You can’t lose much by making “star is born” pronouncements. If you’re right, you get to brag about your stunning foresight, and if you’re wrong — hey, nobody remembers anyway.
But back in October last year, as I watched stunning young French ingenue Léa Seydoux illuminate Christophe Honoré’s lovely, woozy teen romance “La Belle Personne,” I was convinced there and then that I was seeing a major talent in the making. The César voters agreed, nominating her for Most Promising Actress. (The film, which you may remember I liked a great deal, got a limited U.S. release over a fortnight ago — catch it if you can.)
So I was excited to see her name pop up on yesterday’s press release for Ridley Scott’s as-yet-untitled Robin Hood venture. My guess is the role won’t amount to much — but hey, Marion Cotillard did her time as eye candy in a Scott film (let’s not name it, shall we?) a little over two years ago, and she’s doing all right for herself these days.
Seydoux will also be seen shortly in “Inglourious Basterds.” The girl’s going places, I tell you.
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9 responses to “Watch this face”
I like to talk about the Oscar, and after I saw the trailer of “The boat that Rocked”, I really don´t think that Philip Seymour Hoffman will be nominated. He can be good, but not fot the Oscars.
I agree with you, but what’s that got to do with the article?
Nothing, Guy, but I nedeed to say that.lol
She’s pretty, I’ll give you that. Thanks for giving me something to put on the Netflix queue.
Also, agreed about “next big thing” proclamations essentially being can’t lose. I’m batting 50% myself. Ellen Page was a winner. Unfortunately, Evan Rachel Wood was an utter fucking disaster. (Every time I think of Wood, I get a little sad. So much talent wasted on such a terrible human being.)
Still waiting before making verdicts on Amber Tamblyn and Kristen Stewart. (No, I don’t count “Twilight.”)
Disaster? Terrible human being? A bit harsh, no?
Personally, I think Wood’s career is looking pretty healthy these days. “The Wrestler” was a step in the right direction, and getting the lead in a Woody Allen project (however the film turns out) never hurt anyone.
Maybe a bit harsh, Guy, but I really think she has revealed herself to have a rather atrocious personality. Then again, people are harder on those from whom they expected great things than they are on those for whom they didn’t have any expectations in the first place.
I mean, she was so perfect on “Once and Again.” Here was this beautiful, sensitive 13-year-old effortlessly acting circles around a cast that wasn’t exactly deadweight. She was a revelation. And I won’t bore everyone by going into details, but the last decade has seen her go from “sparkling young talent” to “pretentious mess.”
The talent is still there, although it’s dimmed somewhat. And I agree with you that her career is looking quite healthy lately (even if she was the worst part of “The Wrestler,” IMO).
But I was predicting multiple Oscars and Jodie Foster success. It would be like if Michael Jordan tore his ACL in college and went on to have a solid NBA career. Healthy, yes, but still ridiculously disappointing.
I see listings for various NINE women but none for Cotillard for either PUBLIC ENEMIES or NINE. Never count Mlle. Cotillard out of ANY award, as last year proved. Certainly PUBLIC ENEMIES will take care of the “Marion who?” crowd, starting in July, while NINE has been moved up to Thanksgiving.
“Never count Mlle. Cotillard out of ANY award, as last year proved.”
Your phrasing makes it sound like she’s been in the awards race numerous times. Anyway, nobody was counting her out last year.
Saoirse Ronan is definately the next big actress. She has a good chance at becoming a 2-time oscar nominee at 15 years old. And she was actually supposed to play the part that Lea Seydoux has in Robin Hood but dropped out to do Peter Weir’s The Way Back.