The Robin Hood trailer has premiered starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett in Crowe's fourth film working with director Ridley Scott.
A
classic tale told the Russell Crowe way
Robin Hood is an age old story that has been tackled as a comedy and a child's tale, but the newest version coming to theaters promises to be an epic action adventure from the men behind
Gladiator, A Good Year and Body of Lies.
The Scott, producer Brian Grazer and Crowe starring film, due out in 2010, tells the tale of an expert archer set on self-preservation who becomes an unlikely hero.
After he falls for Lady Marion , Robin aims to prove his worth and
pulls together a lethal team of mercenaries who steal from the rich to give to the poor of Nottingham -- which has been besieged by in infamously corrupt sheriff.
As this well known tale escalates, Robin finds himself at the head of a crusade to keep 13th century England from slipping into a bloody civil war and SheKnows is quite sure he'll save the day!
Other familiar faces in the film are William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow and Scott Grimes, and one look at the new trailer proves this is particular Robin Hood
wouldn't appreciate jokes about his tights!
Robin Hood hits theaters May 14 and although SheKnows has seen the film, we can’t share our reaction until tomorrow. But, until then, we have the final trailer for the Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott film.
Robin Hood is Crowe and Scott's latest collaboration after their efforts on the Oscar-winning Gladiator, A Good Year andBody of Lies.
What we can tell you about Robin Hood is that at its heart, the film is an origins story in the fine history of movie franchise beginnings. The legend of Robin Hood is well known. What isn't is how the son of a stone mason grew up to become a historical icon.
Robin Hood also stars Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, whose character is far from the lady in waiting previous Hood incarnations have produced. Blanchett's character wields a sword, shoots an arrow with the best of them and is frankly, not someone you would want to tangle with or upset!
As Scott's Robin Hood begins, Robin is in France on his way back from fighting the crusades for King Richard the Lionheart. Robin is known as Robin Longstride and his devotion to his King is limited. He makes clear, after they return to England, that he is striking out on his own.
Fate has other plans.
England is in turmoil. The country is broke from Richard's crusades and in order to fill the country's coffers, stiff taxes are imposed by force on the entire land. Soon, a rebellion is brewing and at the center of the entire potential civil war is Crowe's Robin.
As Robin Hood fans are keenly aware, he is an expert archer whose focus was on self preservation. But, when King Richard dies in battle in France, Robin takes it upon himself to fulfill a dying man's wish. Thus begins his journey from crusader to hero for the common man.
Robin Hood could be the franchise Crowe has been waiting for his entire career. One thought that Master and Commander with its series of wildly popular books would serve as that, but we are still waiting for a second voyage of that franchise that will probably never arrive.
As Robin Hood is clearly an origins story, if it is a success, look for Crowe, Blanchett and Scott to combine forces again and head back into the forest.
Stay with SheKnows as our Robin Hood review premieres May 13!
Robin Hood is not the story audiences are expecting. And Robin Hood is also not Gladiator 2, despite the same star , director and a similar feel.
Robin's rights
When it comes to what is right about Robin Hood, there is much. First and foremost, the addition of Cate Blanchett to the Crowe-Scott creative force is explosive. Her Maid Marian is powerful, eloquent and commands the respect of a warrior such as Robin Hood. Blanchett always is fantastic, whether in Lord of the Rings, Elizabeth or even the silly Bandits opposite Billy Bob Thornton. But it is Blanchett's work in Robin Hood, while wielding a sword like a pro, that proves she is game for any film, regardless of genre.
Crowe, although some may have scoffed, is perfect as Robin Hood. There's a vulnerability to his characterization that is honestly rare in a Crowe performance. Even when his roles have weaknesses, Crowe's persona can oftentimes take over. In Robin Hood, Scott has his favorite actor pull back at times, which makes Robin's explosive power when it is called for, all the more powerful.
Robin's Merry Men only add to the film's weight in bringing the human side of the Robin Hood legend to life. Through the supporting cast of Scott Grimes and especially Kevin Durand as Little John , they impeccably perform the roles of supporting actors while bringing as much realism to their characterizations as their Oscar-winning leads.
Crowe better watch out. Mark Strong is quickly becoming another favorite actor of director Scott. His astounding performance in Body of Lies was an announcement to the world that the British actor has arrived. In Robin Hood, his bad guy, Godfrey, is so good, he's great!
Robin's wrongs
There are weak spots in Robin Hood and its two-and-a-half hour runtime is not one. In fact, when the film is close to wrapping up, the audience feels as if we are simply getting going. Tribute that to the effective origins story Scott has created for his Robin Hood. As Blanchett said in our interview, "in all other Robin Hoods, it's just a given what he does." In Scott's Robin Hood, audiences get a terrific journey into what made the man turn his back on selfishness and choose a life of famously taking from the rich and giving to the poor.
The evil in Robin Hood doesn't solely exist in Mark Strong's character -- Prince John is the one who drives the evil when he simply becomes jealous of Robin Hood's popularity. The issue is that actor Oscar Isaac is not quite up to the task of harnessing the evil necessary to polarize a nation against him. He plays his Prince John as slimy rather than with searing evil.
Lastly, the great thespian of our time, William Hurt, is frankly underused. The Oscar-winner portrays William Marshall, longtime trusted advisor to the throne. His character seems to pop in when it is convenient instead of having a stronger arc across the film that can showcase the actor's impeccable talent.
Robin Hood: Final word
Overall, Robin Hood is great fun. As I said, when the film closes, the audience is truly ready for the film to get going. Not to say that the previous 150 minutes were a wasteland, in fact it is just the opposite. Scott's Robin Hood sets up what could be the franchise Crowe has been waiting for his entire career.
Before the closing credits roll, a piece of parchment paper appears saying, "…and the legend begins."
Consider SheKnows Entertainment rooting for Crowe, Blanchett and Scott's next Robin Hood cinematic ride.
In her career, Robin Hood star Cate Blanchett has won an Oscar and been nominated four other times, appeared in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, channeled the great Queen Elizabeth and even stole scenes from the King of Hollywood himself, Brad Pitt, in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. But nothing could have prepared her for the well-oiled machine that is the creative force of Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott.
Scott and Crowe have combined once again on Robin Hood, in theaters May 14, after successful collaborations in Gladiator, A Good Year and Body of Lies.
The Robin Hood origins story allowed Crowe and Scott -- both co-producers -- to craft a Maid Marion that was much more than window dressing for Robin and his Merry Men. In Robin Hood 2010, Marion wields a sword and shoots a bow and arrow as fiercely as any of Robin's crew.
It hit Crowe that Blanchett was his Marion when the two were being honored in Australia with postage stamps. "Her demeanor, everything about her…I was kicking myself. Why hadn't I thought of it before? Cate is a magnificent actress. She has resilience and a resonance. She's tough, strong and single-minded. Every decision she makes is about truth. She has complete control over her emotional responses, so she can make the smallest gesture a gigantic statement," Crowe said.
Scott, of all things, found Blanchett's jovial nature her highest quality on set. "What I love about her is her sense of humor," the director said. Her role is tough, but also allows for Blanchett to add an air of levity to the action brewing on the screen. Scott welcomed the opportunity to have Blanchett's acting brilliance shine a light on his new view of the Robin Hood legend.
Cate Blanchett chats Robin Hood
SheKnows: Did you have any apprehensions or nerves working with Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, considering their long relationship?
Cate Blanchett: Because Russell and Ridley have such a long history together of making films that go straight to the heart of the matter, it was actually a very exciting combination for me.
SheKnows: Was the first day on the set a little nerve-racking?
Cate Blanchett: Actually, my first day on set I found it breathtaking. I felt like one of those little people in Gulliver's Travels -- I had suddenly woken up and found myself in completely another world.
SheKnows: The incredible attention to detail…
Cate Blanchett: Like the working water wheel at the chapel! It really makes my job very easy.
SheKnows: In this Robin Hood, the Marion and Robin relationship is truly given a spotlight. What do you think it was about Robin that finally won over Marion's heart?
Cate Blanchett: There's kind of a game-playing that goes on between Robin and Marion, that I hope is quite enjoyable for the audience to watch. There's a buoyancy that exists between them. Ultimately, she really sets these series of tests that Robin continually passes. Finally, when he, without any prompting from her, plants the field -- gets the grain and plants the field -- something that has obviously been playing on her mind, I think she's astonished by the act of generosity, that selflessness. That turns the corner for her.
SheKnows: I read you did your own stunts. Was that your idea?
Cate Blanchett: Ridley asked if I was game for it . If someone asks if you're game for something, of course you're not going to say you're not! I wouldn't say I'm a master horsewoman, but I do like riding a horse. They're film horses , so they're pretty well trained. But, it is a thrill. There is a sequence where Marian gets all chainmailed up and rides into battle -- it was thrilling. You don't get to do that every day. That's the joy of making a film like this, you get to do these things that are adrenaline based.
Working with Russell
SheKnows: So were Russell and his merry men ever too merry and testosterone heavy for you?
Cate Blanchett: Russell's great. And all of his merry men were going all over England to pubs rehearsing . They're a great bunch of guys and they really bonded. They know one another, they've all worked together. When they all get together and have a song, it's all really, really buoyant. It's by definition merry .
SheKnows: What do you think is at the heart of what would make Robin Longstride become Robin Hood, hero to the poor and downtrodden?
Cate Blanchett: You've got somebody who is returning to, kind of, an old fashioned type of values, morals, responsibility and loyalty. I think they're quite noble sentiments to have in an age of merchant bankers ripping people off left, right and center. It's quite timely, I think.
SheKnows: What drew you to join the world of Robin Hood and the Crowe and Scott tandem?
Cate Blanchett: There's an enigmatic quality to Robin Hood. What makes him tick? Why does he decide to help people who are downtrodden? Why would someone do that? I think that's something that Russell explores in that man's backstory. Usually the films that I've seen, it's just a given that Robin's the way he is. I think what Russell and Ridley are concocting is what makes Robin Hood tick.
Now that Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro has backed out of helming the prequel to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, speculation abounds over who will take over and it looks like an old Rings friend -- director Peter Jackson.
The obvious choice for a replacement would be the Oscar winning director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy Peter Jackson and that's who all the talk is about these days.
Jackson is reportedly in negotiations with Warner Bros-New Line, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, obstacles on the way to an agreement include a rocky financial environment for partner MGM, who owns the rights to The Hobbit. If money issues delay production, Jackson could walk.
Similar issues are said to have caused Del Toro's departure, who left after working closely with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson on a script.
Previous reports had directors such as Harry Potter's David Yates and District 9's Neill Blomkamp linked to the project.
The Hobbit will be split up into two movies, reportedly to be shot back to back in New Zealand. Filming is slated to begin in January of 2011, with 2012 and 2013 release dates.
The Lord of the Rings stars Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Ian McKellen are rumored to be returning for the prequels.
Having flawless, radiant skin is a standard for celebrities both on and off the red carpet. While most celebrities make the grade for great skin when it comes to photo ops, there are a select few who would look just as great without make-up or air brushing.
5 celebrities, along with a Hollywood dermatologist, share their secrets to beautiful skin at any age, no matter what your background.
Sunscreen
Dr. Will Kirby, a California based dermatologist, says that a broad-spectrum sunscreen is imperative. When looking for a new sunscreen, Kirby suggests you select a formula that has a minimum SPF factor of 30. Who better to agree than one of the most recognizable vampires in the world, Ashley Greene, who plays Alice Cullen in the megahit movies that make up "The Twilight Saga"? Greene, who has recently been signed as the face of Avon's Mark Cosmetics, says she wears sunscreen everyday, as well as under eye cream.
Up next: Anne Hathaway's skin secret >>
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Diet and exercise
Don't roll your eyes – haven't you heard the adage, "You are what you eat"? Consider Anne Hathaway's beautiful porcelain skin admired around the world. She drinks at least 10-12 glasses of water everyday, and she exercises three times a week in order to burn extra calories and maintain her healthy skin. Exercise increases blood flow and, aside from helping to deliver important nutrients to your skin, a good sweat also will eliminate skin-sabotaging toxins from your system giving you a nice, rosy glow. Additionally, make sure you're getting plenty of foods with antioxidants like blueberries, tomatoes, and teas.
Up next: Halle Berry's skin secret >>
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The importance of cleansing
Don't fall for the fads. Great skin care is as easy as ensuring that your skin care routine includes cleansing. The icon of great skin, Halle Berry, says that, above all, cleansing your face at least twice a day – as well as moisturizing – is essential for a natural glow. Berry also says to use fruit acid cleaning solutions to exfoliate and get rid of dead cells that can dull your skin's appearance.
Up next: Cate Blanchetts's skin secret >>
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Moisturize
Cate Blanchett may be considered one celebrity who can defy all the beauty rules. She always appears luminous, even though she's constantly pressed for time, in her 40s, and a mother of three! While Blanchett has been the spokesperson for the skin care line, SK-II, finding a good moisturizer doesn't have to be expensive. Don't go with the fads, but instead find something that works and stick with it.
Up next: Beyonce's skin secret >>
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Add shimmer
To finish off the healthy, beautiful skin look, add a touch of shimmer or bronzer. Beyoncé not only has a beautiful voice, but beautiful skin. In an interview with "Elle" magazine, Beyoncé revealed the secret that she claims gives her body and skin a velvety sheen, "I layer on bronzers for public appearances." Aside from giving a sexy golden brown look, bronzing your skin also can balance unequal skin pigmentation, conceal blemishes and spider veins, and produce the illusion of reduced cellulite leading to a more toned appearance.
Healthy skin isn't just for Hollywood stars – with a few simple skincare tips, you can enjoy star-worthy skin everyday.
Cate Blanchett has signed up to join the cast of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.
Cate Blanchett will be returning to her role of the ethereal elf Galadriel in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien classic The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings.
Galadriel doesn't appear in The Hobbit novel, leaving many to wonder how Jackson's adaptation will work her into the script.
Variety reports The Hobbit will be split into two parts, with both parts filmed back-to-back in February.
Jackson said he was excited to work with Blanchett again. "Cate is one of my favorite actors to work with and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films."
Other cast members of The Hobbit are Ken Stott , Sylvester McCoy , Mikael Persbrandt , Ryan Gage , Jed Brophy and William Kircher .
The film has release dates for December 2012 and December 2013 with New Line and MGM co-producing the anticipated flick.
James Franco and Anne Hathaway host the Academy Awards February 27 and a bevy of Hollywood's stars will be there. After the red carpet fun, Oscar nominees and former winners will take the stage as presenters, the winners will be announced and Gwyneth Paltrow, A.R. Rahman and Florence Welch, Zachary Levi, Mandy Moore and Alan Menken as well as Randy Newman are set to perform.
Hollywood Boulevard has been closed for days in preparation for this Sunday's 83rd annual Academy Awards. The big night at the Kodak Theatre promises red carpet glam, bright lights, gold statues and, hopefully, short thank you speeches. With rain in the forecast, we might also see some umbrellas!
The preview spots featuring hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway"in training" suggest 2011's Oscar night could be a goofy good time, but we can also expect some serious stars and performers to take the stage.
Original Song nominee A.R. Rahman teams up with Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine, to perform If I Rise from 127 Hours.
Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore will perform I See the Light from Tangled, accompanied on piano by Alan Menken, who is nominated for writing the music for the song.
Randy Newman will perform his nominated song We Belong Together from Toy Story 3.
The Academy Awards will air live on ABC Sunday, February 27, 2011, starting at 5 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. EST.
Many Oscar parties start with the red carpet. E!'s Live from the Red Carpet starts two hours before showtime, while ABC's Oscar's Red Carpet Live starts an hour before showtime.
The 2011 Academy Awards aired Sunday and, as we all know, it's the biggest night of the year in Hollywood. As usual, celebrities brought their A-game to the red carpet.
Purple reigned on the red carpet
Jennifer Hudson stole the show with her seductive tangerine gown and Helena Bonham Carter looked stunning in black , but the color of the night was clearly purple.
Blanchett's pale lavender Givenchy Couture gown was stunning. At first glance, the yellow pearls and "who's the fairest of them all" mirror-like front were a little odd, but they totally grew on me. And yes, Cate was the fairest of them all.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis looked like she might have been pulling a Lil' Kim with those purple pasties covering her bust area, but she looked super sexy and young and fresh in her lavender lace and silk organza gown by Elie Saab Haute Couture.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson, newly single, looked like she was on the prowl in her skin tight, bra-baring, see-through purple lace Dolce & Gabbana gown.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams was a miss in this Grimace get up. I liked the dress alone, but the green bracelet and long necklace looked tacky and did not go with the deep-violet, sparkly cap sleeve dress by L'Wren Scott.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman looked subdued and elegant in a flowy, baby bump covering, deep-purple off-the-shoulder silk chiffon gown by Rodarte.
The red carpet of the Oscars 2011 promised glam and glitter – and it delivered! From lovely lavender dresses to high fashion looks, find out how you can copy the red carpet style of our favorite celebrities Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz and Cate Blanchett.
Natalie Portman
Pregnant Natalie Portman was glowing at the 2011 Oscars in a Rodarte Violet Silk Chiffon Draped Gown embellished with Swarovski crystals, black strappy Jimmy Choo shoes, Tiffany & Co. jewelry and a Roger Vivier clutch. Portman, who won Best Actress for Black Swan, wore her hair down with soft curls.
Red carpet replica
For pregnant moms who love Natalie's Oscar look, check out the Violet Silk maternity Dress from Seraphine. This silk dress features angel sleeves and an empire waist that flatter your new curves. For non-pregnant women, the Laundry by Shelli Segal Strapless Charmeuse Gown has a beautiful sweetheart bust with a figure flattering bodice in a beautiful lavender color.
Natalie's fun accessories
Natalie's jewelry, including these gold and purple fringe earrings, accented her purple dress perfectly. The Juicy Couture Laurel Canyon Fringe Hoop Earrings have the same elegant feel of Natalie's ear sparklers. They feature gold, silver and purple tones, as well as shining rhinestones. The Black Swan actress carries a gold clutch, similar to this Steven by Steve madden Sequined Box Clutch from Nordstrom.
Black strappy heels
Natalie finishes off her Oscar red carpet look with strappy heels, similar to these Calvin Klein Wynne Black Peralized Reptile Print heels from Zappos. Pregnant moms-to-be often have to buy shoes a half size larger than their pre-pregnancy size – and should take caution when wearing high heels.
Next page: New mom Penelope Cruz makes first red carpet appearance
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Penelope Cruz
New mom Penelope Cruz stepped out on the red carpet only one month after giving birth to her son Leo Encinas Cruz. She showed off her new curves in a red and gold L'Wren Scott dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Chopard jewelry. She walked the red carpet in support of her husband, Javier Bardem, who is up for Best Actor for Biutiful.
{headlineRed carpet replicaThis Dave and Johnny Mini Dress features an embellished bustline and bodice in a fiery red color that is sure to turn heads. For a longer version, check out the Sequined Bodice Maxi Evening Dress by Interlude . This multi layered dress features a gold and red sequined bust and a flowing skirt.
Gold earrings
Penelope wore long gold earrings that perfectly sets off the gold tones in her dress. Copy her look with these beautiful Woernle gold drop earrings, featuring faux diamonds and cool hanging chains.
Strappy metallic shoes
These Animal Print Ocelot D&G heels from Zappos are the perfect pairing with Penelope's red and gold dress. They are sequin-covered and feature a sexy peep toe – perfect for the red carpet.
Next page: Cate Blanchett's high fashion Oscar look
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Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett is never afraid to take risks on the red carpet, and her look at the 2011 Oscars was eye catching and fashion forward. Blanchett wore a light lavender Givency Couture dress with pearl details and yellow detailing on the front band back. She accessorized her dress with jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels.
Red carpet replica:
To copy Cate's high fashion style, look for dresses with an interesting neckline that contain eye-catching details. This Vintage Evening Dress by Mignon features an embellished neckline, jeweled belt at the waistline and is a beautiful pale lavender pink color.
Golden girl
Cate accessorizes her look with delicate gold jewelry with pearls, such as these Alai flower earrings from Aldo. These delicate earrings feature glass stone detail and a faux pearl.
This feminine gold bracelet from Aldo features detailed metal roses and would add just the right amount of glimmer at your wrist. The rose design will compliment your earrings and the overall romantic feel of the dress.
Hanna is Saoirse Ronan in so many ways. The young actress is astounding as the title character in Joe Wright’s latest film and she sat down with SheKnows for an exclusive video interview to talk about what should be her breakout role into stardom.
Saoirse Ronan first garnered audience attention with her scene-stealing role in Atonement . The young starlet has wowed in City of Ember, The Lovely Bonesopposite Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg, and in this year's The Way Back from director Peter Weir starring Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess and Colin Farrell.
In Hanna, Ronan begins her journey as a young teenager living with her father Erik in the snow-covered forest in an unidentified remote location. Erik is training Hanna in all matters of self defense, survival and also the cultural knowledge necessary to quietly slip in and out of foreign countries without notice.
Hannais also a coming-of-age story where the main character faces an unknown future, although possessed with the knowledge to control and destroy it.
We found Saoirse Ronan incredibly affable and mature way beyond her 16 years. She dishes what it was like to play a highly trained teenage assassin and why she and director Wright are quietly forming a Martin Scorsese-Leonardo DiCaprio type of working relationship with Hanna being their second film together.
Hanna is unlike anything you have ever seen before. As filmed by director Joe Wright, the movie is a visual marvel. Add a stunning performance by its lead -- Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan -- and powerful turns by Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett, and audiences have the first really great film of 2011.
Saoirse Ronan is for real. The promise she showed in Atonement, The Lovely Bones and City of Ember has come to fruition with a riveting performance that deserves her getting Oscar attention once again. Hannais her movie. From top to bottom, Ronan carries the film with a strength that is decades beyond her 16 years.
When the film commences, Hanna is being raised by her father Erik in a remote forest. It is clear from the opening moments that the teenage girl is being trained to be a vicious assassin. Soon after, audiences learn why this girl's world is all-encompassed with learning the tools to survive when being attacked from all sides.
Hanna's mother was killed under questionable circumstances. Erik took Hanna far away to ensure her survival, but also to allow her to fully gestate the tools necessary to endure when the people behind her mother's killing will stop at nothing until Hanna meets the same fate.
Like any teenager, Hanna reaches a point where she is ready to scour the landscape of life beyond the safe and homely four walls that her father has provided. It is there that the madness that is Hanna takes off.
The performance of Eric Bana is so complex. On one hand, he is a father, who knows what fate is awaiting his daughter. On the other hand, we learn that he has a past that may or may not have brought on the death of Hanna's mother. Bana's character knows all too well the ferocious danger that awaits his daughter and has raised her with just enough love to enrich her life, but not too much, so that when it comes time to cut the cord and send Hanna to her fateful confrontation with those who wish her ill, he is able to let her go without remorse.
Cate Blanchett is at her steely best. Blanchett is a government operative of some sort who, when she discovers Hanna is alive, pulls out all the stops to get to her ASAP. Along the way, Blanchett shows a motherly nature through her driven spy persona which causes the audience to almost feel for her plight. We don't know why she is seeking Hanna or what she will do once she has her in her possession, but one thing remains clear: Her world has come to a screeching halt in an all-out effort to find Hanna.
Sharply cut action sequences, shots of remarkable martial arts as exhibited by Ronan, and impeccable performances from a stellar cast worthy of the script by Seth Lochhead and that is why, although early, we are calling Hanna the best film of 2011 .
Finally, the score of the film is by the techno kings, the Chemical Brothers. Director Joe Wright has taken all the puzzle pieces of a cunning thriller and molded a breathtaking vision of international intrigue as seen through the eyes of one truly special 16-year-old girl.
Joe Wright, after taking the period piece route with Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, has taken his place among the best at directing crisp and unforgettable thrillers with his work on Hanna.
For Hanna, Joe Wright has reunited with his star from Atonement, Saoirse Ronan.
He could not have chosen a better actress to play the 16-year-old who knows nothing of life other than being trained as an assassin by her father in the remote woods of Europe.
The film also stars Cate Blanchett as the woman pursuing Hanna and her father Erik, played by Eric Bana.
Wright has produced a stunningly visual piece of moviemaking nirvana with Hanna.
Each shot of the film has been planned to the "T" with utter precision and purpose.
Watching Hanna, yes it is Ronan's film to shine in, but without Wright's keen eye for suspense, visual presentation and power, Hanna could be a run of the mill thriller. Instead, it is pure perfection.
The Artist, The Help, The Descendants… oh my! We could only be talking about the 84th Annual Academy Awards. As we prepare for the star-studded red carpet event complete with drop-dead gorgeous gowns, flawless makeup and most importantly, striking hair, we check in again with hair extraordinaire, Philip B, for his hairstyle predictions of the night. He also hints at who he is most excited to see this year and how to get the looks of some of our favorite stars.
star style
A-list glamour
The Artist, The Help, The Descendants… oh my! We could only be talking about the 84th Annual Academy Awards. As we prepare for the star-studded red carpet event complete with drop-dead gorgeous gowns, flawless makeup and most importantly, striking hair, we check in again with hair extraordinaire, Philip B, for his hair predictions of the night. He also hints at who he is most excited to see this year and how to get the looks of some of our favorite stars.
SheKnows: What do you predict will be the biggest hair trends of the night?
Philip B: Sculpted bombshell waves in platinum blonde or tousled, not-too-polished waves . Both styles look amazing in combination with detailed couture dresses.
SheKnows: What stars are you most excited to see on the carpet?
Philip B:Cate Blanchett. She is a great role model for the easy, natural hair look, which contrasts so beautifully with her polished, avant-garde style.
Gwyneth Paltrow. Her long, sleek hair is always perfect with her Calvin Klein gowns. Natalie Portman. Can't wait to see her post-pregnancy look. Jennifer Hudson. So beautiful and talented, and her new figure looks amazing.
I'm also excited to see young, up-and-coming stars like Hailee Steinfeld and Dakota and Elle Fanning. The two sisters are big Rodarte fans and, like me, love super-shiny, healthy, natural-looking hair!
SheKnows: What was your favorite hair look at the Oscars last year?
Philip B: I love the look of sexy, flawless waves. At last year's ceremony, Kate Beckinsale and Mila Kunis both wore them in loose, modern updos that telegraphed sophistication and drama in a youthful way.
SheKnows: How can you easily get this look?
Philip B: This look is surprisingly easy to achieve with the right styling products.
Flip your head upside down, rake through the curls with your fingertips, and set them with Philip B. Jet Set Hair Spray.
Lift your hair into a loose, high ponytail, pulling it halfway through an elastic band to create a loop.
Pull out a few pieces around your face to create a soft effortless look, and wrap one piece around the hair elastic and pin it in place.
Finish with another light misting of hairspray and you're ready for the red carpet!
SheKnows: Since they were your favorites, what do you want to see Kate and Mila rock this year?
Philip B: They both have gorgeous hair. Kate is kind of aristocratic, so she looks wonderful in updated versions of classic Hollywood hairdos, like a tousled high bun or chignon or bouncy ponytail. Mila's hair looks great when she wears it pin-straight and center-parted, and she has a beautiful face for that kind of '70s look. But I really love the look of sexy, flawless waves, so I'd be happy to see that look again, too!
Don't forget to watch the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. EST, and check back right after for our list of the best and worst hair looks of the night.
Cate Blanchett loves directing plays, but directing films? That's another matter entirely. See why that's one job that is not in the cards for her, and what one role she would kill to play.
Cate Blanchett passes easily between films and her first love, her job as artistic director at the Sydney Theatre Company, but the actress said directing another film is not something that appeals to her.
In an interview appearing in the April issue of Harper's Bazaar UK, Blanchett said she simply has no patience for the long delays filmmakers face from studios.
"There is a film I'd love to direct, but I just don't know if I've got the patience," she told the magazine.
"In theatre, you can have an idea and get on with it. In film, you hear of people sitting on an idea for eight years, by which time the idea has changed and evolved and become something else."
While she's waiting, there is one role she would kill to play: The villain in a James Bond film.
"Oh God! Yes! I'd be there in a heartbeat," she said.
"I love Lotte Lenya [the bad girl in 1963's From Russia with Love]. She had a club foot and a limp. I'm not a purist in that way."
Meanwhile, her husband Andrew Upton just wants her to clean the house.
"My husband went through a phase of giving me vacuum cleaners, sewing machines and Mixmasters," Blanchett explained. "It's ironic. He is encouraging me to develop a hobby, I think."
"An actress once advised me, 'Make sure you do your own laundry -- it will keep you honest.'"
Read the entire interview with Cate Blanchett in the April issue of Harper's Bazaar UK, available March 1.
Cate Blanchett is more of an old-fashioned gal when it comes to her beauty regimen than known as one to jump into any trends. However, there is a limit to how far she's willing to go!
Cate Blanchett will not be caught with a freakish Botox face. The actress has shied away from modern-day beauty fixes in favor of decades and centuries old tricks for a flawless face -- but there is one traditional treatment even she considers going too far.
"I use essential oil, like emu oil. [Yes, that's emu like the bird.] In indigenous Australian culture, that's the first oil they put on a baby because it's so hydrating. If you've got sunburn or you've got a scar or something it's incredible. And papaw ointment."
"Usually it's 'don't do this' and it's usually from women who have done it. Don't curl your eyelashes, and don't overpluck your eyebrows. There are certain things I won't do. I think blue eye shadow should only be applied by professionals."
"I do the old glass of lemon juice in water in the morning. It just keeps your system going. I think it's like people who get into colonic therapy — there's a logic behind it. The French have been doing it, the Egyptians did it."
At age 42 the actress looks fantastic thanks to her willingness to borrow a bit of beauty wisdom from here and there, though she does draw one firm line in the sand. "There are certain things in ancient practices that [I won't do]," Cate Blanchett pointed out. "I'm not going to bathe in my own urine."
Aside from a soak in mellow yellow the mother of three also won't go under the plastic surgery knife. "There's been a decade or so of people doing intervention with their face and their body. Now that we're emerging from that people are seeing that long term it's not so great," Cate Blanchett shared of her plastic surgery views.
"I'm not sitting on a soapbox telling women what they should and shouldn't do, but I know what works for me. I'd just be too frightened about what it means long term. In the end if you have all that stuff done… in the end you just see the work. It doesn't fill me with admiration, it fills me with pity."
Do you agree with Cate Blanchett's list of beauty dos and don'ts?
Looks that transcend time and place are enviable and make the rest of us wonder why we bother even getting out of bed in the morning. These women look incredible whether they're on today’s red carpet or playing a last-century character. Here are a few of them…
Her face is angular and delicious, as Sprockets from SNL would say. Her cheekbones look genetically engineered and it’s just not right that her lips, chest and her a** are voluptuous. Where’s the justice in that? There isn’t any. When you can put a checkmark by every beauty feature that women covet the world over, you can play any role, from any time period. In fact, you can sit in front of a movie camera for two hours, do nothing, and it would still be a blockbuster. Scarlett proved this in The Other Boleyn Girl when she made all of us wish that floor-length bodice-busters would come back in style. Oh well. Maybe she has a large, unsightly, hairy mole on her back or perhaps she has an extra toe. We can only hope.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Guinevere, oh Guinevere. Even Gywneth’s name has a medieval royalty ring to it. With her lithe figure and her natural, makeup-free beauty , she's another effortless beauty who can play the girl next door or William Shakespeare’s love. “It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.” Whatever the hell that means. All we know is Gwyneth was meant for the big screen — yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Kate Winslet
We don’t know if it’s the British accent, the perfectly oval face, the porcelain skin or that romance-novel red ringlets she used to wear that gave Kate such a Victorian aura. Whatever it is, she looks like she should be ruling a kingdom of adoring subjects. We will forever love her for her sassy portrayal of Rose from The Titanic, especially when she popped off and said, “I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me,” and “Oh stop it, Mother. You’ll give yourself a nosebleed.” That’s our Kate — feisty and forever fabulous.
Cate Blanchett
This Cate transcends time and place with her doe-eyed, highbrow loveliness. Long hair, short hair, blonde hair, red hair — it matters not what Cate does, she never loses her regal and supreme queenly countenance. Let’s hope casting directors for the next Phillipa Gregory movie remember Cate when it’s time to hire cinematic royalty.
The three Hobbit films will be released within two years of each other, and the first one is just a few months from hitting theaters.
It is still almost three months until the release of the first movie in The Hobbit trilogy, but today the latest look into the film was released. The two-and-a-half-minute trailer features many characters and even shares a little more information about Gollum's role in the film.
The three films are based on "J.R.R. Tolkien's book and 125 pages of appendices that the author included in a later publication of [the] final Lord Of The Rings installment, The Return Of The King,” said Deadline.com. Peter Jackson and crew announced in July that the story would play out over three films instead of the two they had originally planned. The first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is set in Middle Earth 60 years before the Lord of the Rings story begins, and will debut in theaters Dec. 14 of this year.
The film's main character is a curious hobbit named Bilbo Baggins . It chronicles his journey "to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug,” said the Internet Movie Database.
The trailer sets up the plot and introduces us to the goals the various characters have in pursuing their quest. It features many actors recognizable from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, including Elijah Wood as Frodo, Andy Serkis as Gollum, Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel.
The second and third films in the trilogy will be released within the next two years, with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug set to be released Dec. 13, 2013 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again set to be released July 18, 2014. Today's trailer release is the first look at the movie since the original trailer was released in December.
The original The Hobbit book was published in 1937. Author J.R.R. Tolkien passed away in 1973.
Oops... even celebrities get it wrong sometimes! We're telling you why Cate Blanchett and Lea Michele's fashions fell short in our weekly feature. Learn from the stars' sartorial slip ups!
The crazy photo print reminds us of a scrapbooking project gone seriously awry, while the raised studs on the neckline and hemline look like Braille. We're betting if you were to read this dress, it'd say "please throw me away."
She topped off her look with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels and a black clutch. Cate usually has great style sense, but we can't think of anyone who could pull off a dress this busy.
The final verdict? Like we said, there's no saving this dress. However, it does show off Cate's amazingly svelte shape, so at least there's that.
Lea Michele
We see London, we see France, we see Lea Michele's underpants! Here's the Glee starlet hitting the white carpet at the very same event. Lea has been amping up her sexy side as of late, but this look just makes us feel uncomfortable.
She chose a Brian Zimmerman see-through dress which she wore over the top of a bustier and hotpants, showing off all of her legs. We get it, Lea... you're all grown up and you're so not like your goody two shoes character Rachel Berry, but it's nice to leave a little to the imagination sometimes.
The final verdict? Lea should stop trying so hard to be a sex symbol. She's pretty and talented as it is. You don't need to try and shock us with your risque ensembles. Leave that to Lady Gaga.
Star Cate Blanchett is negotiating with Disney for a role in the live-action update of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. She will play Cinderella's evil stepmother.
Cate Blanchett is an evil stepmom. Or she will be, anyway, when Disney's Cinderella update hits the big screen.
Details on the deal, and on the film itself, are fuzzy, but Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Blanchett is "in talks" to take on the role of Cinderella's evil stepmother in the live-action adaptation now in development at the studio.
Former children will remember that Cinderella's evil stepmother sets the plot of the fairy tale in motion by refusing to let Cinderella attend the prince's ball, hoping that her own difficult and plain daughters will catch the royal's eye.
It's unclear if the Cinderella adaptation will faithfully follow the lines of Disney's 1950 animated Cinderella. But since buzzworthy indie director Mark Romanek is directing from a script touched up by interesting writer Chris Weitz, the smart money says this Cinderella will find something new to say about one of the most passive heroines of fairy-tale lore.
Scribe Weitz has had what /Film calls "an incredibly varied and interesting career." He's worked as both writer and director on excellent, polar opposite movies like About a Boy and American Pie. He also directed interesting failures like The Golden Compass and the second movie in the Twilight series, The Twilight Saga: New Moon .
Weitz was the second one to get his hands on the Cinderella script. The original idea for a Cinderella "re-imagining" came from Aline Brosh McKenna, who also wrote The Devil Wears Prada. Huh. We like that movie, too.
Universal is reportedly developing a rival Cinderella project written by Ann Peacock, who penned The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Universal seems to like competitive fairy tale projects: its Snow White and the Huntsman was being developed at the same time as Mirror, Mirror back in 2011.
Fairy tale retakes are currently hot both on television and at the cinema, with upcoming movies like Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters and Jack the Giant Slayer set for imminent release.
A
classic tale told the Russell Crowe way
Robin's rights
Robin's wrongs
SheKnows: Did you have any apprehensions or nerves working with Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, considering their long relationship?
Cate Blanchett: You've got somebody who is returning to, kind of, an old fashioned type of values, morals, responsibility and loyalty. I think they're quite noble sentiments to have in an age of merchant bankers ripping people off left, right and center. It's quite timely, I think.
Sunscreen
Diet and exercise
The importance of cleansing
Moisturize
Add shimmer
Keira Knightley
Scarlett Johansson
Gwyneth Paltrow
Kate Winslet
Cate Blanchett
