Wednesday
Jul112012
Ask Nathaniel...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 3:15PM 
It's that semi-weekly time again. Ask me questions and I'll choose two handfuls to answer early next week. Last week we talked Whoopi, character actresses, and Joss Whedon's future. What will we discuss this week?
Reader Comments (29)
Which country (outside of the US) do you believe consistantly produces high quality movies?
Imagine someone has decided to make a movie with the great C/Kates: Winslet and Blanchett. Who would direct, whom else would star, and what would it be about?
Do you believe comedies are generational? I mean, as if to say that people only love comedies made for their generation, give or take, and can't truly embrace those that came before?
I don't believe this, but have been talking to more casual film fans, whom all think this is true.
Do you think people can get over the stripper stigma of Magic Mike to maybe snag a screenplay nomination? Or anything?
In preparation for the Nolan explosion: What's your favorite Nolan film, your least favorite, and tell us why on both?
After a strong showing for the genre over the past decade (critically and commercially), if either The Avengers or The Dark Knight Rises fails to get a Best Picture nomination will any comic book/graphic novel movie ever break through?
My thoughts are that like Hitchcock's flavor of thrills and suspense, comic book/graphic novel movies will always be an also-ran...
How do you think the unprecedented economic crisis in Europe will affect its national cinemas, taking into account that in terms of industry is already quite weak and that in many countries the film industry needs to be subsidized? Massive migration of talent? (even) cheaper productions? more co-productions?
Sorry for the double dip, but what project from "Tales From Development Hell" would you have most liked to see come to fruition? Why?
How do you think of things like "Stripper of the Day"??
Just kidding. Here's a Hathaway v. Knightley question: Anne's got both modern (Dark Knight Rises) and historical (Les Mis) coming out soon, but Keira seems to stick to period pieces. Will this be significant in their future career choices? (For the record I am a fan of both.)
Does the obligation to respond to a near endless bombardment of questions about future Oscar winners ever make you want to jump out the nearest window?
If you had the chance to interview any director in movie history at any point of his career, who and what moment of his lifetime would you choose, and what would be the most important question you'd want to ask him?
iggy--What an interesting question. It's certainly given me some food for thought!
What are your least favorite films from some of your favorite directors?
(I also submitted this as a potential Tuesday Top Ten, so apologies for the possible double-dip, but I really want to know!)
Lana Del Rey.
For some reason I think this girl would be a good actress by watching the video-clip of "Born to Die" and "National Anthem" and being asked to star in a big screen project seems just a matter of time, since she's one of the girls of the moment and an incredibly beautiful woman.
What do you think Nathaniel? Will she be a kind of Cher (with a respectable number of movies in her curriculum) or "just" a Björk (who only had a cinematic experience by starring "Dancer In the Dark")?
Scarlett Fever strikes again: after some years away from interesting projects, Scarlett Johansson's career seems to be back on track with this year's The Avengers and some promising "more indie" projects and I would love to see her working with Woody again.
Choose an actress who could play her mother and two actresses who could play her sisters (an older sister and a younger one) in a Woody Allen drama... (let's admit: it would be interesting to see him doing something à la "Hannah and Her Sisters")
If you were an up and coming actor, who's career trajectory would you most like to follow?
(I'd go with Leo DiCaprio. Teenage heartthrob, sex symbol, and later, respected Academy Award nominated {where's that win?!} actor who works with decent director)
or
The world of "Magic Mike" actually exists. You can actually go and throw dollars at Channing, Matt and Matthew if you like. Which actor/actress would you take with you for the show and some drinks?
(for me, Alan Cumming or Charlize Theron.)
Ames and Ed mentioned some actresses (and singer names).
my question for you is: Will ScarJo and Lana Del Rey ever score an Oscar nomination and will Keira Knightley ever become an Oscar winner?
(I don't ask about Anne Hathaway because she's in serious danger of getting an Oscar win for Les Miz)
Of the great black actresses of the Hollywood Golden Age-Horne, Dee, Dandridge, and Carroll-do you have a favorite performer or performance?
Emma Stone is going to become the next America´s Sweetheart? Which is the current America´s Sweetheart?
What cinematic, television or literary character do you think should be revisited?
how do you feel about Riseborough and Cooper joining the cast of August: Osage County?
Many lament the onslaught of remakes/reboots/re-imaginings, but what film(s) would actually benefit from a remake?
As an example, I ask you to consider "Rosemary's Baby." While the acting stands up, much of the rest of the film is pretty creaky. What are your thoughts?
Are you a fan of Hope Davis??? I consistently find her to be underrated.
Usually, even when we like a lot of the nominees in an Oscar category, there are at least one or two that qualitatively weigh down the field. Sometimes, we're gifted with a category wherein even the worst of the five (or ten, or nine or whatever) is much better than what that category usually manages. In the recent years, which Oscar races (specific categories from specific years) stand out in your mind in recent years as being exemplary, generally lacking of filler? For example, supporting actress 2001 or adapted screenplay 2005, etc. What was it about the particular race that year that makes the category stand out in your mind as special/better than usual?
I recently came across 'Working Girl' on tv by chance. I had seen (and liked) it before but it got me thinking. I remember reading somewhere that Kate Hepburn had given her opinion on Melanie Griffith saying that she was talented but her star would fade quickly. She was obviously right (at least in the second part of her statement). I think Griffith and, specially, Weaver are great and the costumes (unintentionally) hilarious when seen today, but what's YOUR opinion on the movie and Griffith? Do you think she could have a comeback? What would it take?
So with the the news of a "What Ever Happend with Baby Jane" who do you think should be cast in the the Bette and Joan roles? We should do a cast this.
French Fever:
the goddess:
Catherine Deneuve vs. Isabelle Adjani vs. Juliette Binoche vs, Isabelle Huppert?
and the up-and-coming:
Cecile de France vs. Berenice Bejo vs. Audrey Tautou vs. Melanie Laurent?
Choose your favorite or rank them in order.
PLEASE NATHANIEL, DO BEST SCREEN BITCHERY MOMENTS AGAIN
I've just watched Detective Dee and the Phantom Flame and omg the hats! Do you have any favourite film hats/hat films?
I know we've talked about Meryl plenty enough on this blog but I have to ask:
Do you think Meryl Streep will ever topple her Suzanne Vale and her Karen Silkwood, which I consider her finest performances?
Also, just for fun: Miranda Priestly, Sister Aloysius or Madeline Ashton - who'd win in a diva-off? (I'm putting my money on Ashton. That woman is crazy with a capital C).