Almost There: Rachel Weisz in "The Deep Blue Sea”

In honor of Rachel Weisz's 50th birthday this weekend, we’re revisiting The Deep Blue Sea with a bonus entry in the "Almost There" series. Here's Cláudio Alves...

To portray depression compellingly is a great challenge for any actor.  The danger in in authentic internalization is becoming a dull and an uninteresting subject for the camera, an unsolvable cipher. On the other hand, attempts at creating entertainment out of a depressed person is a good way to fall into the perilous pit of superficiality. Mental health issues are thus transformed into walls that block the audience's emotional investment or colorful quirks with no relation to reality. It's a difficult tight rope but some great thespians can walk it. More importantly, some can do it and make it look easy. 

Such is the case of Rachel Weisz who came close to a nomination for Best Actress in 2012 thanks to her virtuoso work in Terence Davies' sad song of love and postwar despondency, The Deep Blue Sea…

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Black Widow's Support

"Get me the best supporting cast possible!"To be honest we never thought a solo Black Widow movie was going to happen but the success of Black Panther and Captain Marvel has definitely convinced Marvel Studios that the future is with diversity (It took them long enough and will be embarassing forever that they couldn't be bothered to risk a female superhero until after DC proved the 'no-duh' appeal of female leads via Wonder Woman). Regardless of their motivations and sluggishness the Black Widow standalone is definitely on the fast-track now with new casting announcements.

So far we've got the always reliable David Harbour (thank god that Stranger Things woke people up to his talent!), the fast-rising Florence Pugh (so excellent in Lady Macbeth two years back and currently headlining Fighting With My Family), and there are rumors that Rachel Weisz is also coming on board. The cast sounds very promising...

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[Drum Roll] It's the Film Bitch Awards Medals Ceremony

It's the most painfully drawn-out nomination process followed by the swiftest awards ceremony of all. It involves your host Nathaniel slapping gold, silver, and bronze medals on the winners in the Film Bitch Awards chart! A Star is Born (10), The Favourite (9), and BlacKkKlansman (8) which all made the top ten list here, led the total medals count. It may surprise you to hear that Lady Gaga (5 for A Star is Born) and Rachel Weisz (4 between The Favourite / Disobedience) won the most medals for an individual performer,  since we didn't actually nominate either of them in the traditional 4 acting categories! But we have lots of "special" categories to reflect how we really experience the movies.  

Awards Pg 1: Picture, Director, Screenplay, Animated Feature
Awards Pg 2: The Four Traditional Acting Categories
Awards Pg 3: Visuals 
Awards Pg 4: Sound and Music
Awards Pg 5: Additional Acting Categories
Awards Pg 6: 'Characters of the Year' Prizes
Awards Pg 7: Best Individual Scenes (AND TRIVIA ABOUT THE AWARDS) 

AND WITH THAT, MY FRIENDS, FOLLOWING THE OSCAR WRAP-UP, THE FILM YEAR IS COMPLETE. ON TO 2019, ALREADY IN PROGRESS! We're currently at two festivals (SXSW and San Luis Obispo) and of course we've been discussing Avengers and Captain Marvel  and gems currently in theaters like Ash is Purest White, Transit, and more.

Red Carpet Lineup: Best Supporting Actress!

Annual Mandatory Beauty Posting / Polling  

We've already written up their performances and talked them up at length in the Supporting Actress Smackdown so now let's discuss the gowns. Are you a red latex fan or torn between pristine or shimmery white beaded structured gowns? Perhaps your taste runs more toward classic maroon frills and floof. Or wait... I know some of you thrill to a waffle cone/snake skin/avant garde/1940s/rockyhorror something or other, don'cha? Vote and discuss, plz. 

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Team Experience Oscar Reax Pt 1: Joy, Horniness, Good Speeches

As is our practice we polled the team and a few friends shortly after the Oscars to get their takes. We hope you'll answer the same questions in the comments!  

OSCAR NIGHT QUESTIONNAIRE Pt 1

1. Which moment filled you with the most joy?
2. Which moment made you horniest?
3. Which speech was your favourite?
4. Which gown left you gagging? 

Our answers are after the jump...

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