Saturday
Oct132018
Open Thread
Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 8:11PM What's on your cinematic mind? Do tell in the comments! I was mostly thinking about three things today...
1. Why it is that some great film stars transfer so superbly to the stage and others do not?
2. The way you never can tell if a film is going to linger or not because sometimes films you loved you dont find yourself thinking about a lot afterwards and other films you were a little cool on might keep popping back into your brain - do you know what I mean?
3. Melissa's cat in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Bradley & Gaga's dog in A Star is Born, and Viola's dog in Widows. I love when movie characters have pets. I think way more movie characters should have pets. Real people have pets so why not movie characters?
tagged cats, dogs, getting to know you
cats, dogs, getting to know you
Reader Comments (39)
I’m still hung up thinking about interesting/random acting award line ups! Ever since I saw the Best Supporting Actor Lineup for BAFTA in 2001 (Eddie Murphy - Shrek, Robbie Coltrane - Harry Potter, Jim Broadbent - Moulin Rouge, Colin Firth - Bridget Jones Diary & Hugh Bonneville - Iris - winner was Broadbent) and realised none of them were nominated for the Oscar (and they were mostly comedic performances) - I’ve been trying to find a more eclectic, random lineup where no one went on to Oscar but no luck! Is BSA 2001 the oddest category ever?
That’s what’s been on my mind for the last week! Any other random lineups I’m missing?
Has anyone here watched Criterion's extended cut of The Tree of Life? It was screened at Venice but reviews have been sparse, and I'm curious as to how it differs from the original cut (it apparently feels like a brand new movie).
I'm worried about Fan Bingbing. Her Weibo account has been updated with her apology letter, but no one has seen her yet or photographed her. News rumors are saying that she's in declining health or in shock. Netizens are saying these rumors are the Chinese government setting up her fake "suicide" for when they eventually kill her. Scary shit.
Where is the soundtrack for Cold War? I need some Eastern European realness in my life.
We’ve been watching Bella Ramsey (Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones) on her BBC kid series, “The Worst Witch”.
And thinking how many truly exceptional young actresses we’ve seen lately: Amandla Stenberg, Dafne Keen, Angourie Rice, Bella Ramsey. Hoping with all my heart that their artistry continues strong through adulthood.
Right now, I'm thinking about that scene in First Man when Neil Armstrong is asked about the benefits of space exploration and how I want to take every moron politician trying to gut NASA's funding, tie them to a chair, and force them to watch Neil's answer.
Just saw FIRST MAN so thinking about that...intensely. Not everything about it worked, yet it totally has me in its thrall.
My thoughts for the day.
1. Venom wasn't great but it was damn enjoyable.
2. Upgrade was great AND damn enjoyable. Pity nobody saw it.
3. Maggie Gyllenhaal is so outstanding in The Kindergarten Teacher.
4. Private Life was excellent and deserves so much better than being Netflix's way-down-the-line pick.
5. Sorry to Bother You is genuinely one of the worst films I've seen this year. What was Boots Riley thinking!?
6. What is it going to take for Elsie Fisher and Thomasin Mackenzie to build some awards traction?
Thinking about Hitchcock's "Notorious" and how it was the first movie I saw (as a teenager) where the love and attraction between the main characters was palpable, not just manufactured by closeups and music - and it was done within the Code, and flaunted the Code with the incredibly sensual scene where they kiss constantly but for never more than 3 seconds.
watched The Wife and enjoyed it more than I expected, it felt therapeutic actually
watched Colette and I'm puzzled by the critical acclaim supporting the movie; the product is literally just fine, nothing more
1. Amanda Seyfried should coattail Hawke in First Reformed for supporting actress, and it's never going to happen and that's a bummer. (Girl dropped like, five tears in long takes. Come on.)
2. Lady Gaga is my favorite to win Actress (so far), and I'm genuinely shocked. Also in love with the movie.
3. Was curious how many times an actor or actress has won an Oscar for acting for their one and only performance, if that's ever happened, but too lazy to click through all of them.
@beyacc, Fan is fine, the Chinese authority will see to her physical well being, they won't risk ano international scandal on human rights issues. She's jus lying low now cos alotsa non fans thot she was let off easy (no jail term, as compared to ano famous actress, Liu Xiaoqing) n of cos she is bidding her time for a reappearance n now is not the time yet.
@Denis: offhand, i can only tink o Harold Russell n Haing S Ngor, both non pro actors who won on their debut. But they did go on to make other films, irregularly.
I'm thinking o the category placement of The Favourite.
I've a feeling tt Queen Olivia will be nom as Leading in Golden Globes n Bafta, n Supp in SAG n Oscars (kinda like Alicia Vikander a few yrs back), n sweep them all!! (provided Gaga is accepted under the Drama cat at the GG) 😁
@beyaccount
I'm sure that BlingBling (couldn't resist) is fine unless she visited the Turkey/Saudi embassy lately. But seriously, someone who owes $190 million in back taxes is only in danger of having to pay back what she owes. If she is in declining health or in shock it is because she got caught, and many Asian stars (who pay their taxes) ratted her out because of her greed. BingBing, in the right role (I Am Not Madame Bovary) is an exceptional actor and highly bankable. And shame, last I checked, is not the equivalency of cancer! She needed a wake up call which will hurt mostly her minimized bank superfluousness. Suggesting that she is in danger is attention grabbing nonsence and pretty silly, considering the dire problems the world is faced with daily. At any rate, hope your hysteria is working out for you.
@Nat
Your #2 question is not easily answered. I think, for most, the mystery of this unpredictable occurrence lies somewhere in the subconscious; it permeates. And is, therefore, highly personal. The answer almost always is hibernating in the viewers past/current life experiences .
Generally the viewer is mystified by the peculiar resonance and exclusivity a particular work of art ends up becoming. That is, sometimes, until they stop investigating the movie (song, painting) and begin combing their own histories. The process can be arduous, but often the mystery is solved in a eureka type moment. And if that happens, one's definition of the piece can change significantly. In some cases, at least in regards to movies, the object is elevated so much that retractions are written, and explanations become necessary. In my case, this experience is rare, but I cannot say that it is unfortunate. In fact, the experience is almost always immensely gratifying. After all, art's job is to evoke, provoke, invoke and entertain. I cannot think of anything more gratifying (other than sex) than an elongated mind message (or do I mean massage?) The last time I had this experience was when I saw Lee Chang-Dong's, Burning. I knew it was special, but could not identify why. At least not immediately. The day after, turned into days later, the lingering sense of what Robert Lowell would call "...a feather on the mind" expanded, became impervious, hermetic. Permanent. Durability in the art world can be stubbornly rare; experiences can fleet like a Trump tweet. But when the opposite is true (to yourself) then it is a gratifying sort of graft or gift that can last a lifetime.
Which brings me back to Bingbing. So far she has owned up to her bait and switch scheme, and genuinely seems remorseful. Silence, shame and embarrassment seems appropriate now. If anything, this experience, though stressful (even for a a multi+ millionaire), most likely will inform her creativity and talent. When she eventually returns, undoubtedly it will be as a better, less selfish and lawful person who is not guided by her genetic superiority and sense of entitlement . She has been handed an endowment, not a punishment, I found her response sincere and fitting, considering her crime. When people (fans?) turn themselves inside out to justify their idolatry, consider all the rest of us who pay our taxes knowing that it contributes our fair share to the services and quality of life that we all deserve and want for each other. Then, get your head out of your ass.
Training? I assume you're not talking about Glenn Close in Mother of the Maid. I would love to see her on stage.
Saw Sorry to Bother You and... there’s a specific type of “woke / art major” black toxic masculinity in this movie’s DNA that I wasn’t entirely prepared for (you know, Hotep-adjacent but with the pretense of being more enlightened). It’s this kind of nuance that makes it important for major publicatiPOC film critics weigh in on movies that exist within their specific culture because I suspect it evaded the detection of some . For instance, consider the way Barry Jenkins or Ryan Coogler writes women and then watch this movie again with that in mind.
3) For every inspired aesthetic choice, there are 5 more that come across as too arch or smug.
4) How are we giving people passes for writing female characters like this in 2018? Tessa Thompson deserved better.
5) Boots Riley’s calling out of Spike Lee is even more fascinating in retrospect because they share many of the same strengths and weaknesses as filmmakers.
I'm heading to an interview this afternoon where I know films will come up, so I'm working through how to say I liked A Simple Favor so much more than First Man.
Side note: I think the looming knowledge of “this person is definitely winning in another category” is always underestimated come awards season. Trust that it plays a huge part when voters are filling out ballots. The question they’re going to be asking themselves is not “is Lady Gaga my favorite of these 5 women,” it’s “does Lady Gaga need 2 Oscars this year.” If the consensus seems to be that she’s good, not great in dramatic scenes but killer in performance scenes, do the math.
Bey - agreed
Claran & Ismael -- these feel like callous responses to Fan Bingbing's situation given that historically the Chinese government has done horrific human rights abuses. This isn't solely a case of a citizen being greedy. Governments who make people disappear are not to be praised for keeping their citizens in check. obviously people should pay their taxes -- and I dont doubt that Fan Bingbing has been greedy -- but damn, show some compassion.
Eli -- i think this is true until it's not. I mean did Clint Eastwood need 4 Oscars for just 2 movies? On the other hand, perhaps that's why Eastwood was never seriously a threat to win Best Actor for Unforgiven or Million Dollar Baby because they knew they were rewarding him elsewhere. This is why I think Bradley Cooper could have both a triumph and a loss in getting several nominations for himself but no wins for A Star is Born.
Peggy Sue -- i was thinking about Glenn Close but in the "superb" on stage part of the equation.
@Claran
The 2 GG acting awards are for Drama and for Comedy/Musical. Sorry to say Gaga will probably be nominated for Comedy/Musical.
Right now I was thinking that Bradley Cooper could easily receive 6 Oscar nominations in 5 different categories! Producer, Director, Screenplay, Actor and 2 as composer (Best Song). That would be a first, right? The big question mark is Screenplay. That's the least likely. And then, Best song: He was one of the composers of the two songs that are being mentioned.
Whether or not he gets all 6 nominations, how many Oscars do you guys think he'll take home? According to Nat's predictions, he could take Best Film, Best Actor and Best Song.
Correction: Bradley Cooper cowrote only one of the two songs! So, make that 5.
@Marco
Bradley Cooper could increase his chances by being more approachable in interviews.
I say this as a huge fan of A Star Is Born.
All I'm thinking about right now is how happy I am to know that Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross are still happily married after all these years, these two will look good at every award shows that nominate Sam. As for Sam, it's about time! And could Emily Blunt be a last minute formidable foe for both Glenn Close and Lady Gaga?
1. I saw A Star is Born and I completely loved it. Bradley Cooper felt like such a different person in this role. I’ve seen him play much more animated and hyperactive characters and to see him play someone so relaxed and gruff without losing his warmth was such a pleasure. Not to mention his rumbling low voice in the film is so different from his actual voice, but you wouldn’t know because it fit so well. As for Gaga I was so enamored with her performance. I just loved watching her play this shy and self conscious woman who grows into a confident artist. I haven’t seen any of the other Best Actress front runners yet, but honestly this is a performance I’d be happy to see win.
2. Going off what you said about screen stars transfering to the stage and I think it’s based on what’s required of them on the stage. On stage your choices have to be bigger and broader to reach the audience yet they have to feel natural. On camera you you have to play everything much more subtle because the camera picks up every little tick your face makes. Actors in film get so used to the intimacy of the camera, but on stage your actions have to reach an entire room full of people. Now some actors that would be much more natural for them, but for others it might be more difficult.
3. Saw A Simple Favor and if I had my way it would be in contention for Actress, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, and Costumes because it was just so crazy good. Knowing none of that will happen makes me kind of upset.
Methinks Claran and Ismael betray their misogyny by giving the Communist Chinese government, itself notorious for underhandedness (cheating, stealing, etc.) and generations of human rights abuses (Tiananmen Square massacre, Tibet, anyone?), benefit of the doubt while affording Fan Bingbing none. I don’t know how someone can judge another person’s culpability or contriteness based on her forced or coerced statement when that person’s very whereabouts are alarmingly unclear and at the mercy of men in power who control and arbitrarily manuipulate a system of their own design with total impunity. She may be guilty, *they* may be guilty, but history shows us that China’s Communist Party is hardly shy about provoking and stoking international incidents and scandals—at home or abroad. They’re ballsy and play a long game, fellas.
I love pets in film and fancied the dog in A Star Is Born—so adorable. Surprised by how effective A Star Is Born, and Lady Gaga, is. The rehab scene in particular really has stuck with me. (Nat, remember meeting Bradley Cooper at the Crosby Street Hotel?!)
Eli and Nat - I thought that the voters would spread the wealth around in 2014, but they gave three Oscars to Alejandro Inarritu. They could have awarded Richard Linklater or Wes Anderson in Director or Screenplay. And Birdman only won four Oscars total (Keaton did not win Best Actor, a hotly contended category), so it wasn't a sweep.
Are songwriters listed on the ballot in the Best Song category?
The dog adds a lot to the film in A Star is Born. When she visits Jackson in rehab, Ally mentions that waits for him all day. When we see the house for the first time after *that scene*, Ally is playing the piano and Charlie is sitting by the window, presumably waiting for his master.
Wondering if Lutz Ebersdorf could get any traction for Best Supporting Actor. Would it be considered a double nomination if Tilda also received a Best Supporting Actress nom?
Suzanne -- i don't think they're listed on the ballot, no, though they and not the performers are the ones who are the nominees.
Mareko -- knowing that that's Bradley's real dog has made me so happy.
Regarding stage and screen, I remember Lauren Bacall saying that film is a director's medium and theater is an actor's medium
My brother and I were discussing the Best Supporting Actor race of 2006 and how the Globes went completely star-studded (Jack Nicholson and Brad Pitt). He loves THE DEPARTED while I've only seen it once, but the Academy choosing to nominate Wahlberg over Nicholson (and not in a very flashy role) will always be a favorite surprise nom for me.
I am rewatching AHS: COVEN and making my father sit through it. Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange both won Emmys and they were big upsets, no? Of course it's a ridiculous show, but the actressing! In one episode we get Lange, Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, and Mare Winningham, and they all do and say ridiculous things.
I'm wondering if Glenn Close would've had a much easier time competing in last year's lineup. I loved McDormand's performance but I can't imagine they'd easily have handed her the 2nd Oscar over handing Glenn her first.
@Jakey I think some people predicting Bates, but some were predicting Angela Bassett for the same season. The Lange win was more of a surprise because Cicely Tyson was nominated in that same category for The Trip to Bountiful.
McCarthy looks like Annie Wilkes killed Paul Sheldon only to become him to finish the novel by herself.
@Mareko, I'm not a misogynist n i never condone wat the Ch authority did. I've notink agst Fan n am glad at her international successes.
@Bruno, metink SPC did the right tink by holding back The Wife one yr to avoid the unstoppable McDormand train n to build up the word o mouth n anticipation for the film.
I agreed when voters fill up the ballot.. They will tink twice abt ticking off best song n best actress to same person. Most will probably tink Gaga has been rewarded in best song cat n it's time to reward Glenn Close 😁
Suzanne & Nathaniel — Great points, but I remember thinking Iñárritu benefitted from a contentious year. You could posit Anderson and Linklater split votes since Budapest not only led the nom tally (w/ Birdman, of course), but was pulling a Fury Road-style sweep until it wasn’t anymore. And Boyhood certainly had its vocal devotees throughout awards season plus the easily digestible soundbite of “a movie 12 years in the making” to bolster its profile.
But for sure, the excitement of awards season is that nothing is ever really a sure thing.
1) I think it's just that some actors thrive on the audience element, and others (the more introverted ones) don't. The great ones, of course, can do both with ease.
2) Absolutely, Nat. Just curious: is there a correlation between films growing/diminishing in your mind and seeing it multiple times? I call it the "John Q" rule.
3) I'm allergic to cats and dogs, so unfortunately I do not share your sentiments about pets on screen.
I keep thinking about Glenn Close's outburst scene in The Wife about his winning the Pulitzer Prize.
1) Some actors needs a hundred takes to get it right. Some just have stage fright. And some began their careers on stage and love it.
2) Watched I Think We're Alone Now over the weekend, starring Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning. While it wasn't great, I am in awe of Dinklage's acting abilities. And reminded me of why The Station Agent is still one of my favorite films of the last 20 years, and why whenever anyone asks for a good, quirky film recommendation, it's the one I suggest. He is amazing.
3) Yes! More pets! Goldie Hawn with all those dogs in Overboard makes me so happy; I'm sure some of them were hers. Sally Wainwright, the great British TV writer, always has some sort of pet strolling through scenes in her shows, even if they're never talked about. She's a huge cat lover.
Anjelica Huston’s TROUBLE opened here in San Diego. Hoping to catch it this week, as it’s been awhile since I’ve seen her in a leading role. Also, Julia Stiles is in it. Love her!