Movies and Actors | pinartarhan.com

Actors and Literature: Ethan Hawke, Hugh Laurie and Viggo Mortensen

Posted on February 23, 2010 Written by ripitup

Don’t you like actors when they are multi-dimensional? It must be much more fun to be able to write a novel when they don’t have to pay the bills with its sales. Sure, they would love to have many readers. What author doesn’t? But art is much more fun when you don’t have to worry about selling it. I did talk about actors making music before:

* Kevin Bacon and Keanu Reeves

* Shane West

* Bruce Willis and John Travolta

* Hugh Laurie and Band from TV

Now, it is time for novels and poetry:

Ethan Hawke

Well, we know Ethan Hawke is no stranger to writing scripts and we do love what he did with Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater, co-writing Before Sunset (The sequel to the amazing romantic film Before Sunrise). But he also writes novels. His first novel is The Hottest State. He later directed this into a movie of the same name in 2006. He also wrote the script and has a small but an important role in the film. Not an amazing film, but pretty good in all standards and I do love a multi-tasking actor.

His second novel was released in 2002 and it is called “Ash Wednesday: A novel”

All Posts on Ethan Hawke

– Lord of War starring Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke and Jared Leto

– Ethan Hawke trivia

– Brooklyn’s Finest starring Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle

– Cheating Celebrity Trivia: 8 Male Celebrities That Cheated (feat. Ethan Hawke, Jude Law,

Kevin Costner and more)

– Before Sunrise

– Before Sunset

– 10 Celebrity Break-ups You May Not Have Seen Coming

– 10 Most Entertaining Sci-fi Movies: Favorite Sci-fi Movies of a Non-fan

– Reality Bites starring Ethan Hawke, Winona Ryder and Ben Stiller

– Alias

Hugh Laurie

In addition to being a terrific actor, both comedic and dramatic, he is an apt musician. But as if talent and the British charm isn’t enough, Hugh Laurie is a writer too. His first novel The Gun Seller was a critically acclaimed crime novel. Another one called The Paper Soldier is on the way. Don’t you just love Hugh?

All posts on Hugh Laurie and Gregory House

Absolute Hugh Laurie and House Trivia: 21 Facts About Hugh Laurie and His TV Series House

Use of Social Media in TV Series featuring Castle, The Mentalist, House, Cougar Town and NCIS Los Angeles

Television’s 3 Most Brilliant, Emotionally Broken Men: Patrick Jane, Gregory House and Jack Bauer

22 Tall Actors From Hollywood

The British Actors We Love Part 2: The Hughs

Hollywood Stars in Friends, Including Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and More

House starring Hugh Laurie

Actor Musicians and Musician Actors Part 4: Hugh Laurie, James Denton and Greg Grunberg a.k.a. The Band From TV

Viggo Mortensen

I first saw Viggo in a hugely underrated TV movie called Vanishing Point. It is fast, fun and interesting. Then I watched A Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow, where he played Gwyneth’s lover. The movie was a good remake and he does make a good bohemian artist with some shady intentions. So by the time he was Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, I was already a fan. But when I dug deeper into his history, I realized the guy was even more interesting than I gave him credit for. I’ll get into the details later but let’s just say that he writes poetry and does own a publishing house. Damn, the guy is hardworking.

I love all three actors and I have to admit I haven’t gotten to read their works. Yet. But I’ll. I just hope I have half the luck and talent these guys have…

The Woodlanders: A Gorgeous Rufus Sewell in an Awful Movie

Posted on February 22, 2010 Written by ripitup

What? I am not going to like ever movie just because Rufus is there. If you want to see good, entertaining Rufus films, check out:

In a Savage Land – Beautiful epic, far-off island, true romance: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/in-a-savage-land-with-rufus-sewell/

Dark City– Rufus Sewell stars with Jennifer Connelly and William Hurt. From Alex Proyas, director of another brilliant (if not better) cult film The Crow

Martha, meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence:Co-star is Joseph Fiennes- fine little romcom: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/martha-meet-frank-daniel-and-laurence-fun-romcom-with-monica-potter-rufus-sewell-and-joseph-fiennes/

Dangerous Beauty:Beautiful, romantic period drama, set in Venice. Starring Catherine McCormack and Rufus, with Oliver Platt, Jacqueline Bisset, Seymour and Naomi Watts as bonusses.

The Illusionist– the graceful handsome lead is played by Edward Norton. The baddie is Rufus. Great mystery/drama/romance/thriller. There’s also Paul Giamatti: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-illusionist-with-edward-norton-and-jessica-biel/

There are of course more good Rufus films, but the ones above happen to my favorites. Having that gotten out of the way, here’s the plot of The Woodlanders (which will probably let you know why I didn’t like the movie):

Giles (Rufus Sewell) and Grace were childhood seethearts. They grew up together and being the nice and honest guy that Gile is, her father did approve of their love. But when Grace comes back home as an educated young woman, her father thinks she can and should do better than a woodsman. This breaks Giles’ heart but he can’t do anything abo?ut it, since Grace doesn’t seem merely bothered by her dad’s decision. In fact, she is enjoying the charms and the attention she is getting from a doctor. She marries him but as it turns out, her husband isn’t all that great and well, she still loves Giles…

OK. Pros and cons. Cons first:

Cons

1) Everything about the plot. Never mind having been told the same story over and over again, there is nothing fun or allutring in the way it was told. Parent wants better for daughter, ending up preventing her happiness. Yeah, yeah…

2) The actors. Yes, Rufus can act and he does. But the leading actress is playing Grace is so plain, boring and unattractive. Frankly, Ugly Betty would have made a better Grace, as Ugly Betty (I don’t even mean the real life version of America Ferrara). At least she has principles and a brain and character! It is not even if she chose money- he is just a doctor. Not a rich fellow, and an ugly one at that. And there you have Giles. Gorgeous and nice. Well, one flaw of Giles: he couldn’t get over Grace. How can you not get over Grace??? She isnt pretty, nice or intelligent. Well, I am guessing unhappiness serves Giles right- for being such an idiot.

the woodlanders with rufus sewell — Rufus Sewell wastes his talent in a bad movie. It is based on a book and I am betting the book is a hundred times better. But it is of course worth watching for Rufus fans (at least the scenes with him). Look at the guy, for goodness' sake!

3) The ending. Oh please…I wasn’t asking for a “let’s ride towards the sunset” type of ending but this is even worse.

Pro:

1) Rufus Sewell is really pretty here. I mean he is so pretty, he would still be the pretty one even if they had cast a beautful actress as Grace.

…..

That is it. Eye candy for Rufus fans. Why do you think I watched the movie despite the plot (though the fast forward button came in handy)? Come on, that doesn’t make me any more superficial than guys who watch Megan Fox for her “acting”.

3/10 for the movie

10/10 for Rufus youth and beauty

1/10 for the rest of the way the cast looks

6.4 on IMDB, but then again only 234 people have voted. I ain’t gonna vote. I can’t do that to dear Mr. Sewell…

IMDB: Never mind. Not many have voted anyway.

Copying Beethoven starring Ed Harris, Diane Kruger and Matthew Goode

Posted on February 21, 2010 Written by ripitup

Copying Beethoven with Ed Harris and Diane Kruger. Mixed feelings, all over. Not just in me, but in the characters too. Matthew Goode is playing probably the only sane character in the film.

This is one strange movie. I don’t know how I actually feel about it. In fact I am not sure whether I liked it or not. I can’t even guarantee that you will like the movie if you are a Beethoven fan. Here’s the plot:

Beethoven (Ed Harris) needs a good copyist so his helper has asked for the best music student to copy Beethoven’s notes. He is appalled to find out that the student sent is a young woman -Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger). Despite his and Beethoven’s prejudices, Anna is determined that she is indeed the best student and she will try her best to gain Beethoven’s trust and put up with his idiosyncrasies. It isn’t easy, since he can be gentle or mean and she can never know what he will be in the mood for.But albeit complicated, their relationship becomes stronger in time.

Favorite Scene:

The concert premiere, where Anna helps Beethoven leads the orchestra, since his hearing difficulty is making it difficult to lead on his own- both Diane Kruger and Ed Harris are wonderful in this scene and the music is well..amazing. Even if you are not into classical music…

Favorite line:

Ludwig van Beethoven: I’m a very difficult person, Anna Holtz, but I take comfort in the fact that God made me that way.
(from imdb.com)

Performances:

* Diane Kruger is good. Matthew Goode plays her romantic interest and he is lovely. Another supporting actor is Joe Anderson- he plays Beethoven’s nephew. He is good at reflecting the differences between him and his famous uncle. They are all pretty OK. But Ed Harris is just so brilliant and so unrecognizable. Why he wasn’t nominated for another leading actor Oscar is beyond me. Maybe the academy is planning to give him the freaking award the next time he is nominated- he has been nominated for 4 times already! (Twice for leading, twice for supporting actor)

As a movie:

It is rather about the music, the man and the girl’s determination. Nothing much really happens so do not get into it expecting lots of events or interesting dialogue. But…if you are an Ed Harris fan, do not miss it.

Fact:

6.8 on IMDB, voted by over 4.600 people. What is interesting is that the movie’s discussion board has like 15 pages so a lot of people have reacted to this film. I am still not sure what to make of the film, but I am positive that I now have even a higher level of respect for Harris.

Other Ed Harris Movies

Swing Shift starring Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell & Ed Harris

A Beautiful Mind starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris & Paul Bettany

Other Diane Kruger Movies

Wicker Park starring Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne & Matthew Lillard

The Hunting Party starring Richard Gere, Jesse Eisenberg & Terrence Howard. Feat. Kruger

City by the Sea starring Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand and James Franco

Posted on February 20, 2010 Written by ripitup

City by the Sea with Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand and James Franco. Gripping, emotional, intense. Just the way we like to get from De Niro. Plus, James Franco is really good too.

Police Dedective Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) has had walked out on his wife and eventually his son Joey (James Franco) and moved away from Long Beach. He is happy hanging with his girlfriend Michelle (Frances McDormand) and just doing his job.

Meanwhile, his estranged son has turned into a junkie and killed a drug dealer in a fight. With his son’s name as the head suspect, Vincent’s other past secrets will resurface and he will have to deal with everything he has run away from. Things are not what they seem and his girlfriend might just regret she ever wanted him to open up…

***

Need I say De Niro is great as the estranged father with a troubled past? His character Vincent has flaws he is not proud of but he has done a good job of avoiding them so far.

James Franco is really good as the bright-boy-turned-junkie. The movie is really good asking some troubling moral questions and dealing with the relationships between the characters.

City by the Sea is by no means a thriller. It is a slow-paced, strong drama with characters you care about. It makes you react to events and question motives and reasons. Expecting action sequences will only disappoint you. This is a fine drama which should especially be seen by Robert De Niro and James Franco fans.

6.1 on imdb. It deserves something over 7, at the very least. Hell, 10/10 for Robert’s acting and presence alone. Let me know what you think.