Beauty vs Beast: Sidewalk Stories

Jason from MNPP here with this week's "Beauty vs Beast" -- the very first movie that I ever saw being filmed in person was on one of my first trips to New York City; I guess it must've been in the spring of 1997? There I was walking down a side-street near NYU, a wide-eyed country bumpkin in the big city, when who should suddenly be standing in front of me but Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson! That'll stop you dead in your tracks. Beside him was Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear and you guessed it, it was James L. Brooks' multiple Oscar winner As Good As It Gets.

I watched them film for about half an hour (it was the scene where they were getting into the car to go on their mid-movie road-trip) in awe, and now whenever I think of this movie I think of that experience and how fundamental it was to cementing this city as where I wanted to live my life. There's magic around every corner, wedged terrifyingly in every crack of the sidewalk. Long story short today is Helen Hunt's birthday (and Greg Kinnear's birthday is on Wednesday) so As Good As It Gets it is...

PREVIOUSLY Last time around we anticipated the weekend's great big movie (movie-a-saurus) with a claw-off between the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Velociraptor in Steven Spielberg's 1993 original Jurassic Park - ya'll love your Clever Girls and the Raptor slashed her way to the winning circle with 60% of the vote. Said forever1267:

"Velociraptors are one of the few movie monsters that really scared me while watching the movie. They aren't supposed to be smart! They're not supposed to be able to open doors! They're not supposed to be clever! Chills!"

An (Irrepressible) Education

The Film Experience is proud to turn the day over to Cara Seymour (currently starring in "The Knick") who will be here all day. Here's her first post!

© Josh Cheuse

- by Cara Seymour

My husband Josh Cheuse took this photo in the dressing room at Twickenham studios when I was filming An Education (2009) The character of Marjorie was very repressed, I guess this is a moment unleashed. 

I think everyone knew that Carey Mulligan would become a big star, she just had 'it', she's a brilliant actor, fluent, funny and emotionally honest with the eyes of an old soul. 

a scene from An Education (2009). Odile-Dicks Mireaux did the costumes

other projects:
The Knick and American Psycho, and Hotel Rwanda

Say What Brad?

Amuse us by adding a caption or quote to this picture of Brad Pitt on the set of his new movie The Big Short (2016). Winner gets to choose the next banner theme because enough with the actors as photographers!

Pitch Perfect 2 is Almost Done Shooting!

Anna Kendrick posted this last night, with this note:

All these bitches wrap tomorrow and leave me behind...... I totally H💖TE them.

Pitch Perfect wasn't a perfect movie but it turns out to be highly HIGHLY rewatchable. A cable perfect pleasure. I could watch it back-to-back and nearly have. I love "Fat Amy" and every single whispered line delivery from Hana Mae Lee as Lilly. Plus every moment when Anna Kendrick sings.

So pleased that Anna is doing three musicals in one year (see earlier post). That's some commitment to the genre that we haven't seen from literally any other contemporary star.

Say What, Jess & Tom?

Behold, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston on the set of the new Guillermo del Toro thriller Crimson Peak (in costumes by Kate Hawley who also did the clothes for 'Pacific Rim'). This begs for a "say what?" so amuse us with a caption or dialogue. I'll choose a winner soon. After the jump see the winners of the last 'say what double feature' starring inexhaustible Nicki Kidman.

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