WEIRDLAND

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Movies celebrating blondeness: from Marilyn Monroe to Reese Witherspoon

Elle Fanning wears a Closed top, $92. Just Cavalli dress. Noir Jewelry choker, $65. Source: www.teenvogue.com

"Being a Southern person and a blonde, it's not a good combination. Immediately, when people meet you, they think of you as not being smart". -Reese Witherspoon

Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen prefer blondes" (1953) by Howard Hawks -do our current gentlemen prefer blondes or brunettes better?

Through the years, golden and platinum haired movie stars have garnered plenty of notice; think Jean Harlow, Mae West and Marilyn Monroe, as well as Ms. Monroe’s less famous contemporaries like the late Jayne Mansfield – mother of Law and Order star, Mariska Hargitay and wife of the late Mickey Hargitay, a Mr. Universe and actor – and Mamie Van Doren, who is still alive and by all appearances living la-vida-blonde-bombshell.
In the 1960s, the image of the voluptuous blonde was further promoted, particularly by television actresses like Donna Douglas who played Elly Mae Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Melody Patterson known for her role as Wrangler Jane on F Troop, the late Sigrid Valdis – wife of the late Bob Crane – as Hilda on Hogan’s Heroes and none other than Barbara Eden on I Dream of Jeannie, to name a few.
The ‘60s also gave us Elizabeth Montgomery playing Samantha Stevens in Bewitched, Beverly Owen as Marilyn Munster in The Munsters and Goldie Hawn, of Private Benjamin and The First Wives Club fame, in Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. Oh, and Ms. Hawn is the mother of talented blonde actress, Kate Hudson.
Not to be forgotten, from that period, is blonde “sex kitten” of French cinema renown, Brigitte Bardot. Other famous, foreign blondes would come along in later years. Two “Bri-blondes”, blonde haired women with names beginning with “Bri” are Britt Ekland and Brigitte Nielsen.
Ms. Ekland, born in Sweden, is most famous as a Bond girl. She was in 1974’s 007 film, The Man With the Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore as James Bond. She was married to actor Peter Sellers, with whom she had a daughter, Victoria Sellers, and was later romantically involved with rock star Rod Stewart. She wrote a book, True Brit.
Each passing decade has presented us with blondes who’ve been looked to for their aesthetic appeal. The 1970s gave us Farrah Fawcett, as Jill Munroe, in the first incarnation of Charlie’s Angels, a then popular television show. Fans of Ms. Fawcett will recall she died at a relatively young age, on June 25th, 2009, the same day as King of Pop Michael Jackson and a couple of weeks before venerable, CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite. (What a sad time that was!)
The 1970s’ Charlie’s Angels also included blondes Cheryl Ladd, as Kris Munroe, and Shelley Hack, as Tiffany Welles. Tanya Roberts, another angel, was not blonde in the show but eventually went that way, making a film outing as a golden haired gal in 1984’s Sheena and then as Bond girl, Stacey Sutton in 1985’s A View to A Kill, starring Roger Moore as 007, and Christopher Walken as villain Max Zoren. Roberts would go on, in later years, to a recurring role, as Midge Pinciotti, in That 70s Show.
Contemporary Charlie’s Angels fans will remember the gorgeous Cameron Diaz as blonde hottie, Natalie Cook, in both 2000s Angels movies. Rachael Taylor is the presumptive blonde cutie for the latest Charlie’s Angels flick, in her role as Abby Sampson, which according to IMDB.com is currently filming.
The 1980s gave us such blonde glamour gals as Heather Locklear, who was on the small screen simultaneously in Dynasty and T.J. Hooker and another, but no lesser blonde Heather, in Heather Thomas, who worked opposite Lee Majors in The Fall Guy.
Lee Majors was married to Farrah Fawcett and starred in the television show The Fall Guy with previously mentioned blonde stunner Heather Thomas. Heather Thomas shares a name with Heather Locklear who was friends of blonde Denise Richards who was married to Charlie Sheen.

Jenny McCarthy and Charlie Sheen in the episode 'Chocolate Diddlers or My Puppy's Dead' of the hit CBS show "Two And A Half Men"

Charlie Sheen starred in Two and a Half Men, where Jenny McCarthy guest starred. The blonde hits just keep on coming.

Of course, looking at blondes in pop culture and the impact they’ve had, via the big or small screen, no list could be complete without the inclusion of perennial blonde vixen and Playboy cover gal, the always fun Pamela Anderson. Ms. Anderson first claimed television fame on Home Improvement, opposite Tim Allen, as Lisa, the “Tool Time” girl and most famously as C.J. Parker on Baywatch.
The music industry has been home, over the years, to any number of women who were natural blondes or took a blonde turn, presumably to capture the imagination of the public.
Blonde, gone blonde or part time blonde singers include Joey Heatherton, Susan Anton, Pia Zadora, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, Debbie Harry of, yes that’s right, Blondie, the late Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics, Dolly Parton, Madonna – remember the Blonde Ambition tour – Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera – Spears and a brunette Aguilera shared a kiss with Madonna on the MTV Music Awards in 2003 – Jessica Simpson, Avril Lavigne, Stefani Germanotta – the inimitable, Lady Gaga – and Latinas, Charo, ThalĂ­a, Paulina Rubio ( “rubio” means blond in Spanish,) Shakira – whose hips don’t lie – and Gloria Trevi.
There have been movies celebrating blondeness. Marilyn Monroe’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes comes to mind. But more recently, Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2 starring Reese Witherspoon, worked to debunk the dumb blonde stereotype.

Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, co-stars in "Rendition" (2007)
Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon, co-stars in "Water for Elephants" (2011)

Reese Witherspoon in Total Film March 2011

Then there’s the late Anna Nicole Smith, who to many, particularly when she was at her best, personified the big, beautiful blonde. She like Marilyn Monroe, Farrah Fawcett, Pamela Anderson, Rena Mero and others, appeared in Playboy Magazine.

Indeed, Playboy has done a lot to promote blonde-appeal. There are Playboy blondes Jenny McCarthy and Shannon Tweed who came to prominence through the magazine. More recently, there’s the trifecta of blonde-dom from E Entertainment’s The Girls Next Door: Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. The show was cancelled but those gals still get attention.
Holly Madison currently stars in the production, Peep Show, at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

We should not overlook the fact that actress Lindsay Lohan, who garners quite a bit of tabloid attention, is a sometimes blonde.
Is it only a matter of time until the glowing power of golden locks is injected into the United States’ national debt and deficit dialog? Will President Obama face off against Speaker of the House John Boehner and debate ways in which plastic surgery bills can be cut down, by instead leaving overhauls of looks to a change of hair color and resolving aesthetics deficits through a bottle of peroxide?

Then again, the expression, “Blondes have more fun, but brunettes get things done”, comes to mind. Hmmm, smoldering brunettes; that’s a topic that will have to wait for another day, but the list is sure to be long as well". Source: www.cyinterview.com

Megan Fox wants to play "Carrie" in Stephen King's remake

Megan Fox in her prom scene in "Jennifer's Body" looking like actress Cissy Spacek in "Carrie", one of writer Diablo Cody's favorite horror movies.

"It was announced last week that MGM is moving forward on a planned remake of Stephen King's Carrie, with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa penning a screenplay that will remain truer to the novel than Brian De Palma's 1976 adaptation did.
Today, it has been revealed that Megan Fox, despite being one of the most attractive women on the planet and twenty-five years old, is actively pursuing the lead character of Carrie, a homely picked-upon high school outcast. Casting that will surely have Stephen King rolling over in his customized, California King-sized casket that he uses as a bed. The actress doesn't think that her looks or age will stand in the way of her landing the role.
Megan Fox as Lily in "Passion Play" (2010)

Here is what an insider close to the actress had to say:
"Megan is a huge fan of the original and would love the chance to play the lead. She's 25 now but she's sure she could still do justice to teenage Carrie. She's told her people to make it happen."
The same source goes onto claim that Megan Fox is seeking the lead in Carrie to distance herself from her Transformers persona. That is why she has been adamant about turning down the role of Wonder Woman in a theatrical version of the DC Comics character". Source: www.movieweb.com

Monday, May 23, 2011

Taylor Lautner talks about imprinting scene with Kristen Stewart in "Breaking Dawn"

"Taylor Lautner slipped up and told MTV about a scene form the upcoming second half of the Breaking Dawn movie.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in Entertainment Weekly magazine, May 2011

The movie has been kept a secret for so long for fear that the fans would find out too much about it before it comes out but Lautner apparently didn’t get the news flash before he told MTV about a scene where Jacob gets beat up by Bella.“We did a scene in the backyard of the Cullen house where Bella (Stewart) gets mad at me,” Lautner revealed.
“She just learned that I imprinted on her daughter, and she is literally throwing me around the backyard. So it was pretty fun to see Kristen try and act all tough. She’s a vampire; she’s chucking me across the yard into trees and stuff. It was funny.” Source: www.current-movie.reviews.com

Jake Gyllenhaal flirts with mysterious lady, Charlie Sheen pursued by sugar daddys website

Scan of Jake Gyllenhaal in Best Movie International (Jake & Michelle's 8 minutes of love in "Source Code"), April 2011

"The 30-year-old hunk appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his evening out with the stunning woman at Henry Public in Cobble Hill, New York. The pair met at the bar at around 10.30pm on Saturday night and spent the night laughing and joking together.

Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal attending "Nuts for Mutts" 3rd Annual Dog Show 2004

“Gyllenhaal and the woman, who was in her mid-20s, had drinks at the bar,” reports New York Daily News. “The pair weren't overly flirty, but an insider says they were deep in conversation.”
Taylor Swift attending 2011 Billboard Music Awards Elie Saab

Jake has been single since he enjoyed a brief romance with singing sensation Taylor Swift last year". Source: www.musicrooms.net


Her recent relationships with Jake Gyllenhaal and Joe Jonas ended in heartbreak, but the 'Love Story' hitmaker is optimistic she'll find the right guy - eventually.

"There are no rules when it comes to love. I just try to let love surprise me because you never know who you're going to fall in love with,” Contactmusic quoted her as telling InStyle magazine.


"Two women is a big guy fantasy that looks better on paper" -Charlie Sheen in PLAYBOY magazine, 2001

PLAYBOY: Are you still paying for sex?

SHEEN: [Shakes his head] I shut that down. I did it a couple times after I got sober and it didn't feel like it was in keeping with the kind of progress I'm making. It felt like the old me. It felt cheap and stupid. They had more fun than I did.

PLAYBOY: Maybe they should have paid you.
SHEEN: I didn't want to mention that [smiles].
PLAYBOY: You once said that paying for sex was really paying for them to leave when you're done.

SHEEN: To a degree, but also it was about avoiding all that hassle I would encounter going out, hanging out, picking up, taking home, transporting, blah blah blah. All the lies, the deceit. Promising to call and not calling. That's old behavior.

According to film producer Brad Wyman, his friend Charlie Sheen told him, “These guys pushed me to be the Charlie character, because it always helped the ratings. Here I am clean and sober and ready to go to work and nobody wants to go to work. I really don’t understand why.” Wyman adds, “That’s what started the diatribes.”

Charlie Sheen is already officially divorced from Brooke Mueller

Charlie Sheen has had a large number of lady friends of late, but only one of them has his heart. While the "Two and a Half Men" star has been partying it up with porn stars and prostitutes, you can't pay for true love. Charlie Sheen's newest love is a 25-year old woman (ex-nanny and graphic designer) named Natalie Kenly.

EstablishedMen.com -- a social network for rich men seeking needy women -- put the offer on the table earlier this week ... $3,000,000 for Charlie Sheen to endorse the sugar daddy website for three years. But EM wants even more from Sheen. Charlie would be crowned PRESIDENT of Established Men -- running advertising, sales, and promotions -- in return for a 50% interest in the company.
Charlie Sheen is kissed by Natalie Kenley at the Chateau Nightclub & Gardens in the Paris Las Vegas on 1st May, 2011

Also HUGE ... EstablishedMen could not fire Charlie for "moral turpitude". Source: www.tmz.com

Kirsten Dunst receives the Best Actress award for "Melancholia" at the 64th Cannes Festival

Kirsten Dunst receives the Best Actress award for her role in Lars Von Trier's film "Melancholia" during the closing ceremony of the 64th Cannes Film Festival on 22nd May 2011

Kirsten Dunst won Best Actress for her performance in Lars von Trier's Melancholia.

She thanked the Festival for allowing the film to carry on competing even though its director has been declared "persona non grata." Source: mubi.com

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger’s romance in Brokeback Mountain voted top love affair

"Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger’s rodeo romance in Brokeback Mountain has been voted film fans’ top on-screen love affair.
Still of Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain (2005) directed by Ang Lee

The gay cowboys beat the bunny-boiling fling ­between Michael Douglas and Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction into second place.

Controversial romp Lolita – about a man’s obsession with a schoolgirl – was third, with Julia Roberts’ hooker date with Richard Gere in Pretty Woman fourth.

Still of Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo y Julieta (1996) directed by Baz Luhrmann

Star-crossed lovers Romeo & Juliet’s doomed crush made it to number five in the poll by DVD rental service Lovefilm.
Still of Richard Gere and Diane Lane in "Unfaithful" (2002) directed by Adrian Lyne

Steamy flicks Notes On A Scandal, Disclosure, The Graduate, Match Point and Unfaithful made up the rest of the top 10 in the love flick stakes.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson in "Match Point" (2005) directed by Woody Allen

Fliss White, of Lovefilm, said: “From under-age encounters to love triangles, we are definitely a nation which loves a scandal.”

Source: www.mirror.co.uk

Kristen Stewart (Behind the scenes of ‘Adventureland’)

Ryan Reynolds as Brad and Kristen Stewart as Em Lewin in "Adventureland" (2009) directed by Greg Mottola


Video: Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader (Behind the scenes of ‘Adventureland’) B-roll footage featuring Kristen and the rest of the cast.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Charlie Sheen in Penelope Spheeris's "The Boys next door" (ending scene)

"Before he was famous, though, Sheen costarred in a nifty little B movie called The Boys Next Door (it was his first starring role — he was part of the young-gun ensemble in Red Dawn the year before), and if you watch it now, there are a lot of moments that fast-forward you to the Charlie Sheen we’ve come to know and be mesmerized by on whatever tabloid news show he’s popping up on at any given moment. In The Boys Next Door, Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield play California teenagers who celebrate the end of high school by going on a road trip that turns into a rampage.
The director was Penelope Spheeris, transitioning into dramatic features after the 1981 Los Angeles hardcore punk documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, and Spheeris gives her two stars room to roam. The Charlie Sheen you see in this movie isn’t just a tense and hungry actor. If John Hughes had ever made a dead-serious comedy about a heartless pair of sociopaths, that movie might have looked something like The Boys Next Door. It’s like a Hughes film crossed with In Cold Blood. Sheen, fresh-faced and scowling, with thatchy black hair and knitted eyebrows, looks in his white T-shirt like an Archie-comics version of Sid Vicious, but his character, Bo, is meant to be the pair’s quarter-of-the-way normal sidekick". Source: insidemovies.ew.com


The "boys next door" (directed by Penelope Spheeris in 1985) are Roy Alston (Maxwell Caulfield) and Bo Richards (Charlie Sheen), typical California teens freshly graduated from high school. Daunted by the prospect of the real world, the boys decide to go on one last fling in L.A. But it's not all clean, wholesome fun; in fact, Caulfield and Sheen launch their weekend bash by beating up a gas-station attendant, throwing a glass bottle at an old woman, and murdering gay-bar patron Chris (Paul C. Dancer). Somewhere along the line, Bo becomes repelled by their violence spree, but Roy seems to be sexually aroused by all the misery he's causing. And so it goes, without real rhyme or reason, until the bloody denouement.