A Single Man

Tom Ford can do no wrong. None. I cannot wait for this.

Rosso Valentino!

So I finally checked out Valentino: The Last Emperor. Having garnered much attention when it did the rounds during 2008's film fests, I was very eager to get a peak inside the world of Valentino, his lover, Giancarlo, their five pugs and the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge for the uncool) seamstress. Oh, and the delicious fashion as well.

The film was shot in a style almost guerrilla- maybe to offset the overt glamour of the luxurious offices, showrooms, museums and galas that Valentino worked in and around. Diamonds on my neck, diamonds on my grill? More like diamonds on my pug, diamonds on it's ears.

Besides his pugs and the nagging nature of his relationship with Giancarlo, my favourite parts of the film are the glimpses into the surreal life of this iconic designer through images of notable members of international royalty and iconic celebrities hobnobbing with Valentino. Not "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here," celebrities, but actual icons like Meryl, Sophia Lauren, Jackie O and Liz Taylor.

Their lifestyle seems so opulent, so extravagant but never obnoxious, undeserved or overdone. It's this lifestyle that is just as awe-inspiring as his designs (and yes, he still sketched until retirement). And yet, there was tremendous restraint. Restraint that seems to be from an era past. Not only is Valentino one of the last couturiers, he is one of the last designers to understand that less is more without reaching into the gimmicks of minimalism or deconstructionism.




A little FYI: he actually finds all of his red dresses to be "simple and stupid." THE HORROR!

"Anna is like...Madonna"

"This type seems so lah-ge and pretentious. It looks like it's for blind people."

God I love this woman.



p.s. "FAMINE OF BEAUTY!" courtesy of André Leon Talley has been my catchphrase as of late.

Obsessed with OBSESSED

I'm obsessed with the movie Obsessed starring Beyonce. I've been quoting the movie for days based on the trailer alone. Beyonce's acting is superb and merits an Oscar NOW. The film looks riveting, groundbreaking and award-worthy.

To appreciate this post:

1. Watch the trailer below. The whole thing.

2. Read the quotes out loud below the YouTube link after you've completed watching it.

3. Marvel at the glorious GIF of Beyonce head-butting Ali Larter. (Yes...head-butting).

In theatres April 24th 2009. Be there or be left square.



Y DIN U KALL ME BAK 2DAY?

YOU SAID SHE PLAIN. YO' GURL MAYBE ALOTTA THINGS, BUT SHE AIN'T PLAIN.

WUTZ HAPPENIN?

SHE WUZ NAKED IN YOH ~HOTEUL~ ROOM?

YOU BETTA DO SOMETHIN' 'BOUT THIS WOMAN- O I WHEEL.

AH NEW IT WUD COME 2 'DIS

SHE WUZ IN OU' BED?

SHE TOUCH'D MAH CHIL?

AH'M GON' CALL U BACK

AH'LL SHOW U CRAZY

>

Drew does W

When Drew Barymore isn't hawking CoverGirl mascara, she acts. I ended up in the multiplex a few weeks ago watching the trainwreck that is He's Just Not That Into You and I realized how much I miss seeing her on screen. Her acting chops may not be like Meryl's but she definately knows how to light up a screen.

Here is Drew in W. She's promoting Grey Gardens, an HBO film based on a 1970s documentary about Edie Beale. This role might be show us a new side of Drew. I've included some stills from the film and the article, courtesy of W Magazine.

When you think of Drew Barrymore, you often remember her roles in such feel-good romantic comedies as "The Wedding Singer" and "50 First Dates." Turns out the bubbly actress has a dark side. In the April issue of W magazine, Drew reveals the need she had to break out of her happy-go-lucky persona. That's why the 34-year-old fought so hard for the part of Little Edie Beale in HBO's "Grey Gardens." If you haven't seen the 1975 documentary that the HBO film is based on, Little Edie was the eccentric cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who lived alone with her mother, Edie Bouvier Beale, in a dilapidated 28-room mansion in East Hampton filled with cats and raccoons. Quite a departure from Barrymore's role in "He's Just Not That Into You," eh?

"I was excited to bring my own pain to something," Drew reveals. "I mean, contrary to my happy-go-luckiness, I have so much darkness in there. Playing Edie, I felt like s---. I thought, I'm afraid beyond anything I've ever known. I'm miserable; I'm scared; I feel sick all the time. And I was like, Good! At least I have somewhere to put it. You know what? I'm not f---in' happy all the time. I like making people feel good, but it was great not to have to please anybody. I was out there for myself and for her."To prepare for the dramatic role, Drew cut herself off from the outside world, which reminded her of when she went to rehab at the age of 13. "I got institutionalized as a kid, and I felt like I was back there," she shares. "A lot of times I found myself unhappy and isolated, and the only other time I felt that way was when I was in there. It was absolutely trying to relearn to live. You are learning to become someone else."

Although Little Edie's decision to live in seclusion with her overbearing mother may seem odd to most, Drew views their relationship as a love story. That's not how she would describe the relationship she has with her own mom. "My mother and I split when I was very young and have never really reconciled," she shares. (Drew has lived on her own since legally emancipating herself the age of 15.)Fortunately, Barrymore has managed to create her own family over the years, which consists of such close friends as Cameron Diaz and her producing partner Nancy Juvonen. She's also had no shortage of romances. Drew's been married twice, and dated New York rocker Fabrizio Moretti (of the Strokes) for five years, which was "one of the most, if not the most, important relationships I've had in my life," she notes. "We're still very close. I'm just learning who I am and how relationships work and how to make them function. No different from anyone else."

O!

Finally. I just finished watch The Wrestler. I can now say I've seen each film (some twice). Yes, even The Visitor. I don't believe in making uninformed critiques.

Male actor in a leading role:

Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor" (Overture Films)
Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
Sean Penn in "Milk" (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight)

Sean Penn should win. His acting in Milk was remarkable and astounding. He carried the weight of the film. I worry that the Academy will give the statue to Micky Rourke. His performance was great, but Marisa Tomei and himself both made the movie.

In any other year, I think Brad Pitt would have won. His portrayal of Benjamin by an lesser actor would make the film laughable.

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon looked...Hispanic and this minor detail kinda ruined the movie- is that bad? Also, the annoying trailers for F/N made me dislike the film before even sitting down to watch it. His actual performance was really enigmatic though.

Side note: Leo wasn't snubbed in the male category, his acting was simply sub-par. In fact, I would even argue that Haaz Sleiman was the one who was actually snubbed from a great performance as Tarek in The Visitor.

Male actor in a supporting role:

Josh Brolin in "Milk" (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder" (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) [There isn't any contest here, and if there is, it's coming from Philip Seymour Hoffman]
Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Heath Ledger deserves to win this. His portrayal of The Joker is something greater than any summer blockbuster. I personally do not understand the Josh Brolin nomination- James Franco delivered a better performance than Brolin in Milk. If not anyone else, then Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance in Doubt was riveting and convincing. If anyone but these two win the award, I think I might not carry on watching the rest.

Female actor in a leading role:

Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in "Changeling" (Universal)
Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Meryl Streep in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Kate Winslet in "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)

Meryl FTW! Meryl in Doubt was amazing. Absolutely amazing. I think I've watched doubt about three times now and each time I watch it, I get something different from her performance. Anne Hathaway, who doesn't play Rachel from Rachel Getting Married, put on a performance that was realistically broody and filled with grounded contempt. Even Melissa Leo, playing Ray Eddy in Frozen River, delivers a better performance than Kate.

Sorry Kate, but I've jumped ship after watching Revolutionary Road. I think Revolutionary Road was one of the worst films of the year. Stage acting with a strained American accent does not merit an Oscar nod. Similarly, Meryl is capable of playing a character and making it her own. The real shame is that Kate's younger lover from The Reader wasn't nominated.

Female actor in a supporting role:

Amy Adams in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (The Weinstein Company)
Viola Davis in "Doubt" (Miramax)
Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight)

This, to me, is one of the toughest categories to choose from. My top favourites are Penny, Taraji and Marisa. Viola did a great job in Doubt, but was only on screen for a few minutes- does that mean that she deserves the award on that merit or that it's undeserved for the same reason? That's really up to you.

I personally do no like Amy Adams but found her character endearing in Doubt. So this is tough. I fell in love with Penny's Maria Elena; like, head over heels. Marisa really made sure that she made her mark when on screen, arguably, stealing the show. But Taraji, like the other women of Benjamin Button, really carried the movie. I have no decision in this, but I would love to see Penny win. Also, why was Blanchett not nominated? Or Tilda? Shame.

Best animated feature film of the year

"Bolt" (Walt Disney) Chris Williams and Byron Howard
"Kung Fu Panda" (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Andrew Stanton

Really? If WALL-E doesn't win then...I don't know.

Achievement in cinematography

"Changeling" (Universal) Tom Stern
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Claudio Miranda
"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Wally Pfister
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Anthony Dod Mantle

This award belongs to Benjamin Button. No one else comes close.

Achievement in costume design:

"Australia" (20th Century Fox) Catherine Martin
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Jacqueline West
"The Duchess" (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films) Michael O'Connor
"Milk" (Focus Features) Danny Glicker
"Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage) Albert Wolsky

Okay, I lied. I haven't seen all the nominated films- I didn't watch Australia. I did take a four hour nap though- does that count?

Think this award deserves to go to Benjamin Button for Tilda's wardrobe alone.

Achievement in directing

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) David Fincher
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal) Ron Howard
"Milk" (Focus Features) Gus Van Sant
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) Stephen Daldry
"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Danny Boyle

I would really love to see Benjamin Button take this. The directing was flawless- the same can't be said about Slumdog, Milk or Frost/Nixon. The Reader also might deserve this if it were a better film.

Best motion picture of the year

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)A Kennedy/Marshall Production
Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
"Milk" (Focus Features)A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production
Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production
Nominees to be determined
"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)A Celador Films Production
Christian Colson, Producer

I do not think that Slumdog Millionaire deserves the best picture of the year- it was a good movie, but it isn't what everyone is making it out to be. I just don't buy the whole 'it was written' thing. And besides, it's a little odd to give best picture to a film that has no acting nominations- but then again, stranger things have happened.

My favourite film of the year was Doubt (and The House Bunny, don't judge me) but I really do think Milk or Benjamin Button deserve the award. Milk, unless you're a homophobe, is inspired and manages to tell a true story without being overtly self-important. On the other hand, Benjamin Button has Oscar stamped all over it- it is fantastical, larger than life and layered. The acting in both films is superb.

I wonder if the Academy will go for either of these two or if they too are caught up in the Slumdog hysteria?

Also, Hugh Jackman? Bring back Billy or Whoopie. Thanks.

The Curious Case of the women of Benjamin Button.

On Christmas day, after the family had retired to the fireplace for the evening, a few friends and I went to the local multiplex to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I have an odd fascination with both Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. I admire Cate as a striking beauty, as an actor and as a fashionista. Tilda, however, intrigues me because I find her to be non-human bordering ethereal and especially gutsy in her lifestyle, fashion choices and movie roles.

Back to Button- the movie does not disappoint. Set in New Orleans, it chronicles the life of Benjamin Button, played superbly by an Oscar-hungry Brad Pitt, as he ages backwards. Born with the health and prognosis of an average 80-something year old, Button gains sight, mobility and agility as he ages (un-ages?). The movie spans WWI to the moments before Hurricane Katrina gained notoriety.

I'm sure you can find other blogs with more informed and educated reviews, but I will say that the cinematography, post-production and costumers did a superb job of creating looks for each character.

In the film Tilda resembles 1920s Art Deco and for this, I loved every scene she was in. Her angular and almost cubist bone structure added with an impeccable costume selection radiates frigidity without her uttering a single icy syllable.

Blanchett can do anything- I'm convinced. Her sapphire eyes, alabaster skin and ruby mane are, not to be cliche, breathtaking at 20, 30, 40, 50 and older.

Queenie, played by Taraji P. Henson, shines and is a certain for a supporting actress nod (and hopefully a win) at the upcoming Oscars. Her acting and role flirts with caricature but pulls back with a wallop of uncompromising emotion.

Interestingly, one facet many reviewers have glossed over are the racial undertones that punctuate most of the film. From WWI to the very intentional tie-in with Hurricane Katrina, every person that acts as caretaker (hospital staff, nannies and retirement home workers) is African-American. The social commentary is implicit, absent from the rhetoric; but we all know what happened with the levees broke. We know who was/is affected and for an administration laden with follies, Katrina ranks highly among them.

A curious case indeed.