It is a well-known fact that Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley look a lot a like. So much in fact that Knightley played Portman’s double in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

The Phantom Menace

Natalie Portman was born on 9 June 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel. She had her remarkable movie debut in Leon: The Professional (1994), co-staring along Jean Reno.

Keira Knightley was born on 26 March 1985 in England. She had her movie debut in Innocent Lies (1995).

Now my question is: Which one of these two actresses do you like the most? Post your vote as a comment.

Natalie Portman                                                                           Keira Knightley

LARRY:
I know who you are. I love you. I love everything about you that hurts.

***

DAN:
I’m sort of… journalist.

ALICE:
What sort?

DAN:
I write obituaries.

***

DAN:
(About Larry)
So, he’s a dermatologist. Can you get more boring than that?

ANNA:
Obiturist?

DAN:
Failed novelist, please

Movie: Closer (2004)
Script: Patrick Marber (based on his play)
Director: Mike Nichols
Dan: Jude Law
Alice: Natalie Portman
Anna: Julia Roberts.
Larry: Clive Owen

Today is the birthday of British film director/ writer/ producer Guy Richie.

“I am relatively familiar with getting a good old rumping from the critics. In some cases, the critics just didn’t like the film – fair cop. Others, I think, didn’t understand it.”
~Guy Richie

Guy Stuart Ritchie as born on 10 September 1968 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. He dropped out of school at 15.

He got a job as a runner (an errand runner on film and TV sets). He was a fast learner and soon started directing music videos and commercials.

He wrote and directed his first short movie A Hard Case (1995) which was a prequel to his hit feature debut film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (2000). Lock Stock won him a (best director) Tokyo Film Festival award and a (best new filmmaker) MTV movie award.

He then made my favourite Richie film: Snatch (2000). The movie is hilarious and violent and features popular actors like Brad Pitt,Benico Del Toro and Jason Statham. Richie won the Empire “Best British Director” award for the brilliant movie. It was very successful at the box office. I have watched this flick several times

Guy Richie is perhaps more famous for his marriage to Madonna, which has since folded, than for his films. In 2002 he cast his wife as the leading lady in a remake of the 1974 Lina Wertmüller film Swept Away. He won a “worst director” Razzie for this box-office flop. Not surprisingly, it was ill received by critics and disappointed his fans. I think this movie sucks big time. I thougt I’d buck the trend and give it a rave review… but then I actually watched it… and I just could not. Watching it only once was more than enough. Luckily I waited for it to be on TV, so there was no money lost.

He also directed:

• Star (2001) – Short
• Revolver (2005)
• Suspect (2007) – TV
• Rock n Rolla (2008)

His latest film is Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jnr, which will be released this year. I look forward to seeing this movie. Judging from the trailers: it looks awesome!

Happy Birthday Guy! I think I’ll pop Snatch into the DVD player tonight and have a good laugh.

Filmography: IMDB
Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

BULLET TOOTH TONY:
Boris the Blade? As in Boris the Bullet-Dodger?

AVI:
Why do they call him the Bullet-Dodger?

BULLET TOOTH TONY:
‘Cause he dodges bullets, Avi.

Movie: Snatch
Avi: Dennis Farina
Tony: Vinnie Jones
Director & Screenplay: Guy Richie

1. The Reader
2. Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
3. Heavenly Creatures
4. Finding Nederland
5. Iris
6. Titanic
7. Hamlet
8. The Holiday
9. Quills
10. Sense and Sensibility

Note: Revolutionary Road is not on the list because I have yet to see it. It looks good though, I’m sure she’s great in it.

Kate Elizabeth Winslet was born on 5 October 1975 in Reading, Berkshire, England.  Both her parents were stage actors.  She made her big screen debut in the indie movie Heavenly Creatures (1994).  Her big break was the female lead (Rose) in Titanic (1997), which made her famous worldwide.

Amongst many other awards and nominations She has been nominated for an Academy Award several times. In 2009 she won the Oscar for her leading role in The Reader. She also won a BAFTA for this performance.   Each award she received was well deserved.

Kate Winslet is of the best actresses of her generation and #2 on my lists of favourite actresses.  I have several of her movies in my DVD collection and I am hoping to add more.