11.09.08
Hollywood Riffs: Nicole Kidman to Go Transsexual
Hi Johnny Depp’s dad.
In Contention brings us a look at new posters for “Gran Torino” and “The Wrestler” respectively both of which I love especially the latter’s red carpet poster (pity Rourke looks so odd standing next to it, poor guy, I guess he looks as good as he possibly can), also noting that on the WB FYC webpage, an original song (written by Jamie Callum) ‘Gran Torino’ bid has popped up. It better be good because there is nothing worse on Oscar night than having to sit through a bunch of lame ass performances of lame ass songs.
Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron, who have both won Oscars for portraying lesbians in “The Hours” and “Monster” respectively, are teaming up to bring the true story about Danish artists Einar (who went from husband to wife in 1931) and Greta Wegener to life in the form of “The Danish Girl,” to be directed by Anand Tucker (“Shopgirl”). Nicole Kidman, as a man? That is going to be something. Oscar predictions, anyone? [THR]
Speaking of Nicole Kidman, apparently Baz Luhrman was forced to change the ending to his “Australia,” which originally saw Hugh Jackman’s character dying, after test-screening reviews stated that it was pointless and a more uplifting ending would be more beneficial. Never thought Baz would succumb to doubting his filmmaking instincts, but despite poor weather and horses suffering equine flu (signs if you ask me), he changed the ending. Optimistically, let’s hope it pays off.
Italy leads the European Film Awards pack, with “Il Divo,” not eligible for Oscar consideration, and “Gomorrah” getting mass love with 5 nominations each including Best Picture, while “The Orphanage” and “Waltz with Bashir” scored four nominations. [AwardsDaily]
Michael Winterbottom (“A Might Heart,” and whose “Genova” I will hopefully see this week) is set to direct Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba (yawn) in an adaptation of a novel by Jim Thompson about a sheriff (Affleck) who goes off the rails and becomes a sociopathic murderer, and Alba will be playing a prostitute (not so yawn). [THR]
Chris Rock will produce, star and co-write an “urban re-working” of the dark English comedy “Death at a Funeral,” that will feature an African American cast rather than British and will no doubt be a million times less funny but will end up making a whole lot more money. Go figure. [THR]
A second trailer for Pixar’s “Up” shows it to be just as odd and wonderful as a Pixar film could possibly look in a trailer, also indicated by Pixar blowing its own horn telling us yet again why we love Pixar as much as we do. It’s not like I need to watch a Pixar trailer to convince myself to see the film or anything, but hey, it’s a pretty sweet trailer. I do like balloons.
Kerry said,
November 9, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I really like the look of that Wrestler poster, very cool indeed. And the new Gran Torino poster which is similar to the first one, but I like the new one more.
The Danish Girl and Up are definitely two films I am looking forward to, and I am jealous you get to see Genova as I missed it at TIFF this year, definitely a hidden gem at the fest.
Matt said,
November 9, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Just a little correction: even though Aileen Wuornos had female lovers, she never identified as a “lesbian”.
Nick Plowman said,
November 9, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Did she have sexual intercourse with women? Yes. Did she like it? Seemed so. Did she have sex with men? Yes. Did they pay her? Yes. Did some of them rape her? Yes. Did some of them shove a metal pole into a place where metal poles needn’t be shoved? Yes. Could a person with an obvious attraction to a woman still be considered straight after all that? Maybe.
She was mentally ill and she hated herself more than she did anyone else, and the only time she was ever truly happily involved with someone sexually, as documented because we can’t know everyone she ever slept with and she may very well have been in love with men and had happy relationships but I doubt it, she was with a woman. I am just working with the facts here, as are you. It’s all a matter of opinion, so you can’t actually correct me because either one of us could be wrong and we’ll never, ever know,
Seeing as there are labels in this world that we use to categorise people’s sexual orientations (stupid labels at that), I see it as, she had sex with men for money, but she had sex with Tyria (who Aileen met a gay bar) because she was genuinely in love with her. Regardless of Aileen not having ever considered herself a lesbian, the facts speak for themselves, she hated men, and how seriously can we take her opinion of herself anyway? She was intensely confused and mentally unstable (she was a serial killer), I understand that, but I don’t think she was too sure what she was.
What you are saying may be the official idea but in my eyes, she was a big, puffy lesbian, where her lesbian tendencies signalled her sexual orientation more than her self-destructive need for male sexual attention did.
But hey, I could very well be wrong. Just my opinion here.
Guy Lodge said,
November 9, 2008 at 5:04 pm
It’s Jamie Cullum. Of course it’ll be a lame-ass song.
That is all.
Nick Plowman said,
November 9, 2008 at 5:05 pm
That’s what I am thinking, but it’s the weekend, trying to be optimistic here. Trying.
Dame James Henry said,
November 9, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Nicole Kidman as a man? If it worked for Felicity Huffman, then it has to work for Nicole. As weird as it sounds, it seems like Kidman could really pull it off.
Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba? Seriously? Why does this woman keep trying to act? With a potentially interesting film (My dear Casey going on a psychotic rampage? Yes please!) you know that she’s going to stink up the place.
J.D. said,
November 10, 2008 at 12:22 am
Jessica Alba shall have her day in the sun, I tells ya.
Eventually.
Miranda Wilding said,
November 10, 2008 at 3:40 am
Oooh, my lovely J.D.
Regarding Alba, I DOUBT IT.
But I just had to say, Nicky…
“Hi, JOHNNY DEPP’S dad” ???
I’m STILL laughing. Uproariously….
J.D. said,
November 10, 2008 at 8:56 am
I know, Miranda. I know. :(
Mike M said,
November 10, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Up looks colourful