WEIRDLAND

Friday, April 03, 2009

Real-life characters

"Edie starred in a series of artist Andy Warhol's films (Vinyl, Kitchen, Beauty Part II). Chloe [Sevigny] starred in the film KIDS, directed by Larry Clark and written by former "One to Watch" boy Harmony Korine".
Source: www.blairmag.com

"Factory Girl", about tragic style icon Edie Sedgwick and her relationship with Andy Warhol.

The small-budget independent picture could become an important boost to Sienna's acting career. Those who have seen early rough-cut versions tell me the performances of Sienna and leading man Guy Pearce, as Warhol, are brilliant.

Certainly, playing Edie Sedgwick took its toll. "The more I delved into her, the more I realised she'd had this traumatic life," Sienna, left as Sedgwick, told me, explaining how her childhood was an emotional nightmare.
She was popping Valium at eight, had electric shock treatment at 14, and was sexually abused by her father. "You can see why she went so wild," Sienna noted, alluding to Sedgwick's s society antics in Sixties New York.

The actress, 24, was fascinated by Sedgwick, spending the best part of a year researching her life, and admits she became "totally obsessed" with the model-turned-muse.
"I found it really hard to take my black tights off," she joked, referring to Sedgwick's trademark nylons. But then, more seriously, she added: "Actually, I didn't want to let her go."
Finally, though, Sienna's mother told her to pull herself together. "She said: 'You've got to stop this now.' I took myself off to Mexico on my own for a week and just chilled out, but it was several more weeks before Edie escaped my system. I think there's still a bit of her in me." Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

"In 2007, Emile Hirsch garnered attention for his captivating performance in “Into the Wild”, directed by Sean Penn. Based on the best-selling book by Jon Krakauer and adapted for the screen by Penn, “Into the Wild” starred Hirsch as real-life adventurer Christopher McCandless. The portrayal earned him the National Board of Review award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor; the Rising Star Award from the Palm Springs International Film Festival; Gotham and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Actor; and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, in the lead actor category as well as the ensemble category. Hirsch’s additional film credits include two more true-life stories, Nick Cassavetes’ “Alpha Dog” and Catherine Hardwicke’s “Lords of Dogtown". Source: www.moviesonline.ca
“I enjoy playing real-life people. I’ve always had a knack for taking on characteristics or mannerisms. And I was the most spoiled actor on the movie because I was able to spend every day with the real Cleve,” who was on set as a historical consultant. “Cleve would watch me and be like, ‘I don’t do that.’ And I’d say, ‘Yeah, you do, baby.’ People don’t always know how they act.”
Source: nymag.com

"Peter Sarsgaard on Researching His Role: Each of the characters in “Jarhead” is based on a real person, but Sarsgaard said he never did any research on the guy he plays in the film prior to playing the part.Sarsgaard said, “You know, it's the greatest thing that ever happened to us, I've got to say. I mean, going in - I always tell this story - my aunt had my uncle once landscape her property and they didn't speak for a year after that. And I told Jake that before we started. I said, 'You know, if we're not careful, this could be very bad.' Source: movies.about.com
"Jake Gyllenhaal Explains His Decision Not to Meet with the Real Tony Swofford Before Shooting “Jarhead:” “I think I felt like…Sam said to me two weeks into rehearsal, he said, ‘Now it’s time to put down your books and now it’s going to become your own experience. I don’t want you coming up and referencing, you know, the book and what happened here and there. It’s going to be our own process and our own experience.’
I think Bill Broyles wrote the script, and also Tony who wrote [the book], recognizes a sort of artifice in the character. Recognizes that I had to also personally say, ‘This is going to be half me and half him. I’m going to go through his experiences and see how I respond and try and be as honest and as present as I can.’ …If I kept asking Tony, if I called Tony up in the middle of the night and said, ‘How did you feel here? What happened here and what was really going on?,’ I think that one) it would have taken the helm away from Sam as a director. And I think for me it would have taken my personal response of the experience away.”
Source: movies.about.com

Alice in Wondeland motif

"One need only think of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, who guides Alice down the hole and thence into a wider world; in Donnie Darko the rabbit also leads Donnie to a golf course with its own holes. The Alice in Wonderland rabbit motif is basically copied wholesale in the recent film The Matrix, and we can therefore strongly suspect that the same is true in Donnie Darko (whether it is also true in ‘Harvey’ is more tenuous!).

The journey into knowledge parallels the theme of death and rebirth, and the links to Christian practice is clear: physical death and rebirth are linked with spiritual rebirth (this is why converted Christians are often called ‘twice-born’). The first thing that the rabbit says to Donnie is ‘wake up’, linking it to spiritual awakening. By the way, the rabbit also appears in the form of a car (a Volkswagen Rabbit) to guide Gretchen".
Source: corycia.net

Edie Sedgwick in "Ciao Manhatan" (1972).

“I do love Alice in Wonderland though. That’s something I think I could do very well. Don’t you think we ought to do an A.W.? A.W.’s Alice in Wonderland? Andy Warhol’s Alice in Wonderland? A.W. stands for a lot of things, I understand. It, uh, it would make a fantastic film. So I wanted somebody to write the script for it, in a modern sense. Think it would be the most marvelous movie in the world. If it could be done. Don’t you think? Really I don’t think they’ve done one since they did a Walt Disney one- which isn’t really doing it. In a sense it is, but not in the way it really should be done. What’s needed right now is a real scene. I mean not just cartoon characters but the actual character of people because there’s so many fantastic people that you might as well use the people.”
– Edie Sedgwick, 1965, "Edie: Girl on Fire".

The Bunny man



"The Bunny Man is a local legend based in Clifton, in Fairfax County, Virginia. It goes from a mild folkloric tale to an extreme urban horror legend. The story is about an allegedly real-life man-sized creature or a man-in-a-bunny-suit going around and killing people. The incidents seem to be based factually on some mysterious deaths. One University of Maryland researcher, Patricia Johnson wrote a 1973 folklore paper entitled “The Bunny Man.”The Bunny Man is one of the strange tales explored in Weird Virginia, due out in March 2007. (The incidents are not told comically, as might be assumed from the image on the Weird US site, but with more Fortean respect, as per all of the Weird books’ treatments.)

An intriguing movie was released in 2001 that has strange images and links to the Bunnyman folklore, not the least of which is the giant figure of Frank (seen at top). This is not your grandfather’s Harvey. No, not at all. All month, February 2007, cable television channels have been broadcasting this independent film, entitled Donnie Darko, sometimes as often as four times a day. The setting for Donnie Darko is in the fictional town of Middlesex, Virginia, so certainly Fairfax County’s Bunny Man seems to have had some influence (perhaps if only in location).
The following cartoon review of Donnie Darko is courtesy of Mark Monlux and his site, “The Comic Critic: Home of the Creative Mind”. Source: www.cryptomundo.com

"Sex and the city" sequel

"A date has been set for the Sex and the City sequel: May 28, 2010, it was confirmed Thursday.

Carrie Bradshaw and co. will be going head to head with Jake Gyllenhaal's Prince of Persia, which is scheduled for release on the same day.

The first SATC flick - which hit theaters May 30, 2008 - earned $412 million worldwide.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis will reprise their roles as Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York, respectively".

Source: www.showbizspy.com

Reese is fine with Jake

"She also explains her relationshp with current boyfriend, actor Jake Gyllenhaal, ex-husband actor Ryan Phillipe - and her love of antique lace.

Q: So, you are in a stable relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, right? How is he?

R: Yes. And we’re just fine. Thanks for asking.

Q: Do you always travel with Jake and your children when possible?

R: Well, My children cannot travel with me because they go to school so they’re back home. And on this occasion Jake has come along. I try to spend as much time as I possibly can with my family.
Q: Are you a romantic person?

R: Very. I think all women have a romantic side.

Q: What are the best moments of your day?

R: My best moments of the day are with my children, whether it's helping my daughter with her homework or tucking them into bed after saying prayers.
Q: What makes you laugh?

R: I am a happy and positive person so I laugh easily.

Q: How does it feel to be considered one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood?

R: Oh, Thank you! I feel very blessed, you know. It is a wonderful opportunity to travel all around the world and talk to people. And create films that hopefully brings joy to people, so I feel very lucky in life.
Q: Do you have any beauty tips you could share?

R: I just take care of my skin. And for me it’s important to sleep a lot because if not it just shows in my pale skin.

Q: What are your hobbies?

R: I am a homey person and now I share things with my children but I still collect antique linens and embroidery. It’s something that I enjoy a lot.

Q: Who are your favourite fashion designers?

R: I love fashion but I don’t follow it. I grew up in Tennessee. We didn't know what Louis Vuitton was. I had to order all my prom outfits from catalogues.
Q: Is image the key to success in Hollywood?

R: In Hollywood, maintaining an image is a race to nowhere. I know I am never going to be the skinniest, the most beautiful. I just want to be the best version of myself that I can be".
Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, Getting Married? video:

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Celebs with most sex-appeal survey

"Angelina Jolie, meanwhile, tops this list because both men and women worldwide have crushes on her and - if she ever invited someone other than Brad Pitt into her bed - not even the most committed couple would walk away from that opportunity."

In a new survey of thousands of online daters nationwide, we asked: The sex pass list is a list of celebrities your loved one gives you the green light to sleep with, even though you're in a committed relationship. Who is tops on your sex pass list?

Following are the complete results:

Men
Angelina Jolie 25.9%
Jennifer Aniston 24.1%
Halle Berry 23.8%
Penelope Cruz 22.4%
Eva Mendes 20.7%
Nicole Kidman 20.7%
Sandra Bullock 19.0%
Jennifer Garner 18.9%
Lucy Liu 17.2%
Reese Witherspoon 17.2%
Demi Moore 16.7%
Julia Roberts 15.5%
Kate Winslet 15.3%
Kiera Knightly 12.1%
Scarlett Johansson 11.8%
Natalie Portman 8.6%
Katherine Hiegl 6.9%

Women
Johnny Depp 32.2%
George Clooney 29.0%
Will Smith 28.4%
Brad Pitt 25.8%
Matthew McConaughey 25.8%
Hugh Jackman 19.4%
Sean Connery 16.1%
Patrick Dempsey 12.9%
Tom Cruise 12.9%
Justin Timberlake 11.5%
Bruce Willis 9.7%
Howard Stern 8.4%
Robert Pattinson 6.5%

Jake Gyllenhaal 6.5%
Gerard Butler 3.2%

Source: news.prnewswire.com

Drug fueled scenes

"Jack is on the run from a couple of small-time thugs who are out to break his feet and Pilot is chasing a fantasy girl. Along the way, they pick up Cassie (Selma Blair), a one-time prostitute who just wants to get away, and Johnny the Fox (John C. McGinley), a drug dealer looking for a group to hang and party with. The quartet has one thing in common other than being lost souls – they all share a love for grunge music, and their awful hairstyles (except for Cassie’s) show it. Cobain, the father of grunge is dead, and Seattle has become the grieving spot for multitudes of others with equally bad hair. There are other characters and situations in the movie that again bring up the themes of isolation, individuality and freakishness. What does work was Gyllenhaal’s performance. Whereas Leto fails to engender any sympathy, Blair doesn’t show much personality and McGinley demonstrates little sense or restraint, Gyllenhaal keeps the picture moderately grounded. Both childlike and adult at the same time, his character’s circumstances are pretty tragic. Still, he shows humour, sensitivity and vulnerability. Pilot is a jerk and a best friend all in the same sentence". Source: apolloguide.com

"Edie was the doomed debutante, the true heroine of Bob Dylan’s masterpiece Blonde on Blonde. She was queen of the scene in 1965; part of a phantasmagoric night world of lost runaways, freaks, and hipster kids. She always wanted to test fate with her reckless behavior, she was a condemned soul off on the road to perdition". Source: iamthechildofthemoon.blogspot.com

"A letter to true" scan

"A Letter To True" A Film Journal by Bruce Weber. Scan from Vogue Italy Supplement, November 2003.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Funny men are the sexiest

"A sense of humour makes men seem more intelligent, trustworthy - and a better bet for a relationship, a study found.Psychologist Kristofor McCarty said it appeared that men really can laugh women into bed.Jake in a goofy pose with Jennifer Aniston.Jake laughing with Alison Lohman.

He said: 'A quick browse of lonely hearts ads will confirm that women look for a good sense of humour in a potential partner - our research may explain why this is the case.'

Mr McCarty asked 45 women to rate the personalities behind a selection of lonely hearts ads drawn up especially for the study.

Some of the ads had been chosen because they were funny, others were entirely factual.
The funny men were rated as more intelligent, despite the ads containing no clues on IQ.
They were also seen as more honest and better material for a relationship and for friendship, the British Psychological Society's annual conference heard.

The finding could go some way to explain the sex appeal of some of Britain's favourite comedians.

Mr McCarty, of Northumbria University, said: 'There was a kind of halo effect. The funny guys appear to be getting everything.

'I think men play on this - I would if I was funny.

'For a man that doesn't look like Brad Pitt, it gives them a bit of hope". 
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

James McAvoy.

"I'm guilty of trying to find the humor in even the most serious of films that I've done and it always gets edited out so it was kind of a joy to be in an environment where the director and producers were saying, "No, no, no, try. You have an idea? Go for it".
Source: www.craveonline.com

Emile Hirsch in "Into the wild".

-There is humor in this film too.
-Absolutely, I think there are many funny performances. And a lot of what McCandless does is very funny. Some of the things he does are odd and loopy, because the guy isn’t totally there. In Krakauer’s book he explains how Christopher has gaps in his thinking and the movie shows it, and some of that can come across as comedic too.

-How close is your portrayal of Christopher McCandless to the one in the book?
-I think mine is probably a little more vulnerable. In the book he comes across as more stern and angry. After talking to Carine for a while it seemed natural to make him a little more vulnerable".
Source: www.webwombat.com.au

"Michael Cera and Kat Denning's characters almost work perfectly together. Each a little awkward, Dennings and Cera balance their sarcasm and almost lame humor. Together the pair's realistic first date chemistry is not only refreshing but also fun to watch. Alternatively, Norah's wayward best friend, Caroline, provides comedic relief throughout the movie with drunken bad decisions".
Source: media.www.bcheights.com

Gemma Arterton dating stuntmen

"Gemma Arterton is reportedly dating Daniel Craig’s stuntman after meeting him on the set of Quantum of Solace.

A source told Reveal magazine: “It’s so cute, they are really loved up and it’s great to see Gemma looking so happy.

“They met on the set of Quantum Of Solace. He was Daniel’s body double and there was clearly chemistry from the start.

“They’ve been together for a few months now and it’s going really well.”

Gemma apparently has a thing for body-double daredevils: she was previously linked to stuntman Eduardo Munoz after working with him on her new film with Jake Gyllenhaal Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time". 
Source: fametastic.co.uk