Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Time to Change?

There appears to be a bit of a metamorphosis going on with Keith Urban right now. It is subtle, but a change is happening. It is becoming more and more obvious that Keith Urban is becoming an Adult Contemporary artist. Keith, no longer Country? That can't be right, can it? It became crystal clear the night of the CMA's, that Country music has moved on from the scruffy barefoot poet. What is a middle aged crooner supposed to do?

Keith Urban was never really a country artist. He never fit in. In most reviews of his shows you will see the words ‘not a typical country concert’. It’s not. They are rock shows, not unlike those put on by Journey, Styx or Billy Squier in the 1980's. They are high energy shows built on radio rock. Today that kind of Rock is what Country music is made up of, however, Country has had a habit over the years of drifting back towards traditional, roots Americana music. This is what is happening along with the bubblegumming of the genre with people like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

Paisley, who has the chops and the credentials to be a traditional performer, chooses to include a number of hokey, simple, funny songs that deride his true talent. Keith has never been in the same league as a George Strait or Reba who can keep contemporary but never lose their connection to the roots of the music. Kenny Chesney is taking some time off at a good time. He knows what has been normal for the last few years is no longer. Garth Brooks is going the Vegas route just as Cher, Sir Elton and Mr. Manilow did. He knows he has the fans that will go to see him. This leaves Keith Urban.

You will start seeing this change very soon. Til Summer Comes Around has just been released as the new single. This moody haunting song of loss and obsession is not a country song. Of course, Making Memories of Us, Tonight I Wanna Cry and You'll Think of Me aren't either. With Summer, Keith is turning away from Country and what it is becoming. He tried to conform; Sweet Thing and Kiss a Girl are both songs that can fit in the bubblegum country that is on the charts, but Keith is much more talented than those songs. His fans know that. He knows that. It is time to make a change that will put him in the future. The video for Summer was filmed recently. The pictures that were released, and this is a first that the gossip sites got full layout pictures from an Urban video shoot, show ‘Keith Urban – Crooner’. He is playing his guitar, but he is also walking along the beach, crying in the mist, doing something that he hasn't for a very long time - acting. There is no band with him; he looks good, too. The video wasn't shot by a director known for doing Country videos, Noble Jones. This director is known for working with non-Country acts and from seeing the shots of Keith on set this is going to be a great video and will move him beyond country.

So why make the move? Keith is of the age that moving into a new genre with his established fan base will be fairly easy. This move means he can still tour the arenas but also the clubs and cabarets. As his wife said recently, Keith is very ambitious. He always has been. Working with new writers like Timbaland and John Mayer and recording a new CD very soon are all signs that he is moving away from the country rock into the introspective singer songwriter arena. We will see if he is going to do as his friend and former tour mate, Faith Hill, has done and drop Borman Entertainment as management. We will see if he chooses a new record company, as rumors of his parting with Capitol Nashville get louder and louder, but we can see the changes that are starting; and for this long term Keith Urban fan this will be a good thing.

123 comments:

maclen said...

Clearly, orb's career is in crisis. He is light years away from his peak...and that would be 2005. That year he had his highest selling cd, Be here, selling 4mil...that year at the CMA's, he won male vocalist, international artist, and of course "enterainter"...plus 5 other awards that year. This year his album barely sold Gold...he got another token CMA co-award with paisley. I found it very interesting that as his US tour concluded...he began doing those series of seemingly "surprise" verizon in store free acoustic gigs. Now, the point, promotional pre tour verizon free gigs is understandable, but post tour? Now, surely fansies will hail it as orb's generosity to the "fans"... but I suspect a much needed...and "further" payoff to tour sponsor, Verizon! As in further "promo" for verizon, when you consider orb's next leg of the tour is in Oz! And as for Capitol Nashville, if orb remains at the label, it will be because the orb was willing to negotiate "DOWN" in their contract...for in no way is orb in a "stronger" position to negotiate a better deal. And so that means less recording budget...recording time and studio time. Now I can hear the fansies take on that...well..."orb can just record in his own "studio"..and take as much time as he wants!" But is orb willing to pay the expenses as well...pay his band himself...pay for all contract session players...fiddlers or what not..and etc. Is orb willing to take the "kidman route"...self financing and distribution? There is much to consider when you gotta try and right your wayward ship!

maclen said...

...ps...

...HA! And here is precisely why orb will never get back his career "mojo"...as long as orb will readily and whole heartedly participate in this kind of lame PR BS... he will NOT be a future force in any "music scene!"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1231845/Christmas-shopping-DIY-Nicole-Kidman-Keith-Urban-shop-festive-goodies-LA-store.html

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban get the festive feeling as they shop for Christmas decorations

Apparently the very "private" and "low key" couple didnt "notice" that photographer as he followed them ALL aroud the store as they just casually "frolicked and made merry"..."pranced and giggled" as they brought holiday cheer to the little world of Home Depot! So, basically kidman and cletus paid a photographer to follow them around home depot and then sent the photos to the daily mail. So...does anyone remember the significance of the Daily Mail?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-505055/Im-pregnant-says-delighted-Nicole-Kidman.html

'I'm pregnant' says delighted Nicole Kidman

Yes, recall it was the daily mail that first broke that kidman was pregnant way back in dec of '07...and of course inept team kidman denied it in early jan 08...then...only a week later, finally confirmed it...so basically, they first denied...then immediately confirmed the story they no doubt leaked themselves to the daily mail. Now they have "posed" xmas photos shopping in Home depot. NOt jsut papapatz photos...but a "magazine" spread like series of photos! They may as well be doing a commercial for home depot! Yes, orb sure does look very happy to shamelessly engage in a clearly posed and pre arranged photo op!

joy said...

I just saw Keith on a program in an older interview. They asked him about his music & how he got started. He said when he started playing in the clubs & pubs back home he didn't fit in anywhere BECAUSE his music was too country. He came to Nashville. He said he fit in there & that's why he stayed. Keith is country (it's in his blood really, his whole background). Yes he may do some of the rock or other mainstream music now & again but that voice, that music is country for sure. His life reads like a true country song. Other country performers grow, stretch their musical wings, try different things as well but they almost always return to their country beginnings. You can take the guy out of the country (music that is) but you can't take the country (music) out of the guy. His accent will never be southern & his birthplace will never be the USA but Keith Urban is country until his dying day. He could go Opera for all I care but he will always be country at heart. I mean he left another continent to come to NASHVILLE-the home of country music to make his home. Who cares if he rubs elbows with "Hollywierd" people sometimes. He is his parents' son & I truly don't think that his singing, his music, his outlook or his talent will change anytime soon, except to get even better if that's possible. I'm a fan through ups & downs, through good & bad, through music "crossovers" or not. I'm a fan because of the man & his music. I listen to country music radio every day & I can guarantee about 85% to 90% of what's played could be labelled NOT country music when you really get down to it. Remember when all country songs were about drinking, fighting, loving & leaving, trucks, getting knocked down & getting back up again. Well, that is country but that's not ALL country is. We can get different strokes from different folks but it can still be country. Personally I truly hope & believe that Keith Urban will be around making & selling wonderful music for a very long time. I'm a fan for the long haul. Wishing Keith & his the very best of everything possible.

Anonymous said...

Obviously camera phone pics. OBVIOUSLY not professional.

maclen said...

"Obviously camera phone pics. OBVIOUSLY not professional."

Actually, based on the copyright tag on the pics...they are paparatz photos! Buzz Foto/Retna pictures to be exact... and if you go to the site here...

http://www.buzzfoto.com/index.php?s=NICOLE+KIDMAN

...you'll see they also have the original photo of kidman and orb walking out of the store...the photo Urban Myths linked to in the previous thread. So basically, this Home Depot allowed a "paparatz" to follow kidman and cletus into the store and follow them around, snapping shots...at least 3 that are posted in the above link...and kidman and cletus were quite fine with that? In fact they are smiling and waving to the camera as they leave! That is not their usual "paparatz" MO...this is an inept team kidman...and cletus... prearranged and collusive photo op! And, by the way, the collusion is to make it appear that they were actually and simply shopping for xmas gear! And I'm sure the NKUsers will just eat these "paparatz" pics up like a barrel sized super sized banana split with extra cool whip and chocolate syrup! Lets take a look...oh yeah...like kids in a candy store!

http://www.nicolekidmanunited.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=30c81cbc69aa5c344b53018c9e330ada&showtopic=12215

...HA! and look a couple of NKUsers are actually questioning the "in store pics!...

"Off topic for a minute here: I think I read that after the first of the year in CA, as per the Governator - Arnold, the Papps cannot legally take photos of celebrities in their private time or photos of their children without the consent of the celebrity. Did anyone read this also?"

"I know Home Depot is a public place but was it really necessary to take pictures of them in the store?"

" I can't believe they took pictures of them in the store! There should be a law against that!"

...ahhhh bless their little hearts...too bad they just dont realize..or allow themselves to realize it was all preplanned by kidman and cletus!

abc said...

Thank-you Maclen for the link. Mmmm ... interesting ...
By Daily Mail Reporter:
“you would be ... amazed to see ‘down-to-earth’ multimillionaire (Nicole Kidman) pushing her own trolley around ... All smiles ... as (Keith) Urban was responsible for ... carrying the shopping list. The A-list celebrities ... even took time to chat with fellow shoppers ... ... the couple ... didn’t have an entourage in tow – and seemed to enjoy living the ‘normal’ life.”
Omg omg OMG!!! Nicole pushes a trolley! wow bloody wow!! omg omg OMG she is a “normal” person. Really?? Speaks to other people in shops???? OMG!!! This is what is wrong with celebrity culture: just because these people play characters other than themselves sometimes and get paid ridiculous fortunes to do so, does not mean they are anything other than NORMAL flesh and blood human beings like you and I; albeit a LOT more pampered and spoiled. When will people get over their obsession with the very wealthy, as though they live on another planet to us, just because they live in over-large and over-decorated homes and over-consume? What people don’t seem to realise is the actors’ time is only valuable WHEN THEY ARE ON SET; during the minutes that the studios are paying squillions for the production; and NOT during their downtime; which is worth the same as yours and mine. Which is why when they do a charity gig, they are not giving away expensive time as no studio is paying them during those minutes and if they are not in demand, like you know who, that time is worth nothing; nada!!
so I truly wish the public would get over their ridiculous fawnication of these normal people who just happen to earn very abnormal amounts of money; often for doing nothing much out of the ordinary!!

Wonder what NK will do when pap shots are banned; at least they keep her in the ‘news’ which is why we always see her smiling at them while Keith scowls at them, - in this case he is not waving at them but telling them to keep at bay; he never reacts warmly to the paps, unlike his tabloid-w*”re wife. Btw, she NEVER smiles at them when she is caught alone, like on the 26th with the coffee in hand – only when she is with her ‘power husband’ letting us all know just how very happy they are. It is so obvious. They may be happy, but she really wants the world to know it!! Or maybe her ex to know it.

And while she may have pushed the trolley, (which probably in any other scenario, the man would’ve done), when they get to the car, she hops in and doesn’t help to unload the goodies: THAT would be too much effort. And if they were having the Christmas tree (in the other trolley) home delivered; why not all of it?? Because it would be as ‘charming’ a tabloid story!! And if they hate having the paps invade their public/privacy so much, why not order the christmas crap online: it is not like you have to try it on for size or find just the right shade of gold.

abc said...

good post, UM.

Choice said...

Are the shopping photos all part of the Nicole PR machine in time for NINE, or are they the usual desperate need for attention. Mmmm. I wonder if it also to also show that Nicole has the strength to push a trolley. Even you can eat just lettuce and be as strong as Niccy.

http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/2009/11/early-big-bird-christmas-shopping.html

hoosierlady said...

Doesn't Home Depot sponsor part of the CMT Habitat for Humanity building projects every year? A couple of years ago Rascall Flatts did a playground, Leanne Rimes did something to do with it, each year CMT awards an artist with an humanitarian award, in conjunction with Home Depot. I'll dig around if I get time.

I'm betting on it, this can't just be them picking up decorations, come on, people use designers to decorate their mansions for holidays, who do they think they are kidding.

Maclen-Ha! I guess you were right about my crazy scenario--the cousin with the camera was in home depot!

The most interesting part of all is finding out the word trolley is used for "shopping cart" in other countries.

abc said...

correction:

Because (having all the christmas stuff home-delivered, out of sight,) wouldn't be as ‘charming’ and heart-warming a tabloid story!!


'all that glitters is not gold'

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"Doesn't Home Depot sponsor part of the CMT Habitat for Humanity building projects every year?"

Yes, hoosier, I too can readily see this as a deal to "plug" Home Depot...and also get in the PR BS photo op for the "happy couple just doing a little xmas shopping" like the rest of the "regular people!"
So it's interesting to note if some future campaign with the Depot comes to fruition!

Choice said...
"Are the shopping photos all part of the Nicole PR machine in time for NINE, or are they the usual desperate need for attention."

Well actually, Choice, as is past evidence with kidman... and now more increasingly with the orb...it's both! Kidman wants attention for her flick and orb needs the attention for his flailing cd sales! This PR BS picks up whenever kidman has a film coming out...these lame and oh so obvious PR stunts...or her so called "works of charity." And orb is learning that technique...the "Benefit for KIETH URBAN"...just in time for the CMA voting, is a perfect example....

abc said...
"which is why we always see her smiling at them while Keith scowls at them, - in this case he is not waving at them but telling them to keep at bay; he never reacts warmly to the paps, unlike his tabloid-w*”re wife."

Well here, abc, I must disagree with you...I clearly see it as orb waving and smiling to the paparatz, and not "waving him off"...and of course the further evidence is the "in store photos!" Basically if buzzphoto has all the indoor and outdoor photos at the Depot...it was taken by the same pap...and that pap "was allowed"...yes, seemingly by cletus himself...to follow them into the store and snap photos of a very "UNSCOWLING" orb and kidman shopping "like normal people." So clearly, the orb has completely sold his soul to the mighty "obvious and pre-arranged" photo ops for the sake of a poorly selling cd! And to get back to the UM post...I would say this kind of shameless and transparent act will not re-attract his former fans, or attract potential future fans in another genre of music.

Anonymous said...

maclen, I think your right about Gov. Arnold. And didn't that happen in OZ as well?

As for the Home Depot photo op - no one seemed to interested in the Kidman's. They didn't exactly draw a crowd of on-lookers, did they?

hoosierlady said...

Keith Urban=Michael Bolton

Snicker Snicker

maclen said...

mikki said...
"maclen, I think your right about Gov. Arnold. And didn't that happen in OZ as well?" "As for the Home Depot photo op - no one seemed to interested in the Kidman's. They didn't exactly draw a crowd of on-lookers, did they?"

Well, actually mikki, the "govinator's" new law was brought up in the comments by the NKUsers! A few were aghast that the paps would flash them inside the store! And your right about other customers being very scarce in the photos...obviously, the "throngs" of regular Xmas shoppers were no doubt herded out of their way as they got in their series of photo ops taken...you know just frolicking and giggling there way through the Depot! I'm surprised cute animated birds and baby bunnys... or at least a baby fawn wasnt photoshopped into the pics!

Anonymous said...

maclen, did you check out the Daily Mail today? Kidman is back in her jogging outfit for this photo op claiming she has to work off the "curves" for her next role as a man.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering if they were having their Christmas decorations shipped to OZ since Keith just announced that thats where their spending the holiday.

The photo ops are certainly coming fast and furious - almost daily now. Its time for Sunday to make another appearance isn't it?

maclen said...

mikki said...
"maclen, did you check out the Daily Mail today? Kidman is back in her jogging outfit for this photo op claiming she has to work off the "curves" for her next role as a man.

yeah...mikki, seems like it's the Daily Mails shift to take over from the magazine covers...and help kidman shill her next film, eh? It WAS in Dec two years ago that the Daily Mail got the first word of kidman's pregnancy!

Choice said...

Good point Mikki. Why would they be buying christmas decorations when they are heading to Australia for the festive season. Just goes to show this is a christmas PR stunt.

You now all have the chance to help Nicole with her Christmas Wish List.Start voting now on NK's Journey:
http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"Keith Urban=Michael Bolton"

"Snicker Snicker"

Uh, hoosier, wouldnt that be...

Keith Urban=Billy Ray Cyrus?

...and so would make little sunri rose the future...I dont know..."Adalia Australia?"

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"Doesn't Home Depot sponsor part of the CMT Habitat for Humanity building projects every year? A couple of years ago Rascall Flatts did a playground, Leanne Rimes did something to do with it, each year CMT awards an artist with an humanitarian award, in conjunction with Home Depot. I'll dig around if I get time."

Well, concerning the CMT and Habitat for humanity, Cmt seems to have a link on their site called CMt One Country...

http://www.cmt.com/one_country/

...and I couldnt find anything about Home Depot sponsoring anything for the cmt one country cause. But it seems habitat international and the home depot Foundation did partner up for a "national green building initiative, Partners in Sustainable Building."

http://www.habitat.org/newsroom/2008archive/03_21_08_Home_Depot.aspx

...But I dont think it has anything to do with the CMT one country initiative. But the Depot does partner with AMC to award the "AMC/Home Depot Humanitarian award...

http://www.cmt.com/asm/events/home_depot/2004/

...and the winner is announced at the AMC awards telecast. This year they were held back on April 5. Well, that's only 4 months away, maybe the orb is taking another page of kidman's rather shabby exploitation of humanitarian goodwill...for her career...and looking to grease up the Depot for some of that humanitarian awards love by basically doing an onsite promo for the Depot!?

abc said...

In order to make something good come out of Nicole's shameless expoitation of humanitarianism, here is something I found when I went to the Unifem site to complain about her incongruency... not that they have responded.

Buy a UNIFEM Global Action Gift this Christmas and help secure women's human rights, political participation and economic security!
Gifts include: Drought resistant seeds, clean water in a village market place, street lights to improve safety and handkerchiefs with emergency information
http://www.unifem.org.au/_catalog_64141/Global_Gifts

hoosierlady said...

Uh, hoosier, wouldnt that be...

Keith Urban=Billy Ray Cyrus?

Actually I was thinking "Adult Contempary" when I wrote that. I should have said,

Keith Urban:Michael Bolton

as

Gene Simmons:Steven Tyler


but with further thought

Keith Urban = John Tesh

snicker snicker

(now that was just mean)

rememberwhen said...

LOL. #1 party for OYCLMTW. They say Keith wanted to be there to honor the writers. Yea right. He wanted to do some more couch jumping for his "Wife." Must be she was really upset that he didn't get to do it during the ARIA awards because he lost.

I guess she doesn't trust him to be in Nashville for one night alone. She made him fly back the same day. A lot of trust in that marriage.

What a jerk he is.

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2009/12/01/keith-urban-honors-no-1-hit%E2%80%99s-writers/

Anonymous said...

UM, the Keith Kidman image and incorporating her into all things Keith Urban are whats killing Keith's career. The PR is greater than the talent. The private life overshadows his career. The continuous photo ops are a constant reminder of what hes become. He was hoping to cross over to rock when he hooked up with Kidman. If he couldn't change direction then, how can he do it now with even less of a following. I do believe change is coming. I just don't think its by choice.

maclen said...

rememberwhen said...
"I guess she doesn't trust him to be in Nashville for one night alone. She made him fly back the same day. A lot of trust in that marriage."

Hey rememberwhen, good to see you back! Clearly kidman has shortened the leash! I get a sense as orb sees his career fizzling...and kidman is in desperate "Defibrillation" mode on her dead career...the deepening of their co-dependancy gets to catastraphic levels if they are apart more than one day!

mikki said...
"UM, the Keith Kidman image and incorporating her into all things Keith Urban are whats killing Keith's career. The PR is greater than the talent. The private life overshadows his career. The continuous photo ops are a constant reminder of what hes become."

Yeah, seems that no matter what orb tries next...the die has been cast on his career. For clearly, being "Mr nicole kidman" has NOT paid the rewards the orb may have envisioned when he entered into the union. Recall, orb ended back in rehab only 4 months after the marriage...he couldnt have been in the clearest of minds at the time. And of course, now he has to make due with what he has...hence the obvious and highly transparent "Home depot" performance! So, maybe he does try to reinvent himself...but the question remains...do the fans he has left, who I assume are also Country fans...follow him to "pop" or "adult contemporary" or even to "rock?" Then you will probably see how many of the remaining are fans of the man...or the music. Garth brooks was once huge in country...but seemingly left on his own terms at the first sign of decline, and now, as Urban Myths mentions in the blog, is content to go the "Vegas" route. Now darius rucker, who was once huge with hootie and the blowfish in rock, seems to have reinvented himself in Country...which I believe is much easier to do than the reverse...which is to say, he was really a "big fish" making it again in a "smaller pond"...than to be a "smaller fish" trying to make it again in a "bigger pond"... as I believe the orb is at this moment.

abc said...

I am going to be generalising now when I say that I think that the majority of Keith's fans are women ... and from what I see, whether they are married or not, they are IN LOVE with Keith ... so when he sings his love songs, the girls like to think (and fantasise) that he is singing just to them and about them ... so the more he shoves the image of Nicole into his songs, and into the minds of his audience, the more he is going to alienate his female fans - especially those (many) who in any case can't stand her, with or without him ... it is not jealousy, but the fact that she is butting in everywhere, not being satisfied with her own world that she dominates in a way over-rated way. Clearly she adores all the attention, and I can't quite shake the belief that it has somehow been written into their marriage contract that he kiss her arse at every turn. Don't quite know what it is about her that he is so proud of. Probably grateful that she has hung in there while he dealt with his chemical addictions. Not that she had much choice.

Anonymous said...

Yes abc, I believe its all about the marriage contract too. Thats the only thing that explains the changes in Keith (to me anyway).

rememberwhen said...

Thank you maclen.

Anonymous said...

Yes Maclen, Keith made the decision and is now stuck with the consequences. He clearly had no idea what he was getting into with Kidman. She on the other hand, knew exactly what she wanted. This has been all about "image". Keith was the bad boy that only the desirable, sexy, Kidman could tame. And the result - a man who adores her. Lives and breathes only for her. Thats what she wants the public to see. The perfect marriage. And to assure that, Keith can only write/sing happy little love tunes meant only for her. Nothing with any depth or meaning that someone might see as a negative reflection on their perfect relationship.

Now with his declining career he seems to cling to her even more. Because thats really all he has. I'm guessing that if his career goes in another direction it will be Kidman running the show just as she has since this union began.

Tara said...

I think in private they have a very different relationship then what is portrayed in public. Don't you question like I do whenever you see a couple so public about what they "are"? I also think Keith is probably very well compensated for his performances - and I am not talking about singing and playing.

maclen said...

abc said...
I am going to be generalising now when I say that I think that the majority of Keith's fans are women ... and from what I see, whether they are married or not, they are IN LOVE with Keith ... so when he sings his love songs, the girls like to think (and fantasise) that he is singing just to them and about them ... so the more he shoves the image of Nicole into his songs, and into the minds of his audience, the more he is going to alienate his female fans - especially those (many) who in any case can't stand her, with or without him"

Ha...interesting, as I commented last night, the obvious dynamic of orb marrying having a "dire" effect on his career...I of course was reminded of when the Beatles first came to America, they attempted to keep the fact that John Lennon was married hush hush...lest it affect his popularity with the fansies! Of course in the case of The Beatles, who ended up revolutionary and transcending icons of their time, it didnt matter at all! Now in the case of orb, I dont believe it's as much a "jealousy' issue with female fans...recall The Beatles were in their 20's at the height of beatlemania...and the orb is in his 40's! And it is not a question of whether or not he is married... but clearly a question of who he is married to. And simply, 42 yr old orb trying to woo the teens and tweens with "pop" songs is clearly just one part of his problem.

maclen said...

rememberwhen said...
"Thank you maclen."

Your welcome rememberwhen...hope you stick around a while..

Well, mikki...it just seems like common sense when what their doing just aint working, they would step back and reflect on what isnt working...you know a little introspection! But I get the feeling they are simply just like that old saying regarding some sharks...that they need to keep moving in order to breath...that seems to be kidman's...and now its orb's strategy...just keep putting yourself out there...despite the fact no one's buying. Kidman has had no luck with her dreary weepy indie flicks...yet...dang gum it..she is now in the business of making them herself! And as I once joked, at this rate, orb is gonna end up burning his own cds and selling them out of the trunk of his car!

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Tara. I would imagine this is all a front for the publicity. Just the typical marriage of convenience that Hollywood is known for. And Keith would have to be getting something for playing along. Surely he wouldn't make a complete fool of himself and put his career on the line for free!!

Anonymous said...

maclen, thats always been Kidman's game. She knows exactly whats said about her. Doesn't matter to her if the publicity is good or bad just as long as shes in the news! Shes afraid to "step back" for fear of being forgotten.

This whole thing with Keith is designed to give her the material she needs to keep her newsworthy. She doesn't care how HE looks just as long as their still talking about HER. She injects her face and blows up her lips before every event now just because she knows she'll be talked about and make it into the tabloids. Shes only going to get worse now that her career is coming to an end. She just can't seem to give up that spotlight. Hope Keith is getting his payments in advance!!

Urban Myths said...

Four Grammy noms... I'm sure her head is swelling...

Keith Urban Keith has received four nominations for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in the following categories: Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, Best Country Album & Best Long Form Music Video.

maclen said...

Urban Myths said...
"Four Grammy noms... I'm sure her head is swelling..."

Ah the grammys! I missed this...let me take a look...

...so, 4 noms for the orb...but...8 noms for taylor swift...oh man, and I gotta wait almost two whole months for grammy night to see swifty wipe the country floor with the cletus again...pretty much like the CMA"S! Cant wait to read how the monkeylander's will be headed for the window ledges when orb only wins his "mandatory...obligatory" half award with paisley! Just like at the CMA's!

notachance said...

Swifty, as you call her, will be wiping the Pop floor as well....

Calling Don Maclean.....

abc said...

i was right when i said NK just keeps butting into everything and now she is even butting into my little home town!!! She has been given the honour of being the face of the Aussie bid for the 2018-20 FIFA soccer Cup ... I saw the 5 minute film with her narrating ... not too bad a job apart from the fact that the only part of her that moves is her mouth (and that isn't even her own!!) ... still can't stand her voice! And they are threatening us with her presence next year when SA hosts the FIFA Cup ... is nothing sacred?? why oh why couldn't they have chosen jackman?

Urban Myths said...

They've landed in London...

http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/nicole-kidman-and-keith-urban-land-in-london-212822/

maclen said...

Urban Myths said...
"They've landed in London..."

Ha! If you look at the blow up of the pic you posted on the main page over at GG, Urban Myths...kidman looks alot like meg ryan! Well, with the uk premiere hopefully the reviews will start to come out... since the critics screenings there was only one I presume "non pro" review over at AICN. Again I get a sense they're trying to keep the film under wraps as long as possible. With all the shallow and superficial hype of the endless film "posters" I think it fizzles from all the previous expections. The "With the
oscar power in this film...how can it miss?"...Well...anyone recall "Human Stain?" With it's "Oscar winning director"..."Oscar winning actor and actress"...it's was a smash hit!...not!! So well see...

maclen said...

Ha! ohhh...look, the "Daily Mail" has the first "review" of Nine! An overly "gushing" and "fawning" review...(more like a simple movie synposis!)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1233043/The-review-Star-studded-musical-Nine-sparkling-ten.html

The first review: Star-studded musical Nine is a sparkling ten

...and lookie lookie...kidman even gets a special mention and an accolade in the piece!

"I can’t think of another actress who could have imbued that scene with the honesty Ms Kidman brings to the moment." "I predict Nine will be garlanded with multiple Oscar and Bafta nominations."

So, it seems the "mail's" review is payback for getting that early pregnancy leak from kidman! But...will this "review" pay off as well as Oprah's endorsement of Australia?

maclen said...

...ps...

just had to add this little aside...from photos at the uk premiere...from huffington post..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/03/nine-london-premiere-kidm_n_379020.html

..kidman looks like a stork, towering over the other "normal" height actress'! It reminded me of that line from Animal House... as Otter(tim matheson) explains toward the end of the film of members of the delta's fraternity house...

Otter:...and the "stork"...everyone thought that the stork was brain damaged!

hoosierlady said...

notachance said...
Swifty, as you call her, will be wiping the Pop floor as well....

Calling Don Maclean.....



Thank you Notachance! Thank you again!

maclen said...

So, another review of Nine. And a real "review"... not like this "review" from the telegraph...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/6720006/Nine-review.html

...which like the Daily Mail, is clearly just a "film synopsis" and simply a kiss ass fluff piece..."director has "directors block" so he conjures his harem of Muse's who sing and dance for him! MARVELOUS!! The Telegraph loves the film...but never explains why they love it...so I'll skip this superficial fluff..

Here's Poland of Movie city news...

http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2009/12/review_nein_aka.html#comments

Review - NEIN (aka Nine)

...just a few choice quotes...

"Nine is a movie with two memorable songs, performances that are routinely better than what the performers were given to perform, a problematically intense but not charming performance at the center, and most painfully, a lack of basic storytelling.

"What we get instead is a rather symmetrical series of music videos with two women he’s f#@ked, two women who he hasn’t and knows he shouldn’t, a whore (literally), and two Madonnas in mama and wife. Rob Marshall knows how to come up with specific ideas in these music videos and he knows how to deliver what he wants.
But what he wants is often painfully confused and superficial."

"Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the greatest actors of his generation, cannot dredge up the charm necessary for this role. The role demands an actor in whom you can see the grandiose vision and easy leadership of a great film director. Day-Lewis plays him tight and scared and a bit like an animal in a trap. But what would have made the role fly would be a performance in which however trapped Guido might seem, we can see that in reality, he is the trap and the world is happy to be his prey."

"Judi Dench is a goddess, but as noted before, the ship was rebuilt to get her onboard and the payoff isn’t worth the damage to its speed."

"Nicole Kidman is shockingly forgettable. I am fine with her singing, her acting, and her looks, though she doesn’t embody the Italian body of that era at all. Her beauty is more fragile than that and as a result, her role as The Muse never lights up."

"Sophia Loren, with all due respect and decades of lust, is like a Hall of Presidents animatronic mannequin here. It’s painful to watch because she simply looks like she is going to break at any moment."

"The two super-strong bits of casting here are Cotillard and Cruz. Both play the roles in their own voices… explanations unnecessary. Both get more to do than almost anyone else. Both seems stronger with every role since they became award winners."

"In the screening Thursday night, there was very light credits applause for Judi Dench and Daniel Day-Lewis, a little more for Fergie, a nice hand for Penelope Cruz, and the most for Cotillard. None for the film title or filmmakers. It is brutal fact of the film that the behind-the-scenes footage over credits is more compelling that the main movie footage."

...Yeah, seems kidman was so forgettable, the audience forgot to give her any applause!

or the reviewer forgot kidman was even in this film!

maclen said...

..ps...

...and so, listen and weep...and cringe...and heave...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4AFEyqR5qI

NINE Unusual Way FULL Nicole Kidman

...Ha! If you actually make it through the entire 3+ minutes of the song...you can actually hear kidman lose her "accent" midway through the song..."maybe it "losted' a day...maybe it "losted" an hour" ...and unfortunately the accent sounds British! I especially liked this comment for the youtube video...

"I can never sing this song like the style of the sopranos/opera singers or broadway singers. At this lower octave, I can follow it well. Thanks for this simplified version.

...and everyone thought the "Stork" was brain damaged!

abc said...

Once again a very transparent attempt by NK to upstage everyone around her at the Nine London premiere ... I can see her thinking: 'everyone else is going to go 'glam' for the premiere of Nine, given the theme of the movie, and there will be some real boobs on show, so let me be really different: I'll be quirky and I'll wear skyscraper heels so I'll be the tallest poppy there; I'll wear a really short skirt and look like a flirty schoolgirl - that should steal the attention' ... well, yes it did Nicole ... but not in a nice way: you look like an idiot! I love how one of her fans says 'she knew it would be cold so she came prepared: dressed warm and snug in a blazer' ... uhh: bare legs? you can see she is freezing ... and then, she TOWERS over Keith ... the pics of them inside do not show them "very together", in my opinion ... he looks lost and adrift ... poor thing! And does she not know how idiotic she looks giving the paps these insane grins while Keith is seething ... this woman never ceases to irritate me!

You can see in all the pics that Judy Dench won't have anything to do with NK. don't blame her!

rememberwhen said...

When I saw her pictures on the red carpet one thing came to mind. she now has Chipmunk cheeks. I wonder if the trip to LA wasn't to get implants in her cheeks.

http://www.wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?igi=406194&s=nicole%20kidman&sfld=C&vwmd=e

maclen said...

So, after the first day of initial reactions to Nine...Although I am a little surprised by how it's not looking good for director Marshall...or d-day..not too surprised by kidman's very forgettable and short role. Seems the extra time for editing and tweaking couldnt save this film. Odds were, delays in release and the attempt to embargo the film til at least mid december wouldnt work out for weinco. And clearly, kidman's minor and forgettable role in a seemingly lackluster film does nothing for her dead career...as if it could! So it's back to collecting financing for kidman's new line of patched together weapy dreary very indie flicks.

Urban Myths said...

http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/12/naughts-actress.php

abc said...

that is a very good and fair article, UM, ('the naughts actress'), and typically, NK's fans are sublimely rude toward the clearly intelligent author andother commenters ...so I responded with the following statement:

"This is a very well written article. It is very fair and astute. The cosmetic procedures that Nicole has done to her face are without doubt a huge distraction from her work. The startled deer-in-headlights look that Nicole perfected worked well for her combined with radical wardrobe art - I have always been more fascinated by what she will look like; how well she would slip into the disguise - the variety intrigued me, although lately that is overshadowed by 'what will she wear on the red carpet'. It is quite disingenious of her fans, such as here on this site (ifc.com), to lambast others who have a valid opinion on what they see happening to Nicole. I feel exactly the same as Ms Orange - only I couldn't have expressed it as well as she did ... but I am not a Scientologist - I am an art director; and having won many awards I feel I am somewhat qualified to have an opinion on artistry in film. Nicole's fans would do well to rather chat with intelligence than to undermine the cinema-going public out there who have paid to see the films and thus have a right to discuss the product; especially the dissatisfaction thereof. There really is no need to be rude. "

hoosierlady said...

Is that who you'll think of UM?

There are so many others.

It's a shame.

Choice said...

Maclen - I seem to recall early reviews of Nine were less than favourable too on Granny's performance. One English reviewer said she spoilt the film. Surely, they must be wrong LOL

http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/

JOY said...

This is what I responded with at "Jared"


Well, I thought they all looked great at the premiere. It was cold & it must have been hard to be “glamorous” in that type of situation.

Also not knocking anybody else but just saw clips of Kate singing in the movie & she BELTED that song. Her singing was such a pleasant surprise. Plus the dancing as well couldn’t have been easy.

Nicole is Nicole & that’s all there is to that. What she does & doesn’t do professionally I’m sure differs greatly from her personal life. She is an actress & there is a lot that goes along with that. She has an image to portray & a persona to put forth especially when she is at movie premieres, press junkets, etc. Age is a matter of opinion. What women look like at certain ages is a matter of genes, health, diet & just plain “luck”. For a 42 year old woman Nicole does look good. Sure she’s aging but aren’t we all. If we had cameras (flashes) in our faces every time we stepped out of our homes there would be some PRETTY INTERESTING photos I’m sure. Every flaw would be magnified.

Nicole just like all of the other ladies who took part in this movie did their jobs- it will be what it is. In life the most important things aren’t “things”. She is blessed to have such a wonderful, caring, loving husband in her life. She is the mother to 3 awesome children & has a family that loves her. I personally hope that Nicole, Keith & those they love continue to have a happy, healthy, loving life together for MANY MANY MANY years to come. Her career may come & go but when all is said & done it’s who you have beside you that matters most.

maclen said...

Choice said...
"Maclen - I seem to recall early reviews of Nine were less than favourable too on Granny's performance. One English reviewer said she spoilt the film. Surely, they must be wrong LOL"

Yes, choice, it it so clearly obvious why kidman has to now scrounge and beg for $5mil here and another $5mil there to make her own films! And it's not because as she now claims..."she only wants to make films she's passionate about." To start with, no studio is gonna pay her $17mil to be in their films any longer...and this role in Nine came about simply because the role turns out to be very small...and as reactions now reveal, very forgettable...and obviously, the weinsteins cannot help but continue the employ the self described "non business woman" kidman...who has absolutely no conern for "film grosses"...which of course also explains WeinCo's monetary problems! They'd like to "crash and burn" together, thank you! Just as they did back in 2003, when kidman starred in 2 weinstein run Miramax films that year...and the weinsteins lost control of miramax early the following year! BAsed on the reaction to weinco's Nine...they'll have further problems early next year as well!

Tara said...

The sad thing about watching th YouTube of the premiere of Nine
is to watch Keith Urban. While he was smiling and signing autographs he would be talking to her new publicist and something seemed off
and then I noticed it was his eyes
they seemed dead.

maclen said...

...PS..

...just a few more interesting observations.... I clearly thought that kate hudson...along with pen cruz...stole the "designer dress" show at the UK premiere. Kidman's rather bland white "summer dress"...in Dec, no doubt...seemed rather ho hum. And just now doing a google news search on kidman...I'm seeing alot of stories on kate hudson than on kidman! Also another interesting point, since my original comment on "the stork" kidman in white, towering over the other "normal height" actress' at the premiere...there is now a glut of kidman's "Growing pains" stories littering the nets...here...

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/2009/12/05/hollywood-star-nicole-kidman-reveals-growing-pains-86908-21874994/

Hollywood star Nicole Kidman reveals growing pains

and another here...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/No-boy-attention-for-Nicole-during-teenage/articleshow/5304458.cms

No boy attention for Nicole during teenage

" The actress says she had a growth spurt when she was 13 which saw her tower over most of her classmates and stopped her receiving any attention from the boys in her school, reports contactmusic."

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/39594/kidman-hated-being-tall-teen.html

Kidman hated being tall as a teen

...so, just mere coincidence?...or is someone's inept team browsing our favorite blog for reactions...and placing a few "story leaks" around the nets to respond to the reactions!? Clearly, common sense would hold to pay very close attention to rather lucid and very "eagle eyed" opinions of very very "inept" and oh so obvious "PR BS"... that is so plainly not getting across to anyone with any kind of seriousness...and is just resulting in pile on after pile on of mocking and derision and ridicule! And it would be very foolish to simply decide to listen to...and believe the fawning fansie sites of "she looks..."beautiful"...or "flawless"...not especially when it it even clear to kidman that her career has crashed and burned!

hoosierlady said...

The sad thing about watching th YouTube of the premiere of Nine


Could you post the link to that, please? If you have the time, of course.

Thank you.

Tara said...

just go to you tube and look up Nine London Premiere

Urban Myths said...

Here's a link.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKr2Z4vHgg

Choice said...

Hi Urban Myths

Thanks for the link a few spots above to that article. Enjoyed reading that, and agree with that writer so very much.

http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/12/naughts-actress.php

abc said...

Joy, you sound 'close to home'!

Anonymous said...

Maclen, Kidman has been relentlessly promoting this film. She needs to because she has had no other film offers and its become more and more obvious that her career has hit a wall. As for her look on the red carpet. As always, it was carefully planned to get attention. The other stars would be in the approprate gowns, she would wear something completely different to stand out and be noticed. Even bringing attention to her height, wearing platform shoes, was no mistake. This time around she wanted to be seen as "towering" over everyone else. So that she would stand out and be noticed. And of course, the ever dependable inflated lips painted bright red. That gets the attention every time! As we've all seen, Kidman wants her appearances on the red carpet to be the most memorable. A backless dress, push up bras, whatever it takes to stand out, be talked about, and make it into the next weeks tabloids!!

maclen said...

mikki said...
"Maclen, Kidman has been relentlessly promoting this film. She needs to because she has had no other film offers and its become more and more obvious that her career has hit a wall. As for her look on the red carpet. As always, it was carefully planned to get attention."

Yes mikki, clearly this promo go around for kidman is a look into her future. Desperate and inappropriate magazine pieces she has to "clarify' later...an outrageous "implant" display she tried to explain as "nursing" induced! Well, it is no coincidence that kidman is billed last in the film trailers for Nine...she's minor and "forgettable!" Just imagine when her next "self made" movie comes out with no trailers...or a website...or awards expectations... I even wonder if they'll have a premiere for the film!

Anonymous said...

Hah! I'm wondering if they'll have a distributor!!

Choice said...

Time for another bullshit interview with Granny. Well at least she is honest about one thing i.e. SHE CAN'T COOK:

http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/2009/12/sophia-loren-is-my-role-model.html

maclen said...

mikki said...
"Hah! I'm wondering if they'll have a distributor!!"

Well, mikki, I'm still wondering if they are ever gonna bother with announcing a release date...anywhere besides Brazil that is!

And interesting that People press release isnt it, choice? kidman unsurprisingly practically dodges the "aging in hollywood" question...

"How do you cope working in an industry that refuses to let women age naturally and gracefully? – Monika Ballew, Eureka, Calif."

"Well, I live in Tennessee so it is slightly different than living in L.A. I just worked with Sophia Loren [in Nine], and she is so gorgeous and she has such grace. I use her as a role model."

Well, obviously, kidman "believes" Tennesseans do not even engage in botox, cheek and lip injections...breast inplants... or she idiotically believes the movie going...or in her case non-going movies audiences buys her rather idiotic ramblings! And interesting that "aging naturally in hollywood" should once again come up...choice, you'd be interested in this little tidbit... again from the sychopantic People, November 2004

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20146008,00.html

Nicole Kidman and Lauren Bacall Talk About Men, Plastic Surgery and Being Single Moms

"Why do so many young actresses in Hollywood have plastic surgery?

BACALL: They're insane, that's one reason. The mood out there is, you absolutely cannot have a line on your face. They all look alike to me.
KIDMAN: You have to love your smile lines, you have to love your frown lines. Being 5'11" by the time you're 14, in some ways it gives you your character. It's torture at the time, but all those struggles are actually good. I say this to my daughter. As a mother, as a woman, you say be brave—and be proud not to be like everybody else.

..and she's piled it on for so long...she is reduced to this drivel...

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/id-love-to-be-an-interior-designer-nicole-kidman_100285886.html

I’d love to be an interior designer: Nicole Kidman

http://www.theboot.com/2009/12/07/keith-urban-nicole-kidman-sunday/

Keith and Nicole's Sunday Rose 'Bug'-ging Mom and Dad

"Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's 16-month-old Sunday Rose is into the curious phase and is using her new words quite often, according to Nicole. The actress tells PEOPLE her favorite new thing Sunday has learned is the word 'bug,' which she apparently uses for everything! "

...ohhh, what an endless and bottomless PR GOLDMINE this "so-called" glam and jetsetting golden couple make!

rememberwhen said...

Does anyone know how Keith's ticket sales are like for his shows down under?

Urban Myths said...

Now she's recycling photo ops to get more BS out there... seems a bit desperate, non?

http://tinyurl.com/y8k8msb

Unknown said...

Am I the only one that noticed Keith practically stomping the guy's foot when passing with NK at the airport? I have it saved if anyone would like to see it. I thought it was a bit absurd.

maclen said...

Urban Myths said...
"Now she's recycling photo ops to get more BS out there... seems a bit desperate, non?"

Bottom of the barrel desperate, Urban Myths, to get the usually "brand spanking latest leaks on photo ops" GG recycling a magazine piece about "frilly dresses"and "cholesterol." I just cant wait to hear of kidman's shoe size or her preference between "ketchup" and "catsup"


rememberwhen said...
"Does anyone know how Keith's ticket sales are like for his shows down under?"

Perhaps a few commenters from down under may have some info on that...what I do know is orb has 5 paltry gigs in Oz. No doubt simply tagged on because kidman decided to spend this xmas in OZ! And to continue a prefered rant against kidman...she no doubt planned the OZ xmas because prior to her film Nine's release date moved to a month later from its previous date of Nov 25...Nine was probably set to be released in OZ on or around Xmas. And now with the date change, it doesnt come out in Oz until late Jan of 2010...so the sick kids at the Sydney Children's Hospital should not expect to be treated to a movie outing this year... as they were when kidman was shilling Happy Feet in '06 and Golden Compass in '07...seeing as kidman no longer has a movie to shill in OZ in Dec!

rememberwhen said...

Thanks maclen. I hope one of our friends from OZ will let us know.

rememberwhen said...

Lisa I would like to see the picture.

hoosierlady said...

Lisa I would like to see it also.

Did the Children's hospital get to skip Australia?

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"Did the Children's hospital get to skip Australia?"

Yeah, the children at the hospital were fortunate enough to skip the 3+ hour snoozefest because Australia opened in OZ on Nov. 26, 2008...and kidman skipped spending xmas in oz that year! Well, this year she had planned to spend xmas in oz...but with no movie premiereing in Dec...and would you honestly expect kidman to actually take the kids to any film other than her's? I mean, she'd visit them days before her wedding or take them to her just premiereing film... but a visit...just for a visit?

Urban Myths said...

No comment necessary...

http://www.ineedmyfix.com/2009/12/09/nicole-kidman-lunches-at-the-tavern/

maclen said...

Urban Myths said...
"No comment necessary..."

http://www.ineedmyfix.com/2009/12/09/nicole-kidman-lunches-at-the-tavern/

HA! Kidman feels the need...the need to release another pregnancy denial!
Just in time for the eve of another film premiere! The only question is, will she even wait to be asked before she has another denial released? And clearly kidman is simply "schmoozing" with weinstein to no doubt "barter" for another future role!

Unknown said...

Ok girls, here you go. It's obvious he made a pretty big step forward to do it. Now he's hurting ppl too!!

http://img.photobucket.com/
albums/v134/ljannise/fnp_bfh_014792-320x460.jpg

maclen said...

Well, in expectations of what the film Nine would end up...quality wise as an overall film and an Oscar contender...it had high expectations. And it seems that after a few sneak peek reviews were less than favorable...especially for kidman...the news that director marshall was still "editing" in october foretold of "problems'. Which of course, were then confirmed when the release date was moved back to Dec instead of Nov. And the earliest of a early preview review of the final cut film still spoke of a mediocre performance by kidman. Well, now the film has been offically reviewed...and the news so far is that the film itself is less than perfect. And intitial reaction at RottenTomatoes was 43 percent...then it moved up to 50% and is now currently back down to 45%.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nine_2009/


Now of course, I would gather the film would now end up being about 50-50 give or take... on reviews...but my opinion is, and always was, that this film would be a lose-lose for kidman. This film and the role would not be good news for her. And this review I just read, which is positive for the film...most clearly confirms my opinion....

http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2009/12/nine.html

"As for the women, Cruz is very hot and very funny, Cotillard attractive and mildly affecting (although it took me about 20 minutes to realize she wasn't Rachel Weisz), Dench reliably droll, Hudson maybe a little too convincing as an unattractive character in an attractive package. It goes without saying that Kidman's no Claudia Cardinale, and while she's both game and well-lit, she really was the only woman who came off as kind of a dud. Fergie is able to split the difference between earth mother (or should that be swamp thing?) and skink in her brief turn, and Sophia Loren is Sophia Loren."

Which is precisely what I had expected. Even in positive reviews for the film, kidman is going to be singled out as the dud in the film!

abc said...

$$$ Cash Cow niCole $$$

Whenever I think of Nicole Kidman these days; I think ‘hideous’! The way she dresses, the way her face looks – the chin now doing things I have never see do before - , the endlessly puerile statements she makes and the way others arse-creep around her. Take these ‘Tavern lunch’ pictures for example ... everyone is stretching their hands out (in KU style) in physical protection of NK; NK what?: the pregnant woman, the holy cash cow, the fragile precious princess baby girl??? Clearly she is still a meal-ticket for many and maybe the only ‘meal’ she actually experiences, despite saying that Wendy’s is often on the menu because she is married to a musician (go figure!?). Perhaps the overtight, undersized grey suit she wore at the ‘Tavern’ is an attempt to squeeze out a buxom body that is (either pregnant) or, (obviously you morons), actually EATS! (Though no pictures show she actually ate at the Tavern – apart from attention and fawnication, that is.)

Now, back to some prior statements of hers, and how, for me, they fall under the ‘hideous’ (and ridiculous) umbrella yet again:

“I’VE NEVER WANTED TO BE SAFE. I’VE NEVER CHOSEN SAFE RELATIONSHIPS; I’VE NEVER CHOSEN SAFE FILMS ... ”

Firstly, let me discuss this statement and then let me compare it to another of hers to see the typical structure of her blatant manipulation.

Who the bleeding hell CHOOSES to be unsafe in the first instance??????? ... in a ‘relationship’ ... and how on earth could one ever describe her initial relationship with Tom Cruise as unsafe? He provided EVERYTHING to make her absolutely safe in every respect .... forever ... way before he became the public ‘crank’ ... Batman Forever was a safe choice, amongst MANY others; before she personally chose the ‘safe’ route of Indie films that can be easily discounted and disregarded by the masses, and dismissed as otherwise or otherworldly - (but that’s another essay) ... And how in heaven can one describe her relationship with Keith Urban as being ‘unsafe’??? He is the most diluted, unthreatening and sweet ‘safe’ person you could hope to be attached to: thousands will attest to that. Furthermore, she is on record as saying she feels ‘safe’ now in Nashville, with Keith.

And how very obtuse that is to her chosen position as an ambassador for the safety of women universally in her heralded role as Unifem spokesperson: ‘say NO to violence’ (being the opposite of safety) ... Nicole, you are a kingsize JOKE! And, Unifem, you too are fools for choosing this incongruent imbecile as your front!

Secondly, let me compare the structure of her above ‘safe’ statement with that regarding her exploration of ‘strange sexual fetish stuff’, which she initially submits under the context of her ‘life’, (to obtain personal kudos and controversial intrigue) but quickly goes on to contextualise within the arena of her ‘work’ ... milking the ‘cow’, sacred or otherwise, (both ways, contradictorily) in an attempt to enhance her personal magnetism and aura, but then offering an escape route for when the public and media response gets too close to the bone.

Nicole Kidman, you are a pathetic piece of wavering nothingness. PLEASE GO AWAY! PLEASE GO AWAY! PLEASE GO AWAY!!! Amen.

abc said...

http://emergencybunny.blogspot.com/2005/07/nicole-kidman-sucks.html

NICOLE KIDMAN SUCKS

Posted by Dutchcloggie:

‘I used to like Nicole Kidman. In fact, I used to think she was stunningly beautiful. Look at this picture. Nothing wrong with that I would think. Now of course this was before she got skinny and started to suffer from an eating disorder (which she of course denies. It is just exercise and eating fruit & veg. Yeah right.)
’Anyway, as I said, I have gone off her. Why? Well, apparently she turned down playing a lead role in a film when she was younger becuase she did not want to kiss a woman. And because she was too shitty to admit to that, she lied and said she had school exams (yes, she was that young.....)
’It can not be so bad to snog a girl that you would turn down Jane Campion. And I am mightily miffed that she denied another woman to be able to say: I snogged Nicole Kidman.’ Posted July 2005

Anon said...

‘Through most of her film roles Nicole Kidman more or less comes off as the tall poppy with whispery voice and an ice queen propensity. If not that, she tries too hard to come across as a serious actress and unfortunately, falls short when it comes to her range of expressive capabilities. The continual typecasting of Kidman has also derided any credibility to her onscreen presence.
’So many of her film roles depicted meaty characters that perhaps other actresses may have illuminated better, if even just with a more natural / relaxed / realistic approach to acting compared to the stagey 'Nicole' syndrome. I wanted so much to give credence to Kidman's acting capacity even from her early days in film, as she seemed to have a promising screen persona. Truth is, I always expected more but came away disappointed :( At times, I even felt that the casting of her was the sole reason why many films that could have been great were destroyed.
’Take, for comparative purposes, actresses like Rose Byrne, Jennifer Connelly, or even Dianne Kruger - attractive, classy, but still devoted to acting as an art, rather than acting for popularity or self-aggrandizement. The subtlety in as well as choice of their expressions, use of physical space, and voice point toward a more natural approach to acting which raises their skill levels to above par status when placed next to a piece of cardboard like Nicole. Many times I've wondered why Nicole would gawp, sigh, mock-flirt, despair, pace around, or break into a fit of giggles like a clueless schoolgirl when most anybody else would not have reacted in such a way. Kidman could learn a lot from her contemporaries, but may be too vain or self-satisfied to admit it! Even Lauren Bacall, who hails from a different, more savvy era of Hollywood altogether, was spot-on in her description of Nicole as merely a 'beginner', rather than a 'legend' (the latter, a term too loosely applied to several modern actors who haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what it means to wield command onscreen). In fact, Kidman owes her audience a great debt.
’So basically, what does that leave us with? My guess is that her career was built on hype and spectacle, rather than a true nod to any notion of depth in acting. I am convinced that she herself is aware of this, and exploits it for whatever monetary gain it has to offer. Unfortunately, these days, the phenomenon of star appeal in Hollywood seems to chip away at and sadly, supersede proper acknowledgement of those with real talent.’ Feb 2009

Dutchcloggie said...

‘Wow! That is some astute observation of her career, Anonymous! And almost 4 years after I posted it as well :-) It hasn't gotten much better since, has it. The only brilliant thing I feel she's done in recent years is The Hours and possibly The Others.
Oh well, at least she's no longer with The Midget. That alone is probably the wisest career move he has ever made!’ Feb 2009

rememberwhen said...

Yes Keith went out of his way to step on that persons foot. Was it a pap? It looks like the person was wearing a reflective vest. That would be a worker for the airport. Thanks.

maclen said...

Lisa said...
"Ok girls, here you go. It's obvious he made a pretty big step forward to do it. Now he's hurting ppl too!!"

HA! Yeah, orb is definately aiming for the foot! The "child" in orb is passive-aggressively striking out at the annoying paps...while the vain attention mongering kidman poses and smiles for the paps! Again, like the "spoiled" child acting up because mommy wants to be noticed in the crowd!

Chris Bertolini said...

How pathetic and sad (the picture) that Keith has to take that HUGE of step (and it is huge for him) to hit any object like that. Afterall he doesn't have very long legs. It's getting deeper and deeper isn't it?

rememberwhen said...

I have looked closer to the foot that Keith stepped on. Is it a womens foot?

abc said...

Keith always had the reputation for being friendly and humble to the public around him ... and bear in mind that would be to SCREAMING fans; reaching forward to touch and grab him more so than any papparazzi .. so this new behaviour - going further and further up the elitism ladder shows a fundamental change in him... a desire to be separated from the masses ... we know where he gets that from; despite his 'teacher' wildly attempting to show the world that she loves everyone ... as when she was asked what she felt about Keith's screaming fans: "I love him so much that I feel I am loving them (the fans) back". Punctuated now by her ever-present cheshire cat grin.

I actually do think she is pregnant by the way that everyone was trying to physically protect her at the Tavern lunch. If so, that will screw doing the Danish Girl. Btw, don't know if anyone picked up her inconsistency where she says on one occasion that she had the sudden growth spurt at 13 and on another occasion at 14. She also says she is 6 foot, however she is 5:11. And how the boys hated her because she was tall - what then does she think wearing skyscrapers (London premiere) would do to Keith? Notice too how she rambles on about kissing girls as a teen and (hating) it: prep contra PR for Danish Girl??

I think the reason she needs to keep going from one character to another (in film) is because she has no (consistent) character of her own. She picks up the life-force of those around her which is why she has no consistency about herself. She needs a director to turn her into something: anything!

I am not sure that I explained properly in my previous post about the structure of her teasing controversial statements... she will put forth a salacious statement within the context of her personal life, but then wrap it up within the context of work so that when it is challenged, she will inform all of us morons that of course, she was only talking about the context of work. She is as transparent as her skin.

Anonymous said...

abc, I believe Kidman's actual height really is six feet tall. She has said that herself several times in interviews. She has claimed five eleven, five eleven and a half, and five ten and a half, at different times in her career. Since hooking up with Keith she claimed to be only five ten and Keith claimed the same - five ten. All for the "perfect couple" image of course.

I don't think shes pregnant (or ever has been). Shes milking this promotion of Nine for all its worth and playing the role of the big movie star hoping to get the attention of HW and restart her career. Because Maclen is right, its becoming more and more obvious that her career is over.

maclen said...

The monotony of the by now epic addled "PR" of kidman is so clearly to a point of uber saturation that it no doubt has the effect of simple "white noise"...in that it's a great sleep aid! The endless recycling of the tired "revelations" of being devastated by the cruise split...of being tormented for her "growth spurts... the mundane tales of gardening, workouts, laundry and alpaca eyelashes clearly falls short of a description of a interesting "personality." As to the recent "strange sexual fetish stuff"... it was about as convincing or of interest to people considered in less of a time as it took kidman to try and explain it was meant to simply explain her films! Her problem is, no one bought it and no one considers it interesting enough to go see her in a film. And as for her next role in Nine...it's pretty much another dud for her...and seemingly the film is not going so hot itself. I mean, for such a supposedly "highly anticipated film"...the film had a UK premiere a week ago...and it just had it's LA premiere a few days ago...and it still only has 12 reviews at Rotten tomatoes... 5 fresh and 7 rotten for a 42% rotten rating so far. Meanwhile, Avatar, which was just screened yesterday I believe, already has 32 reviews...29 fresh and 3 rotten for a 91% fresh rating. And it is relevant because Avatar opens on dec 18, the same day Nine opens limited in NY and LA. Yeah, I can hear the fansies now..."it's apples and oranges"... well, the money is the same that would presumably go to a "hot" Avatar rather than a "dud" Nine! And just because an "indie' flick that may not be a box office smash that gets "awards" consideration, doesnt mean Nine can do it. And I dont believe it will, for not only is Nine not getting critical buzz, it has the added pressure of having to be a box office smash for the money strapped WeinCo...and people will be especially looking at the box office. For even a "limited release" film gets judged by it BO performance. So basically, Nine is not critically favored, is up against the surging Avatar...and then opening wide against a very overly crowded Xmas day releases...can anyone else say...one...two...and three strikes they're out?

Chris Bertolini said...

Mikki I think you are spot on correct when you said you don't think she is pregnant or ever has been...I have also maintained that all along especially when it comes to "carrying" Sunday. Someone did carry her but I don't for one minute buy that it was NK and I wouldn't bet my life on KU being the sperm donor either. Not that it really matters, but if that is the case, why LIE about it all?? I think the is a pathalogical LIAR and she is simple minded enough that she has convinced herself if she repeats these lies enough that it makes them TRUTH.

maclen said...

Ha! This is why "live concert" reviews are absolutely no indication whatsoever of where a musican actually is in his career...it may as well be written by a sychophantic fansie at their fansie site...a simple string of generalities to pimp whatever "act" is on the bill...just another "promo" arm of the self perpectuating octopus of "showbusiness"...like Entertainment Tonight or Access Hollywood! To wit...an "aussie" review of the recent cletus gig down under...and immediately the "stenographer" tips is ignorance of reality...

http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=9771_REVIEW:_Keith_Urban,_Melbourne,_December_12,_2009

REVIEW: Keith Urban, Melbourne, December 12, 2009

"You would never know the music business was in trouble at a Keith Urban concert. He has no trouble selling records, he has no trouble selling tickets and he has no trouble selling merch. Keith Urban is still doing it right."

So, obviously, this "music" reviewer is ignorant of the orbs "record selling" of late...I certainly wouldnt call selling about 600k cds as opposed to selling 2mil 2 years ago as being "able to sell records!" As I would also assume that this reviewer is completely oblivious to the fact that the orb has used...

“Who’s got the best seats in the house now,” he said to the audience down the back."

...at every live gig in the US...and Canada to boot! It seems the very "uninspired"..or more than likely... the very "unimaginative" orb couldnt even changed up the tired script for the pretty paltry 5 gigs he has in OZ. I'm sure his people will not be having to "edit" the live dvd very much...simply burn one gig and during the shots... orb exclaiming,

"who's got the best seats now... or ‘Only You Can Love Me This Way’ (which he dedicated to wife Nicole Kidman)"

..and every attendant to his entire tour will simply believe there showing the show they were at! Simple...just like the orb!

Choice said...

Why am I not surprised? Ahead of her visit to Australia with currently touring hubby, Nicole has once again mentioned why she will never live in Sydney again. And no, it's not because of the hot summers:

http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/2009/12/we-cant-live-in-sydney.html

PS. Nicole, Sydney does not mind at all.

Anonymous said...

dontlikethepez, she lied for the publicity. Thats why she lies about everything, for the publicity.

abc said...

aren't they breaking their golden rule of 'no more than 3 days apart' ... oh dear, hell is going to freeze over ...

abc said...

with all of this Nine stuff (movie 'n' all) Nicole looks like such a square peg in a round hole ...

maclen said...

abc said...
"aren't they breaking their golden rule of 'no more than 3 days apart' ... oh dear, hell is going to freeze over ..."

...well, from what I've read of PR for the film, the cast is scheduled to appear on Larry king on the 15th...if kidman is present...it certainly will make a mockery of her 3...or 5...and didnt it used to be 11 day rule at one time?! It would certainly make a mockery of her claims that "her family takes priority over her career"...

abc said...

oh yes, maclen, wasn't it "non-negotiable!"

Unknown said...

Ummmmm, saw the commercial for Nine. I swear, they didnt even want to say her name or acknowledge she was in the film!! She was only shown walking down a street and it was a so fast, if you blinked you missed her AND when they were name dropping the list of actresses in the film, she was dead last.

Man, how does it feel to know you're dead weight? No wonder they call her a flop.

maclen said...

Ha! I saw this posting over a Hollywood Elsewhere...and just had to post it here!

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/12/nine_is_a_ten.php

"Nine Is A Ten"

...and if you look at the first photo...and then notice the first comment...

"Pynchon8 says ...

"Is that Kidman in the background of the first pic? What a mess.

...as I've always contended... "natural light" is never flattering to kidman! Cheek implants evidently dont wear very well!!
So, it seems WeinCo is pulling all the stops in an attempt to "salvage" Nine...note the second comment on the HE posting...

701 says...

"NINE is beautifully executed but disastrously misconceived. It deserves the 36 rating it currently has on RT.

...a "promotional cast dinner?" A "promotional lunch" in the eye of a paparatz storm earlier last week? Are they that hard up for promotional opportunities? Again, as the reviews trickle in at a "snails pace" for this so called "highly anticipated" film...it looked like kidman would simply be the weak link in a worthy and glimmering flick... now it looks like she'll be the croaking mannequin in this gaudy xmas fashion store window display...for Goodwill!!

Choice said...

While not exactly news, Nicole's little sister, Antonia is still considering moving out of Australia to set up house in Singapore with her new husband. She'll take her four children with her. Based on the comments in the news article, people are pleased that another Kidman will be out of the country. For those who don't know, Antonia is a C List TV presenter down under.

Not sure if this story completely rings true. I doubt her former husband would allow her to shift her kids to another country.

Article is here:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/antonia-kidman-quits-sydney/story-e6frewz0-1225810354087

maclen said...

So...in this edition of "LAte Night MUsings'...being as I'm basically "cooling my heels"...(and in a nod to my new pictorial namesake on my profile page...the late great Groucho Marx...in by cooling my "heels"...I do NOT mean kidman and cletus!)...I am basically in standby on my comments here at UM...til something significant happens with kidman...or cletus. I am in anticipation for the film Nine to "drop"...for I am pretty postitive based on the reactions...and subsequent "silence" of the film, pretty much...that it will be a BOMB. Critically and financially for weinco...but especially for kidman! Now, just tonight, I happended to check out my favorite sychophants over at NKU...and saw this interesting comment...

http://www.nicolekidmanunited.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=12130&st=20

nicfan22:
"Gosh...It is true or not??!! If it is true it would be a tragedy!!"

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/film/article6246562.ab
http://www.expressen.se/noje/1.1804380/alf...-av-kidman-film

"Translation:
Alfredson jumps of Kidman film
Tomas Alfredson drop off from what was to become his international debut. Nicole Kidman, who will play the main role in the film "The Danish girl," confirms the TT spectra to the Swede left the project."


...basically, the rumor is that director Alfredson has also dumped the Danish girl. Recall that just this past Sept. it was announced that Alfredson had replaced the original director for the Danish Girl, Anand Tucker. And it was also announced at that same time that charlize theron had also left the film. Well, I couldnt find any other articles confirming whether or not Alfredson had indeed left the film...but I did happen to check alfredson's wiki page...which states this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomas_Alfredson

"In July 2009 it became clear that Alfredson had signed to direct a film adaptation of John le Carré's 1974 novel, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.[23] The film will be produced by Working Title Films' Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, with the screenplay being written by Peter Morgan.[23] Before this film he was set to direct The Danish Girl, an adaption of the novel of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman,[24] but left the project for unknown reasons."

So, we'll have to wait and see if it turns out to be true! But I also recall reading this just a few days ago...

http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSTRE5B15RE20091202

"Paltrow, McGraw to star in country music drama"

Recall, paltrow had replaced theron! So has paltrow already found another gig? If true, kidman took up an uber anorexic workout regime for nothing!

maclen said...

So, the plot of whether director Alfredson has in fact dumped the Danish Girl thickens! Noticed this from the Hollywood Reporter...

http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/nicole-kidman-nine-daniel-day-lewis/

"Nicole also told me she’s still intent on playing Dusty Springfield in the movies, and has Michael Cunningham slaving away on a script.

...so one would assume, of course, that kidman is now talking up the Springfield bio pic because Danish Girl fell through. And of course, it may be rather simple for paltrow to pick up another film...but with her "dead career" kidman must slave away... or as the article puts it...she has cunningham slaving away on a script for her to star in! Well, with Nine set to be released in 3 days...limited in NY and LA...it is now at 33% rotten at ROtten Tomatoes...out of 15 reviews, only 5 are fresh and 10 are rotten! As the NKUser put it, it would be a tragedy for kidman.

hoosierlady said...

I'm sure you all saw this:

http://www.celebitchy.com/84922/nicole_kidman_refuses_to_answer_questions_about_scientology/

I am sure this is the first time in the many times I have seen her speak that I was impressed with an answer. What did you think?

Choice said...

Maclen - The Danish Girl has been in the works for so long now, that I don't think it will ever see the light of day. Just the thought of Granny playing a man wanting to be a woman makes one's stomach churn. Perhaps Gywenth now has cold feet too about coming onboard.

DId you see the BBC Interview with Gran? She looked very shocked when asked about about Eyes Wide Shut and its connection to her divorce. Even with all the botox, she was able to look shocked ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8410506.stm

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"I'm sure you all saw this:
http://www.celebitchy.com/84922/nicole_kidman_refuses_to_answer_questions_about_scientology/
I am sure this is the first time in the many times I have seen her speak that I was impressed with an answer. What did you think?"

Well, hoosier, I may be inclined to be slightly impressed...if her response wasnt total BS. To wit...

“I’m here to publicise Nine. If I was here to do an expose on myself then I’d be like, ‘let’s go,’ but I have no interest in discussing any of that.”

Fine, she has no interest in discussing Sci-tol, simply say so...but she should not insist she was there to NOT do an "expose" on herself! Can you imagine if the question had instead been "How did the split with cruise affect you emotionally...or spiritually...etc...kidman would have bent the dudes ear off as if she were lying on a psychiatrist's couch! It's obvious that Sci-tol is a very sensitive and sore point with kidman and cruise. I wouldnt be surprised at all if that IS the reason for the split.

Choice said...
"Maclen - The Danish Girl has been in the works for so long now, that I don't think it will ever see the light of day."

Well, Choice, I find it odd that kidman and paltrow are the only stars lined up for the film! Is it to be a film with only two actors? And I've read or seen kidman address the EWS and split before, so I dont see why she would be so surprised by it!

hoosierlady said...

You're right, I don't know what happened to me. Must have been the car exhaust. She never answers anything in anyway that doesn't further her own ambitions.

maclen said...

Ha! just saw the kidman "coker face" pics at the NY premiere on the front page, Urban Myths! Dlisted has a hilarious post on it...

http://www.dlisted.com/node/35262

Coker Face

...boy, what a mess! Her "slug lips" are, as usual, especially repulsive...the "gummy smile"...along with the "red eye" gives her her distinctive "bat face look! So, another glitzy premiere...as the film now falls to 26% rotten over at Rotten Tomatoes...so I doubt if even weinstein's bought golden globe nods are gonna save this xmas turkey!

hoosierlady said...

Please do not let her buy a mirror, that is good stuff!

hee hee hee Merry Christmas!

Choice said...

Maclen - Nicole's makeup mishap kind of rings true! She is slowly turning into that clown she always wanted to be.

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"Please do not let her buy a mirror, that is good stuff!"

Well, hoosier, my first reflection on it was...why didnt anyone of the countless co-stars present considerately "point it out" to her before she came out to the paps?! She was probably isolated from all the rest and came out unbenownst in her clown makeup! Actually I think since the Danish girl perhaps HAS fallen through, and after her extreme anorexic workouts for that role she was ravenous...and stopped off at a nearby ihop for a stack of pancakes...and just couldnt wait for them and ran into the kitchen to...well, I was gonna say "make them herself"...but who would believe that...so she ran into the kitchen to demand instant pancakes...and got the mix all over her face!

maclen said...

Choice said...
"Maclen - Nicole's makeup mishap kind of rings true! She is slowly turning into that clown she always wanted to be."

Yes, the clown finally appeared at the circus, Choice! And of the countless news stories about it today...this one is my favorite!

http://www.anorak.co.uk/233979/celebrities/nicole-kidman-dresses-as-adam-ant-at-nine-premiere-new-york-in-pictures.html

Nicole Kidman Dresses As Adam Ant At Nine Premiere New York: In Pictures

..and for anyone not familar with Adam Ant...here's a refresher...

http://theredradio.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54ffb97e68834010534d7fb72970c-800wi

...and excellent resemblance, isnt it?!

Unknown said...

Hmmm, an article of how "Elevated" Keith is and then these pictures with "powder" all over her face.


What a MESS

I'm so glad I am not them. They dont leave a single thing to be desired.

JOY said...

PLEASE, tell me that you all know this was a very bad camera glare off of her face. No one believes that she would step out with something that obviously wrong smack in the middle of her face & no would say anything. She more than likely checked, double checked & triple checked her face. I'm also sure that other people checked her face as well before she hit the red carpet. It's just one of those things that happens. It could have been any of the ladies that it happened to. They all looked stunning & it looks like Nine is getting a lot of attention every where. Despite beliefs to the contrary she is a human being with flaws. She's doing the best she can with what she has, just like the rest of us.

Unknown said...

JOY- why wouldnt she walk out with it right smack in her face when she's walked out with worse right smack up her ass?

Nice try sweetie, but your attempts at saving your precious queen has caused her to look worse.

I think it could be a pathetic attempt to upstage. It's the only thing she's a pro at nowadays.

Lisa xxx

hoosierlady said...

Lisa said. . .

JOY- why wouldnt she walk out with it right smack in her face when she's walked out with worse right smack up her ass?


couldn't have said it any better!

I think the reason no one said anything is pretty obvious, and I think the sheer number of photos is proof enough that it wasn't just a coincidence.

Unknown said...

And what was this about her "costars" hitting on Keith? Something about shaking boobs at him and such?

Choice said...

Joy - remember the black see-through dress at the ARIA's, and the two see through white dresses she wore to the Australia Premieres. Come on now, the lady has a history of red carpet blunders. Some of us feel this are intentional mishaps to bring more attention to a famewhore. You may like to read Sickitten's response to the comment you left on my Blog. Just some food for thought:

http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/2009/12/nicole-turns-up-as-adam-ant-at-ny.html

Cheers, Choice

maclen said...

Clearly, if kidman's "raccon face" Camouflage...or as has been put forward, a "lighting illusion"...is present when group photos of the entire cast all together, shows no other abnormalities on the other cast members face, and DOES show on kidman's face...well, then...there is something there! And clearly, with the not unfamilar effect of a "black light"...you know "ultraviolet"...it is totally logical that a type of light can reveal what IS actually there...and another type of light can make it appear to NOT be there! Again, in the aforementioned "black light" effect...and once again, kidman seems to have been suffering from that effect...time after time at the NY premiere...but penn cruz did not...hudson did not...dench...etc. actually, as I get into this thesis, I am becoming quite intriqued by this...perhaps kidman was experimenting with a new product of skin makeup...a new state of the art, futuristic "glow in the dark" facial base! Perhaps she got hold of a dangerous, radioatively tainted batch of Rouge! When you think of it, the theories are intriguingly endless!

Unknown said...

I still think she is "modeling" the powder. Try to imagine it not there when you see the pics. All her other pics, she is speaking with her eyes. In all these coker pics, she WANTS you to see what is "on her face".

The pics WITHOUT the powder? I ask a question... are the powder pics from more gossipy based media types and the NON powder pics maybe touched up before they can be released?

maclen said...

So, in this edition of LAte Night MUsings"...on the eve of Nine about to "drop" in theaters in NY and LA...it finds itself with "rotten" rating of 38% over at Rotten Tomatoes...thats 24 rotten ratings to only 15 fresh ratings. So I thought that I would post a couple of my favorite quotes from a few reviews...


http://movies.about.com/od/nine/fr/nine-review.htm

" Nicole Kidman is totally out of place playing this megastar who has worked with Guido several times in the past. Kidman's attempt at an Italian accent is just plain horrendous and jolting."


http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=4696

"and superstar-muse Claudia (Nicole Kidman, poorly served by improper lighting and a blond weave that seems intended to distract from her face) whose blinding star quality is repeatedly presented as a given but never demonstrated."


http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/12/avatar-and-nine.php?page=2

"Kidman and Loren both sport visages that are, shall we say, anachronistic for the film’s mid-1960s setting (Botox hadn’t been invented yet)"



http://reelrave.com/review/234

"The musical numbers by Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, and Nicole Kidman are horrible. Kidman just showed up for the paycheck. She might consider herself too famous to act anymore.



http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/film/81505/nine-film-review

"the other performers simply come off as exaggerated waxworks or (in Loren and Nicole Kidman’s cases) embalmed corpses wheeled out for impotent symbolism."


...and there are 19 other rotten reviews to choose from...although, as predicted...most dont even mention kidman! Well, next expectations will be it's "per theater" gross...which I'm sure WienCo, as others will be taking a close look at for it's eventual performance in it's wide release a week from now! As was kidman's recent "pancake" face a kind of foreboding omen...I'm sure everyone involved in this flick will certainly feel they have "something on their faces" after tommorrow!

notachance said...

So who paid off whom for all the awards praise then?

I will go so see this movie, even if NK is in it.

maclen said...

Awards are just another arm of LaLaLand's many "octopus arms" for the plain and simple holy grail of the industry: "PROMOTION" Which is why studios and their suits...actors and actresses "campaign" for noms and "campaign" for awards. And you have to be totally gullable and naive to believe that a "nomination" is simply an indication of its "quality!" Clearly, Nine's current "rotten" rating of 48% over at ROtten TOmatoes makes the noms it has gotten so far look pretty laughable...certainly to someone who looks at the more tangible indicators of "quality"... like the average meter of reviewers at RT...than to the "ratings mongering" and "Swag whore" organizations like the GG's or the SAG awards!

maclen said...

...ps...

...and just to continue on the vain of..."perceived quality" as contrasted to that far more tangible "average consensus" of RT...this is why I would submit that kidman's career is finished...

(via Rotten Tomatoes.com)

Australia- 54%

Golden Compass- 42%

Margo at the Wedding- 52%

The Invasion- 19%

Fur- 31%

Bewitched- 25%

The Interpreter- 58%

Birth- 39%

Stepford Wives- 26%

Cold Mountain- 71%

Human Stain 41%

..and etc...kidman's last oscar nom was her "pity win" in 2002s The Hours...her last GG nom was for 2004's Birth (Birth? With a 39% Rotten rating? HA!) Her last SAG nom was in 2002's The Hours. There IS...well eventually...a cause and effect, even in LaLaland...especially when ultimately, money talks...and, eventually, BS walks! Which is why kidman is now toiling away in her own little dreary weepy indies... from unheard of bankrollers for $5mil here and another $5mil there...and trailor-less sets and 3 to 4 week filming schedules!

joy said...

The see through dresses are one thing but this makeup thing is something totally different. I can say I am not a fan of Nicole Kidman. I am actually a Keith Urban fan. (Yes I know he has "issues" as well but the man is talented beyond measure & I'll continue to be a fan as long as he makes music). I've only seen a couple of her movies & that was due to "catching" them on the TV when scanning the channels. I have never paid to go see one of her movies & probably won't. But having said all of that, I HONESTLY do not think that this "powder" incident was intentional. I'm not a lighting or photography expert but I truly think it was due to the lighting and/or photography. She may want media attention but not something this totally obvious or unflattering. Just My Opinion.

Choice said...

Welcome home Gran? Happy Holidays?

http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/2009/12/keithy-did-you-miss-me.html