Dream Girls
I'm sorry if this sounds insensitive, but the images of Annette Bening and especially Meg Ryan in this poster for The Women (Picturehouse, 9.12) simply don't resemble the actresses in their 21st century incarnations. Bening, bless her enormous talent and sense of class, had been made to look like her Bugsy or American Beauty self, and Ryan...c'mon. Did she ever look like this? What happened to the Botox lips that nearly killed her career? It's all the doing of the art person behind the poster, of course. A simple case of over-sweetening.
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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 18, 2008 at 3:15 PM
comment #1
Balthazar says ...
Dear lord, I'd rather watch 24 hours straight of Steel Magnolias or The Holiday than that flick, as pictured.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 3:25 PM
comment #2
George Prager says ...
Oh, it's the poster for THE WOMEN!
At first I thought it was the DVD cover for WHERE THE BOYS AREN'T 18.
Posted by George Prager at July 18, 2008 3:28 PM
comment #3
cm65 says ...
They can just keep going, and airbrush everything out of that picture except Eva Mendes, as far as I'm concerned. And edit out every scene from the movie that doesn't include her, while they're at it.
Posted by cm65 at July 18, 2008 3:32 PM
comment #4
JVD says ...
Jeff, those lips didn't kill Meg Ryan's career. Her shacking up with Crowe did. When reality no longer matched up with fantasy--America's reigning cutey pie does not bang the Aussie tough guy while married--she was done for in the public's eyes. Well, not so much the public's eyes, but the millions of women who thought she was molded out of sunshine on Mt. Olympus by Nora Ephron and sent to Earth on a cloud of fairy dust to teach us how to love.
Posted by JVD at July 18, 2008 3:40 PM
comment #5
Balthazar says ...
You know it's a bad, bad, bad poster when Debra Freaking Messing is only the third-scariest thing in it.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 3:44 PM
comment #6
The Pope says ...
And what is worse is that all of them would have approval of their own image. So, the question to be asked is what on earth got into Bening's head to think "Yes, that is the way I look..." or "Yes, that is the way I want the public to think I look."
Does anyone remember the piece in Bob Evans' book where Warren Beatty shows him the poster for Heavan Can Wait and Evans said it made him look as though he had no dick... and Beatty charged off and had them reprint the ads... to the tune of Lordy knows how much.
Posted by The Pope at July 18, 2008 3:58 PM
comment #7
Balthazar says ...
Holy shit. I had only read the five names across the top. Now I'm looking at the bottom-rungers:
Carrie Fisher???
Debi Mazar????
Bette Midler???
Candice Bergen???
CLORIS LEACHMAN????????/
Actually now that I think of it, a poster with those five would have been much more amusing and interesting.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 4:18 PM
comment #8
Balthazar says ...
Meanwhile, Joanna Gleason, who is arguably more talented than all of these actresses, doesn't even earn a spot on the poster.
And, yes, this film includes zero men in the cast.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 4:21 PM
comment #9
Mgmax says ...
Not to mention, they're all so worked-over/airbrushed you can't even be sure which is which.
Posted by Mgmax at July 18, 2008 4:37 PM
comment #10
Marcello says ...
I predict this is that rare remake that will be better than the original.
Posted by Marcello at July 18, 2008 4:37 PM
comment #11
Mgmax says ...
I predict Marcello is insane.
I recommend everyone see the (dated, arch, but highly entertaining) original before it's ruined by the (softened, feelgoody, dumbass) remake.
Posted by Mgmax at July 18, 2008 4:38 PM
comment #12
lesterg says ...
Who who plays Mendes' mom: Ryan or Benning?
Posted by lesterg at July 18, 2008 5:16 PM
comment #13
Mike says ...
Is it me or was Bening made to look more like Vanessa Williams than Annette Bening?
Posted by Mike at July 18, 2008 5:48 PM
comment #14
The Pope says ...
Mike,
you nailed it. I was looking at Bening and saying to myself, she does not look like the Annette Bening from other films, she looks like someone else... but who?
And you got it. Vanessa Williams!
Spot on!
Posted by The Pope at July 18, 2008 6:07 PM
comment #15
Edward says ...
I'll turn down my testosterone only to add that the ladies might enjoy this. Saying that, I'll turn up my testosterone -- I only wish they'd make these chick flicks more edgy, why do they have to go all soft and air-brushy?
Posted by Edward at July 18, 2008 6:32 PM
comment #16
sumo-pop says ...
I'm just trying to figure out who in the marketing department hates Debra Messing?!?!
Posted by sumo-pop at July 18, 2008 7:07 PM
comment #17
Balthazar says ...
I predict that, compared to this film, the final third of "Hancock" will look like Vertigo.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 7:08 PM
comment #18
chappiesan says ...
Bening looks like Vanessa Williams? I was gonna suggest the alien from Signs.
Posted by chappiesan at July 18, 2008 7:08 PM
comment #19
Balthazar says ...
Omigod, if Warren Beatty reads this thread, he's going to kill us all.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 7:13 PM
comment #20
Mike says ...
I'm surprised about the vanity from Bening because she's really let herself go in a few films when it's called for. The Siege especially comes to mind. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing a big league actress in a major pic ever look as rough as she did.
At the time I I saw it I thought that in real life her character probably wouldn't have looked that bad. Maybe the DP didnt like her.
.
Posted by Mike at July 18, 2008 7:15 PM
comment #21
deadre says ...
Absolutely Vanessa Williams, how strange is that! I wonder if Meg's mouth has gone back to normal, otherwise watching this movie is going to be painful. That mixed with Debra Messing, waay to painful...
But we shouldn't underestimate Diane English, she's awfully talented!
Posted by deadre at July 18, 2008 7:19 PM
comment #22
cjKennedy says ...
Mgmax, the new one cant ruin the original. It's not going anywhere. No one is taking scissors to it.
Posted by cjKennedy at July 18, 2008 7:32 PM
comment #23
Rev. Slappy says ...
Mike: Bening also look that way in Open Range. you could totally see all the lines on her face. It was a really brave thing to do, sort of like those mag pics Jamie Lee Curtis did a few years ago without makeup. My guess is they are selling this as a women's fantasy picture along the same lines as Sex and the City. The audience for this sort of thing doesn't want to see a 50something Meg Ryan.
Posted by Rev. Slappy at July 18, 2008 8:18 PM
comment #24
Mgmax says ...
"Mgmax, the new one cant ruin the original. It's not going anywhere. No one is taking scissors to it."
Go ask ten people who stars in "Alfie" and "Sleuth."
Posted by Mgmax at July 18, 2008 8:28 PM
comment #25
DavidF says ...
Forget Ryan's lips - Am I crazy or is Jada Pinkett Smith's skin lighter than Anette Bening's? I saw her name in the credits and couldn't figure out which one she was at first...
Posted by DavidF at July 18, 2008 8:42 PM
comment #26
Balthazar says ...
Seriously, though, if this isn't the hands-down worst movie poster of the year, I'm terrified of what is.
Posted by Balthazar at July 18, 2008 9:26 PM
comment #27
Marty Melville says ...
Not too off topic, but has anyone seen those Lindsay Lohan/ Lindsay's Mom billboards promoing the reality show they've got going (Living Lohan)?
No joke, but I can't figure out who "Mom" is in those billboards and who Lindsay is... I "think" the younger, fresher looking one is "Mom" and the wasted bleached blond is Lindsay... but I'm genuinely not sure...
So much Photoshopping, haircoloring and smoke and mirrors going on there that my head spins trying to suss it out...
Posted by Marty Melville at July 18, 2008 11:59 PM
comment #28
nola says ...
Way too much airbrushing. Eva is the only one who looks real. Very scary.
Posted by nola at July 19, 2008 12:12 AM
comment #29
frankbooth says ...
I'd like to know what Mouse thinks of this poster.
And then I'd like to see a photo of the result.
Posted by frankbooth at July 19, 2008 2:47 AM
comment #30
Rich S. says ...
Balthazar is right about one thing: a movie starring the women below the photo (well, four of them anyway) would be far more entertaining than one starring the women above the photo.
Posted by Rich S. at July 19, 2008 5:31 AM
comment #31
Balthazar says ...
I wonder what female actresses turned down roles for this film, that they ended up with Meg Ryan as the centerpiece. ... Cameron Diaz? Kate Winslet? Susan Sarandon? ...good for them.
Posted by Balthazar at July 19, 2008 9:41 AM
comment #32
Adonis says ...
I really thought it was a poster for a Dixie Chicks & Friends Concert:
Meg Ryan looks like their lead... All women in Hollywood must look at this and shudder. It's not enough to be 45 years old and beautiful. You've got to look like 28-year-old with bad hair.
Sigh...
Posted by Adonis at July 19, 2008 11:01 AM
comment #33
dixiedugan says ...
No interest whatsoever. None, nada, not a bit. And I don't know who's pulled the Goddard role, but they'll fuck it up guaranteed.
Posted by dixiedugan at July 19, 2008 11:35 AM
comment #34
Mgmax says ...
You know, it's great meaty material, but it's built on the world as it existed in the 30s when it was written; the whole gimmick of being a man-free movie is based on the premise that men and women exist in totally separate spheres, so even then it had to be set in things like a spa, a dudette ranch, etc. and obviously none of the characters can work, which means it's basically a movie about Hollywood wives... so why doesn't it simply star Kate Capshaw, Rita Wilson, etc.?
Posted by Mgmax at July 19, 2008 1:00 PM
comment #35
George Prager says ...
That's like asking why the new McDonald's chicken biscuits don't use free range chicken. Personally I'd rather give Monty Hall a blumpie than see this movie.
Posted by George Prager at July 19, 2008 3:45 PM
comment #36
BurmaShave says ...
Must I be the first one to say I would still sleep with any woman on that poster?
Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2008 4:22 PM
comment #37
Balthazar says ...
"Must I be the first one to say I would still sleep with any woman on that poster?"
The first and, quite possibly, the only.
I'd *almost* rather make out with James Franco.
Posted by Balthazar at July 19, 2008 5:30 PM
comment #38
BurmaShave says ...
All right well first of all James Franco is gorgeous so that's a terrible example and second Eva Mendes is on that post, so GAYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2008 8:08 PM
comment #39
Zimmergirl says ...
"Cameron Diaz? Kate Winslet? Susan Sarandon? ...good for them."
That isn't really fair, is it? Kate Winslet is at the top of the A-list. Also, before a film is made everyone has the highest of expectations - and it's rather lame of y'all to act as though these women committed some high crime by agreeing to, whoa get a paycheck, what a concept. Mamma Mia wasn't nearly as bad as the women-hating tribe at this site made it out to be and this one probably won't be either.
Posted by Zimmergirl at July 20, 2008 8:02 AM
comment #40
Richard2001 says ...
...and you wonder Jeff, why you are all alone, living in West Hollywood, with nobody but a few female and haggy "B" movie producers that will give you a roll in the hay. What a looser
Posted by Richard2001 at July 20, 2008 5:56 PM
comment #41
Bob Violence says ...
Go ask ten people who stars in "Alfie" and "Sleuth."
The people who would answer that question with "Jude Law" are the same people who would've answered "never heard of 'em" prior to the remakes. And it seems unlikely at best that either remake will supplant the originals in the long term (especially the Branagh Sleuth, which was basically an arthouse release and barely made a ripple during its theatrical run -- hard to imagine it'll enjoy much of an afterlife on TV and video).
Posted by Bob Violence at July 21, 2008 5:19 AM
comment #42
moviemaniac2002 says ...
Check out Ryan in the first ten minutes of her
direct-to-DVD debacle, "My Mom's New Boyfriend"
...now THERE's a real preview of coming attractions. And as the film progresses, virtually everyone in the cast is forced to mention how
"hot" she looks....(very similar to what the supporting actors in Madonna's "Next Best Thing" were forced into saying constantly......
Posted by moviemaniac2002 at July 21, 2008 9:09 PM
comment #43
peachtree says ...
Let me say, as a woman who has seen the trailer....
I'd rather be tied to a chair and eaten alive by rats than see this piece o' crapola so-called chick flick. (And yes, I am basing that judgment just on the trailer.)
Meg Ryan's plastic-surgerized face is scarrrrry.
If this is a woman-only cast, why is Eva Mendes wearing a teddy in the photo? Is she trying to seduce one of the other women? :)
Anyway, I predict most women won't be interested and it will disappear quickly from theaters into DVD-rental-land.
(By the way, I think the original movie is great fun.)
Posted by peachtree at July 23, 2008 7:11 AM