PROOF:Talking With Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Dear God, why didn't I shave?

Thanks to hitRECord user tarinanderson for the video!!!

Sundance 2012: hitRECord

Courtesy of @areyouthatguy

2011: The Retrospect: MVPs of the Year (Acting)

And now it gets interesting and legit!!

Actors are on the forefront of everyone's mind even before they sit down in the theatre. More often than not, who is or who is not acting in a film will be a deciding factor when it comes to choosing where you'll be spending your money. 

"Oh, that cute guy from The Notebook is in a film about cars? Yeah, sure. It's probably a comedy."

2011 offered lots in the way of compelling performances. We got actors reaching all time heights (Radcliffe and Co). We saw some hit all time lows (Sandler). We saw break out of the torrid waters of obscurity and scream onto the A-list (about half the people in this article.). 2011 was good to us at the movies, and the actors had a lot to do with that. 

Before we go any further, allow me to list off some honorable mentions that didn't quite make the cut. They include, but are not limited to, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2), Emma Watson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2), Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2), Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: First Class), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Thor, Midnight In Paris), Owen Wilson (Midnight In Paris), Brad Pitt (The Tree of Life, Moneyball), Jonah Hill (The Tree of Life), Joel Courtney (Super 8), Elle Fanning (Super 8), Laurence Fishburne (Contagion), Matt Damon (Contagion), Colin Firth (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Christopher Plummer (Beginners, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Daniel Craig (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Albert Brooks (Drive), and Carey Mulligan (Drive, Shame). 

And now... here are Films From the Supermassive Black Hole's Acting MVPs of 2011. 

10. Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Shame)

This one comes with a huge caveat. I've been hearing such wonderful things about Mr. Fassbender's performance in Shame, how he really goes for broke and turns in a spectacular piece of work. But, I haven't seen it yet. I am going to, real soon! But I have to keep this list fair, and that is why he's all the way down here at number ten. But, his performance in X-Men is good enough by itself to land him here. We all know where the character of Magneto is going to end up, but Fassbender makes us empathize and even root for him as the seeds of the super villain are planted. I hope he plays the role again. I really do!

9. Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life)

Employing grace, beauty, and good, ol' fashioned, motherly love, Ms. Chastain effortlessly makes herself standout in Terrence Malick's complex and compelling film. Though her voice rarely rises above a whisper (indeed, some of my contemporaries have taken to calling The Tree of Life "Whisper, The Movie"), Chastain presents a character that is layered and interesting, perfectly counter-balancing Brad Pitt's intensity with a quiet elegance. I think I might have sort of kinda fallen in love with her over the course of the movie. Oops. She was apparently also good in The Debt, but who the hell saw that movie?

8. Hunter McCracken (The Tree of Life)

Yeah, yeah, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn got top billing for this, but let's be real. Pitt's role is really supporting, and Penn is in the movie for a grand total of five minutes. The real star is Hunter McCracken, proving to the world what Noah Ringer cannot; that child actors are a force to be reckoned with. Handling all the conflict of an adolescent boy with daddy issues like a champ, McCracken's Jack is instantly relatable and unforgettable 

7. Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)

There was a time when Mara was probably one of the most hated actresses in Hollywood. "She's taking on a role that someone else already played well in a foreign film that came out less than two years ago! She's just gonna ruin it! HOW DARE SHE!!!" Well, the haters can shove it, because Mara kills it as Lisbeth Salander! Bringing all the gruffness, the sociopathy, and the piercings that Noomi Rapace did, while also unearthing a certain warmth in the character, Mara puts all the naysayers in their place, and sets herself up for a spectacular franchise. 

6. Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2)

Rickman was always a standout in the Harry Potter franchise for his devilishly fun take on everyone's favorite Potions teacher. The material he is tasked with handling in the finale is significantly heavier and more intense, and Rickman brings his A-game! The Prince's Tale is really wonderful, and he does some of his best acting in it. Truly heartbreaking!

5. Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Adventures of Tintin)

This man deserves an Academy Award. As technology becomes better and better, specifically the technology used to capture a humans body and facial movements, performance capture technology is becoming more and more legitimate. And Andy Serkis is the undisputed king of performance capture, and he was on fire this year. He single handedly elevated Rise of the Planet of the Apes from a tired cash in on a long dead franchise to one of the freshest and most interesting reboots in a long time. And he was an absolute live wire has the perpetually drunk Captain Haddock in Tintin. Wake up Oscar. This guy is for real!

4. Jean Dujardin (The Artist)

This guy swooped in at the very last moment to claim the number four spot, as I only saw The Artist a couple of days ago, but it's well deserved. Funny, moving, charming, and oh so sexy, Dujardin creates a character we can sympathize with and cheer for, all without uttering a single word. I don't know about you, but that's impressive. 

3. Gary Oldman (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

His performance in Harry Potter is barely a cameo, but it comes at one of the most memorable and emotional moments. His performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is something altogether different. Giving off an air of steely control, whilst conveying all the weight that a world weary spy with years of experience must be feeling. A lead role was long overdue for this master actor, and he knocks it out of the park!

2. Ryan Gosling (Drive, The Ides of March)

Ryan Gosling was seemingly everywhere this year. In addition to starring in lots of movies, he took up a brief career as a crime fighter in the streets of New York and is now the subject of his own meme. But that's not why your here. In The Ides of March, he does a fine job as a smarmy, confident, hotwire campaign worker whose faith in his leader is severely tested. His performance in Drive is something even more memorable. Emulating the likes of McQueen and Eastwood, Gosling's Driver is one of the coolest wheelmen to grace the silver screen in a long time. At one minute tender, the next unfeeling, the next downright scary, Gosling soars to new heights as this ultimate badass. Heights usually reserved for...

1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (50/50)

You're probably rolling your eyes and closing the window right now cuz, of course I would choose this guy. But, believe me! I always have good reasons. This year, JoGo was only seen in one thing, but he did so well in that one thing!! Like I said in my review, Gordon-Levitt has that admirable quality to take any role and give a certain jazz to make it stand out, and he is on fire here. As Adam he deftly and effortlessly hops between all the stages of grief, running the gamut from hopeful optimism, to blind fury, to mind numbing depression. And he excels at every! Single! One! He is just so perfect in this movie that I can't even believe that he wasn't the casting director's first choice. Oscar consideration is more than deserved.

Well, that was... sexual. 

We're getting into the home stretch. Tune in tomorrow for the next installment of 2011: The Retrospect, and be sure to check for all the lists thus far. Bye bye everyone. If aliens attack, make like David and Steve, and hide. 

Hey! Guess What!

I'M 20!!!!

YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHhhhh... oh, wait...

Nothing special happens at 20.

Oh well.

Dance for me, JoGo!!!

Love Is...

Cancer Is Funny!

Except it's not, and if you think it is then you probably have some serious social skills that need to be addressed now! Films dealing with cancer are rarely ever seen as a comedy, because a topic such as cancer is so humorless. Films that deal with this subject go for the heartstrings with all guns blazing, hoping to pull at least one tear out of you. Many fall into ruin by being too sentimental and inspirational, and end up feeling like a Lifetime movie. Others over come the obstacles and become pointed looks at humanity, love, and some such. But these movies are never funny. There has never been a cancer comedy that treated cancer like a real, scary thing, that is until 50/50 rolled around. Touted as Terms of Endearment for the Apatow crowd, 50/50 looks like a traditional stoner comedy that just happens to deal with someone getting cancer. But it's not. It's not even close to that. 50/50 is one of the best portrayals of coping with cancer that I've ever seen, with a healthy amount of genuine humor and heart. This is one you shouldn't miss.

(Sear)iously good!

The Duel

DISCUSS

Trailer Trash: Premium Rush

It's time to root through some trailers. What sorts of wonderful things will be alluded to today?

NEW TRAILER FOR A JOGO MOVIE!!! NEW TRAILER FOR A JOGO MOVIE!!! NEW TRAILER FOR A JOGO MOVIE!!! NEW TRAILER FOR A JOGO MOVIE!!!

Gonna keep it brief, since I'm just delaying you watching this gem, but this trailer is pretty great. The film seems to be taking on a very Cellular feel, with a normal person shoved headfirst into a crazy and life-threatening situation, the only difference being is that here the person is a crazy NYC bike messenger.

JOGO's in it, and so is Michael Shannon! I'm in all the way. This movie looks awesome!

Because I Haven't Talked About JoGo In Forever...

http://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/2011/05/02/joseph-gordon-levitt-talks-dark-knight-rises-and-urges-artists-to-hit-record/

By the way, I have contributed. Look me up. (On hitRECord, that is.)

In Other News: Gordon-Levitt and Cotillard's Dark Knight Characters Confirmed

Following the swill of rumors regarding who these two would be playing (JoGo was this close to being confirmed as Alberto Falcone, and Cotillard was most heavily applied to Talia Al'Ghul), we now finally have confirmation, IGN reports.

"Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-greiving Bruce Wayne resume his father's philanthropic endeavors in Gotham.


Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham city beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon."


There you go! Rather than have them playing roles fans of the comics know and love, Nolan is placing two of his most talented actors in roles he created. Now the rumors begin to brew as to what parts these two will play in the grand scheme of things. Is JoGo's John Blake assigned by Gordon to hunt Batman down, or is he instead going to be covertly aiding the caped crusader? Does MaCo's Tate only want to elevate Bruce Wayne, or does she have something trickier in mind?

Dear God! Why can't this movie exist now? We don't even have one production still, and I'm already dying from the wait!

In Other News: JoGo's Dark Knight Character

He's playing Alberto Falcone.

For those who didn't pay attention during Batman Begins, Carmine Falcone was the big, bad crime boss who had a lot to do with the death of Bruce Wayne's parents, and was the first big shot that Batman took down. He then got the bad end of Jonathan Crane's fear drug. Alberto is his son.

In the comics, Alberto was outcast from his father's business because, apparently, Carmine wanted him to have a normal life. Guess Alberto was the Michael to Carmine's Vito. But, the little Falcone had other plans, and went on to become the Holiday Killer, a murderer who only struck on, go figure, holidays. Since The Dark Knight Rises is going to wrap up the story, bringing it back Falcone is certainly in the books.

If anything, this, effectively, kills all rumors that Robin will be showing up, since JoGo was the only one of the confirmed cast who could have played him. While it does seem like there's gonna be a lot of villains in this one, Nolan is better storyteller than to fall victim to the "multiple baddie plague". After all, TDK had The Joker, Two-Face, Sal Maroni, Scarecrow, Lau, Gambol, and the Chenchen. And, last I checked, TDK turned out alright.

Anyway, that's something new. I'm still excited!

Wow, the resemblance is uncanny!

Addendum: This news is false. I just found out today. Serves me right for reporting on it so prematurely. 

In Other News: G.I. Joe Casting

So, according to a tweet by Rise of Cobra star, Rachel Nichols, a lot of the main cast won't be returning for G.I. Joe's second outing in it's on going fight with Cobra. All well and good, if you ask me; the cast of Rise of Cobra was only marginally better and more interesting to watch than paint drying, but this news gives me pause. Does this mean that JoGo won't be dawning that awful looking mask to play über baddie, Cobra Commander?

Sorry. Guess my Darth Vader ripoff wasn't good enough for you!!!!

If so, good for him. I mean, it's not like he's starved for work now. He just stole the show from under Leonardo DiCaprio's nose in the biggest blockbuster of last year, and has recently been slotted into the BIGGEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME, so a departure from something as mediocre as an action film directed by the guy who made Step-Up and the Justin Bieber documentary is more than alright with me.

However, JoGo's departure from the project effectively kills all chances of me seeing it. He was the only element to Rise of Cobra that was entertaining, so unless they get Daniel Day-Lewis to play Cobra Commander, I'm out. Well done Paramount! Now where are you gonna get my ten dollars. Your loss.

Oh wait! Does this also mean that The Ninth Doctor won't be back either? Are you guys trying to piss me off now?

Get this man a TARDIS!!!!!

Post #300: In Lieu of Events Gone By

300 posts. Woot woot! I didn't know I had it in me to churn out 100 posts that fast, especially given that it took my 2 years to get to the first 100. Since I'm hard pressed to come up with an interesting topic for this post, and comparing my blog to the movie 300 just sounded too tricky, I've decided to do a little retrospective. Every 100 posts, I'll look back, and single out the ones that I thought were the best. You know, the ones you should have noticed before but you're noticing them now because they're in this post but I'm not picky because any recognition is alright by me and this was a terrible run on sentence. Leap away!

Rising Ever Higher

Just in case you didn't put two and two together with my freakout post yesterday, let me break it down for you.

OH MY GOD!!! OH MY GOD!!!

THEY HEARD MY PRAYERS!!!!!

PLUS

IS HAPPENING!!!!!!

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I Just Died!

HAHAHAHA!!! YES!!!

Spreading the JGL Love

Here is the one place where you can find everything that was posted for my Jo-Go extravaganza. Hope this makes things easy.

My write up and thoughts on the man.

Why I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Heath Ledger have a lot in common.

My Reviews


(500) Days of Summer
10 Things I Hate About You
Brick
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Havoc
Inception
The Lookout
Manic
Mysterious Skin
Shadowboxer
Stop-Loss
Sweet Jane
Uncertainty
Women in Trouble

Contributions From Other Bloggers

JGL Contributions

So, you've heard my low down on the man. What's yours? Here's what some other bloggers had to say! Thanks to everyone who contributed! Special thanks to Simon from Four of Them, who tagged along for the whole thing.

Total Film ranks the Top 10 JGL YouTube Moments.

Kai Parker of The List starts the revolution of Jo-Go!


Reviews

(500) Days of Summer
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
Foolish Blatherings
Marshall and the Movies

Brick
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
Foolish Blatherings
My Film Habit

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
Marshall and the Movies

Inception
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
Foolish Blatherings
Four of Them
Marshall and the Movies

The Lookout
Marshall and the Movies
My Film Habit
Radiator Heaven

Manic
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews

Mysterious Skin
My Film Habit
Foolish Blatherings

Shadowboxer
Dan the Man's Movie Reviews
Foolish Blatherings

Uncertainty
Four of Them

Women In Trouble
Four of Them

The Man-Crush Explained!

"Acting's really difficult to talk about. If you could talk about so easily then you wouldn't have to act."

Over the past few days, I've blown through 13 movies, all of them starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (14 if you count Inception). It's no secret that I pretty much worship the man, and this extravaganza of mine was a great way to express my adoration. But, all good things must come to an end, so, what is there left to do? Well, I have to sum up everything, now don't I? I have to give my final two cents on the man as an actor! I have to briefly revisit each performance. I have to explain why I would totally go gay for him (I'm actually (semi)serious about that!). Read on and enjoy... if you dare!

Jason Soto Can Suck It!

Part 2 of my Day 13 JGL double feature. This is it. The last film on my queue! What is it, you ask? It is the film, in my mind. It's the film I, controversially, I might add, listed as my pick for best movie of the decade! Some people out there think this film is dumb, unoriginal, and bland! I say, nay! This film is anything but!

Love.


Discuss.

Awwwwwww!