Christoph Waltz or the incredible chance of meeting a great director

 I remember Waltz from a very successful Austrian tv series "Kommissar Rex". He was a killer that the German shepherd Rex and his detective chased in one of the episodes. Honestly,I can't say why I remembered him, but I did and I recognized him many years later him when "Inglourious basterds" came.

And he was really brilliant as Hans Landa, he has a sort of  calm, mean energy,his  face and voice transform easily, making him a credible psychopath.He is a bit theatrical but not exaggerated and it was exactly the right approach for the role.The camera likes him,he is a frail man but somehow he gets threateningly big with sheer force of camera movement and good acting.

He is a disciplined master of his body and his gestures are always measured and poised.
Even though he is not a strikingly handsome man,he is sexy and somehow darkly so.

Waltz had all  these qualities during his long tv career in Austria and Germany but the chance of meeting a great director who knew exactly how to use his best features is what propelled Waltz and made him an internationally acclaimed actor, winner of two Academy awards and almost 50 different acting awards.

There are many actors in Europe and elsewhere in the world who are as good as Waltz and probably a few who are better.

Majority of them is also happy and content with success in their own countries and wouldn't dream of trying somewhere else.But for those who are not and who are eager to launch a serious international career,the most important step is meeting a great director who knows how to present their assets and who is genuinely interested in their acting skills.

Everything starts and ends with directors.Great scripts can be ruined by awful amateurs,wonderful actors massacred by ego maniacs,and every detail in movies depends eventually from the director.He is the one who knows how to choose his crew and most importantly his actors.
The best casting director in the world cannot convince a bad director to take a talented actor instead of a hyped hack.And the best cast can't help the movie if that one person who is responsible for them doesn't know what to do.

Waltz was a lucky guy,and it is best seen if we watch the movies he did without Tarantino,"Water for elephants","Green hornet","Carnage".

He is always good, sometimes  far better than his co-stars but if those were his first movies in Hollywood he would never had the career he has now.

And his second Oscar in Tarantino's "Django unchained" proves my point.

So a loud "bravo" and "good luck" for Waltz and a whisper for all the actors around the world who would like to take one step further:

- yes,agents are important but Taylor Kitsch also had a decent agent who took him to the slaughterhouse called "John Carter" so please please try and start Your career with a great  talented director who is genuinely interested in You and everything will come easily after that

I miss Hilary Swank

Dear Hilary,

for so many years You have entranced the public with your talent.

Ever since we saw You in "Boys don't cry" we knew that there will probably be no one like You in a long long time.It was a daring path,from various tv roles to an Oscar win and You did it,bravely and perfectly.
Brandon Teena was one of the most heartbreaking characters in movies and You managed to portray  it without ever going over the top.The movie is a feast for every  afficionado, a small,unpretentious story about very serious issues.And it was an excellent chance to show what true acting talent really meant,what brave and curious actress could do with a great script.

A star was born then and You continued fiercely,landing interesting roles that did You credit and bursting very soon in another  dreamlike role ," Million dollar baby".
There was a slight  danger of overdoing it,we thought Eastwood dumped to much grief  and pain on Your shoulders but once again You proved that modesty and finesse can go a very long way,straight to Your second Oscar.

 You have everything, looks,character,charisma,talent and knowledge of how to use that great talent sparingly and wisely.You have skill,You have heart and You captivate  every scene so completely that you need very strong partners. Still,even with weaker ones,you are a generous co-star who helps them.You are unpretentious and very very courageous and basically You can play everything to perfection.

But what I love about You is the fact that You never give up,You put the same effort in every role You play, however uninspiring it may appear.Everything You have done was brilliantly played but it's a pity that there were so little adequate challenges for Your talent.

One of my favourites is definitely "Amelia", I love Mira Nair so I am impatient to see whatever she does.And in Amelia there was also a benefit of watching my favourite actress so the pleasure was complete.It is a beautiful movie,opulent and moving and it was a great role for You.Another fearless and unconventional character that so obviously suited You.

So dear Hilary,please listen to a true fan's tiny whisper:

- even though I have nothing but enormous respect for the seriousness of Your efforts in really questionable movies,I think it's time to become more selective about Your projects since we are all impatient to congratulate You on Your third Oscar!

Oscars 2013,women only and of course Channing Tatum

The Oscars came and there were no big surprises except for all the people who presumed Seth MacFarlane will be preppy and polite. He was exactly himself, even a bit censored but very resourceful and quick.

Even though I am not his fan I appreciate his skill and cleverness.All in all it was fun and far better than last two years.And really let's all just relax and stop defendinding women's rights when they are not violated.The jokes are just jokes but far bigger issue for women today is the fact that only Kathryn Bigelow managed to get an Oscar for directing  a few years ago or the fact that women producers or studio bosses are so unbearably rare.This is certainly not Seth's fault.


But the night was simply fantastic for my whispering.

Channing Tatum continues to delight me,his dancing routine with stunning Charlize Theron made people drool and he was very humble in all his appearances,proving that he knows his place in the cruel hierarchy of Tinseltown.

The women were beautiful,with a few appalling exceptions.

Jessica Chastain  was simply perfect.I love her and respect her acting versatility and it made me very happy to see her having fun and enjoying her well deserved success.Nominations are a big deal,let's not forget that and it is her second in a very short period of time.Congratulations Jessica!

Naomi Watts looked fantastic,modern and edgy,her nomination well deserved but she is still far from Jessica,Jennifer or Emmanuelle Riva.

Mme Emmanuelle Riva is the epitome of French chic and cool,her performance in one of the greatest movies ever made was brilliant and the Oscar could have happened to her.It was great to see a woman of her age shine in such a demanding role.

The youngest nominee,Quvenzhane Wallis, is very funny,relaxed and obviously excellent actress and I hope that people who work with her will know how to continue nurturing that exceptional talent.Being a child prodigy in acting business is very tricky and I am very interested in watching her develop.

And finally Jennifer Lawrence.Oh dear,where to start?From the" Winter Bone" to this day I  knew she would rule the acting world some day.She is exceptionally talented but more than that she is simply a force of nature, a tomboy,a girl with no inhibitions and a performer so smart that she turns the most embarrassing moments in  personal triumphs in a split second.

Her role in "Silver Linings Playbook" was made to measure to accentuate all her strengths.She is effortlessly sexy,she is wild,she is omnipresent and yet she gives her partners a chance to shine beside her.It was a long time since I have seen a girl so brilliant, in some ways she reminds me of Julia Roberts.I sincerely hope that she will continue to choose her roles very carefully and that her road will be free of major Hollywood slips.

My whisper for her is the following:
- please follow only your heart in choosing projects,Your next step is extremely important since many great actresses simply ruined their careers after receiving the Oscar
- and never ever wear complicated dresses on big occasions

Amy Adams is a beautiful woman and a very good actress.Her choices so far were excellent,I liked her the best in "Fighter" but somehow awards slip from her fingers.Like Laura Linney,she constantly gets nominated and disappointed. In my opinion she deserved the Oscar more than our poor Fantine but she deserved it every time she got nominated.I will continue to root for Amy,her quiet shy charm and serious devotion as well as her struggle to act in interesting projects impress me. I wish her all the best and the Oscar will come soon enough!

Sally Fields,a legend.I loved to see her again in movies,I envy her the chance of working with a miraculous Daniel Day Lewis and she could have also gotten the award.She deserved it and I hope to see her again on the big screen.

The same goes for Helen Hunt,a great talent and charming and cool woman.She is never to eager and somehow she manages everything with unbearable lightness.I know she will get nominated and win again and again and I am glad for her.

Jackie Weaver is a nice funny lady but her nomination baffles me still.


And then the object of so many jokes,the insufferable Anne Hathaway who obviously didn't read my blog and will never ever just relax.

Oh Anne,such a shame!Receiving Your first Academy award while Your nipples got their twitter account?????WTF?????Even though I find the global hate movement towards Anne odious I can't help but getting furious with that girl and much more with people who work for her!What were they thinking, all of them?For months now she is the object of scrutiny,gossip,irrational hate and at the most important moment in her life she gives everyone a reason to convulse with laughter?

She is who she is,a neurotic artist,an insecure young woman who simply can't find a way to become likable.But still,she is a good actress and a beautiful girl and to ruin that it takes an entourage of morons.

The girl just got an Oscar and all everyone is talking about is her idiotic dress??????????????It is a nightmare.We can discuss her Fantine,I admit that her getting the Oscar instead of all the other nominees is maybe not fair but it was the vote.And she got all the awards this season so that says it all.

But to ruin a magical moment with things that should be so simple to solve??????She is beautiful, just find her a great dress and that's it.And finally,who are her PR people?Don't they know how to fix things?Her decline started two years ago with the Oscar hosting so what were they doing during that time?Are they trying to ruin her completely?Even if she was a stubborn woman who wanted to do everything on her own,there are always ways to create an image less irritating than the one she continues to force on the public.What are her parents doing?Her husband?They are the people closest to her and I hope well intentioned so for the love of God give her some sound advice!Her blabbering about forces in universe and that insufferable false "I love You all" attitude is just obnoxious.

So a whisper for her parents,husband,all of her entourage:
- get a grip people,advise and handle the girl,she is not Charlie Sheen for the love of God but she is drawing so much hatred that it will ruin her career completely
- find new stylists ASAP,the Prada disaster was really a major DISASTER

And a scream to Anne:
- Anne,sincere congratulations on Your Oscar,You deserve it and You will deserve it again but now is the time to change Your attitude,You may find it charming but it simply isn't working!Reinvent Yourself and rely on Your exceptional talent in doing it!

P.S.I was delighted to see the fabulous Mrs Michelle Obama taking part in this festive occasion!