Hey, it's Ellen Page. What About "Freeheld"?

Is Zimbio trying to tell us something with that headline? I don't know why the actresses are hanging out in Montreal together but it's adorbs that they have matching pants and shoes. Clea's mostly been doing TV guest spots lately (The Event, CSI: Miami). Meanwhile Ellen Page heads off to Rome soon to join the huge ensemble of Woody Allen's Bop DeCameron (2012). 

But hey... FREEHELD. That previously announced movie popped right into my head.

Unfortunately there's been very little word on what's happening with Ellen's most-promising sounding future film. Freeheld would be the story of New Jersey mechanic Stacie Andree's (Page) and her girlfriend Laurel Hester's (as yet uncast) legal battle to save pension benefits when Laurel was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It sounds like such a promising direction for Ellen (Oscar nom #2?) who should challenge herself as an actress real soon; It's not like expository roles in green screen epics are pushing her gift.

Freeheld (2007), Best Documentary Short WinnerThe documentary short Freeheld, which first told this story, won an Oscar three years ago. And given the hot topic of gay marriage (just passed in New York but New Jersey's Republican governor vows to fight against it.) the time seems ripe for more social dramas that passionately deal with contemporary fights. I don't know about you but I firmly believe that the reason the whole subgenre of films dealing with social issues, civil rights, and prejudice have such a middlebrow rep and always feel safe and weaksauce is because, generally speaking, they set them so far back in the past that they're all cushioned from the world as we know it. Hollywood needs to deliver more Do The Right Things and less Driving Miss Daisys, is the point even though that reference itself is itself cushioned with rosy nostalgia. Oops!

The starry gay dramas that do get made (Milk, Brokeback Mountain) are also set in the past. Not that we don't need the reminders but contemporary balance would be great. Catherine Hardwicke (Red Riding Hood) was originally attached to Freeheld but it doesn't have to be her. Actually, and though it pains me to say this since I was a huge fan of her debut thirteen (2003), it might be better if it wasn't her. Somebody needs to is the point. 

Say What? Nicole

I asked you to amuse us by putting a caption or dialogue to this paparazzi photo of Nicole Kidman shopping in Sydney in the comments. 

The winner is JOHN T. who wrote...

Shopping for Lars is so hard."

LOL. Lars von Trier... maybe he is a closet "Zoe" fan. He's full of surprises. [Off Topic: If you've never read this ancient interview between Lars von Trier and P.T. Anderson around the time of Dogville, have at it. Thanks to Emmanuel for pointing it out. They love Nicole, hate Burt Reynolds (?), and talk about the director/actor relationship a lot.]

Honorable mention goes to Abstew and Derreck with the following:

hmmm, is the world ready for a reimagining of 'FUR'..."

Caption: Nicole Kidman, after being cast in the reboot of Sesame Street as Oscar's mother and the reason he became a grouch, was caught in a local toy store doing research for the role.

And y'all are right. The photo does remind one of the last scene in Eyes Wide Shut. 



Secret Messages: Eiffel Tower

secret messages from the movies: new puzzle series!

Ht: 300 meter Windspeed...

Can you guess the movie?

Check your answer after the jump.

Click to read more ...

June. It's a Wrap

2011 is now half over. [Gulp] Well that got away from us. If you were offline for June -- and if so my god why? -- please revisit some highlights from the month that was. 

• Peggy Sue Got Married holds up 25 years later... the first ⅔ at least.
• Top Ten X Moments the best moments in the Marvel's mutant movie franchise.
• Red Carpet "Voices of Reason and Flamboyant Firemen" -this was so fun to do.

• Unsung Heroes Michael on the "Origins of Love" sequence in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
• Curio gets its most popular ep' ever: "Do You Save Your Ticket Stubs?" 
• Dick Tracy 2? Alex attends the Warren Beatty Q&A in Los Angeles
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot: MOULIN ROUGE! It remains a "Spectacular! Spectacular!"
• Top Ten Ewan McGregor Have you seen Beginners yet? So glad he's back.

Most Discussed: 10 Best Picture Nominees... or Less 
Most Popular: X-Men: First Class Review
"Live Blog" Madness: MTV Movies and The Tony Awards
Series Debut: Cinema de Gym

COMING IN JULY:
New Oscar Predictions (next weekend!)... and there's a lot of new info to parse, Harry Potter "It All Ends", the Italian classic Rocco and His Brothers, summer's last superhero Captain America: The First Avenger, Cowboys & Aliens, New York City's Judy Garland's retrospective, and a 25th anniversary celebration of Lt. Ellen Ripley and Aliens (1986). "Get Away from her you bitch!" right here at the Film Experience and other participating blogs.

The Academy's Production Design Database

Did any of you catch that AMPAS has opened up a Production Design Database? It's just got two sample searches right now "Science Fiction" and "Wedding Clothes" and many of the items you still have to make appointments to actually see but what they do have up gives you a taste of their rich history. (It's better to search more generally -- like say by picking a year -- than to search for a specific film). Since I didn't do as much as I intended for the June Wedding theme here at the blog, I thought I'd share a couple of their illustrations for one last walk down an aisle (and to give you a taste of the type of stuff they have.)

The wedding search is more Costume Design than Production Design but those two departments are usually tight. In the picture above you see illustrations of stars Elizabeth Taylor and Olivia De Havilland in gowns they wore in real life (Liz's wedding to Nicky Hilton) or on film (that's Olivia's gown from My Cousin Rachel).

My favorite thing in their "wedding" database was this: a storyboard of one of the most hilarious scenes from Funny Girl (1968)

Fanny: I ask my looking glass what-is-it? That makes me so exquisite?
Chorus: The answer to your query, is come back dearie.
His love makes me beautiful, so beautiful. You are so beautiful
Fanny: I am so byootiful.

That scene makes me LOL every time, how about you? Barbra Streisand totes deserved that Best Actress statue.