Reader Spotlight: Peter
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:00AM Hey, TFE readers. As you check out this latest reader spolight I'm probably in the friendly skies (heading to Nashville as previously indicated). One day I hope to flap my arms and fly to Australia (despite my fear of kangaroos) where Peter hails from. Peter, who you know as 'par' in the comments, used to run a blog "six things" that I worshipped -- our elongation of every mention of Laura Linney's name to "The Lovely Laura Linney" is his fault -- so this is my selfish excuse to make him list things again. And unlike so many of you he's older than me. Not everyone reading is allowed to claim Beauty & The Beast or The Lion King as their very first movie; People were having babies before 1987! (gasp)
Nathaniel: What were your first six movie obsessions?
PETER:
i. anything that played on tv on a weekend as we lived hundreds of miles from the nearest cinema (usually Doris Day musicals)
ii. cabaret
iii. jesus christ superstar
iv. grease
v. hair (sensing a theme here?)
vi. the invention of the VCR (yes kids i am that old) enabling me to see movies at home on my own schedule
Hey I remember the big-change of the VCR, too. The 1980s were so eventful. What are your six favorite things about The Film Experience (yes, I'm shameless)
a. the film bitch awards
b. the endless love for actresses
c. so much goodness every single day (seriously, i couldn't keep my blog going at one thing a day)
d. narrowing down the oscar contenders throughout the year so i don't have to
e. you, nathaniel
f. that it's still around (when you spun off to the blog from the original site i feared you were making a huge mistake)
Your 6 favorite actresses. The others only got 3 aren't you proud?
PETER:
Six things you would do if you were elected Supreme Overlord of the Movies for a year.
one - no budgets over $10,000,000 (except for pixar)
two - no 3d
three - no sequels
four - ang lee gets to do whatever the hell he wants
five - make woody allen watch all the movies he made between 1969 and 1994 in the hope he might make another as good (starring diane keaton)
six - i'll be deciding the oscars this year, thank you very much
Six Oscars you would recall. Who would they go to?
1. grace kelly (the country girl) to judy garland (a star is born)
2. helen hunt (as good as it gets) to helena bonham carter (the wings of the dove)
3. julia roberts (erin brockovich) to the lovely laura linney (you can count on me)
4. gloria grahame (the bad and the beautiful) to jean hagen (singin' in the rain)
5. donna reed (from here to eternity) to thelma ritter (pick-up on south street)
6. crash to brokeback mountain
Six favorite things about Australia. As you know I have a never-been-there fetish.
01. olivia newton-john
02. judy davis
03. toni collette
04. guy pearce
05. peter weir
06. kangaroos - big, scary, street roaming, american-blogger-eating kangaroos!
Previous Reader Spotlights: Ziyad, Andrew, Yonatan, Keir, Kyle, Jamie, Vinci, Victor, Bill, Hayden, Dominique, Murtada, Cory, Walter, Paolo, Leehee and BBats
Reader Comments (14)
OMG, Maggie Smith is my favourite actress. You don't see her on many lists. Well done.
On your Australia list, i'd have cate blanchett and Paul Cox somewhere and Peter Weir higher.
I think this is my favorite reader spotlight thus far, Nat - and yes, it doesn't hurt that this time it's someone around my age (I'm guessing) and not another 20-something. (Don't get me wrong, I love the kids, but - sometimes I feel just a little...old, here.)
And I love all of Peter's choices, seriously. A huge YES to no budgets over $10 mil - then maybe, just maybe, Baz (and a few other people) would make a good movie again? Can we make Peter Overlord right now? Helena has been waiting too damn long to get her Oscar back, thank you.
Can someone help me out on who the fifth actress is?
This is a good one.
LT, if you're not joking, the fifth actress is none other than the biggest box office star from about 1960 to 1965, and maybe the longest run (by far) for a woman: Doris Day!
Can someone please give that woman an honorary Oscar stat.
I love everything except the Laura Linney lovefest. I dunno, I'm kinda over her/can't stand her style of acting anymore.
But yay for Maggie Smith love!
Cabaret was one of my first movie obsessions as well. I was hypnotized every time!
Good post!
Janice -- i promise there are people of all ages reading. It's just that the 20somethings are the noisiest ;)
Mark -- how does one get over Laura Linney? No wait. don't answer. I don't wanna know.
Best one yet! Let's form a Coalition of the Grizzled.
I love that I'm not the only middle aged reader on this blog. I remember the introduction of the VCR, too. Testify.
I'm old enough to have lucid memories of the VHS-Betamax wars, and the emergence of HBO and its progeny-- Cinemax and The Movie Channel triggered a very adolescent puberty in me.
I'm too old, in fact, to really enjoy theatrical releases (babies, mortgage, career obligations, community organizing, the early onset of geriatric cantankerousness). So I increasingly indulge cravings for the theatrical experience vicariously through this eden Nathaniel has created. With all due respect to the handful of doting cinephiles hereabouts, I'm especially keen on the diverse and youthful enthusiasm. For this reluctant curmudgeon, it's the perfect antidote.
Though I don't often comment, I've been lurking in the various film bitchy experiences since about the beginning. Given the choice between watching a theatrical release and reading about it on the Film Experience I usually choose the later, it pretty consistently the more satisfying experience.
Loving these reader spotlights. Like (my imagination of) the Playboy Mansion this place never seems to get stale.
Nate - LOL. I'll keep it to myself then. I blame her mannerisms mostly though. ;)
I have to say. It's great seeing people of all ages here.
I've loved reading you spotlights but this has been my fav! I'm Australian too. I also remember when VHS was new and I love Toni, Guy & Peter Weir though I would add Nicole, Baz, Sydney Harbour and Melbourne food to that list.I Just recently re watched Gallipoli. I can't help but think if it had been made today then it probably would have received some Oscar noms. All the international recognition it received was a Golden Globe award for best Foreign picture. In my humble opinion it is the best Aussie movie ever. It certainly launched some stellar careers for Peter Weir, cinematographer Russell Boyd and of course Mel Gibson.
If the 20's are young i don't know what i categorize as! I've been in melbourne all of my 17 years and I can't believe you didn't include John Farnham, Peter! He is my hero haha.
As for the actresses, does anybody see an Emmy for MP in Kate Winslet's future? Australia haven't got it yet so i don't know how good (or bad) she was. Plus, the lovely Guy Pearce is in it, who is delish.
I also agree with the other readers, this is the best spotlight yet, Nathaniel, book your Aussie plane ticket immediately!
Im sorry but who is actress number 3? Has she been in Rear Window or something?
Peter is the best Reader Spotlight so far!
And it seems that every one loves Linney, Moore, Winslet and Streep, There are other brilliant actresses people!