2004) Her last big gig was a stint on TV's Boston Legal.

Reese Witherspoon, all of 23, was still an up and comer and she was about to marry Ryan Phillipe, whom she had been dating since '97. Hopes for her career had stayed high mostly due to her impressive and soulful debut in The Man in the Moon (1991) but none of her films had been hits. That wouldn't change in 1999 (though Cruel Intentions nearly did it) because Election, the film that announced her formidable talent with the subtlety of a megaphone, also flopped in theaters (though it's better remembered than most of the smashes of that year... quality does sometimes win out in the end. It just takes a long time --Tortoise and Hare, you know). Two years after this cover, Legally Blonde would open and she'd join Hollywood's A list to become the biggest star to emerge from this cover's gelatinous mass of wannabees ---seriously. There's way too many people on this cover.

Julia Stiles, newly legal at 18, probably won this cover treatment on the basis of the just-then opening lead role in 10 Things I Hate About You (co-starring the late Heath Ledger). She worked a lot in the years that followed in films both successful and otherwise but her career didn't grow as much as people expected or she herself expected for that matter (that's my presumption from some interviews at least). Today people are still familiar and she is pretty terrific in that tiny role in the Bourne series.

Leelee Sobieski, also known as 'Helen Hunt Jr' among my crowd at the time, was a critical darling turning 16... a status I never understood how she achieved so quickly. Never could I understand her appeal but she worked steadily from her debut in the Tim Allen comedy Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) through the blockbuster Deep Impact to Kubrick's controversial Eyes Wide Shut and the horror thriller Joy Ride (2001). She's never stopped working but the press definitely stopped paying attention, ignoring her from about 2002 onward just as suddenly as they'd once inexplicably decided to dote on her. She's in the new Al Pacino thriller 88 Minutes which is about to open.

Giovanni Ribisi, from the twitchy school of acting that also spawned Jeremy Davies was 24. He had already worked a lot in indies with his biggest claim to fame being part of Saving Private Ryan's young soldier ensemble the summer before this cover was shot. He had eight projects open between this cover and the end of 2000. Presumably he slept some time in 2002 or thereabouts because every year brings several films. His career has been cooling off considerably but he's part of the next buzzy Michael Mann picture Public Enemies so his career might find its second wind next year.


Sarah Polley, 20 at the time, just had quite a year with an Oscar nomination for her first full feature behind the camera Away From Her. But we're talking 9 years ago, aren't we? Nine years back she was a critically celebrated actress with The Sweet Hereafter (1997) behind her for which many people thought she deserved an Oscar nomination. She had four movies coming out the year of this cover, the most famous of which would be Doug Liman's Go. Sarah hasn't totally given up acting (two movies coming next year) but expect more work behind the camera, too.


Norman Reedus at 30 was the oldest character on this cover. This former model was about to have a baby with longtime girlfriend Helena Christensen (they split up in 2003). He had made a few indies directly before this cover as well as the horror sci-fi flick Mimic (1997), which was his first picture. The heat was on with three more small films due in 99 but he never "broke out" as it were. He stayed mostly in indies with the occasional small role in bigger films dotting the filmography like Blade 2 and last year's American Gangster.

Anna Friel, about to turn 23, had up and comer buzz despite very little screen work. 1999 was an important year for her (see time capsule interview) as she was part of the quartet of players in Broadway's Closer (which became a film in 2004 --she played "Alice", later become Natalie Portman's role) and she was also in the ensemble in the umpteenth film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream (this one with Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer). Everybody forgot about her for awhile but she's more popular and adorable than ever, suddenly, as one fourth of Pushing Daisies central quartet of players. She's "dead girl" ...but you knew that already if you've been watching.

Omar Epps, nearly 26, had gotten his film start in the Harlem set drama Juice(1992) with Tupac Shakur and had been working steadily in both TV (ER) and film up until this cover. 1999 was a big year with three major roles (The Woods, In Too Deep, and The Mod Squad) and 2000 would be equally crowded but success was only moderate. Lead film roles dried up and he moved over to TV in 2004 as a regular cast member on the Emmy nominated House, M.D.

Kate Hudson , turning 20, had an Oscar-winning superstar mother (Goldie Hawn) but little else to recommend her for this cover. Major stardom of her own would arrive approximately a year and a half later when Almost Famous (2000) opened, for which she received an Oscar nomination and became a mainstream media staple. One romantic comedy blockbuster followed (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 2003) but, honestly, she gets a lot of attention for how little success her films have hand. And that filmography: yikes!

Vinessa Shaw, nearly 23, was known from her work as a teenager on television and in films like Hocus Pocus and Ladybugs. Nothing major but the Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut (pictured, right) was in post-production when this cover was shot and the buzz on her appearance/sex appeal in the mystery shrouded film was fairly loud. Not sure why a bigger career didn't materialize but you'll probably remember that she did a brief Russell Crowe snogging act in 3:10 to Yuma last year.

Barry Pepperwas turning 29 and the previous year's feature film landscape had suggested that he might be breaking free of television, where he had spent the first six years of his Hollywood career. In 1998 he had played a memorable sniper role in Saving Private Ryan and supported Will Smith and Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State. A role in Best Picture nominee The Green Mile followed this very December and then he hit the brick wall that was the Scientology inspired Battlefied Earth(2000). The future didn't hold big successful lead roles after that but damn he was good in 25th Hour (2002), don't you think? Next up: supporting Will Smith again in Seven Pounds this Christmas.

Anna Friel ~ then and now

median age: approximately 24. Youngest: Leelee was still fifteen when the cover was shot. oldest: Norman Reedus @ thirty
collective Oscar nominations before this cover: Zilch
collective Oscar nominations after this cover: 4 (Reese, Adrian, Sarah and Kate), 2 of which led to big wins (Witherspoon in Walk the Line & Brody in The Pianist)
fame levels in 2008, according to famousr, from most to least: Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson, Julia Stiles, Adrien Brody, Omar Epps, Giovanni Ribisi, Thandie Newton, Leelee Sobieski, Sarah Polley, Barry Pepper, Monica Potter, Vinessa Shaw (Anna Friel and Norman Reedus are not listed on the website)
see also: 1995 ,1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
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don't miss future installments. Yes I will one day get through them all

More Shortlists From Hell

I’m still trying to get in that Oscar mood for the upcoming fall movie season but --Enough intro. You know how this works by now. Let’s wrap up those shortlists from Oscar hell with the supporting field. (previous posts: lead actor & lead actress).

The past six years of supporting actress have pained me most in the following five ways...

Jennifer Connelly A Beautiful Mind (01). A competent performance that for still-inexplicable-reasons-to-me managed to beat everything else all season long @ every awards show, including three other performances that were in most any way I could imagine (level of challenge, amount of nuance, complexity of role) more impressive. I still don't get it.
Judi Dench Chocolat (00). It's clear that the Dame can act. But it's unclear why the Academy feels they need to nominate her for 'I-can-do-this-in-my-sleep' roles.
Kate Hudson Almost Famous You may recall I also nominated her. What was I thinking? It's one of those dangers of awards season. Groupthink hoopla clouding otherwise discerning vision.
Laura Linney Kinsey (04) Laura Linney is a super actress. But this performance bored me.
Renee Zellweger Cold Mountain (03) Embarassing. That is all. Made me hate an actress I once loved. The love has never returned.

The past six years of supporting actor have hurt me most in the following five ways:

Jamie Foxx Collateral (04) and Ethan Hawke Training Day (01) -Two performances I actually love. But in no way, shape or form are these supporting roles. It's laughable. I can forgive the Academy those many gray areas like say, Natalie Portman in Closer or Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense but when the story is ABOUT you and you're in NEARLY EVERY SCENE, you are a lead actor. Period.
Joaquin Phoenix Gladiator (00) a nomination that vexed me. Too much huffing and puffing for my tastes.
Tim Robbins Mystic River (03) Why is it that you have to overact to get an Oscar? Pity because he's been so much better (Player, Shawshank, Bull Durham) before.
Jon Voight Ali (01) Basically if you are an actor who covets a golden boy. Just sign up for any famous person role. The Academy will nominate you. It's, like, a rule or something.

Those are my feelings about the worst/most annoying nominations in those categories from 2000-2005. How about yours?