Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Alexander Skarsgård Special

by Nathaniel R

Alexander Skarsgård in his first movie role in 1984

Alexander Skarsgárd is nothing if not committed to his nearly feral manchild in The Northman. He embraces the movie's mythological brutality and reminds us of both his indisputable screen charisma and the too little acknowledged fact that its unusually flexible in terms of tone and genre and auteurial vision. This may be another northman (you can't change your ancestry) but it's definitely not Eric Northman of True Blood fame! And speaking of the Nordic vampire that made him internationally famous, this is a good time to look back to his breakthrough season from the summer of 2008 to the summer of 2009. Not that he was a "new" actor in 2008, mind you...

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Cláudio's Best Shot Pick: 'True Blood' & 'Paparazzi'

The next episode of our series, 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot,' arrives tomorrow. It's focused on Alexander Skarsgård's Hollywood breakthrough. Specifically, we're looking at his first True Blood episode in 2008 and the following year's Lady Gaga music video Paparazzi. Here's Cláudio's entry.

Prince Amleth of Hrafnsey is far from the first Northman in Alexander Skarsgård's resume. From 2008 to 2014, the Swedish actor played another heir to a 10th-century Viking King in the HBO hit series True Blood. But of course, Eric Northman has long left his motherland when we meet him in the show's fourth episode, "Escape from Dragon House." Deep in the Louisiana backwoods, the former prince turned vampire has found himself playing the part of Sheriff in the region's undead community. Instead of an ancient castle, his domain's a seedy nightclub that goes by the name Fangtasia. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, from noble northern warrior to lowly vice peddler…

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Would you rather?

(Our intermittent excuse to share instagrams we liked)
Would you rather?

• Hit the hot tub with Dolly Parton?
• Eat pasta (correctly) with Jessica Chastain?
• Have a slice with Lee Pace?
• Take a break with Gal Gadot & Kristen Wiig?
• Reenact the "Waterfalls" video with Laverne Cox and Peppermint?
• Pick pumpkins with Hugh Dancy?

Pictures are after the jump to help you decide...

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If I Could Turn Back Time... How Cher Ruled 1987

by Baby Clyde

I’m not sure if I believe in life after love (whatever that means) but I definitely believe in love at first sight. I first saw the love of my life in a dingy dive bar 1981. She stood there, pint in hand surrounded by an intimidating girl gang, dressed to the nines in black leather with gold hoop earring and Jungle Red nail varnish. I watched in awe as she slunk over to the jukebox all back combed hair and gum chewing attitude. Her name was Cherilyn Sarkisian and she changed my life forever. 

I was not even 10 as I watched the video for Meatloaf’s single Dead Ringer For Love. A notorious flop in America it was a Top 5 smash hit in Britain at the tail end of 1981 in no small part because of Meat’s duet partner...

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Tweetweek

tweets curated by Nathaniel R for your momentary amusement...

A story that ends with a corpse on the floor is a tragedy. A story that begins with a corpse on the floor is a mystery. A story that begins with a floor on a corpse is The Wizard of Oz.

— Sandra Newman (@sannewman) July 27, 2020

I know its a weird year for movies and the Oscar will be a mess so I was thinking what if - and hear me out - what if - and I’m just spitballing here - but what if we gave Julia Roberts another Oscar for Erin Brokovich

— Chris Murphy (@christress) August 8, 2020

After the jump unexpected Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Young Girls of Rochefort, and Still Alice jokes, and great casting ideas for anything...

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