Hollywood Infected Your Vain February 3, 2010
Posted by Patrick in Cinematics, Trashion.Tags: abbie cornish, amanda seyfried, Anna Kendrick, annie liebovitz, Carey Mulligan, Emma Stone, Evan Rachel Wood, hollywood issue, Kristen Stewart, Mia Wasikowska, Rebecca Hall, vanity fair
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Vanity Fair have unveiled their annual Hollywood photoshoot, featuring nine of the film industry’s brightest up and coming female stars (click above for larger version).
The talent selected, from left to right: Abbie Cornish (Bright Star, Candy), Kristen Stewart (Twilight, The Runaways), Carey Mulligan (An Education, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!, Jennifer’s Body), Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Frost/Nixon), Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Defiance), Emma Stone (Superbad, Zombieland), Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler, Across the Universe) and Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, Twilight).
The girls were photographed by Annie Liebovitz (no surprises there), who has been doing the annual shoot for the past sixteen years.
The editorial has been criticised for being all-white, which is certainly true. Forgive me for saying it, but I don’t think it would do Precious‘s Gabourey Sidibe any good to be plonked in the middle of the fold-out amongst nine other thin white girls.
Even in the magazine’s first Hollywood cover, in 1995, there was one non-white face in the form of Angela Bassett. And everyone had a lot less on.
Behind the scenes at the 2010 shoot, below.
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[Images: Vanity Fair, Oh No They Didn’t!]
It’s all very Up in the Air December 19, 2009
Posted by Patrick in Cinematics.Tags: Anna Kendrick, George Clooney, Golden Globes, Jason Reitman, New Moon, Twilight, Up in the Air
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I was lucky enough to go along to Paramount’s press screening of Up in the Air on Thursday, which has been getting a lot of buzz this week following its six Golden Globe nominations.
Generally a George Clooney movie is a safe bet (unless it’s Leatherheads), and after hearing good things my expectations were high. Due to some miscommunication, Cineworld started the film 20 minutes ahead of schedule, so I’ll have to wait til next month to see the opening, but what I did see of the film was amazingly good.
Based on the book by Walter George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizer whose job essentially involves jetting around the United States to tell people they’ve been fired and make them think it’s a good thing. When Natalie Keener (played by the wonderful Anna Kendrick), a naive but idealistic young associate who pioneers the firm’s new system of downsizing – firing people over a webcam chat – comes on board, Ryan shows her how to fire people and tries to prove that the face-to-face approach works best.
George Clooney is predictably good in the film, but the role isn’t really out of his comfort zone at all – a just about-middle aged charmer who can’t be tied down by marriage and the like. Anna Kendrick is the real revelation of this film however, and deserves every bit of her Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Previously seen as Jessica in Twilight and its sequel New Moon (and given a grand total of about 5 minutes screen time combined), she finally has a chance to shine here as the hilarious and clueless but loveable Natalie.
Vera Farmiga (who has also received a Golden Globe nom for Best Supporting Actress) is excellent as Alex Goran, Bingham’s regular ‘booty call’ who lives a similar jetset lifestyle. As she says, she’s like Ryan, “but with a vagina.”
The film is a good companion piece to this year’s also-excellent Away We Go, asking questions about what makes a home and what makes a good relationship. The changing landscape of different parts of the United States keeps things visually dynamic for the duration.
Jason Reitman directs and co-writes the film, best known for his previous work on Juno and Thank You for Smoking. It should also bring his reputation back from the knock it got after he produced this year’s Jennifer’s Body, which was slammed by critics but loved by me.
There’s an unexpected twist at the end of the film which caught me by surprise, although I won’t spoil it here. The ending is quite a fitting one, although there’s a lot of loose ends left untied, and a lot of things left (pardon the pun) Up in the Air. Now, just to see those pesky opening 20 minutes…
Up in the Air comes to Irish cinemas on 15th January 2010
Make and Deux 
