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14 articles from 2009

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Before There Were Websites... (Pt 1)

8 September 2009 12:30 PM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

...there were scrapbooks!

My parents are moving, abandoning my childhood home, and I spent my holiday going through old boxes in storage. It's hard to part with any of these secret keys to unlock my childhood. There's heaps and heaps of homemade comic books featuring my own superhero creations which I shan't share (because they were never optioned for movies... not because they are totally embarrassing. Uh, yeah. Not because of that). Plus lots and lots of drawings of various X-Men, Madonna, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.

Many photo scrapbooks were uncovered including "Movies Of The Eighties"

front cover: Raging Bull (I hadn't seen it. I just knew it was

"important" somehow), E.T. and Aliens

Turns out The Film Experience was no fluke. I was always writing about movies... but when I was in junior high and high school, the writing was in list-making form and smelled like rubber cement instead of Apple computer. »

- NATHANIEL R

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Meryl Streep: Has she ever starred in a masterpiece?

28 August 2009 7:42 AM, PDT | EW.com - PopWatch | See recent EW.com - PopWatch news »

Meryl Streep is arguably our best living actress, and she's by all accounts awesome and interesting and smart, etc. But this mock editorial in the Onion, called "Name One Masterpiece Of Cinema That I've Starred In," by Meryl Streep is really, really on the money. I know it's a joke, and that Meryl  Streep didn't really write it, but the very funny piece is totally right. Por ejemplo: "... the name Meryl Streep isn't really synonymous with one truly unforgettable film. It's weird to think about, but it's undeniably true. Go ahead, try and name a classic movie I've starred in. Not a classic character I've portrayed, mind you, but an overall amazing piece of cinema. You can't. You just can't." Then it runs through some of the Streep filmography: Kramer vs. Kramer: "Let's be honest, Kramer Vs. Kramer isn't really a masterpiece in the same way that, say, The French Connection »

- Margaret Lyons

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Streep Nom #7-8: The Abundant Riches of 1987-88

5 July 2009 6:03 PM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

We've been looking at each Meryl Streep Oscar nod and its competitive field. Previously: 78, 79, 81, 82, 83 and 85

Meryl Streep's first act was the Liberated Lady. The second was The Chameleon in which Meryl was always the lead, always had new hair, voice and body language and basically controlled Oscar's Universe. It was as if there was only 4 spots for Best Actress, one reserved for her in perpetuity. This second act ended with her intense immersion into notorious dingo-hating Lindy Chamberlain in A Cry in the Dark. [Editor's Note: Yes, I'll do a top ten performance list when "Streep at 60" wraps in mid July. I've heard your requests and I've been rewatching all the movies.]

Starting in 1989 Act III of Streep's career began but we'll get to that shortly. First, let's look at her competition in the last two years of her legendary Act II.

1987

the nominees were...

Cher, MoonstruckGlenn Close, Fatal AttractionHolly Hunter, Broadcast NewsSally Kirkland, AnnaMeryl Streep, Ironweed

I've always loved that "Mary Louise" exchange. But is Cher rewriting history to claim Silkwood as her first movie or »

- NATHANIEL R

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Streep at 60: Chamaeleonidae Erotica

30 June 2009 6:29 PM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Streep at 60, a retrospective (June 11th - July 14th)

I wear body armor as I type this, for fear of your collective outrage but the time got away from me. We're jumping forward. You see, Streep's second act, those legend making years from 1981-1988, in which she morphed through one of cinema's all time hot streaks like some genetically enhanced superfreak chameleon, is too large a topic. I need more time with The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Sophie's Choice (1982) and Silkwood (1983), in particular. Perhaps I should write a book. For disparate reasons all three are deserving of chapter length essays.

For now, some general observations about this time period and the first of Streep's collaborations with director Fred Schepisi (Plenty).

Chameleonidae Erotica

Streep's penchant for shape shifting, particularly in the vocal arena, is well known. Though many actors collect several character voices and accents in their life's work, the vocals became »

- NATHANIEL R

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Goodnight, Angel

25 June 2009 11:52 AM, PDT | AfterElton.com | See recent AfterElton.com news »

In sad but expected news, Farrah Fawcett has passed away at age sixty-two after a long and valiant fight with cancer. She was one of the most iconic sex symbols of all time, as well as a sadly underrated actress.

Most people will name the camp TV classic Charlie's Angels as her biggest claim to fame, but she was only on the show for one season (as well as a few guest appearances). Because of her enormous sex appeal, it was difficult for her to be taken seriously as an actress, but that changed in 1984 with a performance that would redefine her career.

Small Sacrifices/The Burning Bed

Like Cher in her Oscar-nominated dramatic turn in Silkwood, Farrah shocked the world with her gritty, Emmy-nominated performance as a battered wife in The Burning Bed. She would appear in a string of dramatic roles through the eighties, including Extremities, Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story, »

- snicks

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LinkyDee LinkyDum

22 June 2009 8:30 PM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

le cinema

StinkyLulu investigates Cher's work in Silkwood. I just watched this again and I love this performance. In fact, I love every turn in the film including Kurt Russell's. I wish Mike Nichols would make something this humble but stirring and potent again.

New Yorker Evan Rachel Wood takes trapeze lessons. Fun piece... though I'll believe Jodie Foster's decades-delayed Flora Plum circus project -- not mentioned but why else the trapeze lessons -- when I see it.

In Contention A Christmas Carol sneaks.

Score Enthusiast on Alexandre Desplat's work on Chéri

Nick's Flick Picks a beautiful even handed tribute to Meryl Streep's career and its foibles, triumphs and unique pleasures

It's gay pride week in NYC

FourFour has a great post on the documentary Ask Not on gays in the military and Brüno's comedic use of homophobia

Boy Culture takes justifiable aim at Will »

- NATHANIEL R

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60 Appropriate Ways to Celebrate Meryl Streep Month

22 June 2009 6:47 PM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Happy 60th Birthday to Meryl Streep

Be your very bestBe dramatically potent.

... then unexpectedly hilarious.

Fake a new accent every hour.

Imitate the dial tone on your phone.

Run around like a joyful madwoman with your hands in the air, stopping only to kiss people.Run around like a joyful madwoman whilst singing your favorite Abba song.Accentuate your WASPiness... (or fake it).

Stay married to the same person for decades, confounding Hollywood protocol.

Pretend your significant other is a sculptor, make them use their hands. Befriend Cher.Watch Kramer vs. Kramer again.Watch Angels in America again.Consider yourself overrated... "but not today!"

Be highly quotable.

Memorize the entire Miranda Priestley "Cerulean" monologue.

Ask your best friends to call you "Mary Louise" for the remainder of the week.Stweep!Give to charities.

Sing more spectacularly than is humanly fair considering all of your other talents.

Watch Julia to see how it all began. »

- NATHANIEL R

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Chastity Bono Undergoing Sex Change

11 June 2009 1:45 PM, PDT | PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news »

Political and social activist Chastity Bono - the only child of entertainers Cher and the late Sonny Bono - began undergoing a sex change shortly after her 40th birthday on March 4. "Cher is very supportive and has known about Chastity wanting to do this for a very long time," a source tells People. "This will be a long process but it's something Chastity has wanted to do for many years." Bono's spokesman, Howard Bragman, told TMZ, which first reported the story, "Yes, it's true - Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity. »

- Stephen M. Silverman

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April Showers: Changeling

13 April 2009 8:52 PM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

April Showers evenings @ 11 all month long

Showers in real life are comforting and cleansing. In the movies, they're often harrowing ... if you survive them that is. If my math is correct there are five types of shower/horror in the movies.being murderedbeing rapedbeing spied on (possibly for the purposes of #1 or #2)seeing something you didn't expect to see (like blood or Kevin Bacon's penis)being violently hosed down...

...is more specialized. It's generally spotted only in the wilds of prison movies or in the sub genre of Women's Pictures dealing with the martyred crusader. Think Meryl Streep in Silkwood or this recent demonstration from Angelina Jolie in Changeling.

Most of us will never experience the hose down (water fights on your childhood lawn don't count) so who knows if it's as painful as it always looks? The point is surely humiliation, rather than pain. It's another chance to »

- NATHANIEL R

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Ron Silver Dies at 62

17 March 2009 12:00 AM, PDT | toxicshock.tv | See recent toxicshock news »

Variety reports that actor Ron Silver died Sunday at the age of 62 following a two-year battle with esophageal cancer. Silver is an Emmy nominee for his recurring role on “The West Wing” and has a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes. He also won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s original production of “Speed-the-Plow” in 1988. Silver’s big-screen credits include Ali, Reversal of Fortune, Enemies: A Love Story, Silkwood, Semi-Tough and most recently The Ten and Find Me Guilty. He also narrated 2004’s Fahrenhype 9/11, which deconstructed Michael Moore’s anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Besides “The West Wing,” Silver was a regular or had [...] »

- Tessa

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Actor Ron Silver Dies at 62

16 March 2009 8:30 AM, PDT | WorstPreviews.com | See recent Worst Previews news »

Actor Ron Silver, who won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow," died Sunday at the age of 62. "Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning" in New York City, said Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver helped found. "He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years." Silver's big-screen credits included "Ali," "Reversal of Fortune," "Enemies: A Love Story," "Silkwood" and "Semi-Tough." Besides "The West Wing," Silver was a regular or had recurring roles on such TV shows as "Veronica's Closet," "Chicago Hope" and "Wiseguy." He directed and co-starred in the 1993 TV movie "Lifepod," a science-fiction update of Alfred Hitchcock's "Lifeboat." "He was a talented actor, a scholar and a great believer in participatory democracy," Bronk said Sunday evening. "He was an activist who became a great artist and his contributions will never be forgotten. »

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Rip, Ron Silver

16 March 2009 7:32 AM, PDT | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »

It's another sad day in Hollywood. After a two-year long fight with esophageal cancer, actor and political activist Ron Silver passed away on Sunday, in New York City, at the age of 62.

On the political realm, there's certainly a lot to note -- with his work and his switch to "9/11 Republican" -- but in the realm of Cinematical, it's the movies that matter. Silver's impact on Hollywood was not that of a superstar or critical powerhouse, but of an intelligent and talented man who became an indelible piece of the cinematic puzzle.

Critically, it's hard to forget his work in films like the Oscar-winning Reversal of Fortune, Ali, or Silkwood. There is also his television work, as he came into our homes with Chicago Hope, Veronica's Closet, and The West Wing. But for me, I can't help but think of his sillier gigs, and how his bouts with heavy drama »

- Monika Bartyzel

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Riverspace Celebrates Director Mike Nichols On 3/6

11 February 2009 9:54 AM, PST | BroadwayWorld.com | See recent BroadwayWorld.com news »

Riverspace will roll out the red carpet and welcome celebrated director Mike Nichols on Friday, March 6 at 8:00 p.m. This rare appearance brings Mr. Nichols together with Riverspace Co-artistic Director Elliott Forrest for a fundraiser as part of the Conversation Series. U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel will introduce Nichols. One of the few distinguished artists to have won every major American award - an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award - Mike Nichols is a television, stage and film director, writer and producer. His career began as part of the incredibly influential "Nichols and May" comedy team, with partner Elaine May. His illustrious film career began when he directed Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. That was followed by the iconic film The Graduate for which he won an Oscar for Best Director. Some of Mr. Nichols' other film credits include Carnal Knowledge. Catch-22, Charlie Wilson's War, The Odd Couple »

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Meryl Streep Wins SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

25 January 2009 9:55 PM, PST | BroadwayWorld.com | See recent BroadwayWorld.com news »

Meryl Streep, who stars in the film Doubt as the stern Sister Aloysius , has won the 2008 SAG Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for playing the part. Streep was up for an Academy Award for her performance in The Devil Wears Prada. She is a two-time Oscar winner for Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie's Choice, and has been nominated for an additional 11 Oscars. Other film credits include The Deer Hunter, Silkwood, Out of Africa, Postcards from the Edge, Heartburn, The Bridges of Madison Countyand Adaptation. She was last seen on screen as Donna in the film version of the Broadway hit Mamma Mia!. Her many theatre credits include Trelawney of the 'Wells,' The Taming of the Shrew, Happy End, The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull and Mother Courage (she starred in the latter two at the Delacorte Theatre). Doubt opened on Broadway on March 9th, »

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2009 | 2008 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

14 articles from 2009

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