Style Sunday.

Rooney Mara goes back to black and looks all kinds of lovely in this Calvin Klein cocktail dress. The bangs have gone from symmetrical to a slightly more juvenile look and if she doesn't scream Audrey Hepburn, then I don't know what does.

Give Michelle Williams some color and she will take your breath away! This Christian Dior ball gown makes her look like a princess. Gotta love how free spirited she looks.

Léa Seydoux is magnificent in this Elie Saab dress, which not only elongates her already gorgeous figure, it also makes her look like a classic screen siren. Love that she let her hair down and went for natural makeup. 

Cate Blanchett keeps on being mesmerizing on red carpets. This Juan Carlos Obando gown (which could've fooled me into thinking it was Rodarte) makes her look regal and and vibrant. The open toed shoes are a perfect touch!

Style Sunday.

Why do I feel like Cate Blanchett hasn't been in movies forever, even if she stole Hanna out of Saoirse Ronan's young porcelain hands? Anyway, because of that feeling, it's elating to see her show up for red carpets. She's truly exquisite in this Givenchy short dress. Not everyone would've been able to pull off all those ruffles with such grace and elegance.

Non-Oscar nominee Elizabeth Olsen will make all those AMPAS members regret not giving her any love for her magnificent turn in Martha Marcy May Marlene if only because she would've made that red carpet shine with her astonishing good taste. Check out the loveliness and simplicity in this Proenza Schouler dress. The pattern matches beautifully with her face and hair color and the black top screams old Hollywood. Sigh.

Miss Cate as much as I do?

Style Sunday.

Today we have two regular style icons in Louis Vuitton's newest line. When exactly did the house of LV begin designing such angelical gowns? First up we have my beloved SJP looking playful and girlier than she's even been. Love how she went all white and kept the hair down, as opposed to an uptight chignon.

Notice how Cate Blanchett went for the same kind of shoes as SJP and how in a parallel world they both would be playing in a 60s go-go ladies loop film.

What do you think of these two beauties in white? Heavenly or dull?

Short Takes: "Hanna", "In Time" and "Attack the Block".

Hanna should be required viewing for all women going through the child to adolescent transition, given that- for lack of bullshit-ery - it's essentially a metaphor about how it all goes to hell after your first period. Saoirse Rona, plays the title character, a young girl who has always lived in the forest with her dad (Bana), a CIA agent gone rogue, who one day decides she wants to face her destiny and go to the big world. Trained in all of the deadly arts, Hanna is aware that to lead a normal life she must first destroy Marissa (Blanchett in a delicious star turn) a wicked agent responsible for her mom's death. Highly influenced by Tom Tykwer and, by Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter , the versatile Joe Wright delivers a thrilling spectacle that more than makes up for the story's lack of originality. Ronan is reliably perfect, combining child-like awe with chilling heartlessness and Bana once again proves he's one of the most underrated working actors. Wright's combination of fairy tales with biological conundrums feels a bit too stale at times and he can't seem to decide if he's in the mood for some well told Gothic action piece or a green-friendly, almost reactionary, invitation to have everyone move to the mountains and disregard the modern world. For what it matters, the film fares much better and what could've been a weird hybrid of Nell and The Bourne Identity comes off looking as a kick-ass allegory for the pains of growing up.  Grade: ***

Andrew Niccol delivered one of the most fascinating sci-fi movies in contemporary cinema with his remarkable Gattaca. Sadly, now he comes back with a piece of "social" fluff disguised as a dystopia in the making. In a world where time has become the official currency and people stop aging at age 25, it's up to none other than Justin Timberlake to show people how immoral they are. JT plays a Dickensian character who gets thrown into a whirlwind of chaos after he "inherits" more time than he can deal with. When authorities become suspicious about his background, he recruits a wealthy socialite (Seyfried) to steal from the rich and give back to the poor. At the film's center there is a fascinating conundrum to explore: should people live long and prosper or is there an element of truth to eugenics? Of course, Niccol doesn't have time to dwell on this as he has his heroes reenact perfume ads during the entire movie. It's a shame, cause In Time often brims with promise which then turns upon itself in such unexpected ways. You end up rooting for the villains, it makes you think that JT and Seyfried are unsexy (they have such little chemistry that it often feels like you're watching audition tapes),  and for all its talk about social injustice, its own brand of Bonnie and Clyde by way of Dolce & Gabbana feels so preposterous that you only thing you want to protest against, are lazy Hollywood flicks. Grade: *


Aliens invade London. Group of thugs saves the day. The biggest problem with Attack the Block is that it's never truly able to overcome two major flaws. On the one hand, its very own kind of British humor is practically impenetrable, making it a dragging experience for worldwide audiences (something that comedies like Hot Fuzz and The Full Monty had no trouble doing), then, the movie is so in love with its low budget concept that it ends up becoming obnoxiously dull. Grade: **

Style Sunday.

The British were coming at an event held by BAFTA last night in Los Angeles. His royal highness Prince William, who also happens to be President of BAFTA (as if being a future king wasn't cool enough...) attended with his wife, Kate Middleton. Of course, she looked stunning but I keep wondering, where the hell does she find all these wholesome looking Alexander McQueen gowns?

This lavender creation is of course the epitome of classiness but would it kill her to try something a little bit more aggressive and McQueen-ish? Those odd little hats don't count.

Mary Louise-Parker brought her relaxed hippie-ness to the royal table in this cherry Dolce & Gabbana gown. Considering it lacks some oomph for a royal shindig, it's lovely to see her preserve her quirkiness.

Excuse me for saying this but royals should be bowing down to her royal majesty of actressing Nicole Kidman. I love how with the years she's adjusting herself to more sober, but still terrific, looks and how lovely her smile has become with each passing year. This Ellie Saab gown isn't a scene-stealer but Nicole must know that at a royal party, you are not supposed to overshadow the future queen. This well thought dress and demure style make her even more majestic.

Ooh-la-la, god only knows why Blake Lively gets invited to all these amazing red carpets, or perhaps he does, and the reason is merely because she always looks fantastic. This flowy Marchesa gown goes against everything Blake has us used to. Oh no, no boobs or legs! But with the see through loveliness of the fabric and the very Marchesa embroidery she looks like a true goddess. Her simple, unkempt chignon completed a look that reminded me of a Renaissance nymph.

No words describe how magnificent this is and I won't even try.

So, there you go...

Maria Bello was all kinds of lovely in this metallic Donna Karan gown. Gotta love how her tan doesn't make the already shiny fabric look vulgar.

J. Lo probably didn't get the memo that this was a BAFTA event with Prince William and not the Grammys with will.i.am, so she showed up like she always does, flaunting her best assets.

This Emilio Pucci gown will make most women alive envy Lopez's stunning curves but is this the best she could do when she was going to be near the future Queen of England?

How do you even bow before her in this without ripping the fabric and showing Kate your luscious ass?

The Brits weren't the only place for fab fashion this week though...

Anne Hathaway was the fairy tale princess at this year's White Fairy Tale Love Ball, where she opted for a gorgeous Valentino Couture dress. The little details in this dress are best appreciated when you see it in movement, Annie looked like she was hovering while distilling pixie dust. Gotta love her bold red lipstick and romantic hairstyle. Only she can pull off sexy risque and then melt our hearts with this kind of look.

Armani Privé + Cate Blanchett = fashiongasm.

How the hell did she avoid looking like she was part of the red carpet?

This asymmetrical Chanel gown makes the lovely Diane Kruger look like she won best dressed at the 1986 Academy Awards. Make of this what you wish.

Phew, lots of looks this week huh? Can you pick a fave?

I Promise I Will Stop Soon...

...but at the moment I simply can not get enough of watching this dress.

It's funny how the entire internet is split in half regarding their love or utter hate for this Givenchy Couture creation.

I'm among the former as you all know but honestly, just take a look at the level of craftsmanship put into this. Imagine how each pearl was carefully put in place by a group of Givenchy artisans. I once read a fascinating article on Vogue about the way in which the great ateliers work and this, like Marion Cotillard's 2008 dress, are the kind of things that entire armies of people lose sleep for.

Then I saw the back, which I hadn't noticed before and I continued my slow, but steady, fashion orgasm (glamgasm, stylegasm?).

The texture of the fabric with the violent invasion of the yellow pearls makes for a breathtaking sight.

Seriously dissenters, I know you've decided this is the devil's work and have compared it to Lord of the Rings, but once again you're forgetting that fashion is as much of an art as filmmaking is.

Imagine this dress as a David Lynch script made by Jane Campion.

While you give this a thought, us Cate lovers will keep on drooling at the sight of this (I think it'll go down as the best fashion look of 2011).

PS: read this piece about the dress.

Oscar Fashion: Best Dressed

This column is dedicated to my friend Luke, who knows how much I hated the Oscars this year but still wanted to hear my opinion on fashion. Hope you enjoy sir.

10. Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein

At first glance I was so disappointed with Lawrence's look. She had been so flawless and risky all season long, wearing bold colors in even bolder designs (girl's got the legs) so when she showed up in this simple red column with practically no accessories and free flowing hair I was like "what?".

As the night went by however, she looked just radiant! The silhouette is perfection and unlike other actresses, she never looked constricted or restrained by what she was wearing. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

9. Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang

This is how it's done Anne Hathaway's Valentino (I felt terrible typing that by the way...Annie knows I worship her)

8. Natalie Portman in Rodarte

The Best Actress winner was the image of pure joy and her simple fashion choice proved to be flawless. I'm not sure what everyone was expecting of her given that she's pregnant and all which must make dress choices much more difficult.

However the color was stunning (anyone else had flashbacks of Keira Knightley in 2006?), the hair was lovely and she accessorized like a pro.

7. Jennifer Hudson in Versace

Va-va-voom Miss Hudson! The Oscar winner looks absolutely hawt in this orange Versace.

See how her dress is a bit of Sandra Bullock's and Gwyneth's all rolled into one bomb of sexiness.

The accessories are perfect, the hair is incredible and you just gotta love the boobs. Beyoncé's "style" must be rolling in its grave of tackiness.

6. Anne Hathaway in Givenchy Couture.

Anne changed dresses a LOT and while some weren't fully successful (that weird Tom Ford from the end) this vanilla construction was a delight.

The bodice recalls the Versace January Jones wore to the Emmys once but while Jones is all about the cutting edge, Annie fits more of a princess mold.

This dress was shown on the runway as a wedding dress and Hathaway makes it look positively regal.

5. Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

The Oscar winner/country singer was stunning in this metallic CK column. She let her hair down and in all honesty looked like what Oscar would look like if he was a gorgeous woman.

The Louis Vuitton brooch was a bit off putting though, it was one of those situations when you like and then hate something. Good that you almost can't see it!

4. Anne Hathaway in Atelier Versace.

See what I meant about the Givenchy looking like Versace?

This is the kind of dress the house of Donatella is magnificent at: simple, sexy and delicately elaborate gowns that look as comfortable as shorts with the grace of couture mortals can't afford.

3. Anne Hathaway in Oscar de la Renta.

Disco was back for a few seconds as Anne rocked the stage in this beaded Oscar de la Renta which could do flashy nice things and made her look more beautiful than she did all night long (although it must be said she was all sorts of stunning in her masculine tux as well...)

2. Mila Kunis in Ellie Saab

As you know, I've had a love/hate relationship with Kunis' red carpet choices. Sometimes she looks stunning but more often than not she looks like she's trying too hard.

This lavender Ellie Saab was wonderful. Notice the gorgeous lace details on her cleavage and the way in which the dress flowed making her look radiant and quite sexy.

She was classic Hollywood with a slight edge and all throughout the night I kept telling myself "this is the classy version of this".

1. Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture

My prediction was right. This woman is a goddess among stylish women. The truth is her dress couldn't be more simple if it tried but it's such a well designed gown that like Cate's work, you find yourself uncovering layers and layers of what makes it so wonderful.

For starters the color! This delicate mix of lavender, violet and white makes for a warm look that's also aggressively imposing.

Next, that flowered frame is a thing of real beauty. It's sexy withou being vulgar (like ScarJo's back window) and reminds us that we are indeed watching a lady.

The yellow details on the shoulders accentuate her tasteful earrings and the simple bracelet completes the look. Also, Cate's hair has grown into something absolutely stunning. If this was a better world it would be her and not Jennifer Aniston who'd inspire fashion choices the world over.

Some have complained that the dress is a bit too weird and pastoral, when it's actually evoking and utterly magical.

So Luke, agree or disagree? Who would you add or remove? And the rest of you guys, get out your inner fashionista and let's discuss this! After all we know the clothes are usually better than the Oscars themselves right?

Style Sunday.

Cate the great is always such a joy for the senses. Dressed in a simple Balenciaga dress she makes it all about her gorgeous face with a Van Cleef and Arpels necklace that draw us to her regal beauty.

The hair and makeup are simple and give Blanchett a quirky sexiness she doesn't display too often.

I can not wait to see her at the Oscars! Who do you think she'll wear?

PS: speaking of style, I recently wrote a piece on this year's Oscar nominees for Best Costume Design. Click here to read it.

Style Sunday.

The gorgeous Jennifer Lawrence rocks this modern Prabal Gurung like nobody. She's a vision of haute couture and did you see her shoes? Amazing.

Cate the great is channeling Kate the great. Her Dries van Noten pants are incredibly feminine and almost regal looking. Her hair and makeup just add to this overall perfect look.

Style Sunday: Best of 2010.

What better way to start the year and the awards season than with a look back at the best celebrity looks of 2010?
The last year was an especially adventurous time for movie and television stars to try on runway looks on the red carpet. Some were gigantic failures (I'm still wondering what were Carey Mulligan's shoes at the Oscars all about) and some paid off in astonishing ways.
Without further ado.


10. January Jones in Atelier Versace at the 2010 Emmys
People made fun of her disheveled hair, her Madonna-like chest and the overall 80's prom feel of the weird midlength cut (midlength was actually huge in 2010!).
The truth is that this look doesn't work because of the dress itself, although it's a real work of art (notice the pleads which I'm sure were adhered individually and must've taken weeks of work!) the look works because January carries it with such confidence.
You can tell that beneath her beach blond bob she knew people would talk about her for months to come and her proud smile ended up being her best accessory.


9. Sarah Jessica Parker in Halston at the Met Costume Ball
Having recently taken control as creative consultant and designer of the iconic American fashion house, SJP gave us a preview of what was to come under her reign.
A simple disco dress that would've been just as appropriate for Jane Fonda in the 70's, Cher in the 80's and Sharon Stone in the 90's, SJP is the life of the party.


8. Anne Hathaway in Valentino at the Met Costume Ball
Ms. Hathaway epitomizes what it's like to look like a princess in almost anything you wear.
(I still love that you can barely tell it's Kate Bosworth next to her in this picture. Annie truly outshines everyone around her!)


7. Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen at the CMDA Awards
The late McQueen would've never been able to find a better exponent of his last collection than the amazing SJP (sorry Lady Gaga!).
She dons this psychedelic dress with the class and poise needed for it not to overshadow whoever's wearing McQueen.


6. Gwyneth Paltrow in Atelier Versace at the Country Music Awards
Before making her live singing debut at the CMA's, Paltrow walked the red carpet in this stunning creation by Versace.
Part of the dress screams Maya Rudolph as Donatella (maybe it's the sparkle! Or the fact that Maya and Gwyn are close friends?) but she's able to overcome the potentially tacky Faith Hill-ness of it all and owns the look in a way that's impossible to deny.
Also extra points for pulling off all the risque cuts and cleavages throughout the year.


5. Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel Couture at the Academy Awards
Once more reminding us of the rich history in fashion, SJP owns this 60's look, complete with the humongous Julie Christie/Jackie O. bun and the impressive metallic ornament.
She's a towering vision of class despite her actual height.


4. Diane Kruger in Chanel at the Academy Awards
Kruger proved that she's more than a pretty face and red carpet icon (she was absolutely fantastic in Inglourious Basterds) and wherever there was a red carpet event for the movie she represented them with utmost style.
Her best look was at the Oscars, where she literally grabbed this dress from the runway and wore it like a legend. I like to call this the "scratch and sniff" dress given how you instantly know it's Chanel from the color, the roses and the flapper-ish touches.
Whenever I saw this picture the smell of Chanel No. 5 filled my mind instantly.



3. Carey Mulligan in Lanvin at the SAG Awards
Poor Carey Mulligan spent the first half of 2010 attending awards ceremonies where she sat like a nominee and was beaten almost every time by an inferior performance.
However she showed all her colleagues how it was done on the style department. She was absolutely breathtaking each and every time (again, except at the Oscars...)
In this deep red Lanvin, she overcame her childish look and for once looked absolutely, almost stunningly sexy. The brooch, the draping, the color! Everything screams femme fatale!


2. Cate Blanchett in Christian Lacroix in Shanghai
I recently mentioned how much I need, crave almost, for Cate Blanchett to appear in red carpets. This astonishing look explains why.


1. Carey Mulligan in Vionett at the BAFTA Awards
The one time Ms. Mulligan won an actual award for her performance in An Education she fortunately happened to wear the most breathtaking gown I saw in 2010.
Once again recurring to the midlength strategy, she is a vision of something that can only be called pure fashion joy.
She looks absolutely at home in this dress and the risky pattern reminds us of her youthfulness (the flowers) while making a statement about her imposing gracefulness (the colors).

If you saw a better look all year long I'd love to hear about it!

Are You Ecstatic About Awards Season?

Cate sure is!

I don't know why but year after year I find this season less and less exciting. In the last couple of years the Oscars have began to feel more like a boring high school reunion than a beach rave.
Perhaps it's because as I grow older my tastes have completely diverged from what AMPAS picks. No Oscar movie has gotten me excited and cheery since the last Lord of the Rings probably. And that was almost a decade ago! how about you, still get all fuzzy inside when you think Oscar or do they feel like a dull old night at aunt Gladys'?

PS: I miss Cate at the Oscars! She puts the cutting edge in couture. I know that doesn't make sense but let me be...

Style Sunday.

This Dolce & Gabbana dress with lace appliques is nothing short of stunning but Julia makes it look so matronly. Or perhaps the dress is already too severe for her? I keep imagining Sophia Loren owning this big time. This time not even Julia's smile can save her from the utter lack of oomph.


Cate Blanchett on the other hand is pure sartorial perfection.
This look is just so wow. Words aren't enough to encompass just how mind blowing this is. Is Cate trying to make up for Robin Hood by looking so glorious?
This vintage Christian Lacroix is already gorgeous (the detail in the embroidery!) and Cate's porcelain skin gives the intense burgundy a great contrast.
What makes this even more perfect is the simple bob she went for. I don't think we'll see a better look in any celebrity this year. This is just too much.
Hats off to Cate.

What do you think of these two? Remember when Cate dropped out of Closer and Julia got the part? I know this has nothing to do with anything but watching that Lacroix is making me delirious...

Robin Hood *1/2

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett
Mark Strong, William Hurt, Matthew Macfadyen, Oscar Isaac
Danny Huston, Mark Addy, Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes
Eileen Atkins, Max von Sydow

What do you get when you combine Batman Begins, Gladiator and Lord of the Rings but take away anything that was good about them? The answer is Robin Hood.
Ridley Scott's retelling of the English folk tale is a conflicted attempt at updating the basic story for modern audiences and keeping faithful to its roots.
It's the 12th century and rebellious soldier Robin Longstride (Crowe) decides he's had enough of the Crusades. He's been fighting along Richard the Lionheart (Huston) for a decade and his patience just runs out one day.
After learning the king has died (which he obviously hasn't as anyone with the slightest inkling of world history would know) Robin and his, not so, Merry Men (Addy, Grimes and Durand) run into an ambush planned by the wicked sir Godfrey (Strong).
Godfrey plans to steal the crown, create civil war in England and help the French invade the country but Robin botches his plan and inadvertently ends setting the way for a farce which has him travel to England and pretend to be the deceased sir Robert Loxley (Douglas Hodge) who before dying made him promise he'd deliver his sword to his estranged father sir Walter (von Sydow).
Before Robin even leaves France we have ourselves the possibility to make at least four different movies but Scott and screenwriter Brian Helgeland seem to think that more is more and keep on stuffing the plot.
Back in British territory, the spoiled Prince John (Isaac) is wreaking havoc, bedding French women and making his mom (Atkins) quite pissed. Like a villain out of Shrek the young man simply succumbs to his whims and jeopardizes his kingdom and the movie's attempt at being coherent.
He's convinced by Godfrey to tax the hell out of his people, while he's secretly plotting to create a distraction for the French to take over the country, and paves the way for Robin to earn his hood.
Robin meanwhile is on his way to Nottingham where the evil Sheriff (MacFadyen) is executing the crown's orders with mean delight. There he meets sir Walter and Marion Loxley (Blanchett), no longer a maiden but a widow. Walter immediately takes a liking to Robin and requests that he pretend to be his son officially and stay living with them.
He obliges and soon is robbing grain from the Church, traveling at the speed of light to be in war councils, plowing the fields, saving England from the French invasion, creating the Magna Carta, solving daddy issues and courting the reluctant Marion.
There is so much going on in Robin Hood that it makes total sense how it's only when the film ends that we learn that "so the legend begins". Precisely, how would this man have time to become the Robin we know about, when Scott forces him to be so many things?
The hero's lack of identity determines the disunity that characterizes the entire film which amounts to little more than a wasted opportunity.
With that cast, which is rather impressive, one would at least expect the movie to deliver moments that evoked The Lion in Winter, instead the performances range from the hammy (Strong) to the confusing (Hurt).
Crowe, varies his accent from scene to scene and really shows no commitment to the role he's playing. This is obviously not his fault, entirely, given how the screenplay shows no regard whatsoever for any dramatic background.
In a way it's strange that Robin Hood in a way repeats the Gladiator formula yet fails so miserably.
As in the previous film, Crowe plays a troubles soldier adopted by a great actor, who changes the course of history. But while Gladiator had an almost Shakesparean aspect to it, Robin Hood is more unintentional Monty Python.
The film's major issue is probably the lack of clarity about what it wants to be exactly. Scott is known for his gritty realism and wondrously crafted action sequences but he also can do stupendous fantasy.
Here though he tries to do both at the same time without any cohesion, therefore we have Robin being all "Robin" and seducing the tough Marion (who honestly never seems to be into him) and a few minutes later he's behaving like an actual historical figure delivering grandiose speeches.
The story sometimes moves by inertia (it's never explained why the Merry Men actually follow Robin and the sudden "I love you" he says to Marion is ludicrous), then stalls, then throws in a random action sequence.
We never know for sure if we're meant to take anything about the movie seriously, is it trying to demythify the character? Is it trying to mythify history? What about the political undertones? Is it actually saying something about socialism and human rights?
It's ironic to say so but this is one Robin with no aim.