Showing posts with label Scarlett Johansson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scarlett Johansson. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Newbury and Hobbes Dream Casting: Scarlett Johansson as Veronica Hobbes

Name: Scarlett Johansson

"Dream" Character Casting for the George Mann Newbury and Hobbes Miniseries: Veronica Hobbes

First Impression: My first impression of Scarlett was rather forgettable in Ghost World as the rather boring best friend. Though in all honesty, I don't really remember much about Ghost World at all, I watched it the day of my grandfather's funeral because I was too sick to go with a horrid inner ear infection, so perhaps I should maybe watch this movie again sometime?

Why they'd be the perfect actor for the Newbury and Hobbes Miniseries: Not only does Scarlett have the requisite beauty to play Veronica, as well as looking fabulous in historical costumes, but if her recent showing in The Avengers movies proves anything is that she can kick serious ass as well. In fact it was that most Steampunky and David Bowie-y of movies, The Prestige, that had me thinking that the dynamic duo of Newbury and Hobbes couldn't do better than Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson... that was until I recast Hugh, sorry Hugh.

Lasting Impression: As the bored bewigged girl in Lost in Translation. In fact I think this is the first time a lot of people started to sit up and take notice of her. Not only did it revitalize Bill Murray's career, establish Sophia Coppola as more then just an art house director, but it really got the bigger offers coming in for Scarlett.

What else you've seen them in: Well, if you haven't seen The Avengers and Scarlett as Black Widow, well, I don't know what planet you've been living on. Before her becoming ubiquitous in the Marvel franchise, she did a lot more art house films with big name directors, from Sophia Coppola to Woody Allen, even a film with Brian De Palma. She's made a few missteps with a bad movie here and there, but for every The Island there is a Her, where people are protesting award category rules to allow her to be considered even though only her voice is in the movie.

Can't believe it's them: North!?! Literally her first movie role and something I remember seeing in the theatre! All I remember was watching this movie as a jaded high schooler and thinking, damn, this is shit. And you can hold me to that review.

Wish they hadn't: Have you seen Scoop? If you haven't I would avoid it like the plague. I remember the insanely wonderful press of the movie, it's Woody Allen, it's Scarlett Johansson, it's Hugh Jackman! It's putting me to sleep with how boring it is... oh look, she can swim. Yawn. If you want to see good Jackman and Johansson just watch The Prestige!

Bio: Scarlett, unlike a lot of celebrities, seems to not make much of a splash and was able to successfully transition from a child actor (though only in a few roles) to an adult actress without too many bumps in the road. She has a very distinct husky voice and usually garners critical acclaim for many of her movies while mixing them up with blockbusters that really pad the bank account. Oddly she was married to Ryan Reynolds for a few years, and I always thought it a bizarre pairing, an amazing actress who has played opposite heartthrobs like Colin Firth with the guy who played Berg on Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, a show I really want on DVD for Nathan Fillion FYI. She's also stared in a few plays, again to rave reviews, and oddly released an album, seeing as I hadn't heard about that I'm guessing it wasn't released to rave reviews... She just had her first child, a daughter named Rose and has a lot more Marvel-ous movies coming soon!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Tuesday Tomorrow

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Published by: Touchstone
Publication Date: August 18th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"
Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills."

You have probably heard of Philippa Gregory, if just for the fact that her book, The Other Boleyn, was made into a big budget movie staring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. Whether you liked the movie or not, her historical fiction should be read and enjoyed for itself. While most of her books surround the Tudors in the 16th century, The Other Boleyn included, The White Queen marks the beginning of a new series surrounding the Plantagenent's in the 15th century, during the War of the Roses. The Plantagenent's were the rulers of England until the War of the Roses marked the end of their dynasty and the beginning of the reign of the Tudors. I'm looking forward to this book, because while loosely linked to her most popular series, we are in for a treat of new characters and new perspectives. Plus perhaps a supposition from the author, in her capacity as scholar and storyteller, as to what really happened to the two princes in the tower. Philippa Gregory will be touring the United States to promote this book so if you have a chance go out and catch an appearance, I sure hope to.

Tour Dates:
BOSTON, MA:
Monday, September 14th at 7:00pm
B & N College event @ Tsai Performance Center (Boston University, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston MA 02215)
**Price tba for VIP seating tickets, no ticket price for regular seating.

PRINCETON, NJ:
Tuesday, September 15th at 7:00pm
Princeton Public Library @ Nassau Presbyterian Church (Princeton University, 61 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542)
**Tickets $10 in advance for priority seating, no ticket price for regular seating.

BROOKLYN, NY:
Wednesday, September 16th at 11:00am
Berkeley Carroll Upper School (181 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
**Private event for students and faculty only.

NEW YORK, NY:
Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00pm
Barnes & Noble (150 East 86th Street, NY, NY 10028)

TORONTO, ON
September 17th at 7.00pm. Indigo Books @ Royal St. George’s College, 120 Howland Avenue. Tickets $5 at ticketweb.ca or 1.888.222.6608

CHICAGO, IL:
Saturday, September 19th at 1:30pm
Anderson’s Bookshop @ Tivoli Theatre (5021 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515)
**The event will be ticketed (price tba) with the book as part of the purchase.

ATLANTA, GA:
Monday, September 21st at 7:00pm
GA Center for the Book @ Decatur Presbyterian Church (205 Sycamore St, Decatur, GA 30030)

HOUSTON, TX:
Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00pm
Blue Willow Books (University of Houston Sugarland, 14000 University Blvd, Sugarland, TX, 77479)
** Ticket price tba (will not include cost of book).

SEATTLE, WA:
Saturday, September 26th at 4:00pm
West Sound Reads @ Bremerton High School (1500 13th Street, Bremerton, WA 98337)
**The event is free, but will reserve preferential seating with the advance purchase of the book from the participating bookstores. The stores will issue 2 tickets for each book purchase.

VICTORIA, BC
September 28th at 7:30 pm. Bolen Books @ Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue. Tickets $10 at Bolen Books ($5 towards purchase of book).

LOS ANGELES, CA:
Thursday, October 1st at 11:00am
LA Public Library – Library Foundation Council luncheon (Regency Club, 10900 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA, 90024)
**Private event for Library Foundation Council.

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