Thoughts I Had... on THR's Actress Roundtable Cover
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 5:00PM The annual tradition commences. Thoughts that came to me in the order they came to me with a few interjections from others...
Nooooooo Amy Adams. Great Actress Terrible Roundtabler. When will her reign of bored/disgruntled-to-be-there terror end? We'll never be rid of her?
Or... What Guy & Chris said
Amy Adams sounds fun. pic.twitter.com/ftDXp9iYpw
— Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) November 21, 2016
@nathanielr Amy Adams showing up at every roundtable like pic.twitter.com/XlHxjiPpEk
— Chris Feil (@chrisvfeil) November 21, 2016
Someone should do some investigative reporting on why The Hollywod Reporter is so obsessed with her. She's not the only bankable actress in the world. She's the not the most lively or forthcoming or interesting talk show guest. Yet she's the one they cannot ever be without. "Something's going on there" "People are saying..."
Where is Viola Davis?
Remember when Natalie Portman called the Oscars a "false idol"? Yet here she is again, campaigning for another golden calf.
Natalie is pregnant again, just like last time. Last time (2010) she beat Annette Bening who is right beside her and was also very pregnant on her most-likely-to-win nomination (American Beauty, 1999) though she lost so being pregnant isn't always good luck though Catherine Zeta Jones (2002) and Meryl Streep (1982) would beg to differ.
Gingers have taken over the planet. First Julianne & Eddie won Oscars in the same year. Now three of the seven Actress Roundtablers, four if you count how brightly backlit Taraji's 'do is.
What Chris said...
Pop - Taraji
— Chris Feil (@chrisvfeil) November 21, 2016
Six - Naomie
Squish - Emma
Uh Uh - Amy
Cicero - Annette (obviously)
Lipschitz - Natalie
The Various Murder Weapons - Isabelle
Do you think he's divvied up the roles well there?
Every single actress is doing the side part with cascading curls except The Bening who has always refused to conform.
My prediction for Isabelle Huppert in Elle isn't looking so crazy now, is it people? Please remember that I was the first pundit to predict her and worship me accordingly in late January should it come to pass. I'm not trying to jinx it I just really believe it's possible (though obviously no sure thing).
What Caspar said...
Can somebody write Huppert an awards season script so that she can convincingly pretend to be someone who gives a fuck?
— Caspar Salmon (@CasparSalmon) November 21, 2016
It is so gross that they defiled Emma Stone's right thigh and this entire cover with Trump's name.
Blue is a pleasing color but what if they had all come dressed as their characters in this year's movies?
...Or each other's characters. Picture it:
Taraji P Henson as Michèle Leblanc (holding grey BooBoo Kitty)
Emma Stone as a crack addict
Naomie Harris as Dorothea, a bohemian single mother in the 70s
Annette Bening as singing and dancing Los Angelenos in love
Isabelle Huppert as linguist communicating with aliens
Emma Stone as a NASA mathematician
Natalie Portman as Jackie. (Oh wait...)
So excited to hear Annette Bening's anecdotes when the full video is released. She's so great on these panels (from the evidence of that one time).
Is this our first former Bond Girl (Naomie) on the roundtable?
It would have been cool to have somebody unexpected here like Molly Shannon (Other People) or Kate Beckinsale (Love & Friendship) instead of Amy for a nice change.
I am going to project so many interior monologues on Isabelle Huppert while the others are talking! It's super easy to do with Huppert, try it.
Reader Comments (49)
Hm. I have a feeling that they keep inviting Adams cause she's one of the strongest and most consistent actresses in the world at the moment and she keeps landing impressive roles in ambitious films which she then nails, thus demonstrating remarkable range and winning strong reviews, awards and nominations in the process. But she'd make a boring drag act, so yeah. It's constitutionally required of the gays to bitch bitch bitch.
I still feel like Huppert will miss out on a nomination and have to console herself with screen legend status and the centuries of adulation to come. Poor Isabelle.
Annette Bening and Huppert are two boring old ladies. Their interviews are boring af. Where is Queen Chastain! She should replace Annette.
Why is Adams groping Portman's boobs? That's not an Oscar. Tbh, I am scared of Adams. This woman looks nice on the outside, but a crazy psycho on the inside.
Lawd, I am so tired of Amy Adams. She needs to take a two year break after Sharp Objects.
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego aka VIOLA DAVIS
I'm glad Chastain wasn't invited - her and Amy Adams are the doom and gloom of these roundtables.
I try to like Amy Adams, I do - I think she's a wonderful, versatile, beautiful actress who is an incredibly strong woman and devoted mother but she's like that goddamn cousin that you see once a year at Christmas or at Funerals and she always wants a long and dreary conversation about her uninteresting life and you and your mother do your best to avoid her but you can't criticise or be mean to her because she means so well.
There - I said it :D
I wish we had Viola, Nicole and Meryl or Emily Blunt to make the table sparkle a little more... Meryl and Viola together would have been perfection but I must be quiet, they invited Huppert and Taraji - we can't have everything we want :)
You all have accomplished so much. Is there anything you would still like to accomplish that isn't related to acting?
ADAMS I'd like to get my house clean.
So very interesting.
Eh, I find Adams' constant presence in these roundtables irritating, but I find it ironic how this site complains about her so much considering how adored Kate Winslet is on here, someone who is just as, if not more insufferable in these kinds of discussions.
Also agreed about Bening always being so interesting to listen to in these discussions. I love hearing her talk.
Emma Stone is clearly the charming one of this roundtable. Everyone was laughing and smiling at anything she said. It's things like this that lead me to believe she's winning the Oscar.
Amy Adams must have very aggressive PR people. She's such an unremarkable actress and rarely has anything interesting to say. I don't get her appeal.
She along with Annette, Natalie, and Emma are also doing the LA Times roundtable. It seems a bit much to do both, especially considering they're all very likely to be nominated and will be doing a lot more self-promotion this season.
Would have liked to see less obvious picks in the mix...Rebecca Hall, Sonia, Braga, Kate Beckinsale, etc.
@AveryStepfon - It looks like Adams is groping Portman, but if you look closely she has her hand on her own arm/shoulder.
There are more women here than best actress slots and Ruth Negga is missing. Foreshadowing sadly I think. Naomie is the only supporting contender here. I remember reading in Variety whether it's true or not that another reason Viola went supporting was her schedule. Michelle Williams is a surprise miss but her part isn't that big this year. I assume Denzel and Casey show up in the actor roundtable unless Denzel does directing. And perhaps Dev shows up in acting to keep the Lion boat going. No Nicole? : ( . Amy deserves to be there this year with Arrival and Nocturnal Animals.
Ps The Loving fyc website is nice and I love that in the trade ads Ruth Negga as Best Actress is listed first. Not usually the case.
I adore Amy Adams but I'm really tired of seeing her at these roundtables. I would've loved to see an actress that could've used that coveted spot like Sally Field for "Hello. My Name Is Doris" or even Lily Gladstone for "Certain Women."
I loved seeing Huppert there, though.
Oh come on. Funny line about the drag act. But I'm not bitching that Amy doesn't deserve accolades. She's a great actress but FACT: There are only so many slots in these things and these thigns are about conversations, not performances, and she is just not interesting to listen to every year. There are way more than 7 great performances a year. Give someone else worthy and more happy to be there a chance. It's not hard to find them. She's on this *every* year which is insane no matter how you slice up any film year.
I knew just by looking at the picture that Amy Adams was going to be a big topic here. I'm in the same boat as those who love her as an actress, but don't find her terribly endearing as an interview subject. It doesn't really matter in the end because I'm still gonna watch every minute of it (multiple times), but it would've been cool for someone like Ruth Negga or Viola Davis to join in the conversation.
For once I'm actually curious about the Actor's Roundtable, if only to see who they'll pick (I have no idea who the front-runners are for that category).
Like many here, I don't quite get the Amy Adama-THR staple...why is she on almost every roundtable? I would replace her with Viola in a heartbeat!
Nat: On observations, here's changes I'd recommend:
Lead Actor: Switch Edgerton (#5) and Keaton (#9).
Lead Actress: Huppert up one, Negga down two, Streep down one, Chastain down six, everyone between Streep and Chastain up one.
Supporting Actor: If no front runner has developed yet (based on reviews (76% on a small sample, and small samples usually drop at least 10%), we can't even really call Dev Patel in Lion one), I think other than the two obvious front runners in terms of quality (Ali and Sarsgaard)...sentiment (as in, who's widely loved, old or dead, and unnominated) could easily start ruling this year. I'm calling it: Ali, Sarsgaard, Grant, Rickman and either Goodman or Spall winds up as our field with either Ali or Sarsgaard taking it all. (Dev Patel? Not widely loved at this point, even having huge roles in a couple disaster level movies. Neeson? Prior nom. Eckhart? Again, after Battle: Los Angeles, the "Has Fallen" series and I, Frankenstein, going to call no on the sentiment angle. Michael Shannon? Prior nom. Hedges? Too new. Bridges? Too many prior noms. Tom Bennett? Too new. Henderson? Obscure. Eherenrich? Too new. Fiennes? Prior noms.)
Supporting Actress: Switch Jones and Swinton and I think you have the top 10.
I had to roll my eyes when I saw Amy Adams in the center of that cover too. No critique on her as an actress - she's an amazing performer - but she bores me to tears in these round tables and after being there almost EVERY SINGLE YEAR what else can she add to the conversation? I would have loved to have seen Ruth Negga in her place (who I know very little about) or Viola Davis who is ALWAYS great in interviews or MERYL STREEP who never does these but who is always insightful, witty, and loves other actresses. Kate Beckinsale or Sally Field are fun choices too and could've used the exposure.
By the way, I know this is superficial but I'm loving Annette's hair. She looks gorgeous!
I would be deeply disappointed if Huppert acted like Meryl Streep all of a sudden just because it's the awards season.
I wish someone this year would give us the "I'm Smart, I'm Witty, I'm Gorgeous and I Don't Give a Fuck" Roundtable: Huppert, Henson, Beckinsale, Sevigny, Monae, Streep, Cotillard.
That was fun to read/watch.
The line-up I'd definitely watch? Braga, Huppert, Huller, Streep, Portman, Stone and Henson
thefilmjunkie... my actor line-up would be: Maherasha Ali, Andre Holland, Ashton Sanders, Alex R. Hibbert, Jharrel Jerome, Trevante Rhodes, Jaden Piner
Or not-Moonlight version
Ryan Gosling, Casey Affleck, Adam Driver, Maherasha Ali, Andre Holland, Mathais Schoenharts, Shabab Hosseini
Oh come on...Amy Adams as Giselle would be a perfect drag act!
I really wish that they would do a Leading/Supporting roundtable like the LA Times does. It feels weird having only 1 supporting contender here (Harris) while the rest are in lead. I know this year the Lead LA Times roundtable is Adams(lmao), Stone, Portman, Bening, Negga while Supporting is Williams, Kidman, Spencer, Harris, Jones, King. As much as I love Huppert, I'm much more interested in those roundtables this year.
My drag act is Amy Adams screaming on a toilet in AMERICAN HUSTLE.
I love her even though it's not "cool", but I do think from the clips thus far this is the most interesting she's been in a roundtable
It's taken me hours to bring myself to comment on the Roundtable because I was suffering from flashbacks from Portman (Black Swan) & Annette Benning (Kids are alright)
Will Portman hold forth about how difficult her role is while The Benning just says self deprecating insightful comments ?
You guys can beat up on Adams if you want but the Portman/Benning jinx is way more important to me.
My choices would be Streep, Benning, Davis, Blunt, & Huppert - that would be a lot more fun.
Yay for including Isabelle Huppert in the Roundtable. And from watching her excerpt, love it that she's so matter-of-fact and non-aggrandizing. The other actresses, even Bening , looks up to her in sheer awe.
Nay for not including NICOLE KIDMAN CUZ SHES LIKE SO FUNNY AND SELF-deprecating in her shy and unassuming way. And she always give wise quips.
Ermmm yes I love Amy Adams for her great work and personality but I do feel abit tired of seeing her at the Roundtables almost every year. And I feel she has nothing much to add on to the conversation at this point.
Whatever haters, Amy gets all the points for calling out the awful Stephen Galloway on his terrible sexist questions this year.
The only thing I see is those names that begin with T and B. Trying to take a deep breath, but this election has permeated every f8&king part of my life. Even THR cover...
Wish Graham Norton could host these. Groups of guests always seem candid and hilarious on his show.
How is there not a drag act with Adams and Lawrence from the bathroom scene in American Hustle? That dresses! The hair! Those accents? That could be fun.
Actually please petition to have Stephen Galloway as moderator please.
Actually please petition to have Stephen Galloway *removed* as moderator please. My bad!
He's sexist and boring and doesn't add anything into the session. Someone like Nick Davis could have done a 100x better job.
Clearly the Hollywood reporter needed Stone, Bening and Portman for this year, so I wouldn't say this is Portman going on a campaign binge quite yet - actually that applies more to Bening (didn't she just have a tribute event?) and Stone (who is EVERYWHERE).
YES! Props to Huppert and Adams for not having any of Galloway's bullshit. His questions are so horrendous and you can just tell Huppert is not wanting a bar of it. Seriously, why doesn't a woman lead this discussion or just ANYONE that isn't a misogynist and a downright boring interviewer. I mean, these questions are so generic. And what an opportunity when you have such an eclectic group of actors together.
The Bening is just divine; so grounded and so pure in her thoughts on acting. Stone is a charmer, and if she continues to play her cards right, I think the Oscar is hers. Huppert is queen.
I've watched many of Huppert's interviews (those with eng sub) and she's always known to be direct with her take-no-prisoners attitude which I admire...but she does seem to hold back much more during this roundtable, a little bored even. Maybe I'm wrong - I would need to watch the whole thing. Hope she gets a nomination!
Chameleon that she is, it will affect my undying appreciation of Huppert not one jot to see her play the role of Oscar campaigner for a couple of months. She can go back to French disdain for promotion when she's won it. Also, she's been lapping-up the career retrospective stuff lately (I've caught her at three of them in London in the past couple of years) and always manages to find a way to be graceful and funny and place the emphasis on the work rather than herself - I think she could do rather well playing the Oscar game. Plus she knows how to work a red carpet - Huppert and gowns are a match made in couture heaven.
--- The Amy Adams shade becomes annoying ---
Do you think they're not inviting Meryl Streep every single year?
The difference is that Meryl is already the greatest actress in the world & owns 3 Oscars -> can afford to say "NO" and logically doesn't give a fuck that much
Adams is in her early 40s, with 0 Oscars -> works hard for that win and logically prefers not to say "NO", duh!
Jennifer Lawrence in AH is my drag act.
Seriously -
Why is Streep never invited to the damn round table?!
Great Actress does NOT mean entertaining interview: with that said there are few who are both. If they were going for entertainment value, Emily Blunt, Eva Green and JLaw for instance can all give good interview. BUT I don't think that is what they are going for.
Preferable if this whole thing were merely a conversation between Bening and Huppert.
Love the fact that a pedigreed actress of Huppert's caliber was in the roundtable. She sounds like she usually sounds in interviews -- smart, sharp, no-nonsense. That quip she made about a misogynist question was spot-on. Glad she called Galloway on that.
I like Amy Adams and I thought her tendency to curtail herself and abilities in interviews is endearing and genuine. I am probably in the minority but I thought she was one of the authentic ones. Love Bening here -- always the Earth goddess; Stone gave winsome answers although I had this aversion for the type of voice that she has (nothing against Stone); Harris is lovely and will some day be given bigger mileage. I am bored with Portman though. Henson is a livewire.
Wish Negga, Rebecca Hall, and Swinton were invited as well. Plus I look forward to a future film that starts the combined otherworldy talents of Swinton and Huppert.
Totally agree that Adams wasn't necessary, but Arrival? Holy shit what a great performance. Career best without a doubt.
I asked her about it in an interview with her, and Amy Adams said she continues to do it because she keeps getting asked and because she finds it rare to be able to actually sit down and have a conversation with her colleagues rather than just running past each other on red carpets.
Amen, re: Amy Adams. It's like THR will bend over backwards to include her even when her only film of the year is a Muppets movie. Ridonkulous.
Invited or not, thank goodness there's no Meryl Streep! I find her faux laughter and constant self-deprecation annoying. But thank goodness for Huppert who is just herself - sharp, take no prisoners, amazingly authentic. She's the real Queen, and the greatest actress in my opinion.
I admit I groaned at the first sight of Amy Adams on that cover. Oh, come on ... why? Her. Again. ;)
Praised be Adams, tho. I will be very thankful when one day she wins her goddamm well earned Oscar. This is not her year once again.
I could listen to la Bening on any topic. She's a woman of exquisite intellect and insight. And her voice... it's like a brain massage.
Isn't it mandatory that JLawrence be nominated for Passengers?
Madame Streep does not do roundtables. Those are for lesser actresses who are insecure and hoping to be nominated.