dirac

A cache of Spanish Civil War photographs by Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and David Seymour aka Chim has been discovered.

Oh, that's too bad. I'm sorry to hear it. I didn't get much from The Age of Anxiety, either. I think Robbins did a ballet - don't know if that helped. I love the Prokofiev, too.

I agree. He was very appealing in both movies. He doesn't suggest any hint of dangerousness, however, which was fine when he was a juvenile and probably part of his appeal but doesn't help as a star ages. I must disagree respectfully with those who thought he was appropriately cast in "Dangerous Liaisons" - he was likable as he always is but not particularly convincing as a member of his caste or a young gentleman of the period, and the only reason he didn't stick out like a sore thumb was because he wasn't alone in the cast in having that problem. I liked the movie anyway, though.

Pop impresario and television host Don Kirshner has died at age 76. RIP. Those of a certain age will remember Kirshner almost as well for the memorable impression Paul Shaffer used to do of him on Saturday Night. Playlist

FWIW, I didn't get that impression at all.....(which is what puzzled me when I first started reading the negative comments about how the film was a poor representation of ballet). There was a substantial amount of advanced publicity about how Natalie Portman had danced as a teenager, had gone into serious ballet training for the film, had lost a ton of weight, had spent extensive time with Benjamin Millepied to prepare for the dance parts of the role, etc. etc. I would have expected this to feature ballet, but as described by those who have seen it, ballet is an excuse to have a controlling mother and a Svengali figure. In addition, there was much talk from the chief participants in the movie about exploring the "dark side" of ballet, the harshness, intensity, competitiveness, etc., as Leigh noted much earlier in this long thread. In fairness it should be noted that several dancers who commented on "Black Swan" willingly took up the same themes.

Oh, it's been ages since I heard this -- thank you so, so much! You're welcome. It's still a funny number after all these years.

It's a free country, Sandy, so you certainly can. I think what I meant by the word is clear in context.

Kids, we're getting a bit off topic here. This is a thread for discussion of the movie "Black Swan." Awards talk directly related to the movie is fine, but if you'd like to talk awards, clothes and Golden Globes, there's a thread open in Other Arts here.

Speaking of inappropriate speeches - Robert De Niro's probably took the prize. Not thanking his hosts was the least of it.

It is a question of propriety, I suppose, admittedly an old-fashioned word for an old-fashioned concept. Portman's personal life and choices are one thing and entirely her own business. An unwed mother announcing tongue-in-cheek while accepting an award for professional achievement on national television that her lover likes to sleep with her is, well, another. I have no idea what Portman's parents think but I know what mine would. Catherine Zeta-Jones made a similar highly personal announcement at the Tony ceremony concerning her own marital relations, and the fact that she's married didn't make it any less embarrassing. But that's showbiz and truth to tell, if everyone was as tasteful as Colin Firth, occasions like the Golden Globes would be even duller than they often are. Party on, good people of Hollywood, and tell us all you want in your speeches.

I saw that. Rather sweet.

Nice speech from Colin Firth, which I expect he'll be repeating in some form on Oscar night. I wish the Americans would take their cue from the Brits, Kate Winslet excepted, when it comes to speechmaking.

Good point, EJohnson. Yes, he was perfectly cast as Neo.

Thank you for the link, Mashinka. I liked Reeves in some of his early roles and he's made some interesting movies even if he wasn't necessarily the most interesting thing about them. There is something of the eternal juvenile about him and he had trouble graduating to mature parts and shedding the Valley Boy diction that was right for, say, Ted, although he's hardly responsible for Kenneth Branagh's unfortunate casting choices and deserves brownie points for trying. Offscreen he seems like a decent fellow. No "worst actor" threads, please.

I also saw Millepied sitting next to Portman and the camera cut to him during her speech, which contained far too much information. ("I am the beautiful reflection/Of my love's affection/A walking illustration/Of his...adoration....")

The Golden Globes ceremony took place tonight. Anyone catch it?

Hers, of course. I think her argument is sadly misguided. We can agree to disagree.

I didn't realize that Huckleberry Finn wasn't read in college. In any case it's just as fit for high school reading as it ever was, and I find this sort of statement very sad. Nor is kicking the can down the road a bit likely to help in many circumstances.

Hi, FauxPas. Welcome to the discussion. I like Midler and so prefer not to bring up that version of Gypsy, which I saw only once and thought badly misjudged.

Thanks, Anthony. Amusing read.

A useful distinction, I think. According to the Post Streisand is thinking about directing it herself. I'm not sure anyone would give Laurents responsibility for a big budget film. Of course, "The Mirror Has Two Faces" was quite expensive.

Thanks, Quiggin. "Mr. Norris" and the "Berlin Stories" are on the right side, I think. They are more subtle about it. (Isherwood's most vile characters are pointedly not German, and Isherwood doesn't exempt himself.) Isherwood's Sally is capable of "I've just been making love to a nasty old Jew producer" or words to that effect, and she doesn't mean it and yet she does. Not a line that would make it to Broadway, of course - you can't have Julie Harris, et al., saying unpleasant things that might make the audience dislike them. (As for the diaries - I dipped into the first and out of respect I have no plans to read the latest. You can't always go by letters and diaries anyway - Saul Bellow seems so appealing in his letters, but guess what.....)

I wouldn't say "needy" applies to Streisand in any sense. She's too strong for that - "underdog, " yes, but that doesn't necessarily imply weakness or need. She can be vulnerable, but it's not the same thing. Of course, to many observers she has seemed an unlikable steamroller, so there you go. I think Laurents was wondering if she was really willing to plumb the depths - by the time of "Rose's Turn" Rose may well be mad - will Streisand go there?

More from the Post. (You and Laurents apparently had the same reservations, Helene.)

sidwich did discuss Richardson and the production earlier. I admired Richardson and miss seeing her but wouldn’t go so far as to call her “great," may she rest in peace.