Winslet v. Crawford - Battle of Acting Powerhouses

Kate Winslet has recently inked a deal to star as the title character in Todd Haynes adaptation of the James M. Cain novel Mildred Pierce. Some die hard fans of the original are up in arms, claiming that this is a bad career move on Winslet's part. I am a huge Winslet supporter and an even bigger supporter of this project. Anyone familiar with Todd Haynes re-imagining of Douglas Sirk's work in Far From Heaven knows his capability with similar style and subject matter. The original film is a noir masterpiece and a great showcase for some phenomenal acting. Joan Crawford played the character so well it earned her an Oscar. If anything, this is a good thing because it will bring some attention to the original. I can already picture the stark contrasts and vivid set design that have become a trademark for Haynes. More than anything, I imagine the beautiful Winslet fitting the role perfectly. Word is that HBO is looking to pick it up as a miniseries. Chalk another potential win up for pay cable.

Chima, We Hardly Knew Ya!

Big Brother has always been thought of as a less than stellar reality television program. For those people hooked on shows like The Real World and the endless string of VH1 reality programs, Big Brother may appear boring and monotonous. The fact is that it is one of the more complex game shows on television. These aren't simply thirteen strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped. These are thirteen game players looking to lie, cheat and back stab their way to a half a million dollars. Even if you aren't one of the die hard fans who subscribes to the live, twenty four hour video feed; it's arguably one of the more addictive summer guilty pleasures (it's on three days a week!). For me it is the cure for my unemployment boredom. It's easy to pick your favorites and those who you can't wait to see get what's coming to them.

Last weekend, the show made headlines when one of the houseguests got booted by producers. Although CBS issued a statement verifying it and prior to the feeds cutting out online, volatile contestant Chima Simone was seen flipping off the cameras, yelling obscenities and throwing $5,000 microphones in the jacuzzi, she has issued a statement urging that she quit. Chima, for me, was one of the worst things to happen to Big Brother in the past eleven seasons...or is she one of the best?

Over the past few weeks she has been very open with her feelings about other contestants, mostly directing angry racial tirades at Russell. Her power was overthrown by a vote from America to give a special power of Coup D'etat to Jeff. He ensured Russell's safety and got muscleheaded Jessie out of the house. Chima and her partners in crime, Lydia and Natalie, literally sat around the dinner table drinking wine and eulogizing Jessie as if he was just gunned down by the rival gang. Of course, Jeff and his showmance Jordan were quick to point out that Chima and her cronies had been picking off their friends one by one and they weren't acting that way. Somewhere along the line several of the housemates forgot they were competing for money. Kevin, one of the less dramatic contestants finally confronted members of his alliance and told them that they aren't on The Real World.

Chima's petty antics may have gone too far, but we won't know for sure whether or not she was removed by production or removed herself. Personally, I don't care, as I have been humming ding dong the witch is dead to myself over and over. But, I would be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit interested in finding out what went down in the wee hours of the night that led to Chima's exit.

Tune in tomorrow night to find out what happened to the diva Chima.

Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Drama

Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette Stabler on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Jimmy Smits as Miguel Prado on Dexter

What's funny is that Ellen Burstyn shared the episode with another guest star who was nominated for her guest role on No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Burstyn's scene with Chris Meloni is one for the ages. Not that I needed any more proof of Burstyn's amazing acting ability, but check out her portrayal of Eliot's bipolar mother and you won't be disappointed.

Jimmy Smits is no stranger to the small screen, but did an incredible job this season as Miguel Prado on Dexter. Despite an accident on set that nearly resulted in the death of a stuntman, he played bad with amazing cunning. Wouldn't expect any less from President Santos.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Tina Fey as Governor Sarah Palin in the 2008 Presidential Bash

The resemblance was undeniable, and Tina Fey’s incredible portrayal of the VP candidate was perhaps one of the best spoofs SNL has seen in years.

Sorely overlooked this year Kristen Bell as the taskmaster caterer Uda Bengt on the underrated Starz comedy Party Down and Jessica St. Clair playing Tiffany St. John on United States of Tara. Her idolization of Tara is downright hysterical and her self aware quirkiness were carried out effortlessly and with beautiful timing.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Hamm as Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock

This is a stacked category. While three of the nominees are from the most nominated comedy series of all time, it is Don Draper that really deserves the statue. Sure Steve Martin and Alan Alda are great in their respective cameos, but after sitting through a season of Mad Men, watching Hamm look pensive and serious sipping liquor, his comic turn is by far the best.

Sorely overlooked this year were the always great Stellan Skarsgard for his portrayal of the ridiculous diva director Verner Vollstedt and Peter Dinklage as Liz’s love interest Stewart on 30 Rock.

Emmy Picks

I recently posted my dream Emmy ballot on my blog. Now that the nominations have occured, I will be running down my picks to win in select categories leading up to the actual ceremony on September 20th. I’ve treated my unemployment as an opportunity to catch up on a lot of the television I have missed this past year so as to be a more informed blogger.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey as Governor Sarah Palin in the 2008 Presidential Bash

The resemblance was undeniable, and Tina Fey’s incredible portrayal of the VP candidate was perhaps one of the best spoofs SNL has seen in years.

Sorely overlooked this year Kristen Bell as the taskmaster caterer Uda Bengt on the underrated Starz comedy Party Down and Jessica St. Clair playing Tiffany St. John on United States of Tara. Her idolization of Tara is downright hysterical and her self aware quirkiness were carried out effortlessly and with beautiful timing.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Jon Hamm as Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock

This is a stacked category. While three of the nominees are from the most nominated comedy series of all time, it is Don Draper that really deserves the statue. Sure Steve Martin and Alan Alda are great in their respective cameos, but after sitting through a season of Mad Men, watching Hamm look pensive and serious sipping liquor, his comic turn is by far the best.

Sorely overlooked this year were the always great Stellan Skarsgard for his portrayal of the ridiculous diva director Verner Vollstedt and Peter Dinklage as Liz’s love interest Stewart on 30 Rock.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette Stabler on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

What's funny is that Ellen Burstyn shared the episode with another guest star who was nominated for her guest role on No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Burstyn's scene with Chris Meloni is one for the ages. Not that I needed any more proof of Burstyn's amazing acting ability, but check out her portrayal of Eliot's bipolar mother and you won't be disappointed.


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Jimmy Smits as Miguel Prado on Dexter

Jimmy Smits is no stranger to the small screen, but did an incredible job this season as Miguel Prado on Dexter. Despite an accident on set that nearly resulted in the death of a stuntman, he played bad with amazing cunning. Wouldn't expect any less from President Santos.

Now What?

There is actually a dual meaning behind this post. Not only is it the tagline for the upcoming Alexis Bledel vehicle, aptly titled Post Grad, but it is also a question that has been plaguing me for the past few months. The trailer has been popping up on the rare occasion that I pay attention during commercial breaks. I’ve been attempting to do a little background investigating to find out just when the movie was first ushered into production. Let’s be honest, despite its cheesy marketing gimicks and pandering (“Starring the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ Alexis Bledel….”), the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Yes. I recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in film production and have been struggling to find gainful employment. That being said, the trailer for the film really manages to get under my skin because it implies that Miss Bledel is able to land some interviews for jobs, but somehow blows her chance in a very comic way. Ugh. The big question, I suppose, is whether or not the screenplay works in the recent economic downturn or fails to recognize the fact that everybody is in the same position as the protagonist. This whole film could go one of two ways. Either people will feel for Bledel and find the movie perfectly charming in this recession or will find the likely saccharine ending too sugary. Can’t forget, of course, that movies are typically meant as an escapist outlet. Watching Alexis Bledel fail to secure a job after college might be all too relatable to be true escapism. What’s more depressing is reading people’s forum posts on imdb; most of them asking what her major is, if she takes the GRE and over a hundred posts on the subject: “sounds like my life.”

Reconstruction.

I am currently in the process of revamping the blog. Please be patient.

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Put This In Your Mouth

Looking for great Austin, TX restaurants and recipes?
Check out the blog for the show I used to produce for TSTV

here.