My love affair with Kristen Stewart continues

Since Kristen seduced me with her BAFTA speech, I have found myself feeling more and more protective of her. She did her duty as a presenter (probably invited in order to draw in the younger viewers) at the Oscars last weekend. Even though she was one of the few ladies who took the stage that did not have serious difficulty going down the stairs, the blogosphere hated on her for clearing her throat between sentences. I never realized coughing was such an ultimate faux pas!

Likewise, Joan Rivers (who, granted, is mean to everyone) spat some venom her direction. As her co-commentors tried to mercifully point out that K Stewart was cutting a pretty good rug on the red carpet as someone who was normally really bad at it or "anti-red carpet, anti-glam," Rivers tells her to then "get out of the business." I mean, seriously, how excessive! A talented, promising actress should not be forced out of the business because she feels uncomfortable with interviews, expensive dresses, and wild displays of self-importance.

But was perhaps more irksome was the response of some of my fellow Oscar-watchers. As Taylor Lautner and K Stewart came onstage to announce the tribute to horror movies, several girls around me started to boo:

Girls: (generally) Boooo!!!
Girl 1: (about Taylor) I like him. Don't boo him, boo her.
Girl 2: Yeah, she is so annoying. I'm not booing him, I'm booing her.
Girls: (at K) Boo!

I'm just as willing to jump into a hate-fest on Twilight and Bella, but people's ability to distinguish between the actor and the character seems to be rather selective, especially when it comes down to gender. I feel like in general no one is really blaming the Twilight boys for the fan frenzy that follows them around. Sure some people complain that RPatz is ugly and that they don't understand what all the fuss is about, but they don't seem to blame the rabid fan-girl pestilence up on him personally. It is rather the fault of the rabid fan girls. Taylor's plague of fan-girl locusts is slightly more tolerated by the critics, mostly because he is not RPatz and general Team Jacobness. But again, he is not blamed for the phenomenon. Rather the two male actors are often depicted as victims of insane, tween, vampire wannabees. However, this coutsey seems not to be extended to Kristen Stewart.

Instead she is hated on for (1) being Bella (and I find this the most sympathetic argument), (2) being popular, and (3) struggling with her fame. The boys of course have the likability of their characters working for them, but issuse (2) and (3) should be just as applicable to them as it is to K Stewart. However, instead the public seems to covet and sympathize with RPatz and TL, while booing Stewart off the stage and telling her to stop feeling sorry for herself. It is hard for me not to this as arising from (a) female viewers jealously of Kristen Stewart for being linked to these handsome men (and being gorgeous and popular) and (b) the unfair standards of perfection set for celebrity women rather than men. While it is ok for men to complain about being harassed by fans and tabloids, when Kristen Stewart-- a young and developing person-- struggles with the limelight, she should apparently throw in the towel, pack her bags, and never show her face again. It is additionaly irritating to hear her take such disproportional flack for the Twilight phenomenon, when compared with her male costars, especially since, let's face it, she's got the better credentials. Stewart has definitely proven herself to the industry and looks on track to continue to do so. Don't see Lautner or RPatz with a BAFTA, do we? If anyone should be staying the game, it should be K Stewart.

I was glad to see Stewart some what stand up for herself when she appeared on Leno. Defending her cough, for which she has been much ridiculed, she points out if she had not cleared her throat she would not have been able to finish the sentence, which she reckons would have irritated people more. Also, she adds that she finds the whole 'cough' controversy quite funny because she had been in fact so proud of herself that night for getting through the lines and the evening without any serious embarassments.

And I say, yes Kristen, be proud! It is the rest of us snarky women that should be ashamed.

Puppy Love: Michael Sheen

I have decided to be in love with Michael Sheen this week. For some reason, seeing the fantastic, versatile, fun, adorable actor at the Oscars this year threw me into a fit of rapture and adoration. Almost weeping tears of joy, I exclaimed to my fellow tv watchers "It's Michael Sheen! Michael Sheen! I love him!" None of them cared at all, so in a fit of self-indulgence I am going to celebrate him briefly with this post (I cannot wait to see him in Tron!).

Not only is he super cute, charming, and a beautiful actor but he makes following his career quite an enjoyable romp, going from serious dramatic films to imaginative, scifi films. And he makes all of the random characters majorly attractive.

For example, he rocks the dated hair as suave David Frost in Frost/Nixon:




















He, of course, places Aro in New Moon. Here he is being an awesome dad at the premiere:





















But he has also played Tony Blair in three different films, most notably of course, The Queen:














and the classy (but so passionate) Lucian from Underworld. What a dreamboat!





















And I cannot forget his terrific, flamboyant, snobby, yet tragic Miles from one of my favorite films, Bright Young Things (which I think might warrant its own post one of these days). Here he is with another of my puppy loves, Stephen Campbell Moore (and Fenella Woolgar).

In addition to being all the various sorts of stupendous he is, he is also really really funny. If you love him anywhere near as much as I do, check him out on the Graham Norton Show and fall in love.

Angelina's evil plot against the world

So this week the tabloids, gossip columnists and other lame people have been having brain aneurisms over Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's hair. Egad! It is short! It is boyish! FREAK OUT!!!

"WHY IS ANGELINA TURNING SHILOH INTO A BOY??????"

This is just ridiculous on soooooooooo many levels.

(1) Who cares? Maybe the kid likes to dress that way. Has anyone bothered to ask her opinion? Thought not! And besides, it could have a very logical explanation: My parents kept my hair quite short because I fussed and cried so much when they brushed my hair. Don't like have your hair brushed kid, fine, we'll make it so you don't have to have your hair brushed. Sounds like a good plan to me. Did I feel oppressed and traumatized about it? No!

(2) Who on earth really thinks Angelina has some sort of radical counter-cultural plot to turn her child into a boy? Insane people. And you know, plenty of parents go out of their way to protect their kids from limiting gender roles. It is nothing new. It is nothing to call social services about. In fact young girls who display more androgynous characteristics tend to have higher self-esteem.

(3) Taking on gender roles and encouraging your kid to defy them is pretty darn awesome! We should all do it more often. Go Angelina!

(4) And wait a just a flipping minute, how is this all Angelina's fault anyway??????

(5) I'm sorry but WTF!!!!!!!! is with the comparisons to Suri Cruz? Who on earth decided that she was the penultimate example of little girlhood? Is the press really trying to pit two celebrity CHILDREN against each other? Really? REALLY? Can't we at least wait until they are a tad older, and maybe, I don't know, can read and write? AND since when are Suri and mom saints with their high-heeled shoes and designer purses that we all spat out our spleens over last week? You can't have it both ways people!

(6) This whole issue is so freaking stupid I makes me want to spit!!!! We are supposed to live in a new modern and accepting world full of liberal minded PC people. And it is suddenly ok to go all bad-mother-finger-pointing because a TODDLER is tomboyish? How on EARTH are we supposed to accept ADULTS who transgress these apparently set-in-stone rules and regulations.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! **is a figurative one-person riot**

Beautiful People

Maybe my strong dislike is now being manifested as suppressed affinity, but she just looks so classy in this outfit. It is impossible not to like her. I cheer her on as she steps out for the premiere of her boyfriend RPatz's new film (Daily Mail). I am glad she finally gets to show off her beauty and her boyfriend.

And this kindling of esteem for ole K Stewart must have made me look with more admiration upon Kiera Knightley, of whom I've gotten incredibly sick over the years. But she is really cool in Bend It Like Beckham and she look lovely here at the Laurence Olivier Award nominee luncheon party (jezebel.com).

In other news, isn't it sweet: Carrie Mulligan and Shia Lebeouf are dating (jezebel.com). Cuteness!

Cinematographically Gluttonous part 2

In keeping with the subject of my previous post, I also thought it might be fun to point out some films that really quite bad, but look oh so pretty. Their storylines are terrible and their acting is usually pretty terrible (though not necessarily), but their art direction, production design, costuming, make-up, and cinematography are pretty darn great. Or in some cases, at least brief bursts of greatness can be found and you can feel glad that the tons of money poored into these movies was well-spent for at least that portion of the film.

Et maintenant:

Marie Antoinette

Lots of people hated this film, and to be sure it is not great. But Sophia Coppola sure has a great eye. It is definitely worth a quite watch for it's neon candied, girly fun, soft pastoral tones, and pop art take on late 1700s french fashion. The slightly punked, revisionist attitude that flows throughout the film is something fun to experience as well, and the film does feature some very well-executed, subtle scenes.



I also personally love love love the scene of M-A and her daughter in their country retreat (sorry that is in German). Skip ahead to 4:43 for the most beautiful part:



Twilight

This film, this whole phenomenon gives me considerable mental, emotional, artisitc, metaphoical, symbolic, and spiritual agony. However, some of the imagery in this film are quite stupendously enjoyable. I personally loved the baseball scene, especially when the evil vampires crash on the Cullen's family show-off time with their wind-blown hair and clothing. Also, love love love the slow-motion as Alice (?) hits the ball and Bella's hair gets plastered to her face. This video has rather blah quality unfortunately.



Van Helsing

This film is ridiculously bad. But Dracula and his vampire brides are pretty terrific and they look GREAT! (The greenish vampire spawn that explode into goo, not so much.) I wish I could find you a non-fanvid of the masquerade scene but I can't. Here is the trailer, bask in its terribleness.



Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Ok, not that this film is anywhere near as bad as Twilight or Van Helsing, but it is pretty weak. I found myself severely dissappointed by this film, so much so that I cannot really make strong enough excuses for it. However, I was crying during Padme's funeral although this might be because she looks so bloody beautiful.

Some maraschino cherries for the cinematographically gluttonous

After a recent experience watching The Prestige with some friends, I found myself being mercilessly mocked after expressing my rapture at a the visual beauty of a certain scene. Every time I watch the film, I am always taken by the gorgeousness of the Colorado road that leads Angier (Hugh Jackman) to the secluded haunts of one Nichola Tesla. Angier's carriage emerges from the mists, and leaves him walking through a shimmering atmosphere of ghostly white hanging about textured trees, etched with frost and dusted with snow. Everything is shrouded in a combination of enticing fairy dust, eerie mystery, and sheer amazing magic. It takes the breath away every time, or at least that of this cineast. A fellow watcher makes an incredulous snort as I let out an appreciative sigh with the first image of the beautiful forest surrounding Angier's harmoniously brown figure: "I love that the thing you like the most about this movie is the fog."

Now of course, 'the fog' is certainly not my most favorite thing about such a brilliant movie, but it is certainly a succulent and mouth-watering treat, one that makes you drool inside . . . like a rich creamy chocolate or the delicious cherry on the top on an ice cream sunday. Your heart skips a beat when you realize you will be enjoying this unexpected pleasure, and sigh with satisfaction and gratitude upon consumption of this tasty morsel. However, more to the point of this post, this experience put me in mind of several other times when I've fallen in love with movies because of their appeal to the cinematographically gluttonous. On several occasions I have suggest some to people (namely my dad) what I describe as some 'very slow' films, that have sustained me all the way through to their conclusions with their sheer dazzling beauty. Others (for example, my dad) without my appreciation for these feats of masterful filmic gorgeousness do not fair so well. It seems, as I've been told, not everyone can sit through them which is a pity because most of the films turn out to be beautiful in the emotional, narrative and just overall sense as well.

However, still basking in the afterglow of The Prestige fog, I feel the impulse to celebrate a few of these films. In an expression of my love for them, I hereby provide a few of my guilty pleasures:

The Assassination of Jesse James:
The story of this film moves REALLY slowly, slow enough you can easily lose interest in it. But what is great about this is that it gives you plenty of time to gaze at the amazing images, patinas, textures, and spaces that parade past you on the screen. This is one of the few films that most accurately captures the grandeur and sheer bigness of the American western landscapes, which is quite an accomplishment and quite an experience. This film is also peopled with GREAT performances, especially from Casey Affleck and Sam Rockwell.



The English Patient

This movie spawned my love for Anthony Minghella. We should all love him, if for nothing more than the unabashedly bloody gorgeousness of this film. Although a notorious cry-baby when it comes to dramatic films of any sort, I found myself uncontrollably sobbing during this film, not because I was particularly moved by the tragic fate of any of the rather unlikable characters, but more so because of the overwhelming power of the images. See this film and weep openly at its beauty. I dare not even include here a screen capture of a tragic scene at the end of the film, one of the most exquisite examples of its cinematography, because I do not wish to deny anyone the rapturous experience of uncovering it for themselves. This trailer is a little obnoxious, but may it whet your visual appetites.



Enchanted April

Another slow slow film. But its visuals have a magic ability to really fill your heart with love and warmth. Appallingly little happens in this film. And yet what a wizzbang experience! As the characters scurry off to Italy in a mad bid to get away from it all, they find everything! I don't know what it is about this film, but watching it was one of the most vicariously real cinematic experiences I've ever had. When the characters plod through rainy city streets and float around their loveless homes, the audience can feel the cold, dampness that is slowly killing their souls. But as Lottie, Rose and company feel their hearts refilling with life, warmth and love, so does the audience. One can really feel the warm sunshine as Caroline recuperates in the sun, and one's heart glows at Rose's delicate pre-Raphaelite beauty and Lottie's soft harmony with the pastoral landscape around her. The beauty of this film leaves you warm, snuggley, relaxed and with a rekindled love of life.

I could not find a satisfactory trailer, so here is a segment from the film. Skip ahead to 1:00 for the good bits.



Days of Heaven

Really really slow film number 4! This film is similar cinematographically to the aforementioned Assassination of Jesse James, but its narrative is much more expertly constructed. And its visuals are superb, striving to capture the beauty of the Texas panhandle and the grasslands--- in which is emphatically succeeds. Its beauty is only heightened by the quiet, silent nature of its characters and story, letting things unfold with an earthly, peaceful authenticity. If the fog in The Prestige was a tasty treat, this film is a candyland heaven of nonstop visual delights! Director Terrence Malick is said to have been striving to create essentially a silent film, and its silence and slowness give the film's beauty the perfect framing its needs to make it a mind-blowingly visual experience. Aside from Assassination's more dramatic imagery, this is the only other film I have seen that truly approaches consistently capturing the majesty of the American western landscape. (Sam Shepard's performance in this is also something not to miss.)

Apologies for the annoying voice over again.


Girl with a Pearl Earring

This a film about painting, so rather unsurprisingly it is lovely to look at. As the narrative delves into the life of Vermeer, the imagery strives to live up to his artistic standards. Color and lighting fill the movie with painterly visuals, and costume and makeup follow suit. The artistry of both the story and the images carries the audience away. Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth's understated performances mesh well with this aesthetic. It is also quite enjoyable to see Cillian Murphy's small role as the butcher boy.




Heavenly Creatures

This film would not put people off with the slowness of the previously mentioned films. Rather, its creepy and horrific content seems to promise to disturb and unsettle its audience. However, it really is carefully constructed to give you a unique and creative view into something so unsavory, and this is a remarkable experience that one should try to take advantage of if one can. An additional pleasure to the overall genius of this film is Peter Jackson's masterful and imaginative visuals. They are filled with beauty, emotion and meaning, and truly make the film what it is.



The Tudors

This of course is much more popular and well-known than probably anything else on this list, but I could not help but mention it. Despite its rather considerable creative license it takes with history and its raunchy oversexed inclinations, the cinematography on this show is fantastic. It does things with color and darkness that few television shows do and sets it at a visual standard few television shows bother even to consider. I myself can watch the opening credit sequence over and over again, which not only showcases the amazing visual excellence of the film's artistic design and photography but also features some darn great editing. Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jeremy Northam look particularly gorgeous in my opinion. Try to ignore its obsession with carefully lit fragments of women's bodies, and embrace the music which is also brilliant.



The Fall

I do not really know what to say about this film. It rather speaks for itself. Unlike most of the other films I've listed, it is pretty dramatic, engrossing and exciting. It features an onslaught of beautiful, creative and mesmerizing imagery coupled with two fantastic lead performances. Just watch the trailer and you will see what I mean.



These are my top picks! If I think of anymore I will be sure to let you know!