Links and Other Drugs

I'm so behind on movie news and readings. It will take me a week to catch up. I'm also aware that I need to revamp the Oscar predix this week. Where to even begin? Links.

IndieWire TIFF completes their lineup. I haven't been posting about TIFF much because I'm so depressed I'm not going. Maybe I'll find someone to cover it for me... [hint. hint]
NY Post will The Walking Dead be a hit for AMC? I do wonder how anyone can make the zombie story fresh these days. This looks exactly like all the rest of them, barring the horseback travel. When will entertainment's zombie addiction end?
Coming Soon a big screen adaptation of the app/game Angry Birds? I have now heard everything. This would only work as claymation. Oh god please not glossy CGI for this property.


Nick's Flick Picks His 2009 Honorees continue with Screenplays. Better late than never, especially with the intriguing but concise writeups.
Cinema Blend video of Viggo and Fassbender in costume and makeup for the new David Cronenberg picture. Oooh, can't wait to see them in action together.
Marc Malkin Meet Kurt's Glee boyfriend
PopMatters "like touching the dead" another rave for Ken Russell's The Devils (1971). I really wish they'd put this on DVD. It really is amazing in scope and the world so needs it right now given that the global addiction to religion is more dangerous than ever these days.
The Ausselio Files creative tension on the set of Diane Keaton's HBO project Tilda
Freckle Face The Musical Yes, Julianne Moore's children's book is now a stage musical. They start singing and dancing in early September
We Are Movie Geeks Readers near St. Louis, MO? You might want to check out the Black Expo later this very week. Movie legends Pam Grier (!), Louis Gossett Jr and Mario Van Peebles are all appearing.

<--- Yay. It's P&A. The filmmaker and his only real male muse have reunited. They've started shooting The Skin I'm In (2011). Here they are on a break.

Cinematical offers strange speculation about why Penélope Cruz is not in Pedro Almodóvar's The Skin I'm In which just started shooting. Um... how about, Pedro's just using a different girl this time? He does that sometimes. Nothing in P's filmography suggests she'd be uncomfortable with nudity, sex scenes or anything Pedro would ask of her really.
Moviehole Apparently Joss Whedon is aware that people are worried that there are no women in The Avengers. He assures there will be. Um, extras don't count. If you don't have The Wasp or Scarlet Witch, you have a sausage fest, plain and simple.
The Playlist First look at Uma Thurman in Ceremony. I hope this is a hit for her.
Joblo DeNiro, Norton and Jovovich get their Stone poster. I'm falling asleep.
Dial P for Popcorn more Black Narcissus images.

Please someone tell me they watched Narcissus specifically due to all this cheerleading we're doing. Blogging must not be in vain! Speaking of... Tomorrow's "Best Shot" episode is Bring It On. Are you joining us?

Finally, I saw this short at this tumblr where the author said "oh my little heart!! cute/sad shakes" and there's no saying it better. Unfortunately I can't tell you who said so. If I don't save things immediately on tumblr I never see them again. (I don't understand tumblr at all. So disposable it is!)

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

My favorite part is the 'lint puppy'. I would've teared up if my ducts worked properly. One of the undeniable truths of our modern online world is that it has blown out whole new walls as window. There's just so much creativity from so many folks to discover.
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"Stone Cold Fox"

I love Mark Ruffalo...


...and iPhones.

...and Scrabble for that matter.

So, this screen capture from the trailer to The Kids Are All Right is more than all right. It's like a triple scoop of love. yum-yum-yum.

[This post has been brought to you by Nathaniel's ever growing obsession with The Kids Are All Right. You went this weekend right? Or you will as soon as it gets to your town? Word is that it will aggressively expand since the specialty box office is booming. Hurry up! P.S. I'll complete the July Oscar prediction revamps after I see Inception on Tuesday. Stay tuned.]

Further Reading:
Lisa Cholodenko Interview (at Towleroad)
Julianne Moore Interview (Nathaniel meets the goddess)
The Kids Are All Right Review (from Sundance)

The Link Dimension

it's sci-fi day! Though we won't restrict ourselves to other dimensions for this plus size roundup

PLAIN OL' DRAMA/COMEDY
Against the Hype omg i ♥ this. Lust, Caution's crucial mahjong game's narrative impact decoded for us Westerners.
The Awl converses about A Single Man
Scott Brothers actresses and directors, a neat photogallery
Go Fug Yourself misses Keira Knightley
Sho'Nuff Lives lets it all out before the Oscars
The Big Picture more controversies for The Hurt Locker. Weird that all of these things are happening / being aired after voting has finalized. You'd think those smear campaigns woulda hurried.
my internet... is not having Mildred Pierce remake
fourfour Crazy Heart in 3 sec/∞
BuzzSugar Kidman tries a romcoms again

GENRE 4EVAH
Vulture Avatar satire cut from Oscars? Well, if you remember James Cameron's freakout at a critic who didn't love Titanic you'll know he's very sensitive.
The New Yorker the oft hilarious Anthony Lane on the rise of 3-D
Boing Boing god bless futuristic technology. Have you heard Roger Ebert get an approximation of his voice back?
i09 "Battle Angel Alita" plot details
/Film Space Invaders movie in development. They're just paying for the title I guess. There isn't a story. Not one that I remember at least. But I was more a Robotron person in my quarter slotting days
Loyal KNG like the new Prince of Persia trailer?

And god bless futuristic technology. Have you heard beloved critic Roger Ebert get an approximation of his voice back?



OSCAR PRESENTERS LIST
Yes! Kathy Bates, Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron
Duh, of course Queen Latifah, Barbra Streisand (if she gets to do best picture again... i'm going to scream. I love early Babs but spread the f***in wealth, Oscar), John Travolta (no wait, it'll be Travolta. Blargh), Sam Worthington
Huh... but interesting Tom Ford, Keanu Reeves (I bet he presents Best Actress)
Really? Jason Bateman, Gerard Butler
I get it. But I feel nothing Bradley Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, Tyler Perry, Chris Pine, Ryan Reynolds
Again? When so many people never have Ben Stiller
It's the Oscars EMMYs Steve Carell, Tina Fey
Oscar is that old man who bought a red sports car and pierced one ear trying to look young Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart

<-- Though I've read on several sites that last year's winners Sean Penn, Kate Winslet and Penélope Cruz will appear, the list above is on the Oscars site. Does this mean they've chucked the tradition of previous opposite sex acting winners presenting. Sniffle. I loved that. Here I was hoping for a Winslet "I love my life" Jeff Bridges moment... given that she's already expressed immense love for that movie. I thought last year's acting presentation was just a short break from one of Oscar's oldest traditions.

Happy Valentine's From... ???

Who sent these cards and to whom? Highlight the answers after each photo.


Answer: That'd be Mamma Leigh Anne to adopted son Michael in The Blind Side. Note the Ole Miss map and the Taco Bell bag. Some funny answers to this one. Including me to Michael Fassbender. Ha. Correctly guessed by Travis


Answer: This one's from sexy Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) to Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) in Up in the Air. Correctly guessed by Nate Tyson who wonders whether the recipient will even accept. Good question.


Answer: It's Carla (Penélope Cruz) to her beloved Guido (Daniel Day-Lewis) in Nine. Correctly guessed by ZiZo.


Answer: It's Briggite Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) to, well, whomever from Inglourious Basterds.

Happy Valentine's Day! Best Actress Quiz

UPDATED: Now with answers at the bottom of the post

The following quiz is a random assortment of questions inspired by onscreen romances of the Best Actress nominees this year. Though not all of the questions are romantic in nature (murder, abuse and general movie questions also appear) we tried to start there. How many can you answer? The first person to answer each person gets credit when we update with the answers on Monday.

Bullock
Sandra Bullock plays adoptive mother and football fan Leanne Tuohy in The Blind Side. She's happily married to country star Tim McGraw in the film. In her other big hit this year, The Proposal her marriage with employee Ryan Reynolds is a business transaction.

1. Which of Sandra's former co-stars is actually married to a country star. And which movie did they star in together?
2. Which two-time co-star of Sandra's was romantically involved with the actress she was constantly compared to? Who am I talking about and what are their films together?
3. The Proposal isn't Sandra's first romantic comedy with an inappropriate work-place relationship. Name another.
   

Mirren
Perpetually randy screen goddess Dame Helen Mirren tempts her would-be celibate husband with goofy bedroom games in The Last Station.

1. Mirren has played a temptress many times. What's her most infamous film?
2. In which film did she bear the child of her half brother?
3. On which film did Mirren meet her husband?

Mulligan
Carey Mulligan plays Jenny, a 16 year old girl in An Education romanced by a much older man. Though most people are hearing about Carey now, she's been in the movies since 2005.

1. In Mulligan's debut film her onscreen sister was illicitly romanced by an older man. Name the movie.
2. Mulligan has only made 6 films but she's already co-starred with several Oscar nominees. Which of her former co-stars was also nominated for an Oscar this year?

Sidibe
Gabby Sidibe made a stellar debut in Precious. Since it's her first film she's only had two screen romances and both of them were imaginary, one with her 'light skinned boyfriend with real nice hair' and one with the math teacher she fantasizes about. Otherwise her character's sex life has been horrific. Sweet Lenny Kravitz as a male nurse is the first man to show her (chaste) affection.

1. Her imaginary boyfriend's name in the credits to Precious is "Tom Cruise". Has the actual Tom Cruise ever co-starred with any of this year's Best Actress nominees. If so, name the film.
   
2. In a sad coincidence, the actor who plays Precious's beloved math teacher has also played a child abuser. Can you name the film? His onscreen victim in that film was Golden Globe nominated just this year.
   
3. Lenny Kravitz has had plenty of sexy time in videos if not on film. Which two famous 90s actresses, neither of whom had Sidibe's success with awards show voters, have sexed it up in his music videos?

Streep
Meryl Streep jokes about being "a bit of a slut" in It's Complicated but two lovers in one movie is hardly slutty. It's the norm since many romantic movies have love triangles. In her Oscar nominated role in Julie & Julia she's even less of a harlot. For decades she has only had eyes for Stanley Tucci.

1. In which two films was Streep actually a bit of a slut? (i.e. more than two lovers)
   
2. One of Streep's most passionate onscreen romances was with a very famous actor who has also played the husband of one of Streep's fellow Actress nominees. Which actor and which two films am I referring to?
   

Extra Credit

1. Which of these nominees first tasted real fame by playing a role that had already taken another actress to a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars?
2. Which of these nominees played a role that another actress received a supporting actress nomination for playing?
3. Which two of these Actress nominees have been directed by the same man? [There's at least two correct answers]
   
4. Which of these Best Actress nominees has been killed by one of this year's Best Actor nominees in another movie?
5. Which two of these actresses both did voice work for the same animated film?

More on the Best Actress race. A shorter visual quiz if this one has stumped you: Who sent these Valentine's Day Cards? If you'd like to read previous posts on these actresses, click on the labels below.

THE ANSWERS

Bullock

1. Nicole Kidman (Practical Magic) is married to Keith Urban
2. Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality, Demolition Man) was once Julia Roberts's man
3. Two Weeks Notice with Hugh Grant

Mirren

1. the X-Rated Caligula (1979)
   
2. Excalibur. She plays the wicked Morgana, mother to King Arthur's bastard son Mordred
3. White Nights with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her husband is Taylor Hackford, who directed that film. He also directed her in the forthcoming whorehouse drama Love Ranch (2010)
   

Mulligan

1. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
   
2. Colin Firth (And When Did You Last See Your Father?)
   

Sidibe

1. Tom Cruise co-starred with Meryl Streep in Lions for Lambs
2. That'd be Mysterious Skin wherein the fine actor Bill Sage, who played Precious's math teacher, played the coach who abused Joseph Gordon-Levitt in his youth.
3. Gina Gershon ("Again") and Heather Graham ("American Woman") starred in his music videos -- the first one is curious. Gershon isn't sexy enough for someone? IMPOSSIBLE!
   

Streep

1. Mamma Mia! Three guys in one week? Who is Amanda Seyfried's babydaddy?
2. Plenty. Meryl is a bonkers gal who is continually lovin and leavin' em in this post war drama. Super hot (by which I mean ice cold) sex scene with Sting. (review)
   

Extra Credit

1. Pre-Speed, Sandra Bullock starred in the television series adaptation of Working Girl, playing Melanie Griffith's role.
2. Sandra Bullock again playing Truman Capote's fellow author friend Harper Lee in Infamous. Catherine Keener was Oscar nominated for that same role in the similar Capote (2005).
3. Barbet Schroeder directed both Bullock (Murder By Numbers) and Streep (Before and After)
   Lee Daniels directed both Mirren (Shadowboxer) and Sidibe (Precious)
   Robert Altman directed both Mirren (Gosford Park) and Streep (A Prairie Home Companion)
4. Jeff Bridges buried Sandra Bullock in The Vanishing (1993). He wasn't a nice guy.
   
5. Mirren and Bullock were part of the massively star heavy voice cast list for the animated Biblical epic The Prince of Egypt (1998).
   

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Daryl Hannah Wants You To Read...

...The Film Experience. or else.

I kid, but I always like to picture Daryl Hannah barking juvenile orders like an amazon bully post Kill Bill. (God she was great in that. Five years later and it's increasingly annoying that no real filmmakers dared pounce to provide her a worthy follow up).

So now the eternally underappreciated sexbot turned mermaid turned celebrity girlfriend turned born-again hairdresser turned environmental heroine turned whistling assassin is designing board games. This one is called "Liebrary". You make up first sentences to real books once you read their title and synopsis.

(Pictured) 'Elle Driver' promoting her board game this past Monday in NYC.

So, points for originality, Daryl! Most actresses of a certain age just start writing children's books.

I'm A Barbie Boy In A Lego World

.

JA from MNPP here, addressing the big news of the day: making all of our deepest darkest dreams-we-didn't-even-know-we-had come true, they're trying to make a movie about Legos. Cue the brass-band and the flaming-baton-throwers! Hollywood is throwing a parade and it's marching straight down to Hell, do not pass Go, do not collect 200 million dollars.

"Movies based on toys couldn't be hotter in Hollywood, with nearly every studio adapting playthings for the bigscreen.

Now count Warner Bros. as one of those studios: WB is toying with plans to develop a movie around Lego and its popular building blocks.

Scribes Dan and Kevin Hageman are penning the script for the family comedy that will mix live action and animation. Warners is keeping the plot tightly under wraps, but it's described as an action adventure set in a Lego world."

This is where I mentally (Nat doesn't like it when I type curse words on his blog) hurl every nasty curse I can imagine in the general direction of Pirates of the Carribbean, Transformers, and G.I. Joe for being successful.

"... The f - it -flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my face,
breathing-breathl- heaving breaths. Heaving breath... "

Redundant groans about Hollywood's bankrupt brain aside, my first thought when confronted with this news was actually an impossibly sunny one: Hire Michel Gondry and make it look like this!

.

.

That won't happen, and I'm not sure I could stare at 90 minutes of that on a large screen, but still, Legos have brought the world their own sort of visual splendor in the not-so-distant past. It's important to look at the good side of Life! (And I mean The Game of Life, of course.)

What game are you anxiously awaiting a film based off of? Hungry Hungry Hippos? Guess Who? I actually dreamt up my own yesterday oddly enough.
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Check Mate

And now for something completely random. I haven't played chess for, like, 11 years. How about you? My favorite character are the knight and the rook but playing always stressed me out.


Nevertheless, I would accept if Joe Wright challenged me. I just wouldn't tell him that despite loving his first two movies (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) I couldn't bring myself to see his third (The Soloist). I walked by a movie theater a couple of weeks ago and the poster was still in the window and I became confused. It was still open??? Or is the movie theater slow with the poster turnover?

Have you ever had that experience... the one where you totally love people involved with a movie, but you just can't bring yourself to see it? I can't even imagine putting The Soloist on my rental queue for its DVD release. What gives?

Kiss Him, He's Irish

see also: Kiss Her She's Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day
Can you guess which famous actor these lips belong to?


Which pair are you most eager to plant one on?*
Hollywood sure does loves Irish men. If you know of friends who do... forward this link on and see how well they can do guessing these.

Updated: Highlight the text below for all the names (not in order) and you can try to figure it out on your own if you're just joining us:

Pierce Brosnan, Michael Fassbender, Richard Harris, Stuart Townsend, Spencer Tracy, Colin Farrel, George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Aidan Quinn, Kenneth Branagh, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Peter O'Toole, Cillian Murphy and Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Answers are now posted in the comments. All that's left is the kissing.

* Straight boy and lesbian readers are non-exempt from this comment game but should probably avoid tongue so as to keep it platonic.

Robin & Marian Redux

As you may have heard the 39th film version of Robin Hood is in progress. I might be exaggerating on the number but not by much, the point being that there's another one coming about that man who robs from the rich to give to the poor [I can hear the wingnut editorials now "ack! redistribution of wealth! ack!!!" still unable to see that rich people are also into the redistribution of wealth -- no bid contracts, unfair wages, outsourcing -- so long as it's redistributed to them]. Ridley Scott is directing this version, formerly called Nottingham, which means that Russell Crowe is the star. This will mark their 5th movie together. Maybe they're trying to catch up to Tim Burton & Johnny Depp who are hitting lucky #7 with Alice in Wonderland which will be out in 2010, same year as this Robin Hood.

Every generation gets at least one version of the story of
the honorable thief and his fair maiden

It's also no surprise that Cate Blanchett has signed to co-star as Maid Marian -- offers hit her inbox at the rate spam hits yours. That said she seems like a decent choice. But Russell Crowe? Here's how Brian Grazer explains the casting decisions

They are both highly accomplished dramatic actors who are taken seriously playing rich characters in period pieces, but each has the ability to show you fun.

I'll give you the first part but "both" on the second? Blanchett can definitely have fun onscreen (see The Talented Mr Ripley, Indiana Jones, The Aviator, Bandits) even if it's it's usually only a means at getting at the drama but Crowe !? "Fun" is not the word that comes to mind. Ah well, it's a winning ticket at any rate. It's not like they'll even have to try to be able to wipe the floor with Hollywood's last big Robin Hood movie. Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland and their 1938 movie's 4 Oscar nominations won't be quite so easy to take down.

I guess this means that Ridley Scott is no longer making Monopoly the Movie which means we don't get to see who Crowe would have played in that. I had my money on The Banker with a nervous glance sideways at the Battleship.

Fun Oscar Quiz

Over at MSNBC courtesy of Erik Lundegaard. I scored 87%. Can you beat that? Let us know how you did in the comments.

The First Thing I Heard...

When I woke up to the radio alarm was

...like how big their toolbox is.

Heh. What an odd sentence to wake up too. So why not carry this opening line over into a quiz for you. Can you guess which films these first lines of dialogue are from? Highlight under the quote to see the correct answer and who first guessed it. Everything has been identified now. You didn't even need any clues. Well done!

01 "Did that bad monster try to fight with Muddy's little baby? My darling!"
The Women (1939) was guessed by Ben. It's about 1,000,000 times better than the new one.
02 "The Road to Reality. Don't wanna be going there"
Jeff GP is Happy-Go-Lucky
03 "Where've you been? I've been waiting since 7:00"
The Z knew this was Zodiac. The young couple is off to buy fireworks after this sentence
04 "What do we care if we were expelled from college? The war is gonna start any day"
It's Gone With the Wind. David C loves that movie
05 "I shall tell you of _____. Historians from England will say I am a liar, but history is written by those who have hanged heroes."
Braveheart. Guessed by Chris
06 "Forget it. It's too risky. I'm through doing that shit"
It's Pulp Fiction, honeybunny. Correctly guessed by Remy
07 "In a far away land long ago lived a King and his fair Queen. Many years had they longed for a child..."
Sleeping Beauty guessed by Garen
08 "Craig, honey, it's time for bed" "Craig, honey, it's time to wake up."
Being Joe Reid... I mean Being John Malkovich.
09 "Have you ever seen so many gulls?"
Alice knows about The Birds
10 "Get that thing away. Has that ugly mutt had its shots?"
Satlure recognizes The Women (2008)

thanks for playing...
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Mystery Women Revealed!!!!!!

Posted by Thombeau von Fabulon.


Thanks to everyone who played our little game. Above are the women we featured, as more or less themselves. Will any of them end up as iconic as the legends they portrayed? Discuss.

Who Are They Really?

Posted by Thombeau of Fabulon...




Kevin Aucoin, the late, great makeup-artist to the stars, had a gift for changing faces. Featured here are a few prime examples; well-known actresses portraying legends of another era. Can you tell who they are and who they're paying tribute to? (If you're already familiar with Aucoin's books, please keep their identities to yourself and let others have a guess. It'll be fun!) The answers will be given in a later post. No prizes, but if you name them all correctly you can feel pretty damn good about yourself because you are fabulous, darling!

(answers!)

Guess the Ensemble

I have no idea how hard this game will be... but have at it in the comments (and no cheating by looking up the names on the IMDB)

Can you name the movies from their cast lists? The movies range from the mid 70s to the mid 00s.

The correct answers (highlight to see)

1. The Right Stuff (Philip Kaufman, 1983) --I love that movie --guessed by... c.p. iñor

2. Car Wash (Michael Schultz, 1976) - guessed by... FDot

3. Nickelodeon (Peter Bogdanovich, 1976) - guessed by sammyjo

4. 1941 (Steven Spielberg, 1979) guessed by... cinemadventurer

5. Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick, 1987) guessed by c.p. iñor
6. The Golden Bowl (James Ivory, 2000) guessed by vinci
7. Calendar Girls (Nigel Cole, 2003) guessed by notluke
8. Town & Country (Peter Chesolm, 2001) guessed by notluke

Did Somebody Ask a Question?

15. "Ovaltine?"

14. "They shoot horses, don't they?"

13. "Where does it say you can't kill a cop?"

12. "...where shall I go, what shall I do?"

11. "Heavy. What is it?"

10. "What do you wanna do tonight?"

9. "I dunno, Angie. What do you wanna do?"

8. "Who's the best pilot you ever saw?"

7. "Who's with me?"

6. "Who are those guys?"

5. "Just what do you think you're doing Dave?"

4. "What have I done?"

3. "Is it safe?"

2. "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

1. "You talkin' to me?"

Carries, Samanthas, Charlottes or Mirandas?

Just to be a mite perverse here's some photos from the Sex & The City premiere in NYC that don't include any of the stars ;) I've given up worrying about the quality of the movie. How could it compare to six years of the TV show? I shall just see it and enjoy it for a chance to spend another 100 minutes with old (imaginary) friends.

Comment Game Time! The real question is whether these famous moviegoers are Carries, Samanthas, Charlottes or Mirandas in real life.

Don't pretend you haven't pledged one of the four cosmopolitan swigging divas as your own possibly more fabulous counterpart. Which Sex girl are you and which are they?

Prince Jake of ...Persia?

As you may have heard by now, the rumors were true and Jake Gyllenhaal has been cast as The Prince of Persia in the film adaptation of the popular video games. [src] This news elates, alarms, depresses, and assures me all at once. It multi-tasks.


Elates for it promises ample opportunity to gaze upon the maximum amount of Gyllenhaal flesh that a PG-13 rated film (we assume) can offer. Think Lara Croft: Tomb Raider only with Jake properly objectified instead of Angelina Jolie. To borrow a quote from The Holy Grail "...and there was much rejoicing"

Alarms for it falls squarely within the unpromising realm of the video-game adaptation. Is there a video game adaptation yet that has also been a good film? Hollywood has even managed to make a theme park amusement into a good film... but video games? Not yet unless I'm forgetting something. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time will be directed by Mike Newell which is neither here nor there, quality wise. He's hit & miss having directed great stuff like Dance With a Stranger and Donnie Brasco but also, I fear, Mona Lisa Smile and Love in the Time of Cholera.

Depresses for it reminds us of how "color blind casting" in Hollywood usually means the opposite of what the media implies that it means. It actually means this: Put pasty white people into roles that should require some ethnicity! Jake and Gemma Arterton the female lead hail from Los Angeles, USA and Kent, UK, respectively.

Gemma (who will also certainly be objectified, see Prince of Persia women to your left here) is hardly a box office draw. Couldn't they have thrown at least one of the lead roles to actors of Middle Eastern descent [Arabic isn't exactly accurate... but I hope you still hear where I'm coming from. -editor]? You can probably guess that the evil villains will be cast more authentically regional if they don't go for big names.

Good looking potentially audience-engaging Middle Eastern actors aren't impossible to find. None of them are as famous as Jake Gyllenhaal but still... who is to say that audiences wouldn't warm to the most charismatic among them if given a proper chance? Even Wentworth Miller, certainly a name, is a little bit more appropriate ethnicity wise. Here's just a tiny random sample of talent in the right age range and beauty for lead roles... took me barely any time to look up and I don't have the resources of a Hollywood casting director.

(From left to right) Men: Säid Taghmaoui (Three Kings, G.I. Joe) Haaz Sleiman,
Jake Yakobi and Babak Tafti (prev post). Women: Hadeel Sittuh, Summer Bishil (Towelhead), and Heather Raffo (actress/playwright from the terrific
one woman show 9 Parts of Desire).

I always wonder about well-known properties needing big name draws. Isn't the material selling the first weekend audiences (to some extent) and don't first weekend audiences word-of-mouth sell it from there (if it's any good). I know that people didn't love Superman Returns but isn't everyone happier that it was Brandon Routh (an unknown) rather than Nicolas Cage who was cast at once point (and paid. Ouch) in one of the aborted versions of the franchise relaunch. I know I'm living in a fantasy world. These are billion dollar properties. They won't be taking any big chances with unproven actors of Middle Eastern descent. Eventually someone will --It's a better world out there for black, hispanic and asian actors than it used to be after all -- but not in 2008.

Assures for it finally gives Gyllenhaal a franchise. Franchises are crucial to salary inflation and (presumably) long term bankability. Assuming that Persia is successful this will keep him bankable and employable no matter how many Renditions await. And many moviegoers (myself included) need the Gyllenhaal delivered routinely like a live-saving pill, injection, IV drip or a blood tranfusion.


Ahhh, the healing powers of Gyllenhaal.
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Game Time: The Eyes Have It

Golly jeepers... who owns these peepers?


All the images have now been guessed in the comments. It took less than an hour. You know your actresses! (Highlight the text below if you want to see the correct answers) Or make the guesses and then check the answers. How many could you name?

A Renee Zellweger -correctly guessed by Mikadzuki
B Jane Fonda -correctly guessed by Mikadzuki
C Scarlett Johansson -correctly guessed by Mikadzuki
D Catherine Zeta-Jones -correctly guessed by anonymous
E Maggie Gyllenhaal -correctly guessed by anonymous
F Penelope Cruz -correctly guessed by BBats
G Emma Watson -correctly guessed by Artemis
H Audrey Hepburn -correctly guessed by Mikadzuki
I Rachel McAdams -correctly guessed by anonymous
J Emma Thompson -correctly guessed by wgcarey
K Christina Ricci -correctly guessed by The Jack
L Natalie Portman -correctly guessed by Mikadzuki