(Mari) It's not offensive, it's worse: it's trite. To which, Richard Curtis would respond, "Whoopsie daisies." ;-) Don't believe it....If he tells that story to the journalists here, he'll get laughed at. This quip will be his standard for press conferences, interviews, etc., and we'll get as tired of it as Huge's SAS training. ;-)

(Karen) This quip will be his standard for press conferences, interviews,.. Followed closely by the comment from the journalist from Texas on HG's speech. Ya' know...I find the latter hard to believe.I think he's getting back at the US for the depiction of the British in WAGW;-)

(Evelyn) I think he's getting back at the US for the depiction of the British in WAGW;-) *snort* Oh, you think he saw it?

(Times)When a film kicks off with a voice-over about September 11, musing on the "I love you" phone calls of those trapped inside the Twin Towers (Mari),Every time I read about this intro, I have a "no shit, Sherlock!" moment of erotic proportions.:-( It's not offensive, it's worse: it's trite. Incredible tragedy pressed into the service of the incredibly banal. Maybe I'll feel differently once I see it. This has bothered me too. Glad you got your poster, Moon. Has HS's run ended? Yes, alas, it has ended. It was doing only one time slot only in the theatres near me last week. Expect it to go to video. (Tress), The speech HG gives....along with the 9/11 reference, will be picked up by critics. Richard Curtis is part of the luvvie crowd. Also known as "radical chic". They hate the us, but they love the US $$$.

I have only now caught up reading all the posts about the GWAPE and LA adventures/reviews/articles/comments etc, and am going to wait 'patiently' for both to be released where I will be able to see them.

What I forgot to say was, Thank you for all the reports.

(Times)When a film kicks off with a voice-over about September 11, musing on the "I love you" phone calls of those trapped inside the Twin Towers Does anyone know, do they actually play the tapes? Hope not, as IMO I think this is a very personal matter for the families, and not something to be used in a movie, no matter what intent they have for doing so. I don't know how to explain it but I think mentioning those poor people who died so tragically is just in poor taste and shouldn't be done. I'm sure there's other things they could mention about those brave people, other than their last words to their loved ones. Just don't think its respectful. Hope they change their minds. The best to know how people will be affected are those who have seen it. Tress are the statements made disresptecful? I'd hate to see this movie lose money because viewers are offended and pass the word on. Saving Grace, however IMO, is that its HG who says it and not Colin. That's a plus. LOL. Thanks for the interviews Mari, Murph and Beedee. Glad you got your poster Moon. Perhaps the Manager decided you really deserved it. LOL.

(Fan Pam"Does anyone know, do they actually play the tapes? ") No the tapes are not played, we just hear HG's voice saying it and it does not sound disrespectful

(Pam) Tress are the statements made disresptecful? I didn't think so...I mean, people (IRL) talk about 9/11 and to me, the voice over/monologue sounded as if he (HG) was just talking to a buddy. It didn't sound rehearsed (though it was), and I think, it was made with good intentions...I didn't think it was disrespectful at all (IMO, of course). Wish I could have it written down as spoken. I was prepared for it, and it was not what I thought it would be...but I think people should talk about it. Maybe some don't approve of the medium, but a lot of people will see this, and I don't think it was done badly...and it may start positive discussion about how we feel over two years later (it did here!!). Was more surprised at how Americans were 'represented' in the film...

So share your "surprise" with us, Tress.

Never mind, Tress, I see your comments on the Spoilers topic.

(Mari) GWAPE's MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some sexual content) (Where???;-) Mari, I think the reason for the PG-13 rating is the one scene where Van Ruijven grabs Griet while she is hanging the clothes to dry. I'll go to Spoilers with this, if anyone is interested.

I`ve been away too long. 1240 new posts! I try to read every one of them some day, but now I just need to know: is there a new baby Firth already. A girl or a boy?

Hi Odessa. It's his third boy, Matteo.

You can rent and download WAGW from Movielink. High speed connection probably needed. It says if you rent there are extras to see: Rent What A Girl Wants

Hi all! I just wanted to know who is/might be planning to be in NYC for the premiere on 11/6. I know this isn't the place to discuss detailed arrangements, but as I have sat at the computer and almost bought plane tickets already three times, I hoped to know with whom to discuss this exciting upcoming event. ;-)

I'm going Shoshana!!!I think we may be well represented there!

If there are people who would like to share their plans for NY, email me at the "office" (nomdedrool) and I'll give you a location for discussing this.

GWAPE will be screened at the Hamptons International Film Festival (East Hampton, NY). Fest runs October 22--26.

From the Irish Examiner, a short article on Cillian Murphy, of GWAPE: http://www.examiner.ie/breaking/2003/09/24/story114725.html Pearls before flying Stunning Irish actor Cillian Murphy has lost out to Christian Bale in the battle to be the next Batman. But fear not, for the Cork native�s next big screen adventure Girl With A Pearl Earring looks set to strike box office gold. The period drama, also starring Colin Firth, has already received plaudits across the pond with Variety calling it "intelligent" and "visually ravishing" and another reviewer confessing it "took my breath away". Sounds like a match made in cinema heaven!

Thanks Katty, this is great news.

From Dave Poland's Hot Button column, entitled "23 weeks until Oscar": No Virginia, there is no Toronto wave� Twelve of the films in Toronto this year were arriving with some real Oscar race aspirations this year. The words "American Beauty" were passed about in hushed tones. But what we learned about these films was that pretty much every one was D.Q.ed in the first round. The class of the lot - 21 Grams, Lost In Translation, Matchstick Men and Veronica Guerin - were well received and warmly reviewed. But each faced limitations. 21 Grams is a strong picture, but is very, very harsh and will clearly have trouble with the somewhat squeamish Academy membership. Lost In Translation was practically deified, but seems to be a bit too intimate to break through the pack in a year heavily dominated by studio supported titles. Matchstick Men has turned into a box office success ($25 million so far), but may be too early and again, too intimate, to get a lot of Oscar attention. And Veronica Guerin is well made and well acted, but the only person with a shot at Oscar traction is Cate Blanchett. Faring significantly worse after some festive festival exposure were Girl With The Pearl Earring, The Human Stain, In The Cut and Wonderland. As a rule, reactions ranged from middling to negative on these pictures. Of course, each of them has its supporters. Girl With The Pearl Earring, in particular, won the "It looks good" award in the potential category, out "attractived" only by Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall � & Spring. But any hope that these titles had to find their way to bigger and better things were dashed. Somewhere in the middle were four films - Dogville, Love Actually, Shattered Glass, The Station Agent - that got a nice reaction, but simply don't have the right stuff for Oscar.

Thanks, Mari. I'd like to know if anything from the festival had the right stuff for Oscar? I bet GWAPE gets a nom for cinematography and musical score. It might even get some Foreign Press award noms too. So all that talk of Scarlett was just empty hype?

(Moon) empty hype? Isn't all hype empty? ;-) Nothing wrong with being classified in the "looks good" category IMO. People are more apt to watch it (vs an ugly film), admire it, and vote for it. Plus you get the cinematographer vote too. The "artistic" stamp is rather important and separates the wheat (good reviewers) from the chaff (Dave Poland).

(Karen)The "artistic" stamp is rather important and separates the wheat (good reviewers) from the chaff (Dave Poland). Thanks Karen. I was wondering who the hell Dave Poland was. So he's not *cream of the crop* to borrow from rottentomatos.

Yes, Mom, the fund raiser is still under way. After one week, we've raised about 20 percent of our goal and there are a number of pledges outstanding. Many fans tell me that Drool is an important part of their day. They enjoy getting the up-to-date news and sharing in the lively and unique banter found on our boards. In order to ensure Drool's continuation, I hope to hear from more of you soon. Drool has always been a very international community; its membership is not limited to a single country. To help facilitate contributions in the UK, Lizza has again volunteered to collect cheques in the UK if you prefer not to use a credit card or similar-type arrangement. If you're outside the US and want to make a contribution, please email me at nomdedrool@yahoo.com to discuss your options and to get addresses. I want to remind all that every little bit helps insure that Terry (shown below) will not have to make his monthly appeals. ;-) Note: If I have not personally thanked you by email, then I haven't received your donation or notification of it from Terry. I want to thank the first batch of 2003 Drool Darlings:

You should be receiving my check too. It's been posted. And thank you Karen for being our drool darling #1 hostess. ;-D

Looks like it was only Peter Webber at San Sebastian yesterday, giving a press conference. Yesterday was GWAPE's intitial screening and there are more today and tomorrow.

From the SS film fest as translated by Babelfish.. As beautiful surprise the British film can be described ' the young person of perl�, adaptation to the cinema of best to seller of the same title, that competed yesterday in the Official Section of the festival of San Sebasti�n, next to the French tape ' Twilight roj�, carried out by Marisa Walls. ' Twilight roj�, that bases its plot on the history of three personages, received one cold welcome on the part of the critic. ' the preciosistas young person of perl� transfers to the screen similar illustrations to the pictures of Vermeer, Dutch painter who in 1665 painted the picture ' the young person of perl� inspirador of the novel. ' the young person of perl� supposes the debut in the direction of Peter Webber, a tanned British film director in telefilmes for television, that has been surrounded by impressive an equipment, formed by the photography director Eduardo Serra, candidate to the Oscar by ' the wings of palom�, the production designer Horseradish tree Goes You, that worked in ' Orland� and the haird essing salon and maquillaje of Jenny Shircore, winner of the Oscar by ' Elisabeth'. Of this form, the transfering to the screen of the novel of Tracy Chevalier - published in 1999 and of that they were sold more than two million unit give like result a series of images that are preciosistas similar illustrations to the pictures of Vermeer, the Dutch painter who in 1665 painted the picture ' the young person of perl� inspirador of the novel. In the novel, the author collects the few data that there are on the life of Vermeer to create the personage of the mysterious woman who inspired the picture. One is Griet, a young person which after an accident that leaves its blind father, she must put itself to work like servant in house of the famous painter, incarnated by Colin Firth. Gradually, Griet attracts the attention of Vermeer then, in spite of its difference of social class and education, the great teacher discovers in the young servant a talent intuitive to understand the color and the light, so that it is surrounding to the young person in the mysterious world of his paintings. Vermeer was a careful painter who took several months in giving by finished a picture, reason why it was difficult to maintain the rich standard of life to him to that her family is customary, for that reason is their mother-in-law the one that, intuiting the attraction arisen between the painter and the servant, proposes that he paints it solo, attracting with it the jealousy of the wife of the artist and desires of the Machiavellian pattern of the artist. The film meticulously recreates the scenes of the Dutch painting of century XVII, whereas the history of love between the artist and his model is presented/displayed of a subtle way, fleeing from the topics.

Sorry, heer is the link.. http://www.estrelladigital.es/articulo.asp?sec=cul&fech=26/09/03&name=sanse

From The (Australian) The Sunday Telegraph, September 21, 2003, this scene may seem familiar to some: SCARLETT'S A RED-HOT ITEM AT FILM GALA Teenage actress Scarlett Johansson was the toast of the Toronto Film Festival last week and succeeded in wrapping countless men around her finger. Now it seems even "Mr Darcy" has been caught in her web. Fellow actors, producers, directors and a host of male admirers, continuously fawned over the 18-year-old during the 10-day festival, as she won lavish praise for her starring roles in Lost In Translation and Girl With A Pearl Earring. British actor Colin Firth, who co-stars with her in the latter, was forced to wait a full 10 minutes for Johansson when she needed a toilet break at the film's premiere at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. Firth, well-known as "Mr Darcy" for his roles in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary, accompanied Johansson to the public rest rooms immediately after the film. Firth, waiting for Johansson to come out, looked increasingly embarrassed as he hovered outside the women's room while bewildered fans looked on. After poling his head in on a few occasions, Johansson, wearing a stunning black dress, high heels and pearl necklace, finally emerged with an entourage of six women. "Sorry, Colin," she said with an embarrassed smile. "I got stuck gossiping."

Release strategies...an excerpt Nikki Rocco, Universal's president of distribution, released "Seabiscuit" in 1,987 theaters on July 25, then expanded it to 2,419 theaters the following week. Amid a slew of high-profile, theoretically pre-sold titles like "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over," Universal's strategy offered some strategic counterprograming for adult audiences that had been left out of much of the summer film frenzy. For "Seabiscuit," the slow path to profitability seemed to pay off: The film is still playing and has grossed $116 million after eight weeks. "We knew this wasn't a front-loaded film," said Rocco. "We were cautious to make sure to open it with enough room to have the word of mouth get around. It was a great strategy and we'll do it again." In fact, Rocco will take a similar route with the romantic comedy "Love Actually," which will bow Nov. 7 in 500-600 theaters. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030926/film_nm/film_tuscan_dc_1

(Karen's article) Firth, waiting for Johansson to come out, looked increasingly embarrassed as he hovered outside the women's room while bewildered fans looked on. I think we need to get Tress a framed version of this article! :-))

(Karen's Artical)Firth, well-known as "Mr Darcy" for his roles in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary, accompanied Johansson to the public rest rooms immediately after the film. Firth, waiting for Johansson to come out, looked increasingly embarrassed as he hovered outside the women's room while bewildered fans looked on. After poling his head in on a few occasions, Johansson, wearing a stunning black dress, high heels and pearl necklace, finally emerged with an entourage of six women. ROTFL! Tress already told us about his *potty vigil* and now we know the conclusion!

I taped Coming Attractions on E! last night on the off chance they had a clip of Love Actually. They did! It airs again today at 1p est and on Sunday at 330p est..after that I don't know. It's the clip that doesn't show that much of CF, although when Coming Attractions showed the release dates on screen his name was third behind HG and ET.

One man's opinion! Movie Poop Shoot - Jeffrey Wells: "Talk about Richard Curtis' LOVE ACTUALLY (Universal, Nov. 7th) being a Best Picture contender is some kind of sick joke. It's being shown at the Showest exhibitors convention in Orlando, Florida (Sept. 29 to October 2) and there's no question that squares and go-alongers will love it." http://moviepoopshoot.com/elsewhere/index.html

looked increasingly embarrassed as he hovered outside the women's room while bewildered fans looked on LOL, Tress you've made the papers. (PW)and there's no question that squares and go-alongers will love it. Hmmm. Am I a square or a go-alonger?? I'll spend the weekend deciding. Thanks Karen, Murph and Maria.

...looked increasingly embarrassed as he hovered outside the women's room while bewildered fans looked on. Okay...first I thought this was a joke by the boss (is it?). But now I am relieved to know I have been deemed "bewildered" and not "crazy"! LOL! So ODD! There were maybe 25 people there...and we (bewildered fans) numbered about eight. I want to know who saw this that reported it to the Australian?? Anyway, I told a co-worker about how I was rooted to the spot, frozen, while ODB looked at us. I said it was like looking at a deer in the woods. You didn't want to make any sudden movements because you didn't want to frighten...yet you wanted to look, so you remained v. v. still.

(PW)and there's no question that squares and go-alongers will love it. (Linda)Hmmm. Am I a square or a go-alonger?? I'll spend the weekend deciding. I'll just be a square going along happily to a well regarded film featuring Our One and Only Dear Boy!

(article)Colin Firth, who co-stars with her in the latter, was forced to wait a full 10 minutes for Johansson when she needed a toilet break at the film's premiere at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. LOL! And Tress you were right there! What a coincidence, guess you can say Ur-ine Town at the exact same time as they are ;-)!

was forced to wait a full 10 minutes for Johansson when she needed a toilet break I just have one question, here. Why?

was forced to wait a full 10 minutes for Johansson when she needed a toilet break (Linda)I just have one question, here. ...Why? I'll bet da wife will want to know this too.;-)

...was forced to wait a full 10 minutes for Johansson when she needed a toilet break (Linda) I just have one question, here. Why he waited or why it took her 10 minutes? Both are a mystery (she claims she was gossiping, which if I had been in the restroom and come out and seen her, I may have had a few questions to ask ;-D)!! ODB probably thought it was safer to wait in the hall by the loo (for the ten minutes) than out where there were eight women staring him down! (Maria) I think we need to get Tress a framed version of this article! :-)) I was thinking the same thing! I'd frame it next to my 'special Sharpie'! ;-) I'll have to go on a search downtown.... (Bee) ROTFL! Tress already told us about his *potty vigil* and now we know the conclusion! Here I thought I was reporting nonsense and that no one else would care/notice this moment (and that it would be out of ODB's head as soon as we were out of sight). Now there is written evidence....hopefully ODB doesn't read the Sunday Telegraph. Embarrassing! (Lora) LOL! And Tress you were right there! What a coincidence, guess you can say Ur-ine Town at the exact same time as they are ;-)! ROTFL.... I still think he dashed to the loo to avoid his 'bewildered fans'!

I can't help but think how valuable would be a photo of all the women standing and watching Colin outside of the ladies toilet. What a missed opportunity. The type that would win a photojournalistic prize. ;-)

(Karen) What a missed opportunity. GAH! Tell me about it! Would love to have a pic of all of us (including ODB) with the "Washroom" sign above all our heads! BUT, I was told, by my security friends (cuz I did ask), that I was welcome to stay as long as I put the camera away!! The last thing I wanted was to have an 'escort' on the way to the exit!

"Talk about Richard Curtis' LOVE ACTUALLY (Universal, Nov. 7th) being a Best Picture contender is some kind of sick joke. It's being shown at the Showest exhibitors convention in Orlando, Florida (Sept. 29 to October 2) Sonia? This is your chance!!! Thanks, Murph!

It's being shown at the Showest exhibitors convention in Orlando, Florida (Sept. 29 to October 2) and there's no question that squares and go-alongers will love it." (Moon) Sonia? This is your chance!!! And I'll need help to take it! The website for ShoWest says it's for showbiz industry people only, the site for ShowEast which is holding the convention in Orlando wasn't so specific. So I'm turning to the panel herewith for best advice for crashing, uh make that attending, this shinding. Screening for LA is tentatively scheculed for October 2 from 3p to 5p.

I took the dive today and am no longer a Colin DVD virgin. I ordered my *first* ODB movie. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which one to order for my birthday and ended up with P&P since that movie got me started on this journey. Up until now, I've been renting. I also ordered the books, Under the Tuscan Sun and GWAPE. Now we'll just have to see how long it takes for the valuables to arrive. My afternoons won't be the same since I'll have the DVD I can put in anytime I like. What to order next.... Michelle

(Michelle)Now we'll just have to see how long it takes for the valuables to arrive. My afternoons won't be the same since I'll have the DVD I can put in anytime I like. Great and dangerous choice Michelle. I got (and still get) a lot of mileage from P&P. No, I got obsessed with P&P. I can't wait for you to get it either! Let us know when it arrives.

Recipes from your favorite films (BJD included): http://www.mangiarebene.net/cinema/index.html

I was on IMDB this morning and saw this comment on GWAPE. Not sure if this is the right thread to put this on, but here goes: ....."The ladies will love Colin Firth as the moody artist. No one does grumpy quite as sexily as him." - IMDB comment I have to agree. I've never seen anyone smolder better either. Michelle

Studio Anti-Piracy Drive Could Alter Oscar Race By ANNE THOMPSON New York Times HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 26 � The race for this year's Academy Awards has been thrown off stride by a move by the major Hollywood studios to curb movie piracy. The studios hope to halt the distribution of thousands of DVD and VHS copies of Oscar-contending films to those whose votes decide the winners. Such a move may hurt the Oscar chances of smaller, independent studios, which have come to rely on the videos as a means of getting their films seen by Academy Award voters. The effort is being led by the Warner Brothers chairman, Barry Meyer, and Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. The video versions of the films, known as Oscar screeners, have frequently been found for sale on Internet sites like eBay, Mr. Valenti said. "Anything across the board that will reduce piracy by one-half of 1 percent I am anxious to do," he said. "Anything that gets movies in the hands of people before they go to home video is an invitation to piracy. I'm trying to close every loophole I can, and this is one of them." Mr. Valenti said he expected to have a signed agreement from the Academy's seven member studios by early next week. By late today, Mr. Valenti had also signed up two nonmember studios � DreamWorks and New Line Cinema, a Warner Brothers executive said. "We're almost there," Mr. Valenti said. "I have to get everybody on board." The major studios are united in their determination to fight the proliferation of illegal copies of their movies over the Internet and overseas. Mr. Meyer has been pushing hard behind the scenes to stop the mailing of Oscar screeners to the roughly 6,000 members of the Academy as well as to the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which sponsors the Golden Globe Awards; the Screen Actors Guild, which presents the SAG Awards; and the 28,000-member British Academy, which awards the Baftas. These award shows, all of them televised, have enormous impact on Academy voters. Because the studios are so concerned about lost revenues through piracy, it was not hard for Mr. Meyer and Mr. Valenti to convince the studios to sign on, several executives said. Besides, the major studios can afford to spend freely to advertise and screen their few Oscar contenders in theaters. But Mr. Meyer and Mr. Valenti have had a more difficult time convincing the studios' Oscar-minded independent subsidiaries to stop mailing the videos. These distributors have come to dominate Oscar races in the last decade and attribute part of their success to the wide exposure that the video copies have given their films, many of them not widely seen in theaters. These films include "The Pianist," "In the Bedroom," "The English Patient," "Shakespeare in Love" and "Fargo." "It will take the indies out of the race," said one Hollywood publicist who spoke on condition of anonymity. By Friday some independent subsidiaries, including Sony Pictures Classics and United Artists, had not signed on to the academy's anti-piracy effort. These are companies that live and die by their Oscar campaigns and their ability to attract Oscar-hungry filmmakers. They focus their attention squarely on the 6,000 Oscar voters and often do not put their films into wide release until after their movies have won nominations. An example was "Monster's Ball," a Lions Gate film. It earned most of its $30 million gross after Halle Berry won a best actress nomination. She went on to win the award in 2002. But independents that are not Academy members, like Lions Gate, ThinkFilm, Newmarket Films and IFC Films, do not have to follow the Academy's lead. They can do whatever they want to get Academy voters to view, say, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" or "Whale Rider." "Being able to send out screeners on DVD and VHS is an equalizing factor for the independent studios in getting our films in front of members' eyes," says Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate. "The studios may react by setting more screenings and taking more and bigger ads. We can't throw money at any release. We are not prepared to give that up." Several Oscar campaigners complained that the Academy's effort should have come six months ago, not after their Oscar plans are already in full swing. "It's obscene," says Mark Urman of ThinkFilm, who still plans to send out cassettes of "The Event," which opens next week and features a supporting performance by Olympia Dukakis. "We can't get more screening runs now, or make adjustments. We can't count on enough people seeing that film in limited release. I don't understand how indie films can compete if we're not allowed to send out cassettes and DVD's. It's so not the 11th hour, it's after midnight for this year."

Bet they don't get Harvey to sign either. Thanks Mari.

There's an article in the new issue of People magazine on Scarlett Johansson. "Don't even dream of patronizing her because of her age," says Colin Firth, 43, who stars with the "fun" but "bossy" Johansson in the drama Girl With A Pearl Earring, due in December. "She will voice her opinion in no uncertain terms."

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain Portugal's Eduardo Serra won the Jury Prize for Best Photography for Peter Webber's "Girl With a Pearl Earring," based on Tracy Chevalier's best-selling novel about a maid turned model for the Dutch master Vermeer. The announcement drew warm applause http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/6877369.htm

If anybody has TiVo and would like to see the LA trailer in a larger, clearer format than the online copy, select the menu option that's up at the moment to take "A special look at Intolerable Cruelty," and then select "Love, Love, Love" from the sub-menu. Incidentally, the written blurb with the trailer says "in theaters November 7," which I think doesn't quite match what we've heard.

Thanks, Rika, but it hardly has any Colin at all! I'll be in Italy in Nov. Portugal's Eduardo Serra won the Jury Prize for Best Photography for Peter Webber's "Girl With a Pearl Earring," based on Tracy Chevalier's best-selling novel about a maid turned model for the Dutch master Vermeer. I have a feeling this is the way it will go in the US as well. I LOVED what he did in "Orlando," he deserves the praise.

(Moon) Thanks, Rika, but it hardly has any Colin at all! I know (sigh). But at least it offered an opportunity to inspect the kiss on a larger screen (the one with her, not with the man). Doesn't look half bad.

They finally got some clips of GWAPE up from San Sebastian. Quality is pretty bad but... http://www.plus.es/codigo/video/videopopup.asp?strCodWeb=CINE&id=299777&lngCodContenido=299774&strPath=%2Fcodigo%2Fcine%2Fsan_sebastian_51%2Fvideos.asp&ver=Ver%3A+ Click on the little TV screen. No Colin though: http://www.sansebastianfestival.ya.com/2003/es/index_secciones.htm Thanks for the heads up, Ada, re: Coming Attractions. Peter Pan looked pretty good too...though I can already hear the crying about a Brit (Jasons Issacs) playing a baddie! ;-)

(Evelyn) Bet they don't get Harvey to sign either. I hope not, that's where most of mine came from. Dreamworks, too, though seems they're onboard. Unfortunately, since I'm not a voting member, not all studios send out to all members, just the voters. :-( (Moon) I LOVED what he did in "Orlando," he deserves the praise Didn't realize he did that one. I loved that movie, esp the look of it.

LA article that covers all the different stories, a pic (yeah!), a small scene of dialogue of each character and Colin's take on the 9/11 reference...Too bad the pictures cover the copy though... http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/oxfordshire/whats_on/preview_actually1.html

I saw the trailer of LA today when I went to see Under the Tuscan Sun. Also a movie about love....without a hidden agenda or exploiting an event;-)

Maria, thanks for the LA article. I found this on the same site. I know it's a bit of old news, now, but the date of the article isn't. A nice review from the UK for WAGW. Date published: Friday 05 September 2003 Review: What a Girl Wants (PG) Not that it tries to disguise the fact, but Hollywood loves a fairy tale ending... and by virtue of that, so do we -- apparently. That being the case, be prepared to fall hook, line and sinker for the slender dream-come-true finale of What a Girl Wants. Based on William Douglas Hume's 1958 stageplay, The Reluctant Debutante, Amanda Bynes stars as Daphne Reynolds, a 17-year-old New Yorker who goes in search of her English aristocrat father, Lord Dashwood (Colin Firth, of course) who doesn't know she even exists having lost touch with her mother Libby (Kelly Preston) years earlier. On finding her quarry, Daphne dabbles in English high society where the real upper classes are surprisingly accepting of the "vulgar Yankee", leaving the snooty snobbery to the social-climbing middle classes on the make. By their stifling standards, Daphne is gauche, gaudy and grating. To the real gentry she is a breath of fresh air. Naturally, Dashwood overcomes what's expected of him and defies his sense of duty to pursue the calling of his heart... and they all live happily ever after. What a Girl Wants is a safe, predictable fantasy. It's reasonably well made, shows a neat turn of pace and keeps well within the limitations of its cast. It could have been a cheap, easy exercise for the Yanks to poke fun at the Brits, but by keeping to the script, it actually takes a far more subtle view of the class war than is immediately apparent - accidents of birth are no indication of worth. And, for all its obvious emotional manipulation, it's nigh on impossible to completely dislike. Nick Churchill http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/oxfordshire/whats_on/MOVIE6.html

OK, now, I am spitting nails!!! Check out October 12: http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/filmschedule.php

Maybe something was lost in the / a translation? ;-)

Hooray for Austin FF...Unlike our neighbors to the north....we westerners have good taste in the films we select;-)))) Who's goin from Texas? The gang who went to New Hampshire must have gotten lost....

(Evelyn)Hooray for Austin FF...Unlike our neighbors to the north Am feeling like a stepchild here. We are not amused.;-) Where are our Los Angelenos? BAFTA LA is having a screening: Oct 14th Girl with a Pearl Earring Further details to follow Venue: Pacific Design Center Subject to change. This is an anticipated screening. Do not call the office or RSVP for this screening yet.

I think this is new. Tracy Chevalier has a page about the film, up on her website: http://www.tchevalier.com/filmnews.html

She sounds v. sincere in her assessment of the film; not perfunctory . Getting an author's thumbs-up is the highest form of admiration IMO.

(Karen), OK, now, I am spitting nails!!! Check out October 12: LOL! It's over my head. What did they do apply to every FF they could? whore ;-)

Thanks for all the articles, reviews and links girls. Good stuff.

(Moon) What did they do apply to every FF they could? whore ;-) They didn't apply to mine, the oldest juried film fest in North America, which starts in a few days!!! *gnashing teeth*

(Moon) What did they do apply to every FF they could? whore ;-) (Karen) They didn't apply to mine, the oldest juried film fest in North America, which starts in a few days!!! *gnashing teeth* The *whore* skipped Vancouver as well! Was actually very surprised about that one! Thought it would definitely be at that FF. And just 313 miles! But, really, what's 313 miles of good road? A very easy distance...

Hahahahahahahahah....yeeeeeeeeee Sorry. I'll get a grip. Will wonders never cease! October 12th in Austin Huh!?! I just paid the Drool piper, so I guess this is payback bigtime;D Thanks for the alert, Karen.

(Karen),They didn't apply to mine, the oldest juried film fest in North America, which starts in a few days!!! *gnashing teeth* That is a failing indeed! As far as I'm concerned the CFF is one to try for. To your expert knowledge, do many of the same films come to Chicago after Toronto? I wonder if there's a tacit understanding for it not to happen since they are so close?

Some do, many do not, but not because of any "understanding." Chicago's criteria is different than Toronto's. Toronto is an industry launching pad; there's no jury, maybe only an audience award. I thought GWAPE might come here because there's a "First Time Director" category too, and that FIPRESCI stuff. Gaaah!!! A pox on the current mayor's deceased father (the old Hizzoner, the Mayor), who didn't want the Hollywood people here and let Toronto take it all. :-( We have lots and lots of Iranian films this year and Chinese. There's a Balkan films sidebar too. Hmmm, have been pouring over my schedule, figuring out what to see.

One of the people who came to Toronto for the TIFF met Peter Webber at the airport on the way home in a bookstore. She gave me permission to share her encounter here: I had gone back to buy the Hope Springs tie in book. Webber was alone, unshaven, buying Variety & a few papers and seemed relaxed. After, he paid for them. I said to him "I really enjoyed your film. It was gorgeous and effective. Thanks for making it!" Just as he did when you guys asked for his autograph, he smiled and said "How on earth do you know who I am?" I told him I had been at the gala on Sunday and then we had a great little chat. He is interested in getting GWAPE signed into as many geographically dispersed Film festivals as possible to help get the word out. He is meeting shortly with his distributors and hopes to get them to proceed agressively. He wanted to know where I lived and what I thought chances were of it playing in my city. (I was honest. I told him that I thought unlikely that it would play in xxx that was why it had been so important to me to come to Toronto. Better that it would play in cities the size of Dallas and Houston. He knew his geography & asked where was a film festival closest to Northern Nevada that he could enter. ...I mentioned that anyone who had liked the novel would want to see the film & we talked about that. He also asked us to talk to friends about the film as much as possible. He thanked me for stopping him and said that talking to people was the most valuable part of these trips for him...

(Karen)A pox on the current mayor's deceased father Eh, maybe I'm just being dense, but does a pox work on dead people? I just did a search for NJFF, we do have them...ok no laughing because they are screening films that were in the theaters all summer. But look what I found at the Red Bank site. No, not the fact that the URL has the exit #. sheesh! Little Feat with Chuck Lambert Band Wednesday, 11/05/03 at 8:00 PM I wonder if HD will attend??? http://www.exit109.com/~redbank/

Vera, nice story of your friend's encounter with Mr. Webber. Thanks for sharing it. He's really doing the leg work to promote this film. His hard work is very admirable, and I hope it pays off for him. But will he get YKW to attend a GWAPE premiere in NYC or LA? Will there be one anywhere in Dec. (or is it Jan.?) before it goes to the theaters?

Thanks, Vera, for the story. The directors and producers of many small, indie films take them all over the country/world to fests. Unfortunately, I called our FF office and they told me that GWAPE wasn't even submitted.

(Lora) But will he get YKW to attend a GWAPE premiere in NYC or LA? Of course, he'll be there. I wouldn't even question it.

http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=194034&in_page_id=1202 femail.co.uk - 30th September 2003 Femail.co.uk has teamed up with DYMO LabelWriter, the world's leading label printer, to offer one reader a �1,000 cash windfall. And for runners up, we've got hundreds of pairs of tickets to see special DYMO LabelWriter screenings of Love Actually, a great new film directed by Richard Curtis and starring Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and a host of other British stars. The screenings take place in November at six different venues across the country and DYMO LabelWriter is inviting secretaries, PAs and office workers to apply for tickets. But over 200 pairs will be given away to Femail readers who enter our competition.....

Lora) But will he get YKW to attend a GWAPE premiere in NYC or LA? (Karen)Of course, he'll be there. I wouldn't even question it. Oh, Gawd! I am trying to still my heart over the news that GWAPE would play at the Austin FF when the possibility (however remote) that CF might actually tuck his long legs under a table at the our Four Seasons' Shoreline Grill sent me plumb aflutter again! Yeah, its unlikely to impossible. But this is the best chance we've got going - as many films as are shot around here, I don't foresee any of his projects requiring a central Texas backdrop:( As for the screening, it looks like its first come first serve unless you buy a pass for all the events. That's probably typcial. Any of you vets have advice for the novice on tactics? Ever grateful...

I still can't figure out YKW????

Exclusive Interview : Colin Firth Colin Firth had good reason to be confused when we met in a smoky Toronto hotel bar. He was at the Toronto Film Festival with not one, but two films. �It is a very odd experience hopping from one screening to another,� the low key British actor muses. The two films in question go from one cinematic extreme to the other. There is "The Girl with a Pearl Earring", based on the best-selling novel, a sombre mood piece in which Firth plays enigmatic painter Johannes Vermeer in this dark period piece. Then Firth reverts to romantic comedy with the far more commercial "Love Actually", from British scribe Richard Curtis, who makes his directorial debut with this gargantuan of ensemble comedies �I do like to mix and match�, which is why Firth jumped at the chance to play Vermeer. �I was sitting at home one day and a script arrives with an offer �Do you want to do it?� I go in and met them and said yes,� �, Firth explains, with his typical quiet reserve. �I was just really ready to do a bit of drama, since there had been quite a string of romantic comedies and light stuff, which is nice.� Films such as Bridget Jones� Diary, Importance of Being Earnest, and the very slight Hollywood comedy What a Girl Wants and Hope Springs, for instance. �I had been looking for years looking to do something like Pearl Earrings. In fact it was really odd, because in the first week of Pearl Earrings, I just thought �am I really doing something here where you don�t have to be tongue in cheek�?� It�s no surprise of course that Firth is often sent �the light stuff� as he puts it, because for the classically trained actor, stardom occurred through the pages of Jane Austin and one Mr Darcy, who was the beginning of that phase in his career. �I think romance and comedy has obviously found a way to go hand in hand in popular culture and I think if you get successful in one thing, it makes you employable enough.� Which is why Hollywood was quick to cast him in the light teen comedy What a Girl Wants, yet Firth denies that he opted to do that film � or any film for that matter � to raise his American profile. �it wasn�t that conscious. I think a lot of what we do is very random and on the outside, it is often assumed that everybody has some sort of strategy. I often read an analysis of an actor�s career and they talk about choices, in that they made bad choices for a while then good ones as if they were in a world of perfect choice. In fact, it is very odd, just looking back over the last few things, that I have done, I cannot see any pattern. Some of them worked out very badly and some of them worked out well, but there is no exact science.� Firth didn�t need too much persuading to join first-time director Richard Curtis� ensemble romantic comedy Love Actually, which contains several disparate comedic tales of love and friendship. Firth had worked with Curtis as a writer when he adapted Bridget Jones� Diary and understands his unique sense of humour. �He really does have this fantastically intelligent and self-deprecating wit that you associate with the films that he writes,� Firth observes. �He is doing something, which however mainstream it is, is quite different from what other people do and I think that it is actually only mainstream because he single-handedly made it so. It is quite hard to write about middle-class professional people, which is usually the stuff of sitcoms, but he actually manages to get some drama out of it.� Firth says that is especially evident in Love Actually, which is not all chuckles and guffaws. �Great drama comprises both comedy and tragedy, and I think Richard has been able to enmesh both and bring a genuine humanity to his work.� Much of Firth�s sequences were shot early in the production schedule on location in the South of France, and says there were no major dramas working on what seemed like such complex undertaking. �For me it was a simple pleasure from beginning to end. I think it was easy to say that because in some ways I could just jump right in and feel so little pressure as I�m not carrying the film. My whole story line could have been a total catastrophe and it wouldn�t be the end of the world. I decided to see what would happen if I just allowed myself to be carried by someone who hasn�t proved himself to be a master of this form. Also when my stuff was confined to the South of France, the schedule started with my scenes so it felt like it was my little movie for a while. Thus it was just easy to have a good time and get things right in 3 weeks.� Firth says he found it difficult to relate to the bumbling romantic he plays, mainly, he insists, �because I don�t feel like him at all or think I�m as nice as that guy. I wouldn�t be as patient and self-deprecating.� Nor as romantic, as he sees himself as �sporadically romantic which means that I don�t have a permanent romantic view of life,� says the cynical Firth. "I'm interested in emotion, its complications," he adds. "I'm not necessarily an optimist in terms of romantic love. I'm not the type of romantic who enjoys the weepy movie and then sighs sweetly about it. I'm more interested in the obstacles and the impossible than I am in resolution and happiness." Be that as it may, it�s Firth�s decade-old image of the shirtless Darcy that caused a plethora of females to figuratively kneel at his feet. Darcy still remains a part of Firth�s legacy. �It doesn�t go away. I am very surprised now, almost 10 years later it is still so present. I�m surprised it was a success at all at the beginning and then I was s rprised that people were still talking about it after six months.� Firth was also labelled one of the sexiest men alive, which he found both embarrassing and weird, but delightful as well. �Everyone likes to be flattered but it is weird because there is no one way that you feel about that. You do wonder, I suppose, especially as your career has to continue, what it is going to mean and yet I don�t think it has meant that much except that I have talked about it in most interviews,� he says with a dry smile. Firth prefers not to give his sex symbol image much thought. He is married to the Italian documentary maker Livia Giuggioli, whom he met in 1995 in Columbia while making Nostromo. Giuggioli gave birth to the couple's second son last month. Another long-term relationship with American actress Meg Tilly produced son Will, now 12, whom he visits frequently in Los Angeles. "Hey, I have a great life. I've got a nice home, great kids and a wife I love. So I feel blessed. But I consider myself a jobbing actor. I have to pay the bills. So I choose roles that interest me and allow me to get on with it." Perhaps for that reason he allowed himself to play the predominantly silent, internal and not particularly sexy Vermeer, in this fictionalized story behind one of the 17th-century artist's most famous paintings, suggesting that the girl in the painting was a maid (Scarlett Johansson) and that his wife and family were scandalized that he would use the maid as a muse. Because not much is known about Vermeer, Firth had to invent him by looking at his painting which so happen to be scattered throughout the globe. �The tacit nature of the character has been drawn somewhat on the tacit nature of the paintings. You have this sense of quiet in the work within what must have necessarily been a chaotic household. There�s no question about it, with 11 children running around. It was an active world. He grew up in a pub. The beer consumption was enormous. This was a world that wasn�t as calm and tranquil as the paintings might lead you to believe.� Firth says that he relishes the risk involved of starring in a slow-mov ng painting-like drama that is as distinctive from the likes of Love Actually as you can get. �But that�s the fun of being an actor�, says Firth, who, in one years, instils both laughter and tears from his audience. �There was a friend of mine who asked me years ago if my primary instinct was to make people laugh or cry. I had never seen it in those terms nor do I, but it was an interesting question to think about. I suppose this was in my early twenties and so without hesitation, I said �cry�. It�s more satisfying is to try to move people, hit the darker emotions rather than to uplift people and I actually think comedy is probably a lot harder.� We will continue to see both extremes of this most quintessential of British actors. After all, he is currently shooting the long-awaited sequel to Bridget Jones� Diaries, The Edge of Reason, due out later next year. �I think everyone feels exactly the same about the sequel. It�s worth doing if it�s brilliant, otherwise you go into sequel purgatory. The first film is still so fresh in everyone�s minds, which is what makes it so difficult to put together, because you really need the same three people to be available at the same time. That�s a challenge.� LOVE ACTUALLY OPENS IN LIMITED RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 7 BEFORE GOING WIDE ON NOVEMBER 26. GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING OPENS LIMITED ON DECEMBER 12 BEFORE GOING WIDER ON XMAS DAY. - PAUL FISCHER

(Mary)- And for runners up, we've got hundreds of pairs of tickets to see ... screenings of Love Actually, ...staring Colin Firth ... I can just imagine the winner : No, really, I would prefer the runner up prize, thats why I entered the competition ;-) Mari, thanks for the article. (Colin)In fact, it is very odd, just looking back over the last few things, that I have done, I cannot see any pattern. Some of them worked out very badly and some of them worked out well, but there is no exact science. He must have read one or two HS reviews ;(

he smiled and said "How on earth do you know who I am?" I wouldn't know you had it not been to CF. (heehee) Thanks, Vera. �I was sitting at home one day and a script arrives with an offer �Do you want to do it?� I go in and met them and said yes,� I think a lot of what we do is very random and on the outside, it is often assumed that everybody has some sort of strategy. LOL! Karen's been saying this for years. It's official! �For me it was a simple pleasure from beginning to end. I think it was easy to say that because in some ways I could just jump right in and feel so little pressure as I�m not carrying the film. My whole story line could have been a total catastrophe and it wouldn�t be the end of the world. I decided to see what would happen if I just allowed myself to be carried by someone who hasn�t proved himself to be a master of this form. Also when my stuff was confined to the South of France, the schedule started with my scenes so it felt like it was my little movie for a while. Thus it was just easy to have a good time and get things right in 3 weeks.� Please read carefully, he totally contradicts himself. :-( I'm not the type of romantic who enjoys the weepy movie and then sighs sweetly about it. I don't know any guys who do. Does anyone here? Thanks, Mari!

(Louise) I am trying to still my heart over the news that GWAPE would play at the Austin FF when the possibility (however remote) that CF might actually tuck his long legs under a table at the our Four Seasons' Shoreline Grill sent me plumb aflutter again! Yeah, its unlikely to impossible. Colin wouldn't be at the Austin FF, only the director would be doing his dog & pony show around the country. With much smaller films, especially those where the actors are friends with the directors, have put a financial stake in the film or are real newbies, then I've seen the actors put in an appearance at a FF. (This wet blanket of mine is getting a lot of use here) YKW= You know who Thanks for the interview, Mari. "...In fact, it is very odd, just looking back over the last few things, that I have done, I cannot see any pattern. Some of them worked out very badly and some of them worked out well, but there is no exact science.� He can't see a pattern. I see lab experiments blowing up. ;-)

LOL, Karen! Maybe we found the theme for next year's birthday bash? ;-)

(Colin)on the outside, it is often assumed that everybody has some sort of strategy. Trust me, sweetie, I *never* thought you had a strategy. ;-) (Moon)Please read carefully, he totally contradicts himself. :-( I think what he's saying is very telling; he enjoyed the attention of being the star (if only for that segment)--without the risk of failure that carrying a movie entails. I guess we all like to have our cake and eat it too.

(Mari)I think what he's saying is very telling; he enjoyed the attention of being the star (if only for that segment)--without the risk of failure that carrying a movie entails. I guess we all like to have our cake and eat it too. Thanks for the article! Mari, I read it that way too..... he was of two minds on the matter.;-)

Karen, hide your eyes--GWAPE will be screened at the Mill Valley FF, sponsored by the California Film Institute, on October 4 and 9. Any Bay Area folks here? http://www.cafilm.org/mvfffilms/36.html Check out their description of Colin's performance; somebody had a sense of humor!:-)

Reading Mari's interview made me think of a quotes page I had on my old site in past years. I have uploaded it again for a stroll down Firth memory lane: http://www.murphsplace.com/firth/cfquotes.html

Perhaps for that reason he allowed himself to play the predominantly silent, internal and not particularly sexy Vermeer... Not particularly sexy? Hmmmmm.....I beg to differ! Thanks Mari for the article! I was at the airport with Vera's friend. Told her that they had copies of HS with ODB on the cover at the newsstand and she should go back to get one....I watched her bag and she took ages to come back. When she got to me, I asked what had taken so long, and she calmly stated...."Oh! I was talking to Peter Webber!" Good thing she spoke to him and not me! I would have just babbled incoherently at him for way too long, I'm sure. LOL at Colin's piercing performance in GWAPE! Thanks again Mari!! Murph! LOL...at some of these (I haven't heard many of them): "P&P is about the sexuality of repression. When you read the book, you know that everybody is horny, all the flirtation and dancing and conversation, but nobody gets laid." "Clearly I should have worn sideburns and a big hat." On the roles he wants: "It's a pretty secret list. While they're a fantasy, it's silly to talk about them. Nothing's crossed off yet." And in another interview he says that there is nothing he is itching to do! Clearly he likes to vary the answers...

Thank you, Mari. Maria, thank you for the stroll. I loved rereading some of those quotes. Vera, thanks for sharing your friend's PW story.

(CF)"...In fact, it is very odd, just looking back over the last few things, that I have done, I cannot see any pattern. Some of them worked out very badly and some of them worked out well, but there is no exact science.? (Karen)He can't see a pattern. I see lab experiments blowing up. ;-) I see dead actors.

(Mari) Karen, hide your eyes--GWAPE will be screened at the Mill Valley FF Yes, I know. Why do you think I've been kvetching like I have? Mill #$$#%^ing Valley?? For cry I!! What do you have to do, meditate and chant to see this movie??? Anyway, one of our Drool lurkers, a lady from Nawlins, is going up there expressly to see the film and will pretend to visit with her daughter while in neighborhood. ;-) *waving at you, Gail* The man at the ticket office couldn't believe she was coming from so far and wondered how she knew about it, so she told firth.com!

(Colin) But I consider myself a jobbing actor. I have to pay the bills. So I choose roles that interest me and allow me to get on with it." Do you think he goes down to the union hall and waits for jobs, like a plumber or an electrician? ;-)

Thanks for the quotes Murph! I sneaked peeks all afternoon. It's fun to see them in a row like that.