Friday
Mar132015
Ask Nathaniel
Friday, March 13, 2015 at 4:00PM 
How come noone has said anything about the new banner? Don't you like?! What's your favorite movie or performance about photography? Oh, wait. You're supposed to be asking me the questions.
Time for our weekly collection of reader questions (trusting you enjoyed the last two Q&As and would like another on Monday night) so have at it in the comments. Remember the tighter the question the more likely it is to be answered.
Reader Comments (39)
There were so many great questions last week, please answer your runners up to the ones you did answer.
Favorite Photo movie--Eyes of Laura Mars
What could the upcoming Beauty and the Beast do to improve the live action fairy tale formula since this one doesn't have an "evil" female? Or who would you like to see as Ursula in the little mermaid now that Mo'Nique seems to be having trouble getting acting jobs?
What is your favourite silent movie actress/star + performance?
What are your least favorite performances by some of your favorite actresses?
Instead of themed banners---why not remind us year around that Julianne Moore is an Oscar winner by having pictures of her holding the statuette or various images from the roles she played.
1) Curious what Kathy Bates performance you actually like? You seem to be sort of over her even when she does things every now and then you appreciate.
2) Were the 80's and early 90's better at producing off beat movies solid to the multiplex as mainstream fare?
You have long been an outspoken advocate against category fraud. Who do you believe is the most to blame for this sin against all that is good and sacred about awards - the publicists (who engineer it), the Academy (who allows it), or the actors themselves (who are at best only barely complicit in all the shenanigans and at worst demand it to feed their hunger for awards)? And, more importantly, how do we stop it?
What are your ten favorite bitchfights in movies?
Favorite actress perfume ad/commercial?
But I just wanted to say that I love the theme banners! Back in the olden days of blogspot, I used to change my avatar to reflect it if I could.
Your banners are always impressive, but this is a favorite.
In honor of The Quiet Man, what are 5 movie kisses that jump to mind as your favorites and most memorable?
I love the banner, specially because of the addition of Julia Roberts in Closer. I'll always love anything Closer. I love that movie to bits (I know it's divisive).
For the Q&A:
- We often complain about actresses being put to pasture after they hit a certain age, but what about actresses that still work steadily, but always in crappy movies, or projects beneath their talent level (think Diane Keaton or Susan Sarandon)? What's worse: full abstinence or periodical reminder of their wasted awesomeness?
- Rene Russo recently came out of the shadows to remind us that, actually, given a proper part, her gifts are still finely tuned and she's still a magnetic screen presence. What actress would you like to see Russoing her way into the cinematic scene in 2015? Feel free to come up with full project ideas and add Jake Gyllenhaal to them, we know you want to! ;)
East of Eden opened in NYC on March 9, 1955. (Dean died at the end of September, and Rebel Without a Cause opened in October.) Any thoughts or plans for the blog for the 60th anniversaries (which AMPAS so far seems to have forgotten)?
The work of Hillary Swank in " Homesman " made her grow in your appreciation of her as an actress, or she is still hand in hand with Renne Zelwegger in your nemesis path? In terms of career (considering the initial work of Renne: Nurse Betty , Brigitte Jones , Jerry Maguire, etc ) , which would you prefer as an actress, Hillary or Renne ? Love from Brazil...
Which three directors would you ask to completely shift genres to show us a new side, much like Inarritu did with Birdman?
So: Hollywood is calling. They NEED YOUR ADVICE, obviously. They are making an Avengers -style superhero-teamup film about the divas of musical theatre, but they are having difficulty casting key roles: Liza Minnelli. Carol Channing. Elaine Stritch. Ethel Merman. BARBRA. Some people are pushing to cast Blake Lively as Bernadette Peters! Who could they cast as these inimitable women?!
The Swank question is nice, I want to know that too, since I found her devastating in this movie
I always love your banners. They're consistent with the tone of the site in their inventiveness, wide ranging cinema knowledge, and sense of cinematic fun.
Since you bring up photography.... which do you consider to be the top 5 scenes from David Lynch's filmography?
I'll spot you:
1. Club Silencio (Mulholland Dr.)
2. Nikki Grace talking to Visitor #1 (Inland Empire)
3. Love Me (Blue Velvet)
4. David Merrick Meets Mrs. Kendal (The Elephant Man)
5. ....
A performance by an actress in television -- either episodic, movie, or miniseries -- that could stand alongside the best of the best work of Oscar-winning divas.
Thank you for not going shirtless for that selfie.
How do you feel about the word pretentious when used by film critics? Sometimes I read a review and I'll see it used and feel like its almost never a valid criticism. Its kind of off putting. Especially since (based on the definition of the word) most filmmakers would be guilty of being so.
Answer: Blow Up.
Question: If you taught a film class, which movie would be essential viewing for your students?
MrW -- LOL. i've never gone shirtless on the web
I second Derreck's question about those music-video perfume commercials. My favourites are the Keira Knightley Chanel ones she does with Joe Wright. They have done 3 and they are like little teasers for movies that could exist but don't. (yet). Perhaps you prefer Niclole Kidman's with Baz for Chanel? Scarlett Johannson for D&G directed by Scorcese?
MrW -- wait. should i be offended. That's not reallly a nice thing to say!
would you want to know the official rankings in categories of previous oscar editions (if I'm not clear, who came second, third etc for which award in past cerimonies)? if you could choose three combos of category + year (say, best actress in 1951) to learn the ranking, what would they be?
(ps.: I love this question of mine lol, I hope you answer it some day.)
I'll say that I love the new banner Nathaniel! I just started a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts Photography and we did a tutorial today on films featuring photography. Rear Window, Blowup, Peeping Tom and One Hour Photo being the most talked about!
I have a few questions for you...
Who are your top five Australian actors/actresses?
If you had to make a top ten of all time today, what would it look like?
When do you remember feeling most disappointed at the outcome of an Oscar win?
Thoughts on Stanley Kubrick?
What never-made/cancelled/delayed/shelved film would love to see?
With an inevitable reboot of the Batman franchise on the horizon, who would you like to see playing the Batman villains (notably your beloved Catwoman)?
Cast the main roles in a remake of Gone With The Wind, re-actualized to happen in an Eastern European country after the fall of the Berlin wall.
What's your favorite Catwoman/Selina line/scene/moment from "Batman Returns"?
Andrew he doesn't like Kubrick.
Which international actressess would like to see working with Xavier Dolan in the future? He always get amazing performances from his leading ladies...
Are there any bloggers you follow that focus primarily on documentary features/shorts? It's a genre of film I enjoy, but I seem to often miss out on seeing good ones. What is a good source for keeping up on what's out there?
I remember during the 2010 race your least favorite Best Picture nominee was Inception and Nick's was The King's Speech. Even though you both seemed to have felt the same way about the movies, Nick much more appreciated what Inception was trying to do. So my question is, how much does that weigh into your feelings toward films in general? Is something like Inception (which I didn't care for) at least worthy of some good will when you watch it back for ts mere conception and scope, or does it actually have the opposite effect and make you like it less for failing on such interesting premises? Same goes for a movie like The King's Speech, which was an incredibly well-made and entertaining movie, but ultimately void of any risk or anything excitedly new. How can we compare such films? I would rather see unique and original stories like Inception get made, but at the same time I would choose to watch The King's Speech over it any day.
I know we share a love for Kiki, so what are your top 5 Kirsten Dunst performances? Do you think she should've been nominated for an Oscar at some point?
"The Prince of Tides" (1991): Does it deserve the hate?
I realized that I never really got around to a point in my question that wasn't really a question above.
In essence I am asking:
Does originality add value to a film?
Should we champion innovative film ideas, even if they fail, as to promote more film innovation?
@ Nate: I tend to specialize in compliments that sound like insults and vice versa. Most of the time I don't even know myself which one it is. My family, friends and colleagues have to be very accepting with me, I guess.
(Also, you won't find shirtless selfies from me on the internet - or on my phone, for that matter - either. Let's just say we're both going for for the wise choice here...)
Do you think we'll ever see a surprise acting win again, a la Adrien Brody?
Don't you think that The Rock would make an exceptional Oscar host!??
You don't actually have to answer this. But, I would just like to use this space to say that I absolutely think so. :)
What are your memories of The Big Chill? Who gave your favorite performance of the cast?