#johanssons world: curious

[kusin-tisdag]

Marlow-Ramirez

Alma Marlow (50) - Jamie Marlow-Ramirez (20) - Vanessa Ramirez by @helloavocadooo (45)

Sure, Alma's parents always wanted her to focus more on the family business, but that was never her style. Now, they pressure is on young Jamie, but he just wants to party and go to the gym. Right? And Vanessa, she mainly wants to socialize and meet all the neighbors all the time!

Alma Marlow

Alma knows her mother wants her to take over the company, but Alma has always been more interested in taking the easy way. Sure, gambling online might not be the best idea - but thing is, Alma is very smart, and also lazy.

These things combined does not make for a very motivated CEO.

Sure, she went to Uni and she did graduate (barely). Honestly - the best thing she got from uni was Vanessa's number.

Vanessa started when Alma was doing her last semester, but Alma saw her at one of the parties - and she knew that was the right girl for her. Outgoing, funny and quick to make friends - Alma was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

And now, 24 years later, they are still very much in love. Their only child, Jamie, has been the center of their attention for 20 years now. Alma is a little worried what to do when he leaves the nest. Maybe they have to get a dog?

Vanessa Ramirez

Vanessa loves talking to the neighbors. They... don't always want to talk to her. Ah well, you can't befriend them all (though Vanessa tries)!

Vanessa has always been outgoing and friendly. She loves living in Willow Creek and spend time with their neighbors. She often visits Bob. After his wife left, she figured he needed friends - even if he seems quite close with Liberty and Travis. She also likes Bob's son Iggy. She has been visiting Tala and Olivia too, but Max and Ada she has never gotten close to. And that Faba-family? A little odd, aren't they? The kid there has always been trouble.

Anyway, Vanessa is now looking forward to not have a kid in high school (so.much.drama!) and instead help Jamie find his direction in life. Whatever he chooses, she knows she'll support him!

Jamie Marlow-Ramirez

Jamie loves playing the guitar, go to the gym and be with his friends. Sure, there aren't that many his age here in Willow Creek - he mainly hangs with the Lee-Scott -kids. The closest kid, Agatha, is just a bit too scary. But also, a bit fun...

Now, as he has just turned 20 he knows he should be "thinking about his future". Not that his mums really care - but his grandmother sure seems to. She has even said she would gladly sponsor him going to Uni. Or have him work at her company.

Maybe trying could be fun? But for now, Jamie continues to jam in his room before it's time to meet up Nicholas at the gym.

(They live in the fantastic Atoladouro Santo by MarciaAugusta at the gallery)

[jbaileyfansite]

USA Today Interview (2024)

For Jonathan Bailey, one of the biggest perks of starring in a massive franchise is getting your very own Lego figure.

The British actor, who plays the swoony prince Fiyero in “Wicked,” is featured in a 945-piece plastic Emerald City set. Although he has yet to procure the toy metropolis for himself, “Christmas is coming and I hope I’ve been a good boy this year,” Bailey says with a grin.

The impish heartthrob has been using Legos to unwind while on a weekslong promotional tour for the blockbuster movie musical, which tells the origin story of the witches of Oz. “Just last night, I managed to (put together) the Atlantic Ocean in this giant Lego globe that I’m currently building,” he delightedly explains.

The fantasy film caps off a monumental year for Bailey, 36, who earned an Emmy nomination for his devastating work in Showtime miniseries “Fellow Travelers,” and spent the summer in Thailand shooting “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (in theaters July 2, 2025) alongside Scarlett Johansson.

“It’s extraordinary the types of roles I’ve been able to play these last two years,” says Bailey, who broke through to U.S. audiences on Netflix phenom “Bridgerton” in 2020. “I’m pinching myself. If I could have gone back and told my younger self that this would be happening, I’d probably do a flip.”

Jonathan Bailey brings 'boyish charm' to 'Wicked' prince Fiyero

Bailey is no stranger to musical theater: At just 8 years old, he played the pint-sized revolutionary Gavroche in “Les Misérables” on London’s West End. And in 2019, he won an Olivier Award for a gender-swapped revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” singing the mile-a-minute “Getting Married Today.”

But it was a viral audition tape for the musical “The Last Five Years” that caught the attention of “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu. “It felt like the thing I’ve always loved about musicals, where the song is just an extension of the dialogue. It felt like acting,” Chu recalls. “He just has that X factor. There’s such a boyish charm to him that you’re like, ‘That is Fiyero.’”

Like many, Bailey became obsessed with “Wicked” thanks to its Broadway cast album and 2004 Tony Awards performance with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. “The lyrics are so fascinating and witty,” Bailey says. “I remember laughing specifically at Glinda singing how this hat is ‘really, uh, sharp, don’t you think?’ I screamed!”

When the contumacious Fiyero arrives at Shiz University from Winkie Country, he instantly enchants the besotted Glinda (Ariana Grande), but slowly finds himself drawn to the green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). He also freely flirts with both his male and female classmates.

“Fiyero is confident and curious and kind enough to invite anyone to Winkie Country,” Bailey says cheekily. But as a gay actor, he’s grateful for the “years and years of progress” that have allowed him to be the leading man in a big-budget movie like “Wicked.”  

“There's been many Fiyeros before me, and many members of the LGBT community who have fought for times where someone like me could play these parts,” Bailey says. "This story resonates for so many people because it’s about identity and celebrates our similarities. In playing Fiyero, you realize what an ally he is to someone who’s outside of society. People are incredibly unkind to Elphaba, and he uses his charm and privilege” to help her feel accepted. “It’s really lovely.”

The 'Bridgerton' dreamboat heads to 'Jurassic World' next

“There's been many Fiyeros before me, and many members of the LGBT community who have fought for times where someone like me could play these parts,” Bailey says. "This story resonates for so many people because it’s about identity and celebrates our similarities. In playing Fiyero, you realize what an ally he is to someone who’s outside of society. People are incredibly unkind to Elphaba, and he uses his charm and privilege” to help her feel accepted. “It’s really lovely.”

The 'Bridgerton' dreamboat heads to 'Jurassic World' next

Bailey delivers one of the movie’s standout numbers in “Dancing Through Life,” in which Fiyero persuades his schoolmates to join him for a night on the town at the trendy Ozdust Ballroom. The song begins in the Shiz library, where Fiyero swings between ladders, slides across desks, and flips through novels using only his feet. The actor spent seven weeks rehearsing the choreography, much of which takes place on rotating bookshelves.

“It turns out in Fiyero’s boots, it’s not so easy to open books and read ‘War and Peace’ with your toes,” Bailey jokes. “I also started training vocally over Zoom while I was filming ‘Fellow Travelers.’ I would do these scenes with Matt Bomer where I’d be smoking and screaming, and then I’d have to come back and sing somehow.”

Ultimately, making "Wicked" helped Bailey feel more at ease taking on the beloved "Jurassic Park" series, in which he plays a bespectacled paleontologist named Dr. Henry Loomis.

“Dancing and closing books with your toes does not save you from raptors,” Bailey quips. “ ’Wicked’ is its own beautiful beast, but it leans so much on the original imagery of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ It taught me to blur out the reality of what it means to step into an incredibly iconic story, and just focus on working hard and having a lot of fun."

Bailey teases that he has another musical project “on the horizon.” In the meantime, Fiyero will have a more substantial role in "Wicked: Part Two" (in theaters Nov. 21, 2025), which shot back-to-back with the first movie. He still regrets not taking home the character's black leather boots, created by "genius" costume designer Paul Tazewell.

“I did manage to steal some postcards from the Emerald City,” Bailey says. “Some of those accidentally flew off in the middle of a take and landed in my bag. Other than that, I hope Paul will send me Fiyero’s tight pants one day."

Source

[captainwans]

IT’S MTV, YOU JUST GOT SLIMED!

— ALEX TURNER

pairing: alex turner x fem! actress! reader

summary: y/n y/l/n graciously accepted her well deserved award from mtv, but little did she know that she was going to get slimed in the process.

warning: nothing but teeth-rotting fluff, humor, laughter and prankster!alex. this is chapter is based and inspired from scarlett johansson’s generation award at the mtv in 2021.

word count: 1,4k | ( gif not mine! )

arabella series!

masterlist!

... [Y/N] HELD THE MTV AWARD WITH BOTH OF HER HANDS, EYES LOOKING AT HERSELF FROM THE COMPUTER THAT WAS PLACED IN FRONT OF HER. She held a graceful smile on her delicate features as she sat crossed legged, waiting for the screen to load. She quietly mumbled what she was gonna say, completely oblivious of Alex standing at the end of room with a devilish smile plastered onto his face.

Since she couldn’t attend the awards and be there physically, she was given the opportunity to make a video due to filming overseas. She was currently joining Alex on tour, having a few weeks off before she was going back to filming her new movie. She was sat beside Matt’s daughter, Amelia, who had all of her art supplies sprawled onto the table.

“Auntie, is that real popcorn?” Amelia asked her, turning her head toward [Y/N] with a curious look.

Her question earned a lot of laughs, including the actress who softly laughed at the little girl. She ruffled her hair before squeezing her cheeks. “No, but I wish it was. Golden popcorn sounds delicious, doesn’t it, bug?” She replied back with a grin, making the little girl giggle as she went back to her drawing.

[Y/N]’s gaze averted away from the little girl toward her computer screen. Her heart fluttered, along with a swarm of butterflies erupting inside her stomach as the screen showed the live broadcast of the MTV Awards. She cleared her throat and fixed her hair, watching the countdown on the screen.

“While [Y/N] [Y/L/N] couldn’t be here with us physically, she’s here live with us right now to receive the award! Everyone, give it up for our favorite Marvel superhero, [Y/N]!” The host announced, and the actress smiled as she heard the crowd cheer from the computer screen.

[Y/N]’s smile widened, using her other hand to wave at the screen. “Thank you all so so much for voting! It marks almost 10 years of being apart of the MCU franchise, and having your love and support means the world to me!” She said with another bright smile as she held the heavy award tightly into her hands.

“Winning Best Actress two years in a row is something that I’m very honored and proud of, and I will continue to work hard and aiming for the best!” She continued as her eyes were glued to the screen, not being aware of Alex almost tip toeing behind her with a bowl of green slime placed into his calloused hands.

[Y/N] continued with her speech, being too focused to not notice everyone around her holding their breath as they watched Alex sauntering toward her with a grin.

Amelia noticed him and was about to say something, but stopped once she saw him placing a finger to his lips. She glued her mouth shut by placing her hands on her mouth. Her muffled giggles earned [Y/N]’s attention for a brief second, but she didn’t let that disturb her and went back with her speech.

Katie grimaced, sitting beside Jamie as the couple watched the spectacle in front of them. “He’s not gonna do it, right?” She whispered, looking at her husband with a look.

Jamie pressed his lips together to stifle back a laugh. He quietly snickered and nodded his head. “Oh, yes. Just watch.”

[Y/N] felt a presence standing beside her, but she ignored it as she was about to finish with her heartfelt speech to her fans. “Lastly, I wanna thank my wonderful cast members, and—“ she managed to say before her speech was interrupted by her audible gasp.

Nick and Miles doubled with laughter as they watched Alex pouring green slime on her. Amelia shrieked with laughter and grimaced, watching the ooze smearing down her face.

[Y/N] felt a sticky, cold and thick matter being poured on her head. She let the award hit her lap with a small yelp, feeling the heavy liquid trickling down her neck and she whirled her head to her husband.

“Alex, what the heck?!” She loudly chided. Her mouth bit back a curse word, noticing Amelia being in the room with them. She closed her mouth and furiously wiped off the slime from her face.

Alex, who was grinning like a child, inched closer to the screen, waving at the live broadcast before turning his attention to his wife. “It’s MTV, you just got slimed!”

Jamie face-palmed with a laugh, leaning his body against Katie, who was a mess from laughing. “Oh, Alex.”

The actress gagged and spit out the slime from her mouth before looking at him with an annoyed look. “That’s Nickelodeon!” She growled, trying to brush off the sticky texture out from her shirt but failing.

Alex looked back and forth from his wife and to the bowl that was placed into his hands. His face faltered for a moment and hummed as he realized. “Oh.”

His response earned another loud session of laughter. Matt and Breana captured the scene with their phones. Jamie and Katie were almost falling off the couch from laughing. Nick and Miles pointed their finger to the lead vocalist with a loud cackle, dying at his response.

[Y/N] was fuming and she mumbled incoherent things as she used her sleeve to remove the slime. She looked at the camera, giving them a tip-lipped smile. She heard the crowd going crazy at Alex’s appearance and she chuckled. Crimson danced across her cheeks and she felt blood rush through her ears, forgetting that they were live. “Well, this is gonna be all they’re gonna talk about on Twitter.” She told her viewers, waving to the camera before closing her computer.

[Y/N] felt him inch closer and she swatted his hands away at his attempt to remove the slime from her hair. “Don’t—Don’t touch me, Alexander.” She said in a stern voice, taking the towel away from his hands.

Amelia stood up from her seat and rushed over to her and grabbed the towel to clean her face. “Let me, Auntie!”

[Y/N]’s face softened at the little girl, closing her eyes as she let her do the work. She gently squeezed her hand, “Thank you, bug.”

Alex stifled back a laugh and nodded his head. He was trying so hard not to crack, and as much as he tried to hold it in he couldn’t. His chest vibrated from laughter and he slapped his knees before collapsing on the couch beside her.

[Y/N] rolled her eyes, her lips curving upwards unknowingly at the sound of his laughter. She opened her eyes, meeting Amelia’s doe-eyes staring right back at her with a toothy grin, which she returned. Her gaze averted way from her toward the others, a small scowl etched onto her face watching her friends still crying and dying from laughter.

“Are you guys done?”

Miles wiped his eyes with his hand and cleared his throat, giving her an apologetic look. “Sorry, love, but you should’ve seen Alex’s face—it was memorable!” He said, his voice cracking at the end making everyone double with laughter.

Amelia was in [Y/N]’s arms and she shifted her body so that she was facing her. “You should give uncle Al a hug.” The little girl said, eyes tinted with slight playfulness and wiggling her eyebrows making the actress chuckle.

Alex’s head shot up toward Amelia, giving her a pout before quickly standing up from the couch. He let out another breathy laugh as he slowly backed away. “Oh, c’mon, Mia. Don’t give her any ideas.” He pleaded, grimacing as he watched her standing up from the couch.

“What a great idea, Amelia. Alex, honey, I forgive you. Now come here you deserve a hug.” She said with a sweet smile as she sauntered toward him with her arms wide open.

Alex cocked his head to the side, shaking his head with a deep scowl. “You know what, I think I’m good.” He brushed her off as he walked backwards and nearly tripping on his feet.

“You don’t want my hugs?” She asked with furrowed eyebrows, her lips turning into a downwards pout. She wanted to laugh at his horrified expression, watching as he used Miles as his shield.

“My hair is freshly gelled, I don’t want to ruin it. Darling, we have a show in a few—“ he excused behind Miles, who was still cackling, and bolted away mid sentence and ran to the door.

[Y/N] scoffed and sprinted toward the door. “Oh, so you’re worried about your hair?! I spend three hours on mine! You’re lucky I’m not divorcing your ass for this!” She yelled at him as she chased him.

“And I got all of this on camera!”

[ben-talks-art]

I have a confession to make... I don't think I like this movie

Before I start I just want to say, I do think this is a good movie. I think the visuals are amazing, it is very creative, has very pleasant lights and colors, the robots all have nice designs, it's paced well, has a lot of good humor despite what the trailers might have alluded to, and overall, as a stand-alone story, it works well for the most part to tell the tale of two friends eventually becoming enemies.

My problems with this movie come from... admittedly a very entitled headcanon-ish mindset of "This isn't how I wanted things to play out."

Kinda like how when you watch Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and you get upset that Peter doesn't tell jokes because that's a part of the character that really appealed to you, this movie feels like it doesn't do the parts of the character of Optimus that appealed to me, or if they do, they don't do it in a way that I wanted.

I grew up with quite a few different versions of Optimus through the years. The ape gorilla one from Beast Wars, the firetruck one from Robots in Disguise, the young one from Animated, and the one with weird feet from the Bayverse.

They all offer their take in Optimus but they all manage to keep the core idea of his appeal intact, that being... He's a boring guy, that just so happens to be THE coolest boring guy ever.

He's someone who is ready to fight and kick ass for the things he believes and giving it his all until his last "breath", but the things he believes in are pretty basic stuff like world peace and things like that. It's like if your school teacher was a superhero, the most boring person you know secretly fighting crime when they have time but still valuing more the importance of teaching and guiding people in need.

To me, what makes Optimus so cool is that despite being this massive killing robot that can turn his arms into blasters, the guy is just a giant dork who loves life.

His sense of duty over protecting others comes from his sense of love for all living beings and for their right to exist. He doesn't see himself above anyone, only above those that try to use their power to cause harm.

He's a pacifist that only fights when he has something to protect, he's a diplomat who always tries to solve things with words and reason first, he's inspiring because he never ceases to believe in the cause he fights for, and he has the leadership skills to back up everything he stands for. The dude is just HIM.

Even down to the name "Optimal", he represents the best of us in the best way possible.

So I was curious to see how he was going to be handled in Transformers One and... He's kinda basic.

My thing with this version, keeping in mind that this is meant to be a young Optimus, is that I don't really see any of the things I admire in him from other versions.

The focus here is more on playing up his "optimism" as Scarlett Johansson says, to show how cool he is because he never gives up, never stops dreaming, never stops fighting for a better future, never thinks he is less than those above him...

And all of that just feels so generic.

It felt like they could not give a damn about trying to show why Optimus loves and wants to protect life and values diplomacy over violence, and instead just tried to turn him into a Disney Princess who "dreams of more" because he was sick of being a miner.

Heck, the first few segments of this movie were showing him being incredibly reckless and putting himself and other people in danger, all of them for pretty much no reason.

He literally grabs his friend and drags him into a race without letting him know and proceeds to jump on top of several racers resulting in many getting injured, and by the time we were done he didn't even seem to care.

I thought this was going to build up to some reality check moment where he needs to grow up from his reckless behavior, but no, if anything, his behavior only leads to good thing after good thing in this movie. He gets praised by his superior, finds a lost message in the trash, uncovers a hidden secret about his people, unlocks the ability to transform and finally becomes a prime.

Optimus in this movie is constantly getting rewarded for being reckless, impulsive, selfish, and for not thinking.

To a point where when he does start acting like Optimus and takes a shot for someone else and nearly dies, I was like, "Oh, yeah... This is meant to be Optimus... Kinda forgot about that."

I just kept watching this movie and going "When is he gonna become Optimus? When is he gonna become Optimus? When is he gonna become Optimus?" and once he did, it didn't feel earned for me.

Again, my problem was that I never got the sense that this guy was someone who valued peace and life. I got the sense that he was impulsive and ready to fight for what he believed, yeah, but I didn't care what he believed in. The stuff he believed in was stuff any generic action main character tends to believe in.

Stuff like "There is something more to life for us out there, that we're all destined for greatness, that if we just believe in ourselves we can accomplish anything, and blah, blah, blah..."

I didn't really get a sense that he believed all life was worth protecting and even sacrificing yourself for.

There was a little bit of that hinted at with a scene with Jazz and the scene where he takes a shot for someone, but I needed more than that. I wanted to see why this dude would lead armies and fight armies just to protect the innocent, but I never really got a sense of connection between him and the innocent.

Like, we get a brief scene where they see a couple of animals and I was hoping he would have a moment going "Look at them... They're beautiful!" but we don't really get that. Or maybe a scene where someone ends up dying on his arms and he decides to devote himself to never let that happen again, but that also never happens. Or perhaps a scene of him talking and hanging out with the other bots, showing them struggling with their lives and giving him some sense of duty of "I need to do something to help them out!", but no, he barely talks to anyone aside from Megatron.

It's frustrating because we have these core four main characters and I kept thinking we would get some great bonding moments to show why Optimus feels it's important to fight for others, but their bonds is really surface-level. I never got the feeling they really knew each other that much.

I was so sad when I heard the speech about how his "Optimism was his greatest quality" because I just know there will be a lot of people coming out of this movie and going "Oh! That's what makes Optimus such a cool character!" and it really wasn't.

I remember in Puss In Boots 2 when they told the backstory of the little dog and we see how sad the two cats got for him.

I believed that emotion, I believed that connection, and I believed that Puss and Kitty would fight to protect him.

I never really believed Optimus truly cared about anyone any more than any generic action main lead would for their extras in a movie.

Transformers One Optimus is not, in my opinion, a good representation of what makes Optimus such an iconic leader, because it failed to convince me that this Optimus was a protector.

They put too much focus on him being an ambitious dreamer, and not enough on him being a hero.

But maybe that's just me. What do you guys think?

[eddysocs]

Introducing: Dasha Antonov

Fandom: Muppets Most Wanted

Face Claim: Scarlett Johansson

Full Name: Dasha Polina Antonov

Age: 31

Myers Briggs Type: ENFP

Love Interest: Nadya

Occupation: Former Ballet Dancer/Choreographer

Collections: Music Boxes

Style/Clothing: Dasha’s style is elegant and timeless, often opting for classic silhouettes with a modern twist. Colorful sweaters and gold jewelry often make up her outfits.

Signature Quote: "Perfection is not a goal, it’s a habit."

Plot Summary: Dasha Antonov’s world is turned upside down when she is invited to choreograph a special performance at Gulag 38B, where she meets Nadya, the strict yet enigmatic warden. Despite their differences, Dasha finds herself drawn to Nadya’s intensity and passion. As they work together on the performance, the two women form a bond that defies the harsh environment around them. But as the show approaches, Dasha must decide whether to return to her old life or risk everything to stay with Nadya in the Gulag.

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @kmc1989, @curious-kittens-ocs, @fanficanatic-tw, @gcthvile, @kenjioharashotspot, @hyperdrivve

[steelbluehome]

The Hollywood Reporter

A Different Man’ Review: Sebastian Stan Drops the Mask in a Provocative Dark Comedy With a Heart0

Renate Reinsve ('The Worst Person in the World') and Adam Pearson ('Under the Skin') co-star in writer-director Aaron Schimberg’s twisted New York-set fable.

BY JORDAN MINTZER

JANUARY 21, 2024

Looks can be deceiving in A Different Man, writer-director Aaron Schimberg’s endearingly twisted take on actors, playwrights, egos and the plight of the profoundly disfigured.

Like the famous “Eye of the Beholder” episode of The Twilight Zone, in which humans turn out to be society’s freakish outcasts, this dark comedy suggests what happens when an aspiring thespian afflicted with neurofibromatosis manages to find a miracle cure, only to long for the life he had when he was still deformed.

The thesp in question — a nebbishy New York actor named Edward, or Ed — is played with tongue-in-cheek gravitas by Sebastian Stan, who dons several layers of prosthetics (courtesy of ace makeup designer Mike Marino) until peeling them away to reveal his true face. But that hardly gives Ed the life he bargained for, in a film that piquantly questions how others look at us and, more importantly, how we look at ourselves.

The fact that Pearson is stricken with neurofibromatosis, and that Stan wore tons of makeup to mimic that condition, may raise a few eyebrows. And yet A Different Man is very much about art imitating life and vice-versa, contemplating the different masks — whether real or artificial — we put on when going out into the world.

At first, the story plays out like your typical NYC indie dramedy, with Ed living in a grubby one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn while trying to make it as an actor. He has a nosy super, at least one neighbor who hates him, and there’s a leak in his ceiling that grows so big it risks swallowing him up. The catch is that Ed’s disfigured state makes him completely stand out, at least to the viewer. For those who already know him, he comes across as just another shy and curmudgeonly New Yawka.

Things start looking up when a new neighbor, the radiant Ingrid (Renate Reinsve, The Worst Person in the World), moves in next door. Like Ed, she’s an aspiring artist — a playwright, in fact — and the two soon hit it off, even if Ed is very much inhibited by his looks. Ingrid is more open-minded and curious, and one novel aspect of Schimberg’s script is how, unlike in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man, nearly everyone Ed meets treats him with respect and compassion.

Schimberg explored a similar theme, albeit in a more artsy fashion, in his 2018 behind-the-scenes drama Chained for Life. That film co-starred Adam Pearson, who many may remember from his haunting sequence opposite Scarlett Johansson in Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, and who winds up stealing the show here as a totally charming and nonchalant threat to Ed’s newfound existence.

The failing actor’s humdrum life takes a major turn when he agrees to participate in an experimental drug program that could cure his condition. After several scenes of Cronenberg-esque body horror, he starts peeling away his tumors like a snake shedding its skin, transforming into a brand new person with Stan’s well-defined face.

You would think this would all be for the better, but as A Different Man goes on to reveal, things actually get worse. Ed soon comes to miss the man he once was, especially when Pearson’s character steps into the picture and very casually hijacks his life, including Ed’s burgeoning love affair with Ingrid.

That and other plot mechanics in Schimberg’s screenplay can seem a bit over-the-top, particularly when Ed begins to lose his mind in the third act as everything unravels. Still, the story’s twists and turns maintain our interest throughout, with the narrative taking on a cleverly deconstructed play-within-a-film format reminiscent, at times, of Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York.

The antics are captured in grainy naturalistic visuals by Wyatt Garfield (The Kitchen) and backed by a score from Umberto Smerilli that shifts between indie vibes and the classic melodies of Hollywood B-flicks. A Different Man shifts between several genres as well, but Schimberg manages to tie things neatly together by asking the same question, in various ways, until the very last scene: What’s in a face?

[signalwatch]

WA Watch: Asteroid City (2023)

Watched:  07/11/2023

Format:  Amazon Prime

Viewing:  First

Director:  Wes Anderson

So, I was as surprised as anyone else when I looked at Amazon to ponder watching something and up popped the new Wes Anderson movie, Asteroid City (2023).  We don't get out to the theater like we used to, so I was a bit bummed that I wouldn't probably prioritize this with so much else coming out/ lack of time/ lack of money in this economy, etc...

Anyway, apparently I'd also been socking away "credits" on Amazon for purchase of digital services, like movies, so although the movie was pricey to rent or buy vs., say, free or $3.99 for something else, I basically paid nothing for it and now have a digital copy, so... go me, I guess.

It's a curious period to be watching a Wes Anderson movie.  Film Twitter has basically just decided that liking anything is bad, and Wes Anderson is nothing but a collection of well mannered tricks, both visual and in his direction of actors.  That's plainly reductionist and a take I can't take seriously.  

Asteroid City may be the most ambitious Anderson film to date, carrying with it all of the lessons of the prior entries I've seen (which is not all of them).  Framed as a documentary about a play from the very complicated 1950's which also shows the leads of that play recreating the play, the film is communicating on a multitude of levels - with the story of what an imaginary playwright (played by Edward Norton) told about a group of people who have come to a remote locale in the desert for a science camp for teen-sci-fi-geniuses.  I won't get into the issues of the far more normal adults, but they have them.  And then an alien shows up.

But the story Anderson is telling folds in on itself.  This is a dramatized telling of how that play came to be.  

It's a movie that challenges with everything it says and does - from consideration of the careers of the characters in the play, to the concept of the cosmos, to what it means to have a world-changing event happen right in front of you. Especially to a photographer (who is paid to observe and not participate) and an actress who knows how to play emotions more than experience them.  But it's also a movie that feels almost primordial in its location, and some of its allusions.  But, of course, there's a play that has to be acted and completed and understood, and you get the feeling the third layer is Anderson himself, commenting and commenting upon the creation of his work, upon the seeming meaninglessness of it to some, to what it means to make illusions and share them.

More so than even usual, the film is absolutely littered with recognizable name talent in innumerable roles, including walk on parts.  Sure, you have Jason Schwartzman - honestly the best I've ever seen him- and Scarlett Johansson as a mix of a number of Hollywood stars of the 1950's, but an original character altogether.  Tom Hanks plays a minor role as a sonuvabitch father-in-law.  But then there's Hope Davis in a scene with five lines.  And Jeff Goldblum in a faceless, voiceless role.   The IMDB on this is nuts, but we're also now getting the movies that were made during the pandemic when folks had @#$%-all else to go do.  

As always, Anderson gets how just a few things can be hysterical.  Kids, for example.  Or a line delivered just so.  The right visual gag like a dancing road runner.

But, god, this movie is gorgeous.  And, I think, shot on Kodak.  

I'll need to watch it again.  It practically begs for it, but in a way that doesn't feel like homework, like "oh, you need to rewatch it to get it".  Nah, it's easy enough to get.  But it seems like a rewatch would be deeply rewarding, and - of course - give you time and brain space to appreciate what's there all the more.  

But, yeah.  I know there's plenty out there who will focus on the very quotable lines or the visual gags, but, man... you have to appreciate how astoundingly well crafted this movie is on every level.       

https://ift.tt/G3vmfqD

from The Signal Watch https://ift.tt/Pxwamoj

[dealgemeneverwarring]

Best records 2022 - part two

So, in the latest episode of De Algemene Verwarring, #84, I mentioned that I put a list of what I think are the best records of 2023 on my personal Facebook page, and that is a bit of a pity for Facebook users that are not connected with me and even more for non-Facebook users, as someone pointed out. Some listeners are curious, but honestly, if you’re a regular listener of the show you should probably be familiar with most of these. And it won’t surprise many of you that there are quite some Swedish records in there. So, here we go. 5 to 1.

5.The Shifters - Open Vault (Adagio830) - The Shifters didn’t release anything new since 2020, and this compilation of demos, live tracks and home recordings was already put online on their Bandcamp page in that same year on one of those Bandcamp Fridays, I downloaded it back then and have been waiting for a vinyl release ever since.  Really hoping on actual new material from this band in 2023. I wanted to post the track The New Bleached Fuhrer, but I can only find the full album on the youtubes, so here it is.

4. Myriam Gendron - Ma Délire, Songs of Love, Lost and Found (Les Album Claus) - I was completely blown away by the track “C’est Dans Les Vieux Pays” when I first heard it on the Dynamite Hemorrhage podcast. Here’s another track that I really really love and like to singalong to.

3. Luster - Luster (Morc Records) - There are not a lot of bands where I tolerate the flute as an instrument. Luster is one of the bands I tolerate. Amazing record by this six-piece of Belgian experimental music scene stars, folk and shoegaze and drone.

2. Treasury Of Puppies - Mitt Stora Nu (Discreet Music) - the difficult second album from the Göteborg duo. Everyone likes their debut better. I don’t. Brilliant album.

1. Amateur Hour - Krökta Tankar Och Brända Vanor (Appetite) - this is the third studio album from the Swedish trio of Dan Johansson (Sewer Election Neutral, Enhet För Fri Musik Heinz Hopf,...), Hugo Randulv (Enhet För Fri Musik, Skiftande Enheter, Typical Girls) and Julia Bjernelind (Typical Girls), and not everyone think it’s their best one, but I do. This ideal mix between pop music, shoegaze, Cocteau Twins era goth music, and noise makes Amateur Hour a unique band and one that combines the best of all worlds that I like. Posting the track here with the best title of the year, 15 minutes of sheer beauty.

[heavenforblog1111]

Alright guys, Katy Perry is one hell of a personality. She is literally everywhere on the music scene and has been going strong for more than a decade. She has had a crazy journey in the music industry, even though I don't exactly know what has happened to her but only judging from the way she used to change her look and support short hair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAp9BKosZXs Anyway, Katy was having fun with her girl friends in a castle located in the Hollywood Hills which was mainly used for shooting horror films and p*rnos. She just realized that she kissed a girl and she liked it. She was kind of confused if she would like it or not but it seems like it was something that she wanted to try out anyway. Katy spoke about the fact that there was a girl that she was interested in but she never kissed her though she probably wanted to. The song was inspired by a friendship I had with a girl when I was 15, but I didn't kiss her. I was totally obsessed with her. She was beautiful-porcelain skin, perfect lips - and I still talk to her, but I've never told her the song is about her. Katy Perry Her boyfriend at the time was Travie McCoy who seemed to be cool with her trying out different stuff. When she was recording her record she'd send me songs, and when we were making our record I'd send her songs. So she sent me a demo of 'I Kissed a Girl,' and we were on tour, and I was playing it during our changeover, just watching the kids react. So she came out to one of our shows, and the song came out and she flipped out, like, 'What are you doing playing that?' and I took her to the side of the stage so she could watch the crowd react. And now, well, she's huge. Travie McCoy Also, Kesha did appear in the video. This was about the time that Kesha wasn't really famous. In fact, even Katy Perry was gaining popularity and I believe she wasn't in her peak of stardom yet. The song was partially inspired by Scarlett Johansson. She had this to say when she was informed about it. That's flattering, but my lips are kind of taken. I had no idea. I should get a cut! Scarlett Johansson Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus claimed that she was the subject of the song in a 2017 interview of 103.5 KTU's Cubby and Carolina in the Morning. Katy Perry, she's been a friend of mine for a really long time. We were actually just realizing the other day that next year, we'll have been friends for 10 years. I think that's my friend that I've known the longest, which is really, really weird. When she came out with 'I Kissed a Girl,' I was doing the Hannah Montana movie, and I heard her on the radio, they said, 'Who'd you write that about?' And she said me. Miley Cyrus Katy Perry even won the National Equality Award conferred to her by the Human Rights Commission in 2017 a decade after she released the song. I'm just a singer-songwriter, honestly. I speak my truths and I paint my fantasies into these little bite-sized pop songs. For instance, 'I kissed a girl and I liked it.' Truth be told, I did more than that. How was I going to reconcile that with a gospel singing girl raised in youth groups that were pro-conversion camps? What I did know was I was curious, and even then I knew sexuality wasn't as black and white as this dress. And honestly, I haven't always gotten it right, but in 2008 when that song came out I knew that I started a conversation and a lot of the world seemed curious enough to sing along, too. Katy Perry's acceptance speech Well yeah all of this happened after Katy decided to finally get the song off despite the fact that most record labels probably didn't want to release it because of its bise*ual orientation. I really like Katy Perry's songs. I feel like they are catchy, rhythmic and really nice to listen to. I kissed a girl is the kind of song that can make men actually want to sing like Katy. But that is besides the point. Amazing song. Hope you guys liked it. Let me know in the comments what you think about it.

[phagethemage]

8, 48, 54, 72, 81

8) Describe your crush. She's got eyes. Hands too that are pretty nice. Two legs. A big heart filled with worry and kindness and caring. Every time I talk to her about cooking it makes me wish she lived near so I could cook with her and also enjoy her cooking as well. She makes my days nicer each time I talk to her.

48) If the person you like says they like someone else, what would you say? I'd smile, feel a bit hurt, and if they didn't know I liked them I'd say "Well that's great. I hope that can work out for you." Then go and be sad for a bit. If they knew I liked them I'd simply back off and be a friend and set boundaries myself so they don't feel uncomfortable. I'm not a person who can like multiple people at once so I don't assume other people can.

54) Is there someone you will never forget? I've got a very good memory and I will remember so many people for so many reasons.

72) What words do you like to hear during sex? Just, any sounds they make. If I can hear that they're enjoying it from moans, groans, gasps and otherwise it is amazing.

81) Who are five people you find attractive? Scarlett Johansson, Salma Hayek, Eva Mendes, Haneame(a cosplayer) and quite a few people I follow on here to be honest. There's a lot of beautiful people in the world.

Sorry anon. I went a bit of a joking way when answering these. I've been worn out from work and there's stuff on my mind that's weighing me down. I'll be more serious and straightforward next time you've got my word.

Til then, thank you for the asks. It's always a delight to share more about me that people get curious about.

[srfardn716]

Photo-series Analysis

I chose to research Erik Johansson’s photo series “Make believe” as there are some common themes from his work that I would like to portray through my own work. His series consists of images made from 2007 - 2023. All of the photos in this series includes his own work and no stock photos, they all share a common theme of photo realistic surrealism, with an added touch of humour. My project, “The lens of creativity” focuses on the idea of imagination and creativity. I want to encourage the use of imagination and creating stories, using your own creativity to fuel this idea. These days with tools like AI it feels like there is this situation where people will turn to using AI instead of their own creativity.

There is a big range of photos throughout the series, all taking different approaches. My personal favourites are the photographs that have an opening to another world, like a glimpse into another life which was one of the big inspirations for my project. This photograph “Dreaming of Snow” is one of my favourites. The photograph consists of a boy holding a balled up sheet which I interpret to be a giant snowball standing on a sheet during an autumn season. Manipulated in the sheet is a photo of a forest during winter when it has been snowing.  It seems like a simple yet complicated image at the same time, this image is inspiring however I understand that there are themes which I can’t and won’t be able to incorporate into my own series, for example I do not have the ability to photograph a location that is currently snowing. I may be able to recreate a similar scene by using other methods on a smaller scale, for example if I wanted to create a snowy scene, make a small scale scene physically and use methods to make it seem larger to scale and more realistic. I quite like the idea of using unconventional materials, like a sheet to incorporate another scene into the one photograph, I have done something similar in the past but with a piece of tissue paper, this is something that I will look into recreating for my photographs

Another one of the interesting photos from this series is “Above All”, this is an interesting photograph because its mixing nature with modern advancements. The photograph consists of a forest photograph taken at night time, a woman walking, while holding shopping bags and her phone which is illuminated, and an escalator from underground. The lighting is very strong and draws the viewers attention in. The use of an escalator leading into the middle of a forest is an interesting concept. It adds to the eery atmosphere as well of being set at night time, adds this feeling of unease, as well as the endless trees which have no leaves, it creates this feeling where there is something wrong with what’s in front of you. I am curious why there is a model added to the image, personally I feel that the image would be stronger if it was just the escalator in the middle of the forest, it would feel more uncanny, like you stumbled onto something that you shouldn’t have.

When researching Johansson’s work I found that it sometimes takes months for him to make a single shot, but his process initially involves sketches, this is something that I will incorporate into my project. I think if I give myself time to come up with ideas, I will then be able to incorporate more into each photograph with a plan in mind. Im curious what his work would look like if he stepped away from the super realism and created work that leant to the more fantasy side. I feel like there would be some extremely creative work made out of his own imagination. I also wonder what type of work he can make by going out on a limb, just creating something that he thinks of on the spot, he has talked about how his work takes time because he plans everything out, so I am curious what type of work he will make when he’s put on a time constraint, or even on a set number of photographs that needs to be completed by a set date.

[kusin-tisdag]

Curious-Ember

Celeste Curious-Ember (28) - Agatha Curious-Ember (28) - Morgyn Ember - Tycho Curious (74)

Not the most regular kind of family. The twins Celeste and Agatha are happy to live together - one part alien, one a witch.

Their parents show up now and then. Especially mama Tycho wants to check on her kids, and use her beloved chess board.

Morgyn? Seems to enjoy roaming the world, sometimes they bring Agatha with them to teach her the untamed magic, or visit friends in Glimmerbrook.

The neighbours do wonder about the sparks and smoke from the house, but the girls couldn't care less. Neither has a regular job, but both are curious to see what the world is truly made of!

Tycho Curious

Tycho remembers her father and her uncles. And yes, she remembers the catastrophic explosion.

Tycho was 7 when her cousin Johnny disappeared. She was 17 when Olive vanished and the rumors about the boy that had been held at the lab started spreading.

And she was 18 when her father and uncles tried to shut down the the lab.

Something went wrong. The sky turned into flames and the next thing Tycho remembers is a crying Jill dragging her out of the rubble, telling Tycho how happy she was that she was alive.

And then she remembers the grief, the shock of all that had been lost. Tycho tried to adapt to the new life, the new home Jill built for them. But eventually she had to leave.

She traveled the world, struggling to understand her alien nature without her father to guide her. She sometimes visited Johnny, but he hadn't been there when it all went up in flames.

And somewhere in all her travels she had met Morgyn. Different, in their own way. They formed a sort of companionship, a relationship without it's usual rules and forms.

The children were definitely a surprise.

Morgyn Ember

Morgyn never viewed themselves as a parent. But well, something about their spellcaster magic and Tycho's alien DNA made it possible for Morgyn to make Tycho pregnant. And they had twins!

Even if Morgyn found themselves pretty lost when the girls where young, as they aged it got more and more fun. Tycho had to remind Morgyn that apparently kids had to go to school because Morgyn found it much more fun to take the kids out in the night, or travel to Glimmerbrook and let them meet Morgyn's old friends.

Now, Morgyn and Tycho travels around - sometimes together, sometimes not - and show up at their old house when they fancy.

Celeste Curious-Ember

Her mother might be struggling with her alien DNA, but Celeste finds it quite cool. Ok, she doesn't often tell people what she is, but it's also a bit difficult to keep things like this quiet.

Now, she tries to see what else is up there, and hopes maybe to meet other, full-blood aliens one day!

Agatha Curious-Ember

A wicked witch of the west? Well, Agatha sure is proud of her witchy ways. She tries not to out it too much when hanging with her regular friends, but at home she feels free to practice her magic.

She does wish she could meet someone though, someday, to share her life with. But dating just seem to take up so much time, when there are books to be read and adventures to go on!