Oscar Nominations

[Matilda]

I saw today that Christopher Plummer has his first Oscar nomination,
for his role in "The Last Station".

I haven't seen the film, but it's such a shame that this wonderful
actor has never even been nominated before, and I'd love it if he
could win (at the age of eighty!).

For me, he was the one thing that stopped "The Sound of Music" tipping
over into pure saccharine. Yes, I know I'm in a minority, but his
slightly waspish demeanour and his sheer sexuality took the film into
another realm for me.

I think the scene where he danced the Laendler with Julie Andrews was
the sexiest scene in the film. No wonder the Baroness got rid of
Maria as fast as she could! Here's a clip to remind you:

http://elizabethfs-graphicdesign.xanga.com/videos/63ed8660955/

(you'll have to click on it a couple of times, and it's slow to load,
but it seems to be the best clip available.)

[CBHagman]

1. Just saw "The Last Station" the other week.

It's not in wide release in the States yet; the screening I saw was a preview for a local cinema club.

I'm no expert on Tolstoy, especially on his personal life, but the word is that despite the emotional pyrotechnics on screen, Helen Mirren actually toned down the real Sophia Tolstoya. Apparently "drama queen" didn't begin to cover it.

As for Plummer's turn in The Sound of Music, I'm completely with you. Matilda. His sly wit and cool reserve made the on-screen relationship between Maria and the captain memorable. Everyone loves to see a repressed man thaw out a bit when the right woman comes along.

[Matilda]

2. I watched a recent interview with him on youtube,

promoting his memoirs, and he's still a very vibrant man.

I discovered that my library has the book on order, so I put a reserve on it.