Naomi's Turn: Exploring Her Role on "Gypsy"

By Spencer Coile 

With many actresses making that giant leap from the large to small screen in recent years, it is not shocking that Naomi Watts has followed suit. Armed with a megawatt smile and acting chops utilized by some of the industry's most prolific directors, it almost felt like a no-brainer that Watts would eventually find herself as the glue that holds a series together.

Gypsy, unfortunately, was not met with the critical fanfare many expected, considering the quality of its leading actress. With some calling the series "boring," and others arguing that the writing does a major disservice to Watts, perhaps you are intrigued. Is it worth watching at all? In an attempt to avoid the standard "binge model" of television viewing, I only watched the first episode of Gypsy -- to guage its effectiveness as a psychosexual drama and whether or not Watts' capabilities would be better served elsewhere.  

Click to read more ...

Naomi Watts Gets Randy with "Gypsy"

Chris here. Just because it's Tony's week doesn't mean we've got only one Gypsy on our mind. Have you forgotten about Naomi Watt's upcoming Netflix series so soon? Well, the streaming platform is here to remind you with the first series trailer - and I have to admit that the show looks far more tantalizing than it did on paper.

Gypsy stars Watts as a therapist who begins to get a little too touchy feely with her patients, including indie brood boy Karl Glusman. With a suspecting husband at home (Billy Crudup, *sigh* isn't it wonderful that he seems to be everywhere nowadays?) the trysts spin into a compulsive thrill of a double life. The first two episodes will be directed by Fifty Shades of Grey's Sam Taylor-Johnson, so expect plenty of kinkiness to go with its character pathos.

Of course, hopping over to television has been in fashion for our major talents for some time, but Watts is one star that could benefit from the kind of character depth that long-form storytelling can allow. It's been far too long since she's had a film that knows what she's capable of, and Gypsy could show a side of her we haven't seen in awhile. Could this be the most immersive and surprising she's been since Mulholland Drive? Gypsy comes to Netflix on June 30!

Link Blog Repeat and Repeat

The Muse another movie that believes shark lives are worth less than dumb humans endangering themselves
Coming Soon The Glass Castle sets a release date for August. YAY. We love a counterprogrammed adult drama in the summer
Film School Rejects on the proliferation of streaming services. A bursting bubble?
Gothamist Rooftop Films in NYC announces their summer lineup which includes buzzy titles like Beach Rats, Menashe, and The Big Sick
MNPP Who wore it best? Darren Criss or Max Greenfield
EW First images of Naomi Watts in the Netflix series Gypsy

Film School Rejects on highlights from the Godfather 45th anniversary reunion -the original cast showed up!
/Film Edge of Tomorrow is getting a sequel (with both Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise returning) and its riffing on the original film's tagline for its title: Live Die Repeat and Repeat
Collider why Rian Johnson asked JJ Abrams to make a small switch to the ending of The Force Awakens to help out The Last Jedi
The New Yorker Anthony Lane reviews Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. This tossed off line about Kurt Russell's character honestly made me LOL but I think it's only funny if you're old enough to know Yes albums.

Ego has built his own planet, apparently after consulting the covers of Yes albums.

Off Screen
AV Club Pepe the Frog dies, killed by his cartoonist creator who was upset that his initially harmless creation had been turned into a symbol of hate by Neo Nazis
EW Nicki Minaj went on a spending spree for fans for an hour on twitter, paying their student loans and tuition
Boy Culture congrats to Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley who reportedly married
Towleroad a rave review of the London production of Angels in America
Jezebel leaked tracklist for a deluxe reissue of Prince's masterpiece Purple Rain 

Exit Video
I almost never post SNL videos because frankly I never understand why people think that show is funny. It's always such a long slog with just a couple of laughs. Chris Pine hosted and did an opening number about how he's not Chris Evans or Chris Hemsworth or Chris Pratt but Chris Pine. It included one little similarity I hadnt even though of: Evans and Pine both play guys named Steve in superhero pictures that also double as World War period pieces. But this Chris Pine's guested skit about RuPaul's Drag Race is sneaky funny and super up-to-the-minute.  

Happy 50th to director Sam Taylor-Johnson

This is how her husband, Golden Globe winning actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals) celebrated on Instagram. "Awwwww," and also "oh!"

Happy Birthday 🎈 @samtaylorjohnson ..forever in my ❤️

A post shared by Aaron Taylor-Johnson (@aarontaylorjohnson) on Mar 4, 2017 at 3:14pm PST

If you're wondering what Sam has been up to, besides inspiring Aaron, she's working on the forthcoming Netflix series Gypsy which will star Naomi Watts as a therapist who gets too involved with her client's lives. 

Beauty Break: Adele Covers Vanity Fair

Chris here with some diva worship - nothing like detoxing from the spooky excess of Halloween with something truly otherwordly. Before she (likely) earns another heap of grammy nominations for her third album 25, Adele is on the December cover of Vanity Fair.

Per her hilariously glib usual, Adele gives great quote in the interview, off-the-cuff with everything from her post-partem depression to money to finding levity in a tour of "miserable" songs. And the buried gem of the article is her aspiration to play Mama Rose "like when I'm 50."

I mean, with combined powers her voice, chutzpah, and intensity: why not? After all, Adele is a likely future EGOT - an Oscar for Skyfall, 10 Grammys (and counting) and an Emmy nomination already on the books, so Tony could easily be in the cards for her songwriting or this Gypsy pipe dream. In fact, it's a little surprising her sense of humor hasn't yet brought her some comedic bit part or sketch piece - she'd have been a hoot in the string of cameos in last summer's Ab Fab movie!

Take a look at the gorgeousness from the photo spread:

Click to read more ...