While good looks can certainly get you into Hollywood, if you want to be taken more seriously as an artist and receive golden, man-shaped trophies, it's going to help if you are also willing to dial down your radiant beauty. In an effort to display their aptitude at their craft, many beautiful actresses ugly themselves up to play the roles of individuals who have been less fortunate in the looks department. Here are the seven best examples.
7- Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz in "Being John Malkovich"
When you're in a forlorn marriage to a very unkempt John Cusak, you live in a dark basement apartment in Manhattan, and your growing need to reproduce has caused you to adopt a number of exotic pets, the chances that you'll be taking home any beauty pageant crowns is slim. And thus, Cameron Diaz's less than flattering appearance in "Being John Malkovich" is explained. Somehow, she still manages to bag both a male puppeteer and a female conniving office worker. But not Malkovich. Technically.
Writers and directors know that killing off a well-liked character can really add some punch to a narrative. It's just that sometimes they don't know quite when to do it. These characters had so much more to live for, and seeing them iced so early on into their respective stories left us scratching our heads.
8- Libby (Lost)
Libby was the breath of fresh air to combat the halitosis of Michelle Rodruigez's Ana-Lucia on Lost. She was sweet, cute, and attracted to the show's ugliest dude (Hurley), giving snarky fatasses the world over hope that they could attract some serious cougars. Not only was she beloved by fans for her kindness, she also had a pretty beefy backstory, in which she gave Desmond her dead husband's boat, and attended the same psychiatric ward as her future boyfriend-to-be. Of course, instead of, you know, finding out about those mysteries, the Lost producers decided to have her shot in the stomach less than twenty episodes after she was introduced. As the only crash survivor to not have his or her own flashback episode, Libby is an open book we desperately hope the producers let us read sometime soon. .
The DVD has allowed filmmakers to provide unprecedented insight into the film-making process. From deleted scenes to documentaries, film fans can find a bounty of behind-the-scenes info on these precious discs. One feature that often falls through the cracks is the commentary track, wherein those most knowledgeable about a film speak about it as it plays. It's often hit or miss, as even the most accomplished actors and filmmakers can be total duds when it comes to talking about their work. Below are five DVD commentaries that are almost as enjoyable as the movies they cover.
5-Almost Famous
"Almost Famous" is a wonderful film filled with sweet scenes of adolescence and a complete respect for rock and roll music all due in part to Cameron Crowe. It was his experience at Rolling Stone that breathed life into this project. His commentary speaks from his heart just like the majority of his work and his anecdotes of the set and his experiences with Lester Bangs is almost as good as the movie. Also, in the bonus material you can read some of his work from Rolling Stone and get a tour of his favorite albums of 1973. I thought that the film couldn't become more personal but this DVD set proved me wrong.
Hollywood is an incredible place where modern day storytellers go to weave tales of fantasy and wonderment. This enchanting destination allows noted and gifted filmmakers to work for years perfecting very personal sagas, only to then rashly conform to the opinions of a small group of nitwits (i.e. test audiences), and force unwanted artistic compromises. However, on occasion the nitwits can be right, and below we've listed 7 occasions where, at the request of test audiences, alternate endings were created. Was the decision to alter these films correct? You decide, as we present 7 endings that completely flipped (off) the script.
7-1408
The theatrical ending in 1408 involved John Cusak's ghost-debunking-writer character eventually escaping from his self-induced fiery hotel room, and returning to more respected writing while reconciling with his estranged wife. Overall, it's a fairly happy ending and it leaves us, the viewers with the thought: man 1, ghosts 0. But in the original and now alternate ending, we find that the director initially had other plans. Darker plans. Cliché plans. Remember in The Shinning when Jack Nicholson's character eventually dies at the haunted hotel, and we later find out that his ghost is now a permanent fixture at the hotel? Well, that was how this movie was originally going to end as well. In this version, after setting his room ablaze, Mr. Cusak is unable to escape and he perishes in his hot, haunted room. This results in his addition to the place's ever-growing ghost collection. I'd yell plagiarism if Stephen King wasn't responsible for writing both.
Movies and television have promised us great things from the scientific community. Unfortunately, while they have cured diseases and connected our real world, they've also left us bitterly lacking in these key areas that would surely lead to a more fulfilling (or at least awesome) existence for all of us.
7- Robots and Cyborgs
We may have robotics, but are they really as cool as we all had hoped? With all of our technological advances, we're still a long ways away from hanging out with the Transformers. Hell, I'd take Number 5 from "Short Circuit" at this point. The closest we've come to the epic robot wars we've always imagined has been "Battle Bots," where we got to watch remote controlled robots try to hit each other with hammers or flip each other over with wedges. Not exactly the scenes from "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" that we had in mind. Really, what kind of badass robotic breakthroughs are you going to see on a show that was a commercial break away from the girls jumping on trampolines at the end of "The Man Show?" Cyborgs are even further away. Mostly we just have creepy inventions by the Japanese who want to turn every invention into something we can also have sex with. Then again maybe we've all been duped and a Blade Runner will show up to spill Hillary Clinton's white, milky, cyborg blood at her next stump speech.
Viewers always want what they can't have, and filmmakers know that. What better bait to throw their way than the meta-movie? These little bits of imagination sometimes served as a plot point, and other times to satirize the movie-making process, but they were always entertaining. And we'd love to see them expanded to full-length. If "Machete" can do it, these can!
6- Logjammin'
Without a doubt "Logjammin'" is one of the most memorable fake pornos in film. From the legendary producer Jackie Treehorn who 'treats objects like women," this low budget production features Bunny Lebowski in one of her first staring vehicles. As a sort of catalyst for the Dude's search for his rug, "Logjammin'" lead the audience through the seedy side of L.A. from nihilists to paralyzed millionaires. But there is one question left to be answered ;"Did he end up fixing the cable?"
With new superhero movies coming out seemingly every three days, it's tough to maintain an interest when so many of them feel like redundant cash-ins. Because of the sad state of superhero movies, we decided to examine the pros and cons of several neglected characters who could possibly spice up this flailing movie genre. So evil doers beware, as we present "7 Weird Superheros that Won't Ever Hit the Silver Screen (But Should)"
7-Arm-Fall-Off Boy
Reasons for making a movie:
For those of us who are tired of seeing unfamiliar superhero movies and not knowing exactly what each character's powers are, Arm-Fall-Off-Boy would leave little doubt regarding his capabilities. We'd also really like to see that predictable comedic scene when while bowling Arm-Fall-Off Boy forgets to let go of his ball, causing his arm to detach and go tumbling down the lane.
Reasons against making a movie:
Can you really see his name on a movie poster? Or Movie Trailer Guy actually uttering his name? If we ever see this movie, expect it to come with an even stupider title, like Arms/Off.
He's one of indie filmmaking's biggest names. If you ever find yourself watching a film you're not sure who directed... here's a checklist of signs to know you're watching one of Anderson's films.
5- Bill Murray Being Serious
If you're seeing this comic king in a movie that was made in the past ten years it's probably a Wes Anderson movie. Of the last fifteen film projects Murray has done four have been with Anderson. It was his role in "Rushmore" that made him an indie-film darling with such directors as Jim Jarmusch and Sofia Coppola. Murray has a strong commitment to Anderson, backing up the director by pulling out of his own pocket to help shoot a scene and also working for free in "The Royal Tenenbaums". Their film relationship has produced some interesting film experiences as well as a partnership of respect and comradeship.
Creators of fiction are always coming up with new and exciting places for their characters to dwell in, but not all of them can be utopias. In fact, some are cities and towns that would make you wish you were back in your boring old suburb again. Let's take a look, shall we?
8. Bedrock (The Flintstones)
You know how annoyed you get at your appliances when they don't work right? Now imagine that those appliances could talk and were always making witty remarks to you. Oh and also they are dinosaurs that could tear your flesh from your bones. This sounds like two things: the plot of Jurassic Park 11 (it's inevitable) and a place that I would never take a lease out on. How can you sleep when you know your record player could get a hankering for a midnight snack and fly over to your babies crib with a thirst for infant blood? If mauling by a carnivorous can opener fits into you definition of a "gay old time," then by all means, move into this modern stone age suburb. You're in store for yabba dabba death.
Once upon a time before the producers discovered that people weren't watching anything besides Andy Samberg's Digital Skits, Saturday Night Live had a history of throwing its classic characters onto the big screen. While there were a few success stories like Wayne's World, a few have marred cinema in a horrific fashion. Here's the 6 suckiest SNL spinoff movies ever created
6- The Ladies Man
Leon Phelps was a tolerable character on SNL. From time to time, Tim Meadows' only recurring character would be laugh out loud funny on the show, especially when he was joined by an attractive guest host. But when Phelps' transition from the silver screen happened all of the laughter got sucked out by a comedy black hole. With an impressive cast that could have saved the movie including Julianne Moore, Billy Dee Williams, and Will Ferrell, the movie didn't find a common ground. Ferrell's subplot of jealous lovers who have been emotionally scarred from Phelps is the film's strong point but Meadows isn't and it's his starring vehicle.
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