Friday
Apr102015
Ask Nathaniel
Friday, April 10, 2015 at 3:49PM 
I'll pick ten questions to answer on Monday night. But remember to keep it tight because book length questions get ignored. Two (unrelated) themes to inspire your questions this week: "Stage" and "Science Fiction" because Tony season is coming and we have a special sci-fi theme week coming up in April that we need you in the mood for.
Reader Comments (48)
Which 90s actress that had "a hot career but never really reached the heights expected of them, and then kind of faded," would you like to see make a real comeback? I'm thinking of women like Christina Ricci, Leelee Sobieski, even Kirsten Dunst to an extent, etc
lol
If you could give Michelle Pfieffer one of Julianne Moore's roles and Julianne Moore one of Michelle Pfieffer's - which and why?
Is an actor worth their weight if they refuse to do theater work after breaking through in film and television?
I know you hate this new practice in modern-day franchises of splitting the last book into two movies (I hate it too), but out of curiosity, has there ever been a source material that you think would benefit by being made into two movies (in terms of using as much of taking advantage of as much of the narrative as possible, or create a feeling that can only be accomplished by the audience removing themselves from the story for a time in order to come back to it, etc.)? I can think of a couple of examples, including a movie that came out last year that I think would have been interesting to release as two movies, I'll tell you which one it is if you answer this question...
What classic stage revival would you like to see Kate Winslet in so she can get her EGOT? Or substitute Winlet with any Tony-less screen star.
Who is a current film star whom you don't love in movies but think would be aces in theater (considering they are very different beasts)?
Who are some of the best actors at working with actresses? Quaid, Costner, Hurt, Malkovich, Gere, and Douglas come to mind as some of film's most talented romantic leads, and they've played opposite some of the greatest female performances of all time. Why don't they get their due even when they do phenomenal work these days? Jeff Bridges is an exception that proves this rule for me.
Are their filmographies too feminine? Redford and Beatty come to mind as earlier examples of this.
If you could turn back time (hooo.. /hair toss), what famous Broadway performance would you have like to experience seeing?
In regards to stage: What did you think of Madonna's appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, in particular her stand-up comedy routine? Do you think, as I do, that she was trolling and being her tongue-in-cheek self, or do you think she truly believes she was funny?
Which stage musical do you think most deserves a film adaptation that hasn't had one yet. Or maybe a Top 5? And possible dream-casting?
If you could put any actress in charge of a Starship in a movie (doesn't have to be Star Trek) which actress would you choose? Note: I believe both Star Wars & Star Trek franchises are missing the boat by not doing this.
Not movie related: favorite Drag Race queen from each season?
Taking into account career trajectory, momentum, perceived level of talent and all those other intangibles, which Oscar winning actor or actress in the last five years was the most surprising? Meaning, you would have never seen it coming a few years prior.
I kept it tight, y'all.
Combining Stage and Sci-Fi- Any stageplays/musicals you'd like to see Prometheused on the big screen? Like an in-universe prequel eg Witches of Macbeth:Origins.
Hey Nathaniel!
Soundtrack songs were massive hits in the '80s and '90s, but when the Aughts rolled around, we see an obvious decline in the correlation between songs' chart success and Oscar success.
I'm wondering if you have any particular theory about why that is.
I hope to explore it in a blog post or essay in the future! :)
Are you as baffled as I am as to the reasons for the bipolar nature of Ridley Scott's work? The man who has produced such classics in multiple genres, including producing one of the greatest TV dramas of all time - The Good Wife - can just as easily be capable of such awful product as his last two films, and the Killing Jesus tv movie. Will The Martian be his last opportunity to prove to the movie world that he's still got it? You gotta think that 3 strikes in 3 years with a-list talent would put up a red flag.
2001: A Space Odyssey...overrated, underrated, or properly rated?
Who killed a stage performance on screen the most for you.
Do have fear that the million Avatar sequels that will happen will ruin the magic of the original for you?
What is the biggest stage to screen musical injustice of all time?
It's the 25th anniversary of Madonna's Vogue! The original picked style icons from the Golden Age of Hollywood. What 16 names would you include for 25 years later? What 16 names would fit the bill from today's currently working crop?
Random question but I've been wondering:
Do you enjoy the Michelle Pfeiffer call-out in Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars's "Uptown Funk"?
Have just seen Woman in Gold (the definition of meh) and quite enjoyed the recent post about paintings deserving of a film.
My question is: since we know you're such a good illustrator (and have already dabbled with that awesome portrait of Julianne Moore), which current or past moviestar would you like to pose for you as your muse?
Have you been able to accurately deem a movie an instant classic? If so, based on what were you able to make that assessment? Also, any movies you thought would be instant classics after watching them, but they never reached that status?
Mirren vs. Moss vs. Mulligan. Whither the Tony for Best Actress in a Play this year? (Or could any of the ladies in Wolf Hall and Airline Highway be spoilers?)
Yay on the sci if theme. A genre that tends to have a lot of ambitious films (sometimes too much for the talent involved?) and a genre that has almost always been very kind to actresses. (1) Five favorite sci films of the curren millennium? AND/OR 5 favorite performances in a sci if film from the same period? OR awards-related - what is it about most science fiction films/performances that causes voters to flat out ignore their brilliance (technically and otherwise )?
I've just re-watched Making Love and thought it wasn't half as bad...if you were the casting director for a new updated version, who would you cast for the three leads?
Which stage musical would you love to see adapted for film and who would you like to see adapt it?
I meant direct it, not adapt it.
I just rewatched Dreamgirls for the first time after seeing it in the theaters years ago. I worried about Jennifer Hudson because everyone tells me how terrible she was. And she wasn't that bad, though I don't think she ever had a pure dialogue scene with more than a couple of lines.
Now she is heading to Broadway, but surprisingly not in the lead role. Is this a good idea for her (I think it is) and if so, should anyone else think about doing the same thing?
What are your 10 favourite sci-fi performances?
How many Emmy nods do you think the Netflix Daredevil show can manage?
Which witches do you think Meryl Streep was offered when she turned 40?
off topic - I unapologetically like the screen adaptation of A Chorus Line, a real guilty pleasure.
I've never seen it on stage, but at least I watched the movie.
Looking at recent trends, which movie that you wish to be adapted for stage?
cause even Rocky was on Broadway, and as a musical!
ooh, you're basically asking for this question:
What if Sci-Fi movies are being adapted for Broadway stage? Which one would you like?
Wouldn't that be a riot!
I always assumed Hocus Pocus, The Witches, and The Witches of Eastwick. Is 2015 finally the year of emerging female Hollywood equality? There seem to be a lot of female stars now in all facets of entertainment.
Who would you cast as 2 lead roles of Wicked, the film version? (Not original ones because we all know it won't happen).
If you had to pick one future and/or alien world, as depicted in any science fiction film, to live in/on, which would it be and why?
We all love Sigourney Weaver's atypical Oscar nomination for Aliens, but what other 5 genre performances do you think came close to earning an Oscar nod?
(We all love Sissy Spacek's and Heath Ledger's genre nominations more because she was one of the first and he won.)
What are your top 5 scenes in SciFi films?
(I know... that's hard...)
Stage question:
Favorite Tennessee Williams characters (not necessarily from the same play) and who would be your ideal performer (dead or alive) to play them on stage or in film?
[as you answer, you may discount Streetcar altogether, if it pleases you]
Sci-fi question:
- Do post-apocalyptical dystopian scenarios still excite you in Sci-fi? Is the premise saturated yet?
General question:
- What is behind your love for Burlesque?
What are your favorite one-setting movies?
Sorry, I forgot to ask the follow-up question: can you think of any that aren't based on plays?
When it comes to sci-fi and world building, do you tend to appreciate the big picture or get hung up on the details? That is, which matters more: the vision or the logic? (I'm thinking less of Degrasse-Tyson style fact checking, and more internal consistency.)
Where are the April predictions for Best Actress?
sci-fi stage question: Since so many movies are getting Broadway treatments, can there be a good adaptation of a Sci-Fi movie? If James Cameron needs more money Avatar will happen, but can you turn, let's say Alien into a musical? Could Blade Runner work on the stage?
What are your favorite films that involve "the stage" (aka plays/Hollywood/actors/moviemaking)?