The Film Experience™ was created by Nathaniel R. All material herein is written by our team. (This site is not for profit but for an expression of love for cinema & adjacent artforms.)
JA from MNPP here. In case you fans of Beasts of the Southern Wild were worried that its formidable child star Quvenzhané Wallis was going to disappear the way formidable child stars sometimes do - especially if they're of color - you set aside your fears for today. The Playlist has word that she's joined the cast of Steve McQueen's next film Twelve Years a Slave, and also share that picture of her on the set with Slave's lead the wonderful Chiwetel Ejiofor. (He's so wonderful I even know how to spell his name without looking it up now - even Matthew McConaughey can't say that.) (Although neither can Quvenzhané just yet.)
Slave tells the true story of Solomon Northrup, a free man who was kidnapped and thrown into slavery in the 1840s. It co-stars McQueen regular Michael Fassbender, as well as (deep breath) Brad Pitt, Paul Giametti, Alfre Woodard, Garrett Dillahunt, Adepero Oduye, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ruth Negga, Michael K. Williams, Taran Killam, and as of last week Quvenzhané's Beasts papa Dwight Henry.
Unlike Nathaniel and oh I'd say 97.5% of the rest of you I personally wasn't sold on Beasts the movie, but I agree with the consensus that Quvenzhané was wonderful, and I'm looking forward to seeing her show us more in the future. Maybe she can tell Michael Fassbender who's the man.
Web Slinging hear Tom Hiddleston's impressions of Samuel L Jackson, Owen Wilson and Chris Evans. He's a talented mimic. And funny, too. My New Plaid Pants gratuitous Byung-hun Lee Pajiba acknowledging the nameless lineless secretaries on Mad Men. Hey, at least they get to wear the insanely great costumes of Janie Bryant. LoveFilm asks which Brad Pitt film haircut is the most iconic? How to choose? Surely the best male follicles in Hollywood.
Monkey See on long term investments in TV shows and whether or not they pay off (via New Girl and Smash) Boy Culture has the rumored set list for Madonna's MDNA tour. Sad I'm not going but it'll be fun to read about and see clips from Rope of Silicon Care to see a sneak peak of The Lizard from The Amazing Spider-Man? I'm avoiding spoilers which is frankly silly since we're in reboot territory but whatevs. I love Spider-Man, easily my favorite superhero film franchise. Though I'm still not excited about this one. Daily Musto The Avengers when they were young Cinema Blend release date shuffling strikes. No Gravity in 2012. Sniffle. Guess I have to update my Oscar charts asap
Playbill Yes, Julianne Moore accepted the Piper Laurie "Margaret White" part in the new film version of Carrie. She's brave that one, but stepping into another actor's iconic shoes (slippers in this case?) is tough work. See also Julianne Moore in Hannibal. I'm not sure she shoulda done it but now I have to see the movie. Damn you Juli, you fearless minx! The Film Experience <--- yes, we already discussed this. Movie|Line has a candid interview with 90s teen star Devon Sawa... hadn't heard that name in awhile The Incredible Suit 'is it just me or...' (seeing double) Empire Channing Tatum may star in Roland Emmerich's next noisy action picture (oh dear) White House Down The Wrap Hollywood learned nothing about Taylor Lautner's lack of film-carrying talent from Abduction (oy) and he's getting another action picture called Tracers. The Film Experience <--- yes, I actually wrote about Abduction. I am a masochist.
Finally via SuperPunch, which always finds neat things to share, a supercut of just the kicking from Jean Claude Van Damme's Kickboxer...
Post Oscar Podcast Part 2! We left off talking about Meryl Streep's win in Part One. We pick that back up for a wee bit before a grab bag of shiny golden goodies to send you on your way.
Topics include but are not limited to...
"the hottest guy in the room"
Christopher Plummer and the best 'Best Supporting Actor' run ever
Busy Phillips ♥ Michelle Williams
Who will be the holdover nominee this year to next?
Brad Pitt. Nathaniel tries to let go. Everyone else resists
And that's a wrap on this Oscar year. We hope you enjoyed the coverage. I want to give a shout out to everyone who helped out during The Film Experience's biggest year ever. In addition to these podcast pals, big love to Michael, Kurt, Amir, Alexandra, Jason, Joanna, Robert, Jose and all of you reading whose passion for the site helps keep it going even when movies go sour or finances and times are tight.
Mwah! Now some sleep.
Regularly scheduled blogging resumes on Tuesday.Until then enjoy the podcasts and any pieces you might have missed along the way. Click around.
Salon on the reinvention of Brad Pitt. Good history piece / career overview Vulture Best Pictures as infographics Pajiba "interviews" Amanda Seyfried about her latest hacktress movie Gone. NPR Monkey See smart provocative piece on the politics of Warrior (2011) New York 100 pictures of Meryl Streep through the years. She ages backwards in this gallery IMDb a gallery of your acting nominees in and out of character
My New Plaid Pants has my favorite "which is hotter?" of all time featuring (American Psycho) Low Resolution's top ten films of 2011. Not your average top 10 list. Some Came Running objects to the frequent comparisons of Singin' in the Rain and The Artist Sunset Gun, now married to Guy Maddin -- is this the first time a film critic has married a director? trivia experts? -- explains his latest project, seances if you will to remake lost silent films. Booby Finger How To Watch The Oscars a very snarky guide if you're into that sorta thing
Film Festivals Are Infinite With Skyfall just around the corner I find myself thinking of 007 James Bond quite often and then Pierce Brosnan popped up in my inbox. Have you ever heard of Cinemagic? It's a film festival / workshop type thing for young people interested in filmmaking. (I'm reasonably confident that someone starts a new film festival every day of each year in the 21st century; they are infinite). It's Irish born but it's been expanding and Pierce Brosnan is a celebrity supporter.
Should I revisit all the Bond films this year. I'm torn on how to honor the 50th anniversary.
Our Apologies To 50% of the World's Population Between the still pervasive global problems of sexist, patriarchal and theocratic governments and cultures and religions that love to treat women like shit, and the latest hypocrisies of the ever sick-making US Republican party ("we believe in small government except when it comes to war-making and your personal morality so hold still while we insert this probe into your vagina without your consent!") women just can't catch a break lately. So why not share this video from IndieWire's Women in Hollywood blog about the female directed movies Oscar didn't love.
It's interesting how many quality female-helmed films there were this past year and I absolutely support the notion that we need more female directors. But I also think it's worth being realistic and saying that none of these films would have won Oscar attention even if their directors had penises. Not that kind of movie(s).
Sally Kirkland when Cher wins. Love ya, SallyWhat you still need more Oscarable links? Jesus! 24 Frames interesting bit about Alfre Woodard's activism within AMPAS Vulture Best Pictures as infographics In Contention Guy defends The Artist ... and has money on it. Gawker on Netflix user reviews of Best Pictures Slate Acceptance Speeches! Yes, I linked / wrote it but wheeee interactive
Finally...fourfour has a "how they lost" an animated gif wall of Oscar name-reading and the instant smiling that follows. I don't know what caused it but I kind of think nominees are better at hiding their feelings in today's Oscar world which makes it less fun.
Naturally I love this gif wall though my favorite isn't listed. So here it is again for you because it's my preferred method of self-flagellation.
I love you Kathleen!
I'm aware that this post is extremely scattered but it's the day before the Oscars. I'm all over the place with anxiety!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 12:23PM 
