I may be late to the party, but let it not be said that I’ve missed it entirely: I finally caught a showing of La Vie en Rose last night, and while I honestly give the Oscar-winning flick a "meh," I was utterly blown away by Marion Cotillard’s stunning transformation from a young Edith Piaf to a frail, older version of the troubled singer. La Vie rightly deserved the Academy Awards it won (one for Best Actress, the other for Best Makeup), despite the fact that so few tuned in for the actual ceremony. IMDB tells me that Cotillard is 32 years old; I still can’t quite believe that the giddy, teenage Piaf and the crumpled, arthritic version were played by the one and the same dame. (Watch EW’s Dave Karger interview the chameleonic Cotillard here and here.)
Et vous, monsieurs et madames du PopWatch: what’s been blowing your gourds this week? Send us your real suggestions (up to three) for the best in TV, music, books, movies, games, and the Web. Include your e-mail address so we can contact you if your submission is chosen. The deadline for entries is 10 a.m. tomorrow, March 13th.
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The costumes in The Other Boleyn Girl
The Appeal by John Grishman-I went out to buy a new Brita Filter 3pages in
televisionwithoutpity.com
TV: Amy Poehler as Christian Siriano, John Adams miniseries and “The Constant” episode of Lost (two weeks later and I’m still realing)
Movies: Run Fatboy Run
Books: Ulysses (it will take me till June 16 to finish)
The Puppini Sisters. Think the Andrews Sisters, but with new originals (written by the gals themselves) and some amazingly arranged covers. (Check out Walk Like an Egyptian and Crazy In Love. Yes, the Beyonce song.) Throw in the upright bass and some male back-up vocals, and I’m in jazzy heaven…
I’m going to go out on a limb and say ‘John Adams’ (starting this weekend) is going to be really good.
Also, the return of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ which is next week -please start watching now if haven’t in the past.
Super Mario Galaxy: 3 months into owning the game and I’m still loving it. The best Mario game ever created for the series!
Survivor: A somewhat tired series regenerates with a kick-ass season of blind-sides and surprises. Can’t wait to see who takes control: the Fans or Favorites. A++!
Super Smash Brothers Brawl for the Wii – I waited in line at midnight to pick up my copy and it was definately worth the wait. I’ve barely been able to put it down! I still can’t believe EW only gave it a B+…it deserved an A.
I have to go with the new DVD release of “No Country for Old Men”. I got it last night on it’s release date and was thoroughly captivated by it. Javier Bardem’s character wins for scariest human being ever after watching this!
They Might Be Giants’ Here Come the 1-2-3s… as a mother of an 18-month old, it’s my first TMBG kids’ purchase – and it won’t be my last. Good music that we both can listen to. You just try to get “The Triops Has Three Eyes” out of your parental head.
of course this week for me was about TOP CHEF Chicago, but then by mistake i caught Julianna Marguiles new television series, and was blown away by her performance. The show is only so so, though it does have potential; but Julianna has the stuff of legends, and has aged gracefully into an amazing actor, who deserves twice the career that she currently has.
Of course my top 2 picks (Top Chef: Chicago and Amy Poehler as Christian on SNL) were taken by someone else, but luckily I have a backup. Anyone else completely obsessed with season 8 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I haven’t bought a new comic since I was like 16 (yes, I was kind of a dork), but I’ve become a regular again at my local comic shop because of Joss Whedon’s creation, especially when the newest issue features a naked Buffy Summers in bed with one of her Slayers-in-training. Yep, that would be a woman too. See, you’re already interested. Plus, as an added bonus, it’s a new season of one of the greatest TV shows ever! What’s not to love?
– “Previously on LOST” – this band, featured on MySpace, debuts a new song every week after a LOST episode has aired that’s all about said ep. It’s great fun for any LOST geek.
– Pictures at a Revolution – I haven’t seen any of the films that were up for Best Picture in the year it covers, but Mark Harris’ book is already awesome, and I’m not even halfway through!
– “Aliens in America” – the funniest comedy airing new episodes these days. Practically every joke is a winner. Help save this show!
Brooke White from American Idol!
She has defined herself as an artist, not just a pop singer, and as Simon said, 3 weeks in a row she has knocked it out of the park!
Hey, how come the Must List no longer gets posted on the Web site? It used to be one of the picture series and I always liked it.
1. The news Scrubs is coming back for an 8th season on ABC! Whoo! More Giant Doctor.
2. I’m still captivated by Across The Universe. I know it isn’t for everyone, but everyone should probably try it.
3. Atonement and the rest of Ian MacEwan’s literary canon. I’ve been reading him obsessively for the past six months, and now I’m wondering why it took me so long to find him.
Song – You Know Me Better by Roisin Murphy (Blame Annie for posting that great video this morning – I’m hooked)
Movie – Xfiles (I was all “meh” till I saw the trailer) Now I find myself really looking forward to it.
Just like you Adrienne, I too have been late to the party and finally saw “Once” this week. I am now addicted to the soundtrack and the mesmerizing voices of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. What great lyrics and stories. I am falling in love with love all over again.
The beautiful soundtrack to The Other Boleyn Girl. Sure, the movie was critically panned, but the score by Paul Cantelon is sweeping, yet subtle in its beauty. Very reminiscent of similar scores by Dario Marianelli (Still in love with Atonement too)
“ladies and gentlemen” in plural is “messieurs et mesdames”… Oh, Adrienne, with a name like that, how could you?
I’ve been saying this since I saw the first episode back in Feb, but Free Radio on Vh1 is awesome. A little, great, show like this doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, and it has gotten better and better each week.
Whatever you want to say about her personal life, Britney’s new video for Break the Ice is pretty awesome. Anime and a catchy pop song, can you ask for anything more?
The news that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split up into two movies.
MOVIES – None
DVD – Shoot ‘Em Up
COMICS – Justice League: The New Frontier Special
MUSIC – Samantha James’ “Deep Sunrise”; Res’ “U Know What”; Janet Jackson’s “2nite”
INTERNET – HuffingtonPost.com
SOAPS – General Hospital, As the World Turns
PRIME TIME – John Adams, MI-5, Torchwood, Lost
The new (final) trailer for Pixar’s Wall*E. I’m so psyched for that movie.
Cotillard was brilliant in La Vie En Rose, a well deserved Oscar indeed.
My Must List pick for this week is Into the Wild on DVD, a great movie that I get more out of each time I watch it.
Also The Darjeeling Ltd on DVD, though I wish Criterion would have released it.
The new 2-disc compilation from Rhino covering Ashford & Simpson’s ’70s dance-oriented material for Warner Bros. Disc 1 features album versions and 12″ versions of disco classics such as “Found a Cure”, “It Seems To Hang On” and “Over and Over”. Disc 2 features new remixes of these classics, without destroying them, but remaining faithful. This collection is further proof that disco did NOT suck, and illustrates the genius of A&S. Fabulous!
Agreeing with Todd’s post below about the latest issue of the Buffy Season 8 comic. That panel was truly a wtf! moment. But I think the situation was explained beautifully, and it way funny to see the other characters’ reactions.
Also, from your Popwatch blog, Say Yes to the Dress is a Must List item! Not a fan a reality tv, but this show had me at “yes!”.
Another addtion, Top Gear on BBC American. A new season is just gearing up…hehehehe…
The new album “The Cranberries: Gold”.
The 90’s will always ‘Linger’ in my ‘Dreams’.