We Can't Wait #1 There Will Be Blood

Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson finally unveils his 5th Film this fall called, There Will Be Blood. It's an adaptation of the novel "Oil" by Upton Sinclair. Surprisingly Anderson has jettisoned most of his trusted company of ensemble actors from his first four films. This turn of the century drama about a Texas prospector (played by the estimable Daniel Day-Lewis) is an ambitious saga of family, greed, and religion.

OK, my "We Can't Wait" compatriots, what's your favorite P.T. film and why are you so looking forward to this, our #1 most awaited film of 2007?

Joe: Boogie Nights remains my favorite. I have a tempestuous relationship with Magnolia, though certain moments of that movie are as good as anything he’s ever done. The pairing of Anderson with Daniel Day-Lewis is something of a perfect storm of artists who are famously stingy with their time. And I’m somewhat in love with the idea of Paul Dano as a ... didn’t I read this somewhere?...fire-and-brimstone preacher.

Lulu: For reasons I can't justify, I've only seen Boogie Nights. (I know I know yeah yeah yeah.) That said, 2006 marked the year that I officially became a huge Paul Dano fan. So I will henceforth follow young Mr. Dano wherever he elects to appear...

Robert Elswit (?) on the set of There Will Be Blood from the ambiguous and untitled
gallery of images from the production at Little Boston News

Nathaniel: Because P.T. is not using his normal troupe of actors I'm more focused at this point on the production team. The terrific undervalued cinematographer Robert Elswit (Good Night, and Good Luck, Punch-Drunk Love), editor Dylan Tichenor (Brokeback Mountain, Magnolia) and composer Jon Brion (I Heart Huckabees, Punch-Drunk Love) are all on board again with P.T.

Gabriel: I would follow P.T. Anderson into the Himalayas, I would follow him into the Amazon rain forest, I would follow him anywhere. My least favorite of his movies, Punch-Drunk Love, is STILL brilliant. Magnolia and Boogie Nights bring Altmanesque narratives into a contemporary context, with often stunning results. He is one of the most interesting artists of my generation, and I hope he'll fulfill the promise his movies have always signaled.

JA: Punch-Drunk Love is GENIUS! I love Punch-Drunk Love as much as any movie you could name from the past 10 years. I love it as much as Brokeback, as much as Eternal Sunshine. I never in a million years thought it would be possible for me to say that about a movie starring Adam Sandler, but I do; I am so in love with PDL it pains me. Add Magnolia and Boogie Nights (and to a lesser extent Hard Eight), not to mention that terrific Fiona Apple video, and PT Anderson can do no wrong. None. I'm dying to see what he'll do with something that seems so different from his previous work.

Nathaniel: Me too. And hear hear on the Fiona Apple shout out. I'm so sad they broke up. In fact... let's play the P.T. Anderson directed Fiona Apple videos right here and now from happier days (Across The Universe, Fast As You Can, Paper Bag, and Limp)






Ahhhh, Fiona. But back to P.T. for the record Boogie Nights woulda won my Best Picture prize back in 1997 and I've never been less than very impressed with one of his films. I just wish he'd work more. And I'm happy to see this film (which was my actual #1 'most awaited') get the top spot. I didn't even have to rig the voting.

previously on "we can't wait"
#2 Zodiac, #3 Sweeney Todd, #4 Evening, #5 Lust, Caution, #6 I'm Not There, #7 Margot at the Wedding, #8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum Intro -films that didn't make the list

tags: Paul Thomas Anderson, oil, Daniel Day-Lewis, boogie nights, films

Tuesday Top Ten: Celebrity Couples

new series. for the list maker in me and the list lover in you

Tomorrow is a special day that'll either warm your heart & bed or make you feel like absolute loveless crap or maybe a sick combo of both. So I thought we'd celebrate with celebrity couplings -- they create that exact same twisted effect. Here are my favorite still-together-at-this-writing star couples (starples?). I dedicate this list to Liz & Dick, the all time most audience friendly / tabloid feeding superstar romance and Ellen & 'Celestia', a nod to all those short-lived pairings that end spectacularly.

10 Favorite Celebrity Couples

10. Seal & Heidi Klum
Because they keep making babies.

09. Posh & Becks
The only reason they didn't place higher is their gobsmacking shamelessness. You know that these fame whores desperately want to top all such lists. You have to dock points for desperation even if the subjects are so otherwise excellent at being famous. And look around you: Tons of celebrities are really bad at it and should be replaced immediately.

08. Simon Doonan & Jonathan Adler
I had to have a gay couple on here and even if Lance & Reichen were still together there was no way in hell was I putting them on a list. Those two had the fame desperation of Posh & Becks without the unarguable cool factor...so: just desperation. In their place let's all celebrate the impossibly powerful combo of tastemakers Doonan and Adler who, in lieu of Dolce & Gabbana's romantic demise, are now the most powerful gay aesthetic force in the known universe.

07. Madonna & Guy Ritchie
Once upon a time Guy and Madonna did cute paparazzi friendly things like showing up to events with each others t-shirts on. It's been amusing to watch Guy recede grumpily from her limelight while Madonna is still willing to bend over in a leotard. One imagines that and he probably didn't want to be wearing that t-shirt in the first place. His Tony Ward accessory of phase didn't last very long, did it?

06. Scarlett Johansson & whomever
Admit it. You don't care who the guy is either. So long as she's canoodling...
Related posts: Scarlett Johansson week

05. Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher
Rare are the Hollywood starples who can defeat our cynical immediate reaction to their couplage. Nobody's paying attention anymore and they're still together = This must be true love. Points for that. Plus: pretty + pretty = very very pretty.

04. Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams
Serious actors. Movie stars. Happy couple. Private enough that we'll probably never get sick of them. (See also: #3)
Related Posts: Best Actor Oscar Race

03. Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward
The gold standard. He's one of the greatest movie stars of all time. She's a formidable actress. When some celebrity couples work together it's disastrous. When they work together it's quite terrific. Next year they'll celebrity their 50th wedding anniversary. Raise a glass.

02. Brangelina
Recent wax sculpture public appearances aside, the two most beautiful people on the planet are still together, thus making the world a better place.
Sign they'll break up: Both haven't had much staying power in the past.
Sign they'll stay together: Angelina has yet to star in a Melissa Etheridge video.
Related Post: A History of...Angelina Jolie

01. Warren Beatty & Annette Bening
The recent Golden Globe tribute to Warren Beatty was, I'll be the first to admit, quite painful. But let's blame that on the ever boring and inappropriate Tom Hanks instead. Only Sacha Baron Cohen successfully pulled off genitalia jokes that night. Nevertheless, Warren Beatty was and always will be one of the greats. The Bening is of course The Bening. I love them both separately. Together one imagines that they could tear the social fabric of Hollywood asunder should it displease them or rattle their aged intractable stardom. One imagines that it is only through their grace and patience that Hilary Swank has not (to date) been torn limb from limb. Beatty was already Hollywood royalty when he met Annette on Bugsy. She married in. But who else but The Bening carries themselves with so much 'to the manor born' entitlement? Love them. Fear them. Know that should they ever allow their full star wattage to shine, you would burst into flames at the very sight of it.
Related Posts: Annette Bening, guest blogger

Did I neglect your favorite celebrity couple? Speak up in the comments.

Previous Tuesday Top Tens:
Horseplay from Equus to National Velvet
Christian Bale from Newsies to American Psycho
Oscar Nominations Talking Points
Alexander(s) The Great
Best 2006 Movies from The Departed (sure) to Marie Antoinette (you heard me)
Movies by Three Amigos Best of Cuarón, González Iñárritu & Del Toro

Tags: Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, Madonna, Scarlett Johansson,Heidi Klum, David Beckham,Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, valentines day,movies, love, celebrity, fame, cinema, film

That Infernal Marie Who Lets Them Eat Crack

Today on DVD

The Must See
My love for Sofia Coppola's third film Marie Antoinette has not always been met with 'to each their own' kindness. But give it a chance. It's dreamy, brave, and a rather compelling portrait of the hermetic world of royalty. For this moviegoer it wipes the floor with The Queen and is so dreamily committed to its own point of view that it probably doesn't even notice Elizabeth II's frumpy muffled indecisive protests as it does so. It's impressive stuff and people missed the boat. Don't be one of them.
Viewing tip: It's a leisurely paced movie so ixnay on the distractions. Have finger licking good pastries at the ready. Turn the sound up.

Oscar Goodies
Half Nelson had a tiny run in theaters so you probably haven't seen it. Ryan Gosling got a well deserved Oscar nomination for his crack addict junior high school teacher so witness his impressive command of his craft. The movie plays well on DVD, too since it's already "small"

The Departed also arrives. You've probably seen it but if not, catch up before every last detail has been spoiled for you.
Viewing Tip: Watch it with a group. This'll help approximate that rather electric moviegoing experience of watching it with an audience clearly on the movies wavelength and loving every twist and turn.

Indulge Your Curiousity
The Infernal Affairs Trilogy. Insert clichéd ad copy here "If you loved the Departed...". But seriously. If you wonder why I rave about Tony Leung Chiu Wai so much, this is as good a place as any to start. His role is played in the American version by Leonardo DiCaprio. The Matt Damon role was originated by Andy Lau who you'll remember from House of Flying Daggers' romantic triangle.

My Mother Will Be Excited
Beauty & the Beast: The Complete First Season. Younger readers may not remember this series at all but it stars Linda Hamilton (Terminator's Sarah Connor) as the beauty and Ron Perlman (Hellboy) as a lion-like man who lives underneath the city. It was actually critically acclaimed back in the day with Golden Globe noms for the stars.
Viewing Tip: Go cold turkey on the romance novels for a week and you'll probably be in the right salivating mood for this.

Elusive Little Children

This is old news but after 18 weeks in theaters some of you still aren't able to see Little Children, are you? 18 Weeks! and the widest they've gone is 115 theaters? I keep trying to suss out the business plan behind this.

______Executive: Let's spend gazillions to create awareness and then
______not let people buy the product we're selling!

______Executive Sycophant: Brilliant.

Imagine if they did this with other products pushed with multi million dollar campaigns. You go to the store: "I'm sorry. We only sell that product in New York and Los Angeles. buh bye" Now there are people out there (and some of them are critic friends of mine) who will tell you this is a blessing in disguise. But still... It has to be the most puzzling release of 2006. They didn't capitalize on the reviews. They missed the window of Kate Winslet's promotional push. They didn't go crazy once they achieved a pretty good Oscar nomination tally. Do they actually think they're going to win Oscars? They aren't. What's the rationale? I don't claim to be smart about the business side of Hollywood so someone help me out in the comments. Am I missing something really obvious? Even if theatrical release is just a commercial for DVD shouldn't they try and make the commercial better?

We Can't Wait #2 Zodiac

Naomi forgot to teach Jake the one about not getting into stranger's cars

Only two films made each individual "we can't wait" list that were combined to make this communal list. This is the first. Zodiac is David Fincher's first entry into the serial killer genre since the blockbuster Se7en way back in 1995. This film's all star cast is led by Jake Gyllenhaal (hmmm, i wonder why this made everyone's lists?) and also features Robert Downey Jr, Chloe Sevigny, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Dermot Mulroney, Donal Logue and Clea Duvall. I've liked or loved all but one of Finchers films (yes, including Alien 3 though I'm tilting towards negative on The Game) so I'm excited. But that trailer seems a little, hmm, sedate (?) for this sort of thing. What say ye?

Joe: It did seem a little sedate, Nathaniel, you’re right. But I’ve learned my lesson about underestimating Fincher before. I mean, Se7en totally looked like just another thriller with a cool hook.

I think it’s also worth mentioning that this is the first time Fincher’s made a movie set in the past. Does that make a difference? Will it open up new avenues? I have a lot of confidence that this will end up being worth the wait.

Lulu: This flick plays to my inner freak. Serial killer story + ahunkahunka 70s men? I'm officially -- ahem -- stirred.

Gabriel: Fincher's assembled all the pieces for Zodiac to usher in his renaissance. But the devil will be in the details. For me, this film is all about the execution.

JA: The first trailer didn't thrill me as much as I'd hoped, but the new spots I've seen playing on TV cut out the distractions (that horrible song choice at the end of the first trailer, for one) and are bringing me back to my usual level of Fincher-worship. Fincher's not made a single movie I've disliked (don't you go dissing The Game, Nat!), in fact I sort of bow before them all in awe, and you add My Man Jake to the mix and you've created a me-shaped-hole in the wall where I've already left for the movie theater.

Previous Related Articles:
Brad Pitt's next flick reteaming with David Fincher * Coming Soon the last time I did this countdown Zodiac was also featured * Totally Gratuitous Jake Gyllenhaal posting

previously on "we can't wait"
#3 Sweeney Todd, #4 Evening, #5 Lust, Caution, #6 I'm Not There, #7 Margot at the Wedding, #8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum Intro -films that didn't make the list

tags: Jake Gyllenhaal, David Fincher, serial killer, movies, cinema,zodiac

We Can't Wait #3 Sweeney Todd

For the uninitiated an explanation and unspoilery synopsis of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It's sometimes referred to as a true story, but it's more of an urban legend. In the 19th century a barber slits a lot of throats in London. His accomplice Mrs. Lovett disposes of the evidence in her seedy pie shop. The story has taken on many forms including straight plays, comedy sketches, songs and films but its most famous and celebrated incarnation is the Stephen Sondheim 1979 musical (or opera if you like... much of it is sung through), which starred Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett and Len Cariou as the titular barber on Broadway. It's this Sondheim classic, one of the greatest musicals ever written, that's being transferred to celluloid even as I type this.

Recent Variety ad marking the start of filming. The film arrives in December 2007

Tim Burton directs his muse Johnny Depp as Mr. Todd (this marks their sixth screen collaboration) and his own lover Helena Bonham-Carter as Mrs. Lovett. Sacha Baron Cohen is Pirelli, Todd's barber rival and Alan Rickman (having a busy year) is Judge Turpin, Todd's true nemesis. The only musical theater vet in the production is 25 year old Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins from the recent British production of the musical) who plays Lucy Barker. [*a note: in the comments you'll read about musical theater vets in supporting roles --that's good news. But for some reason the IMDB does not yet list them as cast members and still has certain roles as "rumors" -ed.]

My previous posts about Tim Burton's forthcoming adaptation have all gone something like this: "worry worry worry i-love-sondheim worry worry omg-sondheim-is-a-genius worry worry miscasting worry" so I'm turning it right over to my comrades so that I don't repeat myself. Take it away guys...

Lulu: The recent Broadway revival showed just how strong the Sweeney source material is. Specifically, how it's able to be enhanced by the reimaginings of a bold director. Against popular opinion, I'm holding out hope that Burton will make something brilliant and surprising. I don't expect it to be a Sweeney I already know and, frankly, that's what I'm most excited about...

But if the sound mixing's as muddy as Wonka's, we're all doomed.

Gabriel: I've seen the musical in many different ways -- the New York City Opera revival, the video of the 1979 Broadway original, the John Doyle reimagining last year, community theatre productions, you name it -- and I think it is incredibly strong material. It's got a strong story, a powerful score, and almost iconic characters.

Angela Lansbury (the original Mrs. Lovett), Pattie Lupone (revival). Helena Bonham Carter
gets one of the all time best roles in musical theater in the film version.

What Doyle's revival in 2005 proved is that Sweeney Todd has tremendous malleability. I think that Burton's film will really put that malleability to the test, however. How does this brutally British story translate to the Hollywood culture of celebrity...with Captain Jack Sparrow in the lead? How does a musical work with performers who have little or no professional singing experience? Will Sondheim's vision be overwhelmed by Burton's detailed cartoon gothicism? I am hopeful, but I am very unsteady about how it's going to turn out.

Joe: This is one of those times where I embarrass myself in front of the cinephiles: while I had been familiar with the title “Sweeney Todd,” the first glimpse I ever got of any kind of staging of it was in Jersey Girl when Affleck and his daughter performed a song from it at the big talent show thingamajig.

I know!

In my defense, I was never a theatre kid at all. So if you’re looking for a polar opposite of Gabriel’s experience, that would be me. That being said, I am a big fan of Tim Burton, even though I have become wary whenever he chooses to adapt a known quantity, which this is. I love Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter, too, and I don’t want to have to knock them for not being able to sing, so they goddamn well better take their lessons seriously.

JA: My exposure's even less than your, Joe; I haven't even seen the Jersey Girl scene you speak of. But I am familiar with the story and the tone of the story and I think Burton could possibly do something really terrific with it, at least in the abstract form it takes in my mind.

And hopefully whatever seemingly insane iteration of Deppness we get works with the material and doesn't distract terribly like I found his Wonka to do.

George Hearns (replacement Sweeney in original B'way run) and Michael Cerveris (revival) as
Sweeney. Johnny Depp plays the murderous barber in the film version.

Nathaniel: I sometimes wish --and I realize that this is because I'm a huge film nerd -- that Hollywood would double up on production costs and let two or three films be shot with the same sets, etc... so that we could see different auterial takes on the same story. I realize this will never happen for about 4 million different reasons but I love Sweeney Todd so much I'd love to see multiple film versions so that I don't have to feel that Tim Burton's (however good or bad it may end up being) becomes "definitive"

Do you know what I mean?

JA: Do I ever! Like, I'd have loved to have seen what, say, Bruce LaBruce did with the same cast and sets as Brokeback Mountain. Ahem.

Nathaniel: OK, folks. Share your history with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street or your thoughts about the upcoming film adaptation in the comments. Or just enjoy these Sweeney Todd clips. To your left, the opening scene of the original Broadway production and to your right, Patti Lupone doing "By the Sea" in concert.



Previous Related Articles: Mrs. Lovett on the Casting Couch Helena Bonham Carter gets the role * Cyndi Lauper in Sweeney She's auditioning for Tim Burton * John Christopher Depp ~ Top Five Actors of the Aughts.

previously on "we can't wait"
#4 Evening, #5 Lust, Caution, #6 I'm Not There, #7 Margot at the Wedding, #8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum
Intro -films that didn't make the list

tags: Sweeney Todd, Johnny Depp, Stephen Sondheim, Helena Bonham Carter, Patti Lupone, movies, Broadway, adaptation, Tim Burton, musicals,moviemusical

Thank You For Linking

Wet Circuit celebrates Xanadu on its own "girly space-time continuum"
Hollywood Elsewhere thinks Zodiac is great but the studio seems skittish
Stale Popcorn wise words on Beyoncé and other divasingers-turned-actors
Cinephilia Arden liveblogs the Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue. Wheeeee
The Carpetbagger examines why The Painted Veil didn't ignite w/ Oscar
Moviehole if they have to make movies of third-tier superheroes, I guess the casting could be worse than this. Is this the best idea Nicolas Cage has had in years?
Cintra Wilson on the unstable allure of Anna Nicole Smith. I didn't have anything to say about this but I always think Cintra's writings on celebrity are worth a look
Post Modern Barney wonders what Tobey Maguire is thinking...
Wit of the Staircase a new book on Robert Altman's masterpiece Nashville
Eddie on Film clearing up some Oscar mistruths by going straight to the source. Here's the Academy's official stance on recent statistical arguments.

Queen of the BAFTAs

This just in: Taylor Hackford approved by zoning board for extension of current home. Busy purchasing building materials. What, you think all of Helen Mirren's trophies for The Queen will fit in their current home? You'd think wrong. They've gotta be building another wing just for that HRH style loot.

So Post-BAFTA Helen has only the Oscar left to pick up, bringing her total to... I've lost count. 27? 28? I don't know.

In other BAFTA News, The Queen wins best film, too. The other most nominated film Casino Royale (snubbed by Oscar entirely --they no like Bond) also won just two prizes in a night of 'spread the wealth'. It's winning categories: Sound and "Rising Star" for Eva Green.

You can see the complete list of winners here. It's the usual awards season winners minus director Martin Scorsese (Paul Greengrass took the directing award for United 93) and Eddie Murphy (Alan Arkin's foul mouthed grandpa from Little Miss Sunshine triumphed). How close do you think their decisions will be to Oscar's? And has their ever been a lock as locked as Helen Mirren? She's like the Titanic of the Best Actress category.

See also: My Oscar Pages

tags: BAFTA, Helen Mirren, Eva Green, movies, Academy Awards, Casino Royale, oscars

Great Performers, NY Times Division

The New York Times Sunday Magazine has their annual portfolio of celebrity portraits up. These aren't the stunningly odd creations of last year's batch --there was a lot of writing on faces in that one. There's less of an element of surprise in the photos (fairly traditional portraiture, sometimes even dully so) so the surprise comes in their choice of subjects: Vin Diesel (Find Me Guilty), Abbie Cornish (Sommersault), and Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine) alongside kudo fixtures like Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed). At least they chose the right film for Leo, even if their taste elsewhere is questionable. Ivana Bacquero (Pan's Labyrinth) is unarguably a photogenic child but a great actress? Like Audrey Tatou in Amélie, she's a beautiful face around which the film's true strength, the visuals, orbit. But calling it a "great" performance. That's stretching it till it snaps.


If you click on that link above and hit the slideshow you can see all the photos but I've included my three favorite portraits here: Annette Bening all simple elegance with her trademark twinkle, Ryan Gosling looking old school dapper, and Rinko Kikuchi reminding me of a Björk video or CD cover or something... or maybe an old photo of Vanessa Redgrave? Bet you didn't expect to hear those two names compared. But, ahhh, that's the associative triumph of weird ass collections like this one.

tags: Annette Bening, Ryan Gosling, Helen Mirren, Leonardo DiCaprio,movies, portraits, photography, cinema, New York Times

We Can't Wait #4 Evening

In this new film from acclaimed cinematographer Lajos Koltai, Vanessa Redgrave plays a dying woman who spends a lot of time flashing back to her youth when she looked exactly like Claire Danes. Imagine that. Her daughters struggle to accept their mom's mortality whilst having their own dramas. Evening's cast also includes Meryl Streep and her daughter (!) as the younger version of her, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Glenn Close, Toni Collette and Natasha Richardson. I could say more but they had me at the cast. I don't even care if it's bad.

Lulu: Indeed. And that it comes complete with a Patrick Wilson/Hugh Dancy chaser? Well, this is just like crack for actressexuals. Not that I'm compulsive that way.

Gabriel: All about the cast. How can this possibly fail? The deck is stacked so high...

Joe: The cast, of course, is phenomenal, but I’ll be the first to take up the mantle of Michael Cunningham, who has adapted the screenplay from Susan Minot’s novel. Cunningham wrote The Hours (book, not screenplay) and A Home At the End of the World (book and screenplay). The Hours made the better movie, while A Home was an absolute mess as a movie, though the book was heartbreakingly wonderful. Hopefully we can chalk the latter up to first time screenwriting jitters, because the talent that’s been assembled here...it would be criminal to waste it.

Question for my fellow round-tablers: who’s got the prettier face, Claire Danes or Hugh Dancy?


JA: Oh come on, I like Claire Danes a lot, but Dancy's so much prettier then her. He's also probably the only one of the two who's made out with Cunningham. Allegedly.

Amazing cast + Cunningham = so there.

previously on "we can't wait"
#5 Lust, Caution, #6 I'm Not There, #7 Margot at the Wedding, #8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum
Intro -films that didn't make the list

tags: Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, Michael Cunningham, movies, evening, actress, Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson,Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave

Two Tidbits

First... I don't know if you've been listening to Radio Allegro since I joined the team (you can subcribe here if you have iTunes). Last week's episode was on TV (I didn't talk much other than to enthuse about Buffy --surprise!-- but Joe Reid of TWoP and Low Resolution was the guest so give it a listen).

Next week an "Oscar Spectacular" in which we'll be featuring listener predictions. That's right, you could be heard on air. Leave a brief message by February 15th @ Radio Allegro's hotline: 1 (347) 404-5221. Your message should include

• name
  
• where you're from
• one sentence about 'why __________ will win Best Picture!'
  

Keep it short and snappy and maybe we'll play you on the podcast. If you're the shy type you can also email the show with any feedback or an Oscar thought.

Second... I also want to point out to you that my gorgeous friend Susan P has announced her own awards, the amusing "Poscars", for the year in film. If I didn't already have too many categories in my own awards, I'd steal some of hers. Enjoy...

We Can't Wait #5 Lust, Caution

Leung & Chen: hottest fictional marrieds since Brangelina in Mr & Mrs. Smith

Oscar winning director Ang Lee has a pretty good track record at turning out critically acclaimed films that become more successful than anyone ever expected them to be --think Crouching Tiger and Brokeback Mountain. Successes the size of Brokeback will usually give filmmakers a 'get out of jail free' card to do whatever the hell they want for at least one picture. (Remember that's how Gus Van Sant got away with recreating Psycho post Good Will Hunting to name one frequently gabbed about post breakthrough move) So, Ang Lee is following his cowboy romance with a film set in Shanghai during WW II. Focus Features plans to unveil it in September. Headlining the film are the eternally gorgeous Joan Chen and the world's greatest Asian movie star Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (who will now probably be referred to in the press as 'the guy Leonardo DiCaprio was playing in The Departed ' *sigh*) who must be on loan from Wong Kar Wai or something. They play Mr & Mrs. Yi in this espionage drama.

Gabriel: I don't think there's any film on the "We Can't Wait" list that has a better set of production elements than this one. Ang Lee is a malleable filmmaker who brings elegance to every genre he touches. Tony Leung and Joan Chen are exquisitely tender performers. Even the technical artists involved (Rodrigo Prieto, the cinematographer from Babel and Brokeback, Tim Squyres, the editor of Syriana) are astonishing. The potential here is mind-blowing.

Lulu: Maybe Joan Chen will finally have a role worthy of her.
Maybe Joan Chen will finally get her Oscar nom.
Maybe Joan Chen will be beautiful, scary, sweet and freaky all at
once -- the way Lulu likes it.
Maybe Joan Chen will cause the screen to spontaneously ignite at theatres around the globe.
It's all about Joan Chen.

Nathaniel: But what ab...

Lulu: Joan Chen.

Joe: I love that "Lust, Caution" could have been an alternate title for Brokeback
Mountain. I also love that Ang Lee is able to hop genres without making it
seem like he's taking this big departure, mostly because his style is so
strong that whatever genre he dips into, you know you're getting an Ang Lee
film. Love that he's re-teaming with Prieto, too. He's used to lensing
things as beautiful as Tony Leung and Joan Chen.

Nathaniel: The beauty doesn't end there. There's also Lee-Hom Wang (pictured, right. I'll try to stop drooling) and scrumptous Tang Wei in the supporting roles. But anyway...back to Ang Lee!

JA: I nearly broke the world wide web with my posting about Brokeback Mountain. I could've crippled the Earth's servers. So yeah, I won't be quitting (oooh, dated and lousy humor!) Ang Lee any time soon. I want Ang to take on every imaginable genre that there is. His next project sounds like a semi-straightforward romantic comedy; maybe he can do an outer-space vampire movie after that! That or underwater zombies. Hmm.

Joe: I’d like to see him do a semi-faux-documentary where he tours the country putting middle-Americans into awkward situations by being hilariously blunt about their prejudices.

Nathaniel: You mean like Oscar night last year?

Lust, Caution arrives to blow our minds with beauty in September from Focus Features.


previously on "we can't wait"
#6 I'm Not There, #7 Margot at the Wedding, #8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum
Intro -films that didn't make the list

tags: Tony Leung, Joan Chen, Ang Lee, movies, Lust, Caution, oscars, Brokeback Mountain, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger

Song & Dance: Oscar's Men

A couple of weeks ago on Friday's song & dance, I shared the best actress nominated ladies singing their hearts out. Now it's time for the men from the Supporting and Lead Actor categories. It's a special edition of Song & Dance w/ six clips.

We begin with Ryan Gosling on the Mickey Mouse Club. He's the fourth guy to sing in this pre-N'Sync quartet (Justin Timberlake and JC Chavez warble away before him). It's Ryan freaking Gosling !!! all baby like. I just. I have no words. I can't imagine him in N'Sync. Thank god he found out he was a brilliant actor and didn't go that route. But there you go... To his right is Peter O'Toole singing the classic "Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha. Below them are Eddie Murphy doing his best Elvis & James Brown in his hit concert film Delirious. Mark Wahlberg then gets down with the Funky Bunch and shamelessly sells those pecs in MTV staple "Good Vibrations".





The last two bonus clips are kinda stretchin the point but whatevs, enjoy. First up is Djimon Hounsou doing that big smiley body waving dance he did in Janet Jackon's "Love Will Never Do Without You" (which was already featured here) only this time he's grinning wide for a Gap ad. And, finally, there's Alan Arkin playing musical chairs with the Little Miss Sunshine cast on Ellen Degeneres. Steve Carell cracks me up.

We Can't Wait #6 I'm Not There

Iconoclast auteur Todd Haynes already has a couple of masterpieces under his belt. He returns this year, 5 years after his last (Far From Heaven) for a film ruminating on the life of Bob Dylan. You may recall that Haynes first found infamy with a biopic on Karen Carpenter (played by Barbie Dolls) that is now a bootleg hot item --he didn't have the music rights. This time, music rights secured, the film will not be banished from existence. Bob Dylan himself approves and will be played --or rather "aspects" of him will be played -- by seven actors including Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett and Richard Gere. Can this film make more than $11.00 at the box office? i.e. will the heavy duty Dylan star-package plus movie stars help audiences connect with Haynes's experimental filmmaking?

My blog friends, do you have any idea how much I quiver with anticipation when a new Haynes film drops into view?

Gabriel: I'll admit that I don't totally get the high concept here...but I would follow Todd Haynes anywhere. Heck, even when he's bad, he's still great. Arguably the smartest American filmmaker of his generation. (As to Nathaniel's other question -- will it make money? -- the answer is probably not, unless the Oscar race picks it up and runs with it.)

JA: Haynes really is the ringer here. He's built up enough good credit to last him the rest of his career. Add this oddball mix of actors to this bizarre concept and how could anyone not be at least curious?

That said, by "anyone" I mean "anyone who's seen/enjoyed a Todd Haynes film before" which answers your box office question quite thoroughly, I think.

Joe: Yeah, I’m taking a lot on faith here, seeing as it’s Todd Haynes. One of my favorite aspect of Haynes as a director is how he’s able to pull really great performances out of his actors (Julianne Moore, Toni Collette, Patricia Clarkson, Julianne Moore, Julianne Moore). I wonder if the different-actors-playing-Dylan gimmick will help or hinder that.

Lulu: Haynes makes me twitterpated. Solondz' Palindromes proved that the device of a multiply cast role can be an enthralling exercise; Haynes clarity and deftness with actors could make the exercise into art.

I'm so there.

Nathaniel: We'll all be there. Will the readers be?

Ruminate or let an aspect of yourself ruminate in the comments...

previously on "we can't wait"
#7 Margot at the Wedding, #8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum
Intro -films that didn't make the list

Todd Haynes related stuff
Happy Birthday Todd -on his 46th * National Coming Out Day proud queer trailblazers in movies & television * Far From Heaven wins the gold lots of loot at the 2002 Film Bitch Awards * The Whitakers vs. The del-Mar-Twists Far From Heaven vs. Brokeback Mountain

tags: Bob Dylan, Todd Haynes, Julianne Moore, movies, Cate Blanchett, oscars, Karen Carpenter, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger

Linkers Dozen

Glenn Gaslin his weekend at the end of the world (Children of Men and Idiocracy)
Culture Snob giving credit where it's due: Prairie Home Companion
Coming Soon Wahlberg on Departed 2
Scanners "How not to blow your Oscar speech"
The Guardian on Mexican filmmakers and Oscar. Good quote from Cuarón [src]
Trading Faces the mysteries of Dakota Fanning's eeriness revealed
Victim of the Time on "things I just don't understand" re: Little Miss Sunshine and fact-based films
WOW Notes on a Scandal's evening w/ AMPAS
Cinematical, inspired by Norbit, investigates other bad timing /post-nom moves by actors
film ick news to make the omnibus/auteurist over drool
Cinevistaramascope unveils their top ten. So does...
Nick Davis has begun his as well. Of course, he plans to make us beg, or at least hit refresh frequently, to see the whole thing that #@*% so & so

We Can't Wait #7 Margot at the Wedding

Nicole Kidman worries she's too botoxed young to play the mother of a teen

From the IMDB's description of Margot at the Wedding

Academy Award nominated writer/director Noah Baumbach brings to life a sharply observed portrait of a family in distress. His latest project is an unflinchingly honest story about coming to terms with one's family and oneself, a journey that is both funny and heartbreaking.

That sounds EXACTLY like The Squid and the Whale so I'm in. Can this measure up to the heartbreaking incisiveness of that film? Can you believe that the Squid screenplay lost the Oscar to f**ing Crash? More importantly (back on topic) has Noah Baumbach given his wife Jennifer Jason Leigh a chance for a real comeback with what we presume is the second most prominent role here --it's been quiet for years and years in her career. And Nicole Kidman? She plays Margot and if she's half as good as Jeff Daniels was in The Squid and the Whale won't she be up for an Oscar again?


JA: I'm a lonely little person, not having really liked The Squid and the Whale, ain't I? I thought Daniels and Linney were both terrific, but something about the movie (cough Eisenberg cough) annoyed me. Not that I wouldn't have awarded it any and everything before Crash, mind you.

I'm a big enough Kidman fan to be curious about this one, but that's almost cancelled out by the presence of Jack Black. Shudder. Well, consider me flummoxed.

Gabriel: I agree with almost every word, JA. I recognize that The Squid and the Whale was a good film, but it hasn't really lasted in my memory. There's something arch and constructed about the way Baumbach writes...prose that draws a lot of attention to itself. But Leigh and Kidman are enough to get me to into the theater for this one.

Joe: I also appreciated Squid more than I loved it. With me, I think it was more a function of seeing it so long after everyone else had – expectations were too high. Daniels and Linney were still all-stars, though. I’m really banking on this to be Jennifer Jason Leigh’s big splashy re-introduction to mainstream cinema. Of course, the last time she teamed up with a name director and a blonde A-list co-star, we got In the Cut, so...

Kidman gives me great pause, much as I like her. This is a stylistic departure for her. When was the last time Her Alabaster Luminescence® went for a talky picture?

Nathaniel: I hadn't thought of that but you're spot on. Even in her contemporary dramas like Birth or Birthday Girl she's not exactly a chatterbox.

Lulu: For me it's enough that Noah Baumbach is (a) interested in writing complex female characters and (b) is drawn to actresses with really smart instincts. (Plus, JJL usedta be my favorite actress of her generation -- and I'm still always game for the risk of her...)

Nathaniel: Well said.

Margot won't be at that damn wedding until October though so hold your horses, Kidman and Squid fans. Potentially good news: Paramount Vantage is releasing it and they worked hard on their Oscar baby this past year. Potentially bad news: Paramount Vantage has a really full "prestige" slate this year so there's internal competition for any possible Oscar push.

If you'd like to really dive into your inner Kidmania, I'd suggest Nicole Kidman United where I got these set photos.

previously on "we can't wait"
#8 moved to 2008, #9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum
Intro -films that didn't make the list

related Nicole Kidman
Moulin Rouge! -details of my neverending obsession * Actress of the Aughts -she's #1 * "We Are All Nicole Kidman" -a quiz * Nicole Kidman she's (almost) back *

tags: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeff Daniels, Nicole Kidman, movies, academy awards, oscars, screenplay

We Can't Wait #8 The Darjeeling Limited

It's like this: 20 films was probably way too many to count down. What was I thinking --are y'all enjoying this or have your eyes gotten very very droopy? Are you glad/angry about the break from that naked sword holding gold fella? [crickets chirping] But my blogbuddies Gabriel, Joe, JA and Lulu are being good sports about it so a big round of applause to them.

This is the post wherein we were going to be all excited about the new film from the inimitable Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic) but it's already not a 2007 movie but a 2008 spectacular. So... next!

If you need an Anderson fix may I suggest this classic post from The Gilded Moose which just never ever ever gets old.

previously on "we can't wait"
#9 The Golden Compass,#10 Grindhouse, #11 Bug, #12, Sunshine, #13 Southland Tales, #14 300, #15 Hot Fuzz, #16 Stardust, #17 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, #18 Spider-Man 3, #19 Rendition, #20 The Bourne Ultimatum, Intro -films that didn't make the list