Just think, I was going to use old photos of Bendy Cumberbatch solo in this post but that was before Sophie Hunter debuted her alleged (!!) baby bump on Saturday night in Palm Springs. Sigh… otter babies. When asked about his wedding plans with Sophie, Benedict apparently said: “One thing at a time. I’m playing Sherlock now — just about to start — so my main focus is going to be on that.” Wait, he’s going to play Sherlock without floppy hair?!!? NO.
Anyway, January is here and the awards season is in full swing. Oscar nomination ballots have to be in by this week, and then once the nominations come out (January 15th), there will be several weeks of more rigorous campaigning, hand-shaking, baby-kissing and possible bump-flaunting. It’s pretty much guaranteed that Benedict Cumberbatch will get a Best Actor Oscar nomination, plus most feel that The Imitation Game will definitely be nominated for Best Picture. So… how is the campaign going? Is Benedict in it to win it? Is Harvey Weinstein in it to win it?
First of all, TIG picked up a Best Picture Award at the Hollywood International Film Festival in Capri a few days ago. I don’t even know if Bendy went to Capri (I’m pretty sure he didn’t), but TIG came out the big winner. And Timothy Spall won Best Actor, which is sad for Cumby. Still, Bendy’s name has been included on all of the Best Actor lists thus far. Pajiba pointed out something interesting a few days ago as well – Weinstein is repositioning TIG so it’s less about recognizing Bendy’s performance and more about Alan Turing the man and his extraordinary achievements – go here to read.
The Gold Derby also had a piece about whether Benedict could actually end up winning the Oscar. Right now, they have him in third place behind Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne, but the Gold Derby points out that no one thought Bendy would win the Emmy for Sherlock last year either, and surprises do happen… especially when Harvey Weinstein is helming the campaign. Go here to read the Gold Derby’s analysis of Bendy’s chances.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
NO
NO! NO! NO! …I saw “Mr. Turner” in Vancouver on Saturday. Timothy Spall is MAGNIFICENT!
I saw Mr. Turner — great performance, especially since the character was such a douche chimp IRL.
That was the first comment that came into my head. TIG was good, but I don’t think it’s good enough to beat the other guys in the category who were so much better.
NO x10000000000
I am so so so sick of this man. I don’t care if he’s the next DDL – him and his weird froggy face need to GTFO. He is the male version of Jennifer Aniston relentless campaigning. Nothing subtle about it.
My (nonexistent) vote goes for Jake G in Nightcrawler or Michael Keaton in Birdman. I still need to see Selma. I didn’t care for Theory of Everything but Eddie Redmayne was quite good. The movie was so boring. Here’s my controversial pick – Ben Affleck in Gone Girl. He was very good… though not worthy of a win (but a nomination would be fine!).
NO! Eddie Redmayne deserves to win. His performance as Stephen Hawkings is remarkably superb.
He’s Harvey’s It boy. Harvey’s actors win even when they are modiocre. Of course he could win.
Lord. Without wishing to upset all the hundreds-of-comments ladeez around here, I hope not. I liked TIG well enough but it was nowhere near as good as I’d hoped. It was more like a worthy BBC series than an Oscar-worthy film.
I preferred ToE and thought Mr Turner was everything (including both film and performance for both) but I’ve finally seen Birdman and fell completely in love. This Britisher thinks it should all go to you Americans this year.
1. I love Keaton. He is one of the most under-rated actors. Man got skillz.
2. “Without wishing to upset all the hundreds-of-comments ladeez around here” Um, this can happen at the drop of a muumuu. Do you think you are THAT powerful? lol
I am really upset right now. I must sing!
Hitler, has only got one ball,
The other is in the Albert Hall,
Himmler has something similar
But Goebbells has no balls at all.
*curtsies*
YOU are REALLY kissing up to Sixer. Jeez I had to wikimitize myself to suss out the blather.
Sixer, I LOVE YOU MORE THAN MIMIFoO does. All hail the Muumuu flag!
Cute curtsey though.
Ohhh, someone is wearing their grumpy green trousers today.
Green Lederhosen.
*blushes*
Aristotle, Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle,
And Hobbes was fond of his dram.
And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart.
‘I drink, therefore I am.’
Comet cocktail, anyone?
I love Keaton, too. Don’t know that I’d call him “underrated,” though–his acting skills & talent have been pretty well noted throughout his career. In any event I’d love to see him win Best Actor. 🙂
@Penelope, I think people do appreciate the acting, but he doesn’t get as much love and respect as others in the field who aren’t as good. Hopefully, he does now.
So far I have only seen ToE and Mr. Turner from Best Actor category. I was blown away by Eddie and I think he deserves the Oscar. He also seems genuinely touched by the praise, which is sweet. But I will keep an open mind until I have seen Birdman.
After BC’s Kardashianesque private life pimping, I hope he doesn’t even get the nom at this point. He will though…
Oh yeah, he’ll definitely get the nomination, I can’t see him being left out but i wouldn’t mind being wrong in this case 😉
I agree. Keaton deserves the win.
+1
Of the possible contenders Cumberbatch is not the best I’ve seen. I have a serious problem evaluating Michael Keaton. I really, really, really dislike seeing him in anything since I saw him in Much ado about nothing and he seriously grates on me. I just can’t be objective anymore. But apparently everyone else loves his performance, so it’s probably good.
I’ve only been able to see ToE, ER is very good.
But I lv Keaton, too, hope I will have the chance to see it soon.
I loved Birdman… he was brilliant. I am waiting to see Selma but we have to wait until Feb (: here in the UK
@ Kiddo
My muumuu can land on comets. It can climb Everest without equipment. It can also exert subliminal influence on free will. So you know. Yes. My muumuu can do ANYTHING.
@ Lilac
You said I would like it and I did! And it even has bangs and crashes. Add a dollop of subversion and a film can even make me like bangs and crashes. Who’dathunkit?!
@ AG
Oh, blimey. I’d forgotten Selma.
Yep Sixer… 6th Feb in the UK
@Sixer, you liked it because it had lots of snark. Snarky Keaton. Snarky Ed Norton. Snarky Emma. And Amy Ryan just makes everything wonderful.
My disappointment in TIG is well documented on this site and I thought Redmayne’s performance edged out Bendy’s. Keaton deserves the statue this year; but I would like to see Jakey G get recognition somewhere for his Creepy Lou in Nightcrawler.
Jake’s Nightcrawler made my skin crawl. A stunning performance.
He was very powerful in the clips of Night Crawler I have seen
NO one is upset. He has as slim chances as Sophie’s waistline 😉
Frankly who knows. He was good in TIG, Keaton was super in birdman, as was jake in night crawler. Ralph Fiennes was also lovely in Grand Budapest hotel. But the best does not always win – or even get nominated- a case in point being 1999, when Ed Norton should have won for American History X, but they gave it to roberto benigni for his Performance in the tasteless life is beautiful. Hope Ed wins this Year as support in Birdman.
“But the best does not always win – or even get nominated- a case in point being 1999, when Ed Norton should have won for American History X, but they gave it to roberto benigni for his Performance in the tasteless life is beautiful.”
So true, Anne tommy. I’m still bitter about that injustice. But I think JK is a damn near shoo-in for supporting actor, despite Norton stealing every scene he was in in Birdman. Love them both and wish they could each be recognized for their performances.
I am also still bitter about Ed Norton getting robbed in ’99. He’s so amazing. I assume it’s Keaton’s year to get the Oscar. It’s time for what my spouse and I call “the old fart award” . He’s due.
I am torn between Norton and Simmons for supporting actor because I admire them both
With you, icerose. I am more impressed with JK as a person, so if pressed to choose, I’d be punching the card for him. But Norton’s performance was equally as good.
It’s hard to image the old fogies at AMPAS not giving the Oscar to a worthy actor who has been around as long as JK and has the stellar reputation he has.
I also get the feeling Norton is not that popular in the business but he has turned in some electric performances.
‘Seen TIG, TTOE, Birdman – no way Benny beats Keaton.
I’m conflicted.
My brain says that Michael Keaton will win.
My heart wants David Oyelowo to win.
My snarky, bitchy, spleen wants Bendy to win just to watch the internet melt.
My spleen is such a sh*t stirrer.
Oh, that made me laugh!
Your spleen makes a lot of appearances on this site in your absence. I hear it’s very good friends with my intestines.
I kind of love your spleen. I have seen almost all the contenders and my favourite work so far has been Jake G in Nightcrawler and Keaton in Bridman. However, I am seeing Selma this weekend and I already love David Oyelowo so much that after seeing it, it could change my opinion about the whole category.
my mothering personality says Eddie Redmayne
My mad rebellious adolescent says Micheal Keaton
My creative artist says Spall
My Irish head says Brendon Glesson
My sense of fair play says you really should suffer through TIG to be fair
And my wishing on a star says Tom Hiddleston for Only Lovers Left Alive
And my cynic says I wish the Oscars had the balls to give Harvey Weinstein best director
The rest will have to wait until the hit the UK
But if I was asked to vote or place a bet it would be Keaten but that is based on the clips I have seen
Your Harvey comment is amazing. LMAO.
I loved Hiddles in Only Lovers but he doesn’t even crack my top 10 this year. So many good performances.
I feel obligated to sit through American Sniper based on the early buzz about B.Coop and to be fair but I don’t really love him and I hate Eastwood as a director.
I haven’t seen Spall in Mr.Turner yet but I doubt that will be coming to my mid-size Canadian city for awhile.
@Sunny -it was wishful thinking only -I think he was good but the film was more focussed on Tilda and I doubt she will get a nod either.
@icerose
I’m glad you mentioned Brandon Gleeson cos he was outstanding in Calvary. Unfortunately he has no shot at the Oscars, though he did win Best Actor at the BIFAs so at least there’s some justice.
@Beth I think you are right which is probably why I prefer the BIFI’S and Cannes to the Oscars,
Could I ask a wee favor? When new Cumberbatch articles go up, would it be a pain to post a different photo for each? It helps me more easily figure out when you’ve posted something different, rather than thinking it is just the same old Cumby piece.
“It helps me more easily figure out when you’ve posted something different, rather than thinking it is just the same old Cumby piece. ”
LMAO the irony – Can someone point out the differences in any of the Cumby posts in the last 6 months? before it all went TIG.
Anyway, roll on Sherlock with curly hair extensions please.
True, true. I’m not a Cumby fan or watcher, so they all look the same to me, and when I look at CB during the day, I’m scanning for new stuff. I see the same old Cumby pic and think “ok, no new stuff yet”….when actually, there are new pieces posted that I’m missing. I use all of the constant daily Cumby posts as bookmarks, sort of, lol. Would be helpful if they were all different. Ha!
you mean Sophie in a new dress-we see to get each new dress for the five posts and my eyes are unable to cope with the glare.
Ok, never mind, I read why you used the same series of pics.
I’m just so bored with them. She looks the same in every photo taken of her.
wax figure : x
They both do… I really can’t take his face for some reason, lol.
smug
As much as I like Cumbers, he hasn’t a hope of a win and rightly so. He should be happy with the nominations, it’s been a great year for him work-wise.
This is Keaton’s year, Redmayne’s second.
Yes and yes. If Keaton doesn’t win, it should go to Eddie.
Yeah, I’d be very surprised. It sounds like Birdman is amazing (I haven’t gotten to see any of the indie contenders yet), and Keaton has the “paid his dues” factor working in his favor.
Birdman looks too overwrought/hysterical for me, both in terms of the actors and the directorial style, but does Keaton do anything particularly different from the acting style he’s done these past 20-30 years? Seriously, I’m asking.
I think Redmayne will win it, just because with Oscar, the men most often win for playing crippled, damaged or sick people, and the women win for playing brassy or pitiful sex objects or for “going ugly”. Plus, Redmayne squelched all his gay rumors for now by actually getting married, for whatever geriatric Oscar voter had a problem with that.
Turing doesn’t feel like a stretch for Cumberbatch, either for those voters who know him as Sherlock or just as a generic upper crusty Brit. Timothy Spall, too, plays true to type in Turner, so won’t feel like an acting achievement to oddly superficial Oscar voters.
I’m not saying Redmayne deserves to win, just basing this on past patterns. Also, the nominations aren’t out yet; there may yet be surprises in this category like Steve Carell or the kid in Boyhood. I’m thinking that Boyhood might actually sweep, because it did something truly original while remaining authentic/gritty/streamlined.
It should go to Michael Keaton. If not him, Eddie or Jake.
Yep.
YES
I hope he will win an Oscar. He is so good in that movie. I can’t think of anybody else to compare to him as in TIG. He is perfection. Fingers crossed for Bendy.
Out of curiosity, have you seen any of the other contenders?
His performance in TIG is the only one of the contenders named that I’ve seen, and even *I* don’t think he should win the Oscar. He just wasn’t that great. Very good, yes, one of the best things in a pretty good movie, but remarkable and Oscar-worthy? No.
I definitely think he could end up winning but to say that the other actors don’t compare is hilarious to me. You need to watch the other movies before you make statements like that.
Oh my goodness. How many Oscar contenders have you actually seen this season? The best actor category is LOADED this year.
Jake Gyllenhaal, looks good in the clips as well-the male category is excellent this year
If it were up to me I’d be putting Keaton, Gyllenhaal, Redmayne and Carell in my top 5 with the last slot pending once I see Selma this weekend and Mr Turner (God knows when).
What if he doesn’t even make the nominations? That would be mortifying after all the red carpets crawls.
Others to compare? Oh, where shall I begin? Keaton in Birdman. Carrell in Foxcatcher. Redmayne in TOE. Gylenhaal in Nightcrawler. Hardy in Locke. Hoffman in Most Wanted Man. Boseman in Get on Up. Lithgow in Love is Strange. Fiennes in Grand Budapest Hotel. Renner in Kill the Messenger. All that I’ve listed here, I put above what I saw in the lead performance in TIG. I’ve yet to see Selma or Mr. Turner or American Sniper or Calgary. Was it a good lead performance in TIG? Yes, not denying it was but I found plenty other performances with which to compare it and it comes up short. I haven’t even touched on performances in several other movies that I found on par with the lead in TIG.
Should we talk about WSJ’s newest BC interview? (WSJ seems to have some sort of deal with HW). I’m so close not even bothering with this sh*t, but oh well.
Phone interview during his trip from LA to PS on Sunday, this gem: “Also, I’ve got things that are more important for me going on now in my life. I’m sitting next to one of them right now, my fiancée [Sophie Hunter] – she’s a helpful tool [laughs]. I said that to make her laugh. She’s a helpful asset! She’s a lot more than that. But it’s brilliant to have something that I think is more important than myself in my life to focus away from myself, you know what I mean? That brings me into a good space.”
1. yet, they arrived in separate cars… (Of course they could have changed at the hotel or something, but)
2. She’s helpful? You are in a good place? She’s laughing? Nooo, I think you meant to say “She’s sucking the life out of me”
EYES rolling like Linda Blair in the Exorcist.
Using “tool” and “asset” (even jokingly) to describe one’s future wife is so inappropriate. I would have clobbered him with my octopus.
But she is being used as a tool/asset, so that’s true, at least.
for one who has reportedly a great vocabulary – he does seem to be struggling for romantic wording these days. Oh well he has learned her name, that’s a start.
He actually didn’t, he says “my fiancee” and “she” and they put her name in brackets. OK I confess I clicked on it because I wanted some context (had they specifically asked about her?). Its hilarious, they didnt even ask about her or their relationship in any way, just how he deals with fame, he gives a normal yet generic and private answer then gives another separate paragraph solely about her. He’s become such a walking contradiction.
he’s trying to be truthful to a certain level LOL
@PunkyMomma: “clobbered him with my octopus” — lol.
Yet later on the RC he said work is very important to him??
On the RC he said wedding planning is not even a priority!
@gg tbh I doubt this sort of interview even really happens, like, they just got a fax and put it on?
“Also, I’ve got things that are more important for me going on now in my life.”
So important that I am booked solidly for the next 18 months and have just signed a multi film deal with Marvel. I also proposed after only 5 months and right at a time when I will spend the minimum amount of time with my new fiancee.
“she’s a helpful tool [laughs]…. She’s a helpful asset! She’s a lot more than that.”
But I’m not going to go into that obviously, it’s private. So very, very private obviously which is why I’m bringing her up to the WSJ.
Could he dehumanise her anymore? If Mr Lindy referred to me as an asset or a tool to a journalist he’d find his helpful tool rammed up his arse.
“But it’s brilliant to have something that I think is more important than myself in my life to focus away from myself, you know what I mean? That brings me into a good space”
OK Mr. Solo Pronoun, you look like you’re in a great space. Stop smiling.
I feel sorry for his real true love, whoever she is.
The only time I’ve been called an “asset” is in a job review.
Actually @angie, @ingrid, @lindy i was thinking the opposite today. Whoever his true love will be is going to be in a better position(assuming a matured career woman in that place). After all these WTFery no one is going to take him seriously for a looooooong while. He can date whoever he wants to, out and about without raising a question. HELL they might even pull a JGL if she is not another FW . SH is doing a favour actually by taking off the initial heat of his superstardom *snort*
Its SUCH an impersonal way to speak about someone outside of a workplace or professional setting. Read it very carefully, it’s all still “myself, my life, me, she’s helpful (to me)” while not even saying her name. This ain’t a man in love with anything other than himself, his life and his career.
That and the fact he cries privacy yet brings her up randomly when not even asked about her, he’s done this several times before.
He used I/ me/my/myself 12 times, she/her 4, we/us 0 in that paragraph… Just saying.
He would have gotten buried in the awards press without her so she’s a helpful tool. I can imagine Karon in the car next to him holding up a sign “MENTION SOPHIE!!!!” and facepalming after that quote.
That’s good that he thinks he’s found something that’s more important than him in his life to focus away from himself and brings him into a good space. ‘Know what he means?
I look for the day where he finds his “moon of his life” “his sun and stars” “his silly rabbit” “his f****** cinnamon apple” and not just his “asset’
@ Lucifer yes, I do think after this, people may not give a da whoever he dates and how he acts, nothings gonna be weirder than this
They’re both tools. *face palms*
As John Watson said re Janine – You got that out of a book!
Oh Lindy, you just made my day!!!!!
Do the wsj usually do actor interviews? I thought it was a financial journal?
Maybe that’s why he used “tool” and “asset” LOL
I had been thinking it’s just a financial journal for a very long time before hes on it in Nov I think.
I hv no idea why financial industry would hv any interest in who he is and who he s with. At least my friends in that industry couldn’t care less about that *eyeroll
Tbh, I doubt this kind of “interview” really happens. They r just putting sth in it.
You are so close not even bothering with this sh*t, but then why not continuing to leave nasty comments, overanalyze every picture and interview and try to act like you don’t care about them at all, oh well.
God, why won’t he learn? All of this is so forced and painfully transparent.
If he would keep his mouth shut he may be able to pull things off but he just can’t keep it closed. He sounds liks a fool.
Did any of you read the whole interview. It is excellent and he used the word tool because he was asked:
“Speakeasy talked with Cumberbatch about “The Imitation Game,” his various future projects, and the tools he uses to stay calm and “get away from the crazy circus of it all.”
It was quite appropriate and amusing in context.
Nice try, maggie but no it wasn’t amusing or appropriate. An ‘asset’ she isn’t and it was just another excuse for Mr ‘I’m so fiercely private’ to crowbar her awkwardly into an interview.
Maggie i honestly appreciate what you’re trying to say but they didn’t mean her when they asked about tools..hes talked many times about reading, meditation, sketching and running to name a few, these are tools. A person, your fiancee, is not a tool no matter how funny you think you’re being. How can the man lament about his personal life being kept private yet he brings her up even when not directly asked? How is that in any way private? The WSJ respected his wish for privacy and don’t appear to have brought her up yet he does *after* he had already given a more than satisfactory answer to the question. It also doesn’t explain calling her an “asset”. She isn’t an inanimate object or a piece of land. It smacks of the “like me, like her” comment which i found irritating. She is a person with faults and flaws and liking him doesn’t mean liking her with blind faith because he says so especially when shes being forced down our throats with actually. .very little substance. He says nothing about her beyond what she is to him/for him. I like people based on what i know about them, thanks to Ben all i know is what she does for him and his career and that someone feels her work needs to be exaggerated to bring her up to his level. That and they are both playing the PR game and selling their relationship HARD.
These people look like unattractive Siblings
Yes! Perhaps twins separated at birth.
OT – your hair is stunning. I so love the cut and color.
Thank you Momma *humble Curtsy*
Seconded. That color is amazeballs.
I normally don’t look at the photos but your hair is beautiful.
@ Angie, thanks for replying on the other thread. I didn’t get in there before it got shut. Anyway, happy new year!
I posted too much that day and thought I was shut out, LOL
Glad you saw it and, Happy new year : )
NOPE
I’ll never and I mean never get the appeal of this man. He’s a Brit with a decent filmography so odds are he will have an Oscar eventually but why the mass hysteria over him and not someone like David Tennant? And his poor fiancé i have no idea and don’t care whether their relationship is real I just hope they’ve got a good security team.
Because Tennant doesnt hustle. I had no clue he was even married until I saw it noted, possibly on imdb. He’s private away from the camera, so he’s less likely to get fangirled than someone like ben who will show up to the opening of an envelope. 🙂
Tennant is brilliant in Broadchurch (thank you netflix!)
Yes I just finished the first season it’s so brilliant!
Tennant is brilliant! And Olivia Colman too.
Tennant’s good but he has hits and misses. Broadchurch was one of his misses for me but it did not help that the leads were very much a cliché -burnt out male cop and an all heart female cop who was a tad thick and unprofessional. As a who done it, it was obvious from the way Coleman’s character is written that it would be the son or husband.
He was brilliant in the Politicians Husband which came on just after it and I liked his Richard 11,I think he does nasty very well.
I liked Broadchurch, even though icerose is right, the characters (and the setting of the quiet town with the dark secret) were a cliché after the other. And I didn’ t like the fact that the killer and the victim “cuddled”, instead of presenting, obviously just in words, a full sexual abuse. I thought it was a little dumb, quite frankly. If you want to go that route, you shouldn’ t chicken out. Change the subject if it worries you that much (which would be totally understandable)!
I didn’ t dislike The Politician’ s Husband, and liked his character there more than Hardy in Broadchurch (he is great at playing bastards, probably because he looks so harmless that it is a shock to see him acting like that), but it did have some problems, one of which was the total lack of chemistry between him and Emily Watson. Also, there were too many stereotypes there as well (SPOILER): the autistic child, the cheating-non-cheating of the wife, the maid in her entirety (I knew from the first time I saw her on screen what she was going to do).
Can I just agree with Ellesbelles, David doesn’t hustle with the industry very well or flirt with the fan base. However, he has a huge fan base enough to blow Benny and Hiddles off the one of the latest internet polls. And, yes, he is very private after his relationship breakdown with Sophia Miles he closed up shop.
I adore David. Going on ten years now.
yes but he has never really made it film wise which considering his talent is surprising, Maybe he just prefers being UK based and doing his odd bits of Shakepeare in between TV shows
I’ ll join the choir repeating what’ s already been said: DT is really not the famewhore type, and doesn’ t pander to the press. He’ s really good with fans, even though he doesn’ t prostitute his life to them and is smart enough to realize and say that even if he doesn’ t like the attention, as long as it’ s not something illegal, it is part of his job. BC has always said he doesn’ t like to talk to the press about his private life and look at the circus he has been creating in the past months.
I also think DT is a way better actor. Sure, he has been in terrible stuff, but the really good stuff he has done is 1000 better than Cumberbatch’ s! I think he definitely deserves lead and supporting roles in big budget movies (not necessarily blockbusters, but hign note movies) more than BC.
I went to see Fright Night just for DT and loved him in it. I doubt he wants the superstardom, but when he does do press, he’s absolutely delightful. His film diaries for his turn as DW were wonderful.
I saw The Imitation Game over the weekend, and it was amazing. Cumberbatch’s performance in particular was GREAT. His acting the last half hour or so nearly killed me; I was still weeping in the parking lot after leaving the theatre. The whole theatre was clapping at the end of the movie. I haven’t seen all the contenders, but based on what I saw, I’d definitely say he deserves an Oscar for that performance.
he was excellent but i think we’ve hit the point where objectivity goes out the window
Objectivity is certainly missing in most of the posts on here.
Ah, it must be an away day from imdb. Maggie, what are you doing? I think Imdb reputation precedes it, hence the fact that most people avoid it like the plague.
And I’ll tell you something else about imdb, objectivity is the last thing it’s interested in. It’s ironic you even mention it tbh.
I think this is why BC’s recent blatant publicity stunts don’t matter, because he has an army of fans who won’t see what’s staring them in the face and the public don’t take enough notice to care.
@Maggie
What, just because some posters do not like TIG it means they are incapable of being objective? Are you serious? Hilarious because this kind of blind stanning is anything BUT objective.
**my tea’s gone cold I’m wondering why I got out of bed at all**
Christ on a bike, no one here is saying he doesn’t deserve the nomination but that there are stronger performances to warrant a win (which is being reflected in the awards given so far and in line with the large majority of industry experts). The Best Actor field is really really strong this year and just because you love him that doesn’t mean he’s automatically the best.
Blind adoration without questioning is a dangerous thing. I’m happy he’s getting nominated and that the film is doing well, it should but I’m just sorry he’s become someone who does one thing and says the opposite and is shilling his soul for both the film and because he is desperate for Hollywood acceptance and refusing to own his ambition.
The question in my head is like this: even if he wins, how many people would say it’s him and the film not the hustling?
The problem is, with the way campaigning has gone in the last few years, the line is so blurred.
We can probably all think of at least 5 times that the person who won probably didn’t actually give the strongest performance but did the best hustle and had the strongest team behind them.
You mean like the year Gwyneth Paltrow won? IMHO she wasn’t nearly as good as the other contenders who turned in spectacular performances, specifically Cate Blanchet and Emily Watson.
Yes exactly, and you’re not alone in that. She so did not deserve the awards, and over Cate Blanchett??
Some of it is personal choice but you can see lots of examples over the years in both male and female categories where campaigning played a big role in the Oscar wins.
Weinstein’s Leading role winners from past decade or so: Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep (Iron Lady), Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Jean Dujardin, Colin Firth, Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood).
So yeah, that’s pretty good track record.
(IMO, especially J.Law was somewhat undeserved. I think Jessica Chastain was much better while JL just screamed maniacally for two hours. But people might disagree)
Good point Gracie, but all of the front runners are working the hustle, we’re really only microscopically watching Ben. I’m thinking it wont have too much actual fallout except among the close watchers
I think Harvey’s reputation works against any one but Benny’s fans believing it was not all about about buzz, power and publicity,
This will be an unpopular opinion but I thought both The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything were terrible movies. Corny dialogue, terribly conventional and formulaic, the kind of safe unremarkable Oscar bait that I dread. But AMPAS likes these kind of films so I agree both will get a Best Picture nomination. That category is less competitive anyway since there are up to 10 slots.
By comparison, the Best Actor category only has 5 slots. Redmayne is outstanding as Hawking even though I hated TOE, so his will be a deserved nomination. The role is very showy, in a biopic and entails a tremendous physical transformation which he pulled off admirably, things which AMPAS tends to favour.
Keaton seems to be the frontrunner for now and he has the veteran narrative going for him. Although he hasn’t swept the major critics awards as expected.
I’m not rooting for Benedict cos I thought he overacted in TIG, sometimes veering into hammy territory. But he’s pretty safe for a nomination too, although somewhat behind Redmayne and Keaton.
Oyewolo is supposedly fantastic in Selma but I haven’t seen the film so cannot comment.
Beyond these top four, several others could make it in too. Spall has had an amazing awards run with wins at Cannes, NYFCC and NSFC. If he scores a BAFTA win, I think Cumberbatch is in danger of being snubbed.
Jake Gyllenhaal has also had a late surge and gotten a lot of critics love for his role in Nightcrawler. Bradley Cooper likewise is mounting a late charge with American Sniper, with good box office, great reviews and importantly, lots of industry support.
Overall I think Cumberbatch will get a nomination but will not win.
Yeah, TOE is awful, so it’s good thing that there is ER’s performance to focus on
Great post. Informative and well written.
I wanna marry this comment <3
I have no interest in TIG and ToE was so rote and by the book. In an ideal world Nightcrawler walks away with a ton of accolades and Gyllenhaal for BA. But Nightcrawler is way too 'scary' and 'disturbing' for the average AA voter who must be pushing 80.
Glad to read that someone else is in the corner of Gyllenhaal. He was wonderful in Nightcrawlers. The fact I had just watched Love & other drugs a couple of days before just made me appreciate his range even more .
But, yes, sadly he has no chance.
Jake is also very good in recently released Enemy, which has one of the most bonkers final shots I’ve seen in a long time.
It’s always good to see Jake.
Agree. I would add that it wouldn’t surprise me to see Grand Budapest Hotel sweep the crafts categories this year.
Thanks everybody. 😀
I wanted to just add the following (unfortunately can’t go back and edit my original post):
– Cumberbatch is pretty safe because he’s in a WWII biopic, playing an unsung hero who’s persecuted for being gay, so TIG can play to the social and historical importance angles which appeal to AMPAS. And having Harvey in his corner obviously helps. TIG has been doing great at the box office.
– I wouldn’t underestimate Oyewolo either. He is playing Martin Luther King in (yet another) biopic featuring an episode of historical importance, and his role is very baity. Also, Selma has gotten fantastic reviews – out of 30 reviews on Metacritic, half are given a score of 100 and no negative reviews so far. I think this movie hits many right notes of what would appeal to AMPAS and unlike TIG, seems to be of genuinely great quality. Since Boyhood and Linklater seem to be favourites for Best Picture and Director, I can imagine AMPAS may want to reward Selma in the Best Actor category as a consolation.
– Nonetheless, it does have negatives. 1) Oyewolo is a relative unknown. 2) The Selma campaign is unfortunate – apparently screeners to voters were sent very late which caused it to miss nominations in some precursor awards and diminished any potential buzz. 3) Plus, the film is already under fire with controversies over screenplay credits and (more damningly) its supposedly distorted portrayal of President Lyndon B Johnson.
– @Shenasty: I love Nightcrawler too and Jake was fantastic in it. Solid directing debut for Gilroy. But I agree that it is too dark and cold for AMPAS’ tastes and am not holding out much hope for it. 🙁
– @MtnRunner: I think Budapest looks strong for the Original Screenplay and the design categories, though I hope Mr Turner wins Best Cinematography. 🙂
– @Angie: Yes TOE is awful!
Go Jake in Nightcrawler!
“It’s always the people who don’t seem to do very much and that you didn’t know you could expect anything from who end up being the people who actually do do very unexpected things.”
Or whatever.
That they thought that was a winning enough line to repeat it several times tells you a lot about the screenwriter and production people.
Once was enough. Three times was OTT CHEESY.
@Lu
That line was soooo bad. Other dialogue howlers in the movie:
“If you fire Alan, you’ll have to fire me.” LOTR kinda did this… 14 years ago.
Joan: “What are we doing?”
Alan: “We are going to build a machine to break the Nazi code and win the war.”
Joan: “Oh.”
😀
Or how about this:
Dennison: “How the bloody hell are you supposed to decrypt German communications if you don’t, oh, I don’t know, speak German?”
Turing: “I’m quite excellent at crossword puzzles,”
TOE is very much an authentic conventional bio but it is very moving and watching the deterioration in his condition is very interesting. I though Eddie brought Hawkings sense of humour out very well. What makes his performance and the film Oscar contenders is the detail and emotional content.
“It’s always the people who don’t seem to do very much and that you didn’t know you could expect anything from who end up being the people who actually do do very unexpected things”” that is cheesy and to keep plastering out in all the publicity does not help
I think it boils down to different tastes, icerose. There were some touching moments in TOE but on the whole I found it insufferable and the emotions overly schmaltzy. Though Redmayne very much deserves a Best Actor nomination.
Have you seen TIG yet Icerose? I know you were very down on it before you saw it. I hope your opinions are at least informed now.
Most of this comes down to personal taste.
Didn’t care for TTOE at all, thought Jones was better than Redmayne.
The love Birdman is (was? I’ve seen some more negative feedback now) getting is more for acting and looks than anything else, as it’s pretty gimmicky with a laughably bad ending.
Disappointing year.
@KT
Agree this year is very disappointing. I love Nightcrawler and Mr Turner but I don’t harbour much hopes of them being strong Oscar contenders. I’m not passionate about any of the movies with strong chances. I even hated Boyhood.
@Maggie I am contemplating whether I can bring my self to sit through it . Having sat through TOE muttering put the bloody wheelchair brakes on, I suspect every time the TIG machine is shown I will be whispering whisper Tommy Flowers, Tommy Flowers where is Tommy Flowers.. And when the subject of spying and blackmail come up I will be mouthing lies lies all of it and singing Where or where is Derek Jacobi and Breaking the Code.
@Beth I was an occupational therapist which gave me additional interest in how his disease was managed back then. I was also impressed that a close family member who was at Cambridge and use to row in Hawking’s team said it was very authentic and caught the atmosphere of Cambridge at that time and to me attention to detail and authenticity in bios is important to my enjoyment.
Not unpopular here, I saw TOE and I hated the movie as well as ER. Reminded me of a movie of the week.
Could he win? Yes of course he could.
Will he win? Probably not.
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Otter, especially in TIG. And I spent a large chunk of time over the weekend falling back in love with Ben and his body… of work. Body of work 😐
I really think its going to be Michael Keatons year, though I secretly hope it goes to Eddie Redmayne or Jakey G
You’ve been cheating on Hiddles, I take it? Or is there a time-share schedule being worked out as we speak? 🙂
Never, Gracie dear! In fact I stopped and rented OLLA again on my way home last night. I swear I’ve watched it a good 20 times now. But tom has been so quiet lately and I needed some fresh eye candy 😉
Speaking of OLLA, did you get the link I shared?
When you emailed red necklace to me? Yes! and omg I just realized what it was!!!!111 It didnt even click at the time. OMG! Several glasses of wine on me when I get to London you darling girl! xoxox
@ellssbelles -I sympathise butthere is also some amazing eye candy in TIG and TOE worth investigating further, Strong ,Goode and Lloyd are equally as good if not better on occasions than the OTTER.
No.
It’s between Keaton and Redmayne, and it always has been. I’m sure he gave a lukewarm performance but the answer is no.
I thought the Sophie was posing with a wax figure in these photos. It is the same pose in every, single photo. Is the Otter King botoxed to the hilt. Hmmmm…..
funny you should mention botox, I was watching Sherlock series 1 at the weekend and his face wrinkles lovely when he smiled and I thought you’re lovely! This is the benedict I like. But now, his skin seems rather plumped up, however, I am finding hard to see any smiling in pictures like he used to. It’s all closed smiles and icy stares.
I am dreading this happening to Hiddles, I know its coming..
Pessimist -Hiddles will be like Nighy and age with grace
Hiddles is nowhere near as naive, gullible or a pushover like Bendy, he’ll have command of his career, but he’s going to need a more powerful PR team to handle it, I think Luke has reached his limit right now.
Oh, ye of little faith. I have a feeling that Benny will end up with something proven to be more trouble than it’s worth, whatever that something might be. On the other hand, shouldn’t what he is going through considered a lesson to be learned for others? Let’s all hope Hiddles take notes and doesn’t fall into the same path.
Hiddles like Nighy? I like that idea a lot, but to me he isn’t rakish enough to be him. I actually see Tom H maturing into Jeremy Irons and living in a castle in Ireland and spouting Shakespeare.
Benedict on the other hand, is in serious over-exposure danger, that cartoon in the American newspaper was a killer. A woman having an ultra sound and the doctor saying, “‘That’s ok, that’s Benedict C he is in everything” and by the time Dr Strange comes around we will be all in serious fatigue and I wont be able to stand watching Sherlock anymore. To me, that will be a sad day.
Wow Penny where was that cartoon in?
ONe thing
Photos from LAX – you can see that she’s not just holding her coat closed, bud she is even pulling it forward, so it would create a phantom bumb image.. pregnant or nor they’re selling it hard, in my opinion way too hard and way too subtle to be true.. plus she’s no natalie portman, noone runs the story in papers because it’s not interresting enough, too bad ben, try a bit harder
DM has photos from Heathrow now. I can’t stop laughing. Emily and BC look so DONE, SH is clearly loving the attention.
Also, Emily is literally between these two handholders.
LOL
Also…he’s changed his top? Weird.
Also again – why are they wearing sunglasses? It’s been dark all day in London.
I’m just sick of him looking like hell while she’s lapping it up.
Did she spend the entire journey from LA hotel to home clutching onto her coat like that. Is she incapable of closing a button?
That would annoy me beyond belief. Just button the damn thing and you can still hold hands with your beloved but true, you wont be able to flash your ring finger as easily.
BTW, the back of her coat is very loose. Wouldn’t it be tighter if there was an actual bump on the other side that she’s trying to cover? What do you lovely ladies think?
ETA: Lindy, I think so. Otherwise someone would notice she doesn’t have a bump.
People think she’s not holding it closed but pulling it out.
The heathrow photos are depressing. He looks like hes going to be ill and she is actually showing emotion. Its smug, but at least she doesnt look like a wax figure. Emily looks really miserable
yes ingrid to the point as always. she is creating a phantom bump by pulling it forward .she could easily button up that over sized coat and no one would nptice the bump (if any)
#notpregnant.
I find it hilarious that his headphones are so visible. I know we all put headphones on for flights and don’t spend the entire time interacting with our adoring partners but most put them in a bag or pocket, it just looks so much like the minute they’re out of sight he sticks in his earphones and listens to something angsty like a sulky teenager.
“They Sheer-look happy” – God, only the DM.
Sophie is obviously a better actress than we have been giving her credit for
Why wouldn’t she be happy? She’s hit the gold mine until the media starts to turn. It always turns, Sherlock.
gg – Oh, she’s not acting. The smugness is REAL.
BTW, why did Emily pick them up? She has never done before (Karon obviously stayed in LA). Or was Emily in LA (and the Caribbean)? Love how she’s (unconsciously or consciously) blocking SH with her body. Some strong bodylanguage right there.
Still, SH is allergic to carrying her own stuff. Even a handbag.
I love Emily’s face. It needs to be the header on a blog or something.
Sophie, we know you were told to look happy, but you’re not supposed to look happy about being papped.
The sunglasses are to protect their eyes from the paps’ flashbulbs. I know for a fact. I saw it on imdb.
Since November the comments in the DM have been getting snarkier and snarkier and leaning toward not real/pr. Interesting.
I had a good giggle over these pics, too, especially the one where it’s just the back of everyone’s heads.
LOL at the DM shot of ottercomet from the back with Sophie’s hat having a puffy brown tail. What. Just what.
I saw on a site that the man in the black jacket may be Emily’s boyfriend. This would explain why he at first looks thoroughly disgusted and, in the second photo, looks at Benedict as if he could ring his neck. Ben just looks down, embarrassed. If this, combined with the side eye they got at the festival, is an indication of how B and S are viewed by the people close to them they are quickly on the way down the slippery slope. Hey, their combined first initials – BS. How appropriate.
Too late to edit – According to a poster on SoGo the black jacket guy is supposedly B’s driver.
The lady giving them side eye at the festival is my new hero tbh
ohh she should totally join us. SHe has the perf WTF look 😀
It’s one of the producers of TIG. There’s another shot where she and Morton are both showing shade That is certainly none of my business *sips tea*
I thought maybe they weren’t expecting/were surprised to see her there and were thnking WTF, stop screwing with our film.
Where is this pic?
Look on SoGo.
I think BC is a good actor, not the most strong one in the business, he’s gonna do more good movies and he might grow big. But no, not this year.
Instead of selling the film and his role, he sold his private life. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I haven’t seen the film yet, but I do plan to.
I agree. The minute he did that stupid Times thing 2 days before the press for it, he took focus from the film and Turing and for that he should be ashamed of himself.
If he was that concerned about a photo of that godawful ring getting out then they, as two adults could have agreed to be engaged privately until after the release and then announce it after Christmas and he could have still used it for award season (as he clearly is doing now) but no, he did it when he did it and I lost a huge amount of respect for him.
They’re only together 5 months so it’s not like he’s been stringing her along for 10 years, another few months wouldn’t have killed him but he wanted to use it.
i think it’s partly why the movie is doing so well financially tbh
i have zero faith in the general public caring otherwise
SLIGHTLY SPOILERY SO AVERT YOUR EYES IF YOU MUST
I attended a screening of TIG a few days before its official release in the US and several rows of the theater were reserved for members of the press. There is a scene in the film where Turing proposes to Joan — a sham engagement. I thought, you’ve got to be kidding me. The chortles and guffaws coming from the press in the theater during this scene were loud and, I thought, rather telling.
And, sure, he *could* win the Oscar for TIG, but I really doubt he will. Whatever the hell he’s going through with all this, I sure hope it’s worth it.
Ruth that’s hilarious. Are you in a city where the press would be well connected people “in the know” about Hollywood shams?
Just Washington DC, so not NY or LA, but big enough for journalists to be well connected enough.
Interesting! I wish you’d post more Ruth, I always like reading your opinions. You’re skeptical of this whole engagement too iirc?
Aww, thanks Claire, I appreciate it. Yeah, I don’t say much, but I do enjoy lurking!
Am I skeptical? It’s Hollywood, actors, suspiciously timed engagement announcements, whats-his-face Weinstein, and bs staged huggy pap photos at airports, so yeah, I’m totally skeptical. I’m not sure what he stands to gain from all this — I really didn’t think TIG was that good. I mean, it was *fine*. Someone else around here said it would have made a good BBC miniseries, and I agree. It felt shallow, or like the parameters of film didn’t allow for more of a story. And I think the real problem is that this circus distracts from the fact that Turing’s story is really incredibly tragic. But instead we all got a good laugh from the fake engagement in the film. And yeah, Ben was good, but 5 minutes in I was like, ok, he’s basically playing an unattractive version of Sherlock, so I really don’t think an Oscar is in the cards this time.
On the other hand, the circus distracts from the fact that the movie was just ok and maybe that’s a good thing? Hell, I have no idea.
I think benedict just took off the polka dot shirt, everything else is the same. Freaking sophie and that freaking smirk of hers. if I see one person say she is uncomfortable with having her picture taken now, those pap shots will be exhibit A and B. And christmas called sophie, they want their puff ball elf hat back….bitch rant done.
On the auspicious occasion of 2months of the GAG would team fake raise thr hands??
Me!
Two months down, two to go. We can do this!
And I have a new theory about how they are going to play this (the end), where BC comes of as honorable, SH ok and no one will think it was for Oscars. I don’t think I will write it down (I know, I hate when people do this, sorry) but PR is reading these. Just think about the pregnancy, what BC said about Keira’s absence at PS. And keep quiet and let’s see how this will turn out
On board.
I’ve been thinking that all along,
I got it!! We think so much alike. u dnt have to write it out.. That’s an great OUT btw 😛
Reporting for duty ma’am
Me ; )
Tbh I felt quite bad about the mess in Nov, but feeling it extremely hilarious now
yayy
Me!
Oui, je suis ici.
french LOL
et je ne suis pas hautaine avec ma connaissance
Vous êtes très gentil et humble, Sodious doit apprendre de u.
Definitely still in the PR camp. As long as I dont pay attention to the gag, my love for Otter remains intact
Definitely on the PR train! Just can we add a library car?
I am still on the PR train myself . The next few weeks are going to be interesting. Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season.
I guess I am still on the train but honestly I no longer give a shit.
What were those awful romance novels someone mentioned where a Ben and Sophie actually went through a fake engagement?
Claire, me! The Bridgertons series. Romance fluff, but quite witty.
I skipped the Benedict and Sophie book, btw. I cannot stomach it atm. LOL. It was a different couple who faked the engagement. Each book has a different main couple. Reading Colin and Penelope now.
@Ingrid, yeah! Colin and Penelope are my favourite the entire series! Actually you didn’t miss much with the Benedict and Sophie book – it’s straight up Cinderella.
@Claire, apparently life can be stranger than regency romance. LOL.
Ladies, I thought about Benny half naked and with a bad wig on a book cover for a second to give myself a laugh, then I thought about Oh-so-sexy Sophie in a low-cut ball gown…
Did I just give PR ideas?
Haha thanks Ingrid. I think the book sounds more tasteful than this mess
totally on board.
Still team fake for me. It gets crazier by the day.
That W cover is so embarrassing. Did the stylists not look at the STID premiere photos for reference? Keira’s working it though. But it doesn’t stop there, oh no no no no no. There is a gorgeous Katy Perry This Is How We Do style photo with an electric canary yellow jumper and no matching colors whatsoever.
Why? Just why?
TBH, his wasn’t even the worst. I liked Keira’s, and Timothy Spall’s and Keaton’s were funny. I like it when it’s not so “serious and artistic”.
ETA, someone on SoGo just said that he looks like GOB from Arrested Development in the cover photo. *snort* I swear this whole mess can be storyboarded with AD gifs. 😀
“Her?”
“I have made a huge mistake”
“No touching!”
“She barely has a face. You couldn’t pick her out of a lineup of one”
He just needs a knife in his mouth with The Final Countdown in the background.
I love GOB so much I’m not even mad at that comparison.
Oh dear, now I know what he reminded me of in the first handholding pic from NY TIG premiere. The Arrested Development sad walk! 😀
This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oabcM9SOF-E
“It’s an illusion”
“Hello Darkness, my old friend.”
“What have I said that has been remotely misleading?”
“It’s as Ann as the nose on plain’s face.”
“It’s a great day… for being sad.”
“Way to plant, Ann!”
“I just blue myself.”
And us during this whole GAG: “Get me a vodka rocks.” (“Mom, it’s breakfast.”) “And a piece of toast.”
Came across W on sogo again, as I’m about to be off for the night and have taken down my contact lenses, it really is quite weird to look so close… Idk, it makes him look quite gay tbh, that all back hair and such slim face and white V neck…
That was my laugh out loud moment for the day. May it be one of many for all of you, as well. 🙂
Slicked back hair is his enemy. And those W pictures , it’s like one of these photo’s of yourself that you’d rather burn than being faced with once again. At least I would imagine these would be like that for him. Although I could see Sophie loving them. So artyyyyyyy.
I have to cosign this. I’m the owner of an unfortunate 5-head like ben. Keeping the hair forward keeps me from looking like a walking drive in movie screen. The slicked back hair is tragic
It’s not even the forehead because he looks fine when his hair was short for RIII it’s just his head in general is a different shape so slicking it back just accentuates it. But I also have a high forehead. It’s amazing what a few pieces of hair in the front will do for your face.
This is still all ridiculous – NYC premiere of TIG, everyone noticing that she didn’t fly back with him. Speculation that she stayed behind in NYC, that they both were doing their own thing. So next big promo trip to the US – make sure there are LAX pics and Heathrow pics of the happy couple holding hands. Like what should PR correct next? BC looks like he’d rather face these long flights by himself in those photo’s. Also, please someone, for the life of me, gift him darker and a slightly larger pair of sunnies. These don’t work.
The only one LAX pic set that is missing? Him arriving two days ago from his “romantic” Caribbean holiday… Suspicious or what?
Def. suspicious, but hey, voting for the Academy Awards nominations ends Thursday, so got to work what you can while you still can. 😉
Also interesting they were papped at arrivals when it’s usually departures (sounds like Karon’s been making some phone calls) and at Heathrow, taking a nice long stop for the hug so the paps could get a shot of that, too. Anyone else see the pics from LAX in order? He was sticking his hands in his pockets and she grabbed for his hand in front of the cameras.
It’s all very interesting, and yes, now you mention the order of the pics, you’re completely right. They’re really giving it a lot of thought right now. I also think the DM somehow got these pics as ‘exclusives’.
Ladies, you are too clever for your own good
I totally caught that too Miss Mary. My imagination or was there a hint of panic on her face. Have to say though, the hug in Heathrow threw me, especially given Emily’s face afterwards.
No way! Keaton all the way. If not Keaton, then Jake G. He was amazing in Nightcrawler.
He was creeptastic in Nightcrawler.
Jake was amazing in Nightcrawler, I really hope he gets a nom.
Beyond these top four, several others could make it in too. Spall has had an amazing awards run with wins at Cannes, NYFCC and NSFC. If he scores a BAFTA win, I think Cumberbatch is in danger of being snubbed.
No, because Oscar ballots come in first. BAFTAs are in February, Oscar nominations ballots are due in three days.
Also, last I checked critics are not AMPAS voters.
I hope Spall gets BAFTA and Oscar noms. BAFTA is more likely, Oscars is not sure at all, most likely the fourth and fifth spot will be Gyllenhaal/Cooper/Carell/Oyelowo, Too bad…
Also hope Tilda Swinton gets a suprise BAFTA nom for OLLA. But that’s a fantasy, I know. Speaking of actresses (what a weak year!), Aniston is an interesting one. Love how THR’s Scott Feinberg (leading award analyst) absolutely hates her. LOL.
Whoops I got the dates mixed up. And relax, I am well aware critics are not AMPAS voters. TIG hardly won any critics awards but I’m still predicting it for Best Picture and Best Actor nods at the Oscars. I’m citing the critics awards because at present the guilds and televised awards are yet to transpire, and they do play a role in building buzz for a movie.
Is his lady piece a giraffe? Not this year Ben. I have my money on Keaton, but I wouldn’t cry if Eddie or Jake took it. I think he will get his statue one day, just not this year.
I am wholly distracted by her long neck.
Even Lainey is laughing at the pregnant rumors. Lol
And we have pics of Ursula and Emily hugging. So *that’s* why she was at the airport. They needed to fix that Hobbit mess. SH was told to smile and walk behind Emily.
(They are on tumblr, cannot link. Sorry)
Big (un)happy family!
Haven’t seen it. Was this before or after she looked so royally pi$$ed off?
Both Ben and the driver(?) are like “I shan’t look”
http://tt-aa.tumblr.com/post/107235326918#notes
And before, supposedly when they met. The nannies are going to have a field day with this “Look, Emily loves her new aunt!” *facepalm*
Well, they needed to do something. The Hobbit premiere pissed off so many fans (even nannies)
LOL good Q. SH always look un-bathed to me..maybe the hair color
my eyes my eys.. pain ohh the pain
Ursula has obviously learned how to act right… but it’s too late. No one will forget how she treated Emily and Karon initially.
I was wrong earlier about what the nannies will say. They actually said “The loviest thing…Emily hugging her auntie!!! I wish I was her…”
My profound apologizes.
Also, can you BE more obvious, PR!!!! I think Karon’s home page is SoGo.
New boyfriends are not as providing as this PR 😀 whatever we ask for we get it 😀
Ahahaha…OMG! That pic is hilarious!!
They hug like those avatars in the Sims!!
SH: See everyone Emily is Not my slave/pa…she’s my niece too…*vomitss*
Oooh…this just gets better and better everyday!
All complaints and speculation regarding the enGAGment is being fixed.
Should we ask for apassionate kiss for their next red carpet appearance?! Lol
YUCKK nooooooooo
Emily appears to be doing the arse-out hug.
The Mariah Carey special, like you’re hugging a poo.
No pics of Ben interacting with Emily, very odd since hes related to her. Its like they had to show Emily and Sophie like each other. I have no idea why though…
*walks away whistling *
Mikasa, no no no no!!!
BTW, Sofake’s smug smile, it isn’t because she’s papped (after all, she was like “I’m so cool celebrity now and paparazzi are such a nuisance” at LAX) it’s because *Emily* was there and she was told to f*cking sell it. She went little overboard (and no one else is smiling…)
Can i say something. I have to admit everytime they show up in red carpet my stomach churns out and i feel pukish. But i love when they mess up and the after effects like the pap airport pics and hugging. so i kinda have a love hate relationship with it. makes me wanna hv more of the sham 😀 so hilarious it is now. the worst outcome will be benedict making a Christopher tietjens of his life.i m here to stay and watch.
Did his niece travel with them to Palm Springs?
If not, why was she at Heathrow? To pick them up? They couldn’t take a cab? Or was she there just to hug and look friendly with SH cos they knew for sure the paps would be present, in order to patch up the PR fails after The Hobbit premiere?
LOL at Benedict and the driver looking everywhere but at these two hugging. They’re like, ‘Ew, girls—cooties.’ So weird, but so amusing. And Mr. Cumberbatch looks like he’s already over this PR spiel.
he has been looking over it for 2 months now. thats why he has to pull new stunts everyday. coz his expression is giving it all away
Lucifer, about the love hate. Me too, me too… I love that every time they *almost* manage to pull this off, they take it one step too far. I gave PR/preggers 50/50 yesterday, after this stunt, I’m somewhere around 70/30 for PR. (or 100% PR baiting, but the chance she’s also actually pregnant)
Anon, no, she met them at the airport. Because, you know, the three handlers around them weren’t enough…
Haha, I do feel kind of the same as Benedict, Lucifer, but at least these pics provide some new inspiration again. Something to observe and talk about at least!
I can imagine how tired her arm must be from holding her coat closed. She looks like a dirty bum.
Ingrid: WORD. “Why aren’t they ever seen together? Why don’t they travel together? Why is she a b*tch to emily?” Taa daa, a three-fer to get the PR stuff out of the way before he heads to Bristol for filming.
Has the DM declared Emphie “all loved up” yet? Seriously, it’s time for Tracy to grab her baby brother by the scruff of his neck and shake some sense into him. She can’t possibly be alright with the way her daughter is treated. I hope Emily’s salary has been tripled. She should get combat pay for engaging the enemy in close contact.
I’m thinking miss Emily just got a serious raise. Good for her!
Don’t forget Emily was with him when he was papped on his birthday 2013 with his friend Charlotte. That was staged to get rid of Katia. So, Emily is the go-to for staged papping. I’m not knocking her for it, it’s just her job to make him look good.
In the Heathrow pics, they all look like they are about to crack up laughing at the absurdity and charade of it all. Ben especially is trying so hard not to laugh, it’s ridiculous.
like all his work only benedict is keeping me hooked to the show 😀
Why are they just standing there anyway?
Also, the woman other side of BC, she’s pushing his cases n that trolley. Wtf…why? Why isn’t he pushing his own cases? How many people are in this entourage?
Dear god, good old days before Avant bored appeared, he had a couple of people with him and always had his own luggage. This is rubbish.
I think she’s airport staff. There has to be a second trolley pusher as well because she only has the carry ons. (This is standard First Class service). Plus the driver. So five adults and they still needed Emily. Not staged at all. Nope. She just wanted to see her auntie so she drove to the other side of London.
He always pushes his own trolly. I still like the ibiza jort flip flop trolley pap pic.
I posted on the last thread but sadly closed down too soon. Does anyone think Cumby has gotten too big for the Sherlock hair? I know he didn’t like it in the past, but using a wig rather than going for it speaks volumes to me.
Is that what’s definitely happening? A wig? Can’t say I care about sherlock but I can’t see a wig looking too convincing.
Don’t know about the hair but I did love the reason one nanny gave: “They are planning a wedding and Sophie and Benedict talked about it and most likely decided against a long hair”
#notkidding
Because the nannies are involved in the planning of the nonexistent wedding? 0_o More likely “his hair didn’t grow out fast enough from Richard III”.
@ingrid
LMAO
Hahahahahahahahahahaha – what?! (I would vote for long hair, an up do would suit him, haha.)
I’m voting for the Madame Tussauds hairpin do. Maybe with flowers? He looked sooo pretty that day. 😀
So does that mean I can blame her for screwing up his hair ? Not that I wasn’t doing that already. LOL! Really, I’m not. I know it was for RIII. But how dumb can people be? He just said he’s not planning a wedding, plus if there really was a wedding, he could cut his hair after Sherlock. Duh…
I just don’t believe a word he says.
First pics from Setlock are in.
Just a blurry one (sorry, Benny, I know you hate blurry pictures. LOL) of BC in his own clothes. It seems he might have dyed and straightened his hair or it’s just wet or flattened for a wig. So no extensions.
Waits for the wailing and weeping for the loss of the curls…
More like wailing and weeping for the loss of Cumberbatch’s dignity.
@Kat – Best of the day for me!
I think he should maybe get an Oscar for trying to act like he’s happily engaged!
He wouldn’t even get a Razzie For that..
Again girl, you are on fire today!!!!
Well, well. Harvey is now officially controlling media. Congratulations, Harvey Murdoch-Weinstein!
From Variety:
“The Weinstein Co. Teams With Radar Online for Gossip Talkshow”
I love that there is an article saying we should be jealous of Sophie’s hair. huh? No, I’m not jealous of that hair. But really, I thinks har she has is the best style for her personally. A short cut wouldn’t go well because she would seriously look like benedict. And if she grew her hair out longer, it would make her long face appear longer. She has had a bob cut up to her chin, didn’t look right.
That hair article may be the stupidest thing about this yet. I think they wake up everyday and say what ‘absolutely absurd thing can we come up with today just to f**k with everybody?’
Woke up to that hair article and the airport hug and I got my laugh of today early in the morning, hahahahahahaha
I was quite naive before and couldn’t understand why the journalists writing s**t like they r blind, thank goodness I ve grown up.
woman always looks un-showered to me
I’m not gonna lie, her hair does not look soft in the slightest.
The woman in the photo has a rather long neck.
I don’t look at the photos of her on here but I saw one from ps and I get the giraffe comment now. Generally long necks are attractive but with her the physical ugliness seems only to accentuate her ugly personality
Nah, Michael Keaton will win.
People mag twisted his wedding planning quotes and said he won’t start planning untill after award season is over
And that’s why they went with the GAG. It gets you in the front page of People on regular basis and with minimum effort. Even if it’s non-news like this.
Too bad busy Benedict is still in charge of planning his (imaginary) wedding. Usually it’s the bride who does the planning…
But in early 2015 the focus is all on Sherlock… The narrative is changing as the wind blows.
I think someone is planning a stag-do, ta-da! That pianist guy, James Rhodes has started to follow Hiddles. But, Hiddles hasn’t followed back yet.
Hiddles has a Q&A at Nuffield Theatre on 22nd Feb!
And Hiddles is off to Hawaii in March – ladies pack your bikinis [or in my case a tankini with super sucking in power] it’s going to be fun.
Um, why does rhodes following hiddleston on Twitter indicate a stag do?
Kat, you need a nanny brain in order to understand that logic.
A friend of BC follows his costar’s PR twitter account= stag night!
(I don’t think TH and Ben are that close friends. More like showbiz friends)
It’s called networking. Anyone you’ve worked with and got on with relatively okay are considered ‘friends’. They are not bffs or anything. Not by a long shot.
@Penny, details please. Hiddles is off to Hawaii for personal time?
What’s in Hawaii?
The filming of Kong starts in March in Hawaii.
heh Ingrid- I don’t have a nanny brain just an overactive furtive imagination. :-p
Kong- Skull Island films in Hawaii in March.
Are Tom and Benny showbiz pals, lovers or bestie mates? who knows only what they tell us. Ben calls him a dear friend, and Tom says he considers him one of his best friends.
However, considering they have spent best part of 12 months on the opposite of the world it cant be easy maintaining friendships at all. Maybe they do Facebook :-p
@’P’enny–SMART job by Nuffield theatre! They aren’t even in London, but some fan is flying over from Seattle to go to this!
Their ticket phone line is overwhelmed from exactly ONE emailing and one article published today advertising the event–it isn’t even on their events calendar.
Plus people have to become Friends or Members to buy tickets.
Way to support a theatre, Dragonfly King!
Why is it there was a “discreet, old fashioned” engagement announcement in the Times so his friends wouldn’t find out via a grainy photograph in a tabloid, but there’s deafening silence while she runs around in baity, suspicious looking clothing with photos hitting all the tabs?
I tell you what ..my mind is blown that everyone is not open mouthed at this, it really is.
I’m embarrassed for the whole affair. I knew things would ramp up for this godforsaken Oscar campaign but yee gods.
She turns up doing the coy schtick to a red carpet where she no way had to be, or at least she could’ve skipped the photo opp and posing and gone straight inside, and wears a dress that hugs under the stomach and treats everyone to her constipated face act in front of the cameras. Now, this would be icksome enough but if she just stood there, then at least they’re being honest in their publicity stunt, but oh noooo, she does the “photograph me!!! ..but don’t look at my tummy” ..and holding a hand in front of it or worse still a tiny coin purse that served as a neon sign.
I think it’s that that I find so awful..the lack of honesty in the game playing..
She can stand there grinning and willingly having her pic taken and making this obviously futile little gesture which she thinks people are stupid enough to take as her wanting to ‘hide’. Wtaf? If she wanted to protect her privacy she wouldn’t have been photographed, but nope… The opportunity was there and taken.
If she is and I’m sorry to say, but that would explain his look of deathly pallor of late, then it’s even more despicable than a fake stunt. Outright fakery I’d almost give a pass for the comic value, but to use a real and personal situation for your Oscar campaign pawn is beyond sickening. And the timing of this is way too convenient to suggest otherwise.
Tom and Lorenzo summed it up quite nicely –
“Looks like she attended the Jennifer Aniston school of cultivating pregnancy rumours”
More than sickening. It means he sold his soul and is now just another Hollywood scum.
Can’t decide if she was schooled in tabloid baiting from the start or if this is a recent thing
@Claire, to be honest, I think she’s a natural at it. Doesn’t she get nannies sucking up with minimum effort?
@claire
Nah, no training needed in that area. Very easy to do. People are pretty stupid.
Ursula is on Setlock.
I’m done. Goodbye.
Jesus
Delete – wrong place.
All our questions about why she is not on Richard 3 set has been answered. Way to go PR.
@Ingrid what else did you expect?
Oh lucifer great minds think alike. Who posted first me or you? Lol
Ugh my comment disappeared! I said at about the same time now we know why she wasn’t on RIII set: no paps allowed
For some reason that properly made me laugh Ingrid!
Just the finality of it. Don’t go, this is getting more hilarious and by hilarious I mean desperate.
Can he stop saying how busy she is now? Clearly she isn’t if she has the time to go to events in the US and hang about at his place of work.
Does this mean someone finally found her a job? Always looking for that silver lining…
Well, it’s a minor miracle that she’s there at all, what with her being so busy.
No, she came in hours after everyone else. Midday in UK time. So she’s there to watch (and to be seen, I suspect) and wore the same outfit as in the airport pics so *everyone would notice her*.
I don’t know why I’m still here…
She does have a job, silly billy! It’s called Benedict’s fiancée. I hear it pays very well.
What do you mean she’s on setlock? Like she’s gonna be in Sherlock or she’s just visiting the set?
Don’t go! Stay for us!
Report from Twitter, she has left, was only there for 15 minutes tops. Maybe benedict told her to get the hell out.
Oh dear, Emily was on Sophie duty today as well. She needs a PR babysitter.
Did she left? Because the original tweet says “Sophie’s left” = Sophie is left. (Which doesn’t make any sense, tbh)
ETA: oh… Sophie *has* left? This happens when your native language isn’t English and it’s early…
Just long enough to get papped?
Or to be snarky, she realised it wasn’t arty enough for her highness?
Sorry to hound koodles, you said in another thread a pic broke your heart. Which one?
Ingrid I’m shocked, I thought you’re a native English speaker, your writing is flawless
Why only stay for 15 minutes?
Hang about and watch him work for a bit? Or chat to some of his friends and colleagues? Wait in his trailer? Or, I dunno live your own life while he’s working.
If there are official pap shots of her there released, then nothing will convince me this is genuine. Twitter, I’m still not sure PR would rely solely on.
Lindy, never underestimate the power of Twitter. They know that filming is crawling with fans who tweet and photograph everything and that spreads like wildfire.
Claire, that’s good to hear. I fooled you all. LOL.
I’m actually from Finland. The land of a thousand lakes and 5 million grumpy people (and the fact that I, a Finn, think BC is acting grumpy, speaks volumes)
Lindy & Kat: Yes, I think they are aiming these shots to us. No one knows who Emily is except his fans, the airport hug was for our benefit. As is this.
Why do they care what we think though? Its not us they’re aiming at, it’s the ones who know feck all about him, and getting him on the cover of People and US Weekly (ugh), those people aren’t on Twitter/Tumblr or even on sites like this. The RC and airport strolls are all PR aimed at getting his face in the DM and other gossip sites but most don’t pick up on Twitter or Tumblr stuff unless it’s also picked up by mainstream media.
This whole thing is so bafflingly stupid
Lindy, because we are the ones spreading the rumors that they are faking this. The airport pics were for tabloids, yes. But the hug and Emily were for the fans (both the skeptics and the nannies, because of the Hobbit premiere fiasco).
And I agree, this is bafflingly stupid.
Social media has a massive reach, lindy. Several times Twitter fan stories have made the media and if you can harness the gobby fans to spread the word that they’ve seen him with her, they think that can outweigh the rampant scepticism.
It just quietly keeps things ticking over and they know how vocal and OTT sherlock fans are.. SPEAKING of which, if you want to have the biggest laugh/horror so far, read the batty fans accounts of seeing Soko.
“I shouted hello to sophie and she smiled and waved and now I’m crying. Omg”
Etc… Etc….
That person needs to get out more
Firstly for hanging around a set even though the cast and crew while they will tolerate it, have all said they hate the fact pictures/details get out so they’re going against the direct wishes of the people they claim to love.
Secondly for getting so emotional over someone famous’ fiancee waving at them for a second.
Come on i’ll be honest. Throw Harveys money at me and i’ll pretend to sort of care about a celeb I don’t really respect. Someone I was a fan of? I don’t think I’d be able to watch their work again. Which led to this realisation.
Let’s assume it’s all real. How do you divorce your real relationship from all this showboating after it’s all over? There will always be a taint and no one with a soul could do that to someone they really loved
The answer is you can’t, which is why I think Benny is gonna end up with something that’s more trouble than it’s worth. This kind of sell-out can take its toll on a solid, real relationship, never mind the one that’s rushed and &^%$& (whatever adjective goes in there).
did anyone get a glimpse of the “baby bump”?
see Martin and Amanda poke fun at her?maybe another fake hug?
and of course Emily would be assisting SH in her delicate condition!
pics soon in the mail…hopefully!
lol
I just wish AA and SP were still tweeting each other at this point.
There is a photo on SoGo (taken from behind) of SH walking onto Setlock but her arms are down, she’s not holding her coat closed like she did at both airports.
They’re totally overdoing this getting seen part. Ballots close in Friday. So m prepared for anything
10mins
A coffee break is longer than 10mins. Is that how long they can tolerate each other?
10 minutes isn’t even enough to say hello to everyone. I like to think that AA kicked her out.
I also love the fact Emily was with her. They really are BFFs now, aren’t they? Soooo cuuute… (Reality: Emily was there to make sure SH actually arrived, behaved and was seen.)
I like to be a fly on the wall if Amanda ever got her alone. She doesn’t pull any punches. But maybe sue Vertue said “Get this sh1t off our set. We’re not playing those games here.” I think they’re aware that there’s a lot of antipathy toward her and the whole situation.
eole tweeting the same thing. She was thr to be SEEN only. tweets out ;she is done
Maybe ten minutes is how long Mark Gatiss could stand her and she was asked to leave. They didn’t want that crap on set.
@claire-it was a solo picture of benedict, he looked so sad. But, yeah, it just hurt to see that man look so down when this should be one of the happiest times in his life.
When was it taken? Link?
It’s was at the palms springs film gala. I saw it on sogo’s tumblr. Tried looking on Google images, couldn’t find it.
@koodles
He was so tense, he looked like his head was about to explode at Palm Springs. It makes me nervous just looking at him. I think he’s starting to crack with this engagement/pregnancy/whatever the hell it is buffoonery. It’s sad to see and baffling that people insist he’s happy. Something’s clearly not right.
One of the saddest pictures I’ve seen, maybe after the ESA afterparty , was Emily helping him to his car. He looked so hammered he could barely stand.
Even sadder is the fact that I can’t say “Well, I don’t really like her but she seems to make him very happy, so I’m happy for him.” That’s the truly heartbreaking part.
Could it be that he is jet lagged? Lots of travelling back and forth … and unlike Sophie who can rest Ben has to give interviews before the red carpet premiere and afterwards.
(Apparently I’m still here. This is like crack cocaine. You know it’s bad for you, but you can’t stop.)
From SoGo: http://sophiehuntergossipblog.tumblr.com/post/107312515185/anon-please-reality-check-indeed
It truly speaks volumes that the nannies need to *photoshop* red carpet pics to make these two look like a couple in love. Thousands of photos of these two and not a single one they can add to their Benophie Scrapbook. And the fact that they used a pic where BC’s is looking at Eddie. *snort*
My day made.
@ingrid- oh my god, really? That is hilarious. But, ya know, we are the delusional ones…..
If they’d photoshopped one where he was looking at Keira it’d be so hot their computers would melt.
Ingrid, I also thought that English is your native language. You write better than most Americans.
Oh, thanks moodgirl.
It might be because grammar is holy in our land. Finnish language is the clusterf*ck of grammar rules. Example of our beautiful, crazy language: Juoksentelisinskohankaan = “I wonder if I should run around aimlessly after all.”
#notkidding