Searching For Her

Diane Keaton as Annie Hall in Annie Hall (1977)

I had a dream. No, not the profound Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Movement "dream," but one of cinematic sorts.  I had a dream about Woody Allen.  Wait! Before you drag your mouse, or finger across your iPhone to exit out of this window, please hear me out.  In my dream, Woody and I got into a heated debate about his leading ladies.  I chased him around my grandmother's apartment (because, of course that's where we entertain houseguests) screaming and yelling, "I can be just as quirky, crazy, funny, and cute as Diane, Penelope, Scarlett, and Emma!" To which he smarmily replied, "I don't know. There's something kind of sexy about Emma.  Can you be sexy?"   

Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena in
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

At that moment, "dream Rachel" as I like to call myself, challenged Woody Allen (whom I believe is not "dream Woody," but real life Woody) that she could write a quirky, funny, vulnerable female character who happens to be a woman of color. 

Apparently this bothered me so much that my subconscious simply had to retaliate against Woody Allen.  But it does call into question, where is the image of the girl with off the map style, who completely embarrasses herself, but people exclaim...well that's her! Where is the girl who cruises the stacks of vinyl records and farmer's markets on Saturday mornings?  Where is the girl who does all of this and happens to be Black, Latina, or Asian? 

Zooey Deschanel as Jess in
New Girl (Fox)

We look cute in chic menswear ala Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.  We have the capacity to make a Joseph Gordon-Levitt character's hipster heart flutter--and we'll have the choice to dump him for Michael B. Jordan, Michael Fassbender, or Mr. Cumberbatch.   I know I'm being ambitious but Fassbender is so necessary.  But I digress.


Emma Stone as Sophie in Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

I'm ready to see that girl jumping off the page, onto the screen, and into my heart! I want to be awed by her, whether she's the clichéd "adorable mess" or coolest girl you've ever known--or wish you knew.  I want audiences to see that this girl exists in all shapes, sizes, and yes, colors.  I readily admit that I am a black girl who rocks out to anyone from Jay-Z to Haim (don't sleep on those girls).  While I duked it out with Woody Allen this time, the same can be said for other directors.  One of my favorites, Wes Anderson comes to mind.  Yes, Wes, minority pre-teens immersed in puppy love can also runaway and boogie on the beach ala Moonrise Kingdom! Watch your back, my subconscious is coming for you next!

In the meantime, I will do what women do best...get things done.  So, while "dream Rachel" chases Woody, yelling and screaming, "reality Rachel" will challenge these trends and simply "FADE IN."

One Direction: Not Your 90s' Boy Band

Hi. My name is Rachel. I’m 25 years old and I have a confession. I…like...One Direction. Yes, the British Boy Band…One Direction. I know, I know. As a 25 year old girl/woman, I should be scoffing at their legions of fangirls screaming and crying their hearts out, all their pop infused songs, and the simple fact that they are a boy band. But, while sitting in the dark theater with my 11 year old niece (who by the way is not a One Direction fan, but is now), I thought man…this guys are…real. I must say, curiosity got me in the theater, and the niece was the excuse. I’ve always found myself randomly humming their songs and when I caught myself I thought “why are you humming this? They’re like 12 years old.” Then that music video for “Little Things” came out and I was unable to turn away from Zayn Malik’s crooning and those puppy dog eyes…but I digress. While watching One Direction: This Is Us, I thought damn…they are not your average boy band. They’re actually pretty edgy.


 Don’t get me wrong, I am still a Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC hardcore fan. But when you compare my generation’s boy bands (BSB, *NSYNC, 98 degrees, etc), I must say I enjoy the fact that One Direction does not appear to be a “brand.” I appreciate that they all don’t dress alike, that they can’t dance worth shit, that they are goofy (seriously those boys are funny…especially Niall…keep off, my niece loves him), and don’t hide the fact that they have tattoos. I like that while they are grateful for their careers as mega pop stars, they find that a mob of teenage girls running after them, screaming, and crying… a bit…strange.

One of the nicest moments was seeing them at home. Harry returned to the bakery where he worked with some cool old ladies…one squeezed his “bum.” Niall came home for a football game and his brother’s wedding. Zayn likes to spray paint art on his walls at home. Louis and his Nan had a cute moment where she said she’ll get her ear plugs ready to see him in concert. While, Liam still gets creeped out by the giant cardboard cutout his mom bought because she misses him, while he’s on tour. All of these moments are what makes One Direction…normal.


 So yes, I am 25; I ventured out of my comfort zone, and genuinely learned to enjoy these boys. Would I see them live in concert? Let’s not take it that far. But they’re talented, the music is catchy, and there is something genuine about them. What can I say? I’m not a fan, but I can give props where they’re deserved. If you’re curious like me…One Direction: This Is Us, is in theaters now.

Now, onto serious film blogging.

Oscar Nominations 2013: Hits and Misses

Youngest Best Actress and first time nominee, Quvenzhane Wallis.
 Photo courtesy of zimbio.com

 

 

Bright and early this morning, this year’s Oscar host, Seth MacFarlane and star of the upcoming movie, The Gangster Squad, Emma Stone announced the nominees for this year’s Oscars.  If the nomination ceremony was any indication, audiences and nominees alike should be on the edge of their seat for what’s to come from Seth on awards night.

The nominations were pretty straightforward, although there were a few pleasant surprises and some surprising snubs.  In the Best Actress race is Quvenzhane Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild.  She becomes the youngest nominee ever in her category! This is Wallis’ feature film debut and she’s a PHENOMENAL actress.  Best of luck and congratulations to her!  She is joined by Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook, Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty, Emmanuelle Riva for Amour, and Naomi Watts for The Impossible.  Beasts of the Southern Wild is the debut for director Behn Zeitlin who is nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. 

Though it was all good for the first timers, such as, Riva, who is the oldest nominee in her category for the Michael Haneke film, Amour, others were unfortunately passed up; the first of them being Leonardo DiCaprio.

After seeing “Django Unchained,” I must say that though I liked all of the performances, I LOVED Leonardo DiCaprio!  With the screenplay, Tarantino’s direction, and Leo’s natural talent, his role as slave master, Calvin Candie, was his moment to shine and break away from the usual, “tortured, serious, pensive, man with a permanent scowl on his face” roles.  For the first time, in a long time, I enjoyed and was interested in his performance.  Comedy suits him well and I hope to see a future DiCaprio/Tarantino collaboration.   Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a stellar performance and it is unfortunate, much like last year with Michael Fassbender in Shame, that it is greatly overlooked.  Okay, rant done. The nominees for Best Supporting Actor, which unfortunately does not include, DiCaprio is: Robert De Niro (my Bobby D!) for Silver Linings Playbook, Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master, Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained, Alan Arkin for Argo, and  Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln. 

The next two entering snub city are directors Ben Affleck for Argo and Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty.  Though I have not seen these two films, many critics predicted Affleck and Bigelow to pull nominations for Best Director.  This would have been Bigelow’s second time to be nominated for Best Director and it would be the most nominations for a woman director.  Instead, the category saw, Steven Spielberg for Lincoln, first time nominee Behn Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild, Michael Haneke for Amour, Ang Lee for Life of Pi, and David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook . 

Despite these snubs, I am excited to see the happenings of the Oscars.  Will the neck and neck race between Anne Hathaway and Sally Field in the Best Supporting Actress category, be a first win for Hathaway and a third win for Field?  Or, will the Academy hear the hoofs of a dark horse approaching?  Either way, it’ll be…interesting.  Here’s a link to the full list of nominees:

oscar.go.com/nominees

Oscar Predictions 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I lay in total boredom, here are some late night Oscar Predictions. It'll be fun to see who the Academy nominates.  Tune in on Thursday, January 10th, 2013 at 8:30am eastern/5:30am pacific for the official Oscar nominations.

Best Picture                

·         Argo

·         Django Unchained

·         Les Miserables

·         Life of Pi

·         Lincoln

·         The Master

·         Zero Dark Thirty

 

Best Director of a Motion Picture

·         Ben Affleck - Argo

·         Kathryn Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty

·         Ang Lee– Life of Pi

·         Steven Spielberg - Lincoln

·         Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture

·         Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

·         Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln

·         John Hawkes – The Sessions

·         Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables

·         Denzel Washington – Flight

 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture

·         Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty

·         Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

·         Emmanuelle Riva - Amour

·         Naomi Watts – The Impossible

·         Rachel Weisz – The Deep Blue Sea

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

·         Alan Arkin - Argo

·         Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook

·         Leonardo DiCaprio – Django Unchained

·         Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

·         Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

·         Amy Adams – The Master

·         Sally Field - Lincoln

·         Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables

·         Helen Hunt – The Sessions

·         Nicole Kidman – The Paperboy

 

Best Original Screenplay

·         Paul Thomas Anderson – The Master

·         Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola – Moonrise Kingdom

·         Mark Boal – Zero Dark Thirty

·         Michael Haneke - Amour

·         Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

 

Best Adapted Screenplay

·         Stephen Chbosky – The Perks of Being a Wallflower

·         Tony Kushner – Lincoln

·         David Magee – Life of Pi

·         David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

·         Chris Terrio - Argo

 

 

 

Golden Globe Nominee Predictions

It's that time of year again kiddies! Where movie stars remind us how awesome they are...AWARD SEASON!!!!  In about five hours, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will announce the Golden Globe Nominations. Here are a couple of my predictions for film nominees.  Check back later for actual nominations.


Best Picture: Drama
 Argo
 Django Unchained
 Lincoln
 Life of Pi
 Zero Dark Thirty

Best Picture: Musical or Comedy

 Hyde Park on Hudson
 Les Miserables
 Magic Mike
 Moonrise Kingdom
 Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director

Ben Affleck - Argo
Kathryn Bigelow -Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper - Les Miserables
David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg - Lincoln
Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained


Best Lead Actor - Drama

 Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
 John Hawkes - The Sessions
 Anthony Hopkins - Hitchcock
 Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
 Denzel Washington - Flight
* Ben Affleck - Argo

Best Lead Actress - Drama

Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone
Keira Knightley - Anna Karenina
Naomi Watts - The Impossible
Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild
* Helen Mirren - Hitchcock

Best Lead Actor - Musical or Comedy

Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables
Tommy Lee Jones - Hope Springs
Bill Murray - Hyde Park on Hudson
Christopher Walken - Seven Psychopaths

Best Lead Actress -Musical or Comedy

Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
Laura Linney - Hyde Park on Hudson
Maggie Smith - Quartet
Meryl Streep - Hope Springs
Barbara Streisand - The Guilt Trip

Best Supporting Actor

Russell Crowe - Les Miserables
Leonardo DiCaprio - Django Unchained
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
* Matthew McConaughey - Magic Mike

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams - The Master
Sally Field - Lincoln
Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Nicole Kidman - The Paperboy

Who do you predict to be nominated?

Girl on "Girls"

Courtesy of HBO: l-r. Marnie (Allison Williams), Hannah (Lena Dunham), Jessa (Jemima Kirke), and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet)


 

Now that HBO's Girls is half way through its first season, my initial reaction to hate, loathe, and detest Lena Dunham's creation has somewhat passed. My criticism followed the numerous blogs and critical reviews of the lack of diversity, the characters as not relatable, and it's portrayal of 20-something's in New York City as lazy and unmotivated as insulting and inaccurate. However, after several views, Dunham's show seems to portray more than that, but I still have my issues.  Hannah, (Lena Dunham) the aspiring, yet lazy writer who lacks confidence in herself both professionally and personally, Marnie, (Allison Williams) the beautiful girl with the perfect boyfriend whom remains unfulfilled and wishy-washy about her relationship, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) the girl who is the epitome of a free-spirit, and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) the girl who attempts to navigate through her virginal neuroses.    
 

The show hit its peak for me at episode 4, "Hannah's Diary," with the jaw dropping, scene with Marnie, Hannah, and Charlie (Christopher Abbot). I mean who hasn’t had those, my best friend hates my honesty (albeit diary read out loud by her boyfriend in a public place) moments?  Coupled with that latter scene, was an earlier one of Shoshanna, being rejected in bed because she’s a virgin. Ouch.  Dunham managed to capture the fear of attachment by female virgins to males without being too judgmental. Check one for realism.
 

Now for the diversity issue. Since the show’s premiere, there has been a question of the lack of a multiracial cast.  I admit that was my initial frustration with “Girls” being lauded as the voice of a generation, but representing a specific racial demographic.  However, people arguably never question the greats like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, or Woody Allen on their casting or story choices and for years their movies have been about one particular group.  But, it does not mean that we can’t express our frustration with HBO.  Something I’ll post on later, but I digress.  Though “Girls” is not my favorite show that HBO ripped off the air, “How To Make It In America,” I do hope that Dunham continues to capture the 20-something in New York trying to make it.  Yes, we do get a bit lazy, but I like to believe there is some fight in us.  Though this “girl” cannot necessarily relate to “Girls,” perhaps I won’t completely hate it.

    

Oscar Nomination Predictions 2012



It’s that time of year again for the most beautiful, coveted, shiny naked man to take center stage…Oscar.   Just for fun, here are some of my predictions for the nominations that will be announced, Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 8:30AM est/ 5:30 AM pst.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture

George Clooney- The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio- J. Edgar

Jean Dujardin – The Artist

Michael Fassbender – Shame

Brad Pitt – Moneyball

Best Actress in a Motion Picture

Glenn Close- Albert Noobs

Viola Davis – The Help

Meryl Streep- The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton- We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams- My Week With Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh- My Week With Marilyn

Albert Brooks - Drive

Christopher Plummer- Beginners

Viggo Mortensen – A Dangerous Method

Max Von Sydow – Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

*Don’t Count Out: Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Berenice Bejo - The Artist

Jessica Chastain – The Help

Janet McTeer - Albert Noobs

Octavia Spencer – The Help

Shailene Woodley- The Descendants

*Don’t Count Out: Charlize Theron – Young Adult & Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist

Steve McQueen – Shame

Alexander Payne – The Descendants

Martin Scorsese – Hugo

Steven Spielberg – War Horse

*Don’t Count Out: George Clooney – The Ides of March

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descendants

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

The Help

Hugo

My Week With Marilyn

War Horse

Best Original Screenplay

50/50

The Artist

Bridesmaids

Midnight In Paris

Young Adult