Showbiz History: Dutch Men, Dark Knights, and Queen Bitches

We need escapism now more than ever so on this July 18th let's looks back into history for easier things to think about then the here and now.

Verhoeven on the set of "Showgirls"

10 random things that happened on this day in showbiz history...

1938 Infamous Dutch auteur Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct, Showgirls) born on this day. Elle, his most recent feature, might be hard to top as late career provocations go but the 80 year-old master will certainly try with his next, Benedetta, a 17th century lesbian nuns drama starring Charlotte Rampling. The film is due in 2019.

1967 Mark Vincent Sinclair born in New York City. He later becomes Vin Diesel... 

Click to read more ...

1994 Q&A: Frankenstein, Weaver, Past Glories, Future Nominations.

Okay, our last dive into 1994! I recently asked readers to send in their '94 related questions (other questions will still be answered but that's for the next Q&A). So here's our final pontifying for that year. You asked, I answer. 

JAMES: 1994 was the year of Frankenstein, the movie that led to Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh splitting up, due to his affair with HBC. Thoughts on Thompson & Branagh’s (professional) partnership? What projects would they have excelled at if they stayed together?

"IT'S ALIVE!" Or, rather. "IT'S DEAD!" Emma and Kenneth. Kenneth and Emma. Sigh. Insert broken heart emoji. Young Nathaniel was so sad when they split. They were the Definitive Early 90s 'It Couple: UK Edition. That was such an awesome cinematic partnership. I adored their over-the-top genre mashup and reincarnation chutzpah in Dead Again and their luminous Shakespearean comedy in Much Ado About Nothing.

If you think about it Frankenstein, with its pulp grotesqueries, and bodice-ripped lustiness is absolutely the work of the same guy who made Dead Again. I miss that Branagh, still...

Click to read more ...

Beauty vs Beast: Acid Queen

Howdy, Jason from MNPP here with our Mother's Day edition of "Beauty vs Beast" - it's maybe becoming a bit cliche to talk about the Alien franchise for Mother's Day at this point... but that's not going to stop me, for two reasons. First off today is the 42nd birthday of the actress Carrie Henn, who played "Newt" in 1986's Aliens - click here to see a picture of her with Sigourney Weaver a couple of years ago. She's a grown lady! Time is weird, you guys.

And secondly we're doing Alien because I got to see the film on the gigantic screen of the United Palace Theater here in NYC yesterday and a million wows. Never have I more envied the moviegoers of yesteryear who got to watch films in these literal palaces. United Palace does a movie screening every month and if you're in New York you owe yourself the experience of seeing something there, it is absolutely grand - see their whole schedule right here. Anyway we've faced down Ripleys for this series once before so this time let's face down her foes! Which came first, the Egg or the Queen...

polls

PREVIOUSLY Last week we sup from the throats of the haute couture bloodsuckers in Tony Scott's The Hunger and it was ice-blonde Catherine Deneueve who came out on top to the tune of nearly 80% of your votes - said thevoid99:

"I vote for Miriam although.... my heart and soul will always belong to David Bowie's character in that film. Still not over him."

Tweetweek: Eye Moisture, Sitcom Troubles, Cat Content

Before we begin a shout out to Katya who is back with us after taking care of her mental health first. As one should. Blessed be.

Pro-tip: put down your cell phone and gyrate in front of the mirror for a minimum of 25 mins each day

— Katya (@katya_zamo) March 28, 2018

 After the jump tweets on Rent the musical (just because), Love Simon, Roseanne, political confusions, and more... 

Click to read more ...

Beauty Break: Happy National Pumpkin Day!

Norma Jean (aka Marilyn before fame) in a pumpkin patch in the 40s

To celebrate this day, more beautiful people with pumpkins after the jump...

Click to read more ...