When in Rome...

Back in 1980, Sophia Loren – then 56 – somehow managed to play her younger self and her mother in Sophia Loren: Her Own Story. Even then, that was pushing it. Thankfully, in a new upcoming TV movie about her life, 75-year-old Sophia realized she can’t exactly manage dual roles. Enter 27-year-old Sicilian beauty Margareth Made. This acting newcomer portrays Sophia in her pre-Hollywood bombshell days, while Sophia steps into the role of her own mother once again. The film La Mia Casa è Piena Di Specchi (My House Is Full Of Mirrors), now shooting in Rome, will be broadcast on Italian TV next year. Ok, so we won’t exactly get to watch the finished product, but we can take a sneak peek at the uncanny resemblance between the two.

Margareth and Sophia

Sophia and her real-life mom

Source

Quick Quips for September 23rd

"Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you'll find the real tinsel underneath."
- Oscar Levant

What If James Dean Didn't Die?

What if James Dean hadn’t died in that fateful car crash in 1955? It’s a question people have been asking since the tragic accident happened – and it’s one I ask myself every time I watch his films. But now a South African advertisement is hypothetically answering it. The eerie clip, entitled Legend, shows what Dean’s life might have been like, had he lived past 24. There are shots of Dean receiving a lifetime achievement Oscar, directing a film, protesting against the Vietnam War and working as a humanitarian ambassador.

Not gonna lie, this is pretty freakin’ cool. It was shot over 14 months and a combination of make-up, prosthetics, body doubles and CG face replacement were used to bring Dean “back to life.”

The ad finishes with the tagline: “Given more time, imagine the possibilities.”

I think I just got chills.

Quick Quips for August 21st

"I think that every religion says to love your neighbor. In Hollywood they add, "But don't get caught."

- Anita Ekberg

Kate to Channel Crawford?

Is Kate Winslet stepping into Joan Crawford’s perfectly polished pumps? EW.com reports that Winslet is currently in talks to star in a new mini-series adaptation of Mildred Pierce. The five-hour project is being shopped around to various cable networks, including HBO, and it’s based on James M. Cain’s Depression-era novel. The novel was also, of course, the basis for the 1945 film starring Ms. Crawford herself. Crawford played a protective single mother who’ll do anything for her children – even her spoiled, ungrateful teenage daughter played by Ann Blyth (seriously, you’ll want to slap that bitch). It’s a pure, melodramatic “woman’s picture” and it’s awesomely ridiculous. It netted Crawford an Oscar and the film itself nabbed Best Picture. While news of remakes generally make us cringe, this one potentially involves Kate Winslet so we’re loving it already. Start trying on your shoulder pads and penciling in those eyebrows, Kate. Mildred Pierce is calling for you!

On a Holiday!

Hey all! Apologies for the lack of regular posts lately. On the Marquee is taking a bit of a summer vacation. A "holiday," if you will - kinda like that Cary Grant movie. And speaking of which, Andrea is off to Grant's motherland, aka England, for some much needed R and R. Don't worry though, we'll be back and better than ever in no time! In the meantime, feel free to send us suggestions of posts you'd like to see!

So You Think You Can Suck?

So You Think You Can Dance stands as my favorite reality show on television, so I get really upset when anyone comes on and tries to sabotage it. Case-in-point: Katie Holmes.

As Tom Cruise’s wife one of the founding members of the Dizzy Feet Foundation (an amazing foundation that brings arts to underprivileged children – read more and feel free to donate here) producers of Dance asked Holmes to perform on the show’s 100th Episode celebration Thursday night. And I assume that means Tom Cruise told producers to ask her or she wouldn’t be donating any of his money to the foundation. But anyway, Holmes’ big number a rendition of Judy Garland’s 1950 performance of “Get Happy.” I’m still deciding whether or not it was a coincidence that a piece was picked in which Holmes would do a whopping none of the dancing.

Anycrap – Holmes took the stage … weeks ago … to pre-record her performance. And all they got out of it was lazy lip-syncing to weak vocals. That’s right: lip-syncing to her own voice in a pre-recorded performance.

Despite all that, though, judge Mary Murphy told the crowd, “I bet Judy Garland’s giving Katie a standing ovation in heaven.” If by “standing ovation” Mary means “the finger,” then yes, that’s probably what Garland was doing. And Dance’s producer Nigel told Garland’s son, who was sitting in the audience, that he must have been thrilled to see that. We’re betting her son was looking for an apology instead.

If I was a child watching that performance last night, the only way I’d be interested in Dizzy Feet Foundation would be if they could guarantee I wouldn’t be as bad as Katie Holmes. I’d rather emulate someone in the arts who can, you know, actually act, dance and/or sing.

The video of Holmes’ performance is below, but fair warning: it’s not something you’ll be able to unsee.