Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman will pair up on the big screen in a romantic comedy that the actors also will co-produce, Variety reported Wednesday.
The film will be an adaptation of the book "Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry," Variety reported."
Moving along..Just a small plug for my friend "YKT"'s new blog: www.gakky.org
Sorry for the long pause in the updates. If you're here looking for ''nude pics'' or caps of Natalie Portman from Hotel Chevalier, I'm sorry to say that you'll find zilch except the below pic:
Well, it's been 3 years since my first update back on October 21, 2004, and 10 years since I booked a flight from Seattle to New York City to see Natalie Portman's Broadway debut in "The Diary of Anne Frank." I recall that I booked the flight sometime in late October 1997 (10 years ago) and I saw Natalie Portman live on stage in December 1997.
More about that experience, can be found at natalieportman.com's ''Interview With the Staff / JC'' at www.natalieportman.com/npcom.php?page_number=69. Yes, I served as a staff at natalieportman.com before I got married et al.
My sporadic updates may be attributed in part to the fact that married life et al. has taken up lots of time, hence do visit natalieportman.com for the very latest news and Cal's Natalie Portman Online Biography Blog for her unique and very special insights on news et al. about Nat!
On this 3rd Anniversary of Natalie Portman . Org, my thanks to Cal, Sonoyta, Dazza, Kris, Sanjiro, Bob, Pip, Andy, hazyblur and all the good folks at the sites listed below:
Q: ''What's with the no caps (lowercase) and 2 periods (..) in JC's OLD updates (circa 2004 to 2005)?'' A: ''It's a tribute to JC's friend ''hazyblur'' who updated/posted online this way. He had Natalie Portman related sites while studying at Rice University, Texas.'' Speaking of Natalie Portman related sites, do visit Cal's lovely blog at natalieportman.cc and check out the various buttons ABOVE which are links to Nat related sites. Do also visit natalieportman.com, natalieempire and imdb for more links.
Just 'wanna' say to everyone this line from the film ''Beautiful Girls'': ''Stay cool, stay cool forever!!''
First up, Natalie Portman . Org would like to come to her defence on her 26th Birthday today!!
Natalie Portman did NOT snub anyone, NOT Kevin Spacey, NOT George Lucas (Star Wars celebration) et al.
What's up with the British media lately?! What's up with their obsession with the word ''snub''??
Actor/theatre director KEVIN SPACEY has reportedly suffered an embarrassing snub - NATALIE PORTMAN has turned down a chance to perform in his new stage play. The Usual Suspects star reportedly wanted Portman to star in his stage adaptation of Pedro Almodovar's movie All About My Mother at London's Old Vic theatre - but she had to turn it down because of her busy schedule, according to British newspaper The Independent. A spokesperson for the production declined to comment, but stressed casting is "ongoing" and "no actors have been confirmed yet."
It's clear Nat turned down the West End UK role ''because of her busy schedule.''
This is true and is NOT an excuse!! According to various reports from reputable news outlets such as Newsweek, Natalie is currently touring Asia and will be travelling to Africa as part of her FINCA work.
So clearly she can't travel to West End, UK for auditions, and/or any Star Wars event at this time!!
Ok, moving along, amazon.com is offering the "Goya's Ghosts" DVD. Link and details available at my post on June 7th at the AQMB.
Speaking on June 7th, the following appeared at nypost.com on June 7th:
It's possible that Natalie Portman is closer to becoming a full-time Manhattan resident (when she's not in Hollywood) after putting her Sea Cliff, L.I., house up for sale. She's asking $2.2 million for her seven-room shingled home of five years. But brokers in the area say she may have to settle for less if she's a motivated buyer. The quaint residence has three bedrooms, 21/2 baths and a pool. It also has great views overlooking the harbor. It is being listed by the quaint Sherlock Holmes brokerage.
Thanks to natalieportman.com's 'Head Honcho,' Dazza and AQMB Registered User, Eve29473 for news about Nat sightings in China.
Here's the find by Eve29473:
Original link: shanghaidaily It is too bad we didn't pop in for a nightcap on Nanchang Road afterwards as "Star Wars" vixen Natalie Portman was spotted enjoying the ambience at Yin Yang.
In other news, Nat's movie ''Free Zone'' was released yesterday. You can purchase it at amazon.com et al..
AQMB Registered User, ''Angry Liberal'' posted this find:
I haven't seen this before. Amazon.com is offering three of Natalie's films in one celebrity pack. Go here.
BTW, over at AQMB, I post as ''JCar0801'' as JC was already taken. Trivia: the ''0801'' was the month and year I joined the AQMB = August 2001.
Just in case you missed the below mentioned, it's been bumped up:
Unable to catch ''Paris Je t'Aime'' at your ''neck of the woods?'' The DVD is now available at moviexclusive.com.
Please be reminded that yours truly (that's me, JC), Cal and Sonoyta do not earn a single cent from any merchants or ads. This includes the aforementioned amazon.com and moviexclusive.com.
LATEST: Actress Natalie Portman's publicist has fired back at reports the actress is upset she wasn't invited to attend the 30th anniversary celebrations of STAR WARS in Los Angeles. British tabloids ran with the story [.. on] 29 May 07, with Portman quoted as saying the apparent snub was "upsetting" as she would have loved to have been a part of the five-day Star Wars Celebration IV earlier this month (May07). But the 25-year-old actress' publicist insists the story is untrue, Portman was misquoted and she wouldn't have been able to attend the party even if she had been invited. The rep says, "Natalie wasn't even in the country... The story is false and all the quotes are made up."
Sadly, this isn't the first time Natalie Portman was misquoted by the media and the tabloids!
Speaking of out of the country, Newsweek mag's June 4, 2007 issue has a Q&A with Natalie Portman. Excerpt follows: "The actress has four movies out later this year--and she's going to Uganda for FINCA.."
Meanwhile, canada.com gives some background perspective about that music vid. Excerpt follows: "Paul McCartney snagged Natalie Portman to star in his new music video - thanks to his fashion designer-daughter, Stella." 3 cheers for Stella!!
Finally, Fred sent me an email regarding a Nat face transformation done using computer software from the University of St Andrews!
Hello, I came across this site where they took a photo of Natalie Portman and used special software to transform her face into different groups such as Afro-American and West-Asian. Of course, Natalie ends up looking great! Great site by the way! Fred
Thanks, Fred. Unlike most websites and blogs, I still use manual html updating for this website (using WordPad) = old 'skool' style = the 'hazy' era!!
Breaking news!! The music video where Natalie Portman appears in Paul McCartney's new album has just appeared on YouTube!!
This confirms the report which was noted in my update on May 5, 2007, way down below and follows up on my May 16, 2007 update below.
If you have flash enabled, the video should load below:
In other less time sensitive news, Richard Corliss and Mary Corliss of Time magazine raves about Nat's performance in ''My Blueberry Nights!!''
Excerpt follows:
Natalie Portman — Best Actress? Yup. For once she's not playing a waif or a child princess but a mature, full-bodied woman, probably a decade older than Portman is (25). She looks great, in a blond rinse and come-hither outfits..
Here's a pic from Time magazine:
Speaking of ''My Blueberry Nights,'' ajn.com.au reports thus:
The opening of the Cannes Festival last Wednesday night was a gala event with glamour and star power. Natalie Portman was loudly applauded as she took bows at the end of the opening night screening of her latest film, My Blueberry Nights, the first English-language feature film by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai..
Eh?! I thought she didn't go to the Cannes Film Festival this year?!
Although she was out of the country and unable to attend, Natalie's summer movie, My Blueberry Nights, premiered on opening night at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival..
Moving along, the New York Post explains why Nat had two Band-Aids on her left arm:
Natalie Portman had former model Nathan Bogle on her right arm and two Band-Aids on her left arm at the recent Lower Manhattan Cultural Council benefit at 7 World Trade Center. She'd gotten shots that day to prepare for a trip this summer to Africa..
Wow, theforce.net reported that Natalie Portman came in at numero uno (number one!!) = the most popular "Star Wars" related search term over the past 30 years, based on web user searches at Lycos..
And finally, something FINCA related, livinginperu.com has a pic and writeup re: ''Peru's top economist mingles with Hollywood actress Natalie Portman at an event held by the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International) in New York City.''
First up, earthtimes.org is confirming an earlier report (see my update on May 5, 2007 below) that Nat will appear in the music video for Paul McCartney's new album.
Excerpts follows:
iTunes Offers Exclusive Pre-Order of New Paul McCartney Album [..] the music video for the album's opening track "Dance Tonight" which stars Natalie Portman and was directed by acclaimed director Michel Gondry.
Whoa! According to this article, Nat will join Jack Hanna in Rwanda!
His plan is to return to Rwanda on June 19 to film a one-hour special for Discovery Channel with actress and animal-lover Natalie Portman
Congrats to Natalie Portman who won Best Actress for her portrayal of Evey Hammond in ''V for Vendetta'' at the 33rd Annual Saturn Awards! Visit saturnawards.org for the list of winners.
Since my last update, there has been a spade of Nat on the web 24/7, Nat ''lifecasting'' and so called Nat / ''Truman Show'' rumors, to which I say take it with way more than just a ''pinch of salt''!!
Ok, moving along, NYU Washington Square News reports that Nat was at NYU talking up FINCA and promoting her new documentary ''with director Juan Carlos Rulfo about workers in Mexico.''
Below is the pic of Nat at NYU, I just love the color of her nails!!!
Media Credit: Dana Laventure
Right, moving ''across the pond,'' the telegraph.co.uk on this year's Cannes fest:
The much-anticipated US film My Blueberry Nights kicks off nearly two weeks of air-kissing, pouting and networking in the French Riviera at what has become the grande dame of world film festivals. Directed by the lesser-known Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai, it nevertheless features a host of A-list actors, including Jude Law and Natalie Portman
Eh?! Wong Kar-Wai ''lesser-known''?! Hazy and I would beg to differ!!
Just a heads up that femalefirst.co.uk has a new writeup on Nat. Here's an excerpt from page 2:
But Portman will only unleash her sexy side strictly on her own terms. Nude scenes in 'Closer' were cut when she persuaded Nichols they were incidental to plot and character. Those disappointed by Portman's editorial decision will soon get the chance to see her in all her garmentless glory when 'Goya's Ghosts' hits cinema screens this month featuring scenes in which the actress is disrobed and brutally tortured. It may not be what 'Star Wars' fan boys had in mind, but it's wholly necessary to her portrayal of Spanish artist Francisco Goya's muse Inés, who is accused of being a heretic and hurled into jail.
THE Nat’s out of the bag. Star Wars actress NATALIE PORTMAN shows off her boobs in a baggy top while going to dinner in New York. She’s bagged a Golden Globe and been in the running for other awards. But I don’t reckon her bra-less look will bag her a best supporting role gong.
LOL!! ''Best supporting role gong.'' God bless the UK!!
Natalie could teach Britney a thing or two about how to grow back a shaved head gracefully, which is not necessarily a fair comparison, but true. Nat looked adorable showing off her curls as she launched her charity project, the Village Banking Campaign with Queen Rania of Jordan this week in NY. It's such a treat seeing her around this week. Portman may only be my second favorite little pocket-sized starlet these days (after R-Bils). But to be fair, she's so much smarter than that characterization, and you can't deny her cute. How could Natalie not appeal to anyone? Serious.
First up, www.natalieportman.org would be remissed if www.villagebanking.org was not highlighted:
Just in case you missed it, please click here for the Natalie Portman produced documentary about FINCA's work.
The current issue of Time magazine features ''The TIME 100''. In it, you'll find ''Alber Elbaz By Natalie Portman.'' Click here for the online version.
And finally, the BBC has a writeup where ''Hollywood star Natalie Portman explains why she is happy to step into a Spanish dungeon'' for her new film, ''Goya's Ghosts'' along with an 'end-note' that it opens in the UK on May 4th.
So on May 4th, it's ''Goya's Ghosts'' Vs ''Spider-Man 3'' in the United Kingdom and ''Paris Je t'Aime'' Vs ''Spider-Man 3'' in USA!!
Paris Je t'Aime finally had a premiere in New York City and New York magazine declares that they'll always have Paris. Here's a pic of Nat at the premiere:
Meanwhile, pr-inside has not 1, but 3 mentions of Nat and the last one is pretty juicy:
FINCA International Ambassador of Hope Natalie Portman
FINCA International Board Member -- Natalie Portman
Village Banking Campaign Co-chair Natalie Portman has produced a documentary about FINCA's work in Mexico with Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-winning documentary director Juan Carlos Rulfo. FINCA will premiere the documentary and other content on the Village Banking Campaign's MySpace page, found at http://www.myspace.com/villagebanking.
Yep, Nat has not 1, but 3 titles at FINCA and is now a producer!!
Hence, the multi-titled and multi-talented Natalie Portman was on the TV show, ''The View'' to talk about Village Banking. More details over at justjared. Here's a small pic from the aforementioned:
And finally, cinematical has the ''My Blueberry Nights'' poster:
First up, I'm proud of this Natalie Portman blurb which appeared at netscape.com.
Hmmmm, the word ''netscape'' alone does bring back memories of the good old days..''hazyblur''..Bob..John G from San Diego..but I digress!!
Here's the skinny on the blurb:
Natalie Portman Tries to Empower World's Women
Celebrities – The "Star Wars" queen is now on a new mission, working with Finca a microfinance organization that delivers life-changing loans to the world's poorest women.
Ok, moving along, my old contact, justjared had this blurb in his update on April 19th:
Natalie Portman looks pretty fly in one hecka cool pair of sunglasses and her hair blowing in the wind in this very first promo pic from her upcoming Wong Kar Wai-directed flick My Blueberry Nights. [..] including one photo of Jude Law and Norah Jones kissing and another of Natalie in a blue minidress and… a bad wig? Blonde hair? Shower cap? You tell me! Also pictured: Natalie Portman hides from paparazzi at LAX airport on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Man alive!! Wong Kar Wai = ''hazyblur'' goes nuts!!
By the way, justjared had this pic of Natalie Portman in front of the poster of her upcoming film, ''Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium'':
Speaking of upcoming, imdb 'sez' ''Paris Je t'Aime'' finally premieres in the USA on May 4th..oh, wait!! OMG!! It's Natalie Portman / Paris Je t'Aime Vs Spider-Man 3 !! Oh it's gonna be messy!!
Rounding out 2007 and Ringing in the New Year, Natalie Portman has been filming the Jim Sheridan-directed Brothers co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire.
Brothers is a remake of a 2004 Danish film. Tobey (with jar head buzz) plays the upstanding, family-man brother who goes to war in Afghanistan. Brother Jake (with a beard) has a shady and rough past, and is at home to watch over his brother's wife, played by Natalie (with golden hair). Circumstances arise where a tragic love triangle ensues.
(Snow on Taos Range, photo by Cal)
The film-makers are taking advantage of tax incentives and filming in
northern New Mexico, around Santa Fe, Glorieta, Las Vegas, and Los
Alamos, only a couple of hours from where I live. It's a beautiful time
of the year here, but it's been bitter cold and snowing alot since they
started production -- the coldest and snowiest December on record, so I
kind of feel sorry for them if they are working outdoors at all. Brrr. I have a feeling the war scenes are being fought outdoors in below freezing temps! I hope they all spent Christmas Eve at Taos Pueblo and are partaking in the unique new mexican cultural events and visiting archaeological sites. >>>(click for Valerie Graves Gallery PaintingsTaos Pueblo Christmas Eve)
np.com posted a fun sighting about Jake, Tobey and crew playing a pick up basketball game at the gym in Santa Fe:
i went to the gym last night to play basketball with some friends, we played a pretty amazing game of five on five. my team = me, jenica, shannon, nick, nate. the vs. team? jake gyllenhaal, tobey maguire, their trainer, executive producer, and a set guy (with a brief appearance by natalie portman)). bottom line: i have jake gyllenhaal sweat on me. (i'm never taking a shower ever again).
I'll leave you with this sexy promo for The Other Boleyn Girl.
Coming in February 2008
Natalie Portman and Eric Bana
-
Oct 4, 2007 *Updated Edition* (*lost the original
version; this one has new links, pics, corrections)
Typically
Low-key actress and social activist Natalie Portman is becoming embroiled in
entertainment gossip lalaland's biggest homo-erotic mystery, and is being
called a lesbian by E! gossip maven Ted Casablanca. Those gay old rumors
based on old Nat quotes never die; they simply evolve over time to fit into
others' sexual fantasies: straight, gay, bi, abstinent. Now in order to fulfill
a fantasy that actor Jake Gyllenhaal
is a closeted gay actor nicknamed "Toothy
Tile," TC is suggesting Natalie
Portman is gay in his infamous "Blind Vice" series.
SCROLL DOWN FOR
BLIND VICE CLUES
Cultural Analysis
The Natalie
virtual world meets real life celebrity news story is an odd lesson on how
internet headlines are the world wide web version of Mark Twain's wise old adage about the press:
"A lie gets
halfway 'round the world before truth ever gets its boots on."
This same-sex story has at least a couple of lies or inaccuracies
which have taken on a life of their own, despite evidence to the contrary, if a
person takes time to verify information using internet sources. The unlikely
place the story is now (Natalie Portman
is a lesbian, yeah, that's the ticket!) also shows how Natalie and her managers' longtime passive tactic of never
addressing any love life gossip, and rarely correcting false headlines or
misquotes hasn't meant infrequent coverage of Natalie Portman's love life. Instead
it's given the press free reign to create, print, expand, and repeat any
truthless headline created by a paparazzi or gossip, or a "hater" or
"worshipper" on a web messageboard or comment space who wants to have
the official word on the story. A lack of critical thinking or simple
verification of details on the part of online gossips, journalists, readers,
radio/TV hosts, and others who repeat the "news" can make an unlikely
web story go viral and then become must-see television entertainment; which in
turn reinforces the contrived and convoluted tale until it becomes a
"fact," simply because so many people believe it.
The inaccurate gossip is a
by-product of Natalie's usual "cloak and dagger romantic
undertakings" and refusal to acknowledge much about her romantic
relationships, neither denying nor confirming who she is dating. Out of privacy
and not wanting the media focus on her off-screen life; and because it isn't
really anybody else's business and there are more vital happenings in the world
on which to focus public attention. Like
Natalie's Village Banking Campaignto givesmall business loans through FINCA to
help women start businesses and get out of poverty.
This analysis is not intended to place blame in reverse, but more to point out
what has happened from an observer's point of view. Natalie Portman's (deserved) secrecy and non-denials (which equals silent
confirmation in eyes of press) have led to unopposed captions tagged on to the
occasional private life sighting turning into frequent worldwide internet
headlines like, "Natalie Portman is dating ________."A
different man every week or month throughout 2006, all the while she was likely
with long-distance boyfriend Mexican actor and activist Gael Garcia Bernal, with sightings together from fall 2005 through
early 2007.
Natalie news searches brought up numerous sightings of Natalie and Gael being a couple in Spain,
Toronto, and London during Natalie's filming on location, and even a physical
confrontation with the paparazzi in Buenos Aires in July when Gael was filming
and Natalie and he were caught at a midnight dinner. There may have been
a break-up when Natalie was soul-searching and travelling in Indiaafter filming the Wes
Anderson movie The Darjeeling
Limited, but the two seemed at least friendly enough to spend Berlin Film Festival and Oscar night together, and travel to Mexico after, according to
photos and reports. The last sighting or mention of them together was early
March 2007. Gael went to finish his directoral debut film in Mexico
for Cannes; Natalie had Blueberry Nights
filming in late March in NY. She went to Mexico
in April with FINCA. It was all online....
And while it seems like Nat is seldom in gossip columns or headlines,
glimpses of Natalie's private life and romances have been covered on-line if
anybody was reading gossip sites, Natalie news sites, or fan sites, where every
off-hand mention is usually posted as news, no matter how suspect. Sometimes
unverified "Natalie news" gets copied and pasted as if it is fact
across the web. Little discretion for factual plausibility or even proper
English is used in some headlines, especially if the subject is sexually
salacious. Sometimes the unverified Natalie rumor is added to the Natalie
Portman wikipedia page, making it a hard to disprove and change a virtual fact.
Why is Mr. Casablanca "outing" Natalie Portman as a lesbian?
TC must surmise that Natalie Portman is
gay, in order to keep his fantasy / belief / running line of bull that Natalie's exboyfriend, actor
and activist Jake Gyllenhaal is the closeted "Toothy
Tile." Natalie and Jake seemed to have a tentative romance in 2002
that ended shortly before Jake started pursuing actress Kirsten Dunst as his "celebrity crush." Ted wants
readers to believe any romance between Jake and a female is fake; that the hot
young actress is a beard who is covering up Jake's gayness. Jake & Nat at the 'Kids for Kids'
charity carnival in NYC, April 2002. *Note: Jake and Natalie were Not dating in 2006 as listed in the E! profile;
Natalie was in on-going long-distance affair with Gael Garcia Bernal when friendly pics of Jake and Natalie appeared in March 2006.
On to Ted's Blind
Vice Clues:
The "Blind Bit" buried
in Ted's Thur Sept 27 The Awful Truthcolumn, for use in Friday's Blind Vice/column, seems to fit Natalie:
"There's a terribly famous actress from another place, as it were (not
Mars), who's currently stirring up the pot between her past man and
her present man. Everybody's in such a dither as to what her agenda
was/is with these wholly opposite dudes, it's all making the lesbian hon's plan
work beautifully. That's right. She likes the shes."
1) TC: "There's a terribly
famous actress from another place, as it were"
Natalie was born in Israel, came to the US;
also from "a galaxy far, far
away..."
Being in Star Wars, Oscar nominationhas made Natalie
famous internationally
2) She's currently stirring up the
pot between her past man and her present man.
Don't believe everything you read online, or in
gossip mags, people. There was a rumor
in May that Natalie and SNL's Andy
Samberg had "hooked-up" and were in love, but the story wasn't
confirmed, and Samberg ended up saying Natalie was his friend after joking
about sleeping with All the SNL hosts. So Ted is wrong to think Samberg
is Natalie's "past man." But if you consider that Gael Garcia Bernal is her "past
man," then Natalie's "present man" Nathan Bogle,is somewhat similar-looking, except for being taller
and dressing more fashionably. Nathan is so similar-looking to Natalie's past
boyfriends that paprazzi and Getty images misidentified him as Gael on several
occasions.
Nathan and Natalie In NYC, September
2007:
3) TC: Everybody's in such a dither
as to what her agenda was/is with these wholly opposite dudes.
Mostly Natalie's got gossips and fans wondering why she is suddenly making public her latest romance with jeans
designer and model Nathan Bogle,a 33 yr old Brit living in New York, and close
friend of Natalie co-star and rumored post Gael break-up love interest Jude Law. Nathan hung with Jude in NYCduring My
Blueberry Nights filming (and with Natalie?). For sure Bogle has
been at Natalie's side at public functions since the Bjork honor in NYCin early May. Those out of the Natalie
romance loop think she's only recently been with Bogle, and the blind
vice gossips seem to ignore altogether her well-chronicled off-on romance with Gael Garcia Bernal.
Recent Television cameras and paparazzi pics have caught cute couple Nat & Nathanin the crowd at the US Open Tennis Championships, watching
Venus Williams win (Nat goes
every year), and last week holding hands, strolling in NYC.*
* I usually don't
post paprazzi pics on the Bio Blog, but they are absolutely necessary for this entry.
So why is Natalie going public more with this romance?
Could be that the
paparazzis are finding her/them more now, getting to recognize her
disguises,
usual routes; her publicist made a call so as to confirm the couple; or
maybe it's getting serious, with marriage and babies on the
way!
4) TC: It's all making the lesbian hon's plan work out beautifully. That's
right, She likes the shes.
I think Ted's on the wrong track here, as there have never been many
sightings of Natalie with females beyond with her cousin Daniela, a few fun
pics with college girlfriends and boyfriends, but nothing to indicate she was
dating any women. Maybe
Gaybe? If it happens, Natalie Portman will be as public about her
love for another female as with other relationships; but she has claimed she
would be open to loving another woman and not "cut herself off from 50% of
the people." Many hopeful fanboys and hetero men have taken this to mean
Natalie is proclaiming her bisexuality, although she's said she's never dated
any women or anything, and there has never been any public indication. And now many guys like Ted Casablanca want to
believe Nat is bisexual or gay so he can believe her romance with Jake was a
'beard and purse' operation. Convoluted line of thinking…
MORE BLIND VICE CLUES
From The Awful Truth, Fri Sept 28,Ted alludes to Jake in the bit on Ryan
Gosling, and eliminates Gosling from the harem of Toothy Tile contenders:
TC: You from the same shy school Jake Gyllenhaal is always jonesin’ in?
Ted's link to Jake's E!
profile shows only two companion "hook-ups" listed for Jake:
Natalie Portman in 2006, and Reese Witherspoon currently.
Jake is
rumored to be having an undercover romance with Rendition co-star and pending divorcee,Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon.Ted and E! ignore Jake's
well-chronicled 2-3 year relationship with actress Kirsten Dunst. Instead, March 2005 Ted C started a rumor
that Jake Gyllenhaal is gay, seemingly in response to the actor's success as a
gay cowboy in BrokebackMountain.TC constantly hints that Jake is
the hot young actor nicknamed "Toothy
Tile" who is about to "come out" publicly at any time,
and have a baby with his boyfriend.
The September 27 Blind Vice, where TC reveals the - you guessed it - "gayness" of TV star “Dewbie Stammer,”who the ladies love
(including hot young actresses and SNL hosts like Kirsten, Nat) despite his
dorky looks, appears to be about Natalie
raunchy rap-collaborator and friend Andy Samberg of Saturday Night Live and Emmy
award-winning “Dick in a Box”
notoriety (with Justin Timberlake).
Somebody reportedly caught "Dewbie" in a
homosexual act in a closet at a stars party, according to Ted. Why is this
blowjob significant in gossip lalaland?
Because Andy Samberg and Natalie Portman were rumored to be
dating; if Samberg is gay it's still possible that Jake is gay too,
especially if Natale is gay. heh. heh?
In
a stroke of genius timing, talented Andy sang a hilarious gay love song to a spoofy Iranian President on SNL, Sept 30. The short featured cameos by Jake Gyllenhaaland Adam Levine, playing off of the gay
rumors, and incidentally both rumored Natalie paramours.
Like
gay gossip “gangster” Perez Hilton
(who’s distaste for female sexuality rages when he calls vaginas scary and bad,
while posting poon pics to get more site hit$), Ted seems to believe everybody
is secretly gay and waiting to come out. This can bias the reporting; even
their perception or "gay-dar" seems clouded by pink-colored glasses
and blinded by lusting over hot young actors and wishing them to be gay. True
or not, Ted wants readers to go along
with his line of bull that Jake Gyllenhaal is the closeted gay actor dubbed
“Toothy Tile” so he ignores Jake’s heterosexual relationships, and reconfigures
the universe to make Natalie Portman (and probably Kirsten, Reese) gay, too.
Awfully twisted logic, eh?
-
Sorry, lost the original blog, but reposted on Oct 4 at this link:
Also, I noticed a website called celeb 24/7 Blog Archive copied and
pasted my entire entry without even giving credit to the original
research, or a link to the BIO Blog.
Cheaters! It proves my point I guess, about the lazy thinkers on the internet.
-
Ever the traveller to new places, sights and ideas, Natalie Portman has been spending time in Africa this summer. June30th Natalie took part inRwanda's annual baby gorilla naming festival called "Kwita Izina" with Jack Hanna. Nat and animal-handler king Hanna were in Rwanda filming a special on mountain gorillas for Animal Planet and were special guests at the ceremony. Presenting, Gukina:
Natalie was honored to name a really cute baby gorilla "Gukina" which means playin Swahili; and she went native wearing some kind of traditional dress. No word yet on when the Discovery - Animal Planet doc might be broadcast.
Another woman who took part in the ceremony, Lucy Spelman who works to save mountain gorillas, wrote about it on the Discovery quest blog. She mentioned Natalie and posted a pic of Nat in her ceremonial outfit.
(images thanks to discoveryblog and Lucy Spelman)
"Natalie looked stunning in her ceremonial dress. Before announcing the
name she'd chosen, she told the audience about her trek to see the
mountain gorillas the day before. She'd visited Group 13 and said she
had fallen in love with the entire family as she watched the youngsters
play while their parents ate bamboo shoots."
More on the Kwita Izina event and ORTPN from Lucy's blog:
"I knew the naming ceremony was a major event, but I had no idea it would
begin with two hours of drumming and dancing, or that tens of thousands
of people would attend. The idea behind Kwita Izina is to promote the
success of mountain gorilla conservation in combination with tourism in
Rwanda. By spreading the word nationally and internationally, the
leaders of ORTPN seek to raise awareness and funds to support all of
Rwanda's national parks."
-
June 9, 2007: Natalie Portman
probably already celebrated her special day with special someones, as
last reports had her vacationing in China and Tibet with friends and
family. She'll also be in Uganda withFINCA, advocating micro-lending and Village Banking to help people become
self-sufficient with successful businesses. June 19th Natalie will be in
Rwanda with animal wrangler Jack Hanna to film a documentary for the Discovery Channel TV special.
Jeraldine's Horoscope says: GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be
a joiner, not a loner. Sign up for a class or enlist in a new cause.
This is a good time to network with people from similar backgrounds.
Keep a sympathetic shoulder available for a friend.
BIRTHDAY GAL: Actress
Natalie Portman was born as Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem on this date
in 1981. Portman first drew notice in her debut in the 1994 film "The
Professional" and went on to star as Padme Amidala in three "Star Wars"
prequels. This birthday gal earned a best supporting actress Oscar
nomination for her performance in the 2004 film "Closer." Future roles
for this talented young thespian include that of Anne Boleyn in "The
Other Boleyn Girl."
-
Although she was out of the country and unable to attend, Natalie's summer movie, My Blueberry Nights, premiered on opening night at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Natalie Portman as Leslie in My Blueberry Nights
The Route 66 Roadtrip film is directed by Wong Kar Wai, and stars Norah Jones, Jude Law, and Rachel Weisz, and Natalie. Natalie plays a down on her luck Texas Hold'em poker player. The beautifully filmed storyline has gotten some typically rough reviews at Cannes, but Natalie is being praised for her work. Time magazine said:
But the memory we'll cherish most is that of Portman's
vibrancy, grittiness, and ache, all performed with a virtuosa's easy
assurance. She ... is the savory side dish of movie magic in a
mostly bland Blueberry Nights.
-
Natalie Portman ON TELEVISION May 1st: Natalie appearedon THE VIEW on ABC in the morning. She did a great job talking about FINCA. She explained how small
loans of $50 can help a woman start a business, then she has capital to
reinvest and better her business. I'll add that your donation is an investment, not
just charity. Good for Natalie as this is something that really makes a difference in ending poverty.
If a woman can't tell her child, "I can feed you
tomorrow, I can pay for your school," then where do they go? What do they
do? What do they choose?
It's really trying to reach the poorest of the poor and offering banking
services to them, in that they have the access to get capital for loans. They
can get insurance. They can get access to things that we don't even question
having access to."
* Look for other upcoming television
appearances, interviews, and magazine articles, as Natalie has a couple of films
coming out this spring.
-
April 22, 2007:It's been two years since we lost our dear friend Greg Musketwitz to cancer (Ewing's Sarcoma) at the tender age of 23. I really miss him.
Greg's mom Diane is starting a Sunflower Garden in his memory (photo by Katy Dimos)
When Natalie Portman was named Best Supporting Actress for Closer in 2005 by the San Diego Film Critics Society,
it looked like my prediction that Greg would meet her would finally
come true. I'd met Greg online and we became friends, even though he was many years younger. We made a plan to meet in NYC August '01 to wait in line for free tickets to the famous Natalie and Mike Nichols' play, The Seagull.
The only way to get tickets was to wait in line overnight, which was a NYC eventitself, with hundreds of people stretched in a line inCentral Park. I told Greg I had a feeling he would get to talk to
Natalie, due to his work as a film critic and writer. Well, the only
encounter he had with Natalie during the Seagull's
run
was when he snuck backstage for an autograph. Nat's security
guards guessed he was not supposed to be there, and escorted him from
the premises. The incident and fact that Natalie only occasionaly
came out
to sign autographs for fans turned him off for awhile. But
he let it go and ended up a really big fan again, live-blogging and cheering her on during Oscar 2005. While Natalie eluded him in this lifetime, Greg was able to meet and take pics with some of his other favorite actresses and directors: .... .... .... Liv Tyler .... ..... .... Julia Stiles ..... ..... ..... .... David Lynch ..... ..... ...... .... .... Thora Birch .... ..... ..... ......
Greg was an administrator on the AQMB Natalie Portman Forum, home of the Greg Muskewitz Online Memorial Shrine; he also had a live journal page, and wrote poetry, stories, and film reviews.
He spent a year living and writing in Brooklyn, and helped coach his sisters' cheer
team in San Diego after he got back from New York, and after he got sick. The team went to nationals last year, winning
third, second, and first place trophies!
Greg wrote hundreds of film reviews.Greg was the youngest member of theSan Diego Film Critics Society, and his reviews can be found online at various sites: Hollywood Bitchslap(Memorial to Greg);ReelTalk Reviews(memorial to Greg); Review Express;with a partial archive atRotten Tomatoes.
The Greg Muskewitz Scholarship Fund has been established as part of a student film festival called Film School Confidential. The scholarship is awarded to young filmmakers in Media Arts Center San Diego's Teen Producers Project
who display not only a passion for film, but an interest in making
their communities a better place, two things that Greg always
championed.
Greg loved French cinema and David Lynch movies, and loved movie awards season - in fact, he often disagreed with other critics and assigned his own Muskewitz awards.
He had talked his way into being the presenter of awards at the SDFCS
luncheon, so he could escort the winning Actresses. So when Natalie won at SDFCS for Closer, it seemed like he'd get to meet her afterall. Alas, Natalie was in grad school at Jerusalem University in Israel, and barely made it back to the States for the Golden Globes (she won) and Academy Awards. Greg
had hopes she'd show up for her trophy, but after the luncheon passed
by unattended and he didn't get to meet her, Greg commented online: "Not in this lifetime, Natalie."
Yet - Greg got another surprise chance to meet Natalie and present the SDFCS award. His friends, colleagues, and family raised money for a dream trip to Germany and Paris. Natalie was filming V for Vendetta in Berlin,
and a secret plan was hatched for Greg to visit Nat on set and give her
the award. Sadly, Greg got sicker and sicker in April, and had to
cancel his European trip altogether; so he never did get to meet Natalie
Portman after all.
Greg received a terrific last wish in March 2005 courtesy of the Warner Foundation. He got to visit the set of the Gilmore Girls, his favorite television show, where he got to be a background extra in a scene at Luke's Diner. Greg had so much fun that day - it was a dream come true. Greg wrote that he was "thrilled to become an official denizen of the world's most awesome town, Stars Hollow."
*** GILMORE GANG! *** Happily Ever After ***
Rest in Peace- Greg Muskewitz: December 28, 1981 - April 22, 2005
-
Last summer (August 2006) after the cease fire in the Israel-Lebanon War, Natalie took time to support the troops and visit victims of war and terrorism in a long-term rehabilitation hospital in northern Israel. She was accompanied by her cousin Daniela and the organization One Family Fund.
Natalie spent five hours at the facility and brought gifts to the
patients, many of them young soldiers. Natalie sang along with one
young man who had lost the use of his legs in the war.
Natalie first came to know about One Family Fund after somebody close to her could have been killed in a terrorist suicide bus
bombing in Israel. One Family Fund helps victims of terrorists rebuild their lives
and aided her family after the attack. Natalie has made several visits
and donations to hospitals in Israel over the years. Also in Israel Natalie helped raise money to
build a new emergency care wing for terrorist victims at HaddassahHospital in Jersusalem.
Natalie Portman chatting with soldiers in long-term rehab care in Israel, August 2006.
-
A couple of exciting rumours for upcoming Natalie projects have been floating around:
Natalie to direct and star in acclaimed Israeli memoir?
February 2007
Several sources have reported Natalie is in talks to direct and star in an Israeli-themed film, from the acclaimed autobiography, A Tale of Love and Darkness. Cinematical has one of the better reports. Another source mentioned Natalie was in Israel recently meeting with Jerusalem Capital Studios. I hope it comes together.
It's always great to see Natalie try new things. Natalie's own family and grandmother have an interesting fled the Holocaust, saved in Israel story.(thx np.com) She should write it first, then direct and star in it.
Natalie prepping for The Painting?
January 2007: There's been a rumor that Natalie is secretly signed to star in The Painting, an adaptation of the thriller by Jonathon Harr. np.com posted the recent Italian Vanity Fairpiece about Natalie studying art in Rome to prepare for the role of Italian art expert Francesca Cappelleti.
Natalie's been known to study art for her own pleasure, and the
production so far will not confirm her casting; but it sounds
intriguing and I hope it pans out.
-
February 25, 2007. Natalie attended some of the Oscar parties. As anticipated,she showed up the the Vanity Fair after-party, where she stood beside boyfriend Gael Garcia Bernal all night long. There is a dispute over whether her dress is by Lanvin or Zac Posen.Maybe the Vanity Fair dress is Lanvin, and the Armani show dress is by Zac? Thanks to wireimagefor the photos, thanks to Missportman.com for uploading.
Gael presented an Oscar alongside Eva Greene, and his movie Babel was up for Best Picture and Best Director. In the past, Natalie's brought her boyfriends to theVanity Fair after party, and of course we all know Nat & Gael first met at the 2003 Vanity Fair party. No red carpet arrivals pics apparently, but they were snapped greeting and congratulating Best
Actress winner Helen Mirren. The couple also chatted with
Diego Luna, Penelope Cruz, Orlando Bloom, Lucy Liu, Guy Richie, and
Madonna.
Helen, Gael, and Natalie at the Vanity Fair Oscar after party Lainey covered the event in Los Angeles for Canada and reported that Natalieshowed up at the Armani pre-party, February 24. Natalie Portman.com posted the first images of Natalie sitting next to co-star Scarlett Johansson's Ex boyfriend, Josh Hartnett at the fashion show. The Armani event was hosted by a US Democratic candidate supporter, and Al Gore attended to the delight of the Hollywood liberals. The Gore narrarated about Global Warming, An Inconvenient Truth,later won the Oscar. Delightful.
Natalie at the Armani fashion show, next to Josh Hartnett
Remember to check the earlier blog entries for updated information. The date of the update will not show on the blog calendar.
-
Missing Natalie? She's been in Prague this week for the special Czech premier of Goya's Ghosts. Writer-director Milos Forman hails from there, and attended the February 1st screening alongside stars Natalie Portman and Javier Bardem. Natalie looked gorgeous.
A day earlier, the threesome posed for pictures at a press conference.
The way it's going, Natalie's short True with Tom Tykwer in Paris Je t'Aime,
may never be released in US theaters due to lawsuits by one of the
producer - directors. Fortunately the dvd is out in France, at
least, and clips have been posted on youtube. What's most
beautiful about this piece, is the way the spoken dialogue, sounds, and
music soundtrack come together to create a tone poem, a song of it's
own. I also love this short because it shows Natalie in a such a wide
range and in ways we've never seen her before.
The six minute short is half in French, and half in English. The actor is Melchior Belson. Don't
worry that there are no English titles to go along with the French
dialogue. The words he is saying in French are described by the
images, he's telling us what we are seeing. "It was like a movie." It's
fantastic.
Natalie
Portman, Best Supporting Actress for Closer, 2005 Awards Season.
2005 Golden Globes
2005 Oscars
It’s January and the 64th Golden Globe Awards are upon us. Natalie is not
nominated, nor is she scheduled to appear as a presenter, like last year when
she began the proceedings.Natalie was a surprise Best Supporting Actress Winner two years ago for her portrayal of Alice in Closer. She went
on to be nominated for an Academy Award,
and was voted Best Supporting Actress
by the San Diego Film Critics Society.
Awards season is carrying on without Natalie, as
her Oscar hopeful, Goya’s Ghosts, was not released in the U.S.And even if Evey Hammond was one of the more memorable performances of the
year, and Natalie made a good profit for Warner Bros with V for
Vendetta, Studios don’t run Oscar campaigns for popcorns movies even
when they are politically subversive, no matter how “liberal” Hollywood is
alleged to be.
Last year at the Globes, Natalie presented the awards
for Best Supporting Actor and Actress,
along side previous Best Actor winner,Adrien Brody.
Natalie
presented the Oscar for Best
Documentary Short at the 2005 awards.
Natalie was nominated for her first Golden Globe in
1999, for playing Annin Anywhere But Here. She attended the 1999 Globe ceremony with her college boyfriend and her family.
.
In
2005, she attended the Oscar
ceremony with her parents, and herboyfriend, Liron Levo, escorted her to theVanity Fair post Oscar
party.
Staying Golden through the Years:
-
Happy New Year, 2007!
25 year old Natalie Portman begins the year
as usual, about as far away from the press as possible. But she's not invisible; a sighting on my space puts her in Mexico City with Gael Garcia Bernal on New Years.
Natalie has several
films coming out in 2007, and will hopefully do press for some of them - which
means we can look forward to gorgeous magazine covers, insightful interviews,
and a Letterman or Daily Show spot. Meanwhile her contemporary, Britney Spears has just about flamed-out (again) after achieving yet another pinnacle of celebrity gossip fame and media attention.
Natalie and Britney are oldest acquaintances in the biz, but
their careers and relationship to the media seem to be on different planets; one
keeps her private life hidden, the other displays her privates in public.
Remember Britney & Natalie's New Year's Eve Fiesta December 31, 2002? In those days "nobodies" like Paris and Nicki Hilton attended Natalie publicity parties, back before Paris became enormously famous with her sex tape and
MTV reality show. Funny, now everybody is fawning over these gals. The
paparazzi and tabloids have really gone nuts in their coverage of celebrities'
off-screen lives; but then again some celebrities invite the intrusion.
It
was a big shocker at the time (like, who knew they were BFF?), but Brit & Nat co-hosted a Brazilian- themed party at the Hudson Hotel a few years ago (at the Library Bar, one of Natalie's haunts and the scene of this year's
NYE party). Even though it wasn't publicized 'til after the fact,
the coupling seemed like nothing more than an engineered publicity
stunt for both girls: Natalie might seem "wilder" and Britney might
seem "smarter."
Natalie's date was her buddy Zac Posen, who designed her party dress.
Britney was late due to an airplane delay, and almost missed the
countdown to midnight. But reportedly Natalie was unfazed at being
stood up, and the girls kissed a greeting and partied on. Natalie
had all of her college buds along with her anyway. Britney left early
and attended two more NYE parties, while Natalie ended up at friend Moby's annual bash after departing the Hudson.
Background:Nat & Brithad
known each other before the NYE party in 2002, although I still have my doubts they've
actually ever spent much time together beyond these photo ops. A
year earlier, in November 2001, Natalie brought a bunch of her college boy friends to a Britney CD release party,
a surprise move resulting in the meltdown of some Natalie fans.
Britney was considered lame at the time; not many wanted her around
then, in contrast to
today when her supporters are rallying for a successful comeback. It
also happened to be Natalie fan and Brit's Lil sis Jamie-Lynn's birthday party that night, so Natalie wished her a Happy Birthday.
A Date with Destiny:As it turns out, Natalie & Britney first met even earlier in life, as 9 or 10 year olds in their off-Broadway debuts, in a musical called Ruthless.
Brit was in the cast, Nat was the understudy. The gig only lasted a
couple of weeks for both girls, as each was hired on to bigger and
better things: Natalie to Leon (her first movie audition) and Britney to things like Star Search and Disney's Mickey Mouse Club. It's a small world after all.
An interesting study in contrasts: So far, it appears that Natalie just keeps
moving forward, trying new challenges to enrich her life, and
continuing to ignore her own self-promotion. Even with the experience
gained from being a twice-divorced mother of two, Britney continues to behave like
the publicity of her celebrity image is the goal, rather than developing her
talents and creating a product with depth and meaning.
-
(comingsoon.net)
Natalie's BBC Films co-production The Other Boleyn Girl,
finished filming in England last week, after shooting in Kent and
London. Natalie left so abruptly she missed the wrap party she threw
for the OBG cast and crew. Reportedly, Natalie arranged for the hotel
to cater the event and asked them to close the bar early for the
private party. The details about the party were construed into a
funny, bitchy gossip bit at The Mirror. Kinda humorous because it claims
Natalie was disturbing the guests with her 5am Yoga sessions. What!?!? LOL
"Excuse me Miss. You're stretching and breathing too loudly."
That part's got to be a joke. The details about the wrap party
got re construed and copied and pasted all over the internet to make it
sound like the hotel and the town never want Natalie back.
Apparently Natalie rushed off to India to work in the mysterious new Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited,
a production already underway with Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason
Schwartzman, and Anjelica Huston. Natalie is rumored to have acted
in a short film for Wes, which was filmed early this year in Paris, but
not much is known about the secret project. Great to see them work together again (if this report is true).
NOTE: Literally no break for Natalie between films.
We know more about The Other Boleyn Girl, an adaptation of
Philippa Gregory's popular historical fiction about the lives of Anne
and Mary Boleyn.Natalie plays the conniving sister Anne, while
Scarlett plays the sweeter Mary. The sisters competed for the affections of
King Henry VIII, played by Eric Bana. The script has been adapted
by the respected Peter Morgan, and is quite different from the original. However, Ms. Gregory approves, so
purists should just relax and take it for what it is - not the same as
the beloved book, which already took heavy artistic license with accepted history. Natalie sure knows how to pick controversial
projects.
Word from the BoleynGirl set according to gossip on IMDB natalie board is that Natalie is an "amazing actress" and down to earth enough that she "has a
laugh with the normal people." Some of the Extras created this
funny clip of >>> Boleyn Girls meets Star Warsand posted it on youtube.
Check this Entry for The Other Boleyn Girl UpDates!
SEPTEMBER 2007 UPDATE: Film's release moved from December during "awards season" to February, when Natalie had her hit with V for Vendetta. Natalie, Scarlett, and Eric did re-shoots in London in August, so the film is still under production.
-
Rather than cat-fighting or pussy-peeping, Natalie and co-star / new
BFF Scarlett Johansson are hanging out after hours while on location in
England filming The Other Boleyn Girl.We've read several reports of the dynamic duo at various nightclubs and music concerts.
But now, according to the Sun tabloid, the hard-partying pair made CHRISTINA AGUILERAmiffed at a VIP party in London Dec 1.
Aggy was far from pleased when Hollywood stars NATALIE PORTMAN and SCARLETT JOHANSSON
stole the limelight at the bash after her sell-out Wembley gig. The
party-loving pair rocked up in the wee small hours and plonked
themselves down beside her in the VIP area. Furious Aggy gave them a
killer stare and turned her back before bailing out soon after, leaving
them to rule the dancefloor. The gorgeous gatecrashers stayed until the bitter end then snuck out
with jumpers over their heads to hide their bleary eyes from snappers
like true party professionals.
Boo Hoo. The diva shoulda showed some spirit, took advantage of the
good publicity, and hit the dance floor with the A-list starlets.
Besides, Xtina shouldn't feel so slighted, or so special. Nat
& ScarJo party together alot, with or without an audience.
Just normal girls out for "Guilty Pleasures Night" at the disco:
IF YOU WENT TO DJ SEAN ROWLEY'S London club night a few Saturdays ago,
you'd have been treated to the sight of Natalie Portman and Scarlett
Johansson "grooving like dervishes" - as Rowley puts it - to ELO's
Sweet Talking Woman. .... This was no private celebrity party, either. There
were, according to Rowley, 1,800 other revellers in the Camden club
hosting the night.
Sounds like fun. Precious the two 'sisters' can make the best of their time there together.
Scarlett as Mary, Natalie as Anne; the Boleyn sisters. (Thanks to fotogramas.com)
-
UPDATED Jan 2007: More news and pics from Natalie's funhouse childrens' movie about a magical toy store called, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Natalie stars with Dustin Hoffman and Jason Bateman in a film written and directed by Zach Helm for FOX.
*A trailer of poor quality is now available online, by searching youtube*
Empire magazine has a new interview with writer-director Zach Helm (thanks to Amo & np.com):
When casting his directorial debut
about a shy girl who inherits a magical toy shop from an ancient
eccentric, Zach Helm had only one girl in mind. But he couldn't get
her. "Natalie Portman is a very busy girl," says Helm, who was given
the directing reigns following positive reaction to his script for Stanger Than Fiction.
"We had to wait about eight months for her to be available, but that
gave me lots of time to learn how exactly to direct a movie!" Currently
getting it's final effects tweaks, the film still has months until its
late 2007 release. "The wait will drive me nuts," laughs Helm.
2006
holiday season "Magorium" briought timely tie-ins to children's books and
toys designed to prepare young audiences for a November 2007 release.
charnel house Charnel House Limited Edition Bookshas been commissioned to create a prop book, which reportedly measures 2 feet by 4 feet and weighs 40 pounds!
The Chicago Tribune has a subscriber-only feature on Zach Helm, the film's writer and director. Dustin Hoffman co-stars in current Zach Helm penned film Stranger Than Fiction and has high praise for Helm's abilities:
"He has the quirkiness of being
exceptional," the actor says of Helm. "I don't think any writer can
like the fact that he could write like this before the age of 30. It's
good stuff. How many more does he have in him?"
The Tribune story goes on to say that during production of Stranger Than Fiction,
Helm lined up his follow-up project, an earlier script of
his -- "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," about a 243-year-old toy shop
owner and his young protege -- in which Helm makes his feature film
directorial debut. Hoffman plays Magorium opposite Natalie Portman's
young toyshop inheritor. "Magorium" completed production earlier this
year in Toronto, and recently underwent its first "recruit screening,"
a nicer phrase than "test screening."
Like "Stranger Than Fiction," Hoffman says, "Magorium" obsesses over the subject of mortality in off-center comic fashion.
Good news: The fantasy movie will Not compete with the second installment of the
NARNIA Chronicles series, which comes out in the summer. Let's see if building family and kid interest for a year
will benefit "Magorium's" Holiday 2007 run. Updated release for MMWE date
at my favorite box office mojo is November 16,
although yahoomoviescontinues to list Nov 30.
Watch this entry for updates.
-
To know me is to know I love gossip; hard to believe I held off this long, isn't it?
To know Natalie is to know she keeps her love life as far away from the
cameras and tabloids as possible. No red carpet appearances or
Oprah confessionals, and lot's of coy talk of being "single," or
refusing to discuss her personal life altogether. Her position on
her right to privacy from lurking paparazzi seems reasonable to me,
although I have a selfish desire to see a charming 'authorized' pic of
Natalie and whomever hottie beau at some public function. But
its's possible to google and glean some info on her love life via
sightings/reports posted on the internet, and for the last year, those
postings indicate that Natalie Portman and Gael Garcia Bernal have been
back together romantically, as a couple, for a year or more. (keep reading below)
2007 Update, Romance continues: A myspace posting about New Year's Eve puts Gael and Natalie on a plane from Havana to Mexico City. Gael attended a NYE party in Mexico City for Canana Films, his company with Diego Luna and Pablo Cruz. Since the end of November he's been in Mexico City editing the film he directed and traveling for publicity.
Natalie and Gael were seen together in Berlin onValentine's Day (not hiding from paparazzi) during the Berlin Film Festival, the second week of February, 2007. Natalie attended a talk Gael gave on film and together they attended the Notes on a Scandal party with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, and writer Patrick Marber, Natalie's friend who also wrote Closer.
Together at 2007 Oscars: Natalie and Gael were openly a couple, and not hiding their relationship at the Vanity Fair party, and a few of the after-after parties. I'm hoping for a nice photo, but for now here they are talking with Oscar winner Helen Mirren.
November 2006 Gossip: British tabloid The Sunprinted a Natalie Gets Spicy with Sex Mex sighting from Sunday night November 12, 2006 that was repeated on various gossip blogs
and Natalie sites. Reportedly on-lookers in London were "shocked"
to see Natalie and Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal kissing and
loving all night at sexy Brazilian songster Seu Jorge's gig.
Gael and Natalie Dating since 2005/2006. As usual, most gossips got it wrong about Gael being just her "EX" and the couple being reunited just recently. Easy google verification shows that for the last year
or so, Natalie has been reportedly seen in romantic clinches with Gael
in locales like December 2005 in Spain (where she was filming Goya's Ghosts;London (where Gael Lives much of the time); in Toronto in April 2006 (when Natalie was filming MMWE); in NYC; in Paris on Nat's BDay; fighting with paparazzi in Argentina in July (where Gael was filming El Pasado); and in London in fall 2006, where Natalie was filming The Other Boleyn Girl and Gael was spending time after completing El Pasado and doing publicity for Babel.
Jan 07 Elle magazine has an interview with Dustin Hoffman where he mentions Gael and Natalie being a couple when he was working with Natalie in Toronto. The three were seen together at theToronto Film Festival.
ELLE magazine: Who are your favorite young actors?
Dustin Hoffman: I've just finished filming 'Mr Magorium's Wonder
Emporium' and I worked with Natalie Portman. She's wonderful - and very
smart. My sons were happy I was working with her. If we hadn't been
filming in Toronto, I think they would've dropped by with my lunch in a
bag! She was going out with Gael Garcia Bernal at the time, though.
Old 2003-2004 Natalie & Gael Romance Gossip:Gael and Natalie dated privately and previously for a year after meeting at the March 2003 Vanity Fair
post Oscar party. This was the tense Academy Awards at the start of the
US military invasion of Iraq, where Gael protested with an Anti WAR
statement instead of following the script meant to introduce the nominated song fromFrida.
The only pictures of Gael and Natalie together besides the Vanity Fair party are a couple of random paparazzi
spy
shots from 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and a video clip and pics from the unfortunate paparazzi
encounter in Buenos Aires, July '06. For now I'll hold out on posting those for
the hopeful possibility of
sanctioned pics.
Love is in the air.
-
UPDATED Jan 2007: Anybody following the saga of Goya's Ghosts,
knows that since the film has been screened and released in Spain in
November, companies are still not coming forward to distribute the film
in the USA. The Late 2006 limited release in time for Oscar season
never happened (no Oscar push for Natalie); now a US release is
hopefully planned for Spring 2007. Natalieportman.com is reporting the followig 2007 release dates (will be updated as more are posted:
Apparently the beautifully lavish $50 million production by Sal and Paul Zaentz
is not an easy sell, with themes of torture and persecution of
innocents by the Catholic Church in Spain during the Inquisition in
1790s through early 1800s. And while the artfully shot film features
Goya's artwork and painting, it's not actually a biopic of the artist,
Francisco Goya that many are expecting. Director/co-writer Milos Forman
calls the film a "merciless" history, based on his remembrances of
bleak life in Czechoslovakia under communism and authoritarian rule.
So far there are a couple of positive publicity pieces, and the early reviews have been mixed with extremes on both ends, similar to the bitter polarizing reaction to Closer and V for Vendetta.
Another complaint has been about Javier Bardem's heavy Spanish accent,
while Natalie has mostly received high praises. All sorts of
reviews, some more trustworthy than others, can be found on IMDB's Goya's Ghost page and forum, as well as on np.com and various Oscarwatch forums.
I won't post any because I don't like reading reviews too closely -- it
taints the possibilities for discovering for myself something I like or
dislike in a film.
-
The AP and Hollywood Reporter announce some fantastic news about Natalie's indie My Blueberry Nights:
Weinstein Co. picks 'Blueberry'
The Weinstein Co. has nabbed all U.S., Australian and New Zealand
rights to Wong Kar Wai's romantic comedy "My Blueberry Nights" starring
Norah Jones, Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz, Tim Roth and
Natalie Portman.
"Nights" marks Wong's English-language feature debut
and the feature-film acting debut of singer Jones, who will play a
woman taking a long road trip to find true love. The feature, filled
with eccentric characters she meets along the way, was shot on
locations across the country in the summer.
Wong wrote "Nights" with Lawrence Block and produced the project with
Jean Louis Piel, Jacky Pang and Wang Wei. The Block 2 Distribution
presentation is a co-production of Jet Tone Films and Lou Yi Limited. StudioCanal is handling international sales.
Expected summer release date is June 1, NYC & LA; then June 22 wider USA (subject to change)
My Blueberry Nights has been described as an "all-star cuisine-and-courtship road-trip movie" that stars singer-songwriter and Grammy winner Norah Jones in her acting debut. According to various blog and message board posts tracking the production, Natalie's character plays poker in the film, which was shot in Las Vegas and Ely, Nevada, as well as Memphis, and other USA locations. Natalieportman.com recently posted this blog story from a guy who's friend worked with Natalie:
It turns out that Chinese uber-auteur Wong Kar-Wai happens to be making a movie with Natalie Portman,
and Ms. Portman happens to play a poker player, and it happens to be
that someone needs to help Ms. Portman understand what it’s like to
play poker. As it happens this person turns out to be Peter. (click here and scroll halfway down pagefor the rest of the story)
-
Natalie Portman gave a Q & A on FINCA microfinance at Oxford University in London on the Fifth of November, 2006. Natalie has been involved with fundraising for FINCA for several years, and serves as their "Ambassador of Hope."
Natalie and FINCA at LIVE 8 July 2005 concert Fundraiser
Portman, in England to shoot The Other Boleyn Girl,
had come to Oxford at short notice, not that she seemed ill-prepared
or, in fact, uneasy in any respect. The slightly built 25 year-old,
even more beautiful in person (did I mention I’m a
fan?), was a graceful and comfortable public speaker, addressing the
packed chamber of 100+ students on the subject of Microfinance aid work, which she is actively involved with through the organisation FINCA. Portman
spoke articulately about the subject, displaying an obvious depth of
knowledge, although she later jokingly apologised for being “another
actor coming to talk about my charity work ...”
Once her initial talk was over, Portman, very much at home among the
student audience, made it clear she was there to speak about any
subject of interest; with the floor opened to questions, the topic of
conversation naturally shifted towards her acting career.
In between anecdotes about frying eggs on R2-D2 while filming The Phantom Menace in
the Tunisian desert, there were serious topics broached, such as the
situation in Israel, where Portman was born and recently returned to
visit. Whatever the question, though, our guest came across
throughout as modest, professional, family-orientated (with her parents
and cousin present) and, despite her academic achievements and
Hollywood status, down-to-earth, fun-loving; very much ‘one of us’....
-
Comrades!
Join the Revolution Against Tyranny.
Put on your V mask and Rise UP!
Better yet: Americans can VOTE Tues Nov 7,
to bring Democrats, Independents, Green, Libertarian, and other party
candidates into office to counteract Republican control of Congress and
law-making. Even retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor warned
the country was edging toward a dictatorship due to attacks on the
judiciary. Vote new leaders into office who will restore the US
constitution.
-
UPDATE February 28, 2007 Although they didn't mention Natalie Portman's efforts in raising awareness about the auction, today Reuters had a story about philanthropist Dominique Lapierre delivering the over $800,000 check donated to the City of Joy charity in India to build 15
schools for destitute Indian children. That's wonderful that Audrey left such a great legacy and that Natalie helped out even if she didnt get any credit.
Photographed by Peter Lindbergh for Harper's Bazaar
Original November 1, 2006 Post. The November 2006 issue of Harper's Bazaar features Natalie wearing the Givenchy gown made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.The
black cocktail dress will be auctioned for charity by Christie's of
London on December 5.
Proceeds from the sale benefit City of Joy Aid in India, one of
Audrey's charities. Natalie Portman has long been associated with Audrey
Hepburn charities through Audrey's son Sean Ferrer, who has called
Natalie the "godmother" of the Audrey Hepburn Children's House charity.
Natalie has often been compared to Audrey, in spirit and style.
I did feel very elegant suddenly. I mean, you can't possibly measure
up to Audrey Hepburn; there's no comparison. But the elegance that she
exuded was transmitted to the dress, you know, the feeling, the emotion
of it…
LONDON - The black Givenchy gown worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" sold at auction Tuesday for $807,000. The price, paid by a telephone bidder, was almost six times the highest pre-sale estimate. The iconic garment had been expected to fetch between $98,000 and
$138,000 as part of a sale of film and television memorabilia at
Christie's auction house in London.
There's a rumor that Posh Spice, aka Victoria Beckham bought the
dress. Hmmm. That's great that Natalie helped generate so
much interest for bidders, and big money for the charity. Maybe they
thought she would come with the dress?
-
Welcome to the Blog for Natalie Portman. org!
We are an Online Living Biography, with Natalie Portman
facts, news, pics, and trivia organized into categories. Content
will be added as we go along, and hopefully the blog will allow us to
provide more timely Natalie Portman news. The entries will be
updated periodically as info, links, and pics become widely available online in
the public domain. Be sure to check previous entries for updates,
rather than looking for new stories. Thanks for visiting.
All information available through or in connection with Natalie Portman . Org is informational only and provided "as is" without warranties, representations, or guarantees of any kind. Natalie Portman . Org contains links to other websites. When you click on one of these links, you are entering another website for which Natalie Portman . Org has NO responsibility and disclaims any and all warranties.
Please note that the archives have not been updated
2005 Golden Globes
2005 Oscars
Comrades! 
