Sunday
Jun082014
Open Thread. What's On Your Cinematic Mind?
Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 9:49AM 
My day is jam-packed full: podcast recording, possible movie outing, Tony Awards and such so there's no time to write just yet. But this morning I kept thinking about Hattie McDaniel (random!) and how she must have had just one costume in her dressing room for years: the maid's uniform. We so need a biopic!
What's on your cinematic mind?
Reader Comments (42)
Haha! Perfect. Couldn't agree more. #HattieBiopic
Brad Pitt and Geena Davis's sex scene in "Thelma & Louise" is never far from my mind, honestly, but today it's just out front and center.
I was at brunch this morning and the diner had a Margaret Keane painting hanging on a wall, which naturally made me more excited for Big Eyes. Just got me thinking if Adams will steamroll her way to a victory even if the performance isn't astounding. As much as I love her, the last thing I want is for her to win on a "mea culpa" vote from the Academy.
Captain America and the Winter Soldier's tragic, secret, time travelling love affair now that Peggy Carter is no longer an option for Cap. The sad part is, the pressure would still be on Cap to hide...
Sometimes alternate, parallel movies are fun to imagine!
I know you at least watched the first two episodes of Orange is the new Black. Maybe Danielle Brooks inspired your Mammy cravings? Hattie McDaniel doesn't need a biopic. You want to honor her legacy watch more black themed movies and recognizing all the nameless faceless black actresses you never considered no different than Hollywood itself. Also avoid Tyler Perry anything. It simply does not help the black cause since his material is limited even to his target audience.
Let's see. I'm seeing Belle tomorrow night. It's playing at my local one screen indie and they take credit cards now, so I can use my MoviePass now. I'd go tonight but it's the Tonys. I'm also in the Cinefessions Summer Screams Challenge heading into B-Movies week.
I'm trying to follow along with the SA Smackdown for the first time - minus "Zorba", because life's too short. Really enjoying myself so far - didn't realize at first what an odd year 1964 was!
Also saw "The Normal Heart" last night, and not to entirely miss the point but I'm not sold on the whole Taylor Kitsch thing. He wasn't bad, but a little blank.
If Steve Carrell and Amy Adams retain the oscar heat that they already have, I expect to read a fair bit of "who knew?" pieces about her arc on The Office.
I've been thinking of her American Hustle performance a lot this weekend. That's one that's stayed with me longer than I thought it could.
But mostly I'm thinking about Gilliam's Brazil and Woody's Interiors.
I can see one of them for the first time today (and on the big screen) but not both. What do I do?
@Mike in Canada
See Brazil on the big screen. I envy you for the opportunity.
Like Dave I'm prepping for the Smackdown. Just watched The Night of the Iguana yesterday to review Grayson Hall's intense performance again. Only the strange and wonderful The Chalk Garden left to rewatch, probably tomorrow. Fortunately I've seen Zorba so I don't have to endure that.
Also as has become my custom during this rough patch of Hepburn films I'm trying to think of something positive to say about this week's turgid offering, Song of Love. Nice music doesn't seem like enough but so far that's my takeaway from it.
I was thinking about how much Paris apprently loves the movies.
Case in point: When I was in Paris the last time, I paid a visit to the Cinémathèque Française, which was showing an Otto Preminger retrospective at the time. I watched 'Whirlpool' there (or 'Le Mystérieux Docteur Korvo', as the French call it), not really one of his greatest works, but still an oddly interesting one. It was merely an afternoon screening, but the house was almost packed. I don't think there are a great lot of cities in the world in which a pretty much forgotten film from the late 1940s starring Gene Tierney as a kleptomaniac housewife and José Ferrer as a sleazy hypnotist could draw such an audience...
The last two movies I saw were in 3D, and the next two movies I'm going to see will be in 3D. Collectively, they feature the work of Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, Sally Field, Paul Giamatti, Campbell Scott, James McAvoy, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson and Kristen Wiig.
All that world-class talent, all those enormous budgets, and I still get a headache from the viewing technology...
3rtful: consider your advice taken. Thanks!
How many readers I'm going to lose when I post my fandom of Ishtar.
Also, speaking if "Night of the Iguana", can we discuss Ava Gardner instead? I'm still swooning.
I saw "Boyhood" tonight (I'm in Switzerland) and really enjoyed it. It definitely didn't feel like 164 minutes. I'm going to have to think about it some more though.
I just watched Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! for the first time and have so many thoughts. I enjoyed it and will probably watch it again and recommend it to others simply as a cinematic curio. What do other make of it?
I feel like the only thing keeping me from seeing Edge of Tomorrow is that Tom Cruise is in it. If it were a more appealing actor, I would probably be there. I haven't enjoyed him in anything since Minority Report.
Is there a definitive literary biography of Hattie McDaniel out there?
I've been pondering the apparent disconnect between Edge of Tomorrow's marketing campaign, which was so grim and off putting I long ago decided I wouldn't see it in theaters - and the fact that it's apparently a really fun, high energy sci fi adventure, or basically the complete 180 of how it has been sold. The comparison I read tone wise that really blew my mind was to Abrams' first Star Trek movie - like, what?! If that's true, WB marketing really misjudged this, selling it as a grim, post-Nolan buzzkill when that is, to go by the box office returns, about the last thing audiences are looking for right now. So I guess I'll have to see it now?
Dave--co-sign. What a performance.
Anne Bancroft passed away nine years ago this past Friday. I have been lost in dreams of her. As I often am.
Sophie just won a Tony!
My mind is still with Stella Dallas. Barbara Stanwyck and Anne Shirley are terrific in that movie. I've tried to catch more Stanwyck movies since I first saw Stella Dallas.
From here on out I hope she is forevermore referred to as Tony Award Winning Sophie Okonedo on the podcast!
Brian Z -- i love Ishtar. It's the cool thing to do now.
In light of tonight's events I'm thinking about how Bryan Cranston and Neil Patrick Harris are now each a step closer to the acting triple crown, also how the mere mention of Cranston's name or sight of his face pisses me off because it reminds me that Jon Hamm is still without an Emmy.
I'm wondering who will be the indie darling this year?? What indie movie or performance will get big time Oscar heat or a nomination??
I thinks it's awfully optimistic of you to think that Hattie got her own dressing room.
moe - good point.
troy h- yup.
jonn - we will do our best
I've had a bit of a beauty binge over the last week--Natalie Wood, Elizabeth Taylor, Isabelle Adjani, Jane Fonda, Emmanuelle Beart....watching all these movies with these extraordinary looking people all at once made me really think about what I look for at the movies. I want to be overwhelmed by humanity, by feeling. And beauty too. I miss that kind of spectacular beauty at the movies.
Wondering if that's something everyone responds to. There's been such a push lately for stars who are more relatable looking, and I think that's wonderful, but for me, there's nothing more cinematic than watching the lives and trials of superhumans. I see regular people every day--I want movies to be better than reality.
TB - i feel the same way. That's why I am always annoyed that deglam wins Oscar. I want my movie stars to look like movie stars. so while Maleficent annoyed me in so many ways it was great to see Angelina with her supersized cartoon beauty again.
Been binge watching DVRed Roland Garros coverage, makes me wish there were more (or any) good tennis movies: fictional or biopics. How about a Justine Henin/Kim Cljisters dual biopic a la "Rush"
Jesus, even car racing gets more movies than tennis, car racing!
Was it just me, or did Clint Eastwood look particularly hot at last night Tony Awards? He looked so sexy in those glasses and beard. I can't believe I suddenly have the hots for an 84 year old man whereas before I thought he was fine, but never hot.
@Nathaniel--And even with Angie, they just couldn't resist gluing on those silly cheekbones. As if she needed the help!
It's interesting too that there's been such a feminist pushback about women being sexy at the movies. Maybe it's just me, and maybe it's just older eras of filmmaking too, but I never feel more empowered than when I'm watching a beautiful woman. I mean who comes out of an Elizabeth Taylor movie and actually thinks she's a victim to the male gaze? Please. And what does the "male gaze" even mean when you're watching women be devastatingly beautiful in movies that were made with mostly female audiences in mind?
@Pat
Clint was always hot. He's ruggedly handsome. And has aged quite well considering his politics.
A TFE endorsement of a biopic!?! Quelle horreur LOL.
Get on it, Mo'Nique! #HattieBiopic
@TB
Hollywood is a one way street with concern to representation. They're in the business of distortion and illusion. When you say bring back the glam of yesteryear know that it comes at a price. That means not putting Melissa McCarthy, Lena Dunham, Kathy Bates, Gabourey Sidibe, Queen Latifah, Viola Davis (because they're so not interested in her ever being attractive in the movies), and a host of other plain Jane actresses from ever being front and center subjects for movies. Ugly men will still fuck beautiful women in the movies and in real life because they will still run Hollywood. Be nostalgic. But never forget who loses out when you insist on going back to the original standard.
Ugh, when did I say I wanted to go back to ONLY having beautiful people at the movies?
You are right Ian. At the time of her Oscar win Mo'Nique announced that she'd make a Hattie film, to be directed by Lee Daniels. If I remember well, she'd even optioned the rights to her autobiography.
@TB
My point is you cannot have it both ways. The character actress by default is not attractive by any preset Hollywood standard. Their visibility means that traditional beauties need not concern themselves with ever looking glamorous in their work except on the red carpet.
@3rtful--There are hundreds of films made in the US every year. There is no reason that both can't exist. Both have existed for male stars since the dawn of cinema. Monty Clift existed alongside Ernest Borgnine. Rudy Valentino with Wallace Beery. Your vision is limited, that's fine. Don't try to limit mine and pretend that it's progress.
@TB
Nothing limited about pointing out how reality works.
I"m listening to the audiobook of One Day by David Nicholls and quite enjoying it. I can't believe it became a movie with Anne Hathaway, and who, Jim Sturridge? Both seem so perfectly wrong for the roles as presented in the book. Did anyone see it? Should I?
Tremendous thought for the day! Or even a behind the scenes look of making Gone With the Wind would be genius to see...especially following her during that time period!
I hope my contribution is somewhat relevant to the topic of "what is on your cinematic mind". But I am trying to understand where the moviegoer market stands. I am doing some research via surveymonkey and would love some of you input. Link is below.
Thanks in advance.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/theaterresearch