Kathryn Bigelow, doing the best work of her career at 61.
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“Exactly. The Oscars are a game of finding Ms. Right Now. But Bigelow is in the record books. If Zero Dark Thirty did win, it would be, to my mind, the only justifiable win against Lincoln.”
I’ve really enjoyed this years crop of films. It may be one of the strongest years for down-the-middle “solid” films, but the guttural importance of ZDT and the warmth and historical accuracy and performances in Lincoln are clear standouts. This year is reeking more and more like ’99 and ’07 with each screening and release.
Pedigree matters Ricardo, and everyone involved lived up to theirs in Lincoln.
What a woman.
Matt H , why do you start the comment with the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright ? That award was related to another work of his , not Lincoln. Just like Spielberg career. This necessity of bringing something from the outside to enrich Lincoln , when the movie speaks for itself and its mediocrity is baffling. The only reason people are talking about this movie , is exactly because of the talent involved….but the result is lackluster. Irrelevant fimmaking.
The only thing that got pushed during Lincoln was my bladder.
^ Diego – really? I would think the frustration would age her considerably.
Her bedding a much younger man on a regular basis helps her looking awesome.
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tony Kushner’s extraordinary screenplay does push the limits of cinema, as does Daniel Day Lewis’ brilliant performance. There’s nothing mediocre about Lincoln.
What sour grapes ? How can i dial down my personal opinion ? I find it mediocre stuff , that shouldn’t be awarded . Average is not something we should celebrate.
I agree with the perfect understandable bp winner. If we look at the past winners , artist , slumdog , kings speech….definitely Lincoln deserves to be in that group. Its a shame that its a group not known for its quality. And that should be the number one condition to receive an oscar. Something great that tries to push the limits of cinema.
You have got to be kidding that she is 61…completely ageless. She looks 20 years younger!
Can’t wait to see Zero Dark Thirty. Reading Manhunt right now, which supposedly Mark Boal read (I’m sure among other countless sources and documents) to prep for the film and it is fascinating.
I really don’t understand why some of you continue to say the things you said about War Horse. I can understand why you didn’t love it. It was sentimental. What happened this time? It means you will never like him whatever he does?
I’ll say this, Mecid, I like War Horse a lot better now after Spielberg made Lincoln – every once in a while he comes around with a film that reminds us all how great of a director he really is, and somehow it forgives many of his lesser efforts.
Hoo boy. Dial it down, Ricardo. LINCOLN is a fine film, even if it’s not nearly your favorite of the year (it isn’t in my top ten, but I’m not crying over my #1 film–ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA–not getting a Best Pic nomination; I don’t know if I’d wanna live in a world where that happened). One has to respect Speilberg’s film for its intentions and successes (particularly in performances and scripting). No point in trying to make hyperbolic, declarative statements such as your own. LINCOLN would be a perfectly understandable Best Picture winner, and most probably will barrel onto a win. Get over the sour grapes and accept it.
And audience is mostly 40+, which means it is intellectual film.
or loaded with fiber.
Every movie is a masterpiece these days. If anyone says that regarding lincoln , yes i find it hollow. And embarrassing , considering Spielberg’s past work.
Yeah Ricardo, but here we predict Oscars and if you think Lincoln is Oscarbait then it is brilliant Oscarbait. “MASTERPIECE” references aren’t something hollow, isn’t it?
The risk of the movie , or if its intellectual or not (a word i very much dislike) is something that should be extracted by the movie itself , his content. Not the marketing , the hype or if old people are watching . And Lincoln is the same sort of cinema that his being made over decades , and Spielberg style is completely frozen. There’s nothing in that movie , absolutely nothing in there that should be celebrated. Nothing .
I know people got used to movies with very little quality to receive oscars and other sort of awards. But we as an audience should ask for more. Much more. Not Lincolns , not Argo’s , Miserables and this sort of crap that gets released during this time of the year. This is forgettable cinema , that no one will remember 5-6 years from now. Made to win awarads , and then it will go back to where it belongs…the bottom of the barrel. Such a great year and we reduce the race to this sort of crappy movies ? C’mon !!!!
But Ricardo, Lincoln is one of the riskiest films of decade. I had to live its hype and it lived. And audience is mostly 40+, which means it is intellectual film.
Yeah mecid …Cinemascore. That perfect gauge , where avengers is the pantheon of filmmaking….lol.
I’ve got nothing against Lincoln , nor Spielberg (i’ve grown watching his movies.) Just mediocre stuff , from a director way past his time. Not a bad movie. Just completely mediocre. Simpleton filmmaking. Like Argo.
But if this type of movie keeps being awarded , it will never stop. The sappy stuff , tv tom hopper mediocre crap that united states of america loves to release between november and december.
There’s amazing cinema being made out there. A lot of it comes from the states. This sort of lifeless , and average films shouldn’t be celebrated.
Its kinda normal that Softly completely bombs. Its not safe filmmaking.
A zillion times better looking than Cameron’s current wife who looks like the crypt keeper.
Aw, that’s not nice. I thought Suzy looked pretty on the red carpet of THE HOBBIT. When I rewatched “Miami Vice” recently I found that she was on an early episode. She looks mostly the same.
@d2
Of course she has aged, she’s not a vampire, everyone ages! Bigelow has had age conserving plastic surgery and breast enhancement but it’s strategic, well done and done early. Most actresses go overboard with their plastic surgery and botox. Bigelow was smart about hers. She looks hot. A million times better looking than women half her age. A zillion times better looking than Cameron’s current wife who looks like the crypt keeper.
@Bigelow’s also making great films out of subjects that have traditionally been part of a man’s world and excelling at them. If the reviews on ZD30 hold up she will be getting another director nomination and might win again. My bet was on Ben Affleck but the ZD30 reviews are blowing Argo out of the water. We will see but congrats to her on her success.
oh god yes, avatar is unwatchable. It seems a twelve year old kid attempted to write a screenplay. Hurt Locker was and would stay a genuine masterpiece by all means.
Unlikely hood – they’re OK, but I wouldn’t put either above Strange Days or Point Break.
I guess the bigger point is that KB has directed maybe 10 films (?), and her two most recent efforts are (or are expected to be) gangbuster pieces. Clint, Allen, etc have how many films under their belts? And with quite a range in consistency – compare the last 20% of either’s work to hers.
Not taking anything away from either, but KBs professional arc should be noted, that’s all.
Sight and Sound releases their top 10 of the year, topped by The Master
http://thescreenteen.blogspot.com/2012/12/sight-sounds-best-of-2012.html
Wow she looks great, 61!!!! I can only hope to look half as good at her age…being a director must agree with her…she joins a few other stars who defy aging like normal people, e.g. Sofia Loren and Tippi Hedron. Plastic surgery may be involved but who cares!
Yeah, Ricardo. “F” cinemascore of KTS comparing to “A” of Lincoln proves your claims.
Oh yes , Killing Them Softly is ten times the movie Lincoln wishes to be. Nothing but typical sappy Spielberg. A bunch of monologues stitched by some dramatic scenes . The sort of emotion manipulation the director has built his career. Irrelevant music. Unremarkable composition. The banality we expect from 90’s+ from Spielberg. Not even DDL saves it.
Killing them Softly is a brilliant piece of filmmaking , that actually is much more relevant and interesting from a political point of vier than….Lincoln !!!
And i dont even what to talk about the form of this movie. Just breathtaking. This is the sort of film that tries to push the boundaries. Fantastic filmmaking that deserved to be talked about , not typical oscar bait like lincoln , argo and all this crapphy cinema usa usually produces to release this time of the year.
Steve50 – oh come on. Play Misty for Me and High Plains Drifter are damn fine films. You’re thinking of Woody Allen, maybe.
I don’t particularly think it’s useful to choose Best Picture winners the way we check off status updates on Facebook, “like.” “Like” should have very little to do with it.
I wasn’t choosing a BP winner. I only said I liked it. But I did think we were all in agreement that when it comes time to vote that that’s exactly what Academy members do. Choose the one they like, whether it’s best or not.
I don’t like LINCOLN and I don’t think it’s the Best Picture that I’ve seen this year and I’ve got lots to see yet. But that’s my opinion and I know it. I don’t go around trashing it because I like the people involved and it’s fine with me if they win. I’m one of the few who liked WAR HORSE for cripes sake. As far as I’m concerned my comment was pro-KILLING THEM SOFTLY not anti-LINCOLN. I think the only movie I’ve been giving a hard time this season is LES MIS. If it’s the bees knees like everyone says I’ll admit it. I try to be fair.
*Bigelow
Sasha, I know Les Miserables wasn’t your cup of tea, but are you really THAT sure it won’t be the Academy’s, either ? I mean…we are talking about the people who thought The Artist was better than Hugo, The King’s Speech was better than The Social Network etc. Also, I don’t see Silver Linings Playbook as a threat at all. Unless it picks up serious business during the holiday season, I think it will be only a filler BP-nominee without a BD-nod. If the Spielberg-Affleck-Biggelow-Hooper quartet happens, Weinstein has to pull out all the stops to secure Russell the 5th slot which won’t be easy, not with the likes of Ang Lee, Peter Jackson, Paul Thomas Anderson etc. vying for the same slot.
Anyway, I REALLY hope Bigelow will make history once again and become the first female director to score a second BD nomination. I’m also rooting for Jessica Chastain in Best Actress.
This weekend opened of the best movies of the year. Dominik’s Killing Them Softly. This is the sort of film that should be celebrated. An amazing piece of cinema.
I remember Sasha liking it, but she’s so far ahead of most of us with seeing movies. I only saw it yesterday. I came out wondering about my patriotism as I like it a hell of a lot better than LINCOLN.
I remember Sasha liking it, but she’s so far ahead of most of us with seeing movies. I only saw it yesterday. I came out wondering about my patriotism as I like it a hell of a lot better than LINCOLN.
That is silly talk. I saw it in Cannes and it’s okay. It’s decent enough. But…it’s nowhere near Lincoln. And how well you like lincoln depends on how willing you are to really think about what’s happening in that movie, not just in the plotline but everything going on around it. I don’t particularly think it’s useful to choose Best Picture winners the way we check off status updates on Facebook, “like.” “Like” should have very little to do with it.
Lincoln is starting to “float” at the box office, a sign of a BP win… think ABM, SDM and TKS. Films that don’t drop week to week have terrific WOM. In Lincoln’s case it means it’s not just critics, the film isn’t too intellectual.
Lincoln is starting to “float” at the box office, a sign of a BP win… think ABM, SDM and TKS. Films that don’t drop week to week have terrific WOM. In Lincoln’s case it means it’s not just critics, the film isn’t too intellectual.
Right. And most of my pundit friends are not seeing this. They’re too busy listening to people writing it off for being “too talky.” I’ve seen this phenom play out before. To my mind, and we’ll see if I’m wrong (I am half wrong most of the time), nothing can beat Lincoln. The only one that has even the remotest chance is Silver Linings because it’s an emotionally moving story that makes you pull for the characters. I see it and hear it “out there.” But for some reason it is not lighting up the box office the way it should.
This weekend opened of the best movies of the year. Dominik’s Killing Them Softly. This is the sort of film that should be celebrated. An amazing piece of cinema.
Age is just a number. I didn’t need to know which one was hers. I like her movies regardless. She looks like she’s in her 30s. There’s too much age crap in the media lately. Especially with women. I think it started with all that “cougar” crap. How self-respecting women could allow themselves to be called animals is beyond me.
The worst thing I heard with the ageism in movies this year was when THIS MEANS WAR came out. I was on AICN and guys my age were saying that Reese Witherspoon was too old for that role. I was surprised that Gen X had that attitude. Gen Y, yeah. They’re a little weird. They kinda believe everything they read/hear. I’m not sure why. But the worst part was, if you’ve seen the movie, it only makes sense for a woman 30 or older to be playing that part. I think it was because she was dating at all that made them think she was too old. I guess there’s a new image of 30 year olds being grandmas. lol IDGI But it seems that you should have been married and had several children by then. I don’t know where that came from.
So I guess to most people someone who’s 61 should be beyond an old age home. I wonder where they think they go. Like do they think they just start embalming them ahead of time and keep them refrigerated? Anyway, it’s a just good reason to neither vote for Ben Affleck or Tom Hooper, they both have gold at home, and they’re only 40. They’ve got at least a couple years before it’s time for the home.
GIVE OSCAR TO THE OLDIES!!!!
It seems this year will be like Sophie’s Choice for Sasha: Lincoln vs Zero Dark Thirty…
For some reason I always thought her as early 50s, if not late 40s…She looks amazing…
It seems this year will be like Sophie’s Choice for Sasha: Lincoln vs Zero Dark Thirty…
Na. Zero Dark Thirty is BP winner material. But that’s not the main reason. It’s the same reason Les Miz can’t and won’t: the director has been celebrated too recently. That’s my take anyway. They rarely do that. Oh, sometimes, as with Oliver Stone (who didn’t win two BP/BD so close together) and Clint Eastwood. I think it’s time to look at that topic a little more carefully.
I just fell off the chair – 61?? Looking good as hell (and kicking ass professionally).
a very Oscar friendly new poster for Quartet 🙂
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=97588
She’s a wonder. Unlike many male directors and their weakness with the getting it right with the opposite sex in their films, she manages to zero-in on the male psyche and directs in an efficient and completely unsentimental way. She has smashed any misconceptions about a “woman’s touch”.
Following up THL with Zero Dark Thirty removes any doubt about her abilities. When you track her filmography, she’s actually found success more quickly than many of her male counterparts (how many films did Eastwood direct before he got the hang of it?).
By the time she’s done, I’m certain that she’ll be regarded as a directing icon among her peers, as well as becoming the perfect role model for women behind the camera. It’s been a long time since Lina Wertmuller and Bigelow’s two most recent works will probably easily surpass LWs best films.
I only wish I didn’t have to wait a couple more weeks to see ZDT.
61!!?!?!?!?!?! Holy sh“““`t!!! She had me fooled for a couple of years there…
Grrr…is would be too much to hope if she gave that Director Oscar she swiped in March 2010 back to its rightful winner, her ex-husband…
Grrr…is would be too much to hope if she gave that Director Oscar she swiped in March 2010 back to its rightful winner, her ex-husband…
Yes, he deserved them for visual effects. But she made the better movie. Avatar is not watchable now. Despite its visual effects it is Cameron’s worst film.
someday in 2013:
Who is this gorgeous lady in the picture? It’s a 4 time Academy Awards winner, director Kathryn Bigelow.
Saw this tonight. Best Picture of the year, no matter what wins . . a pensive masterwork with a truly badass final act.
Saw this tonight. Best Picture of the year, no matter what wins . . a pensive masterwork with a truly badass final act.
Exactly. The Oscars are a game of finding Ms. Right Now. But Bigelow is in the record books. If Zero Dark Thirty did win, it would be, to my mind, the only justifiable win against Lincoln.
What makes Bigelow “hot” — more than anything – are her intelligence, maturity and razor-sharp focus.
Damn. I wish male directors were that hot at 61. Or maybe I’m forgetting somebody. I certainly didn’t put a lot thought into whether one exists. But, none jump to mind, at least as far as those who aren’t movie stars.
Ang Lee, 58
What??? 61??! You’ve got to be shitting me. I figured when she won the Oscar, she was about 50. Looking good, KB.
Holy F*ck! 61? Really?! She’s ageless and very beautiful. Hasn’t aged a day in the past 20 years, or at least in how she carries herself.
61?!? What a woman. Can’t wait to see her on the red carpet next February.