Diane Lane

Bullock to Kiss and Tango in Argentina

We get at least one of these suckers each year -- some city slicker goes on a trip to this remote, exotic area and, while there, somehow falls in love, re-discovers themselves and learns the true meaning of life. One recent example would be Russell Crowe's character in A Good Year, or how about Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun. Well, add Sandra Bullock's name to that list because she's just lined herself up to produce (though her Fortis Films) and most likely star in an adaptation of Marina Palmer's memoir Kiss and Tango (or, perhaps a more fitting and familiar title could be, A Good Year Under the Argentinian Sun). Basically, you already know what happens -- some down-and-out American woman, unhappy with where life has taken her, decides to travel to Argentina where -- whaddya know -- she meets a handsome foreign man, learns to tango, shares a few kisses and decides to live out her days rediscovering herself and the meaning of her existence. Fox 2000 has snatched up the rights to Palmer's memoir and tapped Nicole Perlman to pen the script, which will be based off Palmer's own real-life experiences as an ex-advertising exec who quit her gig to play Sandra Bullock in a future film about herself.

Bad 'Blood' needs more bite and more 'Chocolate'

Olivier Martinez and Agnes Bruckner star in "Blood and Chocolate."
"Blood and Chocolate" is "West Side Story," minus the music, wit, drama and tension, but with
werewolves.
The picture doesn't make a lick of sense, but at least it delivers plenty of bad acting to accompany the
campy dialogue.
That's good for a couple of laughs in what is otherwise a somber and self-important trudge through the
dark woods and shadowy streets of Romania.
Consider: When Vivian (Agnes Bruckner), a sulky 19-year-old blonde shape-shifter, asks clan leader
Gabriel (scruffy Olivier Martinez, Diane Lane's stud muffin in "Unfaithful"), "Aren't we half human;
don't you see that what you denounce is part of you?" she does so with an intensity befitting
Shakespearean tragedy, not a coming-of-age horror-romance about werewolves, for heaven's sake.
Based on a young adult novel by Annette Curtis Klause, "Blood and Chocolate" — a movie that needs
more blood and more chocolate — tries to be all things to all teens.
As such, it's a mess, but a mesmerizing mess if you are fascinated by horror sequences shot like
Hallmark ads, and scenes of Vivian running wild, free and unnoticed up and down the sides of buildings.

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Streep is critics' darling

A: I hesitate to use "overrated" and "Meryl Streep" in the same sentence. That said, she seems to be in
contention for an award no matter what she has done in a given year -- for several reasons.
First, great women's roles are difficult to find in Hollywood. Usually, there are many respectable
candidates for best actor but only a handful for best actress.
Streep can cherry-pick roles. And because she has excellent instincts, her material is usually great.
The down side is that other talented actresses -- Sigourney Weaver, Susan Sarandon, Julianne Moore,
Diane Lane, Joan Allen -- get passed over. Those actresses have received accolades, but not as
consistently as Streep.
That brings up another point: trendiness. Most performers receive their nominations during a
concentrated period. Weaver was nominated for best actress in 1986 for "Aliens," then best actress
("Gorillas in the Mist") and best supporting actress ("Working Girl") in 1988. Nothing since, despite
1997's "The Ice Storm" and 1999's "A Map of the World."
Streep is one of few performers consistently nominated over multiple decades.
As for the second part of your question, I can't think of many actors who carry more critical clout than
they deserve. Jack Nicholson, like Streep, seems to get a nomination every time he shows up on screen.
So there's a bias toward his work. Still, Nicholson is always wonderful and has been for years, so maybe
he has earned some bias.
Forrest Hartman writes about film for the Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal.

High Honor Roll

EIGHTH GRADE: Jackson Emil Branson, Stephanie Renee Brobst, Genna Grace Carey, Laura Elizabeth Carey, Emily Jo Hanes, Dylan Kent Helpling, Joshua Lee Mahoney, Gail Renee Runyan, Eric Michael Solms, Cortney Danielle Stephens, Nathaniel Kendrick Wilson. SEVENTH GRADE: David Warren Anderson, Jordan Alyssa Branson, Dylan Jacob Luke Bruning, Lyndsay Ann Christensen, Nathan Mitchell Clem, Diane Lane Dickey, Emily Kate Kelsay, Ashley Nicole LeCount, Katerina Lynette McDermit, Andrea Lynn Myers, Allison Dena Poore, Jared Nathan Shindler, Cody Eron Smalley, Katelyn Rosemary Summers, Catey Alaine Williams, Bailey Kathryn Wimmer.

Ask a critic: Are some actors - like Meryl Streep -overrated?

QUESTION: After watching "The Golden Globes," it occurs to me that maybe - just maybe - Meryl Streep is slightly overrated. She's downright revered by other actors, but a lot of critics seem to disagree. For that matter, aren't there a lot of actors who enjoy, perhaps, a little more clout in Tinseltown than they should? ANSWER: I hesitate to use "overrated" and "Meryl Streep" in the same sentence, as she is a wonderful actress. That said, I think there is a bias toward her work both before and during awards time. She seems to be in contention for an award nomination no matter what she has done in a given year. I believe there are several reasons for this. First, and perhaps foremost, great women's roles are difficult to find in Hollywood. Last year was an exception, as we saw more great female performances than male performances. Usually, however, there are many respectable candidates for best actor but only a handful for best actress. Advertisement

Because outstanding female roles are so scarce, Streep has a tremendous advantage over her peers. Her stature in the industry assures that she can cherry pick any role she is physically suited for. And, because Streep has excellent instincts, her material is usually great. Give a terrific actress great material and the awards are likely to follow. The down side to this is other, perhaps equally talented, actresses - Sigourney Weaver, Susan Sarandon, Julianne Moore, Diane Lane, Joan Allen - get passed over in favor of Streep's box office clout. And an actress isn't any better than her material. The other actresses I mentioned have received their share of accolades, but not as consistently as Streep. That brings up another point. There seem to be times when it's trendy to nominate someone for an Oscar. For instance, you will notice most performers receive the bulk of their nominations during a concentrated period. Sigourney Weaver, for instance, was nominated for best actress in 1986 for "Aliens." Then, she was nominated for best actress ("Gorillas in the Mist") and best supporting actress ("Working Girl") in 1988. Nothing since, despite leading roles in critically acclaimed films. Four of Susan Sarandon's five Oscar nominations came between 1991 and 1995. Nothing for any films made outside her early '90s heyday. Truth is, Meryl Streep is one of few performers who have been consistently nominated over multiple decades. She has 14 Oscar nominations over the past 27 years, which means she averages one every two years (she earned No. 14 Tuesday for "The Devil Wears Prada") And, I must say, it's difficult to fault any of her nominations except 1999's best actress nod for "Music of the Heart." She wasn't bad in the film, mind you, the role just wasn't strong enough to stand beside those of the other contenders. Hilary Swank won for "Boys Don't Cry" if that tells you anything. As for the second part of your question, I can't think of many actors who carry more critical clout than they deserve. Certainly there are people who receive bigger paychecks than their talent would dictate. Keanu Reeves, for instance, hasn't shown the range of many actors below his pay grade. But he's popular and he sells tickets to films, so we can't fault him. Jack Nicholson, like Streep, seems to get an award nomination every time he shows up on screen. So, I think there's a certain bias toward his work. If, for instance, he receives a best supporting actor nomination for "The Departed," it will overshadow more compelling performances by Brad Pitt in "Babel," Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond," Brian Cox in "Running With Scissors," Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls," Alec Baldwin in several films, Clive Owen in "Inside Man," John Malkovich in "Art School Confidential," Bill Nighy in "Notes on a Scandal" and Tim Robbins in "Catch a Fire." Still, Jack is always wonderful and has been for years, so maybe he's earned some bias. Personally, I'm most disappointed when I see great actors waste their time on poor material. Prior to "Dreamgirls," the wonderfully talented Eddie Murphy had delivered one forgettable outing after another. And Robert De Niro regularly squanders his considerable chops on average, mainstream comedies. At least we aren't seeing award nominations for that.

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