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harleenfleck · 4 years

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“The Joker and the Harlequin”

Joker/Arthur Fleck x Harley Quinn/Harleen Quinzel Fic

Summary:

"You may not understand, but when you see the Joker laughing, I see him crying"

Harleen Quinzel is the new Intern in the Arkham Asylum, place where she meets the distinguished criminal Arthur Fleck, mostly known as the Joker. She fears of him, until for a meaningless revenge and corruption inside the psychiatric hospital, the Joker becomes his patient. In every psychiatric consultation they will have, Harleen will gradually feel a connection to Arthur, a fatal connection that will lead to her lethal destiny.

Will it be at least reciprocal?

Warnings of the story in general: Violence, gender-based violence, obscene language, sexual content, possible drug addiction and possible NSFW.

Notes: Well, after thinking about them a lot, I've decided to translate my first fanfic from “Joker” into English, what an emotion! I hope the translation be decent hehe. Anyway I'm sorry if I make some mistakes grammatical or writing mistakes :3

I hope you like this first chapter, I'll put warnings and notes on all the chapters, and some lyrics of songs too.

I also want to explain that Harley Quinn/Harleen Quinzel will be one of the characters that will have the most changes, oh no, don't worry, believe me, only the character will adapt. At first it would seem like it's OoC, but trust me, Harleen Quinzel will have a different yet similar development to become Harley Quinn.

And also clarify another thing about Harley: I'm frequently asked, "What actress should I imagine in Harley Quinn, In Margot Robbie or another woman?" The truth is, you imagine the actress you want for Harley, you're free to do it. Honestly, I don't have any actress in particular, sometimes I think on Margot Robbie but on other occasions I think on actresses like Elizabeth Olsen, Emily Browning, Esther Povitsky, and even Natalie Portman. Don't limit yourself! Imagine your own Harley Quinn for Arthur!

By the way! If you speaks in Spanish and want to read the whole story to where I have stayed, it left you the links of Fanfiction.net and Wattpad :3 (Don’t make spoilers!)

I think with nothing more to say or clarify, I will leave you with the first chapter, I hope you like this story! It will be a sad and dramatic thing, but because I like the sad and dramatic, hehe, enjoy it!

Warning of this chapter: No one. Just this one it’s short.

...

Chapter 1

"Good morning, citizens of Gotham City, we hope you're all right from wherever you're watching us. Today is a tremendously sad day for all of us... Today 10 years ago was the Tragedy of Gotham City..."

The day was painted gray. For many people, they hoped the day would end soon.

But for her, the day just starting.

She thought about it while picking up her dark brown hair and making a bun with this one. She had to be completely prepared.

She looked her nails, making sure were free of polish and short. It wasn't like her nails always going to wear nail polish, she just wanted to make sure.

The truth is she was very anxious, and of the same anxiety, she had eaten her nails. It had to be a perfect day for her.

She looked in the mirror, feared that her makeup would be outrageous, fortunately for her it was actually subtle. She did not use many products on her face, however, she considered it perfect for the occasion. The only thing missing was the most basic thing, the essential, what could not be missed by anything in the world in a makeup: The lipstick.

She looked at her collection of lipsticks, a collection made up for only five lipsticks. Of all, she chosen and had among her fingers one of her favorites, a red lipstick.

She uncovered it and looked it. Yes, it could be the ideal color, the one indicated for the occasion, because from the first time she was fortunate to try it on, it was the type of lipstick that made her feel more confident and self-assured.

"If you're gonna start use this kind of makeup, that would be no problem if you start helping me with the rent of the apartment, just pick a good corner, where the police don't notice you, but the customers do"

Remembering her mother's words when she discovered that lipstick in her collection, she made her keep it immediately. Ashamed, she preferred to use an opaque rose lipstick.

She looked one more time in the mirror of her dressing table: Makeup ready, hairstyle ready, clothes too. Everything was ready in her.

It was her first day of the Internship, her first day as a psychiatrist, and even though she loved her career as a doctor and the approach she decided to give it, she did not like the idea of where she would develop professionally. Well, she didn't deserve to be there.

She was one of the best students (Probably the best) of her generation in the specialty of Psychiatry. She wanted to escape from Gotham City, because that city, also being one of the worst cities in the country, brought her terrible memories. So, putting all his knowledge to work, she managed to present an excellent thesis that dealt with how criminal comportment was born in the society.

Of course, it was a pretty flattered job, one of the best in decades. However, the teachers in charge of graduating the psychiatrist, knowing that, despite the woman's attitude, they could see she was someone very beautiful, and they did not want to miss the opportunity.

The teachers told to the girl that for the excellent investigation they gave her approval and honors, but if she really wanted that, she must "met with them in their offices from 8:00 PM" or see them in the “Mermaid Motel” on the outskirts of the city at 9 p.m.

She, remembering fears of the past, rejected to be alone with any of those teachers who had made sexual insinuations to her, and even she exhibited them. They, in revenge, decided to take away her right to choose their Internship place and send it to the worst place where she could do it:

In the Arkham Asylum

She felt like a kick in her stomach when the rest of her classmates escaped to better places in the country. But she had no choice but to prepare and fulfill what the destiny told her to do.

Once ready, with her hand bag, her rounded glasses over her nose and her doctor’s coat under her arm, the young woman walked once more to her mirror.

“... It's your first day... It's your first day Harleen... Don't screw it up... Don't do it”

She left her room, ready for everything.

“Mom, I’m leaving”

Harleen looked that her mother ignored her, while she sat watching the news on TV. Without saying anything else, she left her apartment.

Not much happened when on the subway, Harleen delve into her thoughts and occasionally looked at people. She read from afar the newspaper headline of an older man who was focused on his reading.

"The Dark Knight stops a bank robbery"

Harleen knew who they referred to in the city as The Dark Knight, some are agreed with him and defended him, others hated him and wanted him to be arrested as soon as possible.

Harleen didn't care if that vigilante was doing the right thing or not, what surprised her was that someone outside the authorities did their job.

Leaving aside that subject in her mind she concentrated again on her thoughts.

Despite being at Arkham, she was enthusiastic.

When she was a teenager, she had always been fascinated by psychiatry: The study of mental illness.

What she could wait from that day?

“Hey little lady, give me your wallet”

“Eh?”

Oh yes, the bad luck lady always accompanied her everywhere.

Harleen's blue eyes rose, a guy with bad loos was pointing her with a knife. Her eyes became small when she noticed the assaulter's intentions.

She looked everywhere, waiting for help. People acted like what was going on in front of her was a passing vision. Something that wasn't really going on.

In a fearful and shy voice, she spoke to the criminal.

“No... Please... It’s, it’s my first day in…”

“Give me the fucking wallet if you don't want to die!”

Scared, she pulled her wallet out of her bag and took out the money, handed it over to the assailant.

20 bucks.

“That’s all, bitch?”

“It's, it's all I've got, I don't have more...”

Frightened, she hoped it would be enough for the robber, but she just felt something damp on her cheek, it was a spit, he spit on her.

“Fucking poor”

When the thief leaves, she looked everywhere again, the subway wasn't so full, but if there were enough people to get up to defend her, it was just a knife.

But she at once thought that not everyone would give her life for a stranger.

Disappointed that her day will not start as she wanted, she looked out the subway window as she wiped herself with a tissue she pulled out of her bag.

A tear ran down the cheek cleaned, dried that drop quickly. She didn't want to ruin her makeup.

When she finished to clean her face, she breathed.

She was hoping it wasn't a bad day.

She was expecting that with all the hopes she had left.

...

“Nobody knows, nobody cares if I'm lonesome

Nobody sighs, nobody cries if I'm blue

It seems that night after night

I sit alone and twiddle my thumbs

But still I keep right on hoping, keep the door open

But nobody comes”

Annette Hanshaw - " Nobody Cares If I'm Blue"

#Joker #Joker fanfiction #Joker x Harley Quinn #Arthur Fleck x Harleen Quinzel #Joker 2019 #Write #Writing #I can't belive I do this omg #AAAAAAAA #Harley Quinn #Harleen Quinzel #joker film #Joker fandom #Joker (2019) fanfiction

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facemypast · 4 years

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Get to know the blogger!

Tagged by: stolen from @emcads, then reposting on my steeb @/justicetempered I’m tagging: steal it <3

FIRST NAME Brittany

STRANGE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF I have an irregular heartbeat that goes away by itself when my heart-rate gets high enough

TOP THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE ON A PERSON Nice hair, muscles (i want people to break me in half, sue me), aannnndddd jawline

A FOOD YOU COULD EAT FOREVER AND NOT GET BORED OF Hmmm... probably chocolate covered pretzels

A FOOD YOU HATE Mayo makes me throw up

GUILTY PLEASURE Hmmm.... i don’t really feel guilt about most of the things i like??

WHAT DO YOU SLEEP IN shorts and an old t-shirt, in the winter i throw sweats or lounge pants over the shorts

SERIOUS RELATIONSHIPS OR FLINGS usually flings. i get tired of people tbh

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN THE PAST AND CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WOULD YOU AND WHAT WOULD IT BE A whole lot.... right now? probably working harder at certain classes in college

ARE YOU AN AFFECTIONATE PERSON With my friends? yea, im always wanting to hang out with them or tell them how good they look, etc. With romantic partners? not so much, it doesn’t come easy. It’s hard for me to connect

A MOVIE YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN Lord of the Rings. I watch the whole series 2-3 times a year religiously

FAVORITE BOOK Lord of the Rings :)

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP ANY ANIMAL AS A PET, WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE A platypus! Or a tiger

TOP FIVE FICTIONAL SHIPS [IF YOU ARE AN RP BLOG, YOU CAN USE YOUR OWN SHIPS AS WELL] Steve/Bucky. Dean/Cas (sue me). Bucky/James (thanks RP). Steve/Peggy/Bucky. Fang/Maximum Ride (ride or die since 10 y/o)

PIE OR CAKE Pie

FAVORITE SCENT Lemon or eucalyptus

CELEBRITY CRUSH Edit forgot to actually change this lmao: Sebastian stan, obviously. Margot robbie too

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU GO Tanzania or Kenya

INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT Introvert for sure

DO YOU SCARE EASILY Nope

IPHONE OR ANDROID iPhone

DO YOU PLAY ANY VIDEO GAMES Right now? Only animal crossing, haha. In the past.... animal crossing and mario kart. Not a huge gamer.

DREAM JOB Total dream? Actress. Not for the money or the fame, but bc of the work and meeting other famous people. More realistic? Doctor, but at least I’m starting medical school this fall <3

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A MILLION DOLLARS Give some to my parents. Pay off student debt. Pay for medical school. Invest whatever was left.

FICTIONAL CHARACTER YOU HATE Oh man, so many. Joffrey from GoT is coming to mind.

FANDOM THAT YOU WERE ONCE A PART OF BUT AREN’T ANY LONGER I used to be way more into HP than I am now, I guess. I also kind of left SPN behind.

#★≡【вeнιɴd тнe мαѕĸ │ мυɴ'ѕ тнιɴɢѕ】

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justanotherboyinblue · 4 years

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Unusual Asks

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? spotify!!

is your room messy or clean? ...depends if i don’t have company, or i haven’t been made to clean it, it’s relatively messy. well. it’s not messy to me, because i know where everything is and why things are...not...put away, but messy to Literally Everyone Else

what color are your eyes? brown!

do you like your name? why? i Love my name mostly because i chose it and i like how it sounds I Just Think It’s Neat

what is your relationship status? taken! i have two beautiful partners that i love very very much

describe your personality in 3 words or less Chaotic Disaster Gay

what color hair do you have? also brown dkjbsgalk

what kind of car do you drive? color? i don’t drive! don’t have my license yet

where do you shop? anywhere and everywhere alksjdb meijer? ig?

how would you describe your style? Grunge

favorite social media account discord! ‘s how i talk to my babies :3

what size bed do you have? a twin! v comfy, v bouncy

any siblings? unfortunately two brothers both are Assholes

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? switzerland honestly first of all, lgbtq+ has been legal there since 1942 like look at them Go oh my gosh also! i love german, it’s such a fascinating language but the biggest reason? that’s where moje rojena wants to live

favorite snapchat filter? i don’t have snapchat, and don’t really plan to kjasbdl

favorite makeup brand(s) don’t wear it! the only thing i use is chapstick lmao a wonderful vanilla chapstick by Eos

how many times a week do you shower? sometimes every night, but mostly every other night! so three or four

favorite tv show? oh gosh there are so many she-ra is probably at the top i love supernatural, and elementary, bbc sherlock, person of interest, steven universe there are a bunch of amazing shows i love!

shoe size? i think i wear like a ten and a half quadruple e do with that as you will

how tall are you? 5′4 i think probably

sandals or sneakers? flip flops!! or barefoot kadjbsgl

do you go to the gym? i don’t think i’ve ever even seen the inside of a gym

describe your dream date cuddle pile some show or movie on tv So Many Blankets but the most important thing the Most Important thing is that my babies are with me and that’s all i really need

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? i don’t have any cash, but i have like a little over $50 on my card

what color socks are you wearing? white with gray designs

how many pillows do you sleep with? normally three, but i’ll bring in another three if i want to build a Nest:tm:

do you have a job? what do you do? no job! i think my first job will be working at my local library

how many friends do you have? uhhhhhhh no idea a dozen? idk maybe half a dozen i really have no idea, and i have a horrible memory

what's the worst thing you have ever done? I Will Not Divulge Such Information

what's your favorite candle scent? there’s this one candle we have that’s tide+kelp scented but it just smells like a speedstick it’s awesome

3 favorite boy names Leo (obviously) Tobias Axel

3 favorite girl names L(again, obviously) Celeste i’ve always loved the name Andromeda as well!

favorite actor? Ezra Miller!! they’re a nonbinary icon, first of all, and they’re an amazing actor in my opinion! they’re Credence in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Barry in Justice Leauge

favorite actress? hmmmmmmmmmm probably Margot Robbie tbh love her stuff also? have you seen the trailer for Birds of Prey? we Stan

who is your celebrity crush? don’t have one kjdsablg

favorite movie? oh gosh I Cannot Choose A Favorite Anything Okay i love Avatar(the one with the blue aliens not the Disgrace Of A Movie), and The Dark Knight, Captain Marvel, Abominable, and so many others

do you read a lot? what's your favorite book? i do! i used to read almost a full book every day Finding Me by Katheryn Cushman is really good, and so is Five Feet Apart, i love the Divergent series too!

money or brains? brains duh, if you’re smart you can make more money but if you’re an idiot with money what happens when you run out

do you have a nickname? what is it? not really kjabdsga my partners have their nicknames for me of course, but with my actual name you can’t have a lot of nicknames Leo calls me Q, i’ve been called Stefano and Viktor, one friend used Quimberly for a while akjfgbslkdfg

how many times have you been to the hospital? other than when i was born, i think only the once!

top 10 favorite songs Here We Go sweet tooth-Scott Helman adderall- Max Frost bambi- Hippo Campus roxxane- Arizona Zervas grixtronics- GRiZ iSpy- KYLE truth hurts- kidz bop (fuck off it slaps) walk man- TMG mr.clean- Yung Gravy peach scone- Hobo Johnson

do you take any medications daily? nope!

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) definitely oily

what is your biggest fear? Ya Boi Out Here With Abandonment Issues

how many kids do you want? i’ll stick with my fur babies thank you very much

what's your go-to hairstyle? in my face covering my right eye so i can’t see with it because it annoys my mother and i think i look Hot

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) medium i would think? we don’t have a second floor or a finished basement, but i’ve never had to bunk with either of my brothers so

who is your role model? no one specific! just, kind people, yk?

what was the last compliment you received? i think it was on...monday? when Leo kept telling me i was adorable XD

what was the last text you sent? to a gc with my partners saying i was going mia because I Have The Right To Not Interact With Anyone For Several Days And Watch Movies no i will not be taking criticism

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? like somewhere from seven to nine i think i have no idea dude, i have the memory of a goldfish

what is your dream car? .... 1967 black chevy impala

opinion on smoking? bad for you, love the smell, not gonna tell you to stop, will just worry quietly in the corner because i won’t tell you what to do with your life

do you go to college? nope! still in high school, i probably won’t go to college tbh

what is your dream job? owning my own bookstore! with a cafe a cat cafe i have it planned out to a concerning degree

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? i’ve lived in one place my entire life and it’s on the side of the highway with no neighbors so Suburbs Be Like Scary

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? oh absolutely

do you have freckles? no and i’m salty about it

do you smile for pictures? of course! never with my teeth tho because my canines are halfway up my face :)

how many pictures do you have on your phone? don’t have a phone! i have a Whole Bunch on my computer though

have you ever peed in the woods? did not work out tried once Never Again

do you still watch cartoons? of course i do i’m gay it’s legally required

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonald's? i’ve never had McDonald's nuggets but Wendy’s has the best for sure

Favorite dipping sauce? ranch or campfire sauce

what do you wear to bed? pajamas???? in winter it’s long sleeve tees with fuzzy pants in summer it’s basketball shorts and whatever twenty-year-old shirt i can find in my closet

have you ever won a spelling bee? i’ve never entered one so no homeschool for the win

what are your hobbies? Anything On A Screen and books mostly books on a screen but i’ll occasionally pick up a paperback also food and swimming

can you draw? s o m e t i m e s

do you play an instrument? i played guitar for a while, but i broke one of the strings and don’t have the tools to replace it i really want a ukelele

what was the last concert you saw? i went to a college campus for four days with my youth group, and a band named Sing Love played every night

tea or coffee? Neither

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Also Neither i’ve been to starbucks one time and it was the most disappointing drink i’ve ever had i am a loyal biggby customer even though i haven’t been there in over a year

do you want to get married? not in the traditional sense i couldn’t even if i wanted to because the us said No Polyam Rights

what is your crush’s first and last initial? L.R. + L.G.

are you going to change your last name when you get married? probably! or we’ll both take a new one together

what color looks best on you? warm colors!! i do look Fabulous in a nice cool forest green though

do you miss anyone right now? Of Course I Do I’m In A Long Distance Relationship With Two People

do you sleep with your door open or closed? closed if it was open my asshole cat would eat all my hair ties and my fairy lights

do you believe in ghosts? nope!

what is your biggest pet peeve? uh people who assume? ig?

last person you called? Leo XD

favorite ice cream flavor? mint chocolate chip!!

regular oreos or golden oreos? The Golden Ones they taste like lemon even if they’re not the lemon ones i love it

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? i don’t like sprinkles because i’m a Monster

what shirt are you wearing? i’m Not It’s Hoodie Season

what is your phone background? my tablet backgrounds are Leo and L because i’m a Sap

are you outgoing or shy? Both i’m getting a lot better in the confidence department, but i still get nervous and overwhelmed sometimes!

do you like it when people play with your hair? I Cry Every Time and so does Leo it’s adorable

do you like your neighbors? if i did i would hate them because i Can

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? not outside of the shower

have you ever been high? nope

have you ever been drunk? nope

last thing you ate? leftover itallian mac n cheese

favorite lyrics right now ..... ................. raindrops on rose and whiskers on kittens~ sTICKING-

summer or winter? winter!!

day or night? night, of course

dark, milk, or white chocolate? milk! or dark with sea salt

favorite month? hm maybe august because it’s just starting to get cold, but you can also still swim on the warm days

what is your zodiac sign pisces! as i’m sure is obvious

who was the last person you cried in front of? my mother Because Leaving Me Alone For Five Minutes Is Impossible

thank you Luxet for the questions!

#meet the blogger #long post #tw cursing #tw caps #tw alchohol #tw drugs #tw marriage #tw college #i should #probably finish my school #after taking like two hours to do this #I'm A Responsible Child

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ahouseoflies · 4 years

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The Best Films of 2019, Part II

Part I is here. ENDEARING CURIOSITIES WITH BIG FLAWS

106. Alita: Battle Angel (Robert Rodriguez)- I'm not looking at a list of films with budgets over $175 million, but I guarantee this is the one with the lowest stakes. It concerns a cyborg who tries to uncover the identity that the audience knows she has all along, and it takes place on three sets. I was intrigued by the prospect of Robert Rodriguez directing a James Cameron production, since the former uses effects to be lazy and the latter uses effects to challenge himself. Alita is more of a Rodriguez movie in that regard. Although it looks slightly better than those pictures he used to make in his backyard, it ain't by much. 105. The Upside (Neil Burger)- As good enough as movies get, good enough right up to the childish screenwriting contrivances of the third act. ("I guess he knows about wheelchairs now, so he gets a job at a wheelchair factory? Or maybe it's his own factory? I don't know--I'm still spitballing in this production draft.") Queen Nicole is criminally underserved though. Have you read that story about how Keanu Reeves's friend forged his name onto the contract for The Watcher, but Keanu didn't want to go through a prolonged legal battle, so he just showed up despite the fraud? Surely it's got to be something like that. Or maybe she was under the impression her character was still being fleshed out, but she got there and saw that nothing has been changed since the last draft? It's just like, "Yvonne looks stern. More to be added." I know for sure that no one told one of the greatest actresses in the world about the part in which she's supposed to be a good dancer. She would have prepared. 104. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Dean DeBlois)- HtTYD is still the most visually experimental animated franchise. For example, DeBlois hazes the image when a character is looking at another through a torch, there's a five-minute wordless sequence of dragons falling in love, and a lot of work has been put into crafting peach fuzz. I also appreciate that these films retain consequences. Hiccup has a prosthetic leg, and his dad is still dead. Narratively though, everything feels like a holding pattern, a brand extension that doesn't offer real stakes or real laughs. (Fishlegs has a beard now. That's his character development. That's it.) Even if The Hidden World offers an ending of sorts to the trilogy, it's a story of retreat/escape that can't help but feel like a sideways step from its already disappointing predecessor. My daughter tuned out and got really restless with about twenty minutes left. 103. Greta (Neil Jordan)- Such a boilerplate thriller that I was actually predicting the dialogue at points: "Miss, I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do if she's just standing there across the street. She's not breaking the law." There is one notable thing that happens though. In a scene at a church, Huppert makes the Sign of the Cross incorrectly. As an actress, kind of negligent. As a French person, pretty exquisite. 102. Anna (Luc Besson)- The timeline-jumping didn't work for me, but without it, I don't think there's much notable about the quadruple-crossing here at all. The awe-inspiring restaurant fight sequence is the film's saving grace; I'm awarding an extra half-star for its slashing-throats-with-plates viscera. 101. Captain Marvel (Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden)- Was I supposed to know what a Skrull was before this? Lee Pace and Djimon Hounsou show up playing Guardians characters, so I think I was supposed to connect more of the sci-fi dots of the first twenty minutes than I did. All of that inter-planetary stuff was tough sledding for me, and I preferred the Elastica music cue and Radio Shack jokes. As it turns out, especially in this genre, it's dramatically frustrating to go on a hero's journey with a character who doesn't know who she is. It was nice to see Samuel L. Jackson, with convincing de-aging effects, get a real arc in one of these movies, rather than just posing here and there. Brie Larson does enough posing for the both of them. 100. Frozen II (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee)- Frozen begins with sisters being separated after one injures the other. It plays for keeps from minute five. Frozen II, whose smaller stakes are felt in the one-or-so location, B-team songs, and forgettable new characters, never feels as real. 99. Aladdin (Guy Ritchie)- Even if the songs still bang and Nasim Pedrad is very funny, Aladdin feels as cynical and--don't say it, don't say it--unnecessary as all of these live-action remakes do. I'm looking forward to the animated remakes of the live-action remakes, which might figure out a way to reincarnate Robin Williams. One can dream, even cynically. 98. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Vince Gilligan)- Finally, the TV movie--and no shade, but this ending we didn't ask for is definitely part of the TV movie tradition--that answers a burning question for Breaking Bad fans: Was Jesse ever interesting by himself?

97. High Life (Claire Denis)- As uncool as it makes me, I have to admit that I just don't care for Claire Denis's aesthetic. Knowing nothing going in, I was captivated by the mysterious first half-hour, but once the film started to explain itself, it seemed like a B movie with more ponderous music. High Life is effectively claustrophobic, but I found myself "yes-anding" most of it. Yes, for example, space is lonely, as I've learned from every other movie about space.

96. Where’d You Go, Bernadette? (Richard Linklater)- From the get-go, this movie doesn't work--structurally, tonally--but the miscalculations of Linklater and Blanchett and especially the mawkish music don't have enough consequence for the film to even fail on a noteworthy level. It's not unpleasant. You just laugh sparingly and think, on the way out, "I don't think she loved her daughter as much as she said she did" or "Get to Antarctica twenty minutes earlier or twenty minutes later." Linklater, an inestimable talent, has added an entry to his filmography that might as well not exist. Making movies, especially adaptations of epistolary books, is hard. I'm being too understanding of that or not understanding enough. 95. Dumbo (Tim Burton)- Just as Dumbo begins to take chances--fashioning itself as an anti-corporate parable with Keaton playing a Disney-esque "architect of dreams"--it settles back down to its own low expectations. Expectations that come from the storytelling and characterization and not the production design, which seems grandly practical except for the CG [rolls up sleeves, adjusts glasses, tightens shoes] elephant in the room. Of the performances, Farrell comes out on top, displaying Movie Star confidence despite very little to work with. (Can a World War I veteran who lost his arm and his wife be allowed a bit more pain?) It gives me no pleasure to dunk on child actors, but both of the kids seem to be reading their lines, and their monotones nearly sink the movie at the beginning. 94. Echo in the Canyon (Andrew Slater)- A nice enough introduction to the scene, but Jakob Dylan's constant presence as an interviewer and performer turns it into a vanity project. The film shuffles among talking heads interviews, prep for an anniversary concert, and an anniversary concert, and I'll let you guess which one of those is interesting. The access that the filmmakers got is impressive, but if a person didn't participate (Carole King is the obvious one), the filmmakers just pretend he or she didn't exist. 93. Diamantino (Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt)- I like the notion of someone so specialized in his profession that he has a child-like understanding of the outside world, and Carloto Cotta sells the innocence of the title character. (The Donna Lewis needle-drop killed me too.) But too often this film feels as if it's focusing on sheer weirdness over satisfying narrative. Cult classics are fine, but you should try for the regular classic. 92. Ma (Tate Taylor)- There are some cool ideas here--the innocent entrees that technology provides, the way the movie earns its R rating. But the script needs a few more passes for everything to congeal past the silliness, especially with regard to the hammy flashbacks that attempt to provide motivation for the Ma figure. I respect the attempt to humanize a monster, but she would be more scary if left opaque. 91. Bombshell (Jay Roach)- The films that try explicitly to comment on our current social climate are never the most successful ones, especially if their internal politics are this muddled. The film takes great pleasure in implicating the toxic system of Fox News, taking shots at anyone who would participate. Then it starts to pick and choose who to like in that system, which is where it gets weird. Obviously, a Fox News employee who sexually harasses another employee is "worse" than an employee who gets harassed. But then the Charles Randolph screenplay starts to sort closeted lesbians and career-strivers, and it's not sure who the bad guys really are. The film moves quite swiftly in its first half, and Charlize Theron's mimicking of Megyn Kelly is eerie. But I don't think Jay Roach knows what he believes. The lurid, claustrophobic scene between Margot Robbie's composite Kayla and John Lithgow's breathy Roger Ailes is the transcendent moment. It teases out the humiliation slowly and powerfully. With a quite meta flourish, the scene makes you hate yourself if you've ever objectified one of the most objectified actresses in the world; she's that great at illustrating her discomfort.

90. Glass (M. Night Shyamalan)- 1. A great example of "story" vs. "things happening." A negative example, I'm afraid. 2. The Osaka Tower represents the literal and figurative highs that the film will literally and figuratively not reach. 3. Spencer Treat Clark back!!! 4. The flashbacks are actual deleted scenes from Unbreakable, which is amazing. 5. Not since Lost has there been a work that seems like obsessive fan service, but the fan in mind is the creator, not any member of the audience. We do not want your explanations about Jai the security guard's role in your universe, Night. 6. This is a sequel to Unbreakable and a sequel to Split, but it somehow does not feel like a third chapter of anything. 7. It makes sense that I watched this on the same day that I listened to Weezer's The Teal Album, their surprise collection of punctilious '80s covers. In both cases, there's an artist who was really important to me in formative years but who has used up the last of whatever capital he has accrued by giving in to his worst instincts. In Shyamalan's case though, at least it's a confident swing. The second act pretty much tells us that we were dumb to believe what he sold us on. Even though it's dramatically inert and completely stops halfway through, this is exactly the movie he wanted to make, which I stupidly still admire. 89. Five Feet Apart (Justin Baldoni)- I checked this out because I have the sneaking suspicion that Haley Lu Richardson is a Movie Star, and she is continuing to progress into that power/responsibility. Otherwise the movie is a by-the-numbers weepie that doesn't really have a new spin on anything but hits its marks adequately. I was surprised that Claire Forlani got neither a "with" nor an "and" card in the credits. How rude. 88. Pet Sematary (Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer)- I like the bleak dive the film takes following its second big twist, which is handled well, but there is a ceiling for an adaptation of one of King's least ambitious and most predetermined tales. 87. Wild Rose (Tom Harper)- So conventional that Jessie Buckley almost got nominated for a Golden Globe. 86. Judy (Rupert Goold)- Just as the leaves start to change, we get biopics like these: too earnest to be cliched, too safe to be original. I'm on the ground floor of the Zellwegerssaince, but Judy is a slog in stretches. 85. The King (David Michod)- Capable but superfluous. Animal Kingdom was nine years ago, so it's quite possible that David Michod, even when he has an imperious Ben Mendelsohn at his disposal, has lost the urgency. The reason that anyone should see this--at least until someone puts together a YouTube compilation of just his scenes--is for Robert Pattinson, whose take on The Dauphin is the frontrunner for Most On-One Performance of the Year. 84. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (J.J. Abrams)- There are just enough moments--the first Force battle between Kylo and Rey being one of them--that remind the viewer of the magic of Star Wars. Kylo Ren's arc concludes in a more satisfying way than I expected, Babu Frik is officially my dude, and Daisy Ridley's post-Star Wars career intrigues me. My Dolby seat was rumbling, and I was pretty charged up on candy. But, man, most of the business here feels compromised, undermined, and inessential. It's a rushed connect-the-dots compared to The Last Jedi. There's a scene in which the gang has to risk wiping C-3PO's memory to gain important information--they need a thing to get to another thing to get to another thing--and there appear to be stakes for just a second. Then, as if to reassure the audience that there will be ten more of these movies, Rey adds, "Doesn't R2 have a backup of your memory?" That's the whole movie in an expensive, nostalgic nutshell.

83. Queen & Slim (Melina Matsoukas)- Capable of tender moments but shot in the foot by its episodic nature, Queen & Slim is the most uneven picture of the year. The characters work well as foils to each other, but Jodie Turner-Smith's performance is overshadowed by Kaluuya's. I have no idea what Chloe Sevigny and Flea are trying to do in their brief time on screen, and I have no idea what the film is trying to do when it disturbs the point of view for a misguided protest sequence. 82. Hustlers (Lorene Scafaria)- It has been a long time since I was so surprised that a movie was over. The coda comes up telling us about, in real life, what kind of criminal slaps on the wrists the characters received, and I got pushed out of the theater wondering what it all amounted to. Yeah, that's the point. I know. Just as none of the 2008 bankers went to jail in the wake of their destruction, none of the women who drugged and exploited them did much time beyond "14 months of weekends" either. But should I applaud moral confusion? Can I be angry about the lack of consequences for both parties? If you want me to judge the film I watched instead of the film I wanted to watch, I can be more complimentary. Some of the most electric moments in 2019 cinema are here, rooted in 2008 strip club music. And saying 2008 strip club rap was good is like saying 1890 French Impressionism was good. Nearly every performance works, from Lili Reinhart's bashfulness to Wai Ching Ho's gratitude to Jennifer Lopez's intractable confidence. Also, I don't know if anyone has noticed this before, but J. Lo has a nice butt. 81. The Report (Scott Z. Burns)- There are some interesting things going on here. For example, this feedback loop: An hour or so in, protagonist Daniel Jones watches a fabricated news feature that explains what waterboarding is, and I had an instinct as an audience member to go, "Like we don't know by now. Don't hold my hand." But the only reason I know is because of news reports like that, informed by work that the real Daniel Jones did, dramatized in the events of the first half of this very movie. Still, this movie is a lot like one of those dishes in which every single element sounds like something you would like--"Ooh, pork belly, delicious. Oooh, lemongrass. Bet those would go well together"--but you take a bite, and it doesn't taste good. Is that your fault or the restaurant's?

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screenandcinema · 4 years

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The Nominations are In!

This morning the nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards were announced. Below you will find the official nominees for the major categories that I incorrectly predicted yesterday. As well as a couple of notes about what I got right, what I got wrong and any surprises along the way. Without further ado, the nominations:

Best Picture

Ford v. Ferrari

The Irishman

Joker

Jojo Rabbit

Little Women

Marriage Story

1917

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Parasite

The biggest surprise to me looking at the nominees for the Best Picture category is that the Academy decided to list 1917 alphabetically as “nineteen-seventeen.” All nine of the eventual nominees were on my predicted list of ten, which I call a win in the age of “five-to-ten” nominees for Best Picture. Fun fact, every year after the Oscar ceremony, I make a list of ten-to-fifteen films I think have a chance to be nominated by Best Picture the following year just by looking at the release calendar - seven of the above nine films were on the list I made back in late February of last year - my only misses from 11 months out? Marriage Story and Parasite.

Best Director

Bong Joon Ho, Parasite

Sam Mendes, 1917

Todd Phillips, Joker

Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

For Best Director, and for most of the following categories, it felt like four of the nominations were all locked up with one more floating that could have been anyone. Bong Joon Ho, Sam Mendes, Scorsese, and Tarantino felt like sure bets, but that fifth slot was wide open for someone like Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story), Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit), or Todd Phillips. I chose Gerwig, I was wrong - or the Academy was.

Best Actor

Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory

Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Adam Driver, A Marriage Story

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

Similarly, for Best Actor, Banderas, DiCaprio, Driver, and Phoenix felt like the likely nominees with Taron Egerton (Rocketman), Christian Bale (Ford v. Ferrari), Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro (The Irishman), and even Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name) or Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems) with a shot at the final spot. I thought that Egerton’s Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA nominations and his recent Golden Globe win would catapult him to an Oscar nomination, however, it did not, and Pryce secured the final nomination slot.

Best Actress

Cynthia Erivo, Harriet

Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

Charlize Theron, Bombshell

Renee Zellweger, Judy

After two years of predicting the Best Actress nominations perfectly, I missed the final spot. Once again, four of these nominations felt written in stone, Johansson, Ronan, Theron, and Zellweger, with the fifth up for grabs. I struggled to choose between Awkwafina (The Farewell), Cynthia Erivo, Lupita Nyong’o (Us), and in the end, it was Erivo who earned her second Academy Award nomination of the year - Best Original Song being the other. Erivo already has a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy, and if she wins in either category, at 33 years old, she would become the youngest person to ever earn an EGOT. She puts other 33 year-olds who have earned nothing to shame.

Best Supporting Actor

Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes

Al Pacino, The Irishman

Joe Pesci, The Irishman

Brad Pitt, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Best Supporting Actor was another category with four nominations that you could have put down in pen - Hanks, Pacino, Pesci, and Pitt all looked set for a nomination with again the fifth slot wide open. Song Kang Ho (Parasite), Anthony Hopkins, Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse), and Jamie Foxx (Mercy) all seemed like viable options for that last nomination. After Willem Dafoe jumped into the Best Actor category last year to my surprise, I picked him as my nominee just to avoid a similar surprise, but instead, it was Hopkins earning the second acting nomination for The Two Popes.

Best Supporting Actress

Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit

Florence Pugh, Little Women

Margot Robbie, Bombshell

Here is where I had my big miss, and as the first category announced, I assumed things would okay go worse from them. Going in, I assumed that three of those nominations were set, Laura Dern, Margot Robbie, and Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers). With Florence Pugh, Scarlett Johansson, and Zhao Shuzhen (The Farewell) fighting for the final two slots. Kathy Bates and Nicole Kidman (Bombshell) were on my radar, but I cut them from my shortlist early on. Then came the shock, Lopez was out, Bates was in. Unexpected on my end. And then Shuzhen who I had getting the nominations over Johansson proved incorrect as well.

In the end I correctly predicted 28 of the eventual 34 nominations, my worst outing since 2015. I promise to try to better next year. Keep an eye for Spielberg’s West Side Story.

Tune in to the 92nd Academy Awards on February 9th on ABC.

-MB-

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abitterlifethroughcinema · 4 years

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The Five (+1) Movies To Catch For the New Year

WOKE! 2020 Film Awards PReviews

by Lucas Avram Cavazos

It is a mighty and yet daunting task this ‘2020 thing’ that is upon us. I think inherently we all know that some things are going to shift, others will change, some will expand and a lot more are likely to im/explode. Despite the factuality of it all, one constant I will always turn to, and recommend to you my lovelies, is cinematherapy. It goes without saying that some upcoming movies, which are either now or soon to be at our local VOS movie theatres, are also about to sweep some awards and with Oscar nominations going live this second week of January, I believe the movies below will soon be water cooler twawk, so me here at A Bitter Life brings you a BCN in VOSE look at the five (PLUS ONE!) films to catch before awards season intensifies.

In fact, it was a rather decent year for some great fare and not such a hodgepodge of Marvel and Disney movies forced down our throats every other week. The film I must start off with on this 2020 Film Awards Preview would be the excellent South Korean film Parasite ####-1/2, unanimously chosen as the winner of this year’s Palme d’ Or at Cannes and easily gracing the top or near-top of most film critic’s lists this year, as well it should. Telling the story of a South Korean family, the Kims, who slowly become interlopers within the confines of the uber-wealthy Park family. Starting off with one of them acting as a tutor, they slowly find a way to fill a need for the Park family, all while acting as non-related good Samaritans…that is until a botched getaway vacation and an underground bunker with a tale to tell reveal themselves and send the two families into a quagmire that must be seen and lived to be believed. (Now playing all over BCN/CAT/ESP)

Next up would be my personal favourite this year, though very closely followed by the aforementioned film! Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ####-1/2 became, at least for myself, a redeeming factor in the oeuvre of Quentin Tarantino after the meh! feelings given off by his last big screen outing a couple of years ago. Taking the tragic, real-life story of the Manson Murders that ended the life of Roman Polanski’s then-wife Sharon Tate, director Tarantino buckles his audience into their seats and sends them into a time zone tunnel to 1969 Los Angeles. One of the things that has always revolved around a Tarantino movie is the element of revenge. Here, we have a different take on a true event, but the concept is widened by the director using actors Brad Pitt, Leonardo di Caprio and even Margot Robbie as conduits of a bygone era that give a peek into a mindset and time that usually must be lived to be remembered. The fact that we, the viewing audience, feel like we were actually there in ’69 and then also given the chance to make up our own mind as to a possible different ending to the Manson family murders is mere evidence of a great director/writer who seamlessly gives us a choose-your-own-adventure saga with superb cameos. Excellent cinema once again. (Soon on DVD/Blu-ray & VOD)

The next big film that has increased the star power and respectability factor of Happy Gilmore, uh I mean, Adam Sandler is the ever-loved and heralded film Uncut Gems ####. If we have to put some truth to power, it must be noted that part of the film’s appeal is that it is such a New York City film. When you then throw in the elements of a thriller mixed with the Diamond District of Manhattan AND a run-around plot that also includes ballers and entertainers like Kevin Garnett and The Weeknd playing themselves, what you get is a peek into what feels like a true-life crime show playing out in front of your eyes. Add in the ever-excellent Tilda Swinton and Natasha Lyonne, as well, and even despite the long 2-1/4 hour running time, what you get is Adam Sandler, under the direction of the Safdie brothers and along with the good graces of Netflix (who will also be distributing the film in Europe), becoming the new Comeback Kid. (To be released in BCN/CAT/ESP via Netflix on Jan.31)

While we’re on the subject…Netflix. Whatever your thoughts may be on the streaming site service (and others like it), it goes without saying that VOD services have become the wave of the future. Home cinema and entertainment centres/systems are what make for the latest in silver screen viewing. For the last three-plus years, the world cinema system (not to mention film academies and award outlets) have had to adapt to a new reality few probably ever even thought of before this new digital age. Just a few days ago, perhaps showing a bit of wane after receiving the most nominations, only two actress winners took home trophies, Olivia Colman as The Queen in The Crown and Laura Dern for A Marriage Story, reviewed below. With that said, famed director/ writer/ producer Marty Scorcese decided to go the Netflix route for his (likely) last mafia opus The Irishman ####, detailing the life story and inner workings of the Philly mob, while also detailing intricacies of the Teamster unions, Jimmy Hoffa, the Kennedys and the inner workings of the US mafia and its many minions. Financed by Mexican firm Fabrica de Cine (mad side-eye and furrowed brow) amongst Netflix and other studios for international rights, the production of the film apparently ballooned up to (and some reports even say, well beyond) $160 million. With just under 8€ million reaped at the worldwide box office (taquilla) coffers, it’s fair to say that this film in all its glory should have been edited to a slightly shorter length and intended for movie theatres. It has had a fairly great response by viewers on the streaming site du jour, but even Sandra Bullock garnered hella more viewers with her formulaic thriller Bird Box earlier in the year. As a student and tutor of history, the elements of the film that stood out to me went beyond the impeccable performances, specifically by Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, but of course De Niro and Pesci as Frank Sheeran and Russell Bufalino, as well, but it was Scorcese’s capturing of that forgotten time around which we find so many Trump supporters harkening to, and it details the trials and tribulations of the working class then…and perhaps, even now. That aside, I abhorred the expensive de-ageing CGI process to make the Italian acting kings look younger…just vile. It was like they suddenly became animated secondary characters from a dropped scene in Spielberg’s Tin Tin film a few years ago…bloody odd for a live-action mafioso epic. Still…Scorcese is the only working director who can capture that essence of a time gone by and dress it in Hollywood’s finest if overly-priced storytelling. Which brings us to the other Netflix gem to catch…but only when emotionally prepared. (Now streaming on Netflix and select screens)

Marriage Story ####, a.k.a. that likely Oscar-nominated film that will require too many tissue moments, also makes its way to this list. Trust, I can get my heart strings pulled quite easily if the right sentiments abound, so I was non-plussed going into this because I had already heard from my film fest peops that it was a bit of a tearjerker. Undeniably, there is a brutally-displayed realness that envelops the main characters of this film, particularly actresses Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern. Helmed by the wonderful Noah Baumbach, Johansson gives a near-best performance as former teen actress turned TV actress Nicole Barber, who separates from her NYC theatre-directing husband played by Kylo Ren himself, Adam Driver. When she takes a role and moves to LA, along with their child, things become even more real. There is a gutsy bravado that clearly makes itself beyond relevant, as the melancholy yet funny film continues, and I, for one, could hardly keep the sobs at bay with the ending of the film. This is the stuff that ‘rom-drams’ need last their heart, not that paltry shite fed to too many simpletons by Nicholas Sparks. (Now streaming on Netflix and select screens)

Aaaaaaaaand…lastly, Knives Out ####-1/2 rightly fixes itself into a final slot on this list because it is one of those long-lost wonders of vintage cinema…a star-studded quasi-whodunnit with wit and thrills and superb, serio-comedic acting by everyone involved. A mere smattering of those actors would be Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Spanish actress and Golden Globe nominee Ana de Armas, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette and even Don friggin’ Johnson! Following an investigation into the sudden death of famed mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), who had just invited main members of his family to his mansion for his birthday celebration, we see the touches of a perfectly poised ensemble film. Director/writer Rian Johnson has really stepped up to the plate with the best of the new directors and fresh off his box-office behemoth Star Wars: The Last Jedi from a couple of years back, his helming a film like Knives Out really plays his hand heavily in his diversity and directing tenacity. The fact that he also wrote this fine piece of script and dialogue makes him even more worthy of a possible director nod and it goes without saying that the cast is undoubtedly the finest ensemble piece made and released in the last year, and if you’ve been seeking a classic feel of a film with a smart, sharp modern twist, this film will satiate any of those olskie-olskie longings of a nostalgic murder mystery that makes you feel good after you leave the cinema. (Now playing in BCN/CAT/ESP)

#cinema #ABitterLifeThroughCinema

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mostfunnystuff247-blog · 6 years

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The Real-life Love Lives Of The ‘Modern Family’ Cast

Celebrities & Pop Culture This list will also remind you of some of the show's best guest stars and recurring characters! Kate Emswiler 2018-09-17

Getty Images | Frazer Harrison If you’re a “Modern Family” fan, you’ve likely witnessed all the ups and downs of the Pritchetts, Dunphys and Delgados over the years. Now, take a peek at the offscreen love lives of all your favorite “Modern Family” actors. You may be surprised to find you recognize some of their real-life significant others from other popular shows!

Stephanie Beatriz (Sonia Ramirez)

If you don’t know Stephanie Beatriz as Gloria’s sister, Sonia Ramirez, you may know her as Detective Rosa Diaz on the recently canceled (then quickly uncanceled) “Brooklyn 99.” Beatriz, who is engaged to actor Brad Hoss, identifies as bisexual. Her coming out inspired an epidode of “Brooklyn 99” in which Diaz, Beatriz’s tough-as-nails character, also came out as bisexual. In an essay penned for GQ, the actress clarified that marrying a man doesn’t make her any less queer. “I’m choosing to get married because this particular person brings out the best in me,” she wrote. “This person happens to be a man.”

Getty Images | Joe Scarnici

Nathan Fillion (Rainer Shine)

On “Modern Family,” Nathan Fillion’s vain character, a TV weatherman appropriately named Rainer Shine, pursues Haley — despite an age difference that makes everyone uncomfortable. Although they are very briefly engaged (five minutes!), Haley and Rainer’s relationship was not meant to last. In real life, the “Castle” star has been romantically involved with several women, most recently actress Krista Allen, though the two appear to no longer be together.

Getty Images | Dimitrios Kambouris

Elizabeth Banks (Sal)

Elizabeth Banks is easily one of the most memorable and beloved of “Modern Family”‘s many recurring guest stars, as her turn as Cam and Mitchell’s impulsive and vivacious friend, Sal, always breathes some fresh air into the show. Offscreen, Banks is married to producer and sportswriter Max Handelman, whom she met in college when she was 18 years old. The two waited until 2003 to tie the knot and they now have two sons together, Felix, 7, and Magnus, 5.

Getty Images | Pascal Le Segretain

Kevin Hart (Andre)

Comedian Kevin Hart appeared twice on “Modern Family” as Phil’s friend and neighbor, Andre. When he’s not making audiences laugh in TV shows, movies and stand-up specials, Hart spends time with his wife, Eniko Parrish, and their baby son, Kenzo, along with Hart’s children from a previous marriage, Heaven and Hendrix.

Getty Images | Frazer Harrison

Chazz Palminteri (Vincent / Shorty)

Chazz Palminteri has a recurring role on “Modern Family” as Shorty, one of Jay’s oldest and dearest BFFs. The seasoned actor, writer and restaurateur has been married to his wife, Gianna Palminteri, since 1992. The couple has two children, Dante and Gabriella, and they live in New York.

Getty Images | Jemal Countess

Jennifer Tilly (Darlene)

Jennifer Tilly appears in several episodes of “Modern Family” as Darlene, the wife of Jay’s friend Shorty, who moves with Shorty to Costa Rica — much to Jay’s dismay. In a later episode, however, Shorty returns and admits that Darlene left him for another man. Tilly’s real-life romantic partner is Irish-born poker player Phil Laak, whose poker-playing uniform of a hoodie and sunglasses has earned him the moniker “The Unabomber.” Tilly herself is also a world-renowned professional poker champion.

Getty Images | Mark Davis

Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy)

Sarah Hyland plays the ditzy, boy-crazy Haley Dunphy on “Modern Family,” but for more than a year now, in real life she’s only had eyes for one guy: Wells Adams. Adams was a contestant on “The Bachelorette” in 2016, and it looks like his loss at the final rose was a win for everyone, especially Hyland. After Adams’ stint on “Bachelor in Paradise” in the summer of 2017, he and Hyland started dating and they’ve been serving up coupled cuteness ever since.

Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly

Benjamin Bratt (Javier Delgado)

On “Modern Family,” Benjamin Bratt plays Gloria’s hunky, suave ex-husband, Javier, who swoops in occasionally to visit his son, Manny, but never provides any reliable support as a dad. Bratt’s real-life persona couldn’t be further from this character, as he has been married to his wife, actress Talisa Soto, since 2002, and he’s a devoted dad to his two children, Sophia, 15, and Mateo, 12.

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Ed O’Neill (Jay Pritchett)

The blustery “Modern Family” patriarch and closets mogul, Jay Pritchett, is played by Ed O’Neill, previously of “Married… With Children” fame. In reality, O’Neill has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff since 1986. The two share a pair of daughters, 19-year-old Sophia and 22-year-old Claire (just like on TV!).

Getty Images | Frazer Harrison

Jane Krakowski (Dr. Donna Duncan)

Fans of “30 Rock” and “Ally McBeal” likely recognized Jane Krakowski immediately in the several “Modern Family” episodes that featured her as the passive-aggressive Dr. Donna Duncan, Gloria’s nemesis at Manny’s school. When she’s not playing hilarious roles on sitcoms, Krakowski is likely spending time with her son, 7-year-old Bennett, whom she shares with her ex-fiance, fashion designer Robert Godley.

Getty Images | Eugene Gologursky

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Guillermo)

You may not have realized it at the time, but if you re-watch the 2011 “Modern Family” episode “Good Cop, Bad Dog,” you’ll notice that the guest star playing the dog trainer who pitches a terrible business idea to Jay, is unmistakably “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. When Miranda isn’t playing hilarious guest roles or concocting award-winning rhymes, he’s probably enjoying time with his wife since 2010, Vanessa Nadal, who is both a lawyer and a scientist. The two have two sons together, and while delivering his speech at the 2016 Tony Awards (before baby No. 2 came along), Miranda declared, “My wife’s the reason anything gets done. She nudges me towards promise by degrees. She is a perfect symphony of one. Our son is her most beautiful reprise.”

Getty Images | Bryan Bedder

Keegan-Michael Key (Tom)

On “Modern Family,” Keegan-Michael Key plays one half of a couple that Phil and Claire meet while on vacation. The Dunphys think highly of their new friends and love having dinner with them … except for one thing: They refuse to ever pick up the check. In real life, Key married producer Elisa Pugliese in June 2017. When he popped the question in November 2017, Key gushed on Twitter, “I’m the luckiest man ever. She said yes!”

Getty Images | Christopher Polk

Rachel Harris (Amelia)

Comedic actress Rachael Harris guest starred on “Modern Family” once, playing Amelia, the owner of a trendy restaurant for which Mitchell and Cam are having trouble getting reservations. They arrange a play date for Amelia’s son and their daughter Lily, in an effort to gain access to the restaurant, but things go awry, as usual. In real life, Harris is married to her second husband, violinist Christian Hebel, and the pair has one child together, Henry, with a second baby on the way!

Getty Images | John Sciulli

Matt Dillon (Robbie)

Matt Dillon plays a bit of a cad on “Modern Family,” appearing as Claire’s ex-boyfriend from high school who shows up at a party at Claire and Phil’s house — as a date for Claire’s mom, DeDe. Awkward! Offscreen, Dillon has been a serial dater for so long, he’s even made lists of “celebs who have never married.” His current girlfriend, however, dancer and actress Roberta Mastromichele, may just convince Dillon to take the plunge yet.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Jordan Peele (Derrick)

Just like his longtime comedy partner Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele delivered laughs when he guest-starred on “Modern Family.” In the episode “A Fair to Remember,” Peele played a “police officer” whom Jay is grumpily paired up with for a fair charity event. The two had very funny onscreen chemistry, but offscreen, the Oscar-winning Peele has the best chemistry with his wife, comedian and actress Chelsea Peretti, well-known to “Brooklyn 99” fans as the precinct’s sassy Gina. The couple has a son together, Beaumont Gino, whom they welcomed in July 2017.

Getty Images | Matt Winkelmeyer

Sofia Vergara (Gloria Pritchett)

Gloria, the sexy, loud, loving second wife of Jay Pritchett, is played with hilarious timing and just enough sass by Colombian actress Sofia Vergara. In November 2015, Vergara married “True Blood” actor Joe Manganiello in a lavish Palm Beach wedding that was draped in flowers and oozing with romance. Soon after the wedding (which featured Vergara’s “Modern Family” castmates in attendance), Vergara went on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and said, “It was like a fairy tale. It came out perfectly how I wanted, I have to say.” Vergara also has a 26-year-old son, Manolo, from a previous marriage.

Getty Images | Dimitrios Kambouris

Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy)

Devoted dad and loyal husband Phil Dunphy is married to the oft-beleaguered Claire on “Modern Family,” but, in real life, actor Ty Burrell has been married to his wife, Holly, a professional chef, since 2000. The pair has two children, 8-year-old Frances and 6-year-old Greta, and they have strong ties to Utah, where Burrell owns two bars and a restaurant. Family is everything to Ty and Holly Burrell, and Ty told Fatherly that he loves sitting down to dinner with his wife and daughters each night. “We’re very traditional in that way,” he revealed. “My wife and I were both raised in households where you sat down at dinner every night. It is a wonderful rhythm-of-the-day thing.”

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Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy)

Claire Dunphy enjoys a wacky-but-loving relationship with doofy husband Phil on “Modern Family,” but Julie Bowen‘s real-life marriage has been a bit less smooth lately. Bowen was married to Scott Phillips in 2004 and the couple has three children together, 11-year-old Oliver and 9-year-old twins, John and Gustav. Earlier this year, however, Bowen filed for divorce from Phillips, and Bowen has turned to her castmates and kids for distraction from the situation. “The beauty of having three children is they don’t give you much time for thinking,” Bowen told Us magazine in April. “They’re like a crash course in being in the now.”

Getty Images | Kevin Winter

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett)

“Modern Family” viewers get a hilarious, weekly glimpse into the marriage between Mitchell and Cameron — but fans who follow Ferguson on social media can witness his own happy real-life marriage, too. Wed in 2013 (with playwright Tony Kushner officiating), Ferguson and his husband, lawyer Justin Mikita, have a non-profit organization together called Tie The Knot, which sells bow ties as a way of raising funds to support same-sex marriage.

Getty Images | Dia Dipasupil

Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker)

Eric Stonestreet plays lovable and loving Cam, the sensitive, football-coaching husband to Mitch and father of Lily. But, in real life, Stonestreet is not gay (or, as he put it to Oprah.com, he’s “openly straight”). The 47-year-old actor is currently dating Lindsay Schweitzer, a pediatric nurse, whom he gushed over on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in September 2017. “She calms me — she calms my nerves,” he told DeGeneres. “I’m a very high-strung person.”

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Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy)

Ariel Winter’s character, Alex Dunphy, may be dorky and awkward on TV, but the 20-year-old’s offscreen romance with 30-year-old Canadian actor Levi Meaden seems to be effortless, sweet and downright steamy. The two began dating in November 2016 and they have since moved in together. The couple shares three dogs and a bunny, and they even got tattoos for each other (Meaden’s is a picture of a peanut butter jar while Winter’s is a hunk of cheese, symbolizing a combination that doesn’t seem to go together, but somehow totally works).

Getty Images | Michael Tullberg

Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy)

Clueless Luke Dunphy is played by the actually quite-smart Nolan Gould (he graduated high school at age 13!), who, at age 19, has basically grown up on the set of “Modern Family.” For that reason, he doesn’t see his co-stars as viable love interests. When asked on the “Allegedly” podcast whether he’d ever date his onscreen sister, Ariel Winter, for example, Gould stated, “I love her but she’s a really good friend. We grew up together … I would never wanna waste that.” Although he reportedly isn’t dating anyone in particular, rumors have swirled around Gould and actress Joey King (pictured below) and model Hannah Glasby but Gould has largely kept his dating life out of the public eye. Or perhaps he has no time for dating, as the actor stays busy with his hit TV show, his passionate work for wildlife and environmental causes, and his worldly travels with his friends.

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Rico Rodriguez (Manny Delgado)

Rico Rodriguez plays a bit of a mama’s boy on “Modern Family” as Manny Delgado, firstborn son of Gloria (Sofia Vergara). In real life, the 20-year-old actor seems just as fond of his TV mom, but there’s no evidence of a serious romance in Rodriguez’s life at the moment. In September 2016, he revealed to ABC News that he was “till single and ready to mingle.” According to his Twitter feed, his greatest loves seem to be sports-related, so he may still be single, or perhaps he simply keeps his private matters private.

Getty Images | Alberto E. Rodriguez

Fred Willard (Frank Dunphy)

Beloved comedic actor Fred Willard plays Phil’s earnest father, Frank, on “Modern Family,” and it turns out he’s a loving father and husband in real life, too. Willard married his wife Mary, a playwright, in 1968 and the couple had one daughter together, Hope Willard. Sadly, Mary passed away unexpectedly in July 2018 at the age of 71. She and Fred had been married for 50 years.

Getty Images | Mark Davis

Shelley Long (DeDe Pritchett)

On “Modern Family,” former “Cheers” star Shelley Long plays DeDe Pritchett, mother to Claire and Mitchell and long-suffering ex-wife of Jay. In real life, Long was married and divorced twice, most recently to stockbroker Bruce Tyson. Long and Tyson share a 33-year-old daughter, Juliana Long Tyson, who is an accomplished actress in her own right.

Getty Images | David Livingston

Nathan Lane (Pepper Saltzman)

Nathan Lane plays the recurring role of eccentric wedding planner Pepper Saltzman on “Modern Family,” though Pepper’s extravagant ideas are often a little too much for Mitchell and Cam to handle. When it came to his own wedding, the Broadway legend chose a far simpler approach. In 2015, Lane married his partner of 18 years, playwright Devlin Elliot, in a quiet ceremony at New York’s City Hall.

Getty Images | Larry Busacca

Adam DeVine (Andy Bailey)

Jay and Gloria’s affable nanny, Andy (played by Adam DeVine), presented a bit of a romantic problem for Haley on “Modern Family,” as she secretly crushed on the good-natured nerd (who was so similar to her dad!). And while Andy had feelings for Haley, too, their timing was never right. DeVine’s real love life appears to be more easygoing — he has been dating actress Chloe Bridges since 2015 when the pair met while working together on a horror film. In October 2017, a “clueless” DeVine told an Australian radio show that he didn’t realize Bridges might expect a marriage proposal when he whisked her off on a romantic European vacation. “I think she was having some grandiose ideas, meanwhile I’m too dumb to pick up on any clues,” he told the hosts.

Getty Images | Rachel Murray

Ernie Hudson (Miles)

Ernie Hudson is perhaps best-known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the “Ghostbusters” film franchise, so nostalgic audiences delight in his role as Jay’s old pal, Miles, on “Modern Family.” Offscreen, he’s been married twice, and his second marriage, to Linda Kingsberg, has been going strong since 1985. The couple has two children together, Andrew and Ross.

Getty Images | Michael Buckner

Steve Zahn (Ronnie LaFontaine)

Any regular viewer of “Modern Family” knows Steve Zahn as the Dunphys’ obnoxious and hyper-sexual neighbor, Ronnie LaFontaine. Zahn’s TV wife, Amber, on “Modern Family” is played by Andrea Anders, but in real life, Zahn has been married to Robyn Peterman since 1994. The couple now lives in rural Kentucky, where Zahn seems to enjoy a more relaxed way of life. “I met my wife in 1990 when I was on the national tour of ‘Bye, Bye Birdie,'” he told The Irish Times in 2017. “We moved out of the city 13 years ago, and it’s the best thing I ever did. Overheads are lower. I don’t have to work when I don’t want to.”

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Matthew Broderick (Dave)

Matthew Broderick’s brief storyline on “Modern Family” has Broderick’s character feeling romantically frustrated, as he misinterprets Phil’s generally affectionate nature for something more lustful. In real life, Broderick has enjoyed a long marriage with Sarah Jessica Parker. The couple has homes in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Ireland, and they share one son together, 15-year-old James, along with twin 9-year-old girls, Marion and Tabitha.

Getty Images | Mike CoppolaOriginally published on The Delite. Previous post Taco Bell Was Voted the Best Mexican Restaurant in the Country And People Have A Lot Of Feelings Next post This is the most recent story. Read the full article

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houstonlocalus-blog · 7 years

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Jackie Brown Revisited

Nineteen years ago I interviewed Quentin Tarantino one-on-one in the manager’s office of the Regal Arbor 8 in Austin. Tarantino was about to introduce the Southwest premiere of Jackie Brown. Crammed into the tiny office, waiting for me to finish, were Richard Linklater, Mike Judge, and Robert Rodriguez as well as the theater manager.

Two weeks ago Quentin Tarantino was putting the finishing touches on Jackie Brown. Last weekend he completed what has become a Tarantino tradition – to accompany his latest film to Texas as a benefit for the Austin Film Society.

Tickets, priced at $25, go directly to the AFS, a publicly supported, non-profit organization (with Richard Linklater acting Artistic Director) that gave away $50,000 to twenty Texas filmmakers and artists this year.

Jackie Brown with its tony cast and sleek view of Southern California underlings may be the most A-level blaxploitation film ever made.

As directed and adapted by Tarantino from Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch, Jackie Brown is another instant celebration of cultural phenomena, real and fictional. Jackie Brown encompasses The Delfonics, Cabo Airlines, designer sports apparel, Pam Grier the actress (as opposed to Pam Grier as a pop reference), Acuna Bros., Teriyaki Donuts, countless blaxploitation films; not in that order, and mixed into the most serious crime-drama this side of 110th Street.

Some of Tarantino’s cultural references are there on the table in front of you. Only this time he doesn’t personify them with lines, as may be the case with the Big Kahuna Burger from Pulp Fiction.

“I say to people, if you’re expecting to see Pulp Fiction Part 2, you’re going to like the movie a lot, but you ain’t gonna get what you’re expecting,” Tarantino says.

“People talk about me like I’ve already done five or six films, and I’ve only done two. So now on this third one they can see, oh okay, he’s making very individual films that stand up on their own.”

In the depths of the Arbor Seven, on the second floor, Tarantino sits and talks in a manager’s cubicle, munching on popcorn. Meanwhile the small room fills with chatter and Austin resident filmmakers Mike Judge, Robert Rodriguez and Linklater, all of whom will take part in a general Q&A post-screening.

Tarantino’s dressed in a Late Night with Conan logo-emblazoned polo-style shirt and a black leather jacket, not unlike one that Michael Keaton (as ATF agent Ray Nicolet) wears in the movie. Like two of Jackie Brown‘s main characters, Tarantino sports a Kangol cap, his black with a red and yellow vertical stripe, worn backwards.

Tarantino’s A Band Apart Productions has the option on four Elmore Leonard novels, including Rum Punch, Kill Shot and Freaky Deaky, along with a western. Three of Rum Punch‘s characters, Melanie Ralston (Bridget Fonda), Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson) and Louis Gara (Robert De Niro), also appear in an earlier Leonard novel, The Switch.

“Blaxploitation movies are like the jumping off point,” Tarantino says in response to a question about same. But more to the point, Tarantino the director offers restraint when subtlety is required, and provides his actors with the lines and atmosphere that can make a great film.

“Part of it is that this is a film about older people, everybody has age in it, characters are in their mid 40s, or early 50s, like Max. The 1970s was their time,” Tarantino says. “They had promise and opportunity, and now the movie is taking place 20 years after that, and they’re all desperate.”

“The character of Louis is one of the best acting roles I’ve ever written,” says Tarantino. “But it’s not like my other roles, filled with great dialogue. It’s a performance that’s gotten across in body language.” He relates how he was sitting next to De Niro on a plane during the time he was adapting the script. “Here’s the greatest actor around and I’m telling him about body language.”

Tarantino has spent enough time writing scripts and acting on television and movies to have his own method of acting. “Every actor has a deal, there’s different schools,” Tarantino shrugs. “I know how I like to act, and what I need to bring to the role to be as good as I can be. But not every actor’s like that. So, when it comes to directing actors you’ve got to work their way.

“The thing I’m the proudest about this movie, I don’t think these characters walk around like movie characters doing movie things, following a movie plot. For the first hour you just hang out with them. It’s like a hang-out movie,” Tarantino says smiling.

“You get to know them like you do real people. They’re good company. When you read an Elmore Leonard novel, you live with the characters.”

An important part of Tarantino’s script writing process involves listening to records, as well as inspiration from great films. For Jackie Brown Tarantino choose over half of the music during writing sessions. “That’s how I find the rhythm of the movie. Just dive in my album collection.”

One movie role model, notes Tarantino, is Rio Bravo: “Where you have a good storyline, but a small storyline. The movie’s two-and-a-half hours, but if you’re laughing for two-and-a-half hours, you’re not bored.”

Some of Tarantino’s lines in Jackie Brown come from the actor’s real life. Like photos of Fonda as a teenager in a roller boogie outfit, or a scene where she’s watching a movie on TV featuring her father Peter Fonda. “Turn it off,” Melanie whines. For Robert Forster, Tarantino added lines where Max talks about his hair-weave, and how he feels about it. The accolades have just started to roll in for Pam Grier and Samuel L. Jackson in the lead roles.

Other projects on Tarantino’s calendar, as either executive producer or with a writing credit, include two in the From Dusk Till Dawn franchise. In the original, Tarantino played a murderous brother alongside George Clooney. “I think we really worked well as brothers in the movie,” recalls Tarantino. “We had that give and take that brothers have.”

The first one, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Hangman’s Daughter, takes place 100 years ago and is based on the demonic Satanico Pandemonium, played in FDTD by Salma Hayek. From Dusk Till Dawn: Texas Blood Money, helmed by Evil Dead 2 scribe Scott Spiegel, takes place two weeks after the first one, and concerns a bunch of Texas bank robbers who end up stopping at the, you guessed it, Titty Twister bar.

Tarantino mulled over making a movie version of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. at Warner Bros. but is now saying no about that project. He’s also involved on a version of Modesty Blaise, but that he also won’t direct.

In a surreal twist to in-store appearance, the after-screening Q&A with Q.T., Rodriguez, Judge, and Linklater proceeds next door to the cinema at a large Barnes and Noble.

The group stands on a balcony flanked by two escalators and those Barnes and Noble woodcut posters, in this case depicting Virginia Woolf and Samuel Clemens. Judge (who gets the biggest laugh with his Hank Hill-spoken line about Tarantino, “Boy I want to tell you. If you like sodomy….”), Rodriguez, Linklater and Tarantino stand there answering questions for around forty-minutes, just like the Four Musketeers of contemporary cinema that they are.

— Michael Bergeron

Jackie Brown Revisited this is a repost

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