Tag Archives: Johnny Depp

Feed your head

Posted on May 3, 2016 | Leave a comment

I didn’t see Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska’s first Alice in Wonderland movie, and doubt that I will see the sequel, although its trailers are lighting up movie theaters all over the country.

alice_through_the_looking_glass_character_poster-1

But my doubt has doubt…for two reasons.

First, the late, great Alan Rickman voices the Blue Caterpillar in Alice Through the Looking Glass, and the chance to listen to his dulcet tones is reason enough to endure the rest of the film.

Secondly, the trailer has “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane as its soundtrack, and I could listen to that on a loop as well.

In fact, let’s do that now. Together.

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Cold justice

Posted on July 30, 2014 | 1 comment

I was lucky enough to catch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on HBO over dinner tonight.

eternal sunshine

Such a wonderfully inventive story, and perhaps Jim Carrey’s most powerful and controlled performance.

As I watched, I questioned yet again why he didn’t win an Oscar…or even get nominated.  So I used the Google machine to remind me — who did take the prize in 2005?

The Oscar nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role were:

  • Don Cheadle in “Hotel Rwanda”
  • Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland”
  • Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator”
  • Clint Eastwood in “Million Dollar Baby”
  • Jamie Foxx in “Ray”

Foxx took home the prize; it was no shock.  His portrayal of the musical legend was spot-on. He sang and played the piano, too.  I wasn’t a fan of the film, but of him, yes.

I concede defeat.

But I would argue that Carrey’s performance deserves to be on that list as much if not more than Leo.  Or Johnny.  In fact, the list would be stronger for it.

Isn’t it funny how quickly you can become bitter about something that happened 10 years ago?

(Imagine how Jim must feel.)

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Do what you love

Posted on April 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

Casting directors and agents in New York City often advise wannabe actors to create their own projects.

That way, they can do the kind of work that they want to be doing.

fading gigoloJust ask John Turturro.

He wrote, directed and stars in Fading Gigolo, the story of a guy with money problems who, with the encouragement and salesmanship of a good friend — portrayed by Woody Allen — finds himself the hired lover of a group of lonely middle-aged women.

It’s a great cast:  Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Liev Schreiber, and in a star-making turn, Vanessa Paradis (better known as Johnny Depp’s long-time-but-not-so-much-anymore girlfriend).

The movie was very funny at times, and at other times, very serious and soulful.  The changes in pacing and tone were unexpected and unexplained.  I felt like I was watching two movies that didn’t quite gel, and there were jokes that flew over my goyish head that cracked up the rest of the art house crowd.

That being said, I enjoyed the individual performances and getting glimpses of my Upper West Side businesses and doorways in this very New York City film.

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What a trip

Posted on August 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Shia LeBeouf — of Transformers fame —  is out to prove he’s a serious actor.  And his methods are making headlines.

He’s grown out his ‘do a la Johnny Depp, obviously.  But his decision to take acid on the set of the movie The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman is perhaps a bit hairier.

His choice was inspired by the work of Sean Penn, who supposedly sat in the electric chair when filming Dead Man Walking.

Interesting.

So acting like you are on acid isn’t a choice for a serious actor?  You actually take acid instead?

Where’s the acting in that?

Contrast that decision to the recent experience of Isla Fisher, who stars in the movie Bachelorette, which opens next Friday.

When she appeared on Conan last night, she discussed how to play someone who was constantly drunk and high on cocaine…when she had never used the stuff.

She — and all the actresses in the film — would spin in place until right before action was caused.  When the camera began to roll, they were dizzy and off balance, which simulated the feeling of being high.

Wow — it was like they were acting like drunks…instead of simply getting trashed during filming.  Someone should tell Shia.

Although…there goes his excuse to drop acid.

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Scare me, please

Posted on March 26, 2012 | 1 comment

When I was but a wee lass, I watched Dark Shadows every afternoon after school.

It scared the bejeezers out of me.

Barnabas Collins, the vampire who ‘lived’ at the Collinwood estate, made me jump out of my skin.  More than once, I had to walk outside into the bright sunshine because I was too spooked to watch what happened next.

So I was particularly excited to see what horrors Tim Burton’s remake would hold, especially with his favorite lead Johnny Depp occupying the role of Barnabas.

Then I saw the trailer this weekend on television and quickly discovered…

The new Dark Shadows is a comedy.

Depp is sporting white makeup a la Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the script appears to be one deadpan zinger after another.

True, it’s a dark comedy, and I can appreciate their sense of humor.  I’ll no doubt go see it out of curiosity at the very least.

But I’m sad to say that Depp’s version of Barnabas will never elicit a single gasp of fear or horror.

Except, perhaps, at the 70’s clothing.

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Star baby

Posted on January 16, 2012 | 1 comment

Like many of you, I loved watching the Golden Globes last night, and look forward to the many award shows yet to come.

SAG Awards.  BAFTAs.  Independent Spirit Awards.  And of course, the almighty Oscars.

But a part of the process I don’t enjoy that much is the red carpet coverage.  Sure, it’s fun to see the array of fashion do’s and don’ts, but the inane interviews make even the most beautiful gowns painful to behold.

I read a book last night instead.  (You can see the dresses during the ceremony, right?)

Perhaps if I had a red carpet history like Tyler Sercombe, I’d feel differently.

At the ripe ol’ age of one, Tyler has already been photographed with more than 130 celebrities, including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp.

Her mom Donna started taking her to premieres when she was a month old. They have been to about 60 so far.

Yep.  I’d put my book down for that.

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Ah ha

Posted on February 7, 2011 | 1 comment

Remember this year’s Golden Globe Awards?

Hard to believe they were less than a month ago.  Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire and The Social Network were the big winners, and Ricky Gervais — with his mean-spirited, low blow jokes — was the biggest loser.

Memories.

My ‘ah ha’ moment — or maybe it was more of a ‘say wha?’ — was Paul Giamatti’s win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for a little-known movie called Barney’s Version (He beat out Kevin Spacey, Jake Gyllenhaal and two Johnny Depp nods in the process.)

So I decided to give it a look.

Here’s one thing the Hollywood Foreign Press got right.  Giamatti is brilliant as Barney in a movie that spans four decades of his life, three marriages, and literally dozens of bad decisions.  Whoever cast Dustin Hoffman as Barney’s father must be feeling pretty smug, too, because it was nothing short of inspired.

You can make fun of the Globes all day long and be perfectly justified.  But that award alone, and the light it shone on this funny, sad, twisted, lovely film, atones for a multitude of sins.

If Barney’s Version hadn’t won a Globe, it would have no doubt languished on a couple of screens in New York and Los Angeles before calling it a day. Thanks to the Globes, you may get a chance to see it at a ‘theater near you.’

Everybody wins.

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2011 Golden Eggs

Posted on January 16, 2011 | 6 comments

The Golden Globes are here!  The Golden Globes are here!

Before the ceremony sloshes drunkenly into your living room, The Egg is making its annual sticky predictions.

Who will be clutching their awards and tearfully thanking God (and their agents and managers)? The Egg has all kinds of predictions.

But no promises.  We’re just making these up like the rest of the critics.

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

* Black Swan
* The Fighter
* Inception
* The King’s Speech
* The Social Network

Although “The Black Swan” was an amazing psychological thriller, I have to give the edge to “The Social Network” — thanks to Aaron Sorkin’s beautifully crafted script and the amazing ensemble cast.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

* Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
* Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
* Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
* Natalie Portman, Black Swan
* Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Her performance was a career maker (and freaky scary!).

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

* Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
* Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
* James Franco, 127 Hours
* Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
* Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Second nomination’s a charm!   You’ve got this one, Colin.

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* Alice in Wonderland
* Burlesque
* The Kids are All Right
* Red
* The Tourist

If there is any justice, quality will win this category.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* Annette Bening, The Kids are All Right
* Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
* Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
* Julianne Moore, The Kids are All Right
* Emma Stone, Easy A

Although I loved the ever funny Emma Stone in “Easy A,” Annette’s turn in “Kids” will win the Globe.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
* Johnny Depp, The Tourist
* Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version
* Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
* Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

I doubt anyone can beat a double Johnny.  Hopefully his turn in “Alice” will beat his bloated “Tourist.”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

* Despicable Me
* How to Train Your Dragon
* The Illusionist
* Tangled
* Toy Story 3

The most competitive category at the Globes…but I have to give the edge to “Dragon” — loved it!

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

* Biutiful
* The Concert
* The Edge
* I am Love
* In a Better World

Truth?  Haven’t seen any of them, so I’m going purely on here say.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

* Amy Adams, The Fighter
* Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
* Mila Kunis, Black Swan
* Melissa Leo, The Fighter
* Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

I went back and forth between Mila and Helena, but Helena’s quiet strength won me over.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

* Christian Bale, The Fighter
* Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
* Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
* Jeremy Renner, The Town
* Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

I haven’t seen “The Fighter” yet, so I’m going on industry buzz and Bale’s reputation.  (Would love to see Andrew Garfield pull an upset, though.)

BEST DIRECTOR

* Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
* David Fincher, The Social Network
* Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
* Christopher Nolan, Inception
* David O. Russell, The Fighter

I don’t normally like to split the movie/director wins, but I think Aronofsky deserves a nod for directing this amazing thriller.

BEST SCREENPLAY

* Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours
* Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, The Kids are All Right
* Christopher Nolan, Inception
* David Seidler, The King’s Speech
* Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

A celebration of writing as a craft.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

* Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech
* Danny Elfman, Alice in Wonderland
* A.R. Rahmann, 127 Hours
* Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network
* Hans Zimmer, Inception

They’ve been winning all the awards so far….

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

* “Bound to You” from Burlesque
* “Coming Home” from Country Strong
* “I See the Light” from Tangled
* “There’s a Place for Us” from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
* “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from Burlesque

Would love to see “Tangled” bring something home.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA

* “Boardwalk Empire”
* “Dexter”
* “The Good Wife”
* “Mad Men”
* “The Walking Dead”

The Hollywood Foreign Press usually likes new and freaky.  This one fits the bill.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA

* Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
* Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”
* Piper Perabo, “Covert Affairs”
* Katey Sagal, “Sons of Anarchy”
* Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”

Julia will nab another award.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA

* Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
* Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
* Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”
* Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
* Hugh Laurie, “House”

Bryan will nab another one as well.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* “30 Rock”
* “The Big Bang Theory”
* “The Big C”
* “Glee”
* “Modern Family”
* “Nurse Jackie”

Continue your domination, oh wondrous sitcom.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* Toni Collette, “United States of Tara”
* Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
* Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
* Laura Linney, “The Big C”
* Lea Michele, “Glee”

Edie’s back.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
* Steve Carell, “The Office”
* Thomas Jane, “Hung”
* Matthew Morrison, “Glee”
* Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Continue your domination, Sheldon.

BEST MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* “Carlos”
* “The Pacific”
* “Pillars of the Earth”
* “Temple Grandin”
* “You Don’t Know Jack”

It’s won everything else — why not a Globe?

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* Hayley Atwell, “Pillars of the Earth”
* Claire Danes, “Temple Grandin”
* Judi Dench, “Return to Cranford”
* Romola Garai, “Emma”
* Jennifer Love Hewitt, “The Client List”

She’s won everything else — why not a Globe?

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* Idris Elba, “Luther”
* Ian McShane, “Pillars of the Earth”
* Al Pacino, “You Don’t Know Jack”
* Dennis Quaid, “The Special Relationship”
* Edgar Ramirez, “Carlos”

He’s won everything else — sorry, it just seems to work here.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* Hope Davis, “The Special Relationship”
* Jane Lynch, “Glee”
* Kelly MacDonald, “Boardwalk Empire”
* Julia Stiles, “Dexter”
* Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

The HFP is bound to like Sofia a lot.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* Scott Caan, “Hawaii Five-O”
* Chris Colfer, “Glee”
* Chris Noth, “The Good Wife”
* Eric Stonestreet, “Modern Family”
* David Strathairn, “Temple Grandin”

What a crazy category.  I hope Eric takes it home.

Enjoy the Globes everyone!

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Finally

Posted on November 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Sometimes I’m a little ahead of the game.  I’m the first to admit it.

Remember when cobalt blue kitchens were all the rage?  I had one a few years before they were trendy.  When I had a cobalt blue kitchen, it was just funky, not fashionable.

I’m okay with that.

So when I was all “Ryan Reynolds is funny and sexy,” and the rest of the world was occupied with other people, I wasn’t that surprised. 

(I’m sure you see the commonalities between Ryan Reynolds and cobalt blue kitchens, so I won’t insult you with an explanation.)

Therefore, it is with great happiness and a heartfelt ’bout time, world’ that I greet the news that Ryan has been named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine.

I mean, look at the man.  He’s gorgeous and ripped.  His sense of humor and comic timing  on screen are even biggest assets in my book.

Probably didn’t hurt that he’s got a couple of big blockbuster films headed our way, “The Green Lantern” most noteably.  People never makes their decision based on sex appeal alone.  (Isn’t that why Johnny Depp got the nod last year, right before “Public Enemies” tanked at the box office?  Sorry, Johnny.)

It already has me thinking about next year’s choice.  Let’s see… November 2011. 

Wonder if any interesting movies are being released then??

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The one that got away

Posted on May 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Moviefone.com has re-imagined some classic Hollywood movies with the stars who were originally tapped to play the lead roles pictured on the movie posters.  As they point out, most films don’t start and end with the same actors attached.

It’s funny how jarring it looks to see Will Smith as Neo in “The Matrix.”  Or Johnny Depp skipping school in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”  And can you get your head around Meg Ryan and Al Pacino in “Pretty Woman?”

Not even.

I posed a similar question to Steve Martin when I attended the 2nd Annual US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen many moons ago.   He was in town to accept a Star Award from the American Film Institute and took questions after the ceremony.

My hand was the first one raised.

I asked Steve, “Were you ever asked to do a film that you passed on, and then later — after the movie was produced — had regrets?”

His response?  “I’m never offered good film roles.”  (That got a laugh.)  Then he got serious and said that he was more likely to develop his own projects.

If that is true, I guess there are no “might have been” movie posters for Steve Martin.

Except for maybe “Striptease.”

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