'War Stories'
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
How the hell did Naomi Watts get first billing in King Kong? By virtue that she could scream louder than any of the leading men?
Well, that and having to have to display emotions other than "RUN AWAY!!!!" to the ping pong ball representing the effects to be named later.
The cynic in me thinks it's because she appeared in all the promotional material in that wet flesh-colored dress. Then again, she's more of a draw as a performer for me than Adrien Brody or Jack Black, and that movie was made pretty close on the heels of her fame from The Ring.
Yeah, Jack Black seems to be the only big-enoughname contender for first billing there, and if they gave it to him people might assume it was a comedy.
It makes sense to me. I mean, she did plenty of work. It's not like Neve Campbell being mentioned on the cover of Reefer Madness: The Musical for her one throwaway scene, and other even worse travesties I've seen.
Brody had won a best actor Oscar in recent years, but given that he seems to be emulating the post-Oscar career path of a best supporting actress winner...
In case anyone is interested, Amazon is currently selling the Criterion DVDs of Diabolique, Eyes Without a Face, and the original The Vanishing for under $20.
How the hell did Naomi Watts get first billing in King Kong?
Not even remotely as bad as Sting getting top billing for his less-than-ten-minutes appearance in Dune.
I think Sting stepping out of a shower half-naked is the kind of cameo appearance that deserves top billing, personally.
Just got back from seeing The Queen, which is a very nice movie, but I'm not entirely sure what it's trying to say. It's kind of pro-everyone, which is pleasant to watch, but not much more. Helen Mirren gives an incredible performance, as usual.
Saw Marie Antoinette and The Last Kiss tonight. Man, I didn't go in with great expectations for either of them, but I didn't walk out terribly satisfied either. It feels as though it's been a while since I've truly seen a satisfying film.
SA, may I recommend seeing The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D, then? I haven't done it yet but seriously... how could it NOT be satisfying?
I still really want to see Marie Antoinette.
Apparently slurping the dregs of one's soda is a faux pas of more than usual severity if doing so happens to make a sound similar to Kayako's signature death rattle while one is in the midst of a Grudge movie showing. The people seated near me were not amused.