8 posts tagged “kate winslet”
Rarely do I watch a movie and then read the book it was based from and am blown away by both pieces. However, Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road was the exception.
I watched the film version with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio last Christmas and couldn't get it out of my head for days. Then, inspired by the film, I decided to read the novel it came from. The novel, in fact, is probably better than the movie -- even though the film is amazing. Never before had I ever read something where every word was important. Usually, you can tell when an author has to fill a quota of so many pages. Yet, Yates' was so incredibly skillful with making each word count in Revolutionary Road (probably the best book I've ever read in fact).
I decided to read Yates' other highly acclaimed book The Easter Parade and was impressed with this achievement as well. I had one of those great late night book reads where you can't wait to see how it ends. The novel tells the tale of two sisters Emily and Sarah (although the focus is on Emily) and the way their lives turn out over the course of four decades. It's probably even more depressing than Revolutionary Road, but I think there is just as much to analyze (especially in the context of Women's Lib).
I did some research and discovered that producer Caroline Kaplan has acquired the rights for the book and a movie is in the works. The funny thing is I kinda pictured Kate Winslet in the role of Sarah. Maybe she should do another Yates book to movie.
I went to see Rian Johnson's The Brothers Bloom the other day and was struck by two things: one, that Wes Anderson might be currently the most copied filmmaker; two, that Rachel Weisz is amazing!
The Brothers Bloom tells the story of two grifting brothers Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrian Brody) who are trying one last con on a rich eccentric heiress (Rachel Weisz). The movie is like the offspring between The Sting and The Royal Tenenbaums.
I enjoyed the movie, but Rachel Weisz's performance was what made it entertaining. Her portrayal of sheltered Penelope was award worthy (although I don't think this movie will be seeing any Oscar nominations). Weisz usually gets lost in the background for me (Definitely, Maybe) or simply serves as the beautiful romantic love interest (About A Boy). However, in this movie, I finally saw her as a full-fledged character, someone who has feelings and that I could root for. She also holds a likeness to my girl Kate Winslet.
I fell in love with Larry Doyle's graphic novel I Love You, Beth Cooper when I first read it during the summer of 2007. By the end of the summer when the film Superbad came out, I realized that soon enough ILYBC would be turned into a teen film in light of the success from the summer blockbuster.
That time has come. Here's the trailer for I Love You, Beth Cooper.
Around the same time, I also read another book called Love is A Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. It was probably the best romance I've ever read. Autobiographical, LIAMT tells the story of one man's love for his girlfriend (and eventual wife) in the form of mix tapes. I always hoped that they would turn this story into a movie rather than I Love You, Beth Cooper. I pictured a certain 2009 Best Actress Oscar winner in the role of said love interest (I pictured her in all her Indie Clementine Kruczynski fashion).
Kate Winslet graced the cover of The New York Times Magazine over the weekend with this gorgeous image taken by Paolo Pellegrin.
Kate led the pack of highlighted "Great Performers," which included Mickey Rourke and Penelope Cruz (basically the other two living individuals I expect to win the Oscar this year). Each write-up on the "Great Performers" is by other celebrities related to the actors (Catherine Keener wrote about The 40-Year-Old Virgin co-star Kat Dennings, Diner director Barry Levinson offered accolades for directee Mickey Rourke) . Tom Perotta (author of Little Children) wrote praise for Winslet, saying: "According to my own highly unscientific survey, just about everyone loves Kate Winslet."
I second that. I only hope all this attention doesn't hurt her chances come Oscar time.
While I
am never able to predict the Academy Award nominations right down to the Best
Short Subject Film or Best Best Boy Grip (not that this is even a category), I
am usually happy with the results and understand where the Academy is coming
from. Most of the time they seem to get
it about right. However, this year seems to be an exception. I am shocked and
dismayed at the results of this year’s nominations (yes, I’m THAT involved with
something I’m NOT involved in at all).
The Academy seemed to have missed the boat in a few of its main categories and even some minor ones. I may not be Movie Critic Ben Lyons of the E! channel (although Dave McCoy of MSN Movies might debate me on the use of “Movie Critic”), but I am a moviegoer who has seen ( if not all) most of the Oscar movies. And like myself, there are countless others who were disappointed today with the results.
Here’s where I think the Academy got it wrong:
Most importantly, Kate Winslet not getting a Best Actress nomination for Revolutionary Road. While I can be excited for the nomination for The Reader, it’s hard to believe that her Revolutionary Road performance will go down in Oscar history as having never been recognized. It reminds me of when Leo was nominated for Blood Diamond, but not for his incredible effort in The Departed. I really thought she should have been nominated for both in Best and Best Supporting Actress categories, respectively.
The Dark Knight not getting nominated for Best Picture. I’m not even a fanboy, and I still would have liked to have seen this movie get Best Picture/Best Director nods. It clearly was one of the best films of the year, with one of the most memorable performances (at least Heath Ledger got nominated).
Sally Hawkins failing to get a Best Actress nomination for the charming Happy-Go-Lucky. In fact of all the female performances of the year, Hawkins’ was my personal favorite. She did something really special in this Mike Leigh film, creating a character who’s altogether hilarious but entirely human. The Academy really dropped the ball in the Best Actress category.
Bruce Springsteen failing to get a Best Original song nomination. I know the Academy just recently changed the guidelines in the song category, but I really thought it would help the Boss in this case. Turns out winning the Golden Globe means nothing.
Frost/Nixon getting a Best Picture nomination. This was a lukewarm film met with lukewarm reviews. Why reward this achievement? I love Ron Howard, but really, this film was not the best of the best in 2008.
No Best Original Screenplay love for Rachel Getting Married. Which was clearly one of the best examples of storytelling in 2008!
The Dark Knight was great white hope for the Oscar telecast. Being that viewership declines every year, many hoped that The Dark Knight would be Oscar’s Night in Shining Armor, with a worldwide blockbuster being nominated in the main categories. As it turns out, the Academy better hope a lot of people went to see Slumdog Millionaire.
Last night's Golden Globes was by far the strangest telecast I've ever seen. The A-list audience was either restless or rude (although J.Lo tried to shush them). The presenters were riffing when they clearly shouldn't (the Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman bit was PAINFUL). And couple of times during the ceremony, the screen just went blank for no reason (which many wished would have happened when Drew Barrymore stepped onto the stage).
Either way, I still enjoyed it (I enjoyed last year's hour ceremony with no stars, for Pete's Sake). Here are my top Golden Globe moments:
1. J.Lo's dress announcing. . .she's back! I don't care what anyone says. The woman had twins, and she can still wear a dress like that! Pretty amazing (and I'm not even a J.Lo fan!).
2. Bruce Springsteen's shout-out to Clarence Clemons on his birthday. For any E Street fan, this was the icing on the cake to a Springsteen win!
3. Pierce Brosnan mouthing the word, "Wow," after Jake Gyllenhaal takes the stage. Did we catch him in a man-crush? My sentiments exactly, Mr. Bond.
4. Standing O for Heath Ledger. I've been waiting nearly six months for this, since I knew he would win in this category. Very touching speech by Christopher Nolan.
5. Note to cast of 30 Rock: Don't ever let Tracy Morgan grab the mike again. The speech started out kinda funny, but ended up making me sad and uncomfortable.
6. Pete Campbell from Mad Men looking very un-Pete Campbell. And I totally dug it!
7. Kate Winslet finally winning, not one, but two awards! And who predicted it -- me!
The Golden Globes is the hip, chic kid sister to the Oscars, and my personal favorite awards ceremony because it sets the tone for Oscars and SAGs. Plus, it features television and mini-series!
While I predict a Slumdog Millionaire sweep, I also believe some late-year bloomers are going to surface for some awards, including films like Revolutionary Road and The Reader. Because Kate Winslet is in both of these films, I truly think she has a good shot at both awards for Best Actress in a Drama and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
Even though Anne Hathaway is a favorite for the Best Actress, I think that Bride Wars will work against her (My favorite BW review comes from Nick Schager from Slant Magazine: "The most lamentable thing about the dismal Bride Wars is the total absence of fatalities"). Next in line for the win is Meryl Streep. However, I think the mixed reviews aren't going to help. Mixed reviews aren't going to help Angelina Jolie either, who's nominated for the lackluster Changeling. And no one really remembers who Kristin Scott Thomas is anymore ("Wasn't she the chick from The English Patient?").
In the supporting category, Kate's toughtest competition is Penelope Cruz, supporting player in Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona. However, with Cruz winning many pre-cursors, people might be getting tired of her acceptance speech (which features an anecdote about Woody rushing to the dermatolgist to get a spot on his hand checked). Viola Davis and Amy Adams might cancel each other out for their respective performances in Doubt, and the only win Marisa Tomei might see for her film The Wrestler is Best Actor (Mickey Rourke).
The potential is definitely there for a Winslet sweep!
Leo + Kate + Nina Simone's "Wild is the Wind" = I know where I'll be this December.
