Top 5 Thursday: Actresses Under 30

I came to the conclusion that a lot of my favorite actresses are still very young. Some even younger then me. So I decided to make a top 5 of actresses who are still under 30.

5. Emma Stone
The first time I saw her was in “Zombieland”, but ever since that movie I’ve been a fan. Emma is funny, charming and beautiful and I think she rocks. And there are still so many films of her I need to see.

4. Ellen Page
The main reason I love Ellen Page is because she’s not a girlie-girl. She dresses casual but she still looks sexy. I loved her in “Juno” and in “Whip It” and she managed to not fade away in “Inception” where she was surrounded by men and fellow Academy Award nominees/ winners.

3. Emily Blunt
She broke through because of her supporting roles, like the ones she had in “Dan in Real Life” or “The Jane Austen Book Club”. But the character she portrayed in “The Devil Wears Prada” was her most memorable one. Now, Emily can finally play the lead and she gets credit for it. And hopefully she’ll get awarded someday as well.

2. Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett is this classical and elegant beauty, who can do anything from period dramas to modern-day romantic comedy. My favorite movie is still “Lost in Translation”, which is just brilliant because it’s so simple and realistic.

1. Keira Knightley
Keira stays strong in blockbuster movies like “Pirates of the Carribean”, but she rocks in movies like “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement” where her acting skills are truly shown. It’s just a matter of time for her winning an Academy Award.

They almost made the top 5: Anne Hathaway, Kirsten Dunst and Abigail Breslin

Best of... Sean Penn

I recently saw "Milk" and that reminded me of how great Sean Penn actually is as an actor. He is one of my favorites and he has made some great movies. Here are my favorite Sean Penn films.

"Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
This movie would never be this funny if it didn't give us Jeff Spicoli, Sean Penn's memorable stoner character.

"Casualties of War"
This wasn't just another movie about the Vietnam. I had an even deeper meaning and it was pretty disturbing. It's about morals and ethics and how they are tossed aside.

"Carlito's Way"
Excellent performances by Al Pacino and Sean Penn and I think this movie is very underrated. It is a good gangster movie.

"Dead Man Walking"
A friendship between a man on deathrow and a nun. Although the convicted murderer did something bad, you do sympathize with him on some levels. That means Sean Penn did a great job portraying this character.

"U-Turn"
Although it has Jennifer Lopez in, who I absolutely dispise, this is a good movie. But we have to thank Penn for it. And we all know what happened to J-Lo in the end and that was very satisfying!

"The Game"
The story is kind of ridiculous, especially when you know how it ends. But this is so exciting and I actually do like the twist in the end.

"The Thin Red Line"
Another war movie with Penn and I prefer the other one, but this is also very good. Beautifully crafted and a great experience.

"I Am Sam"
I probably wouldn't have watched this movie if someone like Sean Penn wouldn't have played the lead. Very good acting, Penn is great in combination with Dakota Fanning.

"Mystic River"
My favorite on this list. The story blew me away when I first saw it. Perfect directed by Clint Eastwood, great performances by Sean Penn and Marcia Gay Harden, but especially Tim Robbins.

"21 Grams"
This story is not told in chronological order and that's the strength of the film. The pieces of the puzzle start falling together as the story goes along. Sean Penn, Naomi Watts an Benicio Del Toro are all amazing in this project.

"Assassination of Richard Nixon"
A very underrated movie and probably even overlooked. this is definitely one of Penn's best work.

"Milk"
His performance was awarded with an Oscar and I think his acting was even better than in "Mystic River". He showed us what a great man Harvey Milk was, a man who wanted to fight for his right and did everything to get through to everyone.

"Fair Game"
The third collaboration with Naomi Watts, who he has perfect chemistry with. Watts is the star of this film, but Penn doesn't need to be the leader to deliver us a solid performance.

I really want to see "The Tree of Life", it looks very good.

In My Mailbox (1)

I discovered postcrossing just a couple of weeks ago. I joined www.postcrossing.com and created an account. I could send five cards, to the addresses that were selected for me. When a card arrives and someone requests an address, it could be yours. Today I received my first postcard since I joined then website and it came all the way from Florida, USA.

Sent on: September 13th 2011
Received on: September 20th 2011
Distance: 7,610 km (4,729 miles)
Travel time: 7 days

The Many Faces of... Naomi Watts

As you might know, Naomi Watts is my favorite actress and she can make any movie worth watching. She had many different looks and here are some of her most distinctive ones.

Face # 1: Tank Girl
Role: Jet Girl
Comment: A very young Naomi, but wicked!
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Face # 2: Mulholland Drive
Role: Betty Elms/ Diane Selwyn
Comment: Like the short hair.
Rating: 3, 5/ 5

Face # 3: The Ring
Role: Rachel Keller
Comment: But she also looks great with long hair.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 4: Ned Kelly
Role: Julia Cook
Comment: The bun... eh no. It does suit her role though.
Rating: 2,5/ 5

Face # 5: 21 Grams
Role: Christina Peck
Comment: Even when she plays a drug addict mother in mourning, she looks great some how.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 6: The Assassination of Richard Nixon
Role: Marie Andersen Bicke
Comment: Simply beautiful. Sad that the movie isn't that well known and her role is small.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 7: I Heart Huckabees
Role: Dawn Campbell
Comment: The first time I actually think Naomi looks cute, with the pig tails.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 8: King Kong
Role: Ann Darrow
Comment: I think Naomi looks very pretty and she rocks this look.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 9: The Painted Veil
Role: Kitty Fane
Comment: Very classy.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 10: Eastern Promisses
Role: Anna
Comment: That's one of the things I love about Naomi's looks, she's so pure.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 11: The International
Role: Eleanor Whitman
Comment: Love her long hair, I wish my hair looked like that.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 12: Fair Game
Role: Valerie Plame
Comment: She looks like a very serious businesswoman (slash CIA agent off course).
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (3)

This weeks trailers are about a zoo, bike messengers, hockey, a stunt driver and a haunted boarding school.

We Bought a Zoo
Description: Set in Southern California, a father (Matt Damon) moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
Director: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit and Elle Fanning
Trailer: "We Bought a Zoo" Trailer
Comment: This looks fantastic. Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson look like a great on screen duo and the story sounds fantastic. Can't wait.

Premium Rush
Description: Wilee is a New York bike messenger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who picks up an envelope at Columbia University, only to be chased throughout the city by a dirty cop desperate to get his hands on it.
Director:David Koepp
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dania Ramirez, Jamie Chung and Michael Shannon
Trailer: ?Premium Rush" Trailer
Comment: Looks exciting and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in it. He did so many great things the past years.

Goon
Description: Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is a dumb but loveable bar bouncer plucked from obscurity to be the enforcer for a minor league hockey team.
Director: Michael Dowse
Starring: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber, Kim Coates, Alison Pill
Trailer: "Goon" Trailer

Drive
Description: Hollywood stunt driver by day (Ryan Gosling) is a loner by nature, who moonlights as a top-notch getaway driver-for-hire in the criminal underworld. He finds himself a target for some of LA's most dangerous men after agreeing to aid the husband of his beautiful neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan).
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks
Trailer: "Drive" Trailer

The Awakening
Description: 1921 England is overwhelmed by the loss and grief of World War I. Hoax exposer Florence Cathcart (Rebecca Hall) visits a boarding school to explain sightings of a child ghost. Everything she knew in unravels as the 'missing' begin to show themselves.
Director: Nick Murphy
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton
Trailer: "The Awakening" Trailer

Pic Spam: Matt Damon

I just recently saw "Invictus", what a great movie! And Matt Damon has many good ones. So I thought it would be time to dedicade a pic spam to him. Here are his best pictures.

50 Books Challenge 2011 - # 49: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Story: Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12.
Start: september 10th 2011
End: september 16th 2011
Comment: The last book in "The Hunger Games" series. The second book topped the fantastic first installment, so I was really excited to read this one. When Katniss thinks it's finally all over, everything gets even worse. She isn't safe yet and neither is her family and all the people who are close to her. The story had a different take, Katniss grew in her personality and became an even stronger young woman. She fought even harder than in the first two books. It didn't suck me in as much but it had some surprising moments. It was intense and again a lot of action. I wasn't pleased with the ending. Not the epilogue, because I loved that, but just who Katniss ended up with. I never liked Peeta and I never will. I do love that you feel connected to the characters, some more than other, and that you can feel their sorrow if they go through another dramatic moment. Suzanne Collins managed to write a great series, but this is the least favorite of the three. Still a great one though!
Rating: 4/ 5