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Scarlett Johansson makes love slaves of Ivy League drag queens

Jan 31, 2007, 11:19 AM | by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Film

Scarlett_l Harvard's Hasty Pudding Club has selected their Man and Woman of the Year for 2007: Ben Stiller and Scarlett Johansson. According to their website, these awards "are presented annually to performers who have made a 'lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment.'" Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, Julia Roberts, and Robert De Niro are among the past winners of this prestigious honor from one of America's oldest theatrical institutions run almost exclusively by privileged young white men in drag. So, okay, fine, I'll bite:

Scarlett Johansson is SO OBVIOUSLY HYPNOTIZING PEOPLE.

Can we all just wake up and admit this? Rub the shiny dust from your eyes, people, and see what is really happening! She is very, very pretty, and her powers of seduction over elderly gentlemen know no bounds, but must she now take the youth, as well? How, exactly, has she made a "lasting" contribution to the world of entertainment already? I mean, Lost in Translation was a great film, I could see it again and again, but what do you think college-aged boys were responding to more there: The subtle and heartwrenching relationship between Scarlett and Bill Murray, or the opening shot of her ass? And was Girl with a Pearl Earring really all that compelling, and did any of that have to do with her—or did she just have to sit there and stare through the screen, hypnotizing people, while Colin Firth did all the heavy lifting? Did anyone even go see The Island? Sure, one could make a case for Ghost World and Match Point, but does two movies a "lasting" contribution make? Not in my book, PopWatchers, not in my book.

Clearly, the nice folks at the Pudding place have just run out of people to confer this award upon and should probably consider making it bi-annual or perhaps a five-year thing lest they find themselves naming Jennifer Love Hewitt their Woman of 2011. But in the meantime—and this is more of a statement to the general populace—SHINY DUST. RUB FROM EYES.

Um... who's with me?

(Side note: according to her biography, Scarlett was in an off-Broadway play called Sophistry when she was 8, an event notable for the fact that my theater school classmates and I went to go see that and, during a talk-back with the cast, this girl Blair got into a huge fight with Ethan Hawke, who had just made the stupid mistake of telling a room full of kids who were spending $40,000 on a theater education that a theater education isn't necessary. That was awesome. The play was not.)

TooncesTheDrivingCat Mon, Aug 6, 2007 at 01:06 AM EST

She is overhyped because her waspy looks and jewish ancestry made her a poster child for woody allen.

Harvard's insatiable appetite for jewish acceptance once again prevails. I wouldn't be surprised if professor dershowitz had a hand in her pudding coronation.

DUH!

J Alonso Sat, Feb 3, 2007 at 06:07 PM EST

Someone who says "Scarlett isn't talented" is out of his mind and, definitely, he is not in movies. If that person says that she is not pretty, I can't say much, because we are talking about a matter or taste. In my case, I think she is beautiful and an excellent actress.

Indian Food Fri, Feb 2, 2007 at 06:23 PM EST

All you Scarlett haters need to CHOKE on it...and stop with kissing Julia "horse-face husband stealer" Roberts' UNTALENTED behind already! Jealous much, NitWhitney (GET OVER IT!!!) ???

Alexei Thu, Feb 1, 2007 at 03:32 AM EST

blech, I hate "Lost in Translation"!!!

Jay Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 06:34 PM EST

YES! She's not a good actress! Pretty much all her movies suck! Ghost World is good, and Sponge Bob Sqare Pants is good...and...Black Dahlia? The Island? All of her Woody Allen BS? Keep your shiny dust away from me, scarlett.

Delon Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 05:49 PM EST

I'm totally with you on this one, Whitney. And i have to say that i LOVED the anecdote at the end!

CC Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:57 PM EST

Thank You! Finally some other people who think Scarlett is way overrated. Yeah she has been in some good movies but I always find her boring and bland.

factor this Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:54 PM EST

One thing to keep in mind is that the recipients of the esteemed Pudding Pot have to be available to come to Cambridge to accept the award in person on a specific day (always a Thursday). Presumably, this results in some first-choices having to be tabled until some other year. But I have never heard of anybody refusing the honor: It is great fun. Halle Berry a few years ago was a classic!

RayT Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:43 PM EST

I can't believe you casually mention that Ben Stiller is receiving the honor as well and then rail against Scarlett! How exactly do Meet the Fockers and Night at the Museum stack up against Scarlett's films?! I admit that the critical community is a little too in love with ScarJo from time to time, but she's not as overly hyped as Dakota Fanning is!

Sarah Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:29 PM EST

I really enjoy Scarlett's movies and think she's a great actress, and also very gorgeous. I think she has a very classy look.

Julia Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:27 PM EST

Thank goodness someone else feels this way about Scarlett! I consider her a mildly talented actress, but not worthy of the slavish adoration she receives. Not only that, but she has got to be the most over-employed actress in Hollywood- I feel like every time I go to see a movie, she's in it and in two of the trailers beforehand!

I would have much rather seen someone like Kate Winslet receive this award- now there's an actress with some real talent, who's really making a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment". She deserves as many awards as people care to throw at her, in my book.

Allan Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:24 PM EST

She's pretty in a well-built dwarf kind of way. I think she was good in Ghost World and Lost in Translation, but that most mostly because she was part of the ensembles. When she's at the center of action, like in the Woody Allen movies, she's can't hold my attention. Does anybody believe Hugh Jackman would fall for her?

Dave Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:12 PM EST

I don't get why she's so special either. But then again, I'm a gay guy, so she hasn't seduced me in any way. Also, who's really putting that much stock in what a bunch of smug, college-aged theater geeks think?

cranky Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 03:07 PM EST

Scarlett gets a resounding "meh" in my book. Pretty, semi-talented, but not legend status by a long shot. Of course it is the "Hasty" pudding award...

nathan Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 02:58 PM EST

They should have picked Daniel Radcliffe. Perhaps he would have flashed his Harry Knobber for them.

nathan Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 02:56 PM EST

Ben Stiller eh? Was this one of those People's Choice Award situations where they just picked whoever the hell would be available to show up at the event?

Jen Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 02:42 PM EST

ITA that Scarlett is overrated. She's an attractive girl, for sure, but gorgeous? I think not. I don't understand why critics and magazine writers continualy sing her praises.

"The Island" was surprisingly good, though, but mostly because Ewan McGregor was fun to watch.

Lauren Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 02:21 PM EST

Manny & Lo and An American Rhapsody were two excellent early Scarlett roles that I'm surprised no one has mentioned. Maybe because they are so little seen they haven't made an impression. Do check them out. This girl CAN act, and very well.

Josh P Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 01:45 PM EST

She was chosen for the PR value! Look how it worked on us...

Markus Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 01:28 PM EST

Amen, Whitney.
She's been in a couple good movies, but mostly?...eh. A little overrated.

fredric Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 01:24 PM EST

I agree that she doesn't compare to some of the other winners mentioned in this piece (not yet at least), but I don't think the harsh criticism is justified, either. Granted, though, there are dozens of other talents at the top of my head who could easily be deserving - Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, or a number of multiple Ocsar nominated artists. While we're at it... why so much focus on Scarlett and not Ben Stiller? Sure, he's made a lot of box office dough, but are there not better entertainers out there?

Watch the DVD Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 01:22 PM EST

It's not even Scarlett's ass!

If you watch the special features on the Lost in Translation DVD, you'll see Sofia Coppola admit that her derrier is the stand-in for Scarlett's in the movie's opening shot.

Dalya Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 01:20 PM EST

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I loved Lost in Translation, but ever since, every director seems to think Scarlett can hypnotize any man by just walking in the room.

And how can anyone be said to have made a "lasting contribution to film" at the age of 24? Maybe farther down the road in her career she will have proven that, but at this point, no way.

aramis Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 01:09 PM EST

Wow, I think you guys are being WAY harsh. True, she doesn't deserve one of those "lasting" impression type awards, she has some pretty incredible roles under her nicely proportioned belt.
They are in order of how I liked them:
Match Point
Ghostworld
The Black Dahlia
Lost In Translation
In Good Company - simple, but still VERY Scarlett
The Island - hey, I saw it on a whim, and thought it was a FUN movie, perfect for a summer release
Scoop - another fun one
A Love Song For Bobby Long
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Damn, I'm surprised I was able to list all these off the top of my head.

Jason Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 12:51 PM EST

She is bland and beautiful. This is why she works when she is cast properly (Lost in Translation) and why she doesn't work when cast improperly (almost everything else). She's an actress who appeared in a great movie and is given too much credit for its success. The credit should go to casting. She's like the cast of Starship Troopers-a group of dull beauties cast for that very reason (an in-joke I'm afraid Denise Richards never got) only Scarlett has managed to make a career of it.

EP Sato Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 12:39 PM EST

Agreed on Scoop. It was a fun movie, but I felt it was good despite Scarlet. The cheesy magician and the ghost reporter were what got me jazzed up about the flick. Scarlet couldn't convince me she's a dork. Instead it felt like the girl from Ghost World acting dorky. Meanwhile, America Ferrara is able to convince us she's a geek every week, despite having played memorable characters before.

I don't think Scarlet's evil or bad, but don't think she's "all that" either.

Chris Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 12:35 PM EST

Scoop was great fun!

Ep Sato Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 12:30 PM EST

Whitney, if I wasn't already engaged I'd be asking you to marry me about now. Just last week I was watching her in "Scoop" and was thinking "this has got to me the most overrated 'it' girl in ages". Because this seemed to be the first role where she played a character different than her Ghost World counterpart, she couldn't pull off the role to save her life.

Lost in Translation was good because of the writing and Bill Murray. Most of her other stuff is Scarlett playing the same character from Ghost World over and over again. I don't get it either Whitney.

Alicia Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 12:02 PM EST

I think she's a good actress (who could become a great one) and she does have a very nice body, but I will never understand why people think that that face is "very, very pretty." I know looks are subjective, but, wow, I really don't get it.

Michael Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:56 AM EST

Although she does not yet deserve an award for lasting impact in entertainment, I think it is unfair to characterize Scarlett as being overrated. She's a refreshing breath of fresh air for young actresses in that she doesn't pander to the mainstream by doing the usual mindless gross-out comedies and romantic fluff. Also, when a majority of young actresses are paper thin and present a negative image to other women, it's nice to see a woman (in addition others like America Ferrera) that is not afraid to embrace her curves and more full-figured body. You also forgot Scoop, which was dismissed by critics and by audiences, but has redeeming qualities and provides a different performance from Scarlett that seperates her from most of her peers.

Fran Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:52 AM EST

Thanks Debba. I personally didn't know anything about that award.

debba Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:49 AM EST

The Hasty Pudding Club has given their "award" to many fluff actors in the past. They give the award to whomever they want to press the flesh with! It's very tongue-in-cheek (or tongue somewhere else?)and definately not an award for acting merit.

Fran Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:47 AM EST

I am so sick of hearing the "jealous" comment because a person does not like a certain actress! Grow up people! I don't like President Bush but that sure as heck does not mean that I am jealous of him!

That being said- I think Scarlett is a pretty good actress but I agree that it's a little ridiculous to say that she has made a lasting and impressive contribution to films.

Howard Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:47 AM EST

Your theory that Scarlett is hypnotizing people is ridiculous. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to send her my ATM card, my car keys and the contents of my IRA.

junior Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:39 AM EST

She's pretty and in movies. You're not and not in movies. Such is the recipe for making haterade. Plus, didn't they give one to Halle Berry, too? Aside from "Monster's Ball," which is slowly being forgotten, what contribution has she made?

Lora Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:38 AM EST

Don't go dissin' my girly crush!!!!

sab Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:28 AM EST

Scarlett is seriously the most overrated actress out there today. I am always shocked that people heap praise on her, when she's bored me to tears in each film of her that I've seen. She is supremely untalented, and it makes me sad that people continue to give her awards she doesn't deserve.

Salah Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 11:27 AM EST

sounds like someone is jealous

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