Everything's Coming Up Daisy

It was interesting to hear that Carey Mulligan was just selected by Baz Luhrman to play Daisy Buchanan in his new adaption of The Great Gatsby.  The 1974 version staring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow is considered to be a classic so it seems a little weird that Baz Luhrmann would remake it at all.  I'm curious to see if Ms. Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio, who will be playing Jay Gatsby, can live up the original.  What do you think?

The King's Speech

I'm a sucker for period movies, especially those with English accents and even more so, those staring Colin Firth.  So what happens when an English accent of character played by Firth in a period film is accompanied by a stammer?  That is the story of The King's Speech which opens November 26th.  Prince George, The Duke of York was second in line to the throne behind his brother so his stammer wouldn't really have been as big of a problem had his brother not abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.  (Madonna is making a film about that story.) After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne as King George VI. Because his stutter has called into question his ability to rule, he and Elizabeth I engage the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. "Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war." George VI and Elizabeth are the parents of reigning Queen Elizabeth II and it will be interesting to see her childhood during the war.  There are already rumors that this film will earn Colin Firth an Oscar just as The Queen earned Helen Mirren her statue.  I think it's safe to say that The Academy is also a sucker for an English accent.

I Am Love

One reviewer of the Italian film Io sono l'amore (I Am Love in English) declared "see it by any means possible" and after viewing the trailer, I am terribly upset that I won't be able to see it until it's released in the US on June 18th! The story centers on a wealthy Italian family and their resulting reactions to their patriarch's decision to split his company between his son and grandson. Add in a little adultery, gorgeous cinematography and fabulous fashions (designed by Raf Simons for Jil Sander) and you've got yourself some serious aesthetic overload. I Am Love stars Tilda Swinton playing a Russian woman in Italy which has her speaking Italian with a Russian accent. If that doesn't have Oscar nomination written all over it, I don't know what does! Oh, and it also stars Marisa Berenson who looks like she's channeling Nati Abascal! It's beyond chic! I insist that you watch the trailer so you'll know why I'm so excited for this film. Ciao!

Love means never having to say you're sorry.

Love Story author Erich Segal died this past Sunday. He wrote the rich boy falls in love with a poor girl novel while as a professor at Harvard. The movie version is one of the all time great tear jerkers. Just hearing the Henry Mancini score makes me want to cry! Sniff sniff. Although, it might not be the best film ever made, it remains a classic as do the clothing worn by Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal as Jenny Cavalieri and Oliver Barrett IV. ("I love your name and your numeral.") It's like watching the Preppy Handbook come to life! Lauren Santo Domingo of Vogue loved Jenny's camel hair coat from the movie so much she even had a designer copy it! I think I may have to watch Love Story tonight in memoriam. Also, so I can be reminded of their chic outfits and more importantly, that love means never having to say you're sorry!

Snow Day!

The flakes have just begun to fall in New York but I've already assembled all my snow day supplies! Magazines, check. Books, check. Movies, check. Tea, check. Cookies, check. Candle, check. I am so looking forward to spending this day curled up on the sofa under my cashmere blanket watching movies and catching up on my reading. My only quandary is what movie to start with first! Any suggestions? What's your favorite snow day movie?

The Young Victoria: Part Deux

I normally don't like to write about the same thing twice but I just saw The Young Victoria tonight and it is amazing! I fell completely in love with Rupert Friend as Prince Albert and wished the film would never end! Emily Blunt is wonderful too! Julian Fellowes needs to make more movies because whatever he touches turns to gold and in this case I think it will be Oscar gold! It's supposed to be snowy up and down the East Coast this weekend but if you can safely drive to the theatre, you will not be disappointed! I give it two thumbs up!

The Young Victoria

I'm looking forward to having some time off at the holidays so I can see all the wonderful films that are being released this month. At the top of my list now is The Young Victoria which tells the story of Queen Victoria's accession to the thrown, her turbulent early reign and her enduring romance with Prince Albert. The film contains an all star cast including Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, and Jim Broadbent. Julian Fellowes who also wrote one of my favorites, Gosford Park, wrote the screenplay so I can already tell that I am going to love this period piece! Cheers!

I'm ready for my close up!

I've been busy all day working on my client projects which included shopping for carpets at Paul H. Lee. If you haven't checked him out in the D&D, I highly recommend that you do. I found exactly what I needed and he couldn't be nicer! And now I have to prepare for a photo shoot at one of my other projects in the morning. Too bad I don't think it will look like the one in the photo above! Anyway, I am sorry to say that I have no time to write a proper post tonight. I hope that you will forgive me and check back later for a fabulous holiday themed post! Ciao!

UPDATE: Thanks for all the warm wishes. The photo shoot went very well and you can see the results in the next issue of Lonny magazine on December 10th!

New Moon on the Rise

I didn't get the Twilight hype last year so I didn't see the film until it was available on DVD. I don't think I will be making that mistake with New Moon. I mean, who wouldn't want to see a movie staring this handsome hunk of man candy?! For more photos of Rob Pattinson, check out the December 2009 issue of Vanity Fair. Thanks Graydon!

Photos by Bruce Weber for Vanity Fair

A Single Man

Everyone scoffed when Tom Ford announced that he was going to make movies after he left fashion but now that his new film, A Single Man, is garnering Oscar buzz, the critics are sitting up and taking notice. I've already taken notice of the chic 1960's interiors and think the design world may have a new favorite source of inspiration. It's clear that Ford is one of those creative types whose talent and vision translates into perfection no matter what the medium. The film is based on the Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel of the same name stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore and opens on December 10th. Bon Weekend!

Nine in November

I'm still undecided if I want to see the movie Nine when it debuts in November but I am looking forward to seeing the photos of the cast shot by Annie Leibovitz in the November 2009 issue of Vogue. More importantly, I'm dying to see what the Urban Apartment Makeover that is highlighted on the cover is all about! Hope it's good!