Ask Soggy Nathaniel...
Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 2:53PM 
I am so wet and bedraggled right now - I need Audrey Hepburn to come rescue me from New York's mean streets. Just got done walking 6 miles in the rain for AIDSWALK here in NYC to raise money for medical and prevention services. I don't do it every year -- I'm not that charitable! -- but of course I picked this year to return to it and I am drenched. I need a long cat nap -- from which I will undoubtedly awake with cement legs.
While I attempt to regain feeling in my feet, ask me a question. I haven't done a Q&A column in forever. Just make sure the questions aren't so elaborate that I'd need to write a novel or do a whole blogpost or some such. If you're waiting on Oscar charts, please note that the post that went up earlier this morning was an error as that was meant to go up tonight after I completed them (but for the four acting categories which we have to do one by one for the sheer "Drama!" of it all). So I'll be back tonight for more Oscar crystal balling.
Reader Comments (23)
What role of Meryl Streep's could you see Michelle Pfeiffer giving her own distinct spin and vice versa, if you're up to it.
Which actresses filmographies are you most disappointed in? I'm thinking in terms of actresses you admire and think are incredibly talented, but, for whatever reason, end up working in subpar films.
Congrats on doing the walk! That's fantastic!
Frances Ha or Before Midnight? Which movie am I supposed to be more psyched for? Are Frances and Celine gonna be this summer's most inspiring superheroes?
I think Amy Adams is destined to join the Kerr/Close/Ritter club of 6
Oscar noms and 0 wins. Thoughts?
hi,nat,in each of nicoles oscar moinated years swap her with some else role in that category.
will you be doing a 25 year retrospective of kidman since her hollywood debut.
Thank you for walking. Not a question but Chris Pine is absolutely adorable. The camera loves him in Star Trek. I would like to see more coverage on Jessica Chastain and Kate Winslet and frankly less on Nicole. We all know she was good in Rabbit Hole but ever since ... Kisses from Cannes.
Does our valuing of awards add a layer of tragedy to the fate of actresses who never receive them?
The last foreign language film to clear $20 million was Pan's Labyrinth, almost seven years ago. What do you think it would take for a foreign language film to catch on in that way again?
Demi Moore and Sharon Stone for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Doesn't that just sound like a thrill.
Are the Extra Categories with Best Scenes and Best Cameos etc dead? 2010 was the last time you did them and they were one of my favourite parts of Film Bitch Awards
As I'm sure you well know, Almodovar almost directer 'The Paperboy' (bonkers, right?!) SO my question is, what would you like to see Pedro direct as his first English feature (either a movie that you think he could've given an interesting vantage point or, even better, a dream project that you'd design for him)
What are your top 3 narrators in movies? (Not voiceovers by a character, but a separate actor.) And why? Is narrating "acting"? For my money you can't beat Alec Baldwin in "Royal Tenenbaums" although Will Lyman (from "Frontline") in "Little Children" is close.
Just wanted to note, as someone who lurks and comments every so often, i'm really not here for the Oscar focused feature (i'm quite jaded with the Oscars in general) but rather the great variety of film, tv and actressing discussions. Hope that doesn't come off as a backhanded compliment.
that being said, which Oscar winner do that you most think ended up with their award due to extraneous factors (media manipulation, hype, campaigning, oscar loving a good triumph story, etc.) rather than the quality of their merit/performance?
I feel like this could be the year where the academy finally wants to reward David O. Rusell (three movies in a short period of time on their radar- it happened with Soderbergh so...). But I feel like American Hustle could easily be the classic DOR farce and weirdness that had the academy ignore him for years. Does his rising Q ratings at the Academy make a nomination (if the picture is quality, of course) a sure thing or will the Academy expect another Silver Linings Playbook and not quite be warm to him returning to form? I am sort of banking on the fact American Hustle is coming from Annapurna Picture that I think will make thoughts on DOR retreading water by aiming for the middle like with SLP look even more like an aberration.
And will the Academy ever catch Clooney Fatigue? Because I feel like this could easily be the year. Granted, I said that the year he won the first time.
No one lived a more biopic-worthy life than Ava Gardner. If we can have 10000 biopics on Marilyn and Liz, can't we have just one on Ava? Who would you cast to play her?
Is Benedict Cumberbatch the first male Meryl Streep?
Kirsten Dunst, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Wasikowska, Emily Blunt, Léa Seydoux, Evan Rachel Wood, Rebecca Hall and Emma Stone. Do you think any of these actresses will become an Academy Award nominee in the next 3 years (this year included), according to the projects they are attached for?
We have Emma Stone and Colin Firth attached for the upcoming Woody Allen project, now, pretending it would be a remake of "Hannah and Her Sisters" give a role to Stone and Firth and cast other actors for the other parts.
On what you said about the confusion of screenplay category in Oscar, would you think it's better/ more appropriate if the Academy (and other awards) splits it into 3 categories: Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Screenplay Based on Actual Events?
I watched "The Great Gatsby" yesterday and I would cast another actress instead of Mulligan in the role of Daisy (I've my personal choice that I won't reveal).
Who would you cast as Daisy in this year's cinematic adaptation of "The Great Gatsby"?
This may be my unique problem, but I always have difficulty telling Channing Tatum, Chris Evans & Chris Pine apart. Of course I can differentiate them eventually, what I meant was that at any immediate moment I saw their faces I always have to pause for 5 seconds and the three names flashed across my mind before I eventually call out the right name. It doesn't help that they are at similar age, have similar names (all start with C, two even named Chris) & similar film choices (leading a superhero / sci-fi franchise with some rom-com in between).
Question: Do you have similar problem with any group of actors / actresses where you always mix them up and can't tell them apart immediately?
Is Benedict Cumberbatch the first male Meryl Streep?
How dare you insult Benedict Cumberbatch.
Why am I thriving in my fifties? It seems to go unnoticed.