thecalaverakid

John Garfield with Frances Farmer

2012-01-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

John Garfield as John Alexander - aka Johnny Blake - in drama "Flowing Gold" (1940) directed by Alfred E. Green

Frances Farmer & John Garfield in "Flowing Gold" (1940)

John Garfield pulled strings to get Frances Farmer cast as his leading lady in "Flowing Gold" (1940). Both actors would eventually be destroyed by Hollywood's ignorance.

Promotional still of John Garfield in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946) directed by Tay Garnett

John Garfield and Lana Turner in Laguna Beach, filming "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946)

Cecil Kellaway, John Garfield and Lana Turner in "Thd Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946)

"I could never belong to only one man -- I belong to all men," says Lana Turner in 'The Prodigal'.

Lana never lets you (or herself) forget that she is the ultimate sex goddess -- but in 'Postman', at least, she rarely forgets that she's playing a character and not herself. It is perhaps her finest work -- from a body of work that includes very few truly stellar performances.

'Postman', which predates all that, is a stunner -- a cruel and desperate and gritty James Cain vehicle that sorely tests Lana's skills.

But she succeeds marvelously, and from the first glimpse of her standing in the doorway in her white fuck-me pumps, as the camera travels up her tanned legs, she becomes a character so enticingly beautiful and insidiously evil that the audience is riveted. It is a noir tale of lust, betrayal, and murder that, along with 'Mildred Pierce' and 'Double Indemnity', remains one of the few truly important women's roles in film noir.

Turner wears white, head-to-toe, throughout the film -- hot, stark, tawdry white -- and is anything but virginal. But it is a nice counterpoint to the double-crossing and noir feel. Cora is a dame who wants out, but killing her husband (Kellaway) was never really part of her plan. Then along comes Frank (Garfield), a drifter with itchy feet who beats Cora at her own game of seduction and manipulation. 'Postman' is a stunning achievement that will live forever.

Now that their relationship is poisnned with distrust and they are turned against each other, Cora wants to be rid of Frank: "Well, goodbye, Mr. Yellow. I don't know what you're going to do and I don't care. But I'm going in and open up my lunchroom." Cora wants to be respectable and well off, rather than on the road and wandering away with Frank. He is permitted to stay, although the two lovers are very divided:

Frank: Cora, Cora, look. Maybe, maybe you could sell the place and we can go away somewhere and start fresh, where nobody knows us.

Cora: Oh, no! You've been trying to make a tramp out of me ever since you've known me. But you're not going to do it. I stay here.
Frank: All right. I'm gonna stay too.
Cora: Well, let me tell you something. If you do stay, there's gonna be a lot of hard work done around here because I've got ideas for this place.

John Garfield posing on the set of 'Force of Evil' (directed by Abraham Polonsky), on 11th June, 1948 in New York City.

John Garfield and Jennifer Jones in "We Were Strangers" (1949) directed by John Huston
Jennifer Jones declared: "It's such a pleasure to play with John Garfield. He is a powerful actor and one feels his security in a scene".

Jennifer Jones played Emma Bovary in "Madame Bovary" (1949) directed by Vincente Minnelli. The film was a project of the MGM studios and Lana Turner was set to star, but when pregnancy and the Breen office forced her to withdraw, Jennifer Jones stepped into the title role. The story of the adulterous wife who destroys the lives of many presented censorship issues with the Production Code. A plot device which structured the story around author Gustave Flaubert's obscenity trial was developed to placate the censors.

Jennifer Jones joins the rebels for revenge but falls for the terse passion of the mastermind (John Garfield), her house becomes the group's hideout as they dig a tunnel under the Havana Cemetery and towards the dictator. Dynamite is concealed in conga drums, Gilbert Roland ("something of a poet") grabs a pickaxe and delivers the first blow on a rocky side, "this is for the President" .

Huston's overt sympathy for sedition might be a jibe at the McCarthyism just around the corner, and his filmmaking is up to the task -- the stark claustrophobia of the compositions (a bedrock for Le Trou, The Great Escape, Kanal) is continuously goosed by an urgent surrealism out of Buñuel's Mexican period, as in the moment when the heroine, roused by nightmares, descends into the tunnel as if into a tomb and is startled by Garfield's face covered in red dust. Jones with a machine-gun in hand anticipates Mao's ode to female warriors ("Spirited and attractive, with a five feet rifle...")

John Garfield and Shelley Winters during the filming of a bedroom scene on the set of 'He Ran All the Way' (January 1951) directed by John Berry.

Jake Gyllenhaal shows off his beard while out for sushi lunch in Hollywood

2012-01-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Jake Gyllenhaal out for lunch with friends in Hollywood, on 4th January 2012

Jake Gyllenhaal showing off his 'Lumberjack Look' while lunching with friends in Hollywood. Gyllenhaal is beard-ly recognizable with his new scruffy look. The actor was spotted in grabbing sushi with some friends.

Making it Count

2012-01-04T15:34:00.000-08:00

I didn't do a TON of shopping while I was in Paris, but I made the shopping I did do really count. This gorgeous leather vest was an instant must-have; I first spotted it in a shop window the first night I got into town, and although the store was closed at the time, I knew I'd eventually make my way over there when it was open. As it turned out, I came across a second store location early into my first shopping day, and I didn't waste any time making this beauty mine.

One of the things I love about shopping in Paris is the attentiveness of the salespeople. When I tried this vest on I zipped it all the way up and tied the belt in the center, but the lady who was helping me showed me how to leave the zipper down partway and adjust the alignment of the belt just so. Thank you for increasing my chic factor, Parisian sales lady!

The ring and bracelet are also from my weekend in Paris, and I've already worn both of them several times. It's a good thing there will be more trips to France in my near future, because I'm regretting not bringing back more items from the wonderful shop where I found them (they have some items available online, but it's not nearly as fun as bringing something home from a shop in Paris, right?). Before work sends me back to France I'll be saving my pennies for one of their amazing chunky necklaces.

Dress: Desigual
Vest: Cotélac
Skirt, tights: Noa Noa
Boots: All Black
Jewelry: Metal Pointu's

Urban Active

2012-01-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Here's that other purple dress I was telling you about in my last post. It's from Athleta, a store I probably wouldn't have checked out if it weren't for the fact that Sal has put together so many cute outfits with their stuff. With a name like Athleta I'd have thought they carried strictly athletic clothes, but it turns out they make all sorts of clothes I would categorize as urban active, which is exactly what I need to accommodate my long walks to and from work.

The dress is comfortable and breathable, machine washable, and the quality is great. I took this dress with me on my recent international trip, and it was just perfect for travel.

Shown here are two different outfits with the dress; the second photo has a lot of glare from the sun but I included it to show you what the upper wrap portion looks like.

Dress: Athleta
Jacket: Shawna Hoffman
Belt: thrifted
Boots: Brako

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm back from my trip to Germany and France and have finally recovered fully from the jetlag. I spent a delightful weekend in Paris that was cold but mostly sunny, and filled with great food and even better shopping (photographic evidence to come!). Now that I have a little time off I'm hoping to get caught up with my blogging and post some photos from my trip.

In the meantime here's a recent outfit featuring this cute new dress that I found at a shop in on Fillmore Street; it turned out to be the second of two long-sleeved purple dresses I bought that day. Ordinarily I would've avoided buying similar items, but this one is a much lighter weight dress whereas the other is more of a winter weight, and this was so deeply discounted that I couldn't pass it up. You'll be seeing the other purple dress in an upcoming post.

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Dress: Kew
Necklace: Manu Lizarralde
Boots: All Black

Fun Filled

2011-12-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a skirt-based outfit that made the grade for the walk to work. The skirt is dense and holds its shape well; thus there's no need for a slip, either for opacity or to prevent the skirt from clinging to my legs. To me that makes a world of difference, because half slips make an outfit feel like they're in need of constant adjustment. You've got multiple waistbands to deal with, and then you have to make sure the slip isn't hanging out at the bottom of your skirt hem or twisting around in some awkward way. I want to start experimenting with full slips under a skirt and top, because I think that might be a better option. There are so many things you never notice about outfits until you have to walk a long way in them.

I've had a fun-filled couple of days. On Thursday night Mark and I attended the annual holiday party at Anchor Brewing Company, where we ate delicious food, sampled the new Christmas Ale, and even got some VIP access into the distillery and the rooftop bar (thanks to my fabulous inside connection). Reporters from the Celebrator and 7x7 Magazine were in attendance, so who knows, Mark and I might even end up in their pages.

On Friday I had the pleasure of finally meeting Lisa, aka LPC, in person for lunch downtown. She is vibrant and intelligent and a delight to talk to; I felt like I'd known her for years. For all her talk of being a Sturdy Gal, I suspect she has a big streak of Arty Cousin lurking just below the surface, so I'm looking forward to going shopping together and seeing how much of that comes out.

On Saturday Mark and I attended my company holiday party at Foreign Cinema here in the city. I wore my Valentino dress with Wolford tights and Miu Miu shoes, a combination I've been wanting to put together for quite awhile. And yes, I was too lazy to take photos.

I'm headed off on my trip to Germany and France today; see you next week!

Jacket: thrifted
Skirt: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Boots: Ecco
Necklace: Wendy Brandes

Excursion

2011-12-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

Spencer is becoming quite the handsome dog, is he not? He's also more than twice the size he was when we brought him home. At about 8 months, he now weighs 65 pounds and is a couple inches taller than Georgie. Since his knee injury is still a problem and we can't yet have surgery performed on it (and would rather avoid it entirely if we can), he's now having regular sessions of therapeutic swimming in a heated pool. Seriously, if I had wanted children, they would've turned out to be the most spoiled assholes the world has ever known. It's a good thing for everyone that my nurturing impulses are focused on dogs.

A couple of weekends ago I went on a shopping excursion with a friend of mine who's also Mark's ex-girlfriend (yeah, you read that right). We ostensibly went shopping specifically to find her an outfit for her birthday party, but along the way I made a few purchases of my own. You know how it is.

This coral cardigan and teal pants were two of the spoils from our excursion. My friend and I spotted the pants right away, but in bright orange. When we got over to the rack however, I found that the teal pair was a lot prettier. They're a micro,corduroy fabric with a good amount of stretch, and are crazy comfortable. I've already worn them a few times and they've proven to fit in really well with my quick-conversion, walking to work dressing strategy.

Cardigan, pants: Anthropologie
Top: Express, a gift
Shoes: Fly London

Quick Conversion

2011-12-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

One thing I've noticed since I've been walking to work is that I'm wearing pants a lot more often, I think because they feel less fussy -- there's no slip to deal with, or a skirt that's clinging to my tights, or blowing in the wind, or whatever. There have been a couple of times where I've changed my entire outfit once I got to work, but that involves a lot more hauling of stuff than I'm willing to do most days (especially since I often also walk home and thus have to haul everything for 6 miles). So my goal is generally to build an outfit where I can wear it mostly in its finished state, and change or add one or two things once I get to the office. Don't worry, I'm still looking for ways to make my skirt and dress-based outfits easy to wear for the walks, and I'll happily share any new tricks I hit upon.

This is an example of just the sort of quick-conversion outfit I'm after. I wore my Bastien short boots for the walk, and carried the tall boots as well as the white cardigan in my backpack. Then when I got to work it was quick and easy to convert the outfit for the work day.

Next week I'll be traveling to Germany and France on business (I know, I know -- what a sacrifice, right?), so I'm definitely going to be putting some of these new tactics to work for my travel outfits. In fact I think a couple of the pieces in this outfit will be making the trip with me. I'm going first to Dusseldorf and Strasbourg, and then spending the weekend in Paris before coming home. Dusseldorf and Strasbourg are for work, but the Paris weekend is all mine. Gond thing I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet!

Tunic: All Saints
Knit pants: Club Monaco
Cardigan: 12th Street Cynthia Vincent
Boots: Modern Vintage
Necklace: Wendy Brandes

Happy Feet

2011-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

Here's an outfit that I put together specifically for comfort while walking to work. For the walk I wore my Bastien short boots, and packed the ones you see here (which are comfortable, but not 3 miles' worth of comfortable) in my backpack for swapping once I got to work.

The Bastiens have been getting a lot of wear lately, so much so that I recently went scouring both the internets and the stores in search of some additional walking shoes, because even the best pair can't be worn every day for 3 (or more likely 6, because I often walk home too) miles of walking.

I ended up with a pair of Ecco boots, which have the bonus of being waterproof, and a pair of Romika short boots, which pretty much feel like slippers, only with really good arch support. Both meet my criteria of being cute enough to wear with most outfits during the walk, or even for the whole day if I don't feel like carrying extra shoes. My feet are happy.

Dress: Red Dress Shoppe
Cardigan: H&M
Tights: Sock Dreams
Boots: All Black

Spirit

2011-11-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

I wore this to work on Halloween, so as to be in the Halloween spirit and still not have to deal with a costume. It was a good call, because pretty much no one downtown wore a costume, and also because this was way more comfortable. And yes, Halloween was almost a month ago and I'm just getting around to posting this now. It has just been that busy lately.

If you're in the US, I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend. I certainly did; we spent a lot of time relaxing for a change, and for Thanksgiving dinner Mark and I went to Harris's for some delicious steak. OK it wasn't exactly a traditional meal, but I've made up for it by spending the last couple of weeks warming up for International Pie For Breakfast Month with plenty of pumpkin pie. It's always Thanksgiving when there's pumpkin pie.

Dress: Skunkfunk
Tights: Sock Dreams
Boots: Modern Vintage
Necklace: Untamed Menagerie

Walking to Work

2011-11-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

I thought today I'd share some of the sights I take in on my walks to work. Depending on the route I take, I can see all sorts of beautiful things, which makes the trip go by quickly for as long as it is.

A view of Japantown (known as J-town by locals)

St. Mary's Cathedral, aka the giant washing machine agitator and the site of the

famous (or perhaps infamous) "two o'clock titty"

Colorful paper lanterns in Chinatown. Normally I try to avoid Chinatown,

but it's wonderfully peaceful in the morning before the tourists come out.

The art deco-styled Pacific Stock Exchange downtown

The awesome Transamerica building, which looms over

much of the area around where I work

The best views, not surprisingly, tend to come along with a fair amount of hill climbing, so if I'm in a hurry or am lacking energy (read: hungover) I can go through the considerably less scenic (though not without their charms) Little Saigon and Tenderloin neighborhoods. I can also cut through a "new" neighborhood (which is really just the realtors' way of repackaging an old neighborhood to make it sound more appealing) called the TenderNob, but I refuse to acknowledge that this neighborhood actually exists. I mean think about it. As if the name Tenderloin wasn't bad enough already.

A pretty park I often cut through where I can watch dogs playing

and people doing their morning exercise. That's City Hall in the distance.

An urban garden tucked in between some buildings in the Western Addition area.

A "parklet" on Powell Street near Union Square.

Who needs parking spaces, anyway?

Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill.

This is also visible from the windows of my office.

Lotta's Fountain on Market Street. This was the meeting place

for survivors after the 1909 earthquake.

The Ferry Building isn't on my commute route, but it's where my coworkers and I often go for lunch.

That's one of the "F" line streetcars out front. Not to be confused with cable cars,

these are classic streetcars from all over the world that have been restored

and which go up and down Market Street from the Castro to the Embarcadero.

And take a really fucking long time doing it.

Not a good transportation option if you're pressed for time.

The view from the Ferry Building isn't half bad, eh?

This is easily my favorite lunch spot when the weather is good.

If I'm in the mood for some steep hill climbing (and by "steep" I mean some of the streets have

staircases instead of sidewalks) I can check out beautiful Grace Cathedral at the top of Nob Hill

on my walk to or from work. If I'm lucky I might also spot the Brown Twins while I'm

in the neighborhood; I've seen them twice already on my walks.

The views from Nob Hill aren't too shabby either

Looking into downtown from Nob Hill. Note the cable car; the tracks that they run on

make a lot of noise because the cables run on a continuous loop underneath them.

It's a little disconcerting if you don't know what it is.

A different view into downtown from the north side of Nob Hill,

with the Bay Bridge off in the distance.

I've actually taken to carrying my camera with me at all times because I see so many great things in my travels. I'll undoubtedly have more to share with you another time, but I hope you've enjoyed this mini-tour of San Francisco, or at least a 3-mile slice of it. I'll leave you with one more great view:

They look like angels when they're sleeping, don't they?

A Dress for Any Season

2011-11-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

I've done shockingly little (for me, anyway) shopping in recent months, mainly because of the consecutive large expenses of throwing a big wedding party and then buying a house. Moreover, because I'm much busier at work I have a lot less time to poke around on the internet and inevitably find pretty things to buy. This is undoubtedly a good thing; at my previous job I often felt that I shopped mainly out of boredom, and waiting for a package to arrive was pretty much the only thing I looked forward to there.

This dress is one of the only items of clothing I've purchased since May or June. The pattern in particular really appealed to me, because it can work for any season depending on what I pair it with. Pinks and soft greens would make it great for spring and summer, while jewel tones or burgundy will work for fall and winter. For this outfit I added the mustard yellow cardigan and burgundy socks to give it a fall look, but left my legs bare because the weather is still pretty warm.

Dress: eShakti
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Belt: a gift from Mom
Boots: Bata
Bracelet: Leslie Danzis

Duster

2011-11-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

I found this funky sheer zebra duster at a thrift store near my mom's house a few months ago when I was up there to visit. It was actually a dress when in combination with the long black liner that came with it, but I much prefer it this way. I made a couple of modifications: I hemmed it from straight across to the tapered hem you see here, and I added a pleat in the back to give it some shape at the waist. It was quite the boxy 90's shape before.

This was a perfect outfit for our gorgeous fall weather. It was warm enough outside to bare a little skin, but not quite warm enough to expose all the limbs in their entirety. Boots and socks and bare legs was just the thing.

Duster: thrifted
Dress: Max Studio
Belt: Lazarro
Boots: from Scoop in Copenhagen
Bag: Lucky

Adjusting

2011-11-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

I'm still adjusting to dressing for my new gig; not so much for the workplace itself, but for the outdoor climate and the amount of walking I now do. In general I'm dressing in a more relaxed way than I was at mx previous job, in part because working downtown gives me loads of options for lunchtime, and if I'm going to walk to them I want to be comfortable. But the other thing I've discovered is that I can easily walk to work, which takes just 10 minutes longer than riding the bus (my nearby bus routes aren't the speediest, and driving isn't really an option). My trip is 3 miles each way, so I get some welcome exercise, but consequently I have to create outfits with breathable fabric (to avoid sweating with my backpack on) and shoes that are either easily swapped once I get to work, or are comfortable enough for miles of walking. This is a challenge, because I'm not the sort of gal who will throw on sneakers with anything and swap them once I get to work -- the walking shoes have to look reasonable too.

This was not a 'walk to work' outfit, though it maybe could have been with some minor modifications. It was definitely before I got my latest haircut though, and you can really see my color growing out, as well as how long the back was getting (hence the recent post about Janet). Thankfully I've gotten it cut since then.

I've got a post in the works that will show you some of what I see on my walks to and from work. Believe me, it's a walk that I'm very grateful to be able to make! Working in the city is truly a dream come true.

Top: Forever 21
Skirt: LA Made
Shoes: Born

Shorts Suit

2011-10-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

I wore this outfit to the after-work welcome party that my new group took me out for. Which means I waited 3 whole days before hitting them with a shorts suit that shows off my tattooed arms. I'm sure no one cares; our VP, who I worked with at a previous job, only asked, "Are those new?" Biotech is certainly one of the least conservative of the professional fields.

It occurs to me that I might update the look of this jacket by removing the cap sleeves and turning it into a vest. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? On the one hand the cap sleeves give me a little more shoulder width, which is flattering. On the other hand they're sort of puffy and only look good with just the right top. Would removing the sleeves make this piece more versatile, or is it cuter the way it is?

Jacket: BCBG Max Azria
Top: Max Studio
Brooch: Trifari (vintage)
Shorts: White House Black Market
Shoes: Bettye Muller

Mixed Up

2011-10-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

This was my "last day of work" outfit, which tells you just how old this picture is. I feel it's going to be a long time before I'm truly back in the swing of blogging and can post at my former pace. For now I'm just happy to be posting a couple times a week.

The last week at the old job brought glorious weather, which lasted all through my brief time off and the first weeks at the new job. The seasons are all mixed up here; after a cold, foggy summer we get most of our hot sunny days just before winter starts to set in. So just when I started to think I wouldn't be able to wear my sandals again until next year, the temperature spiked to the 80's and 90's and has mostly stayed that way except for a few days of some crazy rain. This is a great time of year to be a plant.

Dress: Desigual
Cardigan: Solemio
Shoes: Steve Madden
Bracelet: a gift from my sis

Janet

2011-10-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the honor of being featured by the fabulous Sarah Von on her blog Yes and Yes. If you haven't done so already, go check it out!

Looking at these photos, which are now several weeks old, makes me realize how badly I need a haircut. Usually when I get my hair done I make my next appointment then and there, so as not to forget and let too much time slip by before the next cut and color. But for some reason the last time I forgot, and the other morning I realized that my hair has begun to look like Janet from Three's Company. Which was cute... in 1982.

Not exactly the look I'm going for in 2011, though.

Of course making the appointment has been on my to-do list for the last week and a half, but somehow I just haven't managed to remember to call during business hours. I'm hopeful that this is the week I'll actually make it happen.

My aunt gave me this cute top, which has a panel of sequins that show subtly through a layer of sheer chiffon. I like how the soft neutral color looks contrasted against the black shrug.

Top: Express
Shrug: Cenit
Necklace: from a glass shop in Venice
Skirt: Noa Noa
Leggings: Black Market Baby
Boots: All Black

Statement-Making

2011-10-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

How's this for a well accessorized outfit? Or rather it was until I had to go to work and leave these two charming canines at home. I can't say I'd get a whole lot of work done if I could take them with me, cute as they are.

A few months ago something rare happened; I fell hard for a pair of designer sunglasses, and decided to take the risk and buy them, even though I do tend to be hard on my sunnies. I'd seen several other bloggers wearing the Prada 'Baroque' round style and thought they were fabulous, but round glasses don't really work for my face and I gave no thought to buying any until I saw the related cat eye style.

I don't typically put a whole lot of thought into the sunglasses I buy, but something that Peter said when Sal and I met up with him in New York has stuck with me. I was trying on sunglasses and found a pair that was... fine. They would have worked. But Peter looked at them and said something to the effect of, "They aren't really bold enough for your style." And that comment just about knocked me over, because it was so right on the money -- here I put all this effort into creating statement-making outfits, and the accessory that's right there on my face is typically ho-hum and boring.

When I saw this pair, I knew they were the kind of sunglasses that can turn even a jeans and t-shirt outfit into something statement-making. And yes I have to be extra vigilant with them, but they make me feel so glamorous that they're well worth the effort. Thanks to Peter's chance comment, I now feel like I have a pair of sunglasses that can stand up the the boldest of my outfits.

Dress: eShakti
Cardigan: American Eagle Outfitters
Leggings: Black Market Baby
Boots: All Black
Sunglasses: Prada

Amazon

2011-10-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

I felt like an Amazon in this outfit, what with the sky-high heels and the long, floor-skimming skirt. I actually want to hem this skirt to ankle length but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. If I were several inches taller, like the Asos model, it would look like this:

And isn't that cute? The shoes are fully visible even when she's standing relatively straight; i.e., she isn't thrusting one leg out to show off her shoes, like I had to do. Lopping off about 3 inches ought to do the trick; that way if I ever want to wear it with flats it won't be dragging on the ground. I also won't step on it when I climb a flight of stairs. Did I ever mention that falling down a flight of stairs and knocking my teeth out is a huge phobia of mine? Don't think I didn't have visions of that phobia being realized when I wore this outfit.

This was one of my last outfits at the old job, and I got lots of compliments on it. Other than the shoe-hiding and the stair trampling, oh and the rolling over the bottom of the hem with my office chair every time I moved around, and the wind picking up the skirt like a huge sail when I was outside, I really loved the outfit. Yeah. Time to look into that hemming.

Top: Michael Stars
Cardigan: Express (a gift from my aunt)
Necklace: Wendy Brandes
Skirt: Asos
Shoes: Pour la Victoire

Calm

2011-10-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

Whew. You would not believe the swirl of activity, the disasters narrowly averted, and the incredible marathon of manual labor that the last week has been. Last Friday we closed the sale on our house and promptly left town for a wedding at the mysterious and sublimely beautiful Bohemian Grove (the wedding was fabulous, by the way, and I made the hats for the entire wedding party -- in all the spare time I've had lately). We came home early Sunday morning and set to work painting, cleaning, and assembling furniture in the new place, not quitting until late into the evening. For the next 3 days, Mark would spend all day working on the place, and as soon as I got home from work I'd change into my grubby clothes and we'd continue working until close to midnight.

All this effort was because we had already booked our first renter for Thursday, so we had a definite deadline for completing all the work. It was an immense effort but we pulled it off, and despite a couple of near misses with our furniture deliveries, everything worked out in the end and the place looks great.

Last night we finally allowed ourselves to relax a little, cracking open the bottle of champagne that our realtor had given us at closing (which I'm finishing now by way of a mimosa -- ok, my third mimosa). In the meantime the new job has been great so far, and I'm starting to settle in and get a feel for my new responsibilities. I'm looking forward to next week, when I won't be burning the candle at both ends.

Oh, and it's Fleet Week here in San Francisco, which is one of my favorite times of the year. On Thursday my new coworkers and I watched the arrival of the Blue Angels from our office building which sits perched above downtown on the 16th floor, a perfect vantage point that looks out over Telegraph Hill and the bay. This weekend Mark and I will be able to watch them from the window of our living room, or while enjoying the pretty fall weather out on the front deck.

Things are calm again. I'm taking a deep breath and spending a moment enjoying the city again. I spent the morning cuddling the dogs, and now I'm drinking mimosas. Life is good.

Jacket: La Redoute
Top: Ann Taylor
Pants: Cynthia Steffe
Necklace: Rhapsodia
Earrings: Leslie Danzis
Shoes: Bettye Muller
Bag: Foley + Corinna

thecalaverakid

2011-09-22T12:00:00.001-07:00

Robert Pattinson doesn't believe in cheating, Kristen Stewart creates new character

2011-03-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

Robert Pattinson on the cover of "Vanity Fair" magazine, April 2011

-Anyway, the fact remains that it’s mostly about the love story between Jacob and Marlena.“In the beginning, you may think “oh there comes the guy, he’s going to meet the girl and it’ll be love at first sight. Then they’re going to run away together”. But it’s not like this. It’s a more complex story. Jacob falls in love with Marlena, but doesn’t try to bring her with him. She first kisses him and then rejects him, but indeed he accepts her choice. She will always be an extraordinary woman to him, no matter what. Jacob just wants to give and doesn’t ask for anything in return. That’s the best kind of relationship.”
Still of Christoph Waltz and Reese Witherspoon in "Water for Elephants" (2011)

EW outtakes of Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon

-Could you ever have a relationship with a married woman?

“Life is not black and white. There are married couples that never see each other. Is that marriage? But there’s a thing I’ve never got, that is why do people cheat?”
-You can’t understand a behavior which is typical of the majority of people nowadays.

“I can understand the impulse, but not how you can keep two relationship going at the same time for long. This usually happens to people with children, but I can’t really get why a non-commitment guy would choose to date four girls at the same time either. It must be hell, especially for men”.
-Why especially for men?

“I think it’s more complicated for men, because somehow they have to “provide for” their women. I’m not talking about money support, but about enthusiasm: they have to cultivate the relationship. Doing it with more women at the same time would be very hard, a real work.”
- Are you saying that because you’ve already tried?

“I’m not the casual-affair kind of guy. If I choose to be with someone it’s because I really want it. When I have a relationship, I’m 100% into it. If I felt like seeing more women at once then I wouldn’t go around saying “this is my girlfriend”.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "Twilight" saga

- So you do not believe in cheating. And what about the until-death-us-do-part love, like the one in movies?
“My mother was 17 and my father was 25 when they met, they’re still together and look very happy. I’ve grown up believing that you can stay with the same person throughout your life". Source: www.twifans.com

Stephenie Meyer poses on stage at the Breaking Dawn Concert Series at the Nokia Theatre (Times Square) on 1st August, 2008 in NYC

"Fans, says Meyer, can expect a surprising performance when star Kristen Stewart transforms from human to vampire.
"She's created a new character. I was really impressed," says Meyer. "I've only really seen her as (the human) Bella so to have her step up and change it in the right way — she didn't have to talk to me. She knew. She knows the character so well now. She has really good instincts and, she looks amazing." Source: content.usatoday.com

Gyllenhaal is the Source interview - Critical chemistry with Michelle Monaghan

2011-03-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan attending "SOURCE CODE" LOS ANGELES PREMIERE on 28th March 2011

Jake Gyllenhaal talks about his role in his new movie Source Code.

"Because the actors on the train are essentially performing the same eight minutes over and over again, the chemistry between Monaghan and Gyllenhaal was critical.
Michelle Monaghan (Christina) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Colter Stevens) filming ‘Source Code’ (2011)

"We'd never met before and I read for this and we hit it off. I didn't know how funny he was," she says. "He's incredibly animated and has a great sense of humour. I'd never seen that in any of his films before. We had a great time."

"I've taken a lot of public transport in my life and sometimes you strike up a conversation with a total stranger. And sometimes it's easier to be honest with someone you don't know than it is it with yourself or someone else in your life.
"This guy (Gyllenhaal plays) is like 'What are you doing? What have you got to lose? Leave your job, leave your loser guy -- you're a great girl, you have so much going for you, you're young, you have a lot of potential'. By the way, guys, these are things that women are desperate to hear."
Monaghan is married to graphic designer Peter White; they have a two-year-old daughter, Willow Katherine. And she doesn't hesitate when asked by one reporter the inevitable question: If she could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?
"My wedding. It was awesome. It was such a blur. We made the mistake of not videotaping it. I was kicking myself afterwards ... But I didn't want a camera floating around because people act differently when there's a camera around. I thought it would lose its level of intimacy." Source: www.torontosun.com

Watch Jake Gyllenhaal on "Source Code" IMDB interview

Jake Gyllenhaal with his dad Stephen and Duncan Jones at 'Source Code' LA Premiere afterparty

2011-03-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Jake Gyllenhaal attending the premiere of "Source Code" on 28th March, 2011, in Los Angeles

Jake Gyllenhaal with "Source Code" director Duncan Jones 'Source Code' LA Premiere - After Party on 28th March, 2011 Jake Gyllenhaal with his dad Stephen Gyllenhaal at 'Source Code' LA Premiere - After Party on 28th March, 2011

Jake Gyllenhaal at the "Source Code" premiere video

2011-03-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

When Jake Gyllenhaal stepped onto the red carpet at the Cinerama Dome for Monday night's premiere of his new sci-fi thriller "Source Code," a girl across Sunset Boulevard who had shimmied up a tow zone sign shrieked, "Jaaaaaake! I wanna have your baby!" Gyllenhaal, flanked by "Source Code" co-stars Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright and Michelle Monaghan, was the man of the hour. In the film, he plays Air Force Capt. Colter Stevens, who is on a top-secret mission to save Chicago from a dirty bomb by going back in time -- via a parallel universe called the Source Code -- to discover who blew up a Chicago commuter train (the first in a series of planned terrorist attacks). As a result, he must relive the same eight minutes leading up to the bombing over and over again.
"I found it really freeing," Gyllenhaal said of the experience of acting inside a deeply warped space/time continuum. "A lot of times you stay within the structures and confines of the reality that you're aware of, and in this your imagination could run wild." He also said that one of the fights in the movie was a real fight. "Duncan [Jones, the director] said, 'Just go for it'. The fight he's talking about takes place on a train platform and it does look pretty raw". Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan attending "Source Code" LA Premiere

2011-03-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan attending "Source Code" LA Premiere on 28th March, 2011

Unscripted Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan on 'Source Code' Set Secrets

2011-03-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Unscripted Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan on 'Source Code' Set Secrets, Foodie Dates and Having Eight minutes to live
Plus, Michelle gave five people she'd want to ride on a train with and Jake explained what he'd do for a girl on a first date. (It's actually a pretty cool date idea!)

Duncan Jones, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan - Source Code interview

2011-03-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

“He is an army pilot, and he has tremendous training,” said Gyllenhaal last week while promoting the film. “He knows not always to trust his instinct; he knows to trust instruments in an emergency. But somewhere that instinct kicks in. His (human) instinct is saying don’t go this way ... don’t do that. But then he has to listen to his instruments, as he would as a pilot, and keep his cool.”Gyllenhaal thinks it’s going to be a treat for audiences to watch similar scenes multiple times – each one just a little different, a la “Groundhog Day.” “I found that the exercise in variation, when forced by the constraints of repetition, is fascinating and kept all of our minds always going,” he said of his fellow actors and director Duncan Jones (“Moon”). “When we came to doing the scenes on the train and then coming back to it, we made the choice to kind of make each one, each source code, like its own chapter in a book. So each one had its own name, had its own intention. Within each story, we could improv and vary it. We made lots of different choices all over the place.”“The screenplay was so taut and tight and so strong when I first read it,” he said. “It really started to change when Michelle was cast and when Duncan came on.” Putting a spotlight on the film’s love story was a big question for everyone. “There’s a sort of very emotional romantic aspect to the choice the character makes,” he said. “Duncan, Michelle and I worked on that. It was basically a guy who moves from not being able to ask this girl out for coffee to a guy who can ask this girl out for coffee.” He laughed and added, “He has to get blown up a number of times in the process, but it feels like that when you have to ask out somebody that you’re into.” Source: www.enterprisenews.com

“Swivel chair and polyester,” Farmiga laughed. “It was challenging to make this role interesting. “Duncan is really excitable as a director,” she continued. “He’s one of those directors who doesn’t mind showing you playback.”
Gyllenhaal, who is plays Colter Stevens, is one of the hottest actors out there right now. He’s done drama, action, comedies and romantic films, but “Source Code” combines them all, and adds a healthy dose of science fiction. “The script that Ben Ripley wrote was so well written that it allowed for variation. It allowed us to play with different things at different times,” Gyllenhaal said. “It was really fun for me.
“We tried to think about almost everything. But we didn’t want to answer everything because we wanted the audience to participate.” Monaghan said she and Gyllenhaal had not even met each other before “Source Code.” “We really hit it off,” she said. Source: www.azfamily.com

Matthew McConaughey in 'The Lincoln Lawyer': I like whiffs of cynicism

2011-03-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

"Men forgot the men he played. Women, those who could stand the rakish, insulting representations of their supposed heart's desire, whittled their expectations as he tripped from one gorgeous, spoiled, obtuse version of a man to another.
Matthew McConaughey as Rick Peck in "Tropic Thunder" (2008)

But McConaughey also played a fang-toting, weird-beard dragon slayer in Reign of Fire, a skeezy sheriff in the underappreciated John Sayles classic Lone Star, a ballsy submariner in the tricky, fun World War II thriller U-571; he even stole part of the show as the morally torn TiVo-toting super-agent in Tropic Thunder. These roles cannot be forgotten.
Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves arrive at the 'The Lincoln Lawyer' LA Screening at ArcLight Cinemas on March 10, 2011

Now, after two years off, he's back with three movies that ought to get him kicked off the Kate Hudson Express once and for all: The Lincoln Lawyer, a wheeling courtroom drama that opened in March, followed by Bernie, a Richard Linklater comedy, and the shoot-'em-up Killer Joe, about a man who takes a hit out on his mother. Matthew McConaughey as Mick Haller in "The Lincoln Lawyer" (2011)

So McConaughey has taken another turn, and it's perfectly okay to root for the guy again. Fact is, he deserves it.

"I'm not going to trip myself running downhill," he says. "I did that at times of my life. When I first got famous, it was odd. Pow-pow-pow-pow. Opportunities. That's why I got the hell out of Dodge and went to Peru. Till I felt like I could stay there."

"Nine to thirteen days," I say.

He pokes me then — bip — right in the ribs. "Hey, did I answer your question about cynicism?"

"I like quips," he says. "I like whiffs of cynicism and I think they can be witty. But I don't really know where wittiness is constructive. I also don't think it's half as funny as real behavior — as action, as falling on your face when you're trying to tackle something."
That I want to write down. I have the recorder running, but I pull out a pencil and take a single note. "I haven't seen you touch a pen to paper all weekend," he says.

I nod. This is my habit. "Pencil," I say.

"You're an observer," he says. Source: www.esquire.com

Jake Gyllenhaal bike riding with Matthew McConaughey in Malibu on 26th July 2006

Jake Gyllenhaal out with a friend in Los Angeles, on 26th March 2011

Stills of Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon interview in "Water for Elephants"

2011-03-28T07:38:00.000-07:00

Stills of Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in "Water for Elephants" (2011)

Reese Witherspoon Talks Water For Elephants with Robert Pattinson and Christoph Waltz

"Blue Valentine" scenes with Michelle Williams & Ryan Gosling

2011-03-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play Dean and Cindy in "Blue Valentine" (2010)

In their first meeting, Dean [Ryan Gosling] flirts with Cindy [Michelle Williams] as he explains he didn't steal money while working as a mover.

One of the most emotionally draining, amazingly acted scenes I've seen in a hell of a long time. Ryan and Michelle deserve all the recognition in the world. Letting go is so hard to do

Listen I didn't wanna be somebody's husband and I didn't wanna be somebody's
dad. That wasn't my goal in life. For some guys it is... Wasn't mine. But somehow, It was what I wanted. I didn't know that and now it's all I wanna do... I don't want to do anything else it's what I want to do.

Excerpt from the movie "Blue Valentine" starring Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams and directed by Derek Cianfrance.

Jake Gyllenhaal: "Source Code is romantic, The ultimate goal is to help others"

2011-03-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

"Gyllenhaal hopes moviegoers will respond to his love story with Michelle Monaghan, set on a speeding train bound for destruction.
“In the end, it’s romantic. The choice for this guy is not like, ‘Oh, am I really going to save the world?’ The choice is that he starts as a guy essentially in someone else’s body who is nervous to ask this girl to get a cup of coffee and then has to get blown up eight times to realize that maybe he’s got to ask this girl out for a cup of coffee. So I do relate to that". Source: www.bostonherald.com

Jake Gyllenhaal leaving a motorcycle shop in Los Angeles on 25th March 2011

“What would you change if you had the chance? Not much. Not in my life. I’ve been blessed,” Gyllenhaal says. “But what I learn from this movie is it’s not what you do, it’s how you respond. It’s not going out and never making a mistake. It’s how you respond afterwards. That determines who we are. “The ultimate goal is to help others, not yourself.” Source: blogs.orlandosentinel.com

Reese Witherspoon weds Jim Toth in Ojai

2011-03-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

"Reese Witherspoon married Jim Toth early Saturday evening at her 6-acre ranch in Ojai, Calif., UsMagazine.com has confirmed.
Wearing a custom-designed Monique Lhuillier gown, the actress, 35, exchanged vows with CAA agent Toth, 40, in front of 120 family members and friends (including Renee Zellweger, and Alyssa Milano, and Tobey Maguire) in the front courtyard of the Ojai house. Witherspoon's best friend, Heather Rosenfield, served as matron of honor, and her kids with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe -- daughter Ava, 11, and son Deacon, 7 -- took part in the ceremony. The Oscar winner's young nieces served as flower girls.
Reese Witherspoon dating Jake Gyllenhaal in 2009

Shortly after ending a three-year relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, she and never-married Toth began dating in January 2010. (Although A-list firm CAA also counts Witherspoon as a client, Toth has never represented her.)
Still of Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz in "Water for Elephants" (2011)

The star's rep confirmed their engagement to Us on Dec. 28, 2010. "They are extremely happy", the rep said.
About a week later, Witherspoon debuted her engagement bling -- a 4-carat, $250,000 Ashocka cut diamond ring from William Goldberg -- at a Laker's Game". Source: www.usmagazine.com

Jake Gyllenhaal surprises students at Harvard Westlake’s Film Festival

2011-03-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal surprises students at the Harvard Westlake’s Film Festival event, co-sponsored by New York Film Academy. On Friday, March 18, 2011 The New York Film Academy awarded scholarships to the deserving filmmakers in an effort to encourage them with their storytelling efforts. Based on the films at the festival, they’re well on their way to becoming great filmmakers!

Jake Gyllenhaal with Jimmy Kimmel at Jimmy Kimmel Live show on 23rd March, 2011

Fashion random bits

2010-09-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

Maggie Gyllenhaal style in Harper's Bazaar - August 2010
Kate Winslet for Longine DolceVita collection
Kristen Stewart - Flaunt magazine outtake
Megan Fox - Elle US magazine September 2010
Maria Bello in a dressing roomMolly Sims in a room full of clothes and shoes Julianne Moore in Bulgari jewelry and watch advertising campaign Summer 2010

"Venice may be desperate for funds to restore its crumbling architecture, but the city's mayor has drawn the line at a billboard displaying a nude photograph of actress Julianne Moore.
The advertisement, for luxury accessories brand Bulgari, shows the 49-year-old posing on a chaise longue with a handbag and two lion cubs. It had been due to adorn the Doge’s Palace, which overlooks St Mark’s Square and the city's lagoon. But the newly-elected mayor Giorgio Orsoni called the poser 'inappropriate' and has demanded that it be replaced by a less risqué image". Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Zooey Deschanel in Rimmel beauty adPenelope Cruz by Mario Testino for Elle France September 2010
Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams on W Magazine "Blue Valentine" October 2010 cover. Make-Up & Grooming by Jeanine Lobell
Milla Jovovich in promotion of her clothes line "Capsule Collection by Milla" at Matsuya Department Ginza in Tokyo on 1st September 2010
Carey Mulligan wearing a Night Out Haute Hoodie
Milla Jovovich photoshoot by Guy Aroch for LA Times Magazine September 2010
Kate Winslet in Vogue China Octobre 2010 phtoshoot
Amanda Seyfried in Elle Magazine October 2010 photoshoot by Carter Smith
Gemma Arterton in Glamour magazine, October 2010Gemma Arterton - GQ UK magazine, October 2010
Gwyneth Paltrow Fashion Night Out on 8th September 2010
Eva Longoria holding a Chanel shoe boxEva Longoria Parker at The Perfume Shop to promote the UK launch of her new fragrance 'Eva' on 5th September 2010 in LondonEmmy Rossum wearing shoes by Pour La VictoireRebecca Hall wearing dress, shoes and bracelets by Prada Lindsay Lohan - Leggins 6126 Behind the Shoot (Yu Tsai)
Emma Roberts wearing a black handbag by Miu Miu at
"Brothers" premiere on 22nd November 2009:

Noir Scenarios: Zodiac, The Killer inside me, Human Desire, etc.

2010-09-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

"Consequently, Zodiac forms something of a companion piece to Se7en and its cynical, world-weary view of personal quests for "justice." As with Brad Pitt's detective Mills, Gyllenhaal's Graysmith brings himself and his clan to the brink of ruin in order to stop a serial killer, and learns—albeit to a lesser extent than the tragic Mills—that happy endings are the stuff of fairy-tale fiction. Jake Gyllenhaal and Chlöe Sevigny as Robert Graysmith and Melanie in "Zodiac" (2007)

An honest man who pays a weighty price for trying to be something he's not (namely, a detective), Graysmith—despite a somewhat upbeat "where are they now" textual coda—thus eventually comes to resemble a classic noir hero. And the fact that he continues, to this day, to write about the infamous, never-captured S.F. boogeyman adds a final, poignant punctuation to Zodiac, with Graysmith's inescapable enthrallment suggesting that for many, true obsessions never really die". Source: www.slantmagazine.com

Jake Gyllenhaal and Chöe Sevigny attending 'Zodiac' Cannes Film Festival Photocall 2007

"Inquisitor centers on Dashe's character "Lulu", a young girl with a Louise Brooks hairstyle who finds a pile of suspicious old books. Based on the writings inside, she becomes convinced that they were once owned by the infamous Zodiac killer. What's more, she suspects that her elderly neighbor Hazel Reedy (Hunt) is Zodiac's widow. The two women sit across from each other in Reedy's claustrophobic home and trade subtle jabs while the truth lingers in the air like decades of trapped cigarette smoke. Both Hunt and Dashe are fantastic in this noirish tale". Source: www.midnightpalace.com

"Michael Winterbottom's adaptation of Jim Thompson's "The Killer Inside Me" is one of the deepest, darkest films noir ever made -- an unflinchingly nasty, nihilistic piece of work that pulls no punches, literally or figuratively. This is what noir is all about: facing the worst possibilities of human nature, a bottomless sense of dread that makes you feel like you're drowning in fetid bog of blood (see "Macbeth"). And it's all your fault, the undeniable consequences of following your own overpowering desires, of making your own messy mistakes. And maybe some rotten luck -- the kind you invariably bring on yourself.
At the start of the movie, on the drive out to what becomes the scene of his first pair of homicides, Lou lays the groundwork for what's to come in his choked, matter-of-fact voiceover:
"Out here you say yes ma'am an no ma'am to anything with a skirt on. Out here if you catch a man with his pants down you apologize, even if you have to arrest him afterwards. Out here you're a man and a gentle-man or you aren't anything at all. And god help you if you're not." Source: blogs.suntimes.com

Jessica Alba as Joyce Lakeland in "The Killer Inside Me" (2010)

"Bello counterbalances poignant hard-luck symphonies in Permanent Midnight or Paycheck with witty and fascinating studio gigs that betray a business acumen and an artistic dexterity all her own.
Bello bolted for New York City, toiling in telling off-Broadway fare like The Killer Inside Me, an adaptation of the Jim Thompson pulp noir""Maria Bello’s breakout screen performance arrived in 2003, opposite William H. Macy, in the form of emotionally battered cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario in Wayne Kramer’s romantic noir sleeper hit The Cooler. It featured what is perhaps the most joyful and unvarnished screen sex scene in many years—the scene made Bello a star but not strictly for its frank depiction of gritty motel room sex, which was at once giddy, erotic, playful and wise;" Source: fest08.sffs.org

Maria Bello and Kristen Stewart at "The Yellow Handkerchief" in Los Angeles on 17th February 2010

Maria Bello and Ben Stiller as Kitty and Jerry in "Permanent Midnight" (1998)

"Permanent Midnight is actually a personal memoir of scriptwriter Jerry Stahl, and David Veloz picks Ben Stiller to help him ponder the past; personal selection is a tasteful parallel for vindicating the performance you need out of your lead.

It's a film that's a lot about sex and even a lot more about drugs. Jerry is relating his sins to Kitty (while committing more sins with her, played by Maria Bello) and his dive to the deep funk of where losers lie". Source: members.tripod.com

"The part of his mind that considered odds and consequences had shut down entirely, snuffed by the sheer adrenal rush of holding her, falling together into the Impala's sunken upholstery. He took her face in his hands as he kissed her, wanting to just get it right, to stamp the moment, to blunt the thunder of fear pounding in his skull as the rest of him succumbed to a sensation beyond pleasure, a kind of twisted relief that he'd macheted all his moorings, that whatever happened now would happen because he'd said 'Fuck It' to everything that had rendered him, for more years than he could count, a soul-dead, heart-numbed misfit staggering from pill to pill just to get through the dull risk of his own existence."
— Jerry Stahl (Plainclothes Naked Copyright © 2001)

More Noir scenarios and femme-fatales:
Virginia Madsen as Dolly Harshaw in The Hot Spot (1990)

Gloria Grahame (archetypal femme-fatale)

Gloria Grahame and Sterling Hayden in "Naked Alibi" (1954)
Gloria Grahame and Glenn Ford in "The Big Heat" (1953)
Gloria Grahame and Humphrey Bogart in "In a Lonely Place" (1950)
Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame in "Human Desire" (1954)

"I used Gloria Grahame and Glenn Ford again, with Broderick Crawford, in Human Desire, but the picture was turned on its head. The Renoir film is about the psychopath, a sex killer. This is about a woman who cheats, for no good reason, really. The script was nowhere near the caliber of Clash By Night and very far from the Zola novel about the human beast. Alfred Hayes, the writer, and I wanted to go back to that concept in Zola, but the producer resisted. He wanted the woman to be a slut, a beast. To my surprise, after we changed Zola, we still got good notices in Paris. All Jerry Wald [the producer] cared about was the trains. He thought the train going through the tunnel in the Renoir was such a wonderful symbol of sex. I tried to do something different, with the tracks and the boxcars, to give the sense of fate, being hemmed in by massive objects. And we used low-key light in the studio interiors to make the surroundings seem shabby and dreary". -Fritz Lang about the shooting of "Human Desire"

Marie Windsor and Sterling Hayden in The Killing (1956)Rita Hayworth as Elsa Bannister in "The Lady from Shanghai" (1947)Joan Bennett in The Woman in the Window (1944)
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall as Phillip Marlowe and Vivian Rutledge in The Big Sleep (1946)

Jake Gyllenhaal honored by Middle Eastern comedy festival

2010-09-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton attending Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Premiere in Moscow on May 11, 2010

"Champions of Middle Eastern culture, Ronnie Khalil and Ryan Shrime are set to reinvent last year’s highly successful Middle Eastern Comedy Festival, to be held in Los Angeles, Oct. 4-7, 2010. The event will showcase stand-up comics of Middle Eastern descent, including Arabs, Israelis, Persians, Afghanis, and more, as well as stage a variety of comedy sketches.Jake Gyllenhaal at Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Moscow Premiere on 11th May, 2010

The festival will kick off at Hollywood’s Laugh Factory with a “brown carpet gala”, followed by three nights of entertainment at the Acme Comedy Theatre. At the closing awards ceremony, Khalil and Shrime will honor Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time star Jake Gyllenhaal". Source: punchlinemagazine.com

For more information: www.mideastcomedyfest.com

Anne Meara, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller and Jerry Stiller attending Project A.L.S. "Tomorrow Is Tonight" 11th Annual Benefit Gala 2008

"Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara – a long respected comedy team – read a letter written by [George] Carlin on Jan. 9, 2006, days after he was released from the hospital, having been operated on for congestive heart failure. The letter concludes: PS: “No need to reply unless you need medical advice.”
Jerry and Anne then brought up their kids, Ben and Amy Stiller, who both gave short reflections on Carlin, with Ben calling George “one of the comedy gods” and calling him “incredibly kind and warm hearted” while onset of, what Ben called a shitty TV movie of the week Working Trash, in which the pair co-starred". Source: punchlinemagazine.com

Michael Cera & Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Scott Pilgrim (Teenage Dream) video

2010-09-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

"It doesn’t matter if older critics like The Hollywood Reporter’s Kirk Honeycutt don’t get it, because they’re from a generation that’s largely incapable of “getting it”. That’s not a knock against the 40 and older folk—it’s simply a cultural incompatability, as proven by nearly every single negative review of the film. (No, seriously, check their ages. The majority of them are over 40.)
When Honeycutt criticizes the film (and, strangely, Michael Cera) for having a protagonist that “sort of drifts, not really attached to any idea or goal other than winning the heart of [a girl],” he doesn’t seem to realize that he’s paying a compliment to both Cera and co-writer/director Edgar Wright, both of whom faithfully maintain the essence of the source material’s titular role. Scott Pilgrim is a peculiar sort of hero, one who goes through life with a happy-go-lucky obliviousness and general indifference towards that which isn’t of immediate interest to him, and that’s exactly what makes him such a compelling, flawed, uniquely modern protagonist.

Wright manages to condense six volumes worth of material from the graphic novels into less than two hours, and the result is the most successful live-action recreation of cartoon sensibilities that’s ever been released.
Add to that, Wright’s ability to convincingly literalize outlandish comic book visuals is unrivaled, and by not letting the absurdity of the sequences get in the way of their ferocity, he delivers some of the most cinematically satisfying (and hugely varied) action I’ve seen in years.The action is made even better by it being Michael Cera stuck in the middle of it. Watching him believably engage in badass kung fu battles is surreal to say the least, but they make it work, and it’s a joy to watch. Cera isn’t just great in the action sequences, either. I know that his casting is one of the main points of contention that audiences have with the film, but he plays the part of Scott Pilgrim to perfection". Source: www.slashfilm.com

Michael Cera & Mary Elizabeth Winstead play Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs the world (2010)

Songs We Are Sex Bob-Bom and Teenage Dream by T-Rex

Lindsay Lohan Vanity Fair photoshoot Behind the scenes

2010-09-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan Fornarina Collections (Fall-Winter) 2010-2011
Lindsay Lohan attending her legal obligations in Santa Monica, California on 7th September 2010

Behind the scenes at the Lindsay Lohan photoshoot by Norman Jean Roy for Vanity Fair.

"In the October 2010 issue, Nancy Jo Sales interviews Lindsay Lohan about her dramatic fall from Hollywood grace—which culminated in a 13-day stay in jail for violating the terms of her probation. Shortly before reporting to Century Regional Detention Facility, Lohan posed for photographer Norman Jean Roy on board the Sovereign, where she talked to senior West Coast editor Krista Smith about Judy Garland, Grace Kelly, and the films she hopes will revive her once-dazzling career". Source: www.vanityfair.com

Joseph Gordon-Levitt singing "Bad Romance"

2010-09-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

Joseph Gordon-Levitt singing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" at hitRECord.org's third Summer in the City show.

Sylvester Stallone doesn't need Viagra

2010-09-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

"Not every Pfizer employee was thrilled about Viagra. The worst job in pharmaceutical sales? Being a Pfizer employee who didn't sell the wonder drug" -Viagra Planet chapter 11, from 'Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman' by Jamie Reidy.

Anne Hathaway as Maggie Murdock and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall in "Love and other drugs" (2010)

Official poster of "Love and other drugs", starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. Rated R for strong sexuality and nudity

Smith: "So you worked for Pfizer first, and when you started, is that when Viagra came out?

Reidy: Viagra came out like, two and a half years after I started.

Smith: And at one point you were the top salesman?

Reidy: Yeah, when I left Pfizer, I was number one, overall. And this is something that, when the paperback edition comes out I've got to clarify at the end, because I can see why people would think that I say I was the number one Viagra guy. Pharmaceutical sales are kind of like the decathlon in the Olympics -- you sell three or four different drugs, and to win the decathlon you don't have to finish first place in every race. You just have to do the best overall. You know, second place here, fifth place here, third place, and then they add up all the points, and you figure out who wins the gold medal in the decathlon. Pharmaceutical sales are the same way. I was pretty good in all three drugs, and all told, that made me the number one rep in the country. You follow me?

Smith: I follow you. But the focus of the book is your sales for Viagra.

Reidy: Yeah, the focus of the book is how everything in pharmaceutical sales works. How you can make it look like you're working when you're not working. I never should have gotten promoted to sell Viagra, because my sales numbers were pretty mediocre, but I fell through the cracks -- wonderful cracks in the system -- and got promoted, and the last third of the book is all about me selling Viagra, and what it was like.

Smith: Now, is it because there was just so much publicity about Viagra at that time that it made it the most interesting drug to talk about?

Reidy: Absolutely. That was part of the problem for me; one of the things that was delaying me from pursuing being a writer is that I was looking for my story, and the story of a drug rep and behind-the-scenes in pharmaceutical sales -- that's interesting, but it's not enough to carry a whole book. Once I got promoted to sell Viagra, and it became the media phenomenon that it was, then I had my hook, and I said, "Okay, this is something that people are going to want to read about." Source: www.naturalnews.com

Sylvester Stallone, his daughters Scarlet Rose, Sophia Rose and Sistine Rose, and his wife Jennifer Flavin arrive at a screening of Lionsgate Films' "The Expendables" at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino August 11, 2010 in Las Vegas

Sylvester Stallone, actor/director in The Expendables (2010)

"Sylvester Stallone is adamant he won't succumb to using sex-aid drug Viagra, because he's happy with his wife Jennifer Flavin.
Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, some years ago.

The 64-year-old Rambo star insists no man should need to use pills to help their sex life if they have an attractive lover "unless you're jet-lagged", adding, "It's all about your partner, let's face it."
And the actor relies on his charm to woo women: "I'm a good flirt. I do flirt well. Not that I'm a great Casanova but I think women love clever banter, not just saying, 'Let's go to my house and get naked.' Maybe later but have a joke around first." Source: www.aceshowbiz.com

Natalie Portman in Alfonso Cuaron's "Gravity"

2010-09-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

"Natalie Portman's highly praised, tortured turn in "Black Swan" could send her career into a new galaxy. Literally.As Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller rallied audiences at the Venice and Telluride film festivals last week, Portman has fielded an offer from Warner Bros. to star in the drama "Gravity."
Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow at "Iron Man 2" world premiere on 26 April 2010

Robert Downey Jr. already has committed to a supporting role, but much of the picture is devoted to the female character, who must survive a solitary ordeal much in the way Tom Hanks did in "Cast Away" or James Franco does in "127 Hours", another Telluride sneak screening.In the wake of "Swan" notices, Cuaron finally got the green light from the studio to relay the offer to Portman without requiring a screen test. Portman, who couldn't make it to Telluride's "Swan" screenings Sunday, is expected to read the latest version of the script this week and make her decision shortly.

"Gravity" is slated to shoot at the end of January, before Downey goes off to other engagements.

Natalie Portman looks stunning as her film Black Swan opens the Venice Film Festival.

But it is her turn as the ambitious but psychologically fragile ballet dancer in "Swan," a role she developed with Aronofsky for years, that has wowed studios and filmmakers scrambling to cast her.
Scuttlebutt at Telluride after its first screenings is that, based solely on "Swan" reviews during the previous few days, Terrence Malick wants Portman for a Jerry Lee Lewis-related project he's developing with Brad Pitt, and Tom Stoppard ("Shakespeare in Love") also apparently is writing something for her.Natalie Portman, Phil Lamarr and Ashton Kutcher on the set of their film "No Strings" (2011).

This is in addition to widespread opinion that Portman will be fielding major awards attention at year's end". Source: riskybusiness.hollywoodreporter.com

Robert Pattinson to appear in "Entourage"?

2010-09-07T00:18:00.000-07:00

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson on the set of "On the Road"

"Robert Pattinson named celebrity king. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, both stars of Summit Entertainment's wildly popular "Twilight" franchise, were named celebrity king and queen according to recent reports. E! Online hosted a voting panel where readers were able to cast their votes toward sixteen male celebrities and sixteen female celebrities. Pattinson and Stewart came out on top.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart as Edward and Bella in Twilight "Eclipse" (2010)

Does anybody really find this surprising? We sure don't considering "Twilight Saga: Eclipse", the third entry in the popular vampire series, was one of the hottest films of the summer and the upcoming forth installment titled "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" is one of the most anticipated films of 2011". Source: www.reelempire.com

Robert Pattinson in company of his particular Twilight "entourage".

"There's a word buzzing around out there that Robert Pattinson is a guest star on the season finale of "Entourage". This is a curious case if it's proven true because HBO has been keeping it as a secret while in fact Pattinson's name could potentially lure additional viewers to the September 12 episode.
Scan of "My name is Robert Pattinson" italian book

Pattinson, according to eWorldPost and TV Spreadit, is guest starring as Ari's most difficult client ever. Now, apart from the silence from HBO, IMDb and other reliable sites have not mentioned his name in the line-up but then again, Christina Aguilera and Eminem who have been confirmed by the network to appear in the finale, are also not listed.

The synopsis from HBO is not hinting any Pattinson either. It says, "Mrs. Ari is still fuming over Ari's angry meltdown the night before, Ari tries desperately to keep her surprise party on track. The guys attempt to stage an intervention for Vince, who has gone off the deep end. Turtle scrambles to find investors to save the tequila business. Eric receives an unexpected request from Terrance McQuewick, which leads him to consider Scott's business proposal."
In conclusion, it's possible that Pattinson is a well-kept surprise from HBO and the actor is made one of the guests in the party. After all, exec producer Mark Wahlberg did consider to bring the actor over, saying "Yeah. We'll see about that." Source: www.aceshowbiz.com

UPDATE: According to GossipCop.com: Robert Pattinson is NOT going to do a cameo on “Entourage.”

A source close to the star tells Gossip Cop exclusively that it’s “not true.”

"Could "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly be romancing Chloë Sevigny? They were spotted looking "very much like they were on a date" at Nobu 57 the other night. A spy said, "She was very dressed up and looked stunning. They went outside for a cigarette, where they seemed clearly interested in each other." Connolly is getting a reputation as an unlikely Casanova, having romanced Nicky Hilton and Julianne Hough of "Dancing With the Stars." He was also linked to Hayden Panettiere although they denied it. Connolly's rep declined to comment. Chloe Sevigny in "Io Donna" magazine July 2010.

Sevigny's rep said, "I do not comment on Chloe's personal life."
Source: www.nypost.com

Chloë Sevigny and Jake Gyllenhaal attending "Zodiac" Premiere at Cannes Film Festival on 17th May 2007

"Jake Gyllenhaal" cover of Colleen Adams' book (2007)

"A fictional Aquaman movie played a central role in the second season and part of the third season of the HBO show Entourage. In the episode "One Day in the Valley", Aquaman premieres to much fanfare and opens with a three-day weekend record of just over $116 million (barely beating Spider-Man's $114.8 million). Later episodes established that within the fictional world of Entourage, the Aquaman movie went on to become the highest grossing film of all time. A sequel was made without Vincent Chase. The fictional sequel starred Jake Gyllenhaal, was directed by Michael Bay and written by Kevin Smith". Source: en.wikipedia.org

Ben Stiller honored by "Museum Of The Moving Image" - Salutes Ben Stiller (November 2008)

A couple days ago, Ben Stiller made a joke at "Entourage" show's expense:
"Other people talking about Entourage gives me time to do my mental chores". -Ben Stiller via Twitter

One girl replied to Mr. Stiller: "How rude" -because she's a fan of "Entourage" and Ben explained her: @Elizabeth_Rocks "-- no rudeness intended just an observation I found amusing. Could plug in many many shows ive not followed the story lines"

What do Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Alba have in common?

2010-09-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

What do Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Alba have in common, apart of perplexing hotness and popular movie careers? We have discovered there are more, as sympathy, fondness of basketball games and good cooking skills. Also, both make lasso-eye candy when dressing in cowboy fashion:

Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist in "Brokeback Mountain" (2005) Jessica Alba as Nancy Callahan in "Sin City" (2005)

Jessica Alba and Cash Warren attend Game One of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2010 Jake Gyllenhaal attends Boston Celtics Vs Orlando Magic Game on 22nd May 2010 in Boston

Jake Gyllenhaal shows his cooking skills at Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on May 7, 2010

An unusual demonstration of Jake Gyllenhaal's cooking skills. First, he uses an iPad as a chopping board to cut broccoli, then the iPad goes into the frying pan!

Jessica on the GrillOn screen, she's been a superhero (Fantastic Four), a lasso-wielding stripper (Sin City), and a tough-as-nails immigration agent (the new Machete) -- but at home, Alba enjoys the simple things. Like barbecuing. Here, she keeps an eye on the chicken and carne asada for her dinner party.
Apron On
Alba puts together a veggie dish made with sliced zucchini, pine nuts, basil, parmesan -- and very generous portions of two key ingredients. "She put a whole bottle of olive oil and a bottle of balsamic in these salads, and I was thinking, Is this going to be any good?" Vespa says. "But it was delicious."Service With a Smile
The most famous barista ever? Alba pours the fruit-infused tea she made using a coffee press. Among the other drinks she and a friend mixed for the party: sangria, plus a citrus cocktail chilled with frozen pineapple chunks, reports Vespa. Tea Time
Alba takes a breather on the back patio. Just two days later, it was announced that she will re-team with Machete director Robert Rodriguez for Spy Kids 4, another action-packed adventure. But this time, her character is a little closer to reality: She'll play a mom balancing her peaceful home life with her thrilling, sexy job.
Source: www.life.com

Jake Gyllenhaal Voted #10 in Elle (France) Magazine's "15 Sexiest Men" poll (June 2007).

"Jessica Alba 'Sexiest Woman Alive' FHM Fave! Actress Jessica Alba has long been a favorite of the guys over at FHM, having regularly placed on their 'sexiest woman alive' lists for years.Jessica Alba in FHM Australia September 2010

In 2007, she was crowned the Sexiest Woman in the World, and has continually appeared in their news pages since at least 2006 as one of their "sexiest women."
Alba, 29, is of Mexican descent on her dad's side, and French/Danish on her mom's side. She recently had her first baby, and is happily married.
She appears frequently on the "Hot 100" section of Maxim and was voted number one on the AskMen.com list of "99 Most Desirable Women" in 2006. The use of her image on the cover of the March 2006 Playboy sparked a lawsuit by her, which was later dropped after she received a personal apology from Playboy owner Hugh Hefner, who agreed to make donations to two charities that Alba has supported, according to Wikipedia.
In 2001, Alba was ranked No. 1 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 list. She said that "I have to go to certain lengths to use sexuality to my advantage, while guiding people to thinking the way I want them to." Source: www.postchronicle.com

Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez - "Machete" photocall

"Machete Star Jessica Alba is hot over Michelle Rodriguez's body! Alba admitted she was drooling over Rodriguez in Machete. Alba also revealed inside tricks to her naked shower scene! Scans of Jessica Alba in Cosmopolitan September 2010
So, why would Jessica Alba, one of the hottest actresses in the world, drool over Rodriguez's body? More interestingly, what's the shower scene trick she was talking about?

Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez recently sat down for an interview with MTV and Alba's fascination with Rodriguez's body surfaced. Alba apparently asked Rodriguez:
"I want to know: Who sculpted that body? Because the whole time I'm watching you, I'm drooling. She doesn't have any cellulite, not an ounce of fat! What is going on?"

Rodriguez replied she had undergone three weeks of intensive training for Machete!
Jessica Alba for Revlon commercial campaign

As for Alba, one can agree that even celebrities fall victim to the age old thinking of "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence." However, the grass is not greener on the other side, it is greener where the grass has been watered. It's safe to say Michelle Rodriguez did a lot of "watering" on her "grass."
As for the nude shower scene Alba was in? Well, the actress revealed she wasn't naked at all! It was all a post production trick. She was actually wearing undies! what do you think about Jessica Alba being a fan of Michelle Rodriguez's body? Source: celebs.gather.com

Jessica Alba arriving at LAX airport on 2nd September 2010

"The sultry siren looked stunning in her revealing outfit on her way back from Venice Film Festival where she attended the screening of her new film Machete.
Alba, 29, wore faded roll-up jeans, cream cropped jacket and a beige see-through top which showed her black bra underneath". Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

"For me, I never wanted to reinforce any stereotypes about Latin women, and that was why I've shied away from Latin characters I've been offered” -Jessica Alba

"I love the variety of working on an action movie like (Machete), doing The Killer Inside Me (with Casey Affleck) and then doing Little Fockers (with Ben Stiller, due at Christmas). I've had the most fun I've ever had, so as long as I can continue to do this kind of stuff, it's my dream." Source: www.usatoday.com

Jessica Alba plays a crazy pharmaceutical rep in "Little Fockers"

2010-09-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Jessica Alba - Machete Portrait Session in Venice 01-09-2010
"In addition to kicking butt in Robert Rodriguez's "Machete" Jessica Alba is also appearing among the star-studded cast of "Little Fockers," the third installment in the franchise that features Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro playing out their often awkward son-in-law vs. overprotective father-in-law relationship.
"I play a pharmaceutical sales rep who is very, um, outgoing and has no sense of personal space," Alba recently told MTV News.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

She hinted that her character might inadvertently try to get a little too close to Stiller's lovable Gaylord Focker. "She says exactly what's on her mind and she has no filter at all," the actress explained. "She was really fun because I'm pretty much the opposite of that."
Robert De Niro as Jack Byrnes and Ben Stiller as his son-in-law Greg Focker in "Little Fockers"

Alba admitted that keeping a straight face on set was a big challenge, since most of her scenes were with funnyman Ben Stiller. Still, she had a blast, she said, particularly with her character's freewheeling ways. "It was just fun and pretty liberating to play someone who was just so open and so free and totally crazy."
"Little Fockers" is set a few months after the events of the last installment, "Meet the Fockers" as Stiller and Teri Polo's parents-to-be busily prepare for baby. Producer Jay Roach told MTV News earlier this year that Stiller's attempt to remain calm is thwarted by a familiar face (and former nemesis).
"It's Owen Wilson coming back with a new passion for Ben's wife, Teri Polo", Roach said. "And of course it's hidden and it's all under the surface, but it causes a lot of new wrinkles in the relationship between all of them," the producer explained.
In addition to Alba and Wilson, "Fockers" will also feature Dustin Hoffman in the role of Stiller's father opposite Barbra Streisand, an addition to the cast that was only recently made due to the film reportedly coming in under budget". Source: www.mtv.com

Kristen Stewart plays MaryLou, a beautiful little sharp chick

2010-09-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan as Rachel Wilcox and Garrett Hedlund as Harlan in "Georgia Rule" (2007)
Lindsay Lohan in Vanity Fair photoshoot, October 2010

"Stewart has racked up quite a collection of independent films, such as a scene stealing cameo in Sean Penn’s superb Into the Wild, as Meg Ryan’s feisty daughter In the Land of Women and as the troubled femme fatale in Greg Mottola’s Superbad follow up Adventureland.Stewart will play Dean Moriarty’s wife Mary Lou, described by Kerouac as a “beautiful little sharp chick,” in his transparently autobiographical account of spontaneous road trips that became the iconic testament to the Beat Generation.
Another in her indie line up sees Stewart star with James Gandolfini in Welcome to the Rileys. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and Stewart describes her character Mallory as, “an incredibly vivacious, seemingly really solid girl, but she was a 16-year-old runaway, stripper, prostitute who was absolutely so completely corroded and broken. She’s like a broken toy; it’s fun, but it doesn’t really work right". Source: www.alicetynan.com

Kristen Stewart arrived on the set of On the Road in New Orleans on 2nd September 2010

On The Road is based on Jack Kerouac’s novel of the same name that was published in 1957. Walter Salles helms the new film adaptation with Kristen Stewart playing Mary Lou, Sam Riley starring as Sal Paradise,Happy 26th Birthday, Garrett Hedlund!

Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty, Kirsten Dunst out & about in London, August 2010
Kirsten Dunst as Camille. Tom Sturridge’s character is yet to be unveiled.

On The Road is a largely autobiographical work that was based on the spontaneous road trips of Kerouac and his friends across the 1950s America. When the book was originally released, The New York Times hailed it as “the most beautifully executed, the clearest and most important utterance” of Kerouac’s generation" Source: www.glamourvanity.com

Dita Von Teese: nothing sexier than lingerie & red lipstick

2010-09-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

"Burlesque artist and actress Dita Von Teese thinks there is 'nothing sexier' than wearing lingerie and red lipstick. Dita fell in love with red lipstick when she was younger and admits the 'love affair' is still going strong.The 37-year-old told Top Sante magazine: 'The love affair [for red lipstick] has never ended – even today I feel like I am partaking in some kind of historic ritual.' She added: 'I think there's nothing sexier than wearing lingerie and a slick of red lipstick.' Source: www.monsterandcritics.com

Dita Von Teese Performs 'Crazy Horse Paris' Burlesque in Vegas.Dita Von Teese in Tales Of The Cocktail - July 20, 2010Dita Von Teese takes a cocktail in Madrid, on 27th May 2010

Dita von Teese in Genlux magazine, fall 2010

Scott Pilgrim Garbage Truck- Sex Bob-Omb Music Video

2010-09-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

Michael Cera plays geek Scott Pilgrim

"Garbage Truck"
Performed by Sex Bob-Omb
From Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
ABKCO Records

"Michael Doherty: First of all, belated happy birthday, Anna. Having just reached 25, it must be very gratifying that you're still able to convincingly pull off teenage roles?
Anna Kendrick arrives at the Blackberry Torch launch party on August 11, 2010 in Los Angeles

Anna Kendrick: Thank you very much and yes, it is very gratifying! I actually got downgraded from 19 to 18 for this film, so I don't quite know what that says about me! I feel a little silly but as long as people can still buy me as a teenager, then I'm flattered.Michael Cera and Anna Kendrick outside the London Studios (August 18, 2010)

In Scott Pilgrim . . . your character is modelled on the writer's own sister, Stacy, whom you met before shooting started. Was that a bit weird or a bit daunting?
No, it was really cool. I was a bit nervous about meeting her but she is so lovely. She basically told me that the relationship between Stacy and Scott in the books is the real relationship she has with her own brother. She gave me her Stacy badge to wear from when she worked in The Second Cup, the coffee shop in the movie, so that was cool"
With Edgar Wright - EW COMIC CON PORTRAITS

Edgar [Wright, director] is known for his many takes and you were also working on a movie with a heightened, comic-book sensibility Did that make Scott Pilgrim... a demanding movie to work on?

Well, for my first scene I had to turn my head, react, say my line and then wait for the crash zoom and I did that 20 times and it wasn't quite right.Mary Elizabeth Winstead attending Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Premiere in London
Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Details magazine photoshoot (2010)

I was getting embarrassed because there were so many takes, but Mary Elizabeth [Winstead], who plays Ramona, basically leaned in to me and said, 'don't worry, this is a rite of passage. You aren't a real Scott Pilgrim cast member unless you have done 20 takes of one scene!' So yes, it was really challenging, but very satisfying when you see it all come together". Source: www.rte.ie

Scarlett Johansson Mango photoshoot, Ryan Reynolds in Buried

2010-09-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Scarlett Johansson on the 2010 Mango Fall campaign
Scarlett Johansson with her husband Ryan Reynolds.

"It seems as though actress Scarlett Johansson had no sooner sold her old place in the Hollywood Hills than she and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, closed on a house in Los Feliz, Calif., for $2.9 million. Built in the late '60s, the restored Buff & Hensman-designed Wong House has walls of glass looking out on a swimming pool, a walled garden off the master bedroom suite and views of downtown Los Angeles and the ocean. There are two bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,835 square feet of living space. Two rooms originally used as bedrooms had been converted to an open-plan library and an office by the sellers". Source: www.kansascity.com

Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time— fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true. Source: www.beyondhollywood.com

Duncan Jones talks about Coulter (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Source Code

2010-09-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Scans of Empire magazine - Jake Gyllenhaal as Coulter Steven in "Source Code", courtesy of www.wetdarkandwild.com

"Although still playing his cards close to his chest with regards details (as mentioned in our previous interview when questioned on promotion) Duncan does reveal that Coulter Stevens, played by Gyllenhaal is…

"a military man who wakes up on a train not knowing how he got there. Before he gets a chance to work it out, things change in such a dramatic way, he doesn’t know whether the train is real or not".
Paul Hirsch poses with Teri Polo "Meet the Parents/Meet the Fockers/Little Fockers" at Eddie Awards ceremony 2005.

'I am in the capable hands of Paul “Mount Rushmore” Hirsch!' -Duncan Jones
Duncan goes on to talk about adding humour to the script, and again on the incredible experience of working with legendary editor Paul Hirsch". Source: blog.manmademovies.co.uk

"Source Code" Release Date confirmed on 11th March 2011.

Discount coupons for home decor, travel, etc.

2010-09-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Pals Maggie Gyllenhaal and Emma Thompson compare notes on dirty dishes, hot husbands — and how they help each other.
Emma Thompson on The Martha Stewart Show 2010-05-25
Emma is a cook on tele!

Martha Stewart Living Larsson Carbon Black Four-Poster King Size Bed Model # 0145310210 Internet # 202332901

Poster of Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway in "Love and other drugs" (2010)

"Lucia Leventis rented out her Squirrel Hill home of 30 years on Bartlett Street to the film crew for three days of production in late September. Her large house, built in 1875, plays the Chicago residence of Jamie's parents.
Scenes were shot mostly on the first floor using some of her furnishings and some furnishings and artwork that the film crew added. Some rooms were painted and Leventis had the option of getting them returned to their original colors but she liked the tints the production team chose, although she planned to ditch the curtains.

"I did meet Jake," Leventis said. "He's very sweet. I said, 'Jake, you sure are handsome'. Source: www.post-gazette.com

If you want to learn some tips to start upgrading your bathroom or complete your bedroom that can be affordable, there are Home Depot coupons for several small, inexpensive remodel projects that you can do to give your bathroom/bedroom a makeover without rocketing your budget.

Kat Dennings lies on bed as Caroline Wexler in "Daydream Nation" (2010)

Jessica Alba plays Santana in "Machete" (2010)

"Needless to say, the film comes out strongly on the ‘pro’ side of immigration, be it legal or otherwise. Robert De Niro as Senator McLaughlin in "Machete"

And the picture comes right and and speaks to the absurd double-standards at play, that the political forces that wish to blame illegal immigrants for society’s ills are the same ones that grant temporary work-visas (the most common cause of illegal immigration, as many just stay when the visas expire) and promote immigration in order to keep the cost of labor down".
Source: www.hollywoodnews.com

"Fast food discount coupons have English on one side, Spanish on the other. Even stores themselves are becoming bilingual; take a look at the entrance and the exit at Sears in Keene. The rise of Hispanic immigrants to the United States during the past few decades has created a huge demand for consumer goods.

English is “the language of America,” says Bill Binnie. And he adds that we all should embrace “the free market principles which made America great.” Source: sentinelsource.com

Printable online coupons are ideal for shoppers and consumers simply printing these vouchers and bring them to local establishments to enjoy a price break on a variety of items. Websites as Savings.com that offer online coupons will have a space in the shopping cart for promotions or discount deals. Offered by many sites either as coupon codes, printable online coupons or e-gifts, these small savings can relieve a rocky domestic economy a bit.
Electronic ticketing (An e-ticket) is the time-saving, ticketless way to travel and if you are looking for online travel services (with discount coupons) Orbitz is one of the leading travel services offering affordable airfares, discounted hotel rates, and vacation packages to Mexico, Florida, Hawaii, Las Vegas, etc. And you can saving a little more on your vacation travels with an Orbitz promotion code.

Jake Gyllenhaal wearing AG Jeans + fashion goodies

2010-09-01T22:51:00.000-07:00

Jake Gyllenhaal visiting a friend's cabin near LA, on 28th August 2010
Jake Gyllenhaal was out doing something, just taking a little stroll perhaps, and although he looks a little scruffy, there's still something about him that makes us drool.
Matthew McConaughey for Dolce & Gabbana perfume

For his day out, Jake took a page from dude's dude Matthew McConaughey and wore a pair of AG Jeans "AG-ed Khakis" in Colonial Beige Ripped". Source: www.denimhunt.com

Selma Blair, Claine Danes and Maggie Gyllenhaal with fashion designer Zac PosenKatie Holmes in Elle Japan magazine (2010)
"Katie Holmes' venture into the fashion world has proved a big success Katie Holmes posing for J. Crew Catalog (2010)

- her Holmes & Yang collection will continue to be sold at U.S. department store Barneys for another eight months. The Hollywood star teamed up with her stylist Jeanne Yang to launch the line in 2009 and they agreed a deal to stock the clothes in the high-end shop. her Holmes & Yang collection" Source: www.aceshowbiz.com

Chloe Sevigny - Oyster magazine issue #53Blake Lively in Marie Claire magazine, October 2010 issue Ashley Greene - Mark Cosmetics Ashley Greene - The Mark beauty campaignBar Rafaeli, Victoria Secret's modelGwyneth Paltrow for Dior campaign
Marion Cotillard in Vogue September 2010Elizabeth Hurley: Cartier and Bulgari jewelryMegan Fox - Armani JeansJessica Alba in Revlon commercialDrew Barrymore in Cover GirlInside Lindsay Lohan's closet by Yu TsaiDiane Kruger Joyeux Nöel Spring 2010Cameron Diaz Harper's Bazaar August 2010Ben Stiller in Vogue photoshoot by Annie LeibovitzMilla Jovovich for L'Oreal campaignGemma Arterton with Milla Jovovich at Paris fashion week
Dakota Fanning in Flare (Canada Fashion magazine)Amanda Seyfried - Movado watches campaign
Maria Bello - The Gap adKristen Stewart in The Notebook [UK] - September 2010Kristen Stewart in Marie Claire [Australia] - October 2010Joseph Gordon-Levitt: low cost-high style

Anne Hathaway filming another love story "One Day" in Paris

2010-09-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturges on the set of "One Day" in Paris

"Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess shot a major makeout scene on the set of One Day in Paris this morning. Anne looked chic for her second day in a row of filming, still sporting the same pixie-cut wig she donned yesterday.

Jake Gyllenhaal beds Anne Hathaway in "Love and Other Drugs" (2010)

The romantic comedy, an adaptation of a much-loved book, is just one of the onscreen love stories Anne has worked on recently. She also stars opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in their potentially melodramatic movie Love and Other Drugs, which hits theaters around the holidays". Source: www.popsugar.com

Any chance Jake will feel a bit jealous about this parallel romantic story performed between Anne and Jim Sturgess? Nah, I'd say Jake isn't the jealous type and his chemistry with Anne won't be matched easily on-screen soon.

New stills of Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in Fincher's The Social Network

2010-09-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network" (2010) directed by David Fincher

"Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg may not be thrilled by his character in David Fincher’s upcoming film about the creation of the revolutionary website — he complained that The Social Network was “fiction” during a recent on-stage interview — but being portrayed as a flawed genius by Jesse Eisenberg apparently has its upside. Vanity Fair just announced that the 26-year-old billionaire was at the very top of its list of the 100 most influential people of the Information Age. Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake as Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Parker in "The Social Network"(2010)

Chances are, Vanity Fair would have picked Zuckerberg anyway — it’s not everyday somebody invents a while new interactive medium — but we can’t help but think that a little Hollywood stardust pushed him over the finish line. Which makes us wonder, PopWatchers: How many of you had heard of Mark Zuckerberg before you saw those awesome Social Network trailers? Source: popwatch.ew.com

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson loosely attached to "Breathers: A Zombie's Lament"

2010-09-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

"Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception) and Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2) may soon be lending their talents to a “zombie comedy.” Scarlett Johansson's new Dolce & Gabbana cosmetics

Pajiba is reporting that the two are “loosely attached” to Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament based on S.G. Browne’s 2009 novel of the same name.
Diablo Cody interviews Megan Fox in Red Band Trailer Episode 104 - "Crazy Like A Fox"

Currently, Diablo Cody(Juno) is set to produce the script by Geoff Latulippe (Going the Distance). Joseph Gordon-Levitt filming "Live with It" in Vancouver, Canada, March 17, 2010.

Per the report, Latulippe’s script is being circulated to potential directors as I type, meaning Gordon-Levitt and Johansson’s involvement may be either confirmed or denied sooner rather than later.Scarlett Johansson at Comic Con 2010

Browne’s novel is described as a romantic comedy about a dead man named Andy who finds himself brought back to life as a middle-aged zombie. Andy must then “figure out it means to live as an Un-dead in a society that denies his kind basic rights.” I’ll trust you to interpret the metaphorical social commentary from there. If cast, one would assume that Gordon-Levitt would portray Andy with Johansson playing Andy’s love interest (hence the “romantic comedy” description)". Source: www.collider.com

Natalie Portman at 67th Venice Film Festival for "Black Swan"

2010-09-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

Natalie Portman and actor Vincent Cassel attend the "Black Swan" photocall during the 67th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2010 in Venice, Italy.

Natalie Portman (wearing a red dress custom-made by Rodarte with Swarovski crystals), Darren Aronofsky and Vincent Cassel attend the Opening Ceremony during the 67th Venice Film Festival at the Sala Grande Palazzo Del Cinema on September 1, 2010 in Italy.

“One of the best things about the film is the casting of Natalie. She took the part and ran with it. I don't know if when I was working with the writers we were consciously channeling Natalie or Natalie somehow transformed herself to the part, but they grew together. I first talked with Natalie about this project at least 10 years ago. We were in Times Square and had a coffee at the old Howard Johnson. I had this idea of setting something in the ballet world. It was very loose. I didn't have a script. And then I found out she was fascinated by ballet and wanted to play a dancer.” -Darren Aronofsky

Jessica Alba in Machete & Little Fockers

2010-09-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro as Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes in "Little Fockers" (2010)

"What It's About: The Focker clan is back with more antics! ANTICS! Gay Focker and his wife Pam have hung with the parents, gotten married and started building their life together. There are kids in the picture. And now Pam's dad Jack is worried about who will steer the family correctly once he's gone, so he turns to his lovable male nurse son-in-law. Shenanigans undoubtedly ensure.
Who's In It: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Barbra Streisand and Owen Wilson all return. Dustin Hoffman was only recently confirmed to be returning as the elder Focker as well. New to the cast this time are Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, Rob Huebel and Harvey Keitel. "Nick and Norah" director Chris Weitz is at the helm.
Why You Should Care: "Focker" puns really never get old. And maybe it's just me, but Ben Stiller's neurotic ravings have been missed. Plus, as the trailer revealed, Stiller and De Niro will go toe-to-toe in a birthday party brawl. And let's not forget the Hoffman/Streisand power combo. Seeing those two together again will be a hoot.

When You Can See It: December 22" Source: moviesblog.mtv.com

Jessica Alba stills in "Little Fockers" (2010)

Jessica Alba attending "Machete" Los Angeles Premiere on
25th August, 2010Black high heels by Christian LouboutinJessica Alba at a dinner to honor director Quentin Tarantino at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy.Valentino beige shoes. (Jessica wore them in black)
Jessica Alba as Sartana in "Machete" (2010)
Alba said, “I loved all the fight scene stuff I got to do in Machete since I have always had a soft spot for action projects, especially since my adult acting career really began because of Dark Angel. There is one scene in Machete that still was my favorite to film and it involved me killing someone via a stiletto. It was fun because I spend so much time with stilettos on, and I must say it’s far more fun to kill with them than it is to wear them.”

“You always take a leap of faith when you work with directors, but with someone like Robert, he’s always got everyone’s best interests at heart and somehow it ends up making his movies that much stronger. I think you see that passion on screen in anything he’s ever directed,” Alba added. Source: www.dreadcentral.com

Robert Rodriguez and Jessica Alba attend the "Machete" photocall during the 67th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Casino on September 1, 2010 in Venice, Italy.

Jake Gyllenhaal & Ben Stiller video

2010-09-01T01:45:00.000-07:00

A video featuring scenes starred by Jake Gyllenhaal (Lovely & Amazing with Catherine Keener, Donnie Darko with Drew Barrymore and The Good Girl with Jennifer Aniston) and by Ben Stiller (Friends & Neighbours with Catherine Keener, Duplex with Drew Barrymore and Along Came Polly with Jennifer Aniston)

Song "I can't stand it" by Wilco (album "Summerteeth")

Time travel: Inception, Donnie Darko, Source Code, Looper, etc.

2010-08-31T19:05:00.000-07:00

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur in "Inception" (2010) directed by Christopher Nolan

"Inception" Timeline graphic

"Death is not an event in life: we do not live to experience death. If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration but timelessness, then eternal life belongs to those who live in the present. Our life has no end in the way in which our visual field has no limits." — philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein

"Up to this point in his career, Jake Gyllenhaal can be found, most notably, in an unique and surreal cult film ("Donnie Darko"), in sharply observed American indies ("The Good Girl," "Lovely & Amazing"), tense Middle East conflict dramas ("Jarhead," "Rendition"), a David Fincher-directed serial-killer thriller ("Zodiac"), an English-language remake of a Danish dogma piece ("Brothers"), and an Oscar-winning love story between two men ("Brokeback Mountain," opposite Heath Ledger, of course).
Michelle Monaghan and Jake Gyllenhaal as Christina and Colter filming "Source Code" (2011)

"Source Code", "a science-fiction action thriller" with Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan, and Jeffrey Wright, from Duncan Jones, the director of the eerie art-house android piece "Moon".Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell in "Moon" (2009)

"Love and Other Drugs", a romantic comedy with Gyllenhaal as a pharmaceutical salesman who woos Anne Hathaway. Ed Zwick wrote and directed.
"Annie and I definitely got pretty intimate, because there are a lot of love scenes in the movie, a lot of sexy scenes in that movie. You have to let it all hang out, so to speak." Source: www.newsobserver.com

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Bobby in "Uncertainty" (2009)
Bruce Willis in W magazine photoshoot (2009)

"Rian Johnson’s sci-fi thriller Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is scheduled to begin filming in January 2011, according to Production Weekly.
The script, written by Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), is set in the near future a few decades before the invention of time travel. An unseen crime syndicate sends its victims back in time where the bodies are shot and disposed of by blunderbuss-wielding killers called “loopers.”
Gordon-Levitt is one of these loopers, carrying out his deadly duty until the arrival of his future, 57-year-old self (played by Willis). Unable to “close his loop” and end his future, Joe and “Old Joe” go on the run from the syndicate. It’s very 12 Monkeys, but the characters, particularly a woman named Sara, are reminiscent of early entries in The Terminator series. A telekinesis mutation only amplifies the action and mind-bending suspense. I checked out one of the early drafts and it is one of the best scripts I have ever read. This is absolutely a project to watch for, sci-fi fans.Johnson’s latest and Duncan Jones’ upcoming film Source Code are two excitingly fresh perspectives on time travel that I can only hope will reinvigorate the genre. While Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel is worrying fans of the classic original(s) and the Star Trek series is gearing up for its twelfth space mission, a new generation of bright filmmakers — those two, plus District 9’s Neill Blomkamp, Tron: Legacy’s Joseph Kosinski, Carl Rinsch and several others — are ensuring science fiction will continue to be a source of creativity, limitless possibilities, and boundary-breaking technology long after Scott, James Cameron, and George Lucas hang it up. Hyperbolic, maybe, but I’m geeking out over what’s to come". Source: www.newsinfilm.com

Joseph Gordon-Levitt singing "La Valse à Mille Temps"

2010-08-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

Joseph Gordon-Levitt singing Jacques Brel's "La Valse à Mille Temps" at hitRECord.org's second Summer in the City show.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Ellen Page, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cillian Murphy during the promotion of "Inception" (2010)

Rami Malek sings for The Twilight Saga Breaking Down part 2

2010-08-31T14:57:00.000-07:00

"Twi-hards have yet another actor to feast upon – “The Pacific” star Rami Malek has signed for the second part of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”, Access Hollywood has confirmed.

The 29-year-old actor will play Benjamin, a vampire who is a member of an Egyptian coven. His character has the ability to influence the elements of earth, wind, water and fire.
Ben Stiller and Rami Malek as Larry Daley and Ahkmenrah in “Night at The Museum” (2006)

Rami, who is also know for his roles in both of the “Night at The Museum” movies, will also appear on the big screen with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in the upcoming “Larry Crowne.”
Rami Malek with Tom Hanks on the set of "Larry Crowne" in Los Angeles, on 10th June 2010

“Breaking Dawn – Part 1” hits theaters on November 18, 2011, with the second installment coming to the big screen on November 16, 2012". Source: www.accesshollywood.com

Anne Hathaway #2 in Forbes Hollywood's Best Profitable Actors

2010-08-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway as Jack Twist and Lureen Newsome in "Brokeback Mountain "(2005)
Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal as Maggie Murdock and Jamie Randall in "Love and other drugs" (2010)
"Because women typically earn less than men in Hollywood, they make up a full half of our top 10 list. Anne Hathaway is the highest-ranking woman in the No. 2 spot. For every dollar she earns studios earn $64 off of her films
Most of that payback is coming from Alice in Wonderland. The Disney (DIS - news - people) 3-D film was a gigantic hit earning $1 billion at the global box office, and Hathaway earned much less than star Johnny Depp. But she also benefits from 2009's Bride Wars, which was a modest hit earning $115 million at the global box office on a low estimated budget of $30 million.

Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston as Wally Mars and Kassie Larson in "The Switch" (2010)
Another woman on our list: Jennifer Aniston.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jennifer Aniston attending the 9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala on 24th October, 2005

The star makes a surprising appearance in sixth place with a $21 return for every $1 she is paid. (She's tied with Meryl Streep.) Although one of her included movies, Love Happens, was a huge flop, The Bounty Hunter actually did well with $136 million at the global box office on an estimated budget of $40 million". Source: www.forbes.com