Best of... Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe is one of my favorites, he's an Academy Award winner and he's awesome. He made a lot of great films and these are my favorites.

"Romper Stomper"
One of his earlier works, where he wasn't that famous yet. But it's worth mentioning. It's about a group of skinheads who are alarmed after they find out that their neighbourhood is changing. Very good film, really.

"The Quick and the Dead"
Sharon Stone is the star of the film, but Crowe also makes a good appearance. This is a fun film too watch, even if you're not a western fan like me.

"L.A. Confidential"
Wonderfull! A movie about corruption and crime among members of the LAPD. Russell plays Bud White, a L.A. cop who bends the rules in order to get justice. I think this was the movie that gave Crowe the Hollywood status he has now.

"Mystery, Alaska"
I didn't see it that many times, because it's never on. But it's such a good movie. About a hockey team in a small town in Alaska who are choosen to host a televised event. It's funny and enjoyable.

"The Insider"
Not a very spectacular movie, but a film where the acting is outstanding. Crowe works opposite Al Pacino.

"Gladiator"
Historicaly not very accurate, but still a very good movie. This one does have a lot of spectacular scenes and also good acting by Crowe.

"A Beautiful Mind"
My favorite Russell Crowe movie. It's actually in my top five. Crowe proves here how good of an actor he is. He's brilliant in his performance as John Nash, just simply brilliant. I still don't understand how he didn't win the Oscar here, because his acting here is even better than in "Gladiator".

"Cinderella Man"
Another boxing movie, allthough the title tells you differently, but a very good one. Set in the 1930's. It's an inspiring and amazing story about a man who never gives up.

"A Good Year"
Not a very special movie, but I liked it very much. We see a different side of Russell and I loved him in combination with Marion Cotillard.

"American Gangster"
Awesome! He forms a great acting duo with Denzel Washington. Very good movie, can't say more about it.

"State of Play"
A team of reporters work alongside a policeman to solve the murder of a congressman's mistress. Very plain, but enojoyable and I liked him with Rachel McAdams.

I haven't seen "3:10 to Yuma" yet and I really want to see "The Next Three Days". I did see "Robin Hood" though and I liked it, but not enough too include it in my best of list.

50 Books Challenge - # 13: Mixed Doubles by Jill Mansell

Title: Mixed Doubles
Author: Jill Mansell
Story: New Year is looming and best friends Liza, Dulcie and Pru are making their resolutions. Liza wants to get married - she's never had any trouble hooking a man. The trouble is, she can never stay interested once she's got him. Dulcie thinks marriage sucks. Her husband, Patrick, may be gorgeous and charming, but the impulsive Dulcie needs more excitement in her life. She wants a divorce. Pru loves her roving husband, and she secretly enjoys the periods when he's making up for his outrageous behaviour. All she wants is to stay married. Liza, Dulcie and Pru have no idea what the New Year has in store - but Fate has some sneaky plans up her sleeve
Start: march 7th 2011
End: march 10th 2011
Comment: I love Jill Mansell books. They are easy to read and sometimes I just need to read one because it so light and uncomplicated. The story starts with three friend who all have their own plan. One wants to get married, one wants a divorce and the third just wants to stay married. Off course nothing works out the way they planned it. It's a book with multiple storylines and I always like those stories. I really liked their friendship, it was natural and I didn't get the impression that were joined at the hip. They had different interests and ran in differernt circles. Mansell knows how to create lovable characters. Liza was my favorite, especially when the story developed. I also liked Pru, because she was so sweet, kind and insecure. She changed later on in the book and became more self confident. Dulcie kinda annoyed me. She wants to get rid of a perfectly good man and she's very shallow, because she started dating another man just for his looks. When he dumps her, she off course realizes how much she misses her husband. I liked the individual happy endings, in those books that always works. Mansell is my go-to author when I need a no-brainer that is just fun to read and doesn't make you think too much. Not high standing literature, but very enjoyable.
Rating: 3/ 5

50 Books Challenge - # 12: My Summer of Love by Helen Cross

Title: My Summer of Love
Author: Helen Cross
Story: It’s 1984 and one of the hottest summers Yorkshire’s seen. It’s the kind of woozy heat to lose your mind in. Mona is fifteen years old. She’s a drinker, a thief and a fruit machine addict. Things are already going badly in the pub where she lives with her obese step–brother PorkChop. But when Mona meets posh Tamsin Fakenham, a sassy girl with beautiful breasts, an actress mother and a sister who’s died of starvation, things very quickly get much worse...
Start: march 2nd 2011
End: march 6th 2011
Comment: I saw the movie first, which was truly great. It's different from the book. And better and I think that most people who love the movie, will hate the book. Well, I didn't hate it, because it was easy to read and at some points really funny, even though it's a bit dark sometimes. Cross found a good balance between shocking drama and humor. I didn't like Mona at all and I didn't understand her actions. I have more sympathy for Tamsin, however I would never befriend her in real life. She lies about the worst things but I have more understanding for her for some reason. I can't really explain why. It doesn't happen very often that I like the movie over the book, but with "My Summer of Love" that's just a fact.
Rating: 3/ 5

Best Actors/ Actresses That Never Got an Oscar Nomination

Untill last sunday, Christian Bale would be on that list, but he finally got some recognition. So there's still hope for the actors and actresses in this list. Great ones that never got nominated for this award.

Kevin Bacon
He's a very good actor, but most of the time he's the supporting actor in the film. So I can understand why he gets overlooked. He did some great films like "Apollo 13", "Mystic River", "JFK" and "A Few Good Men".

Scarlett Johansson
She was nominated for a Golden Globe four times already, so there's something she's doing well, but not well enough for the Academy Awards appearantly. I loved her in "Lost in Translation" and what about "The Girl with the Pearl Earring", "A Lovesong for Bobby Long", "Ghostworld" and "Match Point".

Steve Buscemi
He’s kind of a briljant actor, so underrated. He did get nominations for other awards for his roles in “Ghost World” and “Reservoir Dogs”, but never an Oscar.

Jim Carrey
He’s one of the funniest men on the planet and I think some people don’t take him seriousley. But he did play some very strong roles. “Man on the Moon”, The Truman Show” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”.

John Cusack
I’m so mad for this. He’s my third favorite actor of all time and he never gets the credit for the good work he does. Come on, he was briljant in “High Fidelity” and what about “Being John Malkovich” or “Grace is Gone”, a movie that probably no one even saw. Very, very good actor.

Emily Blunt
I think her role in “The Devil Wears Prada” was fantastic and what about “Young Victoria”, My Summer of Love” and “Sunshine Cleaning”. Good acting.

Ashley Judd
I love Ashley. She so deserves to get some appreciation. “Kiss the Girls” was amazing and she was good in “De-Lovely” and “Double Jeopardy”.

Bruce Willis
Alone for being John McClane they should give him a Oscarnomination. He’s awesome. But he was also very good in “The Sixth Sense” and “Twelve Monkeys”.

Gary Oldman
“JFK’, “The Contender” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”. All honorable mentions that could have given him a nomination.

Pic Spam: Eva Mendes

She is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and I also think she's a pretty good actress. I loved "Live", a movie that most people missed. I saw it in the theatre as a sneak preview ones and it really surprised me. I also liked her in "Training Day", "Once Upon a Time in Mexico", "Hitch" and "We Own the Night". And it's her birthday today. Here are some of her best pictures.

50 Books Challenge - # 11: Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

Title: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Author: Aron Ralston
Story: It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him. It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that. What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself.
Start: february 26th 2011
End: march 1st 2011
Comment: It's very hard to imagine yourself in a situation like this. He has only four options: trying to push the rock away, making a hole with his knife so he can release his hand, wait for help or amputate his hand. This book tells the extraordinary story of Aron Ralston and it took my breath away. I think it's a miracle that the guy survived it, with just a little bit of water and food and eventually losing a lot of blood. Aron is very lucky to be alive. It's not just a story about a guy who survived a climbing accident. While being stuck he looks back on his experiences as a climber and his life with his family and the people he met along the way. These thought make him stronger and that would eventualy be the reason of his survival. His family and friends gave him the strength to survive. It's an amazing story and I can't wait to see the film version "127 Hours".
Rating: 4,5/ 5

50 Books Challenge 2011 Update - February

It's March already and I read a couple of books in February. Not as much as I did in January, but still, my first book challenge is going OK. Here are the books I read this month.

# 7. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
# 8. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
# 9. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
#10. Marley & Me by John Grogan
#11. Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

Favorite of the month: "Water for Elephants"

I actually haven't finished Ralstons novel yet, but I will today or tomorrow. Next book I will be reading is probably "My Summer of Love" by Helen Cross. And I'm expecting two new books today, which I ordered on the internet. Both Jill Mansell books: "Mixed Doubles" and "Solo". So I'm really looking forward to reading those as well.I'll keep you updated.