Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 13:34     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Her gangster rap shorts on SNL are epic. She seems like she has a great sense of humor.


Eh, I think it's that she understand that as a very delicate, pretty woman, she can get a lot of mileage out of playing against stereotype. This is a known trope. Usually it takes the form of "beautiful ethereal supermodel loves cheeseburgers!" but "delicate ingenue with childlike voice loves gangsta rap" is not a particularly big leap. This is a game beautiful women have been playing forever (I've played it myself, back when I was younger and prettier and thinner and could get mileage from it).

Also, you should always assume that whenever a celebrity goes on SNL and does something really, really funny, it was dreamed up by the writers and pitched to the celebrity. It's their job. I think Andy Samberg was head writer during those Portman shorts? That's a very Samberg gag. Likewise, I doubt Peyton Manning called up SNL last week and was like "I have a hilarious bit about me watching Emily in Paris instead of the NFL playoffs, what do you think?" An actual comedy writer put that together.


There are plenty of people, actors even, who can't pull of the comic delivery. I still think Portman was good. But, since you brought up Manning, his delivery is amazing -- particularly when you consider that he's a football player. That commercial he did where he's a terrible kids' football coach was especially good. (Among SNL hosts, I think Justin Timberlake has been the funniest.)
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 13:31     Subject: Re:Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She was terrible in that marvel movie.


And the Star Wars movies.


And that movie where she plays a waif
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 12:50     Subject: Re:Natalie Portman
I think she is a good actress (not outstanding but solid) and also find her manner off putting - too much cussing and self importance …

It is too bad as she could be a positive role model for child/ teen stars who choose a formal education over hedonism/ self destruction …
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 11:32     Subject: Re:Natalie Portman
Has OP ever come back to elaborate on what she meant about NP being "okay with the media tearing down other women at her expense"? Because I've not seen that in the media. She may be smug or a bit too precious but in that profession, who isn't?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 11:31     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:Her gangster rap shorts on SNL are epic. She seems like she has a great sense of humor.


Eh, I think it's that she understand that as a very delicate, pretty woman, she can get a lot of mileage out of playing against stereotype. This is a known trope. Usually it takes the form of "beautiful ethereal supermodel loves cheeseburgers!" but "delicate ingenue with childlike voice loves gangsta rap" is not a particularly big leap. This is a game beautiful women have been playing forever (I've played it myself, back when I was younger and prettier and thinner and could get mileage from it).

Also, you should always assume that whenever a celebrity goes on SNL and does something really, really funny, it was dreamed up by the writers and pitched to the celebrity. It's their job. I think Andy Samberg was head writer during those Portman shorts? That's a very Samberg gag. Likewise, I doubt Peyton Manning called up SNL last week and was like "I have a hilarious bit about me watching Emily in Paris instead of the NFL playoffs, what do you think?" An actual comedy writer put that together.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 11:30     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Settle a debate between my partner and me. I think that, in the mid-00s, Natalie Portman was kind of smug and okay with the media tearing down other women at her expense. He claims that she wasn't. Your thoughts, please.


She was never anything special, but had a Jewish network early on for movies, Harvard, shows, etc.

She knew all about Harvey Weinstein raping her colleagues.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 11:27     Subject: Re:Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:She was terrible in that marvel movie.


And the Star Wars movies.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 11:22     Subject: Natalie Portman
Her gangster rap shorts on SNL are epic. She seems like she has a great sense of humor.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 06:43     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She was sexualized as a child in Beautiful Girls; and it was a creepy subplot about her platonic relationship with Timothy Hutton and how he was attracted to her. Super sick.

Are we so enamored with piling on that we're somehow blaming 12 year ago old Natalie for Willie/Timothy Hutton's creepiness here?

This thread is pretty funny, all the posters lining up to tell stories about how Natalie seemed smug that time their neighbor's college roommate passed her on the street.


PP, I think you’re misreading what I wrote. In no way am I blaming Portman for Beautiful Girls, just remarking that she was in a major motion picture in which her she and beauty were plots and it was wildly acceptable. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the movie and as a parent I cannot believe her parents allowed her to star in that role. Please don’t project onto my observations.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2022 06:38     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:She was sexualized as a child in Beautiful Girls; and it was a creepy subplot about her platonic relationship with Timothy Hutton and how he was attracted to her. Super sick.

Are we so enamored with piling on that we're somehow blaming 12 year ago old Natalie for Willie/Timothy Hutton's creepiness here?

This thread is pretty funny, all the posters lining up to tell stories about how Natalie seemed smug that time their neighbor's college roommate passed her on the street.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2022 23:33     Subject: Re:Natalie Portman
She was terrible in that marvel movie.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2022 23:28     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the tension with her is that she seems to want to be seen as a serious actress, but she doesn’t do serious work.


I really don’t think she’s very good. She was good in black swan but that staring intense look seems to be her one note. I hate those perfume ads she does with such a passion that I almost can’t see her in anything else. What would you do for love?


I don’t understand how she even got her first few roles.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2022 13:14     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Jonathan Safran Foer is insufferable and his books are so over-rated.

+1
There! Someone finally said it.


Dang! I've always liked her, but I hate Jonathan Safran-Foer and this is juicy!

I posted this earlier, but this podcast episode is a must-listen for anyone who hates Jonathan Safran-Foer: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/94hord You will laugh and cringe your way through it.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2022 13:06     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the tension with her is that she seems to want to be seen as a serious actress, but she doesn’t do serious work.


I really don’t think she’s very good. She was good in black swan but that staring intense look seems to be her one note. I hate those perfume ads she does with such a passion that I almost can’t see her in anything else. What would you do for love?

I thought she was terrible in Black Swan. I honestly thought it was supposed to be some sort of camp performance for the first 3/4 until I realized that it was intended to be a serious drama. I've always found her to be a so-so actress (except she was legitimately good in The Professional). But I remain mystified why she got so much phrase for that terrible, hystrionic performance in Black Swan.


Finally someone else thinks the same! I always say she got an Oscar for losing a ton of weight. The Academy loves when actors lose a lot of weight for a role (see, e.g., Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club, Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, etc.)


Def agree about the weight thing. I thought Black Swan was a good movie but not worthy of an Oscar. She probably should have won for Jackie but they had already given her one and she's not Meryl Streep or Frances McDormand. Emma Stone won the year of Jackie and that def was not a worthy performance. IMO
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2022 09:33     Subject: Natalie Portman
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Jonathan Safran Foer is insufferable and his books are so over-rated.

+1
There! Someone finally said it.


Dang! I've always liked her, but I hate Jonathan Safran-Foer and this is juicy!