Thank you for that, Tessa.
Edward Norton: how to start your day with a smile
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 Luscious Lenny Nero |
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Posts: 1580 (06/09/09 21:33) |
D xx
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2257 (06/11/09 09:27) Rasko Leader |
Hey Doulla, sorry I am late in replying... Tessa pretty much covered the "screen test" issue. A couple of months ago the 10th
anniversary edition dvd of Primal Fear (Hard Evidence) was released. It had quite a load of extras. Richard Gere was surprisingly missing, but it features new
interviews with director, producers, casting ppl, Norton included and the only thing they all talk about is his screen test and the story behind casting him.
There are small clips of the screen test as well. I am always astonished to see that this film is pretty much the favourite amongst his -younger I should say-
fans. For me it was nothing exceptional, an intersting but formulaic court-room drama, with a nice twist and an amazing performance from a new comer. It is not
a great film, but it will always be the film that put Norton on the map. Have you seen it?
I am very glad you enjoyed Everyone Says I Love You. I watched bits of it last night to find the exact joke and it still puts a smile on my face. So here it is, my fav Woody Allen joke. It's at the begining, when he is back from Paris after his girlfriend has left him: "I should kill myself, I should go to Paris and jump off the Eiffel Tower. If I get the Concorde I could be dead 3 hours earlier... or, wait a minute, with the time change I can be alive six hours in New York but dead three hours in Paris. I could get things done AND be dead". It is a perfect way to describe his neurosis! I love it! Be dead and get things done at the same time!! Time IS precious, 
E.xxx
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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06/11/09 09:30.
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Luscious Lenny Nero |
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Posts: 1588 (06/12/09 21:32) |
Oh, that was worth waiting for, Eva! Brilliant! Re Primal Fear yes I have seen it on TV, but I cannot remember an awful lot about it to be honest. I have a bit of an aversion to Richard Gere so I probably didn't pay much attention! D xx
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Alkioni2 |
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Posts: 1535 (06/12/09 21:53) |
Speaking of Woody Allen, i dont know if we already discussed this movie here ( i dont think so) , have you seen Vicky Christina Barcelona and if yes, which is
your opinion about it? Did you like Penelope Cruz's performance , do you think that it worthed the Oscar?
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2262 (06/13/09 11:54) Rasko Leader |
Alkioni,
I didn't like Vicky Christina Barcelona that much. Half of it felt like an Allen movie and the other half like an Almodovar movie. It was flat and not very engaging... Allen just presented the same old ingredients mixed differently without any real inspiration. At some point I became really impatient watching it. Bardem and Cruz were absolutely the best thing about it. I am not sure if she deserved the Oscar, I've seen all other performances but Marisa Tomei in the Wrestler and I can't decide. It was too campy and she is a pleasure to watch, but Oscar? Hmmm... Doulla, I never was crazy about Richard Gere, either. Never saw what other women find so appealing in him. But I have enjoyed him in many films. I definitely have no aversion to him. Speaking of Oscars, Edward got his first (of the two) nominations for Primal Fear. Not bad for a newcomer, hu? E.xxx
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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06/13/09 11:58.
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Luscious Lenny Nero |
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Posts: 1592 (06/13/09 14:07) |
So how old was he at the time of Primal Fear? And what was his second nomination for? Of course I could Google it, but it's much nicer hearing your point
of view.
Edited to say "Hi Alkioni"! I didn't see Woody Allen's latest film; sometimes I find his work brilliant, other times just downright irritating. So I tend to go on friend's recommendations, like Everyone Says I Love You. D xx
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06/13/09 14:12.
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Alkioni2 |
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Posts: 1536 (06/14/09 00:16) |
I have seen all nominees for the female supporting role of this year ( Cruz was the last one) and i am not sure that she was the best of all. I generally like
her as an actress and she has a special charisma but this particular role didnt attract me. And yes, Woddy Allen is repeating himself. At some points while i
was watching the film, i had the feeling that it was a good turist advertise for "visiting Spain"!
Doula, Everyone says i love you was a really good movie. I still remember it after so many years. |
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2263 (06/14/09 13:58) Rasko Leader |
The made Primal Fear in 1995-1996 so he was 27 at the time.
That year Cuba Gooding Jr got the Oscar for supporting role (Jerry Maguire) home. And it is not that Edward lost that bugs me, but the fact that CGJr has done nothing since to prove that his performance was not just a flashy firework and he deserved such an award. He's been bad (and in bad films) ever since. Oscar curse, anyone? Norton's second nomination came in 1999 for leading role this time, in American History X. Biased, yes, but I think he should have won for this one. Besides the extraordinary performance, this was text book "Oscar", even in the physical aspect of gaining all that muscle just for a part. Either way, the winner that year, Roberto Begnini, was the least favourite of mine. In retrospect I didn't like the film all that much. I don't have a problem with the way he chose to deal with the subject matter, but it wasn't any stretch of the art of performing. He always was and is an adorable clown, but that's just that. In a recent poll (I think it was EW's) about that years awards Norton won by quite a lead. 
E.xxx
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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Luscious Lenny Nero |
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Posts: 1595 (06/14/09 23:31) |
Um...not much one can say to that picture other than...blimey!
D xx
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TessaQ |
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Posts: 2084 (06/14/09 23:39) |
I agree with you Eva about Primal Fear.......not a very good film. Norton's performance is what one remembers. In particular I remember the
interrogation scene in which he switches personalities and being stunned by what I had just seen. I had a similar type of reaction after witnessing RF in the
basement scene with the maid in Schindler. With regards to Cruz, we all know the Oscars are a popularity contest and Cruz has been around awhile now. Having
seen all 5 performances I actually think Taraji P. Henson deserved the award. I thought her performance was the best all around.
As much as I liked Viola Davis' performance...it essentially was just one scene. Regarding American History X........it should not have been a big surprise that someone playing a Nazi and someone who had the best performance in that category that year would not win an Oscar. 
BTW here is the EW poll that Eva was referring too. And just in case you were wondering who won the Best Supp. Actor of '93 category poll, it's here. With regards to "Life is Beautiful"....IMO it has got to be the most emotionally manipulative and unrealistic films ever told about the Holocaust. I am surprised how Hollywood embraced this film. The fact that it hardly is ever shown on television today and that it does not have a lot of lasting power.....means it's just one of those films that just doesn't hold up. Edited to add: Since we have been talking about some of Woody Allens film's here......incidently.... I caught some of "Mighty Aphrodite" the other night. I had seen it years ago but for some reason did not remember the quite extensive references in it to Greek Drama. Also, the opening credits has the unmistakeable Tsitsanis bouziki. I got so excited that I went looking for that exact track Allen used on Youtube. If anyone is interested here it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwONvTp7MGY
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06/15/09 00:47.
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2265 (06/15/09 20:06) Rasko Leader |
oh Doulla,
we have discussed this many times before, but the conversation keeps going there. I am disturbingly very attracted to Edward's character in "American History X". In real life I wouldn't give a guy with that belief system a second look. Is it because it is safer in movies? Is it just because we are living vicariously what we would even reject in life or what we wouldn't dare do? I am not sure I would feel such attraction if I didn't find the actor himself attractive, but isn't that even shallower or more dangerous? Just because a man is handsome we disregard all other aspects? Tessa I am glad we agree in both points! Edward was robbed and "Life is Beautiful" is not such a beautiful film after all! It's been a loooong time since I saw "Mighty Aphrodite" (another Allen favourite) but I distinctly remember its ancient drama structure even tho it is a comedy! Actually both tragedy and comedy had the same structure with the chorus intervening and interpreting/ narrating/ commenting. I think I have it on dvd and I should dig it up.... thanks for the suggestion! E.xxx
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2273 (06/17/09 16:48) Rasko Leader |
From the HighLine Opening benefit, on Monday
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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Luscious Lenny Nero |
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Posts: 1601 (06/17/09 22:56) |
Veeery nice, looking tanned and relaxed. What sort of charity event is Highline?
we have discussed this many times before, but the conversation keeps going there. I am disturbingly very attracted to Edward's character in "American History X". In real life I wouldn't give a guy with that belief system a second look. Is it because it is safer in movies? Is it just because we are living vicariously what we would even reject in life or what we wouldn't dare do? I am not sure I would feel such attraction if I didn't find the actor himself attractive, but isn't that even shallower or more dangerous? Just because a man is handsome we disregard all other aspects? I find this quite fascinating Eva because I like Ed Norton but not in the same way that you do. And yet I found him extremely attractive in this role...so did my daughter. It's hard to understand why because he is so repulsive and dangerous, and at the same time desirable. In real life I'd run a mile from a man like that, but on film he is strangely compelling. Maybe it's because you can see something redeemable in him, and that comes out of the way Ed plays him. It's hard to imagine how anyone could ignore or condone what that character does, handsome or not. And yet in reality there are people out there who do terrible things in life and who have men/women that love them etc. I've never understood how attraction works, what draws one person to another...complex. D xx
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TessaQ |
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Posts: 2086 (06/18/09 00:42) |
It's that "sexual evil" thing that Spielberg talked about.
BTW, that is a lovely photo of Edward. Grey is a good colour for him. |
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LilyBarthes |
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Posts: 1068 (06/18/09 00:43) Moderator |
Woody Allen was mentioned a few posts back--he did a long interview this week with Terry Gross on the National Public Radio program Fresh Air.
Here is a link to it if anyone is interested. It was quite in depth.
Maggie |
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2277 (06/18/09 07:40) Rasko Leader |
Grey is a good colour for him.
I think he knows it. Most of his casual clothes are grey... hmm... In short, "The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated, steel structure built in the 1930s to carry freight trains. It currently runs from Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District, through the West Chelsea gallery neighborhood, ending at 34th Street, next to the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The last train ran on it in 1980. Friends of the High Line, founded in 1999, is a community-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and reuse of the High Line. Friends of the High Line began as an advocacy group and is currently undergoing a transition to a conservancy, working to raise funds and help operate the park through a partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation". It's been a long process, many well-known New Yorkers were involved and donated huge amounts of money and now this formerly abandoned structure is NY's newest park! I've seen some photos and it looks amazing. And it is not as simple as it sounds.
edited to add this blurb from his speach: Now that the High Line is reality, what else would you transform in New York? "Someone should take on the quality of New York cab service next." E.xxx
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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06/18/09 08:50.
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Luscious Lenny Nero |
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Posts: 1604 (06/18/09 19:29) |
I like the sound of High Line, interesting engineering project. I'd love to see it if I ever get to NY.
It's that "sexual evil" thing that Spielberg talked about. Not every actor can pull it off though, Tessa, can they? Certainly Ralph did it in SL, and in Red Dragon. And Ed in American History X. Actors of that calibre bring out an empathy in the viewer which draws you to them, even though you know it's wrong. Other actors just play evil, but there's nothing else there. D xx
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2296 (06/22/09 20:48) Rasko Leader |
Skip Mel's presentation (tho it has it's fun references) and the clip of the film if you like. The guys step on stage @ aprox 5:15
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2297 (06/22/09 20:54) Rasko Leader |
And while we're at it, here is the explanation for the lovely tan... photos taken 2 days before the High Line benefit.
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
Last Edited By: Eva226
06/22/09 20:58.
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Eva226 |
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Posts: 2297 (06/22/09 20:55) Rasko Leader |
Stupid double posts... humph!
E.xxx
"You won't like me when I am... hungry!"
Last Edited By: Eva226
06/22/09 20:58.
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