Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue 2012

It’s that time of the year where we ask ourselves: Who is the Vanity Fairest of them all?

The annual March Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair is now available and features the ‘fresh stars of 2012’ on its cover, photographed by Mario Testino.

Chosen for their impact on film in the last year, the lineup of 11 actresses includes two Oscar nominees, Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) and Jessica Chastain (The Help) alongside Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Lawrence, Elizabeth Olsen, Adepero Oduye, Shailene Woodley, Paula Patton, Felicity Jones, Lily Collins and Brit Marling.

“This group has solid acting credentials. Some have already taken on great roles, and I think that all of these girls are on the go-to list for every film currently being cast,” explained Vanity Fair features editor Jane Sarkin.

Golden Globes 2012

I love the Golden Globes…

As Ricky Gervais observed in his opening gambit this weekend, they are to The Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton, “a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker.”

One BIG similarity with the two award ceremonies however, is their focus on the dresses…

Here are my favourites of the night...

Below (L-R): Jessica Alba is always impeccably perfect - in Gucci, Emma Stone is my red carpet crush - in Lanvin, Charlize Theron looks completely dreeeeamy in Dior - the winner.

Below (L-R): Angelina Jolie’s flashes of red in Atelier Versace, Michelle Williams is always unique - in Jason Wu, Rachel Evan Wood dramatically ruffling feathers in Gucci Première.

Below: I am sorry Ladies, but I just was not a big fan of your choices…

(L-R) Elle MacPherson - TuTu much In Zac Posen, Lea Michele is a bit too ‘flashy,’ in Marchesa, Sarah Michelle Gellar – Spilt. Paint. Everywheeere. In Monique Lhuillier.

Below (L-R): Charlize Theron and Michelle Williams both decided to wear delicate headbands – I feel a new red carpet trend for 2012 may have just begun…

I have been left excited to see award winning film, ‘The Artist,' a romantic French film directed by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.

The story takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932 and focuses on a declining male film star and a rising actress, as silent cinema grows out of fashion and is replaced by the ‘talkies.’ Most of the film itself is silent; it is shown in black-and-white, and Jean Dujardin also won the Best Actor Award this weekend at the Golden Globes.

Movie Moment: 'Harry Met Sally'

23 years after it was made 'Harry Met Sally' still wins hands-down for having the best New Year's Eve scene of all time (not to mention the most romantic speech... and the best perm...)

"I love that you get cold when it is 71 degrees out.

I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.

I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts.

I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.

And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.

And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve.

I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible..."

Movie Moment: The Notebook

“They didn’t agree on much. In fact, they didn’t agree on anything.

But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common...

They were crazy about each other."

Movie Moment: 'My Week with Marilyn'

In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark, a movie enthusiast worked as an assistant on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl', the film that famously, and turbulently, united Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. Olivier had hoped this collaboration would help him become a Hollywood movie star, and Marilyn hoped to become taken seriously as an actress.

An insight into a vanished era of filmmaking and the clash that ensued between the two actors was well documented nearly 40 years later in Colin’s diary account, ‘The Prince, the Showgirl and Me,’ but its author purposefully omitted one week’s production... This missing chapter was eventually published some years later as ‘My Week with Marilyn,’ and this film chronicles Colin's life changing week and near affair with the star.

Released on November 25th, the film stars Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Julia Ormond and Emma Watson - but its main attraction is undeniably Michelle Williams, who according to Vogue ‘brings Monroe to life with heartbreaking delicacy and precision without resorting to impersonation or cliché.’

Below: The trailer for 'My Week with Marilyn'

Michelle spent six months immersing herself in all things Marilyn Monroe; reading biographies, diaries, letters, poems, and notes, studying photographs, listening to recordings and watching her movies. Michelle also trained hard to transform her usually gamine body to achieve that infamous Marilyn wiggle...

Below: The original trailer for 'The Prince and The Showgirl'

Annie Leibovitz shot a stunning set of Marilyn Monroe inspired photographs of Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams for the October issue of US Vogue.

Styled by Tonne Goodman, Michelle wore a retro wardrobe from Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and J. Crew.

The actress revealed, “as soon as I finished the script, I knew that I wanted to do it, and then I spent six months trying to talk myself out of it... But I always knew that I never really had a choice... I’ve started to believe that you get the piece of material that you were ready for.”

“I wish that I could play her for the rest of my life...”

Credit Buy - Audrey's 'Lucky Dress'

The ivory lace gown Audrey Hepburn called her ‘lucky dress’ is up for auction. Worn in the last scene on ‘Roman Holiday’ in 1952, the dress was worn once again by Audrey to collect her Best Actress Oscar for the same film.

The auction will take place on Tuesday November 29 at 2pm at La Galleria.

The estimated auction price is between £40,000 - £60,000.

'Thought Of You' - Animated short by Ryan Woodward (music by The Weepies)

"Everything that I said I'd do

Like make the world brand new

And take the time for you

I just got lost and slept right through the dawn

And the world spins madly on..."

This 2 minute little treasure of a short film, created by animator Ryan Woodward (‘Where The Wild Things Are’) came from his desire to unite several of his passions into one art piece; 2d animation, EFX animation, and contemporary dance. These three forms were combined to convey an intimate, complex relationship dancing along to The Weepies’ ‘World Spins Madly On’… The results are extremely powerful, evocative and affecting.

The meaning of the love story shown is open to each viewer’s interpretation...

I have a feeling that if there had been another sequence to this film we would have seen this girl standing up, dusting off her frock, and once again raising up her wings…
'You go Mama!' (I'm still trying to speak 'Kelly Rowland' - but not quiiiite pulling it off yet...)

George Harrison: Living In The Material World

“George himself is no mystery. But the mystery inside George is immense. It’s watching him uncover it all little by little that’s so damn interesting.” John Lennon.

Last Sunday I happily declined a day lying in the sunshine to attend the World Premiere of ‘George Harrison: Living in the Material World,’ a documentary feature by Martin Scorsese.

Above: At the premiere and with Dhani Harrison.

The Beatles, amongst some other beyond famous figures, have all become such icons of our time that it is sometimes hard to remember them as individuals and real people underneath all the colourful memorabilia.

Taking 5 years to make and lasting a whopping 3.5 hours (split into 2 parts!) this film is full of never seen before footage, intimate interviews from George's wife Olivia, son Dhani and many of his nearest and dearest’s including Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, Ray Cooper and Tom Petty. This film really delves into who George was, beneath all the fame and the hysteria surrounding him – and he was a fascinating character.

Before the film commenced Martin Scorsese recognized how this audience was to be a most “difficult crowd” as so many of the people sat in the cinema at the British Film Institute that night had actually lived George’s story alongside him…

Indeed, looking around me I was sat amongst Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Idle, Pattie Boyd, Jackie Stewart and Terry Gillam… to name but a few! This took the viewing of this film to another level – it was profoundly emotional and real.

Part One focuses on George Harrison's humble beginnings in Liverpool, the creation, and the subsequent dizzying success, of The Beatles, his drugs, his love triangle with Pattie Boyd and Eric Clapton, his spiritual awakening, trips to India, his relationship with Ravi Shankar, his meditation and The Beatles' eventual dissolution in 1970.

Part Two concentrates on George Harrison's career as a solo artist, movie impresario, philanthropist and father. The highlights in this part were The Bangladesh Concert (the first major rock concert to address a world crises) the financing of The Life Of Brian and launching of Handmade Films (a key factor in the revival of the British film industry in the 1980’s), the formation of The Travelling Wilburys, George's commitment to restoring one of the most beautiful gardens and estates in England (his serene retreat, and home, Friar Park) his cancer and his endless quest to understand his faith and preparation towards leaving his human body.

As well as being an amazing guitarist and songwriter (credits which include ‘Taxman,’ ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps,’ ‘Here Comes The Sun,’ ‘My Sweet Lord’ and my favourite, ‘Something’) George Harrison also helped in bringing Indian music, culture and religion to the West. He was a well-loved, very private, complex individual with a great sense of humour and many close, wonderful friends - I especially enjoyed his rapport with Ringo (who's interviews are amongst the most touching.)

I must say, the beautiful Olivia Harrison’s interviews were completely captivating; at one point the audience cheered her response to being asked what the secret to a long marriage was… “You don’t get divorced!”

There was a true sense of loss as I left the theatre – in those people that had known and loved George, but also in those that hadn’t and felt they'd truly missed out as a consequence.

Above: Dhani and Olivia Harrison

"People say I'm the Beatle who changed the most, but really that's what I see life's about."

'George Harrison: Living In The Material World’ will be available on DVD Oct 10th

Crazy Stupid Love

Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei & Kevin Bacon - LOVE.
Ryan Gosling - SUPER LOVE.

Crazy Stupid Love released in the UK today.

Happy Ever After? The New Twilight Trailer

The trailer for the greatly anticipated Twilight Breaking Dawn (Part 1) has fiiiinally be released after months of teasers.
After their wedding and tropical honeymoon Bella and Edward have the Quileute and the Volturi close in on them as their unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven.

Out Nov 18th... TOO excited!!

(Incase you were wondering, I'm Team Edward...)