Archives For Life

The End of Plastic Surgery in Hollyweird?

April 27, 2010 — Leave a comment

From the New York Times comes an article that talks about how some casting directors and directors are reacting to butchered surgery jobs on actors…

Independent casting directors like Mindy Marin, who worked on the Jason Reitman film “Up in the Air,” are urging talent agents to discourage clients from having surgery, particularly older celebrities who, she contends, are losing jobs because their skin is either too taut or swollen with filler. Said Ms. Marin: “What I want to see is real.”

Even extras get the once-over. Sande Alessi, who helped cast the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, said she offers to photograph actresses in their bathing suits, telling them they can keep the photo for their audition books.

Professional courtesy? Not exactly. Moviemakers prefer actresses with natural breasts for costume dramas and period films. So much so that when the Walt Disney Company recently advertised for extras for the new “Pirates” film, the casting call specified that only women with real breasts need apply. By taking a photograph, Ms. Alessi said, “we don’t have to ask, we will know.”

Because…

Talent > Plastic Looks… right?

Please someone tell that to Reality TV not even worth mentioning here.

And I love photos with wrinkles… of course, not MY photos with wrinkles, but I do love my movable face… even though my mother keeps telling me to stop making faces. So I’m kinda taking the Sally approach to limit of facial expressions hahahahaha.

In English, Films, Rants ,
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My video card is out…

April 27, 2010 — 6 Comments

has been not working for a while now, but now it won’t start at all. system starts up fine, but it won’t recognize the monitor. SUCKS.

Won’t be posting until it gets back up and/or I get a new card.

anyone know what video card I could use to replace the Nvidia Geforce 5600? I’m pretty sure it’s that model, I’m too pissed to look for the box…

In Rants
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To Watch Until They’re 35 – Michelle Williams

April 26, 2010 — 4 Comments

Moving on with our list of the 20 to Watch, placing on #8 is none other than Michelle Williams. I mean, who would have thought that troublemaker Jen Lindley, ex and friend of Dawson Leery in that show about high school days during my school years, would end up where she is now.

Born in Montana, USA on September 9th 1980, this 29-year-old actress established herself as this generation’s new talented Hollywood in 2005 when she participated in Ang Lee’s critical-acclaimed film Brokeback Mountain. She wasn’t only nominated for an Oscar (and other awards) for Best Supporting Actress in that film, but she also met the father of her child, Heath Ledger and Mathilda’s — we’re all family here, right? — godfather, Jake Gyllenhaal. Obviously, Brokeback Mountain changed Williams’ life professionally and personally… and that is basically what every Hollywood legend has gone through in their lifetime.

Like any young starlet, Williams started out with small appearances on shows like Baywatch, Lassie and Step by Step, when in the late 90’s she shot to teen pop culture stardom on The WB’s Dawson’s Creek, which ended in 2003 after more than 100 episodes. While everyone was thinking about the future of the idols now that they were grown up, Williams made appearances in films like The United States of Leland alongside Don Cheadle, Kevin Spacey, Lena Olin, Jena Malone and Ryan Gosling, as well as the acclaimed film The Station Agent written and directed by Tom McCarthy alongside Patricia Clarkson.

She followed that up with smaller films like Imaginary Heroes with Jeff Daniels, Sigourney Weaver and 20 to Watch fellow Emile Hirsch, and starred in the even smaller Land of Plenty, for which she earned her first Indie Spirit nomination for Best Female Lead. After her Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards for Brokeback, Williams decided to be part of the film I’m Not There alongside 20 to Watch fellow Ben Whishaw.

By the year 2008, she had decided to participate in the independent films Wendy and Lucy, which was well-received by critic circles and earned Williams her second nomination for Best Female Lead at the Indie Spirits, as well as Synecdoche, New York the directorial debut of scriptwriter Charlie Kaufman, alongside the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Hope Davis and Jennifer Jason Leigh — they all, by the way, won the Robert Altman Award at the Indie Spirits.

The impressive filmography doesn’t end there, as Williams next film was Mammoth written and directed by Lukas Moodysson (Fucking Åmål), and also starred Gael Garcia Bernal… topping it all off with this year’s Blue Valentine fresh off great buzz from Sundance alongside Ryan Gosling. Add to that Shutter Island by Martin Scorsese… no Scorsese film, as bad as some could be, would be a real negative on anyone’s resume, right?

Next up for her? Well, how about a project written and directed by Sarah Polley? I’m talking about the romantic comedy [non-negative connotation] Take this Waltz. Following that up? Possibly, The Emperor’s Children by pseudo indie fave Noah Baumbach — fresh off with the Greenberg buzz. Yeah? Worth another 5 years watching her, right?

Woah, could this write-up be a little girl-crush right there? xD

In Celebrity, English, Films, Photographs, Sharing , ,
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Seldom Book Talk

April 26, 2010 — 1 Comment

I don’t read as many books as I watch films, tv series or listen to albums… but I think that reading subtitles count on as part as the word count of how much I actually read… as well as reading lyrics xD

At the moment I’m reading — being trying to finish for the last month or so — Cronica del Pajaro que da Cuerda al Mundo (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, aka Nejimaki-dori KURONIKURU) by Haruki Murakami, but really can’t blame me for taking so long. It’s 900 pages long, and I know Harry Potter 5 is as long and it only took me 3 days to finish that one. But Cronica began really slow, and I left it there for a long long time until about 3 days ago, when I picked it up again. xD

I’m actually devouring any Murakami novel I ran into the bookstore. I have already bought Sputnik, mi Amor (Sputnik Sweetheart, aka SUPU-TONIKU no Koibito), and El Fin del Mundo y un Despiadado Pais de las Maravillas (Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, aka Sekai no Owari to HA-DOBOIRUDO WANDA-RANDO).

I’m looking for Kafka on the Shore, which I saw at a bookstore’s listing, but when they checked… it was gone. Highly suspicious… I never believe things like books, cds or dvds ever get sold out here.

Julz will also be surprised to find out that I ran into copies of Män som Hatar Kvinnor… which wasn’t literally translated, as the book in Spanish is called Los Hombres que no Amaban a las Mujeres [literally, Men Who Didn’t Love Women for those of you non-Spanish readers] – I guess Odiar/Hate is too-strong a word? At least it beats “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” [Hardcover][Kindle Version]. Gosh. I was disappointed with the title in English when I saw the film. xD I also found a copy of Flickan som Lekte med Elden, which was translated to La Chica que Soñaba con una Cerilla y un Bidon de Gasolina [literally, The Girl who Dreamed with a Match and an Oil Drum] but the Swedish title means The Girl who Played with Fire [Hardcover][Kindle Version], right Julz? Which is exactly like the English title. Wonder who picks the titles…

However, I couldn’t find a copy of the third part. I will probably look for it after I finish all of the above, or buy it if I ran into it… – I wonder why they only had the two tomes.

Also, why are books so effing expensive here? I paid a bit over $30 for each Stieg Larsson book, and they’re not even hardcover editions. Frak, I even complained when that stupid Dan Brown book was $16 USD on Amazon… while they were selling it for nearly $35 USD in bookstores here. FRAK, I tell you!

In Books, English, Japanese, Rants, Spanish, Swedish , , ,
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To Watch Until They’re 35 – Rebecca Hall

April 25, 2010 — 1 Comment

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.

In Celebrity, English, Films, Photographs, Sharing , ,
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Don’t Laugh at my Romance – Ship-Off!

Bring it!

Who does it better?

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

Continue Reading…

Posted on April 25, 2010 In Clips, English, Films, Fun, Japanese, Sharing , , , , , , ,
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To Watch Until They’re 35 – Abbie Cornish

April 24, 2010 — 5 Comments

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!

In Celebrity, English, Films, Photographs, Sharing ,
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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…

In Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, On Rotation, Sharing, Spanish
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To Watch Until They’re 35 – James McAvoy

April 23, 2010 — 4 Comments

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.

In Celebrity, English, Films, Photographs, Sharing , ,
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Get Up and Go in Tokyo by Stefan Werc

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

Posted on April 23, 2010 In English, Japanese, Motion, Sharing , ,
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