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Campaigning for Coin: Alex Kingston
Welcome back to another edition of Campaigning for Coin! Today, we’re discussing an actress best known for her roles on ER and Doctor Who, two very different but very popular television shows. Everyone gather around to hear the fansites’ thoughts on Alex Kingston!
Alex Kingston
Rebekah (Them There Eyes): I’ll be honest, I’m a long time fan of Alex Kingston, starting with her work on the long running, critically acclaimed, award winning, and fan loved NBC series ER. She’ll always be the fish out of water Doctor Elizabeth Corday to me, which I think is a good way to think of Alex. Elizabeth allowed Alex as an actress to explore a multitude of feelings, and experiences to act out over the course of that characters 12 year run. Aside from her work on ER though, Alex has played a gamut of other characters, most famously she’s Doctor River Song on Doctor Who, where she’s really kind of a source of comic relief seemingly majority of the time. And then there’s her work on series’ like Upstairs Downstairs, and the CW’s Arrow. She’s definitely proven her self capable of embodying different kinds of women, therefore I say I wouldn’t kick up a fuss if she was cast as Coin. Her being cast might even bring in a whole slew of different kinds of audience members, because Alex is known from such a diverse collection of projects. She’d bring in the ER crowd, and the younger crowd from the Doctor Who side of things, and the PBS/BBC loving lot from being known for Upstairs Downstairs. Alex Kingston, I simply can’t find fault with this idea. Who’s next?
Savanna from Hunger Games Fireside Chat: I am a Doctor Who fanatic. And as such, I’d hate for my view of River Song to become tainted by seeing Alex Kingston play Alma Coin. However, setting my selfishness aside for a moment, I actually think that Kingston could potentially be a great choice. While her identity as a person is — unfortunately — closely linked to River for me and many others, Kingston is quite adept at slipping into her roles so well that you lose yourself in the character and the story. So with a different hairstyle and an American accent, I doubt Whovians would have trouble seeing Kingston as Coin and not River. I haven’t seen ER, so I can’t speak for her performance there, but Kingston was an absolutely phenomenal Mrs. Bennet in the miniseries Lost in Austen. While having nothing in common with Coin on the surface, if you’re familiar with Pride and Prejudice, then you know just how manipulative and scheming Mrs. Bennet can be. True, she’s simply a small-town meddler and not a political schemer, but after seeing Kingston so brilliantly portray this “ball-breaking” matriarch hell-bent on securing good marriages for her daughters, I would love to see her interpretation of Coin.
Doctor Who
Colleen from HG Girl on Fire: In my mind, Alma Coin is cold & manipulative, but she had to have some quality to make everyone trust her. I can easily see Alex Kingston taking on that role. She’s just so versatile. Most people probably know her as a doctor on ER or as the charming (yet not completely trustworthy at times) River Song on Doctor Who. When I saw Kingston’s name on the list of possibilities for Coin, I thought of her role as Boudica in Warrior Queen. She rallies her people to rebel against the Roman Empire and goes down fighting. She’s believable as a leader, and it’s this role I first thought of that made me think she would be a good choice for Coin. But it’s her Doctor Who role that clinched it for me. She plays River Song with an air of authority, but with her own secrets & agenda. She’s all but mastered the ‘I can be your best friend or you worst enemy’ look, and, to me, that is the essence of Alma Coin. And I think the British accent would totally work for Coin.
ER
Kelsey from My Hunger Games: Being a massive “Whovian”, I will forever and always see Alex Kingston as the lovable, sassy and adventurous Professor River Song. So upon first seeing her name among the list of actresses “Campaigning for Coin”, my initial reaction was to object. However, since I am a huge fan of Alex’s, she was worth looking into a bit more. That’s when I realized how amazing of an actress Kingston really is. Looking at her as Dr. Corday in ER, Mrs. Bennet in Lost in Austen all the way to Boudica in Warrior Queen and Dinah in Arrow. Every one of her characters is so different, yet Alex is able to bring them to life so vividly. That alone it is a huge testament to her ability. At this point, Kingston isn’t a household name – and that could definitely work in her favor. The fact that she isn’t incredibly well known could make her an easier choice for Lionsgate, considering their budget. But the fact that she is a very well rounded actress bodes well for the fans. I think she can easily bring Coin to life like she has with so many others!
Courtney & Tiffany from Welcome to District 12: We LOVE Alex Kingston! We are both crazy huge Doctor Who fans, and if there’s a character we love almost as much as The Doctor, it’s River Song. Of course this isn’t the only reason that we are in love with the idea of Kingston as Coin. We’ve seen the duality of her acting solely through the show, and her resume speaks for itself as well. We aren’t worried about her capabilities as an actor to handle Coin in the slightest. She would also be a perfect Coin candidate for the “lesser known actor” option.
Campaigning for Coin: Anjelica Huston
In today’s Campaigning for Coin, a debate sparks over candidate Anjelica Huston, best known for her roles in Ever After, The Addams Family, The Witches, and Smash. Who’s side are you on?
Anjelica Huston
Kait (The Girl With The Pearl): Anjelica Huston’s talent is undoubtable. Whenever she gives a performance, you can bet it’s going to be a memorable one. We have no doubt that she’d work in the role of Alma Coin, but might she be too predictable? It’s really important that Coin is not a transparently “evil” character who’s up to no good. Audiences must question whether or not she is to be trusted. Despite some great performances in other genres, people expect Anjelica Huston to be a bit of a baddie, especially with Ever After and The Witches sticking out most to people in the film’s target audience. Anjelica has the air of authority about her and she looks like the type of woman who could firmly run District 13, but can she play the ambigious side of the Coin and keep everyone guessing?
Theresa from Down With The Capitol: I have admittedly been a huge fan of Sigourney Weaver for the role of Coin for quite some time. That is until I saw the name Anjelica Huston in our Campaign for Coin. My most vivid memory of her on screen is admittedly 15 years old, as the wicked step mother, Rodmilla De Ghent in ‘Ever After’. She was both regal and cunning, dead set on getting what she wanted at the expense of anyone, including her own daughters. Willing to do anything to gain power and respect in the kingdom. Someone who shows one face to the world, and another behind closed doors. Sound familiar? Yup, that’s our Coin, and Anjelica knows how to deliver her perfectly.
Savanna from Hunger Games Fireside Chat: While I wouldn’t be disappointed if Anjelica Huston were cast as President Coin, she’s definitely not one of my top picks. Yes, she’s absolutely an acting legend, and her talent is indisputable. As a big Wes Anderson fan, I especially enjoyed her performances in The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic. And you only need to see her as the wicked stepmother in Ever After to believe her capable of portraying a manipulative, power-hungry figure like Coin. But for me, she just doesn’t have the right “look.” Obviously this is a completely subjective thing and a matter of personal preference. But I always envisioned Coin as someone whose physical appearance somewhat belied her true nature, and Huston has played so many “evil” roles in the past that audiences might immediately assume she’s up to something. And where’s the fun in that?
Ever After
Amanda from HG Girl on Fire: Angelica Huston is my top pick for this role. To me she just has the right demeanor; she can be perfectly “wicked” and cold. I loved her in Ever After, and I think that particular movie showcases just how good she would be in this role. She didn’t care about anyone but herself, her character was all about doing everything and anything to get ahead, and make herself look good while not caring what the consequences would be. All the while keeping Drew Barrymore’s character down and keeping her from getting ahead. Sound familiar? That is why I think she would have Coin down pat. To me she is also the best physical resemblance of President Coin; she is extremely good at looking cold and evil. I think she is also the right age as well. It will be very exciting to see who does end up playing President Coin and I really hope it is Angelica Huston.
Crystal from Mockingjay.net: While I love Angelica Huston, having recently seen her in 50/50, I don’t think I’d be all that thrilled if she was picked as Coin. I’m old enough to remember her as Morticia Addams and it’s tough to let a role like that go. Then there’s Witches, which I used to watch over and over as a kid. It’s hard to put into words really, but it just seems “predictable” to have someone like her cast.
The Addams Family
Jacqui from My Hunger Games: Anjelica Huston is one of the most recognized faces in Hollywood. She spent most of her life in front of the camera. She has had some fantastic parts including playing Lilly Dillon in The Grifters, Gretta Conroy in The Dead and her Oscar winning performance as the vengeful girlfriend of hit man Jack Nicholson in Prizzi’s Honor. Many fans will also know her as Mortitia in three Addams Family films. However, for me, I love her best as the awkward mistress in Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanours, as the mother in The Royal Tenebaums and as Eileen Rand, the legendary Broadway producer, who will still throw a drink in someone’s face if need be, in Smash. She’s a real actress, with striking features. She’s statuesque and exudes a quiet confidence. She is a woman that knows how to portray strength and menacing. While she might not be my first choice for the Mockingjay movies, I believe she would bring something special to the role of Alma Coin.
Lee from The Hob: Anjelica Huston is an excellent candidate to portray President Coin. Physically striking and emotionally powerful in her previous performances, Ms. Huston could provide an emotional depth to Coin that many other actresses wouldn’t be able to approach. Since Coin embodies the rapacious need for power and control, Ms. Houston would no doubt deliver a performance that would enable the audience to see the resolve, calculation and power needed to make this character come alive.
Courtney & Tiffany from Welcome to District 12: Great choice! I love these actresses that are out there doing great work, yet not extremely famous or well known. Anjelica Huston in the role of Coin scares the crap out of me, but in a good way. When put in a powerful role like that, Anjelica Huston would do very well. She’s an actress known for her severe look and authoritative presence. Though known for playing Morticia Adams, she’s been in the biz for years, playing all types of roles, and her most current stint on Smash just ended with the show’s demise, which frees her up. She’s got the look, she’s got the hair, and without a doubt The Supreme Leader from Captain EO has my vote!
Campaigning for Coin: Sigourney Weaver
Time for the next candidate in Campaigning for Coin, a segment in which the fansites come together to discuss possible casting for District 13 President Alma Coin! This week’s pick is a sci-fi favorite: She’s done Alien, Avatar, Ghostbusters, Paul, Galaxy Quest, Cabin in the Woods, and The Village. That’s right, it’s none other than Sigourney Weaver!
Sigourney Weaver
Kait (The Girl With The Pearl): Sigourney Weaver is one of the most classic ass-kickers in Hollywood. She’s battled aliens, injustice, armies invading Pandora, and Zuul! Yet I have no idea what she’d do with a cruelly ambiguous character like President Coin because I haven’t seen her taken on a role like that (though I’m told Political Animals is a great example.) Sigourney is usually the hero or the mockingly evil character, though in all the movies she displays a great sense of authority. But it’s possible that she’s also TOO much of a sci-fi favorite to really convince audiences she is Alma Coin, not just Sigourney Weaver playing Alma Coin. Overall, she’s not my top pick, but I wouldn’t be unhappy if she were cast in the film!
Ellie from Down With The Capitol: Most famous for battling aliens and, more recently, battling with aliens, we know Weaver can play a strong, intense female character. She has that stern superiority about her that must be present in any President Coin. She could bring out Coin’s relentlessness beautifully, as well as her weaker, more fearful moments. Her height, alone, could give Coin an overpowering dimension that could cause fear in the viewers. She would be wonderful choice for Coin, who would bring even more talent to an extremely talented cast.
Adam from Hunger Games Fireside Chat: There’s a reason Sigourney Weaver tops the mountain of many President Coin lists: She represents female empowerment better than perhaps any other actress out there. She has earned that reputation through dominant roles in Alien, or even Avatar, but there was a reason she was selected for those roles — she possesses a transformative acting talent. President Coin may be a villain in many eyes, but that doesn’t make her a weak character. Coin is ambitious and ruthless, and extremely cunning in her attempt to achieve supremacy over Panem. Weaver could seamlessly fit into that role, applying those badass heroine characteristics she’s so famous for to more sinister aims. For Coin, Weaver is as good as it gets.
Alien
Amanda from HG Girl On Fire: I do think that Sigourney Weaver would make a fabulous President Coin. My only hesitation is that, given her record of mostly science fiction, especially Alien, I worry that I might spend the entire time picturing President Coin fighting off aliens, which is unfortunate because, as I said, I really do think she would be great in the role. She is an extremely talented actress, and I think she can definitely handle the meaner, colder persona needed for Coin, and she more closely physically resembles how I pictured Coin. I think she is closer age-wise too. Sigourney Weaver is in my top two picks for this role. I would not be unhappy at all if she were to play President Coin.
Ciara from Mockingjay.net: For cinema historians everywhere, Sigourney Weaver is the only choice for President Coin. Katniss has raised her bow at a time in film, particularly in 2012, when we saw more heroine-headlining blockbusters than any other year previous. Casting Weaver as Coin would be a nice thank you to the very first female action icon and to the makers of ‘Alien’ who, in 1979, simply switched Ripley from a man to a woman. It would be a fitting passing of the torch to the most exciting heroine of cinema today. But this isn’t like casting her in just another cameo performance to reference her title as the queen of sci-fi and horror (‘Paul,’ ‘Cabin in the Woods’). President Coin is much more important than that. Sigourney Weaver is a truly wonderful actress. We know she can play cold and calculating extremely well but she can do it with much more subtlety and complexity than many other actresses of her generation from ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ to more recently in ‘Rampart.’ And that’s what is needed for Coin. She’s most certainly not an evil character. But she’s not a good one. She’s human. Mockingjay is all about the failings of humanity and the cost of war and Weaver would give the honest and credible performance that the character of Coin deserves. If that wasn’t enough she would be an incredible adversary to Donald Sutherland’s Snow, both characters being like different sides of the same *ahem* coin. And lastly, she should sign on to Mockingjay because the fact that Donald Sutherland and Sigourney Weaver haven’t been in the same movie together is a crime against celluloid!
Political Animals
Kristen from My Hunger Games: What is there to say about Sigourney Weaver, other than she is the face of an entire generation of cult classics? I’m not going to talk about her portrayal of the supercool scientist/ET killer Ellen Ripley of the ridiculously successful Alien franchise. I’m not even going to talk about Dana Barrette and the infamous “There is no Dana, only Zuul” line from Ghostbusters. I’d just like to call your attention to 1997’s awesome retelling of a classic fairytale—Snow White: A Tale of Terror. Sigourney Weaver rendered the single most bad-ass interpretation of the Evil Queen/ Poison-apple-toting old hag EVER. (That’s right, I said EVER, Charlize Theron…) More than portraying a seriously vain, jealously deranged, power-starved wicked step mother, Sigourney brought an almost sympathetic note to the role as a grieving mother who never could get past the death of her son. Her heart was kind of in the right place at least for a while. And that’s exactly why Sigourney has my vote for President Coin. She is fully capable of playing a dastardly and manipulative character, while at the same time maintaining a certain je ne sais quoi about her. In the books we’re lead to believe that—unlike President Snow—Coin is the Head Honcho of District 13 because the people chose her to be, which is to say, she must have been likeable enough to get elected. If the writers/producers/directors want to portray a tough-as-nails, yet relatable President Coin, Sigourney Weaver would be the hands-down choice in my opinion.
Ghostbusters
Jessica from The Hob: Sigourney Weaver is a versatile actress who could easily capture President Coin’s power hungry, unscrupulous nature. With a wide range of roles under her belt from Alien to Galaxy Quest to The Village, Weaver creates characters who are powerful and commanding even if they are not in an actual position of power. I can easily see her ordering torturings or using her troops like game pieces. She also has the depth to portray Coin’s conviction and mass appeal to the residents of District 13, who liked and respected her enough to make her President in the first place.
Courtney & Tiffany from Welcome to District 12: If a more popular actress was to be cast as Coin, we would jump for joy at the thought of Sigourney Weaver. She’s played roles in many popular films every decade in the past 30 years, been apart of classic franchises (Ghostbusters, Alien) and has been nominated for an Oscar three times. Like the other fine candidates, she often plays powerful women and a voice that emits authority and power. Whenever Sigourney Weaver is on screen, she commands attention, and that is something we very much need from whoever will play Coin. There would be no doubting her command as the President of District 13. Let’s not forget, she played a Hillary Clinton-esque figure in Political Animals. Aside from the fact that Sigourney Weaver is a fan favorite, she’s got the voice and the look to play Coin.
Is Sigourney Weaver your pick for president?
Liam and His Team
Ladies and gentlemen of Twitter, HEMSY IS IN THE HOUSE! …Sort of.
Nobody sees the fine print, anyway!
We briefly mentioned in another post that Liam Hemsworth has joined the 21st century as far as young celebrity staples go by getting himself a Twitter account, @LiamHemsworth. The man himself has tweeted twice since opening the account, once to introduce himself to this new-fangled form of communication and the other to thank everyone for rabidly following his account while simultaneously attacking him with tweets.
But there’s another player in this game. A team of them, even! They call themselves “Team Liam”, aka the gaggle of PR reps that are actually responsible for running the account. We’re sure Hemsy will get his tweet on every now and then, but it’s going to be simple and career-based and pretty lame. No talks of favorite foods or pictures of pets or corny jokes. Right now, half of his four tweets reveal what the account is actually going for: Advertisement, advertisement, advertisement.
We actually have to tip our hats to Team Liam for their honesty. Many celebrities have their account run by PR reps posing as the celebrity, giving false impressions that the celebrity is totally absorbed in their carefully mapped out career with ZERO personality. There are cases where that is the actual celebrity and they’re just that sad, but usually it’s a PR team. Kudos to Team Liam for having the courtesy NOT to pose as the man himself.
A Gift to the Teens from the PR gods!
The PR-Celebrity Twitter collab does have its perks: For one, Hemsy gets to “connect” with fans on Twitter without actually having to give a damn about Twitter. ICYMI, he’s made it pretty clear that he doesn’t want to share his personal life. He can tweet about loving his job or being thankful for this or that and be done. He doesn’t have to feel compelled to read all his @replies and retweet to prove that he loves whatever country said “Superfan” is from. And though we DO NOT see him as this type, having a monitor hold his Twitter hand keeps him from going on the Internet and doing something really fucking stupid. Think Alexander Ludwig joking about having sex with pre-teen fans… and that’s only scratching the surface compared to some celebrity shenanigans.
Liam’s upcoming film, Paranoia, is getting the attention it needs from his young, possibly action-oriented fanbase via magical Internet portal, as will his future projects! He’ll occasionally acknowledge that he’s proud of his work and thankful for his fans that way too! He’ll get more love all around and more people may go see his films! Truly, it’s a sweet setup. Some fans think the deserve this semi-personal online relationship with celebrities, as if a retweet or reply means they’re OMG LYKE TOTALLY BIFFLES! But in reality, they’re not either way, so keeping it simple sure can’t hurt.
We Have Yet To Tweet Him Saying “HEMMMMMSSSSSSYYYY” Like A Loony! …It Will Happen.
The Girl With The Pearl
P.S. I secretly hope someone else was silly enough to stick the non-existent extra syllable in the title like I did: Li-am and his Te-am! *cough* To make amends for that, here’s the Paranoia trailer:
Campaigning for Coin: Joan Allen
It’s time for another round of Campaigning for Coin! This time up, we’re discussing Joan Allen, best known from The Bourne series, Mists of Avalon, and Pleasantville!
Joan Allen
Kait (The Girl With The Pearl): Joan Allen has essentially made a career out of playing women who range from “intense” to “total witch with a capital B”. But there’s a reason for that: She’s great at it! She’s had great roles in popular movies like The Crucible, The Notebook, and Pleasantville that make her a noticeable candidate, but it’s her taking on Pam Landy in the Bourne series that convinces me she’d be a great Alma Coin. Both characters require equal strength and subtle deception, which Joan pulls off without a hitch. She can make Coin versatile enough that she doesn’t feel like the stereotypical bad guy (which she isn’t!) and keep audiences on their toes. We certainly wouldn’t be disappointed if she were cast in the role!
Savanna from Hunger Games Fireside Chat: While I’m definitely aware of Joan Allen’s talent and fame, I’ve only seen her in a couple of things, so I hardly feel qualified to make a personal statement about her abilities as an actor. Yes, believe it or not, I’ve never seen the Bourne films or The Mists of Avalon or Nixon or Pleasantville. Or any of her other notable performances for that matter. (What’s wrong with me?) All that being said, however, I’d be totally thrilled to see her play Coin. She’s the right age and definitely has a great look for the role. Unlike Glenn Close and Tilda Swinton, Allen has a much softer appearance that would believably mask Coin’s ruthlessness (and certainly fool movie viewers who have not read the books). And as a Tony winner and Academy Award nominee, she’d also lend even more acclaim to an already much-celebrated cast.
In “The Mists of Avalon”
Lindsay from HG Girl On Fire: I’m thrilled Joan Allen is one of the actresses we are talking about here, because she is the exact person I was thinking of when reading the book. I think she’s an exceptional actress. I first took notice of her as the dysfunctional mother in The Ice Storm, but loved her role as an oppressed woman coming into her own in Pleasantville. It’s her role as Pamela Landy in the Bourne franchise, though, that really seals the deal for me on this one. She’s tough-as-nails when she needs to be. Ready to take on the man. She’s been nominated three times for an Oscar. To me, she looks perfectly the part. I think she’s been underestimated as an actress. She’s not so stunning it would throw you off to have her as your Coin, but also not unattractive. I’d love to see Allen, or someone of her caliber, take on the role.
Carla from Mockingjay.net: Joan Allen is a legend, and I would be over the moon if she were cast as President Coin. Every role I’ve seen her play, even those characters that were not in any sort of position of power, demand attention the way I expect Coin would. But my favorite thing about Allen is that she can play characters that are perfectly polite– with an edge. I’m thinking particularly of her roles in The Notebook and Mists of Avalon as I say this, but even in her other projects I’ve seen that she can come across as perfectly diplomatic and no-nonsense, and with just a single gesture (a tightening of the lips, a narrowing of the eyes, a deepening of her tone) she can convey that she’s really not that agreeable. And there’s a layer of brattiness to her, but not in a way that makes her seem childish, but in a way that makes her come across as controlling and manipulative. And Coin needs that, in my opinion. Coin needs to be someone who can seem like a leader who has everything under control at first glance, yet have a subtle bitchiness to her that only becomes obvious when she’s around Katniss. And I’ve hardly seen anyone better at conveying such a trait than Joan Allen. She would be a fantastic choice for the character if you ask me, definitely one of my favorites on this list.
As Pam Landy in the Bourne movies
Kelsey from My Hunger Games: Joan Allen is an actress with many different faces. From the innocent but persecuted Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, a picture perfect housewife with a deep-seeded restlessness in Pleasantville, to the overbearing mother in The Notebook. But can she pull off the cold and calculating President Alma Coin in our beloved Mockingjay movies? To find out, we can take a look at her work as Pamela Landry in The Bourne franchise. Allen portrays a leader much like Coin, and what the two ladies share is a strong dedication to their perspective causes. On the outside they carry a strength and confidence that inspires people to follow them, and yet they both have their own agendas. I think Joan could pull off the role very well, and what gives her an edge is the wide range in her filmography. Allen’s kind of talent can give President Coin a well-rounded outer shell, in addition to bringing out her inner darkness.
Lee from The Hob: Joan Allen is an extremely versatile actress. Most recognizable as Pam Landy from The Bourne movies, Ms. Allen has already shown an affinity in genre work such as her portrayal of Morgause in the Mists of Avalon to voicing a Skyrim video game. President Coin has no moral compass, other than power – how to get it, how to keep it. She stops at nothing. Ms. Allen has shown she can play remote and commanding; appearing quiet and lethal as you would expect from a great performance of an actress playing President Coin.
What do YOU think of Joan Allen as Alma Coin?
Write For Victor’s Village!
No, you didn’t stumble upon an extra post for this week! This is just a quick messy post asking for longer, less messy posts from YOU.
The Girl With The Pearl is heading to the land of no Internet access for her sister’s wedding next week and we need your help! With new posters, the Instagram, and the fandom going as crazy as ever, do you have an opinion to share about The Hunger Games books, movies, or fandom?
We’ve got your opportunity right here! We’re seeking out some stellar guest posts because, believe it or not, we know that our opinions aren’t the only ones that matter!
If you’ve got ANYTHING to say about The Hunger Games books, movies, merchandise, fandom, etc. that you’d like to share with tons of members of the fandom, write it up and send it to thevictorsvillage@gmail.com! Wit preferred, but not required. As long as your writing isn’t a hot mess (we have faith in you!), we’ll post it up to be share with other fans!
Oh, and if possible.. send them our way soon!
Any questions? Send us an e-mail or sound off in the comments!
With posters like this, how could you NOT want to get your discussion on?
Hunger Games Fans Are Cheaters… AKA Kids At Heart
Let’s all stop and admit to something: We are a bunch of big, dirty cheating cheaters!
It’s not our fault! When you’re swimming with sharks or running with wolves or existing alongside some vicious creature (aka other fandoms!), you do what you gotta do to come out on top!
It least it looks cooler than an Oscar!
How did this revelation come about, you ask?
Today was a big day for me on a personal level, as I managed to pull off my sister’s bridal shower without murdering anyone in the process. But even in the middle of playing party hostess extraordinaire, The Hunger Games still worked its way into the day… because everyone knows I’m a huge fandom geek.
This time, it was a cousin who has children in the appropriate Kids Choice Awards age range. To paraphrase…
Her: “We were watching The Kids Choice Awards last night. The Hunger Games won a bunch of stuff! I was kind of surprised, given the age range.”
Me: “Oh, the Internet knows no age range. Maybe 10 percent of the people voting for The Hunger Games were actually age appropriate. When voting is all online, an 80-year-old could vote for the Kids Choice and no one would be the wiser. Kids voted, I’m sure, but I guarantee you there were way more adults. Hell, I bet some cleared their cookies and voted multiple times.”
Her: “Don’t grown adults have better things to do with their time?”
Me: “Sadly, no.”
From there, I tried to point out Alexander Ludwig’s heinous comb-over. She didn’t recall, but SERIOUSLY, WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT?!
Anyhow, clearly there’s a large chunk of cheaters among us! Not to say that there aren’t kids who have read or seen The Hunger Games– we’re under the firm belief that it’s up to parents to decide when their children can watch certain books or read certain books– but we wouldn’t guess that the majority of kids are totally saavy on books and movies heavy on death and political turmoil. Plus, WE KNOW about the cheating because we helped facilitate it through our social networks! Because if The Hunger Games is nominated, WE BETTER WIN, DAMMIT!
Willow’s elbows FTW!
We’re not the only ones, of course! Kristen Stewart won not one but two awards. Plus Johnny Depp took home the award for Best Actor for Dark Shadows, which was a great movie… said no kid ever. They seem a little out of place among the wins for Selena Gomez and One Direction and Spongebob Squarepants. That’s because they are! They were put there for the fandoms and the fandoms ensured the win, regardless of supposed “age restrictions”.
For the record, it was totally worth it, simply for that moment we realized that Willow Shields is both adorable AND double jointed in her elbows!
We All Know We Have the Maturity Level of a Ten Year-Old Anyway,
The Girl With The Pearl
Meanwhile, On Planet Overreaction…
So, THE PHOTOS. The ones that clearly no fansite is going to talk about, because they were taken by paparazzi taking a step up by not only shooting on set, but straight into the cast’s hotel rooms. We’re talking about them.
Yet drinking an entire bottle of wine would be no big deal…
A few days ago, paparazzi photos of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and a friend smoking what was likely a joint while inside or on the balcony of their hotel rooms in Hawaii appeared on the Internet.
You could not possibly fathom the fucks we do not give.
It’s unbelievable how many people have expressed their disappointment in Jen and Josh, as if they’re now both small-time dealers without jobs or motivation, living in their parents’ basements. Or worse, that they’re crazy drug-addled fools on the road to ruin. REALLY?!
Drop the third grade mentality, people. Not everyone who has ever touched a joint in their lives is a bad person doomed to a life of recklessness. In fact, we know plenty of habitual smokers who are far more successful in life than ourselves, because they recognize that there’s a time and place for everything. The cast was not called to set that day. This decision didn’t effect their jobs nor their personal lives.
Forgetting the fact that they’re movie stars (because not all movie stars are excellent people), Jennifer still won an Academy Award for her beautiful performance in Silver Linings Playbook, a movie which has prompted a fantastic national discussion about mental illness. Josh is still an advocate for Straight But Not Narrow, an organization fighting back against homophobia, along with getting involved with several others charity events in his spare time. They’re both charming, funny, and good to their fans. They’re smart, influential people and joints don’t change that. Point and yell “SCANDAL!” all you want, but we’re just rolling our eyes over here.
YES, we know hemp is not the same.
If we’re going to worry, at least show us the hard drugs! If Jennifer Lawrence was snorting coke off the rim of her wine glass, we would have been concerned. If Josh Hutcherson was shooting heroin into his veins on the balcony, we see why people would panic. Instead, they got really chill for a while and probably ate a massive tray of nachos in their hotel rooms. Nobody was harmed and nobody was wronged. You don’t have a say in their personal lives, no matter how much you pretend you do. And guess what? You’re not better than them, dude!
And let’s be honest, did you think these two have never seen the stuff before? After being on a film set with Woody Harrelson?! It was only a matter of time before he passed the dutchie pon the left-hand side, though we’re sure Jen and Josh were well aware long before that.
The summarize: Does it affect their careers? No. Does it turn them into raging, dysfunctional monsters? No. Does it effect YOU in any sort of way, Mr. or Ms. Judgmental? No.
Therefore, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WHO THE HELL CARES?!
Love From A Big Kid Who Knows This Isn’t A Big Deal,
The Girl With The Pearl
P.S. Before someone inevitably bring it up in the comments: No, I don’t smoke weed. Not because of some deep moral compass, just because any type of smoking is not my schtick. We’re not hippie stoners, just people who grew up in reality. PLZKTHX.
Permission to Stalk Jennifer Lawrence?
Oh, Jennifer Lawrence! You’ve had such an exciting week, but we’re getting awfully excited about an upcoming project of yours!
A brief look at The Girl With The Pearl’s fine state…
David O. Russell’s upcoming film about the Abscam scandal doesn’t even have a title yet, but if the rumors are to be believed, it does have something else: Filming Locations. New York and Boston.
We know your part is small and chances are you won’t be in every filming location, but we’re really hoping you’re in Boston. Mainly because I’m in Boston. Well, I’m elsewhere in Massachusetts, but I CAN be in Boston.
Look, I’ve never done this before. This is new to me! I just have one simple question for Jennifer Lawrence:
IF YOU COME TO BOSTON, CAN I STALK YOU? PRETTY PRETTY PLEASEEEE?!
Only for a day or two, of course. I can’t take too much time off work! And only if you’re filming in some sort of public setting where curious bystanders can hang out without being total creeps. Maybe if there’s a call for extras, because I’m a great clueless bystander type! I could even bring along my future brother-in-law, who was an extra in another David O. Russell film, The Fighter (and actually made it into the movie!)
Yes… Yes! The plan is unraveling now! Muahahaha!
I’ll do things like quietly watch how films are made! And smile politely, perhaps even manage to mention what a big fan I am if you come close enough that I don’t have to shout out, but only when the cameras aren’t rolling. Don’t worry, I would never even choke up the courage to ask for an autograph or a picture! (TRUE STORY: The only celebrity I’ve ever asked for a picture is Rupert Grint, and it’s perhaps the worst picture of me I have ever taken IN MY LIFE. I made rabid hyenas look classy.)
Pretend I’m not there and Rupert’s whole face IS there…
… Okay, so maybe I’m not that great of a stalker. Hell, I wouldn’t even hide outside Jennifer Lawrence’s hotel! I don’t completely understand why us Average Joes always feel compelled to see celebrities in person, we just do. We know, deep down, that she’s the same as everyone else, except she’s got a really excellent job. WE KNOW. Yet we still have to see it for ourselves, almost as if to prove that Jennifer Lawrence is a real person. (ANOTHER TRUE STORY: I once had a three sentence conversation with Mark Wahlberg without realizing it was Mark freakin’ Wahlberg. I think I made zero impression.)
Anyway, everyone at Victor’s Village hopes you stop by. At the very least, I’ll make you some fairly corny list of things us working class kids do in Boston!
But If You Do The Accent And Mess It Up… NO MERCY,
The Girl With The Pearl
Jennifer Lawrence: ACADEMY AWARD WINNER
Excuse us for a moment, but… OMG OMG OMG JENNIFER LAWRENCE JUST WON AN OSCAR!!1!11! SHE IS OUR KATNISS EVERDEEN AND SHE IS SUPER TALENTED AND NOW SHE IS AN ACADEMY AWARD WINNER!!!!1!1! HOLY FUCKBALLS, THAT. JUST. HAPPENED!!!!
And looked FABULOUS doing it!
*cough* We mean, not that we’re that surprised. We explained our high hopes after seeing Silver Linings Playbook and her steady string of wins beforehand, but nothing is guaranteed until it happens and IT DID. If ever you stumble across this in an alternate universe where you find yourself on Hunger Games humor blogs: CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFER!
Also, before the fandom snobs come out to say “So what? She didn’t win for The Hunger Games. Why is the fandom making a big deal out of it?” Just leave the party (aka this blog) NOW. You are uninvited, because you clearly don’t get it, man! Jennifer is the core of the films and we support her in all her endeavors because she’s whip smart, grounded, and doing all she can to make great films… We even forgive her for House at the End of the Street!
But before the Oscar was even won, fans were all a-Twitter about what could happen if she did…
DUN DUN DUUNNNNNN! THE DREADED OSCAR CURSE!
Yes, the curse in which talented actors win an Academy Award and then go on to take a professional cliff dive into ridiculously bad film choices that make audiences wince, with the occasional decent but not-very-worthwhile role thrown in there. Halle Berry, Marisa Tomei, Adrien Brody, and Cuba Gooding Jr. are popular examples of the phenomenon at work. Will Jennifer Lawrence be next?
STILL BETTER THAN YOU.
To help riddle this out, we’ve created a list of what could happen to Jen’s career:
1. Catching Fire, Mockingjay: Part 1, and Mockingjay: Part 2 could all bomb critically despite intense popularity, thus truly making it the next Twilight.
2. Beloved Hollywood directing icon in the making, David O. Russell, could turn Jennifer’s other upcoming films, The Ends of the Earth and an untitled Abscam film, into utter disasters.
3. After receiving almost every script she qualifies for a role in, she picks all the most tired, oldest concepts and roles that she can easily phone in.
4. She quits acting to pursue a career in crab fishing or cattle ranching, never to be seen in Hollywood again.
5. She makes her upcoming films. They are released and most likely get good receptions from both audiences and critics. She makes more movies, some of which probably miss the mark, but she tries to make smart film choices and acts the hell out of them either way. She gets plenty more opportunity for recognition over the next several years.
We might be straight up craaaaaaazy, but we’re gonna go with #5!
For every “Oscar curse” recipient, there are others who have won in multiple occasions or even been well-received throughout their careers without a slew of extra nominations. Daniel Day-Lewis won his third Lead Actor award tonight and it’s not coincidence– the man has talent and he took on challenging, risky roles that paid off over the course of a long career. He’s astounding but he’s not superhuman, so why should we expect other winners like Jennifer to fail?
We Trip Every Day! Talk About Us Instead, Media!
The Girl With The Pearl
