“Only on afternoons when the cinema offers retirees half-price tickets has there been much of a crowd for The Iron Lady , the controversial film about Mrs. Thatcher, who is now 86. A therapist, Lauren Hall, 24, had her own perspective. ‘People who come to Grantham are more interested in Isaac Newton,’ who attended school in the town from 1655 to 1661 and has a statue in the town’s main square, she said. In case the visitor had not grasped Newton’s place in history, she offered a prompt. ‘Did you know he invented the cat flap?’ she said.” Huh. This can only benefit Viola Davis , right? [ NYT ]
This year’s Oscars may have average nominee ages of 47, 61 and 62 in such categories as Actor, Director and Supporting Actor (respectively), but trust producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer to rope in the youngs where they can. To wit: If the Academy won’t nominate the four-quadrant blockbuster Bridesmaids for Best Picture, then at least the cast can drop by to present an award. Hence this morning’s news from AMPAS: Six actresses – Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig – from the hit comedy Bridesmaids will be presenters at the 84th Academy Awards, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today. McCarthy received her first Oscar nomination this year for her supporting role in the film, and Wiig also became a first-time nominee for the film’s original screenplay. All six will be making their first Oscar show appearances. No word yet on which category they’ll present or how Bruce Vilanch will work very relevant and timely sink-defecation jokes into their shtick. Suggestions welcome below. [ AMPAS ]
