Links

Low Resolution "22 Short Thoughts on Burlesque" #20 is an idea for a sequel that I would entirely fund myself were I a gazillionaire even if I knew I'd lo$e it all. That's how badly I want it to exist.
Boing Boing Forged Disney Art on eBay. You really can't cheat with Ursula, the sea witch; people are way too obsessed with that bitch, you know?
Cinema Blend Michelle Williams as Marilyn, again.
Dear Old Hollywood revisits Joan Crawford's early residences in California.
The Hollywood Reporter in praise of Lesley Manville (Another Year) and the Best Actress race. (Though I must say I think the consensus about locks and slots is kind of a mess. I think no one is safe beyond Bening & Portman as there's 5ish strong contenders for the other 3 spots. Thus, no safety.)
Serious Film laments the non-adaptation of Harry Potter books in the making of Harry Potter films.
Nick's Flick Picks talks up 10 films he liked more than you'd expect. Yet another example of how generous of spirit my pal Nick is, while never losing his critical acumen.

Jeff Bridges - Style Icon GQ has a slide show. I love this photo above wherein he's reading something generically titled "Western Story" given that there is a noticeable west/southwest line running through several of his movies (though he was born and raised in LA which we don't really think of when we think "Western"). FWIW, True Grit starts screening in force in about one week's time so you'll be hearing a lot more about it here and elsewhere soon.
GQ That's part of their "Men of the Year" issue which also features James Franco & ScarJo.

Offscreen Hilarity
Confessions of a Book Fiend by Grant Snider
Hyperbole and a Half "Dogs Don't Understand Simple Concepts Like Moving". I seriously got the giggles while reading this - the very audible giggles. Trying to surpress them for the benefit of my Thanksgiving guests who were still asleep from their food comas did not work. My apologies to everyone roused by my cackling.

A Day of Rest with Natalie

Today, rather than blogging, I think I'll hang by the pool with Natalie Wood ...and poodle (not "Precious", this poodle has an easier life). Adam will be back with a new "Signatures" this evening. Stay tuned.

What will you be up to today?
While Natalie & Nathaniel sunbathe, please catch up / join in on this week's posts and comment convos. It's been busy what with that 1984 jamboree, Part 1 of The Terminator retrospective, first trailers to Oscar hopefuls Nine and The Road, sex with Channing Tatum and ongoing Cannes fever.
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Rental Queue Alert: Australia, Ashes of Time, Wonder Woman

Calling out sick never quite works for me...confessions of a blogaholic, I guess. Here are today's new DVDs. (Links go to Netflix for your ease of queue'ing)

The Must See
Ashes of Time Redux I once tried to watch a copy of Ashes of Time before the "reworking" and the image quality was so bad that I gave up after five minutes. Who wants a Wong Kar Wai movie with its visuals compromised? Nobody who knows how ravishing his imagery is, that's who. I'm thrilled to have a real go at this swordsmen drama starring the unbeatable Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and his two greatest screen lovers: Happy Together's Leslie Cheung and In the Mood for Love's Maggie Cheung. Plus there's Tony's frequent co-star and offscreen wife Carina Lau, Jacky Cheung and the legendary Brigitte Lin (The Bride With White Hair). Yes please sextupled.

Your Other Options
I've Loved You So Long Kristin Scott-Thomas slow burns through this French drama like a woman possessed by intractable personal demons. Some people think she should've been in the Oscar lineup. My interview with this great British actress is here.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua Remember when Dalmations were all the rage and everybody had to have one and true animal lovers were a little concerned that people weren't getting pets for the right reasons. That's what's going on with chihuahuas now, right?

Lake City Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity (Soldier's Girl) star in this indie drama as an estranged mother and son. If the script is as good as these two actors it might be a gem.

Australia Baz Luhrmann's messy '30s outback epic might be both diminished and reenergized on DVD. On the downside, the huge vistas will be smaller and that great cattle drive sequence, the obvious highlight, will be less of a stunner. On the other hand, DVD viewing tends to break up movies and Australia might feel less like a misfire and more like a generously overstuffed adventure serial once you're able watch it in pieces. Baz's wife Catherine Martin fetishizes Nicole Kidman with costumes and Baz fetishizes Hugh Jackman with the camera. Mucho eye candy [full review]


Wonder Woman If you're a fan of the Amazon princess you'll want to savor this new animated feature since you know that that live action film is never going to happen, right? You've accepted that, haven't you? DC does not have a clear vision for their movie franchises. Remember how long it took them to get Superman flying again? Wonder Woman is basically DC's kryptonite. She's always popping up and the very thought of her defeats them. We'll be lucky if a live action Wonder Woman gets made in our lifetime. Or maybe we'll be luckier if it doesn't since her transfer would be tremendously difficult to pull off. She'd need a strong screenplay and directorial vision, not a corporate board, guiding her to the screen.
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Breakfast With... Wendy and Lucy

A donut and a cup of coffee. Some financial planning as a side dish. That's as sure a way as any to kill one's appetite.


I hope you're taking better care of yourself than Wendy does.

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I'm absolutely convinced that if I had a heart and could cry and was a dog person (I know that's a lot of "if"s), I would tear up every time I was reminded of Wendy and Lucy. It got to me. More so than I thought at the time. The movie is currently playing in Seattle, San Diego, Philly and Boston and should be hitting a few more cities tomorrow. Watch out for it or save it on your rental queue if your town never gets this kind of tiny gem.

Michelle Williams is up for Best Actress in my own awards and now the film is up for Best Ending (I've tried to keep the write ups short and semi-vague so as to not spoil). I've also announced nominations in the Opening Scene and Credit Sequence categories - Check them out.
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Ari Folman on Waltz With Bashir

Sage advice for all storytellers: Start strong. Waltz With Bashir certainly does. *woof woof*

26 raging dogs terrorize a man in Waltz With Bashir's opening dream sequence

Have you seen it yet? (In the comments: What movies grabbed you with their very first moments this past year?)

When I met Ari Folman, shortly before the holiday break I was conscious of starting strong myself. I heard him mention to his publicist that he was on his 700th interview (that's probably not an exaggeration given how long Waltz With Bashir has been working the festival and awards circuit) so when I sat down I threw out this opening volley "Which question are you most sick of answering?" I planned to scratch it comically off my note pad should I have planned to ask it. He made me guess. I failed but it was a good ice breaker as we chatted about his movie. Turns out he's been asked "Why animation?" too many times in reference to this war memories documentary. He always intended Bashir to be an animated film... even before one word was written.

I met with him for Tribeca Film and here's the piece.

Related Pages:
Animated and Foreign Language Film Oscar Races, Golden Globes, National Society of Film Critics Win
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