Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
'Don't Look Now'
this may be the most underrated of the best of julie christie films. it boasts two brilliant performances by julie and donald sutherland. it also has the most beautiful love scene ever filmed between christie and sutherland. some say they were not acting including julie's lover at the time warren beatty. he tried to force director nicholas roeg to cut the scene from the final print.
what makes this scene all the more beautiful is that it's played in reverse. you'll have to see it to understand it. 'john's theme' played behind the scene is one of the most beautiful pieces of scoring written for a film by pino donaggio.
trailer
the beautiful and haunting 'john's theme'
'don't look now': A
Thursday, April 15, 2010
'The Go-Between' and 'Far from the Madding Crowd'
'far from the madding crowd' and 'the go-between' show julie at her radiant best. 1967 and 1970 respectively they gave julie cinema photographers who loved her. 'the go-between' is a classic. 'far from the madding crowd' based on the thomas hardy novel less so. it is based on dryer source material as are most hardy novels. the award winning combination of julie and director john schlessinger,straight off of 'darling' failed to save this at the box office. yet it is lush and boasts an attractive cast including peter finch, alan bates and a strikingly handsome terrence stamp.
oddly only 'far from the madding crowd is available on dvd.
'the go-between'
'far from the madding crowd'
ratings:
'the go-between B+
''far from the madding crowd' B-
Rachel to Play Jackie Kennedy Onassis*
By Jeff Sneider
Published: April 14, 2010
Oscar winner Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener") is attached to play Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in "Jackie," a Noah Oppenheim-scripted drama that Weisz's fiance Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler") will direct and produce with Scott Franklin through their production company Protozoa Pictures, reports Entertainment Weekly.
The film will follow Jackie O over the four days between President John F. Kennedy's assassination and his burial and reportedly show the beloved late First Lady "at both her most vulnerable and her most graceful." The intriguing concept sets the film apart from other Kennedy-related projects, including Oliver Stone's "JFK."
CAA is shopping the package and lining up financing for the project. Judging by Aronofsky's recent track record, it'd be fair to suggest that the project will wind up at Fox Searchlight, however, it also carries a certain prestige element that may be better suited for DreamWorks. Either way, the "Jackie" package is attractive enough that some Oscar-hungry studio will be unable to resist.
The L.A. Times previously reported that director Steven Spielberg was linked to the project, which was expected to land at HBO, home of Spielberg's miniseries "The Pacific," but the DreamWorks principal is not part of the package at this point.
It's kind of funny that an American icon like Jackie O will be played by a British actress, but there's no doubt that Weisz has the look, and more importantly the talent, to succeed in the high-profile role. Plus, it's comforting to know that Weisz and Aronofsky's last collaboration was 2006's underrated romantic sci-fi epic "The Fountain," as opposed to, say, "Far and Away," to name one of several possible examples of bad movies made by good couples.
The project is certainly in safe hands with Aronofsky, who is indisputably among the best American filmmakers working today. His last film, "The Wrestler," was my favorite film of 2008, and I consider his second feature, "Requiem For a Dream," to be the second-best film of the last decade. He recently completed Fox Searchlight's ballet thriller "Black Swan," which stars Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and Captain America's new sidekick Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl").
Weisz has starred in an alarming number of disappointments since winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She followed "The Constant Gardener" with the aforementioned "The Fountain," but then went on to star in "Eragon," "My Blueberry Nights," "Fred Claus," "The Brothers Bloom" and "The Lovely Bones." Yikes! Not much luck there, but hey, at least I enjoyed "Definitely, Maybe" more than most. Weisz will next appear in Alejandro Amenabar's long-delayed historical drama "Agora," which Newmarket Films will finally open on May 28. According to The Playlist, the film will be 14 minutes shorter than the version that received an underwhelming response at Cannes last year. Weisz has also been rumored to play the head of Quantum in "Bond 23," which would be very cool news if it is ever confirmed.
Oppenheim is a former journalist and "Today" show producer who currently serves as the head of development at Reveille.
*courtesy of 'the wrap
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
'Shampoo' and 'Petulia'
both 'petulia' and 'shampoo' are a bit dated today. but when they were released, 1968 and 1975 respectively, they were a real microcosom of the mores of the day. julie was wonderful in both but it was lee grant who stole 'shampoo' with her oscar winning performance as felicia.
shampoo trailer
montage
'petulia' trailer
ratings:
'shampoo' B+, 'petulia' A
shampoo trailer
montage
'petulia' trailer
ratings:
'shampoo' B+, 'petulia' A
'Glee' Returns Tonight: Guess I'm a Gleek Now
yes there's a helluva lot of talent on this show but Matthew morrison and lea michele are the standoutss
'don't rain on my parade': lea michele
Monday, April 12, 2010
Arrest This Pope: The Anti-Christ
i couldn't agree more!
"A leering old villain in a frock, who spent decades conspiring behind closed doors for the position he now holds; a man who believes he is infallible and acts the part; a man whose preaching of scientific falsehood is responsible for the deaths of countless AIDS victims in Africa; a man whose first instinct when his priests are caught with their pants down is to cover up the scandal and damn the young victims to silence."
Richard Dawkins
1965: 'Darling' , 'Doctor Zhivago'
julie was the self centered period defining diana in 'darling' her oscar winning performance:
in 'doctor zhivago' julie portrayed lara antipov. some feel this should have been the nominated role. what the hell is the difference? julie was the best actress of the year no matter how they sliced it.
'darling' A+
'doctor zhivago A
in 'doctor zhivago' julie portrayed lara antipov. some feel this should have been the nominated role. what the hell is the difference? julie was the best actress of the year no matter how they sliced it.
'darling' A+
'doctor zhivago A
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Declaration: It's Julie Christie's Birthday Celebration Week
julie turns 69 on wednesday. where does the time go? yet since she burst onto the international scene in 1965 with 'darling' and 'doctor zhivago' she has remained a force, if even an often illusive force, in film.
is it really 45 years ago julie christie broke out internationally with these two films? i've loved a lot of actresses for many years. julie has always been and still remains the one i've stuck with the longest. (audrey hepburn may have been the longest but the loverly one passed too soon and too young). julie is consistent. even when she goes into her 'semi retirements' she remains intriguing. she comes then goes leaving me to always want more. and more she will return to give. whether in a supporting role ('finding neverland'), an academy award worthy role ('away from her') or turning in the best work in an ensemble piece ('new york, i love you').
she is ever loverly. she has chosen to age with grace. after a few years of 'going hollywood' she walked away. she took on social causes adding to my love for her. and she continues to act on her terms. she has nothing to prove. julie has proven. everyday is a day to celebrate julie christie. this week sees has us celebrating her sixty-ninth birthday. she is still younger than springtime and a 'darling' of the screen.
so for the next week or so i am celebrating her birthday and career and ask you to join me. not that i need an excuse to celebrate julie.
a video i made awhile ago celebrating julie
'julie christie she makes me go misty'
Saturday, April 10, 2010
'Blind Side' vs 'Hurt Locker' vs 'Avatar'
why is it that EVERYONE i know loved 'avatar' and 'the blind side' and disliked if not HATED 'the hurt locker', myself included? just asking. how did the critics darling win best picture of the year? just asking.
Friday, April 9, 2010
'The Ghost Writer' Rates **stars
i am a polanski fan. in fact, i believe he directed the best drama of the past decade: 'The Pianist'. his 'rosemary's baby' remains unmatched in the thriller edge of your seat drama. that said 'ghost writer' is a second class citizen in his repertoire. it is seemingly an indictment of cheyney and the u.s.'s influence on tony blair. if any director could have made this effective and a real indictment it could have been roman polanski. he fell short with the subject matter.
truth be told i might have given this a B but for some odd reason he cast kim catrell in an important role. kim is just out of her league here. she is downright awful. her so-called british accent is beyond laughable. ewam mcgregor and olivia williams are convincible while pierce brosnan is wasted in a dull supporting role.
catch it on dvd.
better luck next time roman.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
'Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing' on DVD:***stars
1973: alan j. pakula gave us this tragicomedy love story starring maggie smith and timothy bottoms. i love this film of unthinkable lovers traveling thru spain on holiday. how did i miss this september 2009 dvd release. oh well i found it now. pakula was amazing. 'the sterile cuckoo', 'to kill a mockingbird', 'klute', 'love with a proper stranger' and 'starting over' are among the highlights on his resume. he passed on 11/19/1998 and hollywood suffered a great loss.
the dvd cover
the trailer
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
For Sandra: 'Smile"
dear sandra,
it's been a rough time since that oscar win right sandy? but there are a gazillion people on your side and pulling for you. people who may only love you from afar but love you we do for the joy you have given us and for the humanity you have shown for those in need. i ask you to smile. i only hope one day soon you can...smile again.
love,
josh
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What Year Is this Again?*
And now after removing sexual orientation as a protected class in state employment and ordering the state's public universities to rescind domestic partnership provisions for gay employees, VA Governor McDonnell declares April to be Confederate History Month. He couldn't be prouder to celebrate the wanton and needless deaths of 600,000 Americans in the name of State's Rights.
What year is this again???
*compliments of my buddy larry
Happy Birthday ABBA
on april 6, 1974 ABBA won the eurovision contest and ABBA was born.
so happy birthday ABBA and' thank you for the music'
the winner takes it all
the visitors crackin' up mix
super trooper
so happy birthday ABBA and' thank you for the music'
the winner takes it all
the visitors crackin' up mix
super trooper
Monday, April 5, 2010
Happy Birthday Agnetha
one of us extended mix
if i thought you'd ever change your mind
wrap your arms around me live edition
i wasn't the one who said goodbye
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