I have to say, I am still in shock over Heath Ledger's death.
So much speculation over how he died -- was it accidental? or did he kill himself?
Does it really matter?
A family still has to bury a son, a woman has to raise her child alone, and a daughter will never know her father.
It's all so sad...
So, I had a dinner and movie date with Stefan's mum tonight. We usually have these closer to Oscar nomination time because neither of our boys will come with us to watch historical, costumey type of movies.
I always try not to read too many reviews before watching a movie because it usually taints my view of it. I like to watch movies with a clean slate.
I remember watching Elizabeth and just being blown away by Cate Blanchett's masterful performance. I was bitterly disappointed when she lost out at the Oscars to Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love, who gave a Keira Knightley-esque performance (and you all know what I think of her!) So needless to say, I was eagerly anticipating this movie.
I read the reviews after and unfortunately, the reviews were right.
The movie was only ok. The costumes were fantastic (as you can see here) but I think the writer or director tried to cram far too many story lines into such a short period of time. In doing so, it's lost many elements from the previous movie. Elizabeth is portrayed as a rather emotionally frayed older woman, Walsingham, an aging doddering advisor and although Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh is great eye candy, his character seems lacking. Although there are moments (very brief) of great verbal repartee by Blanchette, the movie overall fails to have the soul it did in the first.
I still think Cate is an outstanding actress and she's done the best she could with what she was given. I must say, totally off topic, that I am quite enjoying her fashions during her promotional tour of this movie. The lady knows how to dress! And that is about the only redeeming thing of the entire movie.
Here I was catching up on one of my guilty pleasures (gossip blog reading) when this article caught my eye. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Someone needs to explain to me why Keira Knightly is the actress du jour because I, for the life of me, cannot see the appeal. And so far, she's been the main actress in three book adaptations, all books that I've really loved - Pride and Prejudice (my absolute favourite!), Atonement and now Georgiana (renamed the Duchess for this movie). I hated her so much in Pride and Prejudice (and to think she was nominated for an Oscar for the role when there were so many other more worthy candidates that year) that I had to watch the A&E version twice to remove her terrible acting from my head.
On top of it all, she's the new face of Channel? It's almost sacrilegious!
As far as I am concerned, Keira Knightly has two ranges as an actress - Overly Indignant or Pompously Righteous.
I know, I know. Obviously some people must love her if she's so popular. I am definitely not one of them. It's been a very upsetting morning so far, I must say.
If you haven't heard, Paris Hilton is out of jail after serving a mere 4 days in her already shortened sentence. According to gossip blogs out there, the "medical" condition was due to the fact that she was not eating the food in jail (I bet many people who first go to jail, don't actually think it's exactly all gourmet either) and a psychiatrist thought she may have a mental break down.
Boo fucking hoo.
It's really awesome to see how the L.A Justice System works - if you're a white, stupid, celebrity with money, you can get away with the crime. I bet you if the EXACT same thing had happened to some poor, black person; not only would that person be in jail as soon as the infraction occured, they definitely would not be let out so quickly. Especially on such a flimsy excuse.
I personally am waiting for her to commit some other crime, so that (hopefully!) she will have to not only serve a full term but a longer one.
Update: YES!!!! The judge presiding over her case has ordered her back to jail to finish her sentence.
I haven't written one of these gossip blurbs for awhile but you know with the plethora of all these gossip blogs out there, it seemed rather unnecessary. Gossip blogs, I have to admit are my daily guilty pleasure. It's like being able to eat all the candy you want without any of the cavities.
However, I was so sad to hear that this golden couple are done. I've always loved them together and their mini me kids. I loved the story of the southern girl marrying the NY boy. I especially love Reese, how she's so intelligent about her career for one so young. Especially in an industry where many of her peers are bits of dispensable fluff. Even though Marie (the cynic) said the break up was expected and deep within my heart, I felt the same; I can't help but think it's too bad that it did not work out.
I've been meaning to post about this since it first happened. I was in the shower and Stef came and said,"Karen, Steve Irwin was killed by a sting ray. Total freak accident." My first reaction (and don't ask me why) whenever someone unexpected (when is it really expected) dies is to tell him to stop fooling around.
I went to Australia via Asia about 4 years ago and have very fond memories of it. Because of our affiliation with footy in Canada, most of our friends are Aussies. When Stef and I were travelling there, our regret was that we had not met earlier and gone to Australia while we were younger, as we would have loved to stay for a couple of years.
I was going to forgo my annual Oscar critique but some have reminded me that it simply wasn't done to turn my back on an old tradition. So here goes.
I miss the days of Cher and Bjork. Where has all the good times gone? Everyone is trying to look so chic so the effect is simply flat. Last night was the most boring Oscars to date. I went to bed after Reese's acceptance speech so that I could read a book. Oscar fashions were just as dismal, nothing but a sea of dark, dark, black, ugly, dark, dark.
Let's start with the 5 worst dressed.
Naomi Watts is one of the most beautiful women out there, why she chose a gown that was skin coloured and looked like a growth peeling off, I am not sure. Perhaps she was trying to look etheral but the effect was lost in all the tulle. Keira Knightly - I so wanted to like her, as it was her first time ever to the Oscars. Her necklace was stunning but her dress seemed very stiff and she seemed uncomfortable in it. Oh Jennifer Anniston! Why black? Why now? She just looked like she was in mourning with that sad dress and the sad necklace. Mrs. Tim Burton (Helena Bonham Carter) was an absolute nightmare in this shiny blue short number. Charlize Theron really needs to stop taking these ugly acting roles as it's really starting to rub off on her personal taste. I didn't even notice how beautiful her make-up was until this morning because I was so distracted by the giant bow. It's a pity really because she so would have been a best dressed if it wasn't for that lopsided thing on her shoulder.
I've been obsessing over Madonna's ass lately. I finally watched the video of her first new single, Hung Up.
Is anyone else as in awe as I am? The woman is 47 years old for Pete's sake and she still has an ass of a twenty something year old. I actually think that her ass is better now than it ever has been. I was first blown away by her physique when Stefan and I had caught her Reinvention tour in Toronto last year. Everyone had assumed we had shitty seats as they were quite high up. There really is no such thing at the ACC though, luckily enough and our seats gave us a tremendous vantage point to her backstage antics.
Looks like Sienna Miller and Jude Law have been doing the old slide back. The on again, off again couple were seen cavorting at dinner together lately despite their infidelities to one another. (him with the nanny, her with his supposed bud, Daniel Craig, the new James Bond) Although according to People magazine, there was a third wheel at the table, Sienna's mother. Maybe Jude is doing her instead? Despite all this cuddling and googly-eyeing, both parties PR people are saying that the relationship is definitely OFF, not on. Who would go back to Jude? He slept with the nanny, for pete's sake. If that isn't one sacred relationship, I don't know what is.
It feels like it's been such a long time since I posted one of these that I thought it was time. Especially since it's gotten fairly good response to the people that I sent it to earlier.
I haven't done one of these gossip blurbs in a really long time and today seems like the perfect day for it. I love that I have some friends who work in P.R and entertainment magazines because they always keep me on the D.L. Nothing perks me up like a juicy piece of news about some celebrity. I sometimes feel a little guilty about it but you know, some celebrities really ask for all the attention (you never see stuff on Johnny Depp as he seems to be pretty protective of his privacy) and they get paid a bajillion dollars just for being them (more than some third world country's GNP). So for those who whine about it and then are always in the paparazzi's face - Cry me a river already!
So I finally watched Britney's newest venture, Chaotic and how do I put this plainly? Well...it totally sucks ASS! It is totally flagrant self love. It tries to be poignant and emotional but comes off as just plain dumb. Anyone who has any doubts about whether Kevin and Britney should be together is sadly mistaken. These two fools definitely deserve one another. I can't see how any other normal human being can put up with the combined stupidity.
The reason why I cannot be a gossip columnist is because I feel guilt after. I am sure Jennifer Aniston is not a seven. I am sure she is absolutely lovely in person. And I am sure she and Brad Pitt are going through a very, very hard time in their lives. Heartbreak, divorce, all those "bumps" in life are always hard to deal with. For all their money in the world, I wouldn't like to face it as them. So kudos to them for not slinging mud at each other in public and trying to keep it cool.
I sometimes wish I could write a gossip column. I know I shouldn't be so fascinated by something so insipid and worthless such as celebrity watching but I really can't help it. Who's funding those In Touch mags? It's me, baby... oh well. Anyways, here is what is happening in the gossip world that I know of and what I think.
I've been meaning to write about this movie that I saw two nights ago with my friend, Jenny. (Hmmm....do you notice that almost every other Canadian girl under the age of fourty is either a Jen, Jenny or Jennifer? I seem to have a lot of "Jen" friends...) I hadn't heard too much about it, but Jenny said it was supposed to be interesting and I am so glad that I agreed to watch it.
I love lazy Saturday nights when TBS plays all these different movies and all you do is veg on the couch and distract the boyfriend who is working by shouting out random comments. Anyway, last night we were watching Runaway Bride, and it always bewilders me as to what the big deal is with Julia Roberts. I have always thought that she looked a little horsey.
Just before the Oscars, Ed Bradley of 60 minutes was interviewing Chris Rock, and Chris Rock being his controversial self, was talking about the time he saw Ed Bradley interviewing Michael Jackson. This is all a quote from my memory, so don't quote me.
Another year, another Oscar presentation. Chris Rock totally rocks. He was funny, irreverant and no one was left out in his quick witted barbs for the opening scene.
I have a problem with Hillary Duff. She bugs me. She's Too Too. I mean TOO perky, TOO Barbie, tries TOO hard, TOO squeeky clean. But the thing that bugs me the most is her hair. I mean the girl has loads of money, right? So you'd think she could find a colourist who would give her different shades or highlights in her hair. No one's hair is just one shade! Sorry, sorry I know, she has red streaks now, but the blonde part is still just one shade! Girl, you gotta fire your colourist!