Saturday evening, working

[cleolinda]

Since I had The Golden Age on my mind after that bootleg trailer, I went and watched the Elizabeth director commentary Friday morning. It's actually a really good, thoughtful, intelligent commentary--not as dry or technical as a lot of director commentaries tend to be. Shekhar Kapur doesn't tell the kind of on-set anecdotes I usually live for, but he does something I wish directors would do: he talks about how fantastically talented everyone is, of course, but he actually points out specific moments in the performances that he loves--this look, that nod of the head, "You have to watch, it's about to come up right here." I love that because I microanalyze performances that way myself, and it's great to have a director back the usual S/he Is Such a Brilliant Actor lovefest up with actual evidence. (By contrast, Kapur also mentions that Vincent Cassel, the crossdressing Duke of Anjou, was "full of chaos"--something Kapur really likes--but kind of unsettled the other actors. He basically says, in the most diplomatic way possible, that everyone else was really glad when Cassel left, which cracked me up for some reason.) Kapur also talks about some really interesting ideas he had about the characters in particular--I think he said he told Geoffrey Rush that Walsingham was like Krishna?--but above all, he walks you through pretty much every single frame of film and tells you what the framing and camera movements are trying to achieve. Mostly, it's to give you a conspirator's-eye view of the entire film--constantly moving, in the shadows, looking through windows, that kind of thing--but by the same token, early scenes where Elizabeth is happy with Dudley are filmed very still and close, "like a cocoon." It's really interesting to hear about all the thought he put into all these things that might, might, register with you on a subconscious level. Also, I'm really excited about The Golden Age now.

There's something else in the commentary that's worth mentioning. There's a priest-assassin who stalks Elizabeth for a scene or so in the second half of the film--flowing slo-mo black robes, very badass. When he first shows up--disembarking from a boat--he drags some traitor kid out to a tidepool and proceeds to beat him to death with a rock. Kapur spends this whole segment somewhat in awe of the actor playing the priest, who apparently showed up with this wonderful, brutal physicality--I can't remember if Kapur said that the actor actually improvised something or came up with the idea for something, but the actor apparently contributed a lot to the character, who really has very little screentime, and Kapur particularly appreciated the contradiction of having this big scary guy as a priest.

That actor? Daniel Craig. Dude.



chris_walsh: Stephen King weighs in on Virginia Tech.

rewil, with a followup: "The Columbia Journalism Review was less than impressed by Fox News' treatment of Vonnegut." The article also functions as a partial transcript, if you didn't get to watch the clip itself.

Pope revises 'limbo' for babies.

Australians puzzled by 'ghost ship': "Australian rescuers were on Friday trying to solve the Mary Celeste-style mystery of a yacht found floating off the coast with its engine running, food on its table ready to eat, but no crew."

Armed Miss America 1944 stops intruder.

"Robofalcons" to take on pesky pigeons.

Fruity cocktails count as health food, study finds. I was already in love with this article for suggesting that strawberry daiquiris could be good for you, and then they finished me off with this: "The study did not address whether adding a little cocktail umbrella enhanced the effects."

Sun's Atmosphere Sings.

Invisible family reunion.

Twenty-eight more POTC3 publicity shots.

'Spider-Man: The Musical,' music by U2.

Anika Noni Rose to voice The Frog Princess.

That Alec Baldwin Voicemail In Full. "Three letters: ABA. A, Always, B, Be, A, Answering. Always be answering. Always be answering." Okay, simmer down there, Glengarry.

Tobey Maguire Reportedly Offered $20M For 'Spider-Man 4.'

William Fichtner Has Joined 'The Dark Knight.' EEEEEEEEEE.

First 3:10 to Yuma Stills ("Russell Crowe and Christian Bale costar in 3:10 to Yuma, a remake of the 1957 film, and engage in a battle of wills as a small-time rancher tries to hold a captured outlaw as he waits for the titular train").

Luc Besson Planning SF Trilogy. Didn't he "retire," or am I just hallucinating that?

Radcakes coming to Broadway.

Has The Hulk Gone Gray?

Back to work it is!

Comments

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Just because I can't bear to think you might miss it, TNH has written a post (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/008891.html) on the Cumbrian Tourist website's new promotional video: a guy in a Squirrel Nutkin costume rapping Wordsworth's Daffodils. It's called "MC Nuts."

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Wow. That was an excellent linkspam.

I believe that Kapur does say the beating death on the beach was improvised by Daniel Craig.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

See, I wanted to say that it was, but I kept stopping and going, "Wait, how do you improvise that?" Like, "Hey, man, keep your head down. I'm about to mime CRUSHING IN YOUR SKULL."

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly wouldn’t argue with the scary man wielding the rock.

[gwynevere1.livejournal.com]

I love how, in the Keira stills, the first 27 are all Warrior Princess, and then there's the random Red Robe of Seduction.

[sapphires13.livejournal.com]

Rumours that Bono and The Edge would do the music for a Spider-Man musical have been circulating for at least a year, but now it seems to be becoming official, and I think that it's the WORST IDEA EVER.

[kth524.livejournal.com]

Why, Bono, why?

I definitely agree that this is terrible. And I thought the worse Broadway could do is Legally Blonde.

And also, I tell this idea to my mom and she goes, "... On ice?" She's still waiting for LOTR on ice.

[arielchan.livejournal.com]

In case you missed it, Cassandra Claire made the New York Times bestseller list. o_O Her book is number 8 on children's chapter books. It's called City of Bones, it is published under the name "Cassandra Claire", and someone has sworn to me that it is good.

Personally, I'm terrified of it.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I've actually been hearing pretty bad things about it, but of course, always from people who would be happy to see her fail. Time will tell how things shake out.

[arielchan.livejournal.com]

I don't know what scares me more- that it might be really good, or that it might be really bad. Either way I think it's bound to cast a shadow on all her fan work. If she's that good, why did she plagarize, and if she's that bad, then why was DT as a whole so good?

[this-quiet.livejournal.com]

See, that's the question I've always had about her, too. In the end it just confused me too much and I stopped reading her work. Heh.

[kateshort.livejournal.com]

I checked on TitleWave (a book-buying service for school librarians) and they had reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Both seemed to like it, and sort of recommended it for the high school crowd. -shrug- Not gonna get it for my middle school crowd, but I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the 8th grade geek girls show up with a copy.

[cpip.livejournal.com]

A shame. Elizabeth was a not-bad movie imperiled by claiming History and then being horrifically, frighteningly, painfully inaccurate across the board.

I've got this horror-trainwreck thing about going to Golden Age, especially because my girlfriend and I are Tudor fans, and...

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, their blatant disregard of history in several places is a problem--made all the worse by all the times (in the commentary and on the extras) that they claim that this or that REALLY DID HAPPEN. Like, I'm glad that Mary of Guise really was found dead in her bed, and maybe you're not claiming that Walsingham killed her, but guess what? You really kind of edited that together like you are. Weirdly, I'd almost say that my biggest problem with the movie is them claiming that Elizabeth didn't know that Dudley was married--or, for that matter, claiming, that "he never saw her in private again."

[cpip.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Both of which are utterly ridiculous. Elizabeth was AT ROBIN'S FLIPPIN' WEDDING.

Of COURSE she knew he was married.

And that whole cashiering Cecil thing. What the heck?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that bothered me too. It's a good thing I love costumes, or I'd really be in trouble.

[hulamoth.livejournal.com]

in my very limited mental capacity I read "Has the Hulk Gone Gray" as "Gay"

and thought I might be interested in the franchise for the first time

[bluebren.livejournal.com]

ICON GLEE! :D

[hulamoth.livejournal.com]

XD Yay thanks!
The Animorphs were my one true love for two years in middle school.

[dancingxstar.livejournal.com]

I read it that way about five times. And couldn't figure out what the actual article had to do with the title. And kept looking back at it, trying to figure it out. Took me several minutes...

[hulamoth.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think a red, white and blue Hulk would just be spectacular, but fans are already suggesting that Arad and his team might be reaching back for a more classic gray Hulk

Worst movie idea ever
I hope they're joking

[londonsparrow.livejournal.com]

Fichtner added to new Batman movie? Awesome! I quite seriously feel the newer Batman movies are putting nearly all other comic-book movie adaptions to SHAME. Did you notice that article had a link to a page with a (blurry) photo of Heath Ledger as the Joker? Soooo awesome.

I just watched Elizabeth for the first time a few weeks ago, and since I've seen Casino Royale a couple times now and thus had ample opportunity to study The Craig, I knew it was him right away (my parents didn't believe me at first). Admittedly he doesn't look too Bond-ish billowing around in his Ringwraith-style robes... I really wish I had listened to the commentary afterward now, though!

[carmine-rose.livejournal.com]

I thought the priest was really magnetic and attractive when I first saw Elizabeth years ago, and when Daniel Craig was mooted for James Bond, I recognised him - that's why I always thought he'd make a good Bond - even in such a short role, he managed to put across this impression of casual strength and brutality that was lacking in Pierce Brosnan's (IMO) effete James. I was so pleased when he got the role, and made such a good job of it.

Potter trailer UK

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

The best I've got so far (http://trailer-spot.livejournal.com/139896.html).

Re: Potter trailer UK

[hulamoth.livejournal.com]

oh, wow, THANK YOU
this is the best trailer they've put out yet
I'm actually excited now for the movie itself

Re: Potter trailer UK

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

Glad to be of service. :)

[karintheswede]

OMG the orangeness of those Keira-pics make me not want to see the movie. Then I look at the embroidery on the inner robe thingy of the warrior princess robe, and drool, while simultaneously blanking the orange.

[thatpalechick.livejournal.com]

"That actor? Daniel Craig. Dude."

Why does this sound like the coolest thing ever?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

What's funny is that when I saw the movie some eight or nine years ago when it first came out, I was kind of like, "Oh, slo-mo priest, billowing robes, whatever." Now that I know it's Daniel Craig, it's like, "GIRL, HE KILL YOU! RUN!"

[thatpalechick.livejournal.com]

LOL I can imagine.

[oya-yansa.livejournal.com]

From interviews I've read with Vincent Cassel - with whom I'm mildly obsessed because he looks exactly like my husband and I have a thing for guys who can do the shit he does in Ocean's Twelve - I gather that a) Elizabeth was filmed before his drug phase ended and b) he tends to method act, which can be a problem when you're playing a totally nuts character. Which he usually plays.

I LOVE the idea of improvising a head-bashing. "No, trust me, dude!" And some poor little extra is thinking, I am not getting paid enough for this.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Given that it's Daniel Craig, I kind of wonder if he even told the kid what he was going to do--just shoved his face in the sand and started whaling on another rock or something.

[promise19.livejournal.com]

I thought you might enjoy this. Access Hollywood has this really nice photo gallery from The Tudors (http://www.accesshollywood.com/photos/gallery/ah662.shtml).

And another from the new Grey's Anatomy (http://www.accesshollywood.com/photos/gallery/ah708.shtml?__source=msnbc) spinoff.