One of the indisputable joys if clichéd truths of the internet age is that you can always find other people who share your particular obsession(s). Because of this I've made many virtual pfriendships over the years with other Michelle Pfeiffer addicts. One of them Mike Azevedo, an actor, sends me invites to his parties. Which is sweet because I love pretending to be at fab parties. This party (see invite below) is probably still roaring as I post this. I wish I was there!
[Yes, he gave me permission to share all this.]
Not only does he actually throw Pfeiffer themed parties (this isn't the first time), but he demands that people come "in theme". And they do. I love this and am officially in awe of the effort that is undoubtedly required.
Do you ever throw movie-themed parties? Do share in the comments. Wouldn't you love to go to a Scarface themed party... or a Witches of Eastwick party (bowls of cherries should litter the room), or a Stardust or Hairspray party? The only movie related parties I throw are during awards season but they're never themed after just one movie. Maybe I should get more specific.
Another random sampling of ladies hitting the red carpet or being caught by the paparazzi these past few days...
Kathy Bates was not at the press day for Chéri. But that's good. I was experiencing sensory overload anyway. Imagine if I had been made to feel even crazier than I already did about being in the same room with Michelle Pfeiffer. I didn't need Bates there as a freaky "I'm your no. 1 fan" reminder of the obsessive vibe I was probably giving off (uhhhh) NEW TOPIC!
Remember how fun Bates was on Six Feet Under a few years back? I kind of want her to do another TV series which is uncommon for me, given that I like my film actresses to stay put.
Sacha Baron Cohen, excuse me, Brüno at a photocall in Spain. That outfit... he really can't help himself. I'm drawn to the "too much" factor, I think. I'm not someone who likes comedy shows or standup but the comedians who are willing to push things so far that they ended up feeling dangerous rather than 'funny' or punchline oriented... like Andy Kaufman or early Sandra Bernhard. Those people I tend to love.
♫ I don't give a damn about my bad reputation ♫ It's not every day you see an actor with the famous person they're about to recreate onscreen. This isn't from a red carpet event but the annoying Kristen Stewart and the great Joan Jettare actually communicating about Stewart's Jett performance in The Runaways. Do you think Dakota Fanning, not to be outdone, asked to meet with Cherie Currie?
If they did meet I really hope Currie made her carve something with a chainsaw. I really do. I want The Runaways to be good. If Stewart and Fanning don't fully rock this, it won't be.
update: Dakota did meet with Cherie. Here's proof [thx bartzina]
Catherine Deneuve is 65 years old and still giving sensational performances. Her matriarch in Un conte de Noëlhas really stayed with me. My favorite thing about her (aside from her onscreen magnificence) is the cinephile vibe she gives off. That could be wishful thinking but you can also feel that possibility emanating from Kidman, Huppert and Julianne Moore on her good days. Deneuve's been playing muse to auteurs for decades. Can any actress match her collection: Buñuel, Von Trier, Demy, Polanski, Carax, Tony Scott (er...), Truffaut, Téchiné, Desplechin?
Oh, Christina Ricci. I really thought you were going to experience a bonafide resurgence post Black Snake Moan. Why is nothing major happening? Please to explain.
Michelle Pfeiffer was working the talk show circuit right after her press day in New York and I missed it. I am exceedingly forgetful. Plus I tend to be more big screen oriented than general media oriented all told. I frequently forget that my favorites are going to be interviewed somewhen and somewhere. I just want to see them act. The rest is icing. Unfortunately I skipped dessert. How was she on Letterman? Who watched? I love that she's working her 1992 Catwoman 'do again, don't you? The only thing I can find online is this anecdote about her screen test with Al Pacino for Scarface (1983) and I've paired it with her 2001 Letterman appearance for a comparison (the video clears up after a bit)
And, finally, just because it's so freaky to watch now, here's her first major talk show: Johnny Carson in 1980. Can you believe it? At this point she's 21 or 22 and because she's got virtually nothing on her resume, her intro is basically... 'um, this girl is ridiculously beautiful.' I love that Shelley Winters, ole blowsy Shelley Winters, who famously carried her Oscars to auditions with her to terrorize young casting directors, is on hand to welcome her to Hollywood.
Slant watches David Lynch cook. Honestly why can't all directors go this extra mile for their DVD releases? MSN's Kim Morgan offers up a "Pfeiffer Top Ten" great writeups of Scarface and White Oleander in particular. Gallery of the Absurd"Experience the Horror of John Travolta..." patrakaar2b serves up the Booker list. Despite being called a "nerd" at work because I went to the library on my lunch hour (what is this, junior high?) I have not read these Siskel & Ebert those were the days MTV Chuck Pahlaniuk says Kathleen Turner's name out loud. Careful... in this bloggy world that causes misleading headlines and false rumors The Movie Blog doesn't want to see baby 'Franklin' in the next Fantastic 4 Movie. Neither do I. I'm thinking: who would wish that plight on a child? But I'm also thinking: another FF movie? Dear Lord, no. Bright Lights this rant about revenge in film makes a lot of assumptions about unseen movies but I still like it
And finally... EW film critics keep losing at home... Hollywood Reporter ...but they win overseas. I've often wondered why we can't get a law like this passed in America. Oh, that's right. We worship corporate profits above all else and it's in their best interest if they can control "reviews" of their products. *
My favorite bit in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly comes in an article about the endurance of Brian dePalma's Scarface. It's a quote from oft-employed character actor Robert Loggia (Oscar nominated for 1985's The Jagged Edge). He's asked if Michelle Pfeiffer was nervous in her first true dramatic role as Elvira, working opposite himself and Al Pacino.
No. When she came down that elevator [in Elvira's first scene] in that goddamn tight dress and slinked across to us, and the way [Elvira] sniffed coke off her pinky fingernail...For Christ's sakes, Michelle owned it! They were lucky to have her; they should kiss her ass in Macy's window today!
I hear you Robert. But shouldn't we kiss Pfeiffer's ass every day?
For readers who aren't automatically drawn to violent organized crime movies (you really can't see them all) and who have somehow missed seeing the ubiquitous Scarface all these years, get on it. It's a must-see for Pfeiffer's work alone (not to mention its pop culture staying power). She is spot on as a bitter trophy wife. The performance is so sharp you'll shake your head wondering why it took another five years for Oscar to notice her.
When I hosted the Pfeiffer Blog-a-Thon back in April I was surprised to see that only one blog fixated on her Scarface elevator entrance. My New Plaid Pants described it memorably as "nothing short of a Barbie case"
2007 will finally bring an end to this nearly five year Pfeiffer drought. She'll be appearing in three comedies of the romantic ( I Could Never Be Your Woman February 14th), fantasy (Stardust, March 16th), and musical (Hairspray, July) varieties. Drink up pfans.
My favorite bit in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly comes in an article about the endurance of Brian dePalma's Scarface. It's a quote from oft-employed character actor Robert Loggia (Oscar nominated for 1985's The Jagged Edge). He's asked if Michelle Pfeiffer was nervous in her first true dramatic role as Elvira, working opposite himself and Al Pacino.
No. When she came down that elevator [in Elvira's first scene] in that goddamn tight dress and slinked across to us, and the way [Elvira] sniffed coke off her pinky fingernail...For Christ's sakes, Michelle owned it! They were lucky to have her; they should kiss her ass in Macy's window today!
I hear you Robert. But shouldn't we kiss Pfeiffer's ass every day?
For readers who aren't automatically drawn to violent organized crime movies (you really can't see them all) and who have somehow missed seeing the ubiquitous Scarface all these years, get on it. It's a must-see for Pfeiffer's work alone (not to mention its pop culture staying power). She is spot on as a bitter trophy wife. The performance is so sharp you'll shake your head wondering why it took another five years for Oscar to notice her.
When I hosted the Pfeiffer Blog-a-Thon back in April I was surprised to see that only one blog fixated on her Scarface elevator entrance. My New Plaid Pants described it memorably as "nothing short of a Barbie case"
2007 will finally bring an end to this nearly five year Pfeiffer drought. She'll be appearing in three comedies of the romantic ( I Could Never Be Your Woman February 14th), fantasy (Stardust, March 16th), and musical (Hairspray, July) varieties. Drink up pfans.
[Yes, he gave me permission to share all this.]
