Archives For April 2010

Continuing with the ladies countdown, placing at #9 on our list of the 20 to Watch is none other than actress Rebecca Hall. And let me tell you, she’s one tough subject to find. Even though you can find her often named in various lists about rising stars and talents to look out for, you’ll find it difficult to find any decent sized photograph of her.

You know, when someone captures a fan’s attention, websites will begin to appear about their work and life. More often than not, these fans would get the best image archives an artist could hope for. They somehow manage to find any high resolution, un-watermarked photograph and put it to the disposition of other fans, who in turn deliver fanart. It’s a delicious and vicious cycle of image and graphics.

Rebecca Hall is hard to find, but oh she’s got the charisma.

Born in London, England on May 3rd 1982, this 27-year-old actress shot to fame and is probably most known by playing Vicky in Woody Allen’s 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona opposite Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson. The role didn’t only rivaled Cruz’s performance — which earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress — but also earned Hall her first Golden Globe nomination.

However, before that, Hall also played a role in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige with Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, and Michael Caine. She accompanied her performance in VCB with a small appearance in Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon with Frank Langella, Michael Sheen and Sam Rockwell. In 2009, she continued her streak with a role in Dorian Gray credited alongside Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox, Ben Barnes and Rachel Hurd-Wood.

This year she will be starring on Please Give, alongside Catherine and Elizabeth Keener, as well as Amanda Peet. However, what’s in store for her? Well, the film The Town, directed by Ben Affleck and sharing the screen with Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, and Chris Cooper. With her on-screen charisma, that’s enough for us to keep an eye on her and the roles she chooses.

Bring it!

Who does it better?

Mirume/En-chan? or Domoto/En-chan?

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It’s time to begin with the ladies.

Taking the #10 spot on the list of actresses to watch is none other than latest Australian  export Abbie Cornish. I know a few who are still not taken by Cornish screen charisma — I am one of them — but it’s hard to deny her success in different films.

I mean, there is a reason why she had “the” buzz, right?

Born in New South Wales, Australia on August 7th 1982, at only 27 years old, Cornish has already achieved a lot. In 2004, Cornish starred in the film Somersault which was well-received critically, even getting her the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress [Action It Boy Sam Worthington was in it too]. She followed that up in 2005 with Candy alongside Heath Ledger, for which she received more critical acclaim.

Cornish finally broke into mainstream appeal by appearing on Ridley Scott’s A Good Year with Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard, where she played the appealing long lost relative not looking for inheritance. She followed up her appearance with Crowe by sharing the screen with yet another fine Australian talent in Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett.

And how do you top that off? Well, by working with famous director Jane Campion on Bright Star alongside fellow the 20 to Watch Ben Whishaw, and gather a lot of praise for her role of Fanny Brawne. And though that didn’t translate into the awards, she got our attention.

What’s next on her plate? Well, how about two projects with Watchmen and 300 director Zack Snyder? First up, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole with Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, Helen Mirren Sam Neil, and Jim Sturgess. Then, Sucker Punch — described as Alice in Wonderland with machine guns — with Jon Hamm, Carla Gugino, and Jena Malone. Follow that up with  current work for the film The Dark Fields alongside Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper, and a possible project directed by Madonna with Vera Farmiga and Ewan McGregor? And well… we’re there!

Music Overload

April 24, 2010 — 16 Comments

I just spent all day yesterday (and still) listening to music at Haoting.

Yay for keeping updated!

Continue Reading…

Crap, I’m gonna have to make an exception here, as James McAvoy has just turned 31 — about two days ago — but I had already added him to the list. I knew I was cutting it too close…

Anyway, McAvoy places #5 on the list of the 20 to Watch, which marks the first 5 names to be added. Now, I will add my 5 additions to the Actresses list, and we’ll continue with one guy and a girl ;P

Born in Port Glasgow, Scotland on April 21st 1979, James McAvoy is probably best known for playing Wesley Gibson alongside Angelina Jolie in the action film Wanted released in 2008. However, he shot to fame for playing opposite Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland in 2006. After it, he was cast as the male lead in films such as Penelope with Christina Ricci, as well as Becoming Jane alongside Anne Hathaway.

He has also shared the screen in the well-received Atonement with Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan and fellow the 20 to Watch Jérémie Renier. He followed the project with The Last Station last year, which was also received well in critic circles.

It’s true that he’s dropped out of projects due to personal reasons, but McAvoy still has a couple of projects for the next couple of years, starting with The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford, and sharing credits alongside Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson, Robin Wright, and fellow the 20 to Watch Evan Rachel Wood.

I always love a good time-lapse~ [Vancouver][Marriage Proposal]
and I love Japan =D so… win win, right?

Omg, that ending U.u
So, so SO SAD~

Steadily moving up our list of the 20 to Watch, this time around with a less mainstream face.

It’s Belgian actor Jérémie Renier, born in Brussels on January 6th 1981. At 29 years old, Renier has a prolific filmography. Probably first known worldwide by his performance as Thomas d’Apcher in Le Pacte des Loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf) alongside Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci.

He later starred as Bruno in the Dardenne brothers’ l’Enfant (The Child), which would eventually open the opportunity to play Claudy Moreau in the 2008 critically-acclaimed Le Silence de Lorna (Lorna’s Silence). Renier’s also had appearances in well-regarded films such as Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and Saoirse Ronan, , as well as In Brudges with Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson.

Last time we saw him on screen was on Olivier Assayas’ l’Heure d’Été (Summer Hours) alongside Juliette Binoche. The film was a favorite among critics in 2009, gathering a bunch of Best Foreign Film Awards. Hopefully, we will get to see him soon on Niki Caro’s The Vintner’s Luck alongside recently-nominated Vera Farmiga and Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider). Add to that his role on François Ozon’s Potiche with Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve, Judith Godrèche, and fellow the 20 to Watch Ludivine Sagnier… and well, we’re sold!

Coming from an article over at Wildgrounds

What is this “super dub“? In fact, they’re trying to make the translation sounds more natural in Japanese.

what were you attempting with Super Dubbing to deal with this difference?
For example, Leonardo de Caprio, who plays Teddy, faces a woman working in the hospital and asks, “Were you a nurse?” If you change this to natural Japanese, just saying “Kankoshi?” However, in English when you say “Were you a nurse?” your lips move three times.

Continue Reading…

Moving from #9 to #8 on the list of the 20 to Watch, there’s another familiar face… even if the name doesn’t really ring a bell, unless… of course, you are already familiar with Ben Whishaw~

Born in Bedfordshire, England on October 14th 1980, this 29-year-old actor is probably most recognized for his starring role on Tom Tykwer’s Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. However, before his big break as smelling murderer Jean-Baptiste, Whishaw participated in the film Layer Cake alongside Daniel Craig, and Sally Hawkins.

In 2007, Whishaw became part of the cast of I’m Not There, the experimental film about Bob Dylan credited alongside the likes of Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, and Heath Ledger. His last big hit on the silver screen was playing poet John Keats in Bright Star, directed by acclaimed director Jane Campion. The film garnered considerable buzz not only for him, but also his co-star Abbie Cornish.

Next up for him? A re-adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest by writer/director Julie Taymor (Across the Universe) alongside Djimon Hounsou, Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming and Helen Mirren.