Eccentric primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) finds her calling among the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda in the wildlife-rich biopic Gorillas in the Mist (1988, Michael Apted). Weaver received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for her performance. Some original reviews:
“As the anthropologist Dian Fossey, Sigourney Weaver storms into a large hotel restaurant in central Africa, stalks the length of the room, delivers a strident tongue-lashing to a Dutch zoo broker who’s having lunch with his friends, and, cursing loudly, makes her exit — all the while carrying a good-sized baby gorilla in her arms, holding it tenderly, with awe. Weaver’s physical strength alone is inspiring in this movie, and there’s a new freedom in her acting. She’s so vivid that you immediately feel Dian Fossey’s will and drive. Weaver’s Dian is ecstatic when she steps off the plane in Africa, and she’s enraptured when she’s perched high up on a mountain, crouched down opposite a giant gorilla, mimicking his language and gestures from the inside — trying to think the way he does. Weaver is something to see.” — Pauline Kael, Movie Love(1988)
“Weaver is going for broke these days. A new fearlessness has entered her acting — she’ll inhabit a part if it kills her. In roles that require steeliness, obsession, and a thin skin, she has flourished, and she has held on to her sense of absurdity; she isn’t afraid to look foolish. As Dian Fossey, she is magnificent… Gorillas in the Mist views Fossey as a ferocious saint, martyr, and mad-woman, a sort of Joan of Apes; Weaver gets deep inside Fossey’s obsession — her fury becomes contagious… To make the gorillas comfortable with her, she tries to adopt their mannerisms; watching her lope, scratch, and screech, you sense what makes her special as an actress — she’s game for anything. Fossey and Weaver converge here: This could be how Weaver trains for a part. Eventually, Fossey’s identification with the gorillas becomes total… Weaver’s visage even grows more apelike — the jaw becomes fuller, lumpier. More important, she’s thinking like a gorilla. She adopts their mannerisms because they make sense to her — they’re the most efficient way to express her rage. (It’s lucky that the filmmakers didn’t cast a more technically flamboyant actress, because then the metamorphosis might seem a joke.)” — David Edelstein, Village Voice (October 1988)
It was another great Galaxycon panel, and one that Jenna was able to join! Jenna Coleman, Arthur Darvill, and Alex Kingston got to answer some fun and interesting questions today, including one about how they would decorate the Tardis. They all agree that a Portaloo would be a great idea. Arthur loved the idea so much that he actually took some notes!
Jenna said iguana, Arthur said parrot, Alex can see David Tennant’s doctor with a persian cat
Jenna was jealous that Arthur and Alex (I think?) got to film in New York. Then talk turned to shooting locations that make great vacation spots
When the question was first asked- Arthur: Jenna you took all the good ones!! Their answers were Cleopatra for Jenna, Jim Henson for Arthur, Eleanor Roosevelt for Alex
You know his American accent isn’t horrific.
I would be down with my lovely Arthur Darvill as Jim Henson.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the iconic sex therapist and subject of the recent documentary Ask Dr. Ruth, turns 91 years old today. The documentary premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and in it Dr. Ruth tells her incredible story with a candidness and charm unsurprising to anyone familiar with her famous radio show Sexually Speaking. The film also delves into her personal trauma of being orphaned by the Holocaust at 10 years old and how that led to a lifelong passion for helping others. Ask Dr. Ruth is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
One of the best thing that ever exist is friendship. I don’t know how this world will operate without kindness and love from someone you’re not intimately attracted with but unconditionally in love. Things might have been different but it’s not that you can predicts things. Destiny is still the ruler. I love how it always portray that scientists do not believe in God because that’s the beauty of diversity in cultures and belief, the beauty of respect and acceptance and the beauty of living in this world. Ramanujan must have been given a talent and intelligence that anyone could think impossible but because he believed on what he’s believing, he pursued his own dreams and did whatever it takes to share his part. Mr. Hardy and Littlewood are our great friends who just made me cry, made number 1729 meaningful than I could ever imagined. The wife and the mother who patiently waited for him. This film, though didn’t cater how every equations went. I just want to say that it is for the good of all, jk. Because even if they’ll tell it to us we won’t understand haha. Math complicate matters but it’s helpful to those who want to learn.
Firstly, I hate science. I came to watch this because of the romance I’m spoiled a long time ago with no proper clearance of their backstory. I am devastated. This made me think of what I’m doing today that I will probably regret later or tomorrow. Imagine of those possibilities if she didn’t interfere to his life, would he still be as great as his legacy today? Or would he still pursue his dreams but not with her? There are millions or even billions of scenario that could come up with a different result but with much and overflowing understanding they still came to a conclusion where they chose different paths because they got tired and lost. They remained friends but I’m still in awe of how things turned out, on how fate beautifully pushed and pulled them apart.
“You only know what it is to win when you’ve got everything to lose…”
Will Smith plays the true rebel of the 20th century as a man unafraid, but just that—a man. The enigma around his legend, his larger-than-life status, it all means nothing without a real human being at its center. Mann’s camera work here is impeccable as always. The opening fight sequence alone is pure, ultra-fluid Mann, creating silence in the air of the roaring crowds and calling immediate attention the galvanizing fight choreography, which is swift, balletic, and brutal, just as it should be. Boxing has never felt so raw and real on film, partly because every punch is more than just a punch but a blow to the establishment. The most important thing about doing Ali’s life justice is to avoid focusing on any one area. An extraordinary life is a series of meaningful vignettes, all filmed like fragmented images in a dream. Mann decides to forgo any narrative or biopic convention for an episodic series of events that shaped not only Ali but the world we live in today. Smith’s performance is staggering, completely disappearing into the role of a lifetime. The rest of the cast is duly committed, especially Jon Voight, giving one of the decade’s most impressive physical transformations as Howard Cosell. It must be said, I’m starting to become fairly convinced this is one of the best biopics of the 2000s and one of Michael Mann’s finest visual achievements.
A biopic about Def Leppard should absolutely be made. Their journey as a band is seriously like no other. They all come from troubling backgrounds and the drummer became disabled after a car accident but he still continued playing for the band!!! If this wasn’t already enough, their songs are inspirational and have important messages behind all of them. They had to deal with a death of a band member which would have been heartbreaking.
In conclusion, their story would make a really interesting movie.
