Let's play the Recasting Game! JLaw Edition

by Cláudio Alves

Here, at the Film Experience, we value the readers' input, good or bad, be it the sharing of a divergent opinion or even suggestions for future posts. Consider how Juan Carlos Ojano's latest Hello Gorgeous piece, about the 2012 Best Actress nominees, led many to discuss the contenders' broad careers, way beyond those five specific turns and those same characters' introductions. Longtime reader and commenter Mr Ripley79 even speculated that we could do a whole post on Jennifer Lawrence's three Oscar-nominated David O. Russell films. Specifically, one about her miscasting – mostly due to the actress' age – and who could have played those roles instead. So, here we are. Let's play the recasting game…

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Hello, Gorgeous: Best Actress of 2013

A series by Juan Carlos Ojano

Deception, isolation, and desperation are just some of the common threads that connect the characters of this year's Best Actress nominees and the narratives in which they are situated. The curious element of the lineup is that, aside from one (Gravity), all of the nominees are featured in films from the comedic genre, whether it be a crime comedy (American Hustle), a cynically humorous character study (Blue Jasmine), a heartwarming dramedy (Philomena), or an acerbic, tragicomic family portrait (August: Osage County). That must be a rarity in any acting category, right?

Are you ready? The year is 2013...

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The beauty of Linus Sandgren's cinema

by Cláudio Alves

There's been much ado about Saltburn, Emerald Fennell's sophomore feature and follow-up to Promising Young Woman. However, most coverage tends to focus on the narrative's sudsy details, the picture's eagerness to shock and provoke. There's also a lot to lust over, of course, from Barry Keoghan's middle-class interloper to Jacob Elordi's aristocratic wet dream. And then there’s Rosamund Pike, exuding ice queen glamour on the side. Yet, judging by trailers and stills, one aspect of Saltburn's spell seems underreported – it looks gorgeous, crisp and colorful, all shiny and new, images so ripe you want to sink your teeth into them.

Though one shouldn't dismiss Fennell's contribution to this aesthetic – some would argue the poppy aesthetic of her debut was its best element – much credit must go to Linus Sandgren, cinematographer mirabilis…

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Showbiz History: Batman's debut and JLaw's second Globe win

5 random things that happened on this day, January 12th, in history...

1966 Beloved but shortlived Batman TV series premieres on ABC. The first episode "Hi Diddle Riddle" introduced Frank Gorshin as The Riddler (my personal favourite, this side of Catwoman, as a child watching in syndication years later). He would appear in 10 episodes across the three seasons. The movies have preferred the other key villains for some reason. Listen, it's not like The Penguin and The Joker are any less ridiculous conceptually! 

1981 Dynasty premieres on ABC in a three hour event with its first two episodes "Oil" running back-to-back...

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Showbiz History: American Hustle, Clue, and Dick Van Dyke

4 random things that happened on this day, December 13th, in showbiz history

1956 Historical drama Anastasia is released starring Yul Brynner and Ingrid Bergman. It will bring Bergman back into Hollywood's graces after her banishment due to her extramarital affair and win her her second Best Actress Oscar (though she doesn't attend the ceremony).

1957 Peyton Place which we discussed quite a bit this past summer premieres in NYC, becomes a smash hit and Oscar contender. The soapy drama about a mother and daughter and a small gossipy town is quickly adapted into a TV series...

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