David & Jeffrey = Bette & Joan

Have any of you been following this bizarre exchange? Seems that Jeffrey Wells' site Hollywood Elsewhere went without updates and it turned out he was in the hospital (he's OK now). David Poland at The Hot Blog wished him well ...sort of. And then Wells questioned the way in which he was wished well with some pretty hilarious word choices of his own.

They seem uncomfortably close to me --inextricably linked somehow as entertainment writers. They don't like each other but also can't stop talking about the other. At least that's my perception. It's very Bette & Joan. I love this reader comment to Wells.

Was it the great twentieth-century philosopher Cosmo Kramer who suggested that when two people bicker constantly they're really in love but are afraid to admit it?

LOL.

I'm glad to hear that Jeffrey's well. I think both of them are good reads even if they sometimes infuriate me with their politics (Poland) or sexism (Wells). But these are just my perceptions. I know you can't really know about someone's character by reading them. You just get hints and extrapolate from there.

Blogosphere Multiplex: Martha Fischer of "Cinematical"

OK. I'm a day late with this thing. But here's a new Blogosphere Multiplex Interview. In the interest of shaking things up a bit I've decided I should throw in film bloggers as well from time to time --I originally liked the idea of non-film sites only just to hear things from them you wouldn't otherwise. But it's all about variety.

I've already sung Martha's praises so let's just jump right into this conversation.


10 questions with Martha of Cinematical

Nathaniel: I normally begin by asking my victims how often they go to the movies. Given that you write for Cinematical I expect the answer is "very very frequently" so, what's something more personal you can tell us about your moviegoing habits?

Martha: Well if by "the movies" you mean screenings, then yes, it's pretty often. Jeez, if I start giving details of my viewing habits, people will know I'm a freak from question one. For screenings, I have to sit on the aisle -- left side -- near the back. And I always have to take notes (which, of course, I can only rarely read later) in pencil. No idea why.

Nathaniel: What is most likely to prompt you to scribble something down? Dialogue, tonal shift, an image?

Martha: Well, it depends. I'm a frantic note-taker during documentaries, but I think that's mostly because I was a history major and get obsessed with remembering details of cause and effect, and how everything fits together. Very little of that stuff ever shows up in reviews except as background, but the faux-historian in me can't stop.

For fiction, I take fewer notes. Those tend to be a combination of getting emotions out ("Are you kidding me?" or "I HATE HIM!" or "Oh my god.") and non-narrative things I want to remember -- stylistic touches, trends in the writing, character interactions, etc.

Nathaniel: I know you're a fan of musicals. Which is your favorite?

Martha: Ha! I was just thinking about this. If we're talking straight-up, pure musical, the answer is easy: Guys and Dolls. My dad rented it when I was a kid -- way back in the day when we rented and returned a VCR with our tapes -- and made me fall in love with musicals, Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando in one fell swoop. I know it's too long, and the leads are miscast, but I don't care. The music is wonderful, it's charming, and Brando is sexy as hell. Easily the movie I've watched more than any other.

But if by "musical" you mean "movie to which music is crucial but isn't a musical in the traditional sense," I think I'd have to say All That Jazz. One of my favorite movies of all time, with one of the most jaw-dropping, balls-out-incredible last 30 minutes I've ever seen.

Nathaniel: Plus there's "Air Erotica" to recommend it. 'Take off with us...' Yowza.

Martha: Totally -- everything about that movie makes some part of you tingle, whether it's the naughty bits or the intellectual ones.

Nathaniel: Describe these actresses in three words or less: Scarlett Johansson, Kirsten Dunst, Lindsay Lohan.

Martha: Scarlett Johansson: Lips, boobs, meh.
Kirsten Dunst: A dor able.
La Lohan: Train wreck. Sad.

Nathaniel: Since Hollywood won't leave old properties alone, which movies would you be OK with them remaking and why?

Martha: Oh wow. That's a really hard one because like a lot of people, I'm opposed to remakes on principle (though I confess that sometimes the damn things seduce and win me over -- like Pollack's Sabrina, which I love). Jeez. Hmm. It can't be anything actually good, because horrible damage would inevitably be done. Um ... Well, since they remade Ocean's 11 (HORRIBLY, in my lonely opinion), how about another Rat Pack flick? I get a huge kick out of Robin and the 7 Hoods, and would love to see someone try to make modern audiences like that delicious bit of nonsense. I can see it now: Clooney doing a verse or two of Mr. Booze, Peter Falk (Assuming he's still alive -- he is, isn't he?) coming back to take the Crosby role ... Maybe we can slip a note under Soderbergh's door, assuming he wants to keep making fun crap.

Nathaniel: Michelle Pfeiffer or Julianne Moore?

Martha: Oh god. This is a test, isn't it? If I pick Moore, you're never going to read Cinematical again.

I'll whisper it: Julianne Moore.

Nathaniel: Ha ha. No test. They're both correct answers.

Cinematical is quite a popular place. How did your movie writing career begin --what led you to Cinematical?

Martha: Thanks -- I think we're all really proud of how well things are going right now, but we're also determined to keep building the site, and improving and expanding our content.

Apart from a few reviews here and there on the websites of friends, my movie writing career basically began with Cinematical. I've always loved film, and had been reading the site basically from the moment it launched; a little over a year ago, I answered an open call for writers and, eventually, got hired. I did have some relevant background -- I'd done some other writing, taken a ton of film classes in college (as well as a few in the subsequent years), and also taught a high school film studies class (though whether the kids would tell you I was qualified is something else entirely).

Nathaniel: Which movie do you find yourself quoting most often?

Martha: I think I probably quote When Harry Met Sally more than any other movie, albeit mostly to myself. "Oh, I've been looking for a red suede pump!", "Baby fish mouth!", "Draw something ... resembling anything.", "You're right, you're right. I know you're right." and "Get over yourself!" are constantly featured in my internal monologue, as is the suggestion that anyone who doesn't answer the phone might be trapped under something heavy.

Out of curiosity, what do you think is yours?

Nathaniel: Without a doubt it's a fierce competition between Waiting for Guffman and Sandra Bernhard's Without You I'm Nothing...both of which make me laugh till I hurt.

Martha: While I'm not a big Guffman quoter, it is an undeniable fact that My Dinner With Andre action figures are among the most inspired ideas in the history of cinema.

Nathaniel: OK. Which movie stars do you love most and why? And who would you be happy to never see again?

Martha: List of the stars I love most could on forever, but I'll try to keep it reasonable:

Myrna Loy. A goddess in ever way. Incredibly lovely, and tough and funny (see: Nora Charles) but also nurturing and weary (see: The Best Years of Our Lives). I want to be her.

Alain Delon. In addition to being the prettiest man ever to walk the earth, Delon's also a great actor, when he can be bothered. It's amazing how affecting his almost totally still performance in Le Samourai is.

Joseph Cotten. I don't know if I can explain this one, but I just love the Cotten. I think it stems primarily from the fact that he makes his eyes twinkle at will in The Third Man, but I'll watch him in anything.

Brian Donlevy. Again, not sure why, but I find him incredibly appealing. There's usually something very reassuringly warm in his presence (though, apart from The Great McGinty, he rarely got to star in anything good), when he plays second bananas, and I think he's a better actor than he gets credit for (he's very much NOT reassuring, for example, in The Big Combo).

And, of course, Cary Grant and Steve McQueen. Those guys need no explanation.

Don't want to see ever again? John Cusack -- Yes, I'm insane. I know I'm the only person in the world who can't watch his movies, and I have to say it's not entirely his fault. The problem stems mostly from Say Anything, which was so hugely popular when I was in high school that, gradually, I grew to hate it. Plus, there was a kid in my class who wanted be Lloyd Dobler, and I totally blamed Cusack for his stupid trenchcoat. Then, when he starred in High Fidelity, I knew I could never go back. I love pretty much anything by Nick Hornby, and the fact that they switched the movie's setting to the US just destroyed me (and again, it was Cusack's fault in my head).

I do wish I could see Grosse Point Blank, though.

Nathaniel: Shhhh, I'm not big on Cusack either. He's one of those collective enduring 80s fixations but I wasn't even fixated in the 80s.

OK Last question. They make a movie of your life. Who plays you? What's the title? What's the rating?

Martha: Oh lord There's no way this can end well. You need to understand that my life is seriously incredibly boring from the outside. I watch movies, and then write up them! I spent 10 years teaching and coaching at a private school! Seriously, this stuff can't even pretend to be interesting. That said ...

Ok, director --Werner Herzog, because he's very good at making movies in which nothing happens -- like Aguirre, The Wrath of God (which is one of my favorites of all time) -- completely enthralling. And because I'm obsessed with him.

Star -- Jeez, I have NO idea. If I was older and believed the handful of really misguided people who have told me I look like her, I'd say Jodie Foster. But, since they're all out of their minds (albeit really, really nice), I won't.

Seriously, I've been thinking about this all day and can think of no one who would be remotely appropriate. For that reason, I'm pretending it's the early 1960s, and saying Angie Dickinson. Not because we look anything alike, but because I'd be honored to have anyone that kickass playing me. Plus, she'd make it easier to overlook how boring the movie's plot really is.

Rating PG-13, for copious swearing. Title: It Looks Like a Tablecloth, But It's a Nice Dress (extra points for knowing the quote).

Nathaniel: Thank you. Thank you. This was so much fun.



Film Experience Greatest Hits (for newbies):
"Don't Turn The Projector Off" -Why I love The Purple Rose of Cairo * Far From Heaven vs. Brokeback Mountain -It's The Whitakers Vs. the Del-Mar Twists. Whose side are you on? * She's a Bitch (@ the Movies)

Previously in the Interview Series:
Avi of ultranow * Rich of FOURFOUR * par3182 of six things * "14" of Gallery of the Absurd * Ron of How to Learn Swedish in 1000 Difficult Lessons * Ron of Ron L'Infirmier * Thomas of Thomas & Co.

Tags: movies, cinema, film critics, film, musicals, celebrities

Pedro Watch #2

"Viva Pedro!" is in its second week here in Manhattan and they're still showing Women on the Verge... I'm a little confused about this retrospective. I thought it would be a different movie each week. But I'll keep on rounding up the Pedro Almodovar links of interest for you to enjoy or ignore.

LA Times Kenneth Turan looks back with Almodovar at his brilliant career.
Hindustan Times congratulates Penelope Cruz for Volvering back to Pedro.
Nicks Flick Picks accidentally started a whole Pedro conversation. Go over there right now and tell him why he should love Almodovar like the rest of us. Sic' em!
Amandas MsAdventures This isn't about Almodovar but it does reference him briefly in a fun way. It's a story about insomnia and living in Manhattan.
Tom Fosgard considers Women on the Verge... a favorite and urges newbies to start with All About My Mother


In other Pedro gossip, reader Antonio tells us over at the ongoing Pedro Muse poll that the reason that Carmen Maura and Pedro Almodovar had the falling out in 1989 (Volver is her first movie with him since then) is that Pedro didn't take her to the Oscars that year.

Those damn Oscars. They ruin everything.

tags: Pedro Almodovar, movies, Spain, Volver, film, Academy Awards, Oscars

Tori! Tori! Tori!

Happy Birthday to the inimitable Tori Amos on this fine Tuesday morning. Tori's star has dimmed somewhat but her legion of fans remain passionate. I myself was a late blooming fan. I was caught somewhere in the 90s between loathing her for stealing Kate Bush's faerie princess art song mantle and loving her once I realized how freaking brilliant she was. My favorite Tori Songs of all time:

Best Album: Under the Pink (runner up: Boys for Pele)
Best Song: Today I'd argue for either Caught a Light Sneeze, Precious Things or Playboy Mommy. Ask me tomorrow and I'll list three different ones.
Best Lyric: "I believe in peace bitch" (from The Waitress)

Feel free to celebrate her birthday by declaring your devotion in the comments --what's your favorite Tori song? Have you ever seen her in concert. A-MA-ZING. Even better than on CD.

For reasons that shall remain unclear, even to myself, I felt it neccessary to make a photo collage of 9 actresses starring as Tori Amos in the imaginary biopic Strange Little Girls.


I apologize.

Trust The Man The Maggie

A REVIEW (of sorts)

This weekend I took in Trust the Man which was an awkward movie. It wants to be an adult comedy and a NYC loveletter and is obviously a fun romp for a famous clique (actress Julianne Moore her husband writer/director Bart Freundlich and several of their close friends) Unfortunately the movie looks like it was more enjoyable for them to make than it is for us to watch.

Take for instance this photograph to your left. This is Julianne with her best friend Ellen Barkin on the set of the film, cupping each others breasts for no apparent reason. (They don't share a scene in the film) I love this photo more than anything in the actual movie because it reminds me of actual silly lived-in friendships and not the movie version of the same.

The clubfooted feel of Trust the Man stems, I think, from the mixing of realism and fluff. It tries to combine R rated dialogue and adult oriented marital issues while also observing the standard unreality of your fluffy "Hollywood" romantic comedy. The ending is a particularly atrocious example of the latter mode --something probably only Julia Roberts could sell. And she'd even have to sweat for it. No one in real life behaves like this. So if you’re going for a movie-ish romantic fantasy that asks you to suspend all disbelief at the climax, you probably shouldn't lead up to it by painting such a faux gritty portrait of frustrating sexual incompatibilities and child rearing duties. Just a suggestion.

That said the film wasn't a complete waste of time. I dig all chances to see Julianne show off her freckles and her husband, the director, obviously loves them too. She looks beautiful, modern, and sexy and I hope it frees up interest in her for roles unrelated to her current rut: The Sad Mother! She plays Rebecca Pollack who one assumes is a closer approximation of herself than any character she's created before. Rebecca is a successful talented movie actress and mother of two who lives in Manhattan with her writer husband. She is considerably more famous and successful than he.

Given the fame enjoyed by Julianne and Bart in real life it proved difficult (for me at least) to divorce these characters "Rebecca and Tom" from them. And I didn't enjoy viewing it as an autobiography. I don't like wondering if Bart cheats on the goddess herself and I don't like thinking of Julianne as an actor that would tell her directors to go f*** themselves, as she does in the film dismissing a very one-dimensional side character. Any number of easy changes to the screenplay might've distanced these characters a bit more from the actual couple we know. One less child. One more child. Rebecca could have been a stage star only rather than a film star doing a play. Why is David Duchovny sporting Bart's hairstyle in the epilogue? Etcetera.


As for Julianne's comedic abilities, a continual cause of fan arguments, I should report that she seems a little more comfortable this time out but not quite there yet. But once again --and I had really never hoped to be reminded of Laws of Attraction, damn you Bart!-- she is forced to shove sweets into her mouth in private for a bit of humiliating slapstick. This time rather than using a public restroom she does it in the privacy of her own kitchen. Over on Adam's blog you can read an interesting theory as to why Julianne Moore isn't so good at this sort of light comedy shtick.

Now long time readers of The Film Experience know that Julianne holds a very special place in my heart. I've met her. I love her almost more than anyone (except you know who obviously). I once saw an interview in which the reporter asked her how she feels about critics and she gave a very respectful answer (don't remember it but it wasn't dumb or dismissive) and then she added that the only thing that upsets her about reviews is when they get personal.

When she said that I felt really guilty about one particular thing I said many years ago in a review but this time I feel no guilt. If you're going to make a movie starring you and your group of friends that's about a group of a friends and seems to be about your marriage, you have to expect that people might bring up your personal lives in their review. I'm just sayin'. Play fair now.

Anywayyyyyyy..... We learned from various junket reports that Maggie Gyllenhaal is the only new member of this filmmaking clique (Even Julianne's most frequent co-star James LeGros--five films together now starting with the masterpiece Safe-- shows up for a comic bit as a former fling of Rebecca's.) This is an insular world we're watching. So perhaps unsurprisingly it's the outsider who is most easily accessible to the audience. Maggie Gyllenhaal, unburdened by the comedic shtick that is parcelled out to her co-stars is nearly luminous and you totally root for her character.

Maggie is following her baby brother Jake's big year with one of her very own. She's got two movies already in theaters (this and World Trade Center) and her Oscarbait lead actress bid arrives soon in the form of Sherrybaby. All that plus she'll soon be delivering "Jake Gyllenhaal's friend Peter Sarsgaard's Baby's Momma's baby"

Busy girl. Fine actress.

No Snakes on This Blog

I was trying to be the only blog that never mentioned Snakes on a Plane in any stage of its life but then I realized that would be an achievement that nobody would notice. So I'm giving up since it lets me talk about some other crap that I care more about. At least marginally.

When I first heard the title ages ago I had a little chuckle and thought "cool". It reminded me of that brief and shiny moment back in nineteen-ninety-godiamsoold when that Nicolas Cage / Bridget Fonda movie was not called the generic It Could Happen To You but was referred to as Cop Gives Waitress 2 Million Dollar Tip. Mmmmm, high concepty. I like truth in titling but I had only a marginal interest in the movie. What killed it for me was the huge media dollars push for it which masqueraded as a grassroots fan movement. I was so sick of hearing about it. My opinion: Real cult movies are always accidental.

Now, if the snakes had dialogue or musical numbers and were all voiced by Sterling Holloway I woulda totally been on board. Especially if they resurrected that great Jungle Book sequence "Trust in Me" and made Samuel L Jackson's eyes go all hypnotic spiral. That woulda put my ass in a seat.

I'm not sure that this is as big of a disappointment as people are saying ($15 million for a B movie in late August? Sounds impressive to me) but then again... I'm fully aware that I'm not a numbers guy. I don't really get the box office fascination --or rather I get it but I could never indulge because I'd get too depressed.

Consider the following fact:
John Tucker Must Die, a cheap Mean Girls knock-off made something like 40 times what Heathers made. It also made more than the (completely unrelated) masterpiece Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. So did these fine 2006 releases: Date Movie, Little Man, RV, Scary Movie 4, The Lakehouse, Firewall, and dozens of others.

I'm sorry, here's a tissue. No. No. You can't have this bottle of pills. No! I don't trust you when you get like this.

In happier news, Monster House is holding well (good WOM) and the summer's WOM champ, The Devil Wears Prada is finally in the year's top ten. Go Meryl! This is now officially her biggest hit ever having surpassed even Lemony Snicket. Unless you adjust for inflation in which case I believe Kramer Vs. Kramer is still the champ. Either way, it's more than enough of a success to insure year-end awards play.

It won't stay in the top ten of course. We can't have a movie that good in the top ten, are you crazy? Gotta make room for Talladega Nights any second now... and more Clicks and DaVinci Codes and maybe a few more sequels like M:i:III that people want to see but no one will care about next year this time or even in a few months time.

The Little Children Trailer

UPDATE: Link to Trailer

Yesterday I went to two movies but the highlight of the day was seeing the trailer for Little Children. I just about did a standing ovation.


The trailer is inspired and evocative and showcases (if I'm remembering it correctly) Kate Winslet in a red bathing suit, Patrick Wilson sans shirt, and Jennifer Connelly in bed. They all look positively luscious... and if you've read the book you'll know that all three are cast superbly. I wish that I could link to it but I can't find it on the internet yet. It manages to set up the central adulterous romance between two parents and smartly opts out of much dialogue. Instead it uses Patrick's little boy and his toy train sound cue "chugga-chugga-chug" --this train is headed for a collison --to set up the story's escalating tensions. Love it. If the film delivers on the promise of this trailer, we have a real winner.

This trailer is so sophisticated and smart that I fully expect people to hate it. I remember quite well how brilliant I thought the The Devil Wears Prada trailer gamble was (just that scene of the two main characters meeting, what a setup. YES. I want to see more) but there were a number of people who thought that that was a foolish way to sell your movie. I love unconventional approaches. Most of all I love trailers that give me a feel for what the movie will be like moodwise and leave the rest to my imagination. Please don't bore me with the plot. This is an appetizer not the meal.

Little Children opens on October 6th in NY and LA.

Previous Little Children posts:
Coming Soon (But Not Soon Enough)

What's Next @ The Film Experience?

Lots of goodies coming up as we transition into the Fall Movie Season. Fall is my favorite season so I'm happy to wave goodbye to the dog days of summer.

Coming up first, there'll be a few new reviews. No, really. They're even partially written. I've decided to step up the traditional reviewing whenever anyone donates any amount of $$ to the site (which you can do here). And since someone just did --Reviews! I'm not greedy just needy. Running a popular website isn't free unfortunately.

Next week, I'm beginning a detailed special retrospective and I think you'll enjoy it a lot, and of course the regular blog features will still happen. And remember, a week from today it's time for the monthly "Supporting Actress Smackdown" with my movie buddies.


This time the video clipreel will star the 1962 lineup of nominees which include the miraculous Helen Keller, "Scout", and the Queen of Diamonds herself, Angela Lansbury. Oh, and speaking of Mrs. Lovett, I'll share further thoughts on the upcoming Sweeney Todd film.

And finally, following Nick's lead... a sneak peak at my choices for the best of the year so far as we head into 'prestige' season. Will any of the choices make it as nominees for the 7th Annual Film Bitch Awards?

Stay Tuned.

And I Am Linking You...

Film Narrative is givin' me nightmares about Summer 2007
novaslim on 3 childhood faves. Oh, this takes me back. All 3 times.
NowPublic "Half of All Americans Have Below Average IQs". I love their photo montage: Jessica Simpson, hee. But as to the study discovery: Well, duh!

Reel Fanatic on the upcoming Sweeney Todd --I'm noticing a basic rule of thumb in all posts about this adaptation. If the writer knows the classic Sondheim musical already they're terrified of what might happen to it with an unskilled singer in the lead role (this is not an "easy" musical --you need a great voice. Wasn't Depp dubbed for Crybaby?) If they don't know the stage classic, they're excited for Depp & Burton together again for the 16th time. Sweeney Todd begins filming early in 07.

And I Am Telling You... (I Want Credit)

A lot of people on the internet got really excited about Tom O'Neill's posting on The Envelope concerning American Idol reject Jennifer Hudson and her Dreamgirls performance. Jennifer is playing the role that made Jennifer Holliday a star way back when on Broadway.

I'm singing my own tune here. It's called "And I Am Telling You (I Want Credit)". I said loooong ago at least as far back as October that whoever was cast, be they a reality TV show reject or not, they'd be Oscar nominated. And of course I placed Hudson in the #1 position in my year-in-advance Oscar predictions, too.

I'm not trying to say I'm a prognosticating genius. In truth this was an easy call. Not everybody made it but it was easy. And here's why: "And I am Telling You (I'm Not Going)" is a star-maker. It is one of the best musical numbers ever written/performed for the stage. If you have the voice and passion for it (and we trusted Bill Condon to cast someone who did) it's explosive. Whoever played this role was going to be amply rewarded for their trouble.

I'm good at the Oscar game. I don't have as much access as the big guns (Poland, Wells, O'Neill, etc...) and probably about the same as the other midlevel and small fish (too numerous to mention) but I'm as good as anyone and better than some at this whole mad annual circus. Occassionally I get aggravated that I toil away in relative obscurity.

So stroke my needy ego in the comments. Do it!

I'm totally aware that one of the most tiresome things about writers and bloggers (particularly within the hermetic world of Oscar coverage) is their need to take credit for things or shout "FIRST!" But in this case I just had to give myself props. I won't get any credit for it in a big media way but I knew and I shared and now I'm sharing that I knew and shared.

In "Nathaniel, Shut Up!" news
Whenever I start feeling big for my britches and singing my own praises like this I go and read this hysterical classic from "This is What We Do Now." It makes me laugh at myself and at everyone else, too.

In other Oscar-pondering news...
In Oscar's off season (that's roughly 1/2 of the year since Oscar had a serious case of middle-age spread some years back) the greatest sport for awards junkies is dissing past Oscar blunders. It never grows tiresome and sometimes as with this blog entry from Edward Copeland it's almost celebratory.

Enjoy the off-season while you can. In just a few weeks, we're back in Oscar-land.

*


Earlier Dreamgirls Posts:
Coming Soon (Five Most Awaited Films)
Jennifer Hudson (The Casting Announcement)
Eye Candy (Jennifer Holiday performance)

Tags: Dreamgirls, musicals, movies, Jennifer Hudson, Broadway, American Idol, Oscars, Academy Awards

Where My Posts At?

Tomorrow marks my last guest-blogging day at Modern Fabulousity but if you've been a naughty child and haven't been reading me in both places here is what I've been up to: Writing reviews of MTV's nominations for "Best Video", singing the praises of both the Gilded Moose and Dan "Flutterman". I was also taking cheap shots at Paul McCartney and stupid Hollywood scribes. I also paused to spread the Project Runway love and wish Madonna a happy 48th birthday and sharing fun drawings of Battlestar Galactica.

I'm kinda exhausted.

Pedro Watch # 1

Since I've been loving Pedro long time (since 1989 --yes, like many Americans, Women on the Verge... was my first taste) and since I'm currently polling you about his actress proclivities I'll periodically round up other Almodovar lovin' on the web as "Viva Pedro!" rolls out. (if you see something, say something)

PW #1
Auteur Lust a Volver review (NEW)
Monster of Mud has a cool quote from Pedro and poses an interesting question.
Pajiba "Un Maricon Brillante" --capsules on the whole filmography. Not just 8 films.
Contact Music Almodovar wants to make a musical.
Queer Beacon can't wait for Volver but makes do with the trailer.
Lone Star Verve on the "Greatest Hits" package. (NEW)
Guardian Unlimited An interview with the man himself.

tags: Pedro Almodovar, movies, Spain, Volver, film

Will I Be Your Mommy? Yes!

Hello Film Experience Readers,

I guess I'm a familiar face at this blog so an introduction isn't necessary. I met Nathaniel once in Los Angeles and he was a sweet boy. His mother should be proud. But I have to say, peaking around this blog, he's a lot more coherent in print than in person. He couldn't even form complete sentences in LA (not that that's required there. lol) Maybe he shouldn't have wished me good luck at the Oscars, though. His fandom is like a bad luck charm!

While I'm here there's two things I wanted to tell you about.

The first is that it looks like Savage Grace is finally going to be made. The IMDB has listed it as "filming" for years now. But they're mistaken. I'd know if I was on set. But I guess you can't blame them for the confusion. Tom and I were thisclose to nicknaming the movie "Savage Flora Plum". Tom's a doll. He's so patient, what with all the false starts this film has gone through not to mention the rotating cast of husbands for me: John Malkovich, Clive Owen, even one of the Baldwin brothers (lol. I'm sorry Alec Billy (?) Stephen --no, no it definitely wasn't him) Have you ever seen Tom's first feature Swoon? That was such a smart gem. I'm so happy to be running with that new queer cinema crowd again from the early 90s. I'm glad that Todd is still their king. He's a genius. So when Todd and I are done with that Bob Dylan piece I'm Not There I'm going to play Barbara Daly Baekeland in Savage Grace. Stephen Dillane is my new screen husband since Clive, John, and the Baldwin moved on. I'm really excited to work with him. He helped Nic win the Oscar for that train station scene in The Hours --oh, you know he did! Think he can do the same for me?

Eddie Redmayne will be playing my nutso son who I sleep with. He is such a sweetie. Plus he once starred as the son in that masterful Edward Albee play The Goat: Or Who is Sylvia so he knows all about inappropriate sexualizations of parental figures. It'll be like my Boogie Nights scenes all over again. And you have to know I'm looking forward to that...I miss my babies from that shoot so much.

Can you believe we're finally going to make this film? I'm pregnant with excitement. I almost can't believe it which would probably explain why I'm so incoherent this morning. Please excuse me. Maybe I should move to LA. lol.

The second thing I wanted to talk about is more of a request. Back when I was first getting famous I said that I read every script I get, even if it's from the plumber or the soccer mom down the street or something ... under the umbrella of "you never know." The unfortunate side effect of this rather public statement was that I get a million. They never stop coming in. So the screenplays just stack up and I thought I'd enlist your help.

Which of these parts should I play next?

There's one that's kind of a satire called To Mother You and I love attempting comedy. It's about a famous actress with an adoption fetish who travels the globe and just smothers her growing brood with love and a new world of opportunity. Then there's a modernization of Medea which could be gruesome (what with all the child killing) but that woman just loved too much. She lost it. There's an adaptation of the TV show Eight is Enough where'd I'd play the old Betty Buckley role and be a stepmom to eight (!) child stars --it's so painful for her to keep that distance because she's the step-parent but she loves them so much. Then there's this really risque drama Mother May I? about twin children who love their mother in really inappropriate ways. There's a biopic of Mother Jones. Did you know that ALL of her young children died of yellow fever prior to her reinvention as a social activist and hellraiser? You know that must have really formed her.

There's also a fictionalized adaptation of several psychological bestsellers She Loved Too Much! which is about a mother without enough boundaries. Then there's a remake of that Sally Field film Not Without My Daughter which would be very topical now, don't you think? She just loved that child so much. A thrilled named Cord Blood about a woman who wakes up in the hospital after delivery and they tell her her baby died, but did it? She goes crazy. She wanted that baby so bad.

I love all of these screenplays. These parts really resonate with me but they're all so different. I'm torn. Maybe I should do them all?

Love,
Julie Anne Moore

Martha Martha Martha

I'm just gonna come right out and say it -- I have a blogcrush on Martha Fischer of "Cinematical". It's nearly impossible to read all of Cinematical given how quickly a new entry is posted. Because of this I always look at the byline immediately. If it's her, I sit up straight and pay attention. It's not just that she clearly loves musicals. Really it's not. Martha, call me!

Hump Day Hottie: Channing Tatum

That's me. Holla.

I never heard of the The Film Experience before but I'm getting mine now. Used to be a model but lately --big screen, big time. Earlier this year I totally read Amanda Bynes wrong in She's the Man (See, my character thought she was a guy. What a dumbass --she's a fugly dude) If David Poland had seen that in a regular movie theater, he wouldn't be confused about my box-office for Step Up. The ladies was screaming, fainting, throwing panties --nah, not that last part, I'm playing. But it was wild. "LL Channing T" Ha.

This pic of me ---> has been making the rounds this week on the blogs. Hot! Hey, if you're abs looked like mine you'd be touching, too.

It's OK, you can stare...former model remember? Don't you think I shoulda been the star of Justin Timberlake's sexyback video. Dude shoulda outsourced that one.

If you're more the NSFW type you can see a lot more of me here and here. I'm not shy.

OK. Later.


Uh, wha--oh oh yeah, OK. I'm supposed to say

"Previously on 'Hump Day Hotties'..."

the guy who runs this blog profiled Hugh Jackman he's ripped. I think I'm a better dancer though. I got mad skills in Step Up. He's wolverine --yeah, cool. Uma Thurman yeah ...MILF. Cheyenne Jackson -Sorry, who? Then last season I guess there was a lot of Jake Gyllenhaal --old news. I'm big now. There's even more of me here (NSFW). Like I said... I'm everywhere right now.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Channing hasn't popped in in awhile ;) but if you don't wanna miss any Film Experience obsessiveness on movie stars and the cinema, please subscribe.





NEW POSTS

Keira Knightley Can Kiss My A**

Hi fans,

Winona Ryder, Hollywood. See what happened was this: Nathaniel couldn't come back fully from his vacation as planned yesterday and kinda sent out this open call / blog invite. He's kinda creepy like that –always hitting up the screen ladies for favors (of one sort or another).

Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I am WAY too famous for open casting calls, fans. Or auditions. I hear my one-time protege Christina Ricci is still doing them but not me. I am a two time Oscar-nominee. Twice. Dos. But I heard Nathaniel was making like Heather Sawyer and encouraging you not to play my reindeer games. I'd ask him what his damage was. But I already know.

So I thought I'd let you all in on a little secret. He's just pissed that I never called him back when I first heard from him. He actually wrote me a love poem. He did! I am not making this up. I'm an Academy Award nominated actress, not some shut-in writer. So anyway, I got it, this fan letter that stank of dippity do--and my fans I would have responded with an 8 X 10 or something. I'm not a bitch. But it was right in the middle of what I'll tell you was a huge tabloid storm at the time.

Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Ritchie, Scarlett Johansson? Amateurs! I was on fire that year...total ubiquity. I was slapping Cher, I was on the cover of every freaking magazine, I was f***ing the hottest guy on earth onscreen and off, I was collapsing from "exhaustion" (which saddled Godfather III with Sofia Coppola --yeah, sorry about that one), I almost losing my hearing, I got pregnant with Johnny's baby ---I mean, well, people were saying I did which was a *TOTAL LIE* and that we'd eloped. It was crazy. Good times.


Anyway, the poem went like this:

This Johnny & Winona elopement thing?
It's really got me down.
I don't know...
Maybe if I see the ring.
Why, Winona, Why?

Hey, if it were the tattoo.
I'd do that too.

Whose to say it isn't my child?

If it's the messed up hair
I wouldn't care.
If it's the TV show and fame,
I'd do the same.

I don't know
can't shake this thing.
Why Winona Why?

I am NOT making this up fans. Nathaniel wrote that to crack up his girlfriend at the time (Ha!) --they were both apparently really into Johnny & Me. Well, who wasn't? Of course that time is long gone. Johnny's tattoo now reads "Wino Forever" which totally blows mmmm, blow because we really loved each other.

So that recent diss here at the film experience? I know Nathaniel only did that because he's still licking his petty wounds. Well... 'Lick it up baby, lick it up.' Your poem sucked. I'll forgive you once you go see A Scanner Darkly!

xo,
Noni.

P.S. if any casting directors are reading this give my agent a ring. I can still play any age. I'm like Alison Lohman on steroids. What the hell is she doing playing a teenager in Flicka. I swear to god she's older than me. Plus I am hotter and did I mention I'm a two time Oscar nominee? Yes, twice. Keira Knightley can kiss my aerobicized ass.

P.S. 2 Dave Navarro --call me!

tags: Winona Ryder, movies, cinema, Johnny Depp, celebrities, gossip, film

"Michelle Pfeiffer is the supervolcano"

Yesterday I came across an old blog entry from screenwriter John August. You'd know his work from various collaborations with Tim Burton and from the well-regarded indie Go (1999). The article is called "Michelle Pfeiffer, Supervolcanoes and the Yellowstone Fallacy" so right there, it's already a good read. My only quibble is this sentence:

If you never bump into Michelle Pfeiffer again, your life won’t be significantly worse.

In context that sentence is OK. Lifted out of context it's just totally wrong. At least to me as I've only had the privilege once.

psssst. starting right now I will try not to mention MP for the rest of the month (Think i can do it?)

tags: Michelle Pfeiffer, movies, cinema, screenwriting, celebrities

¡Vota por mí!

To celebrate Sony Pictures Classics "Viva Pedro!" series (now showing on the coasts and coming to larger cities near you) I'm running a poll for who is the greatest muse of word class director Pedro Almodovar.

It's a tough choice, right?

The upcoming Volver reunites Pedro with his most frequent star, Carmen Maura but she's been MIA (as far as Pedro movies go) for almost 20 years. In the meantime Pedro has been playing the field.


A total of twelve women have been featured in three or more of his films (if I missed someone, let me know). You've got your troupe regulars like the unforgettable Rossy De Palma, Chus Lampreave (who I left out of the poll. oops), comedic Loles Leon, Kika herself Veronica Forque not to mention Kiti Manver, Cristina Sanchez Pascual, and Eva Siva.

Then most visibly there are the international stars. They cross movie-making borders --most frequently to French, Argentinian, and American cinema. Carmen Maura was his undisputed queen in the 1980s. Sextastic fantastic Victoria Abril and grande dame Marisa Paredes reigned in the 90s. Penélope Cruz and Cecilia Roth pop in and out of the filmography, doing their best work for the famed auteur.


Pedro has been on a sensational run of acclaimed hits and Oscar nominees in the aughts (what filmmaker can beat this consecutive triple: All About My Mother, Talk To Her, Bad Education?) but if you're a new fan start from the beginning. It's one of the great filmographies. "Viva Pedro!", despite it's glaring omissions (where are Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! and What Have I Done To Deserve This? for starters? I'd put them in for Live Flesh and Matador), should be great fun.


Don't miss this series if it comes to your city. If you only have time for a couple choose wisely. I'd skipped the recent offerings (you've seen them already) and go for his hilarious breakthrough Women on the Verge... (I hadn't seen it in 16 years and I laughed my ass off) and my personal fav from the whole damn genius filmography, Law of Desire.


Which Almodovarian heroine is the one for you?
(my thanks to Astroboy for the subtitling...)



tags: Pedro Almodovar, movies, Spain, Penelope Cruz, Marisa Paredes, Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril, Oscars, Academy Awards

Please Stop

Nathaniel, I appreciate your support. I do. But you really must stop singing outside my window. It wasn't cool in Brentwood and it's not cool now (plus you're a little pitchy --try stretching out atop a grand piano. It helps) and David is pissed.

Sincerely, M.P.

I Shouldn't Be Here...

I've been at Wrenwood for 11 years now (?) Sometimes. Now I get computer privileges, right. The screen has a cover. You'd be surprised how... But it still hurts my eyes through the protective goggles. I feel that maybe radiation gets through this, too? It's plastic which...oh god, why can't my eyes foc-- I should go.

Maybe you should turn off the computer, too?

I love you very much.
-Carol White

Mrs. Harris Mrs. Beatty!

Hi subjects,

Annette here --Mrs. Warren Beatty, as you know. Or as Nathaniel often affectionately refers to me, The Bening. I had a good time last time I was here so I thought I'd pop in again. Nathaniel is oft double booked, you see. People seem to think he takes a lot of vacations but, really, I'm amazed that any of you commoners can keep up your 60 hour work weeks with your measly 2 weeks worth of vacations. What drudgery. For an internationally acclaimed critically lauded bonafide movie star like myself that'd equate to, what, 6 movies a year (?) –-not all of us are 'blue collar' like Scarlett Johansson. We here she has "help" anyway.

Who wants to be on set every day of the year?

But what I'm really here to talk about is my co-star Ellen Burstyn and her Emmy nomination for 15 seconds of performance in my cable showcase Mrs. Harris. There are some people that are really mad about her nomination. They say that the Emmy voters should be shamed for this and that it reveals the sham that is awards voting. Hey, you're preaching to the converted. I've yet to win anything and I'm a goddamn genius. I'm the Warren Beatty-weddin', diva prima donna of American cinema. Everyone knows it: you, your mother, your dog, and Hilary Skank!

So let's be real. The only true sham in modern awards voting --be it Oscar, Emmy, or *shudder* Peoples Choice-- is how bad voters tastes truly run. So forget this Burstyn fiasco. What IS the fuss about? Who needs 15 seconds to be award worthy? Give me 10 and I'm there, minions.

Bow Down!

Ms. Bening.

tags: Annette Bening, movies, celebrities, Hilary Swank, Warren Beatty, Ellen Burstyn, emmy awards, Oscars, Academy Awards

Double Booked

OK... What goes around comes around and I've got Guest Blogging duties at ModFab this week. Until my total return I've opened up posting to anyone in Hollywood who is interested. That might sound ballsy and frightening but I have administrative powers. I can always delete posts.

Sorry for the delay... Enjoy a refreshing link.

Lindsay Lohan Endangered species?
Re: Kiki Dunst -glad I'm not the only one who still loves her. Still can't wait to see Marie-Antoinette. These photos are sweet as cake.
Zach Snyder talks about 300 and Watchmen --I keep meaning to write about these movies but never do.
Matthew McConau-gay? Funny and rude stuff.
Re: 9/11 & The Oscars Kris Tapley of "In Contention" thinks it's getting ugly. What say you?
Julianne Moore will be posing nude for charity but that "girl from a trailer park" is too good for the same --hate her.
Re: Christina Ricci Where she be? Good question.
Monster House I wish more people would take my advice and see it.

Whither Nathaniel?

Did you miss me? I'll be back to blogging tomorrow both here (and elsewhere he adds cryptically). Thank you to my guest bloggers!

It's Halloween In August

So... I'm not really sure what The Film Experience audience's stance on horror film is. But I'm a horror fanatic and am curious to see what y'all think about this much maligned (and very often rightfully so) genre. I assume it's the same as any genre - make it well and you like it. Unfortunately horror's about as mixed a bag of rotten apples as there is.

But ya see, I've got horror on the brain after seeing The Descent yesterday (you can read my half-assed review here) and really, mostly, liking it, and then watching again some of High Tension which could've been fantastic if not for an horrific-in-the-worst-way-imaginable ending that succeeds only in spoiling everything great before it.

So I guess my question's this: What's the last movie you saw that scared the living bejesus out of you? I'm often thinking about the recent state of horror, especially with this wave of gore-fests (Saw, Hostel, et al) that've permeated the genre as of late. Or do you just think it's a crappy genre filled with shit and the questionable intentions of sadists?

Now, I've got nothing against a good gore-fest, but the argument's often made about these types of films versus the kinds that try to get you on a more psychological level; things that play by the old-school "less is more" rule like, say, The Others.

The Descent had its moments but, like I say in my review, it did not better the best new horror film I've seen in years, Wolf Creek. WC sat like a shudder down my spine for days. And unlike a Saw film (I've only seen the laughably terrible original), WC shows very little actual violence yet, like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is accused of being graphic because they both imply so much the viewer imagines they actually saw the things they did not see.

It doesn't miss my attentions, either, that the three most interesting, to me at least, horror films of the past couple years (WC, High Tension, and The Descent) were all made outside of the US. Maybe we ought to start thinking up some new ideas instead of throwing cash at remakes of, say, the J-horror films? Like the oncoming slit-my-wrists spectacle of Battle Royale being remade?

So what do we prefer? Pus-spewing eyeballs onscreen or possibly-bloody - but maybe not! - twigs outside the tent door? Do we have to choose? Can't we enjoy both? Without, you know, being a homicidal maniac barking up the wrong blog-audience, of course...?

--- JA, My New Plaid Pants

Size Queen: Supporting Actress Style

StinkyLulu here:

As some of you know, StinkyLulu's a little obsessed with the Supporting Actresses. And while Lulu's no size queen, the question of "what's too big" and "what's too little" pops up again and again in deciding what performances should count as "supporting." In Oscar's history, at least three performances have taken the trophy with approximately 10 or fewer minutes of screentime. They are:

the most recent "small wonder"

the micro-Oscar among the boys

and the current title-holder

But.
Leave it to Emmy to take this to a whole 'nother level of absurdity... Witness the emerging controversy about the 2006 Emmy nominations for "Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series"...

O'course, LaBurstyn has not won. ('Twill be interesting to see if the nomination even stands, or whether it instigates further Emmy-rule tweaking.) Anyway, comparing Oscar winners to Emmy nominees is like comparing apples to raisins. Though all of this does seem to underscore the relevance of clocking screentime for the nominess. (Certainly, Una Merkel's 1961 nominated performance clocked in right at or below the 10 minute mark...) But Emmy's recent shenanigans have nonetheless rustled the film obsessive questions that often haunt StinkyLulu on cold dark nights...

• Are there really no small parts? Can a cameo warrant a trophy?
• And, on the flip, how big is too big for a supporting actress nomination?
• Are promotional, nomination-mongering maneuvers a constitutive part of the category?
• Is StinkyLulu a loon for thinking so much about this?
  

What do y'all -- devotees of the FilmExperience -- think?

Thanks, Nathaniel, for sharing the platform. (And happy vaycay.)

John Cazale: Where would he be if he was still alive? Where would we be if he never existed?

The answer to the first question: Probably retired, emerging for an infrequent role in a Coppola movie or a supporting turn on Broadway.

The answer to the second: Streepless and Pacinoless, at the very least.

John Cazale would've been 71 years old today. After a prolific theatre career, he made his first feature film in 1972 at the age of 37. He'd make four more through 1978, when he died of bone cancer. All of his movies were best picture nominees, two of them winners (The Godfathers). Pacino and Cazale were acting partners, and who knows where Al would be now if he hadn't gone with John, arm in arm, from Provincetown to New York in 1968. Nine years later, Cazale's lover Meryl Streep took her career-igniting role in The Deer Hunter just to be close to him as he died.

Cazale was the Great Enabler -- quiet, kind, not so much a chameleon as a phantom. Five classic films, and he had not a moment of volume in any of them. Instead, actors used him as a sounding board and entered the pantheon of greats. Cazale played hapless to Pacino's lethalness in The Godfathers. In Dog Day Afternoon, it was the same passive-and-active dichotomy for the pair (the way he delivers his sad-sack answer to the question "So what country do you wanna go to?" is representative of his onscreen humility). In The Conversation and The Deer Hunter, Cazale's roles (and performances) seem like an afterthought compared to Gene Hackman in the first and Christopher Walken in the second.

His roles were in the background. A lesser actor would've tried to throttle them forward. Because he didn't, we still remember him today.

Another Capote Flick - Infamous!

Hey Film Experience readers - it's MK from over at popbytes! Mr. Nathaniel was so sweet to ask me to be a guest blogger here while he is off on a much needed vacation - it's been a crazy week in the wacky world of gossip so I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner but I thought this new film about Truman Capote opening in October called Infamous (...yes another TC flick!) would be a perfect fit here on FE! The cast is incredible - G. Paltrow, S. Weaver, and I. Rossellini amongst others like hottie Daniel Craig! I must shamefully admit to never having seen the other Capote flick with the always amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman so to mix it up I will watch this new one first and then go back and catch Mr. Hoffman's Oscar-winning portrayal of the infamous writer! Oh I can smell a college comparison/contrast essay brewing somewhere...Anyways I'm out for now and I promise to try and check back here soon! Rock & blog on...xxoo!

PS Make sure to watch the trailer below - the film does look great! I love the tagline at the end There is more to the story than you know...

Infamous Opens October 13, 2006
What starts out as the humorous journey of the openly gay writer Truman Capote as he moves through the elegant circles of Manhattan’s sophisticated cafe society, turns darker as he becomes increasingly consumed by a murder case...

Written and Directed by: Douglas McGrath

Cast: Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Peter Bogdonovich, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Isabella Rossellini, Juliet Stevenson and Sigourney Weaver

» Watch the Infamous trailer
small | medium | large (quicktime - my personal favorite!)

Today in Horrifying Headlines

I'll leave this one up to the readers. Which of the following headlines causes your stomach to drop clean to the floor the quickest:

"Brett Ratner Helming Brazil Remake"

or

"Hallstrom to direct A Christmas Carol"

Lucky for all of us, only one of these headlines is factually true. Brett Ratner is not actually directing a remake of Terry Gilliam's weirdo classic Brazil. This is the good news. The bad news is that the most reviled man on the internet will be remaking The Boys from Brazil. Who wants to scour South America for escaped Nazis with the director of Rush Hour? With Chris Tucker as Dr. Mengele! Look for the boys at Aint It Cool News to drive Ratner to a hissy blog post about how they're all haters by the end of the year.

As for the true headline, yes, Lasse Hallstrom will take time away from his busy schedule of being totally unworthy of Lena Olin to direct yet another version of everyone's favorite go-to sitcom holiday episode. The big idea to shake up the ever-so-stale plot of Ebeneezer Scrooge learning that money can't buy happiness? Make Scrooge younger! Ah, Hollywood. Ten bucks says it's because Kevin Spacey didn't want to put on old man makeup.

LOGO's Top 50

LOGO has compiled a list of The 50 Greatest LGBT Films of All-Time, as chosen by their audience. I have to say that I've probably seen... 5% of them? I don't really rush out to see much gay cinema since... well, a really good percentage is just crap, I'm sorry to say. But I'm a bad Gay anyway, I never seem to make it to the Pride festivites anymore. Do I have to send back the toaster?

Here's the top 10:

1. Brokeback Mountain
2. Latter Days
3. Beautiful Thing
4. Trick
5. Bound
6. Angels In America
7. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
8. Desert Hearts
9. Tipping The Velvet
10. Big Eden

(the list continues here)

I've made known my feelings for Brokeback in the past at my own site, so I'll just say - right on, with that one.

I know that Latter Days is a popular film (obviously, coming in at #2), but personally I hated it. It defines most of the things that keep me away from going to see gay films - I thought the actors were terrible, the dialogue downright painful, and while I'm always one to appreciate some man-flesh being on display, there's just something that skeeves me out about the way a lot of gay films throw everyone into tank tops and boxer briefs at every given opportunity.

Beautiful Thing and Trick I both liked when I was 20 or so but I haven't seen either of them since then. Angels In America should've placed higher. I shamefully admit I haven't seen Bound yet. Priscilla was fun, but again, it's been years. And that's it for what I've seen of the top 10.

And the fact that Heavenly Creatures placed at all the way down at #45 is just too horrific to even begin to contemplate. That film... well, I can't quite shift Brokeback out of #1 without my wiring short-circuiting, but it's an easy #2.

-- JA, My New Plaid Pants

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At Least It Ain't Renee

So Zooey Deschanel is, according to Dark Horizons, going to be playing Janis Joplin in Penelope Spheeris' biopic of the singer, The Gospel According To Janis.

We can consider the Zellweger-bullet dodged then? Or is there another seperate biopic being made? Is Janis the Alexander the Great of 2006/07?

I'm not even a fan of Joplin, but the rumor of Zellweger playing her gave me an instant case of acid reflux. Nothing against Ms. Z, she can be fine when she wants to be, but her apple-cheeked girl-next-door "Who, me?" routine wouldn't have exactly cut it playing a woman as connected to a bottle of Jack Daniels as she was to a microphone.

Zooey... I like Zooey. She's yet to give me enough of a reason to love her (though All The Real Girls came damned close), but the possibility floats there, in the ether, waiting for her to snatch it up. This probably wouldn't be the project to make that happen but it might give her the opportunity to maybe find that role. Think the gal you played in Elf, only you're the star, Zooey!

What do y'all think? Yay or nay? Poor Courtney's too old. Speaking of Miss Love, how long has Lovelace been sitting there on IMDb as "announced"? Is that thing happening or what?
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