comment #1

NYCBusybody says ...

A Sidney Lumet film. Crime drama. Set in New York.

*yawns*

Yeah, write what you know, I guess. But geez.

comment #2

thevisceral says ...

Hoffman doing it any style with anyone would immediately chase me out of the theater, but that's just me.

comment #3

Walter Sobchak says ...

I hope it's really good.... I'm tired of hating Ethan Hawke.... and Marissa nekid... well, that seals the deal.

comment #4

thezipper says ...

the goodly pervs over at www.nudography already have grainy pics of tomei...as if jeff didn't already know that.

comment #5

Mark says ...

I actually loved Hoffman doing Cruise Guantanamo-style to open MI-3.

comment #6

115thDreamer says ...

Hmmm...much like the big sex scene in 'Monster's Ball', you have to weigh the male nudity against the female nudity and ask yourself if it's still worth it. There, you had to see Billy Bob naked, sure, but I'd argue it was worth it because Halle Berry was naked too. Here...I'm not so sure. A chance to see a still attrative but past-her-prime Tomei naked, but you have to see Hoffman naked at the same time? I'm on the fence here. Naturally, sex scenes aside, Hoffman is awesome and I'm now looking forward to seeing him (fully clothed) in this one in addition to "Charlie Wilson's War". Finally, I would argue that the phrases "killer cast" and "Ethan Hawke" should never appear together, but that's just me.

comment #7

Monument says ...

What's with the hate for Ethan Hawke?

comment #8

Geoff says ...

I don't know, but TAPE is pretty damn great. And Ethan Hawke is the perfect slimeball in that film.

comment #9

Mark says ...

Starring in two flawless movies like Gattaca and Before Sunset gives Mr. Ethan almost a lifetime of slack from me. (Not to mention if only Fuqua didn't fuck up the third act of Training Day.)

comment #10

George Prager says ...

A John Ford film. Western. Set in Texas.

*yawns*

Yeah, write what you know, I guess. But geez.

comment #11

Josh Massey says ...

"a 'whoa!' shot if I've ever seen one"

And now it's not a "whoa!" shot to anybody who reads this...

comment #12

alynch says ...

FYI, the opening sex scene isn't the only scene in the film where Tomei's naked.

comment #13

actionman says ...

Tomei. Naked. Ticket. Sold.

Oh yeah, that Lumet guy is pretty good too.

comment #14

lazarus says ...

Lumet is the kind of old school man's man who wouldn't pass a nude pic-requesting email along to a bitch like Nikki Finke.

Especially after having to work with an undeserving Oscar winner like Tomei while having to settle for his honorary one.

Could be a mother lode of outtakes, Welles. Hit him up.

comment #15

lazarus says ...

Yeah, I know it's Wells.

comment #16

Mark says ...

Better opening whoa scene?:

The Oli Grant-Bijou Phillips threesome to start Black and White

or

Carrie Anne Moss asskicking of two cops to start the Matrix.

comment #17

PerfectTommy says ...

I don't think Tomei's Oscar was undeserved. You've got to appreciate the rare times that the Academy honors comedy. "My Cousin Venny" is a great film, better than many "serious" Oscar winners. (It was also a good thing that Kevin Kline got his Oscar for "A Fish Called Wanda" rather than something like "Sophie's Choice".)

comment #18

buckzollo says ...

Wells gives it..er, a uh...#%*^%@ UP!

comment #19

buckzollo says ...

PerfectTommy you are making me think JUNO could pull a VINNY in Feb.

comment #20

christian says ...

tomei was terrific in VINNY. it's a comedy folks!

and best WHOA opening for me will remain BETTY BLUE...

comment #21

lazarus says ...

It's not that Tomei's performance wasn't great, or that the academy shouldn't recognize comedic performances, but do you remember the competition that year? Judy Davis in Husbands & Wives, Miranda Richardson in Damage, Joan Plowright in Enchanted April, and Vanessa Redgrave in Howard's End. Only Redgrave has won an Oscar, and I don't think there's any question that there wasn 't a more deserving winner that year. I haven't seen the Plowright perf, but the other three women were fantastic. Tomei lucked out because she was the only American in the category.

comment #22

Monument says ...

"Judy Davis in Husbands & Wives, Miranda Richardson in Damage, Joan Plowright in Enchanted April, and Vanessa Redgrave in Howard's End."

With the slight exception of Howard's End, I haven't thought about one of these films, let alone the performances since that year.

However, I have seen My Cousin Vinny several times since then and it's as funny as the first time I saw it. Tomei was great in it, I don't begrudge her the Oscar one bit.

comment #23

Kristopher Tapley says ...

I'm with you, Jeff. Saw it this morning and ust wanted to slice my wrists...in that good way, where you really and truly sink into your seat with embossed sadness at what you're watching on screen. Damn fine performances all around.

comment #24

T. Holly says ...

I invented "whoa" HEre, I'd like a little acknowledgement for that.

comment #25

drbob says ...

This post reminds me of Mr. Cranky's review of "What Women Want." Essentially, Mr. Cranky said "After watching this movie, I'm still not sure what women want; but, Helen Hunt instead of Marisa Tomei is NOT what men want."

comment #26

Zimmergirl says ...

"and best WHOA opening for me will remain BETTY BLUE..." Agreed.

comment #27

astrophore says ...

I also don't begrudge Tomei her Oscar, either, but Judy Davis in "Husbands and Wives" is excellent -- transcends Woody Allen's lazy filmmaking (although that was a better film than most of the stuff he's produced in the last two decades).

But I have to give a huge shout-out to Miranda Richardson in "Damage". One of the best performances by an actress in the last thirty years. Her kitchen scene at the end (no spoilers here) is an indelible moment in cinema.

Turning off the hyperbole-o-meter now.

comment #28

christian says ...

i think HUSBANDS & WIVES is one of woody's best films. ever.
it's his most raw and of course its timing due to the mia/woody breakup gives it a particular relevancy. davis rules but i think tomei created a fresher character. martin landau didn't win either that year?

comment #29

EDouglas says ...

Cool, glad you agreed with me on this, Jeff...can't wait to see this at the New York FIlm Festival next week... Lumet is doing press tomorrow (Thurs) in TOronto, but I'm hoping I'll get a chance in NY.

comment #30

alynch says ...

You know, every single review I've read of this movie has been a full-on rave. Anyone think this movie has a chance of pulling a Departed at the oscars.

comment #31

Rob says ...

I love how people always point to Tomei's Oscar win as some horrible miscarriage of justice, and suggest that she's been "cursed" ever since, but 15 (!) years later and she still has a $100 million blockbuster (Wild Hogs) and an acclaimed film by a top director in the same year. Can Angelina Jolie say the same?

comment #32

Josh Massey says ...

... And another Oscar nom since.

comment #33

lazarus says ...

Tomei may have created a more memorable character, but that's not what the award is for, is it? Joe Pesci's Vinny was probably more memorable than most of the lead perfs that year, but should he get a nom too?

I don't want to sound like a snob (I am), but it's very, very rare that a comedic performance is going to edge out the best dramatic work of the year. And I believe at least Richardson and Davis were far more impressive than Tomei, and you could easily argue for Redgrave, who did a lot with not much screen time.

I suspect we could have the same discussion about Mira Sorvino, who somehow managed to beat a very deserving Joan Allen for Nixon, and Mare Winningham for Georgia, but I think at least Sorvino's work had a bit more depth to it.

comment #34

lazarus says ...

Also, we're not really going to entertain the notion that Tomei is a better actress than Jolie, are we? One's more high profile and has done a fair amount of crap, and now she's worthless? I don't buy it. Tomei couldn't come anywhere near what Jolie did in her two Emmy-winning roles, even if it was downhill from there, and I'm sure Angie's work in A Mighty Heart wasn't received very objectively by the critical community, as almost every review seemed unable to get over her celebrity status. She has that rare, raw talent and eminently watchable presence, and though she may be guilty of squandering it, she's still the better actress. I'll take her scenery chewing in Alexander over Tomei's decent but not superlative In the Bedroom work any day of the week.

comment #35

thefilmstudent says ...

Marisa Tomei's "surprise" best supporting actress win for "My Cousin Vinny" was no surprise at all when you think about it.

1. She was the only American actress nominated against an Aussie (Davis) and three Brits (Plowright, Redgrave, and Richardson).

2. She was the youngest of all the nominees -- how Oscar loves to honor up-and-coming ingenues! -- want proof, see Angelina Jolie ("Girl, Interrupted"), Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite"), Jessica Lange ("Tootsie"), Meryl Streep ("Kramer vs. Kramer"), Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God"), Anna Paquin ("The Piano"), and Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls") just to name a few.

3. She had leading lady screen time compared to her competitions' more clearly defined "supporting roles."

4. Tomei delivered a revelatory performance and stole the movie from star Joe Pesci. Anyone who sees the last twenty minutes of that movie can not deny that she confounded everybody's expectations and squarely knocked it squarely out of the park. Whether you're a fan of hers or the movie's or not, her brillant work during the film's third act can not be denied.

and

5. And unlike her competition, Tomei had a film open up the same week nominations were announced back in mid-February '93. A little film that got a nationwide release called "Untamed Heart." She was that film's bonafide leading lady (opposite Christian Slater) and received a number of glowing reviews for her performance which was called "starmaking" by many respected critics at the time.

I believe it was the one-two punch of her completely different, yet equally celebrated performances in "My Cousin Vinny" and "Untamed Heart" that sealed the deal for Tomei come Oscar night.

Plus think of all the deserving performances from '92 were overlooked in the supporting actress category, starting with Tomei's "Untamed Heart" co-star Rosie Perez and her revelatory turn in "White Men Can't Jump." Ditto Alfre Woodard in "Passion Fish." Not to mention Mia Farrow in "Husbands and Wives," Angela Bassett in "Malcolm X," Miranda Richardson in "The Crying Game," Helena Bonham Carter in "Howards End," and Frances Fisher in "Unforgiven."

comment #36

Josh Massey says ...

"I don't want to sound like a snob (I am), but it's very, very rare that a comedic performance is going to edge out the best dramatic work of the year."

Ugh, that is exactly what is wrong with the Academy today. Why should a "serious" performance ultimately outweigh a comedic one, when all the Academy is supposed to do is judge the acting, not the film? I've done my fair share of acting in the past, and I can tell you that generally, comedy is 10 times harder than drama - and most professional actors would tell you the same thing.

Of course, you might not want to listen to me, since I think Eddie Murphy should have won Best Actor for The Nutty Professor, truly one of the best performances of the '90s. (A couple years ago I found out Jack Nicholson felt the same way, so at least I'm in good company.)

comment #37

Jay T. says ...

I love it when good films come out of nowhere... those are the best.

comment #38

Jay T. says ...

On a follow-up note, I think I'll give Lumet a call and see if he has any on-set production photos or outtake clips from the sex scene.

comment #39

Jay T. says ...

On a follow-up note, I think I'll give Lumet a call and see if he has any on-set production photos or outtake clips from the sex scene.

C'mon, someone had to say it. ;-)

comment #40

Arizona Joe says ...

A Lumet crime drama in New York does seem like an exercise in tautology. Ethan Hawke has a banal, unfledged look and demeanor of a college sophomore. On the screen he seems like an intense mediocrity.

Tomei has had an erratic career. I don't know why. She is lovely and can act, ostensibly.

comment #41

christian says ...

and jerry lewis long ago nailed that the academy doesn't respect comedy. he said you could get a thousand guys to play his part in KING OF COMEDY but nobody could do what he did in THE NUTTY PROFESSOR -- which i've always said murphy should have been nominated for.

comment #42

Josh Massey says ...

Well Christian, I think we've found the one thing we agree on. Cheers!