Oscar Can You Link Me?
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:37AM Big Screen
The Advocate Barbra Streisand to sing at the Oscars for the first time in 36 years - she'll do "The Way We Were" over the in memoriam segment. There sure are going to be a lot of musical performances on Oscar night.
Variety Jessica Chastain to star in new screen version of Miss Julie. Chastain being cast is something isn't exactly news (she's everywhere) but LIV ULLMAN is directing this oft-filmed Strindbergh tale.
Gawker Rich Juzwiack on the mainstream appropriation of "shade" and Paris is Burning (That documentary on NYC's ball culture is still one of the largest blights on Oscar's documentary branch. It was critically raved at the time and is still must-see viewing 20+ years later but Oscar ignored it)
The New York Times on the still heated atmosphere of all Les Miz conversations. Stanley Fish wonders if it's the film's lack of irony that so enrages people?
Empire Will our dream of seeing Viola Davis & Denzel Washington reprise their Tony roles in Fences onscreen come true? It turns out Denzel is planning to direct a film version. If he doesn't bring Viola along, I'm going to freak.
CHUD The Muppets... Again is already shooting. Here's a synopsis and cast list
The Carpetbagger on Spielberg's ACE prize from the editors in Hollywood
Guardian Charlize Theron will co-star in the Seth McFarlane comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West which is said to be an homage to Blazing Saddles.
The Playlist first pic of Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston (god, what a pairing) in Only Lovers Left Alive
Hey Look.... Jodie Foster in Elysium
Coming Soon ...the movie's title refers to a pristine space station. She plays a government official out to protect the wealthiest citizens from their dirty Earth-bound counterparts who wish to emigrate. (The last time Jodie did sci-fi it turned out well, I think, don't you? Love Contact.)
Small Screen
A Blog Next Door says goodbye to 30 Rock with an encyclopedic memory of the show. What will we do on Thursdays now? I always want to go to there.
BuzzFeed 'How Smash became TV's biggest train wreck.' If you're a Smash obsessive this is a must-read... though it's more than a shade shady. The biggest shocker for me was hearing that Steven Spielberg wanted to replace Megan Hilty!!! Good God, are his eyes and ears working? She's the single best thing on the show by an embarrassing margin.
Reader Comments (31)
LIV ULLMAN YES
I feel so conflicted on the Fences thing because before the play revival I had dream-cast Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne for the role and although I suspect DW and VD may be able to bring something in the way of "star-power" (the former especially) to the table I'd still be more pleased with Angela and Laurence. Maybe if he doesn't bring back Viola (unlikely, though) Angela can hop on?
Jessica for Miss Julie is....intriguing Farrell though is an inspired choice. (Although couldn't they find age appropriate actors?)
The Stanley Fish article is genius. Great read for both loathers and lovers of Les Mis. (Of course I happen to be a lover.)
In my head, the only way Spielberg's desire to recast Hilty made sense was that he really, really didn't want to get rid of McPhee and realized that Hilty just outclassed her in every way so wanted to recast someone less awesome. But yeah, no, that doesn't even make sense either. Weirdness.
On Elysium: Neil Blomkamp trying to do commentary on class structure. District 9 was mostly interesting to watch due to the faux documentary first half and the alien designs, not so much for the overcooked message work. If this turns into almost pure message work, it could wind up flat-out unwatchable.
"Shade shadey" is an understatement for that otherwise entertaining SMASH piece.
Thanks for the link! I can only hope Krakowski finds herself back on the Broad-Way or on ca-me-rah soon. I need more Jane in my life!
Colin Farrell can get fucked. He doesn't deserve to still be getting high profile work. Especially since this has led to him being paired with Chastain. Why are you burying the lead?
You're great when you link! "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" or "Flashdance... What a Feeling"?. The 80s were so good for best original song.
PS Paris is Burning is a must-see
Glad to read the Les Miz article.
I just read Patti LuPone's memoir and the critical reaction to Les Miz on stage was pretty much the same. And granted, I understand, it's no Sondheim . . . but if music critics can love Beyonce and Taylor Swift you're telling me that film critics can't appreciate the pleasures of Les Miz?
Sort of ironic that on the night "Skyfall" is expected to win the first Oscar for a Bond-movie song, Streisand will be singing "The Way We Were"—which won Best Song over "Live and Let Die," arguably the best Bond song and most deserving of an Oscar of them all. (Not to say "The Way We Were" didn't deserve to win. It's a tough call.)
Viola MUST be in FENCES film version...and she MUST win the Oscar!
I think he will go viloa would love o see bassett back in a meaty lead though,what happened to her!!!
Well, I'm just going to have to rewatch the whole 30 Rock series over and over again.....
However, at least Parks and Recreation is still on the air *crossing my fingers*
Absolute yes to a Fences adaptation with Denzel and Viola. I cannot imagine Denzel not giving her the role. They both got their Tonys.
I like Colin Farrell. He chooses some terrible projects, particularly ones that are the widest seen of his work, but there is absolutely something people like McDonagh (say what you will about his movies but his plays prove he is a great mind), Malick, Terry Gilliam, Neil Jordan, Woody Allen, Peter Weir, and Michael Mann see in him to give him roles. I dig his pairing with Jessica (who seems to have pushed back her intentions to take a year off from acting once again, but doing a Liv Ullman film is understandable).
And the fact Paris is Burning is so little known when so many references are still in the parlance and zeitgeist speaks to the film's brilliance but it is a shame that the original forms of references are so unknown. But that has been the case since Madonna doing vogue.
What a sublime idea--having Streisand sing this song over the In Memoriam segment. Cue the goosebumps. Legend has it that Barbra didn't want to sing it at first, thinking it too "simple."
This will be the one musical moment that trumps Adele on Oscar night (if she gets to do a solo and not get lost in the Bond musical car chase medley).
Babs singing at the Oscars? Gayest Oscars evah? I think so, and I'll love it of course. Nice that they're doing a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch and that she's a part of it.
That Smash article was VERY interesting. I'm still more intrigued by the "real-life" narrative of Smash than by the actual narrative of the show - the way the extra-textual narrative parallels and dovetails with the textual narrative is totally fascinating and unlike anything I've seen before (see: Megan Hilty performing the Marilyn Monroe role - to raves - in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Encores!).
That Les Miz article was also tres interessant. I get where Fish is coming from, even as I still see the film's problems as being more related to its source material than the actual filmmaking (LOVED the show on stage, but seeing it larger than life and without the mesmerizing stagecraft totally exposed every flaw in the musical's construction).
LIV ULLMAN directing a film version of MISS JULIE?!?!?!? I am SO THERE. I only ask that we are somehow able to send her back in time a decade or so, so that she can do it with Tilda in the title role. CAN YOU IMAGINE?!?!?!? Chastain is a fine choice, but that particular pairing of director, star, and text fills me with so much excitement!
THE WAY WE WERE???! I'm so excited! I was never a Barbra fan, but I watched Funny Girl a few weeks ago and she was amazing in it. And I remembered watching Beyonce sing The Way We Were to her at the Kennedy Honors thing or whatever, so I became absolutely obsessed with that song for a few weeks. I'm excited.
and OMG, Fences! Viola better get it! She needs that Oscar. And she would be the first black actress to get three nominations. I feel like if she gets the role, the Oscar shouldn't be hard, whether the film is loved or not. PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN. As much as I would love to see Angela Bassett or some unknown that could use the exposure, Viola Davis needs an Oscar. Point blank. And more good roles.
Also ... @3rtful "Colin Farrell can get fucked." - Why are your comments also so bitter and volatile? Is it necessary? It's honestly uncomfortable; I cringe nearly every time I read your comments on this site. You should think about chilling out.
I like that they're using the Marvin Hamlisch-composed "The Way We Were" over the necrology montage this year, as a way of paying tribute to Hamlisch, who passed away last year. Wish this was something they did more often, but it doesn't seem to be a habit of theirs. Think of two years ago, when the Academy tapped Celine Dion to sing "Smile" during the In Memoriam segment even though John Barry- perhaps the swooniest score composer of the modern era- had passed away in the past year. Total missed opportunity there.
Love the call out to "Contact" one of my fav sci-fi flicks. Also can you believe that Zemeckis has never directed an actress to an Oscar nomination even in plum roles. Kathleen Turner, Joanna Cassidy, Goldie & The Streep, Mama Gump, Jenny, and especially Jodie gave worthy performances, and all were shunned. Even Kelly Reilly, playing a Southern Belle addict finding redemption through being a long-suffering love interest didn't so much as blip on Oscar's Radar. What's the deal?
I can't imagine Viola being a hard sell , Denzel will cast her surely
Zack, my hunch is that, in general, Zemeckis is a sloppy director. And more specifically, his narratives often lack the necessary focus to bring on an emotional climax. And it feels often as if his broad, hamfisted direction clashes with the honorable, honest intent of his talented actresses.
@ Philip H
I'm adult who uses harsh language on a blog for adults. I'm not attacking other posters or our host or any of his guests, and I'm angry about plenty, and I see myself being just as ugly as I was last year when I shocked and upset Nick Davis over Streep's Oscar win, if Lawrence takes it over Chastain. Fair warning.
It's sci-fi, but I am not sure Foster can handle powerful bitches. Just remember Inside Man.
PS, in other (although Oscar-unrelated, but relativity amazing) casting news then Charlize Theron has joined a new comedy, while Eva Green is cast as the titular “A Dame to Kill For” in the “Sin City” sequel. These casting news are some of the best movie-related news of the year, because a) we don’t see enough of these two on the silver screen, b) Theron has a wonderful and terribly underused comedic timing and c) Green’s casting is spot-on/obvious, but also something that she could do in her sleep. Still, it adds to her complex character gallery and I’ve missed her too long (the gap between 2007 and 2012 was PAINFUL).
Oh well.
@3rtful, I'm with you on Jennifer winning -_- I just don't understand why you're so mad about EVERYTHING lol
/3rtful -- seriously. why warn people when it's better to just calm down instead ;) ? Colin Farrell is a terrific actor. I don't get why some people have such issues with him.
MaxBaz -- i hadn't heard the Eva Green news and damn she is a good actor. but yeah i haven't seen her enough to get obsessive. but every time she's in something i think" she's good!
zach -- i think brookesboy is probably right though i would define it less as sloppiness and more as that not being where his focus is. Obviously some women in his films have been worthy but a lot of times they're genre films and that's always a tough sell with Oscar. Romancing the Stone is kinda perfect for what it is but it's still what it is, you know?
And in other link news, Meryl is playing the Witch in the big-scree version of "Into the Woods." Jesus wept.: http://www.hypable.com/2013/01/31/meryl-streep-to-play-the-witch-in-into-the-woods-film-adaptation/
Philip H.
2 reasons I am leaving this blog site after 5 years is Nathaniels's total immersion in what he likes and can't always see the forest for the trees ( Look up biased, Nat, it means exactly what I say about you of late ....
second reason is 3fartful ... oops, I mean 3artful ... he is the only vile contemptible blogger on this site.
Sorry to leave ... but am sure I will find others as well done.
I love you too rick.