43 Responses for "Drudge Bait – Thandie and Ricky Make a Porno"

1. Chance October 25th, 2008 at 9:23 am 1

   “Let’s melt the North Pole!” Lol, great find, Sasha! I love Thandie…wish she’d get better roles. But, no, W. is probably not going to happen. Crash is where it should have happened…now I’m just waiting for her next great one.

   She even did the finger lick and the winks! Lol, I’m sure that wasn’t scripted!

2. Guy Lodge October 25th, 2008 at 9:34 am 2

   Supporting actress contender… really? I thought Newton was really weak in W — the only member of the cast who fell into overt parody. The performance just sat so awkwardly with the others — she seemed to be on a totally different wavelength.

3. Noah R. October 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am 3

   I’m seeing W. tonight, so I can’t judge on her Oscar chances, but I couldn’t get through this clip without grimacing. I remember when Ricky Gervais was an edgy and hilariously funny new presence who used to look down on celebrities indulging in this kind of self-parody. *sigh* Someday maybe he’ll make me laugh again.

4. Sasha Stone October 25th, 2008 at 9:57 am 4

   A lot goes into making a supporting actor or actress contender and it isn’t always just on the performance. Thandie seems to have a bit of that going on and if it’s a weak category, she has a shot. Tilda Swinton was just okay in Michael Clayton – nothing that spectacular – I mean, she was fine and all. But her win was a win for the movie (a theory I never bought until I watched it happen, though Dave Karger always said it would). Newton could be the one nod for W, especially if they wish to stick it to Bush in any fashion. She’s also pretty and talks with an accent.

5. Chance October 25th, 2008 at 10:03 am 5

   “She’s also pretty and talks with an accent.”

   Lol, no argument there! Almost makes me wanna go watch that W. movie…

6. Guy Lodge October 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am 6

   All true, Sasha — though I think if the Academy does want to honour “W” (and I doubt they’ll really feel obliged), Elizabeth Banks would be a better bet.

   Banks has got kind of an “it-girl” factor right now, and I thought her performance was pretty strong. It helps that she has the most sympathetic role of the lot.

7. Edward Douglas October 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am 7

   Have you seen W, Sasha!?! Almost across the board, every review has trashed THandie’s performance as being distracting in how bad it was.

8. FIRONLINE October 25th, 2008 at 10:28 am 8

   Oh man Sasha, I’m with Ed, but I’m pretty sure you HAVE seen “W.” (!!?) Newton gives an apocalyptically awful performance and, as Ed said, no one has praised her at all (quite the opposite, in fact). I’m not sure HOW you can compare that to Swinton, who I would admit wasn’t great, but few would say she was actually BAD. I’ll declare right now that if Newton gets a nomination, I will personally resign myself from all things Oscar… but it won’t happen, I’m sure of it. Everybody may no nothing but, uh, I at least know something.

   And before Newton’s fans attack me, I have no beef with the actress; she’s been good in a number of things– Demme’s “The Truth About Charlie” comes to mind, and I guess she’s OK in “Crash”– but her depiction of Condi is over-the-top SNL style (but not even funny enough for that). The point is, it’s tonally way off from the rest of the film (which is, mostly, pretty OK, and at least creates decent characterizations). Wait for something else to champion the gorgeous, accented actress over, or at least a DIFFERENT gorgeous, accented actress this year (Hi, Sally Hawkins!). –Sam C. Mac

9. Edward Douglas October 25th, 2008 at 10:31 am 9

   It does feel like Supporting Actress is a very open field right now, which was not the case at this time last year or previous years. I do think Debra Winger and Marisa Tomei are definite possibilities… maybe Elsa Zylberstein from I Loved You So Long? Maybe Penelope Cruz for Woody Allen’s movie (screeners were sent out) rather than Elegy

10. Joe October 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am 10

    Thandie Newton was the absolute weakest link in “W.” and her accent was off-putting and almost irrational. Sasha, I respect your Oscarwatching greatly, but you are wayyyyy off base here. Thandie’s performance is almost laughable, and this is coming from someone who thought she should have been nominated for “Beloved” and “Crash.”

11. john October 25th, 2008 at 10:46 am 11

    You must mean she’s a contender for the RAZZIES. And I loved W. I also loved Tilda Swinton in MICHAEL CLAYTON, so I’m not seeing that comparison, either.

12. Manuel October 25th, 2008 at 11:30 am 12

    Thandie Newton as a serious contender for W. ?!
    I see where the ‘oscarwatching’ comes from, but I doubt any sort of mathematica/theoretical model approach to the Oscars is exempt from actually evaluating the performance at face value. Newton is horrible in the film. I agree with everyone on this: she’s distracting, over-the-top and quite cringe-inducing. There are much better choices from that cast to choose from if you really think the Academy wants to “stick it” to Dubya: Jeffrey Wright, Josh Brolin… even Banks who doesn’t get many interesting scenes. I’d even jump on the Burstyn bandwagon before I fathom seeing “Thandie Newton” being uttered come nominations morning.

13. Edward Douglas October 25th, 2008 at 11:54 am 13

    I can see JOsh Brolin getting nominated for W. but Best Actor is once again a really crowded field and you’re talking about movie biz people aka liberals… I think many would see casting a vote for W. would be supporting Bush… and who would want that?

14. Rob Y October 25th, 2008 at 12:02 pm 14

    I am surprised that Drudge doesn’t have this on his site. I think I will send him a message.

15. Bing147 October 25th, 2008 at 12:44 pm 15

    Newton won’t happen, Banks would be far more likely but is still unlikely. But I’ve read over 20 reviews of W and not one has praised Newton. in fact, I’ve read at least a dozen that singled her out as the weakest in the cast with at least 5 or 6 saying she was razzie worthy. That’s literally the most absurd idea I’ve heard all week is her getting in. If they want to honor W in a supporting category, Banks could happen, likeable, makes more of it than there really is to make of it and she’s having a big year. Or maybe Dreyfuss, well reviewed and he’s a vet and no one has emerged to take the vet spot which is usually available in supporting actor. But Newton just won’t happen. I’ve seen literally one person on the entire internet that liked her. ONE! She’s actually quite likely to get a Razzie nomination.

    Heck, her ‘performance’ would be bad in an SNL skit, its a bad parody when everyone else inhabits their character.

16. a-dog October 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm 16

    Yes, Newton is bad in “W”…

    BUT…

    It shouldn’t even matter. The role is simply too small. She never strings more than a few words together at one time. There is absolutely no meat to the role. I don’t even think they could find a clip to show at the Oscar telecast.

    Judi Dench in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE had way more to do, and she was only on screen for 8 minutes.

17. Sasha Stone October 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pm 17

    Well I don’t know. I thought in the beginning she was kind of bad but got better as the film went on and seemed to be kind of great when all was said and done. I’m not saying she definitely IS GOING TO GET NOMINATED. I could never say that about anyone at this stage – and even in later stages because you just never know. She’s worth considering. The role might be too small but it’s funny. She got the most laughs when I saw it. Maybe they were laughing at her. I see no reason to completely shut her out of consideration, though, just because you people are telling me to.

18. Ryan Adams October 25th, 2008 at 1:24 pm 18

    See what Thandie Newton can do when she has a decent dialogue to work with? For a cold reading, that was brilliant.

    If it’s not in the script it’s not on the screen, and (in the script I read) the role for Condi required Thandi to be nothing more than a link in a chain of checklist clichés. See what you think:

    W. scene
    Nailin’ Paylen scene

    But I haven’t seen W. so this comment is based purely on instinct. The excerpt above is the first major interaction with Condi Rice in the old version of the script. For all I know, it’s not even in the movie. Somebody who’s seen the film can tell me when Thandie Newton has her best scene.

    It seems to me that Oliver Stone made a movie from a script that’s not even as sharp as porn filler.

    [* "If it's not in the script it's not on the screen" -- speaking of clichés ]

19. srh1son October 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm 19

    How long is a porn script usually? 20 pages?

    Because those two pages contain a sex scene (described in a single line), a scene of clever innuendo (except, not reallly) and then another sex scene (described again in a single line). That could easily be 10 minutes of a movie.

    I see how the industry pumps out so much product. They can write this shit in an afternoon and be in production within a few days.

20. Ryan Adams October 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pm 20

    srh1son, the script for Nailin’ Paylen is 15 pages.

    Never having seen a porn film myself, I’m assuming there must be a lot of improv that’s not specifically detailed in the screenplay.

    One of those sentences is true.

21. Ryan Adams October 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm 21

    “I see how the industry pumps out so much product.”
    …dipping your nib in some clever innuendo yourself there.

    btw, Sasha. lol@ your headline.

22. Free October 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pm 22

    I totally disagree with the idea that Thandie was weak in “W.” She and Toby Jones completely nailed their characters, then Brolin and Banks. The usually reliable Wright, Dreyfuss and Glenn were the weakest links. I don’t think anyone is assured a nomination, but Brolin, Thandie and Jones deserve each deserve one.

23. Ryan Adams October 25th, 2008 at 2:38 pm 23

    So No Country for Old Men gets an Oscar nomination for only one performance, and W. deserves at least three acting nominations? Is this what we’re saying?

    I know this is a dry month, guys, but let’s take a step back.

    “Certainly W. has the stuff Oscar nominations are made of!” proclaims Pete Hammond. er…

24. Matt Mazur October 25th, 2008 at 2:49 pm 24

    The placement of Thandie amongst such other viable contenders certainly must be a joke?

25. Free October 25th, 2008 at 2:50 pm 25

    No Country and W. are worlds apart for several reasons, but while the former just got one nomination, that doesn’t mean it didn’t DESERVE more. I would have nominated 3 in that instance, too (Macdonald and Brolin along with Bardem). I doubt anyone will get nominated for W. based off of mixed reviews and disappointing box office returns, but those are three people I think deserve recognition in some form or fashion.

26. Jeff October 25th, 2008 at 2:52 pm 26

    Please take Thandie Netwon off the Contender Tracker. It hurts your site’s credibility! If anybody from this movie should be nominated, I agree that it should be Brolin or Banks. Hell, I would expect Dreyfuss, Wright, Jones or Cromwell to get a nom. before Newton.

    Ryan, go see W ASAP so you can weigh in.

27. whoo October 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pm 27

    Agreed with Jeff. Sasha, Thandie was horrible, and I’m shocked you have her on the contender tracker. Talk about the possibility of losing credibility…

    But don’t be mad. I love the site!

28. Ryan Adams October 25th, 2008 at 4:04 pm 28

    Free, I agree with you about deserves vs receives.

    Just seems to me that supporting acting awards are most often nods to significant films that are among the dozen or so most respected of the year. If there are not 20 more prestigious films this year than W., then it’s gonna be a sad year.

29. Andrew October 25th, 2008 at 4:16 pm 29

    I liked Thandie’s performance in W. It’s a matter of taste, but it was a stylistic choice by Newton, and some of the Condoleeza moments were the only ones where I actually laughed out loud during the movie. I disagree that this was an SNL type portrayal. I think Newton took this very seriously, and she stretched herself in a way that she hasn’t before. If there’s fault, it’s with Stone who decided to let the actors do as they pleased. The performance stood out in the movie because other actors like Cromwell just played a character, and didn’t try to imitate George Sr.’s mannerisms. Anyway, Newton is long overdo.

30. Sasha Stone October 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pm 30

    I’m certainly not going to take your word for it that it “hurts my credibility.” Hell, that was shot a long time ago. I’m not even really going on my own opinion here, just the general buzz I’m hearing (though obviously not with these commenters, lol). It’s about time somebody called out Condi anyway.

31. Free October 25th, 2008 at 4:49 pm 31

    Sasha, I’m with you on Thandie. Maybe some of the differences of opinions has to do with the fact that people STILL hate anything/everything to do with Crash (j/k. . .kind of)

    Andrew, I felt the exact same way about Cromwell. I love the guy, really, to death, but it never seemed like you were watching George, Sr.

    Ryan, yeah, I agree with that, and like I said, I honestly don’t think ANYONE from W. has a great shot. But I would say that for us to have virtually 2 more months left, with no film that’s come close to outdoing TDK or, really, stealing Ledger’s place (or even challenging it), this probably will end up being a weak year. It already is once you compare it to the magnificent 2007, or even 2006, which was a good year, too. Sad or not, if both TDK and WALL-E end up with BP nods, that’ll be nice by me.

32. S.T. Stevens October 25th, 2008 at 5:53 pm 32

    Hate to just be an echo from the chorus, but this is asinine. Newton was atrocious in W., all she had to offer was a Condi impression, there was zero depth to the performance. But aside from my opinion, I really think you’re just being an idiot putting her on the contender tracker. The only way I can think to explain this is that you want her to get a nom, not that you think she can. Universal critical reception to her performance has been negative, there is absolutely nothing I have seen to indicate that she has any shot whatsoever.,

33. Daniel October 25th, 2008 at 7:41 pm 33

    Loved Newton in Crash, but definitely not in W. (which I saw last night…definitely the only possibility is Brolin).
    I thought she was way to over the top and they way she didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the cast made me feel awkward. However, if you think she has a chance, Sasha, I’m not going to argue with your judgement.

34. The Natural October 25th, 2008 at 8:45 pm 34

    “Judgment” is spelled with only one “e,” FYI.

35. Daniel October 25th, 2008 at 9:37 pm 35

    Actually, I believe both “judgment” and “judgement” are correct. Both are accepted on Dictionary.com and the same definitions are given.

36. Daniel October 25th, 2008 at 9:49 pm 36

    Con’t…

    After doing some research, it seems to me that both “judgment” and “judgement” are accepted in Canadian English while “judgment” is preferred in the US. Since I’m a Canadian, it looks like I can get away with using both!

37. Andre October 26th, 2008 at 4:26 am 37

    want to marry thandie…. NOOOOOOW

38. Paul Outlaw October 26th, 2008 at 12:18 pm 38

    Love me some Thandie, but I don’t see the Kodak Theater in her immediate future. Even if she had been good in W, she would have less chance of a nomination than Ruby Dee had for American Gangster. Oh, wait… Never mind.

39. S.T. Stevens October 26th, 2008 at 2:38 pm 39

    “After doing some research, it seems to me that both “judgment” and “judgement” are accepted in Canadian English while “judgment” is preferred in the US. Since I’m a Canadian, it looks like I can get away with using both!”

    Universal health care, Wolf Parade and alternate spellings of “judgment.” Damn, what don’t you Canadians have?

40. Daniel October 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm 40

    Lol, S.T. Stevens, that’s quite a coincidence because I happen to be listening to a Wolf Parade album right now!

41. FIRONLINE October 26th, 2008 at 10:40 pm 41

    Of course you are! You’re Canadian! What else would you be litening to, Sam Roberts? Maybe, if you’re %^#$&#&#&!

42. Londoner October 27th, 2008 at 7:54 am 42

    In response to Noah R: This clip does not show what transpired beforehand. Graham Norton had showed them a quirky internet site which listed “Top 20 Men who look like Old Lesbians”, and the list featured Ricky Gervais, along with other men like John Denver. This explains Ricky Gervais’ comparison of himself to a “fat lesbian” in this clip.

43. backto1960 November 8th, 2008 at 1:02 am 43

    I just want to feed Thandie…she’s as thin as a rail