Paul Bettany broke out in 2001 when he stole A Knight’s Tale as a very unorthodox Geoffery Chaucer, co-starred with future MCU partner Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang), and was part of the stellar ensemble for the year’s Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most dependable character actors in Hollywood in films like Master & Commander, Margin Call, and The Young Victoria. Bettany is most popularly known for his work in the MCU since the franchise’s first film: Iron Man. He voiced Tony Stark’s AI suit companion, JARVIS, in all three Iron Man solo films and the first Avengers film before JARVIS became Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He would reprise Vision in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. Bettany’s recent career renaissance also includes a stellar performance as the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, in The Discovery Channel’s Manhunt: Unabomber, as well as putting his mark on the Star Wars Universe as the main villain in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Bettany has been married to actress Jennifer Connelly since 2003.
Continue reading Paul Bettany’s 10 Best Movies
Tag Archives: a beautiful mind
Jennifer Connelly’s 10 Best Movies
Jennifer Connelly had a stellar 2017, making a welcome comeback. I’ve loved Connelly since I was a kid and she was the girl trapped in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, but she’s tremendously underrated as an actress. Requiem for a Dream, A Beautiful Mind (for which she deservedly won an Oscar), and Blood Diamond alone are enough to prove you’re one of the most talented actresses working. It’s just good to see her working more often. In 2017, she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as “Karen”, the AI in Spider-Man’s upgraded suit in Spider-Man: Homecoming. In real life, Connelly is married to actor Paul Bettany, who provided the same service for Tony Stark as JARVIS before he transitioned to The Vision. She was also a lynch pin in a great ensemble cast in the firefighter drama Only the Brave. It looks like she has projects lined up, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her on TV and in films to come.
Continue reading Jennifer Connelly’s 10 Best Movies
Russell Crowe’s 10 Best Movies
Russell Crowe had about as good a five years as any actor has in the late 1990s – 2000s with films like The Insider, LA Confidential, A Beautiful Mind, and Gladiator. Not only is Crowe a chameleon as a dramatic actor, he’s an outstanding action star, and if the sometimes temperamental star is in the right setting, he has a very sardonic, dry comedic prowess. He helped kick off the DC Extended Universe, doing a better Jor-El than Marlon Brando (granted it helped that no one ever cared less about a part than Brando did being Jor-El) in Man of Steel, but aside from that and 2016’s The Nice Guys, good parts have been rare for Crowe in the last decade. I’m not sure if the Australian star has lost his desire, or if he’s burned too many bridges, but when you can light a fire under him, he’s one of the best actors alive, so hopefully the right part will come his way soon. Continue reading Russell Crowe’s 10 Best Movies
R.I.P. James Horner (1953 – 2015) *Music and Movies Mourn*
Multiple media sources are now confirming the movie composer James Horner, missing since his small plane went down Monday morning in California, has died at the age of 61. The small plane that Horner was a passenger in crashed near Santa Barbara, but the composer’s fate was unknown for most of a day. It looks like our worst fears have been confirmed. For the initial report on the crash click here.
Horner’s career spanned over 150 films, and his music underscored many of the best films of the last 35 years. I remember first hearing Horner’s scores as a child in The Land Before Time and An American Tail (still, two of his best). He and John Williams were the composers that introduced me to the music behind the movies. He won two Academy Awards for Titanic in 1998, and those are-unfortunately-the only of his prolific career. He leaves behind an indelible legacy of beautiful music. Coming Soon’s obituary is pasted below with a more in-depth account of Horner’s career. He will be deeply missed by everyone who was touched by his work. Continue reading R.I.P. James Horner (1953 – 2015) *Music and Movies Mourn*
Oscar-Winning Composer James Horner Missing and Presumed Dead in Plane Crash
I can only hope I’m not writing James Horner’s obituary, but circumstances appear grim as a private plane registered to the Hollywood composer crashed Monday morning in California. The pilot of the plane is confirmed dead and Horner has not been seen nor heard of since the crash. As Horner’s attorney put it, “If he wasn’t in it, he would have called. This is just breaking, so I have bullet points from the London Times and a full article from the Los Angeles Times below. Horner has to be considered one of the greatest composers in the history of film, in league with John Williams, Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith. More below. I’ll update if and when more is known. Continue reading Oscar-Winning Composer James Horner Missing and Presumed Dead in Plane Crash
