Mila Kunis played Natalie Portman's doppelganger in "Black Swan" and art seems to be imitating life as their careers and lives advance on parallel paths. These two stage sisters have a lot more in common than just being petite, brunette beauties.
Showing posts with label natalie portman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natalie portman. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Is Mila Kunis Natalie Portman's Real Life Doppelganger?
By Aphrodite M.
Mila Kunis played Natalie Portman's doppelganger in "Black Swan" and art seems to be imitating life as their careers and lives advance on parallel paths. These two stage sisters have a lot more in common than just being petite, brunette beauties.
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Mila Kunis played Natalie Portman's doppelganger in "Black Swan" and art seems to be imitating life as their careers and lives advance on parallel paths. These two stage sisters have a lot more in common than just being petite, brunette beauties.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Top Ten Female Action Heroes in Film
By Aphrodite M.
The action hero genre is the stuff male fantasies are made of; skilled brute force, rewarded heroism and loads of damsels in distress. Suddenly the ungrateful damsels decided to stand up and save the clichéd male heroes. Females showed they could be self-reliant, kick butt and look good doing it. Whatever did they need men for?
The female action hero was an emasculating nightmare some men needed time to swallow. The tide slowly turned negating the abnormality of females as film action heroes and rewarding audiences with some of the most iconic and unique action heroines of all time. These ladies broke beyond female empowerment and into the realm of action hero legends.
10. Aeon Flux
Played by Charlize Theron in Aeon Flux (2005)
For the film version, this scantily clad double agent from the future opts for more conservative attire. Gone are the criss-crossed strips of leather she donned in the original 1991 MTV animated series and more functional, full-length spandex suites are introduced for the film. Even though there is far less skin showing, Charlize Theron does no less justice to this agile, acrobatic heroine. Flux is one of the most beguiling, imaginative and limber female heroines to date. She expertly maneuvers through death-defying mazes like no other. Plus, the love-hate relationship with Trevor Goodchild creates an added spark to an already tantalizing heroine.
9. Selene
Played by Kate Beckinsale in Underworld (2003)
Selene is a latex and leather clad, death-dealing vampire whose hobbies include exterminating lycan and expertly flipping off of high ledges. This vamp goddess, with luminescent ice blue eyes and perfectly pale skin, has an inquisitive nature which gets her into several high-stakes situations her adroit warrior skills always get her out of. Her enemies can suck on that.
8. Alice
Played by Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
This heroine was born of a video game and became an immediate fan favorite spawning several sequels. A genetically enhanced victim of the Umbrella Corporation, Alice wakes to finds Raccoon City populated by flesh-eating zombies and flashbacks of what has come to pass. Alice’s tenacious pursuit of killing zombies, while unmasking the evil corporation pulling the puppet strings, is a testament to her mass appeal. Besides, who else could make hospital gowns, head stitches and a wrecked, choppy, half-shaven head of hair look so good?
7. Nikita
Played by Anne Parillaud in La Femme Nikita (1990)
Played by Sigourney Weaver in Aliens (1986)
Before Will Smith came along in Independence Day, Ellen Ripley had become a pro at battling disagreeable aliens. In this sequel to Alien, Ripley masters the art of flame throwers, automatic weapons and destroying slimy aliens. Meanwhile, she maintains her motherly instincts in the course of her career shift from astronaut to alien assassin. Ripley shows that being tender, intelligent and tough are not mutually exclusive attributes.
5. The Bride
Played by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003)
The Bride, betrayed by her former lover Bill and her assassin squad, wakes from a coma and goes on a revenge-fueled killing spree. In one savage battle after the next, The Bride embodies William Congreve’s immortal words that "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned / Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." One might wonder if the uniform for a woman scorned is a bumble bee inspired ensemble.
4. “Lady Kung Fu” (Kao Yu Ying)
Played by Angela Mao in Hapkido (1972)
Angela Mao is one of the notable martial arts stars of the 1970’s. She played Bruce Lee’s sister in Enter the Dragon and had a break out role in the 1972 film Hapkido. In one epic fight scene Kao Yu Ying (a.k.a. Lady Kung Fu) gives a monumental beating to a man using her braid. It makes Lara Croft seem like an underachiever for her limp ignorance of braid fighting technique. Mao’s short but extremely iconic career as an action heroine created the mold for roles such as, Jen Yu and Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and O-Ren Ishii from Kill Bill Volume 2.
3. Yu Shu Lien
Played by Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Amanda Mao may have been one of the female pioneers in martial arts action films but Michelle Yeoh perfected the art. A Chinese Opera star who has reached great acclaim, Michelle Yeoh, as Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, displays such beautifully graceful movement and rich fighting technique that one could watch her without realizing the passage of time. Her skill is as mesmerizing as her acting chops and Yeoh is just as believable in action scenes as she is in the film’s love story. In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Michelle Yeoh reigns supreme.
2. Lara Croft
Played by Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Played by Linda Hamilton in Terminator II (1991)
As with any list, there are usually some honorable mentions which narrowly miss a top slot. One of several action heroine nods goes to Solara, played by Mila Kunis, in 2010’s The Book of Eli. Solara transforms from a victimized girl into a woman who fearlessly escapes her kidnappers. She pursues a cause greater than her own existence, all while expertly shooting semi-automatic weapons. Solara goes on to carry the legacy left behind.
Mathilda, played by a precocious 12-year-old Natalie Portman in The Professional (1994), is a survivor who knows how to stand her ground against a slew of bad guys. After losing her parents, the hitman Léon takes the young girl in and inadvertently shows her the killing ropes while she teaches him how to love in return. Mathilda courageously stands up to Gary Oldman’s expertly played, lunatic, drug addicted, dirty DEA agent. She may be scared but like a true action heroine she never backs down.
Storm, played by Halle Berry in the X-Men series of films, is a silver-haired, superhero vixen with the power to control the weather. She is a team player who tirelessly works to save and support her fellow mutants and humans alike.
O-Ren Ishii, played by Lucy Liu in Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004), was a strong contender for the top ten because any woman with the merciless audacity to cut someone’s head off for taking a verbal swipe at her heritage makes a notable action heroine.
Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang) in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) illustrates throughout the course of this martial arts ballet how someone so delicate and diminutive can be just as ruthless and skilled as any male action hero.
The action hero genre is the stuff male fantasies are made of; skilled brute force, rewarded heroism and loads of damsels in distress. Suddenly the ungrateful damsels decided to stand up and save the clichéd male heroes. Females showed they could be self-reliant, kick butt and look good doing it. Whatever did they need men for?
The female action hero was an emasculating nightmare some men needed time to swallow. The tide slowly turned negating the abnormality of females as film action heroes and rewarding audiences with some of the most iconic and unique action heroines of all time. These ladies broke beyond female empowerment and into the realm of action hero legends.
Played by Charlize Theron in Aeon Flux (2005)
For the film version, this scantily clad double agent from the future opts for more conservative attire. Gone are the criss-crossed strips of leather she donned in the original 1991 MTV animated series and more functional, full-length spandex suites are introduced for the film. Even though there is far less skin showing, Charlize Theron does no less justice to this agile, acrobatic heroine. Flux is one of the most beguiling, imaginative and limber female heroines to date. She expertly maneuvers through death-defying mazes like no other. Plus, the love-hate relationship with Trevor Goodchild creates an added spark to an already tantalizing heroine.
Played by Kate Beckinsale in Underworld (2003)
Selene is a latex and leather clad, death-dealing vampire whose hobbies include exterminating lycan and expertly flipping off of high ledges. This vamp goddess, with luminescent ice blue eyes and perfectly pale skin, has an inquisitive nature which gets her into several high-stakes situations her adroit warrior skills always get her out of. Her enemies can suck on that.
Played by Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
This heroine was born of a video game and became an immediate fan favorite spawning several sequels. A genetically enhanced victim of the Umbrella Corporation, Alice wakes to finds Raccoon City populated by flesh-eating zombies and flashbacks of what has come to pass. Alice’s tenacious pursuit of killing zombies, while unmasking the evil corporation pulling the puppet strings, is a testament to her mass appeal. Besides, who else could make hospital gowns, head stitches and a wrecked, choppy, half-shaven head of hair look so good?
Played by Anne Parillaud in La Femme Nikita (1990)
The appeal of Nikita as an epic action heroine isn’t simply because she’s a law-breaking tough-girl turned stealth, government killing machine. The real appeal lies in her romantic hopefulness and emotional vulnerability. Although riddled with emotional turmoil, she still holds out for a sense of normalcy. La Femme Nikita inspired a plethora of creative projects in its wake, including a remake for U.S. audiences starring Bridget Fonda, Alias, the TV hit starring Jennifer Garner, and two TV series named after the original film.
6. Ellen Ripley
Before Will Smith came along in Independence Day, Ellen Ripley had become a pro at battling disagreeable aliens. In this sequel to Alien, Ripley masters the art of flame throwers, automatic weapons and destroying slimy aliens. Meanwhile, she maintains her motherly instincts in the course of her career shift from astronaut to alien assassin. Ripley shows that being tender, intelligent and tough are not mutually exclusive attributes.
Played by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003)
The Bride, betrayed by her former lover Bill and her assassin squad, wakes from a coma and goes on a revenge-fueled killing spree. In one savage battle after the next, The Bride embodies William Congreve’s immortal words that "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned / Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." One might wonder if the uniform for a woman scorned is a bumble bee inspired ensemble.
Played by Angela Mao in Hapkido (1972)
Angela Mao is one of the notable martial arts stars of the 1970’s. She played Bruce Lee’s sister in Enter the Dragon and had a break out role in the 1972 film Hapkido. In one epic fight scene Kao Yu Ying (a.k.a. Lady Kung Fu) gives a monumental beating to a man using her braid. It makes Lara Croft seem like an underachiever for her limp ignorance of braid fighting technique. Mao’s short but extremely iconic career as an action heroine created the mold for roles such as, Jen Yu and Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and O-Ren Ishii from Kill Bill Volume 2.
Played by Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Amanda Mao may have been one of the female pioneers in martial arts action films but Michelle Yeoh perfected the art. A Chinese Opera star who has reached great acclaim, Michelle Yeoh, as Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, displays such beautifully graceful movement and rich fighting technique that one could watch her without realizing the passage of time. Her skill is as mesmerizing as her acting chops and Yeoh is just as believable in action scenes as she is in the film’s love story. In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Michelle Yeoh reigns supreme.
Played by Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Setting aside her ignorance in utilizing her own enviously long braid as a functional weapon, Lara Croft, a buxom video game character brought to life, manages to give the James Bond monopoly a run for its money. As much as Croft is a rebellious and adventurous weapons diva, she also maintains a modicum of manners and decorum. Lara Croft melds Indiana Jones and James Bond into a deliriously good-looking female package who can outmaneuver most of her male counterparts while making them drool.
1. Sarah Connor
Played by Linda Hamilton in Terminator II (1991)
Sarah Connor finally comes into her own in Terminator II as a true action heroine. Out of the guise of a meek waitress in Terminator emerges one of the most iconic and groundbreaking female action heroes of the early 90’s. She is absolutely stunning in all her lithe, muscular, no-nonsense, rifle-wielding glory. At the time, it wasn’t exactly the norm to see women with such distinct muscle tone and an unwavering sense of cool, but Connor owned it and made it credible. In the immortal words of Sarah Connor, "The unknown future rolls towards us. [We] face it for the first time with a sense of hope.” A sense of hope because the modern American action heroine is born!
As with any list, there are usually some honorable mentions which narrowly miss a top slot. One of several action heroine nods goes to Solara, played by Mila Kunis, in 2010’s The Book of Eli. Solara transforms from a victimized girl into a woman who fearlessly escapes her kidnappers. She pursues a cause greater than her own existence, all while expertly shooting semi-automatic weapons. Solara goes on to carry the legacy left behind.
Storm, played by Halle Berry in the X-Men series of films, is a silver-haired, superhero vixen with the power to control the weather. She is a team player who tirelessly works to save and support her fellow mutants and humans alike.
O-Ren Ishii, played by Lucy Liu in Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004), was a strong contender for the top ten because any woman with the merciless audacity to cut someone’s head off for taking a verbal swipe at her heritage makes a notable action heroine.
Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang) in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) illustrates throughout the course of this martial arts ballet how someone so delicate and diminutive can be just as ruthless and skilled as any male action hero.
Saving the best runner up for last is Foxy Brown played by Pam Grier. In all her fabulous afroed glory, Brown takes the Blaxploitation genre and makes it into a kitschy vehicle for female empowerment in Foxy Brown (1974). The exaggerated whimsy inherent in this vigilante film makes it no less entertaining. Foxy Brown creates the opportunity for a strong woman to take control no matter the farcical lines she delivers to the delight of her cult audience.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
83rd Academy Awards: Oscar Overview
By Aphrodite M.
The 83rd Academy Awards have come to a close and, of course, every viewer and reviewer has to put their two cents in about Hollywood
Although Franco and Hathaway are likable, young and fun they seemed to lack the commanding presence and innate humor of past Academy Awards hosts. The disparity was most notable when Billy Crystal took the stage. He had more charisma and personality than both of this year’s hosts put together. Also, Crystal’s anecdote, regarding his hosting experience when Bob Hope flipped him off after the cameras turned, was just the sort of material which holds the perfect mix of irreverence and interest to satisfy the audience at home and in the theatre.
Two other expected and deserved wins for this year were best motion picture for The King’s Speech, which won four of its twelve nominations, and best supporting male actor, given to a heavily bearded Christian Bale.
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Bob D'Amico / ABC |
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| Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images |
Franco and Hathaway both had a nervous energy which made for an uneasy viewing experience although they did exude a heaping spoonful of sweetness and enthusiasm. James Franco in drag as Marilyn Monroe had the makings of a great Saturday Night Live skit but it seemed a forced attempt at hilarity. Hathaway’s comedic musical number presenting the nominees for the night showed off her surprisingly strong voice.
Although Franco and Hathaway are likable, young and fun they seemed to lack the commanding presence and innate humor of past Academy Awards hosts. The disparity was most notable when Billy Crystal took the stage. He had more charisma and personality than both of this year’s hosts put together. Also, Crystal’s anecdote, regarding his hosting experience when Bob Hope flipped him off after the cameras turned, was just the sort of material which holds the perfect mix of irreverence and interest to satisfy the audience at home and in the theatre.
Even Sandra Bullock, who is not regarded as a stand-up comedian or stage performer, showed enough comedic presence and timing, when presenting the nominees for actor in a leading role, to put her in the running for a better hosting option. She had a flare and comedic ease which overshadowed Franco’s and Hathaway’s desperate attempts at humor. Bullock’s, and of course Crystal
Franco and Hathaway were a safe bet, though, considering the Hollywood crème de la crème were on edge after the Gervais-Gate uproar when Ricky Gervais’ irreverently and hilariously hosted this year’s Golden Globes.
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Melissa Leo "Consider" ad (Variety) |
Some of the more notable show highlights were Kirk Douglas' farcically aeonic presentation of the best supporting actress reveal followed by Melissa Leo’s F-bomb during her acceptance of said award. Leo's verbal slip-up was about as tremendous as her performance in The Fighter or the ad she placed for herself in Variety magazine promoting her Oscar nomination.
The show included live musical performances by Gwyneth Paltrow and Celine Dion. Paltrow’s performance was passable, although her voice lacked the strength and clarity to really warrant a live solo performance. It wasn’t bad but if one is commanding a stage with millions of viewers, it certainly wasn’t good enough. Dion’s voice was as magical and sharp as always and created a perfect accompaniment to the In Memoriam Tribute.
The female lead category held amazing nominees who were all deserving of the award. It’s no surprise Natalie Portman won, though, as she was the front runner and favorite. Her speech was enjoyable and she managed to thank nearly everyone in Black Swan which was an achievement in itself considering the time constraints. Also, unlike her previous acceptance speeches, she managed to avoid the use of profanity and any references to her fiancés amorous advances leading to her current impregnated state.
Colin Firth was hilarious when upon accepting the award for best actor he said, “I have a feeling my career’s just peaked.” His speech was just the right amount of cheeky fun, emotion and earnestness to make it one of the best acceptance speeches of the night. He also had the perfect exit, stating, “I have some impulses I have to tend to backstage.”
The Oscars closed with a song from the students of the PS22 School. The performance was sweet, although the fluorescent green and royal blue t-shirts the children were wearing made them seem like miniature inmates rather than scheduled performers. Surely, the budget for the biggest award show of the year would allow for more appropriate attire for these featured performers.
Also, all of the nominees walking out on stage behind the singing students made it seem like a talent showcase where the well-dressed judges come out to close the show. Hathaway’s high-fiving and fervent “wooing,” as the performance came to a close, pretty much ruined any pleasant after-glow which may have been had by the home viewers.
Of course, no Oscar review would be complete without a fashion mention. Anne Hathaway wore some very flattering and eye-catching gowns throughout the show, but her limply styled, brassy locks detracted from the glamorous attire. My best dressed picks of the night are Halle Berry in a nude, sparkle and tulle Marchesa gown and Gwyneth Paltrow in a silver, sleek, simple and sexy Calvin Klein dress. Also, Cate Blanchett’s light lavendar Givenchy gown was the most imaginative with strategically placed beading and a structured, almost architectural top half.
The worst dressed? In my opinion, as long as people feel good in what they’re wearing and their fashion choices inspire them, then they should go for it. Fashion should be fun and adventurous. Hats off to the fashion risk takers and congratulations to all the winners and nominees.
The worst dressed? In my opinion, as long as people feel good in what they’re wearing and their fashion choices inspire them, then they should go for it. Fashion should be fun and adventurous. Hats off to the fashion risk takers and congratulations to all the winners and nominees.
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| Kevin Winter/Getty Images |
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| Kevin Winter/Getty Images |
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