Friday
Oct132017
Ask Nathaniel
Friday, October 13, 2017 at 10:14AM 
Gloria Grahame. MeowYour host has been, you may have noticed, otherwise engaged. So let's consider Monday the kick-off for TFE's official Fall Season. A bit late but you still love us, right? Let's do a Q & A!
No theme this time -- though questions about current movies are most welcome since we haven't gone in depth on so many of them -- so ask away. Whatever you want.
Hint: Remember top ten lists requests and questions that would require full essays are not the way to go in this particular back and forth.
tagged Ask Nathaniel
Ask Nathaniel
Reader Comments (38)
What do you think of Nicole Kidman's Oscar chances for The Beguiled and The Killing of A Sacred Deer? Also, could she be considered lead in the latter? thanks!
Favourite performance in one of this year's many excellent gay movies?
Still wondering what's your favorite and least favorite Woody Allen character performance in a Woody Allen movie.
Inspired by a recent re-watch of Grey Gardens, do you think that (theatrical release and adequate campaigning a given) Drew Barrymore would have taken Sandra Bullock's Oscar in 2009? Furthermore, would (co-lead but we all know) Jessica Lange have upset Mo'nique's win in the same year?
Nathaniel, I'm somewhat flummoxed about Annette's Liverpool movie--is it still coming out this year and what are her Oscar chances? Word has been nil. I'm still so upset over her non-victory last year.
If you can say it now who do you think most likely will end up occupy a sixth slot, therefore barely miss being a nominee, in each of the four acting categories at this coming Oscar?
Hey Nat!
Just like you did with Best Actress, what's your favorite decade of Best Actor/Best Supporting Actor/ Best Supporting Actress winners?
Thanks!
Do you ever think there are smaller movies that could become hits if they only had bigger/better releases and a bigger/better marketing campaign? Everyone already knows about the upcoming Marvel/DC/Star Wars movies. What if some of that ad campaign went to advertise smaller films that might make it to the multiplex? Am I foolhardy to suggest that in this day and age where my aunt tells me that "of course" she saw the new Spider-Man movie this summer, as if it were a mandate?
Of all the women involved in the Weinstein muck, whose career would be the most wildly different if not for his interference/blackballing?
My vote would be for Mira Sorvino
Not really a question, but I'm dying for an update of your grades/reviews/screenings list with recent titles like Battle of the Sexes, 2049, etc... The Beguiled is also missing.
Favorite Oscar-nominated Thelma Ritter performance?
You get to hand out honorary Oscars to one character actor and one character actress. Who do you choose?
A geo-specific question here.
Portland, OR is home to the last great video store and movie memorabilia gallery--Movie Madness. There is a fundraiser going on to save this beloved destination. For a $100 donation, you can sponsor one DVD with your name on it.
Which one movie would you splash your name on for all eternity? (I picked NASHVILLE)
(Not sure if the gallery has Pfeiffer-abilia, but pretty sure one of Annette's costumes from The Grifters is there)
Do you love Gloria Grahame like I do?
(Love the photo with the cat)
I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.
What pisses you off when people don't notice it? What aspect of film do you wish had more attention?
Is there a nomination that you think any Best Picture nominee, which was otherwise widely embraced by the Academy, should have easily nabbed but didn't? I was thinking about this the other day re: Amy Adams' performance in Her.
The last BvB brought attention to what I'd consider one of the best limited/cameo performances ever - Spacey's John Doe in Se7en. What's on your list of best limited/cameo performances ever?
Do you think cats are represented poorly in movies? Because I do :)
Do you think any Marvel/DC movie will ever be nominated for Best Picture and/or Best Director? What would it take for such a nomination?
Will the Weinstein scandal affect the Oscar race? If so, how?
Here's a timely question concerning film festivals:
Do you recall any films that you really loved while watching them during the excitement of a film festival that turned out to be not as great when you watched them again away from all of the hoopla and frenzy?
I recently watched STARMAN for the first time - This has to be one of the strangest characters to be nominated for Best Actor (Jeff Bridges playing an alien) - Do any nominated characters stand out to you as being odd/bizarre in any of the acting races?
Do you notice the difference in costume design when the actor themselves has input?
What do you think about the dick cheney biopic and another christian bale-amy adams reunion?
Any famous "out" gay celebrity you'd like to see in gr8 lead role.
You are king of the world and get to retroactively give the following actors Oscar nominations: Kirsten Dunst, Idris Elba, John Goodman, and Emily Blunt. What movie would you pick for each?
Who would you prefer for a roommate: Chrissy or Janet? Or Terri? Or would it be Cindy?
@kermit_the_frog, I just (re)watched Grey Gardens this week, too! Barrymore is indeed great in it (as is Lange), and I do think she very well could've been Oscar-nominated had it been released in theaters vs. aired on HBO. That said, no actress was better than Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique in their respective categories, and Bullock's narrative was mighty that year. Still, it would've been nice to see Barrymore Oscar-nominated...and for some plum roles to follow.
P.S. How lovely is Rachel Portman's score? It's too bad that one of the few big-time, Oscar-winning (comedy score no less!) female composers in Hollywood is not as prolific as in her heyday. There are so few women of her caliber in the field that Hollywood routinely hires.
Does the push back of The Wife to 2018 help or hinder Close’s chance of finally nabbing the Oscar? Or too early to tell?
Fassbender's had a mediocre to bad run overall these past two calendar years. Is he going to be another Travolta case where periods of fleeting respect transition into strings of bad luck and/or bad decisions?
Corey — Hey! I live in Portland and wish I wasn’t so broke or I’d totally donate! Nashville is a fabulous pick. If I would go after 3 Women, Happy-Go-Lucky, or Chungking Express to sponsor.
I've become a big fan of Jack O'Connell and am saddened that he isn't everywhere the way he should be. Do you think it's because of him being selective with the films he does or because of Hollywood not knowing what to do with him?
PoliVamp —
I’d give Oscars wins to John Goodman for Barton Fink, Emily Blunt for The Devil Wears Prada, and Kirsten Dunst for Melancholia.
I would give Idris Elba a nomination for Beasts of No Nation.
Did you even answer the last questions? Ha. Please parse the actresses statements about Harvey. I am fascinated how some really express their personalities and voice. My favorites have been Meryl, Glenn, and Charlize.
Tessa Thompson has stated that she and all other women in the MCU attached Feige an all-woman Avengers type movie. They are teasing that it's a possibility. I don't personally think it will happen, but let's have some fun!
She suggested that they could be the Lady Liberators, which would be Valkryrie, Wasp, Black Widow, Scarlett Witch, and Medusa (with Enchantress involved as well)
Second iteration brought in She-Hulk, Invisible Woman, Storm, Thudra, Spider Woman, Tygra, and Hellcat
This means we hypothetically could get a movie with Tessa Thompson, Evangeline Lily, Scarlett Johannson, Elizabeth Olsen... AND depending on the script they could introduce all of these new characters, which means ACTRESS CASTING!
Who are some actresses you would love to see slaying in the marvel world alongside the current group that they have? I don't know comics very well, but love the idea of filling these roles... medusa is a fiery redhead so that would HAVE to be chastain right?!
How many years ago did you first 'hear about Harvey?' Seems like everyone else 'just heard about it today...'
@Mareko - I think that Drew would have a narrative (and performance) equal to Sandra in 2009 and would be fascinated to hear Nathaniel's thoughts on the subject. Drew vs Sandra would remind me of Penn vs Murray in 2003 - two megastars "due" in the same category and the same year!
I agree that nobody would be challenging Mo'nique - that's a performance for the ages.
@ben1283 - not a Best Picture nominee, so not a direct answer to your question BUT while I'm on the subject of 2009... how on earth did enough voters watch The Messenger to nominate Woody Harrelson, yet not also write the name Samantha Morton on their ballots? Baity role, previous nominee, arguably best in show. I was baffled on nominations morning and it still vexes me to this day!
Sawyer: Thinking of Kevin Spacey in Se7en as a "cameo"? Ugh. UGH. That just makes my brain hurt. That's a supporting role.