The Great Gatsby...

Ever since I was 14 years old, I've loved Francis Scott Fitzgerald. I've read, and many times, all his books. I've pictured myself as one of his wretched heroines, I have loved all his leading men (Jay  Gatsby, Dick Diver, Anthony Patch, among other) with passion. I've seen all the movies made from his work. I've even read Zelda's books. However, this past 20 years, I had him a little abandoned, but always present. I've remembered him when I saw "Midnight in Paris." 

Since the buzz around the new version of Baz Luhrman's "The Great Gatsby" began, I became interested. I was among the first to download the full soundtrack from iTunes last week (a fabulous work by Jay-Z, with great artists) and, ever since, I've listened to the songs everyday.
That's why, today, on the première in Paris (and in Cannes, but I couldn't make it there), I bought my tickets and my 3D glasses to see it...
I came out dazzled. A spectacular movie. The cast, marvellous. The costumes (the work of Catherine Marin with Miuccia Prada), incredible. A firework of a movie. I've seen few films this amazing.
And all this without missing the essence of Fitzgerald's play. It's a story about hope (the most violent of drugs), love and the challenge of changing one's past...
Leonardo di Caprio, very good-looking (in spite of being a bit "swollen") and very charming.
Carey Mulligan, simply perfect.
Ok, you'll see the reviews, but I recommend it... Very much...

A Friday, by the end of June, in Paris...

From one trip to another between holiday destinations, I return to Paris to un-do and re-do my luggage... It's so exciting to walk around the semi-empty city, surrounded only by tourists. The heat is intense, there's no traffic jams and I feel like a visitor myself in one of my favorite cities.

And what could be best now than lock myself at a movie theatre on Champs-Elysées to see one of the most awaited movies of the year?

So there I go. While there's a storm outside, I let myself go by the imagination and darkness of "The Dark Knight Rises," the last Batman installment in the trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan, a true genius. As I don't like Spiderman, I adore Batman! And I love Christian Bale, the actor marvelously playing the role of Bruce Wayne.

The movie is long: 2 hours and 40 minutes. My max. But I did not notice the time passing by. There's so much to see, so many fights between Good and Evil, so many first-class actors, so much action!

Beautiful Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, divine Joseph Gordon Levitt, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy (as Bane, the very bad villain of the movie)...

What a pity that this movie will eternally be associated with the massacre in Aurora...

To end such a day of unforgettable images, nothing better than watching on TV (HD, of course) the Opening Ceremony of London's 2012 Olympic Games! An amazing show by the great movie director Danny Boyle, who I've discovered years ago with "Trainspotting," one of my cult movies.

I loved that retelling of England's History, so like a musical from London's West End. I liked Daniel Craig, impeccable as James Bond, escorting the Queen (the real Elizabeth II!!), the many Mary Poppins, the homage to Pop Music and the happiness of the athletes...

After so many images, will I be able to sleep tonight?

Au Pays du Sang et du Miel...

After more than two weeks of peaceful quiet life in Paris, with cold and a flu, this morning I received an invitation that pushed me out of my routine. My friend Bernard-Henry Levy invited me to the avant-première of the movie directed by Angelina Jolie, "Au Pays du Sang et du Miel" (In the Land of Blood and Honey). She and Brad Pitt would be there. An invitation I couldn't refuse.

Of course, I took along my sister and my niece, both guests at my house, and together we went to the MK2, a complex in Bercy, where's the famous and gigantic library. At the entrance, there was a Red Carpet and lots of photographers. Once inside, we were able to follow the arrival of the other guests through the live broadcast on the screen of the theatre. Almost on perfect schedule, both actors arrived: Angelina, beautiful (but honestly beautiful), with a long off-white silk dress that I would say was Marchesa. She signed, with her left hand (she must be a lefty) an enormous amount of autographs and let herself be interviewed by, at least, a dozen TV cameras.

We saw it all from inside.

At 9:20 pm, Bernard-Henry climbed up the stage and presented the movie, which tells a love story in the middle of the Yugoslav wars of the 90s. And just as he was talking, Brad and Angelina came inside, absolutely stunning both of them, he carrying her by the arm and keeping a discreet second place.

Angelina and her actors joined Bernard on stage and he asked her how come an American girl, who in the 90s was just 20 years old, became interested and decided to direct a story based on a subject so removed and far from Hollywood...

She replied with kindness and simplicity, showing that she's no ordinary woman... But we could also prove so after watching her movie, which was quite good, engaging, hard and well-done. Excellent performances.

I was truly shocked by her incredible beauty, her inner light and intelligence, and of course her humanitarian compromise... Angelina is not from this world.

(Afterwards, they all went to dine at La Tour d'Argent.)

P.S.: I've just found out that Angelina's dress was from Ralph & Russo, unknown to me.

Cannes is over...

After 11 days of movies and fashion, this afternoon, with the award ceremony, Cannes Film Festival said goodbye till next year.

As it was predicted, the "Palm d'Or" was given to the movie "The Tree of Life," by Terrence Malick. This American director is not so popular among the great audience (in 40 years he only made 5 movies) but experts and movie critics consider him a unique artist, almost like Stanley Kubrick.

The award for Best Male Performance was given to the French actor Jean Dujardin for his role in "The Artist." I love Dujardin, who's good-looking, talented and a great dancer. Kirsten Dunst received the Best Female Performance award... I don't like her very much, but I'm sure she deserved it.

I want to point out again the supreme elegance of Jane Fonda, who handed out the Palm d'Or. She wore a long, nude and embroidered dress that looked perfect on her. Très chic.

Also beautiful (again!) was Uma Thurman's look: a French blue dress, opened in the back with a sexy cleavage... A true goddess!

Tonight we'll have, although more modest but not less important, the Martín Fierro Awards.

I'll be back with my comments... See you.

My "Palms" to Elegance in Cannes...

For a week now in France (and in the rest of the world), we've been following the Cannes Film Festival which, apart from being one of the most important festivals because of the quality of the movies in competition and the line-up of directors (all of them proud to be chosen to participate), it has become a runway to fashion, elegance and unique glamour. 

L'Oreal (French group owning several beauty brands) and Chopard are the main sponsors of the Festival and they both hire models and actresses to show their beauties on the Red Carpet leading to the steps of the Palais du Festival, were movies are daily premiered. So every afternoon it's a treat to watch the arrival of stars, broadcasted live by Canal +, another of the main sponsors.

This year we've seen everything: beautiful women, one or two looking totally ridiculous, and others simply stunning. 

My awards to Elegance this year go to three actresses...

Number one: Jane Fonda

At 73, the American actress shone with her body (slim and perfect), her hair (she is one of the faces of L'Oreal products) and her beautiful dresses (a white Pucci, a golden-green Cavalli), with no cleavage, and long-sleeved, because, in spite of being the queen of fitness, she knows that at a certain age it's best to hide the arms!

Number two: Uma Thurman

With her white Atelier Versace dress, she looked splendid! Her loose, untidy chignon, her long green earrings, her body, her height... Everything, just perfect!

Number three: Angelina Jolie

I found her dress simply beautiful (although I'm not into that color). Also her hair, her face and... Brad Pitt by her arm... Such an "interesting" accessory.

The ones I liked less?

Penélope Cruz (a dramatic dress and a weird hair-do) and Melanie Griffith (a too-detailed look). I did not like Argentine actress Marina Guzmán's shoes. Just not glamorous enough.

There are still too days to go... 

I'll be back with more...

"La Prima Cosa Bella"

What to do on a Sunday in March, when you are suffering from an otitis and are unable to leave your house or travel?

You can only stare at the Park through the window, finally covered with sun and blossoming trees, and watch a movie. As this was my case, I had no other choice than look through the DVDs my sister buys on the Italian Amazon, and with much much luck I found a little masterpiece... "La Prima Cosa Bella," directed by Paolo Virzì.

I've had read its critics last year, all very good, but somehow it has exceeded my expectations and filled me with emotions. Firstly because the story is set in Livorno, which is a Tuscan town where they speak the same Italian dialect than in Montepulciano, where I was born. And second, because the story of Anna, a beautiful and rather thoughtless mother, of the ups and downs of her life, always involving her two beloved kids, till the end, thirty years later... is fascinating and made me cry seas of tears!!

Amazing actors: Micaela Ramazzotti (young Anna), Stefania Sandrelli (elder Anna), Valerio Mastroandrea, Claudia Pandolfi... all of them stupendous. And that portrait of the provincial Italy from the 70s till today, so fair, so "dolce-amaro," so filled with love...

I do not want to forget the music, our music... as that of the band "I Richi e i Poveri," who sang the song that was used as title for the movie...

A visit to a past full of nostalgia...

You can watch the trailer by clicking here.

The Best and Worst Dressed of 2011's Academy Awards.

I could not miss this year's Oscars... although as I'm in Paris, the time difference with L.A. is huge... 9 hours!!!

So I was just able to see something before surrendering to late night sleep. Above all, I got to see much of the Red Carpet that, for us, women, it one of the most attractive parts of the TV broadcast. 

As usual, I liked best the lighter and brighter dresses... As actresses arrive very early to the Kodak Theatre (around 3 p.m.), darker dresses don't look so well under the sun and the light of day.

Anyway, here's my choice of the best and worst dressed:

Best

1. Halle Berry. She wore a nude embroidered Marchesa that was really divine.

2. Cate Blanchett. A Givenchy Haute Couture dress, very original and "très chic." And she had the right haircut, the right height... just perfect.

3. Hilary Swank. I do not like her body type that much, but I adored her Gucci Première dress, grey, with sequins and feathers.

4. Anne Hathaway. Because of the red vintage Valentino (I have one very similar) and because she arrived hand in hand with Valentino himself. Very "top."

5. Michelle Williams. A Chanel, nude and young, very nice.

Worst

1. Nicole Kidman. She wore a 2009 Haute Couture Christian Dior dress that looked too stiff... I hated it... and the shoes... red!!

2. Helena Bonham Carter. What can I say?... A costume by Collen Atwood, black and sinister. We forgive her because she is English and such a great actress.

3. Penélope Cruz. She is one of my favorite and most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, but after giving birth to her son just a month ago, such a shinny dress did not look good on her. A very vulgar L'Wren Scott outfit.

4. Sharon Stone. I usually love the way she dresses, but yesterday, her black Dior, made her look like Morticia Adams.

5. Scarlett Johansson. An awful Dolce & Gabbana purple lace dress, with transparencies... not good...

Just a few words about the men... Not only he's a great actor, but Colin Firth is also handsome and elegant... tall, chic and married to an Italian.

Lousy host, yet very sexy, James Franco is better as an actor and writer than as a showman. 

I loved Jeremy Renner, ugly and tough, but interesting and sexy. He's the supporting actor of "The Town," which I've already seen twice.

My beloved Javier Bardem has gained too much weight... Does not look good on him...

Back in Paris...

Et voilá, as the French say... I'm back in the cold Paris. I left behind the 32°C of Buenos Aires and was received by -3°C and grey skies. But this doesn't bother me at all, I love changes, even if they are a little abrupt as this one!

Women in the streets still wear their Winter uniforms: mini skirts or shorts, dark leggins, Uggs, feather jackets or doudounne, hat and gloves. Everything rigorously black. However, the French seem to feel rather happy. Winter is about to finish... a month and a half to go and soon Spring will be at the door. Parc Monceau, just in front of my house, already shows some trees with flowers.

On February 11th Winter holidays will begin and the most important ski resorts, such as St. Moritz, Gstaad or Courcevel, already have no vacancies.

There's no reason though to leave town, for there's plenty of interesting things to do here too. In few days, at the Musée du Luxembourg, will open the exhibit "Cranach et son temps," very awaited and extremely interesting. At the Centre Georges Pompidou is "De Stijl et Mondrian," which I've not yet visited and will be open till March 21st. Also in theaters there's plays worth seeing, such as "Une Journée Ordinaire," a modern comedy by Eric Assous, written specially for Alain Delon and where he'll be sharing stage for the first time with his daughter Anouchka Delon. They've already worked together on TV, but never in theatre. And although everyone thought it would be the typical play specially written to attract Delon's fans and show him in a familiar situation, it seems it's actually quite good and both do a great job.

As for the movies, I went to see Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," with Natalie Portman. I liked it very, very much. The story is strong and distressing, the cast amazing and Natalie Portman deserves the Academy Award! But in fact the entire ensemble works perfectly: Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder (in a small but decisive role), Mila Kunis (I didn't know her, but she's an actress with a great future). I strongly recommend it to you!

And now I'll get my coat and will go out to the big city... There's always so much to discover...

Oscar Noms 2011...

I can not cease to express my joy for Javier Bardem's Academy Award's Best Actor nomination for his role in "Biutiful," Alejandro González Iñárritu's movie.

Many might criticize the simple way I look at things, but I do believe in awards. I believe a great writer deserves a prize, so does an actor and, in general, us all when we work hard at what we do, be it bake a cake, restore a piece of furniture or what ever.

Awards push us to give the best of ourselves. 

I've been following Javier Bardem since 1993 when, watching Canal+ in Paris one late night, I was glued to the screen of my TV with a Spanish movie by Bigas Luna called "Los Huevos de Oro." Who was that guy with such presence and charisma?! After some research, I saw "Jamón, Jamón," also by Bigas Luna, were he had his first main role, next to who, many years later, would become his wife and mother of his son/daughter (the birth was actually today, but no comments yet as to the sex): Penelope Cruz.

And then I saw all the rest... "Antes que Anochezca,""Mar Adentro,""No Country for Old Men" (Academy Award Best Supporting Actor)... Till last September, a friend of mine in Paris took me to a private screening of "Biutiful." A tremendous movie, with an excellent performance of Javier, so real that you actually feel he is suffering, fighting, dying... I couldn't take him out of my mind for days...

And now, luckily, he is among the nominees, which for a Spanish-speaking actor is quite important.

There's only one tiny problem... I've also seen "The King's Speech" with Colin Firth, a fellow nominee and, I believe, a true competitor for Bardem's Oscar. I do not like Firth specially... but his work in this film is simply outstanding. The movie is so good it catches you and it has an amazing cast, with the likes of Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham-Carter.

We'll see who takes home the Oscar... Sure enough, the best one... as in all fairytales.

Biutiful...

Although I've just got to Paris, where Fall is timidly showing off (18°C), I've decided to go to a private screening of "Biutiful," Alejandro González Iñárritu's new movie.

After Amores Perros, 21 grams and Babel, Iñárritu brings us here a true masterpiece of realistic cinema... but...

Two notes:

1) It is possibly the hardest, darkest and cruelest movie I've ever seen in my entire life...

2) Javier Bardem, the lead actor in the film, is definitely the largest and most talented living actor... He deserves every Academy Awards to come...

As we met outside of the theatre, my sister and I, together with some friends, had our throats choked with tears which we could not let go...

What is it about?

This is the story of a lonely man, Uxbal, who, living in a rotten, dirty and corrupt yet lovely Barcelona, has to face the fact that he is dying of a terminal disease and has nothing to leave to his two children, who he adores. In the need for quick money he mingles with Chinese and Africans. The first produce fake designer bags in a window-less underground workroom. The latter sell them downtown, always avoiding getting caught by the police. A true universe of misery...

The mother of the children, Marambra, is a bi-polar mental woman, totally crazy and unable to handle the kids.

Uxbal is dying but selling fakes, the misfortunes (so many!) of those around him and his need for money leave him no time to pity himself...

And he is continuosly haunted by memories of his father, who he never knew...

I won't tell you more... You must see "Biutiful" although there's nothing beautiful in it.

You have to see it because it is a slap on the face that shows us a cruel reality that, although it exists, we usually don't want to see...

A special remark for young Maricel Alvarez, who plays the role of Marambra, a fantastic actress I did not know but, after reading the press booklet given to us, I found out that she's from Argentina! She's been working in theatres mainly and this has been her first movie. Iñárritu was two days from begining production and still had no actress for this role, when he received Maricel's resumé. In less than 24 hours he made her travel all the way from Buenos Aires and in just two minutes he realized she was the one to play Marambra...
Oh, and I don't want to forget to mention Gustavo Santaolalla's original soundtrack, another Argentinian contributing to create a movie masterpiece...

See, after all, I did find something beautiful, right?

Max Ryan.

I'm sure many of you did not know him until today...
Max Ryan is a British actor, age 43, who in "Sex & the City 2," plays Samantha's new love interest.
And the truth is that with my friends we were absolutely moved by this gorgeous guy who appears out of nowhere in the middle of the desert. And we didn't know him!!!
So now we do, we now from where he is from, his age and that he has previously been in "Kiss of the dragon," "Death Race" and "The League of Extraordinay Gentlemen."
I believe that from now on, and after his exotic and sexy character, we will never forget him!!

Sex & the City 2...

Thanks to a press invitation given to me by my good friend Fernanda, I had the privilege of watching tonight "Sex and the City 2," just two days before its premiere in Buenos Aires and only four days after its official premiere in New York!

I wouldn't have missed it at all... Not even if I had a date with the handsomest of men!!

And as I had a previous cocktail, I went "very Carrie Bradshaw:" shinny coat, mini dress, bare legs (with 11°C outside!) and Louboutin shoes of 12 cm heels... so like her.

I was thrilled to see my four friends again, those with who I shared so many nights of my life, watching the episodes of the six seasons... many I saw more than once!

So, as the movie begins and you see NYC, its buildings, its taxis and "the girls" walking down the streets as modern amazons, you get the chills... 

It's just that Sex & the City has captured us for so many years... it was able to show our most profound feminine essence, but also our most frivolous concerns... I don't know of any woman who has not liked the series...

The shoes, the dresses, the boyfriends and lovers, the wishes of having a family and its complete opposite, motherhood and its opposite... 

But in this new installment, things have changed... Inexplicably, "the girls" have aged too much... if not, can someone explain to me why Carrie has wrinkles (normal, for her age) and instead to Mr. Big, today John James Preston, not a day has passed??? He is younger and handsomer than ever!!!

Why does Samantha's free and joyful sexuality is transformed here into the delirious hallucinations of a menopausal woman. And Charlotte's freshness into the complaints of a doll of some other time...? 

Miranda, never the prettiest nor the sexiest, is the only one who bears with dignity the pass of time.

I repeat: it is unfair that Aidan, Stanford, Anthony and even Charlotte's and Miranda's husbands still look the same...

The part of Abu Dhabi is beautiful, with its souks (although we know that they are really Marrakech's), its Arabic luxuries and meals, its desserts and dunes... breathtaking.

The moral of the story is that what you wish and get does not bring the satisfaction you were waiting for... Beware what you wish, because you'll get it, reads an old saying.

Anyway, the movie (kind of kitsch in the fashion aspect) has one or two memorable moments: Liza Minelli's show, full of energy and talent, and Penelope Cruz's small guest appearance. 

My Carrie's favorite looks: the long, green Lanvin dress from the Finale, a pink Halston Heritage one-shoulder dress and an enbroidered white jacket. The rest I found to shinny and caricaturesque. Or maybe it was on purpose and I didn't get it...

Anyway, go see it. You can't miss it, even If you criticize it then. 

As for me, I'll go see every future installment... 3, 4, 5, 6... if they ever make them...

Shutter Island

It's been so long since I've seen a high-impact-psychological thriller this catching!

I've just arrived from having watched Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" at the movies and I must tell you that it's tremendous and really good.

It's based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, who already wrote other novels which were adapted for cinema as "Mystic River" and "Gone, baby, gone" and has Leonardo di Caprio playing the main role. He's fantastical, as his fellow cast members: Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sidow and Michelle Williams.

The movie is dark, dense and long (2 hours 20 min, but you won't notice...), not at all a walk in the park... in fact, it's quite the opposite: the story develops on a prison for lunatics located on an impossible-to-escape island, 18 km from Boston during the 1950s...

But I won't tell you more, or I'll kill all the intrigue...

Just one thing: di Caprio may date the model of the season and change her for another as he ages... and this not because of this good looks, but simply because he is "a big star, maybe the big one..."

Golden Globes 2010... under the rain!!!

And for once, we had a rainy Golden Globes...
How weird to see all those Hollywood stars under umbrellas, so like normal people...
I know that they are common mortals like us, but seeing them on screen, playing so many different roles, gets you under the impression that they are immune to stuff like rain, cold or any other human misery...
But yesterday it rained hard in Los Angeles and all those actresses who chose curly, wavy or straight hair-dos, had it difficult! Or as Young Victoria's Emily Blunt put it: "I'm English, I'm used to it..."
Anyway, the rain took nothing from a ceremony that was traditional, elegant and glamorous as always...
There were so many fantastic dresses that I get confused... All I can say is that there was a clear tendency to one-shoulder straight long dresses... Of those I saw plenty! They were just like the one I want to wear for the big wedding party I have in Paris on February 6th... But I want mine in red!
I loved the dark green Dior that Marion Cotillard wore and it went perfectly with her chignon...
I also liked Penélope Cruz, who's one of my favorite actresses and looked charming yesterday with her black Armani Privé and her loose hair.
Awful was Nicole Kidman's beige Nina Ricci... it matched her skin tone!
On the contrary, and not because she's Italian as myself, I liked what George Clooney's girlfriend, Elisabetta Cannalis, wore: it was a creamy Versace, that went well with her skin type.
I saw many Elie Saab (a libanese designer who works in Paris), various Roberto Cavalli and some Marchesa (like Kate Hudson's)... also a lot of mistakes!
As for the men, my favorite was Thomas Jane... He's not so popular here yet but he's gonna be a huge star... You must see his TV series "Hung."
I also liked Robert Downey Jr., a great actor and quite goodlooking. Among the elders, Jeff Bridges was OK.
All in all, it was a nice show, an entreé before our main course: the Oscars, coming soon in a month...

Marion Cotillard's Dior

Penélope Cruz by Armani Privé

Robert Downey Jr., nominated for "Sherlock Holmes"

PS: I'm thrilled by the Foreign Film Golden Globe awarded to Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon... great movie!

Un Prophète

After winning the Gran Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival, Jacques Audiard's movie, Un prophète, has just premiered here in Paris.

I saw it yesterday and it left me breatheless!

It tells a dark story of prisons and delinquency, of lack of racial integration, violence and corruption... but it is however enlighted by the presence and talent of Tahar Rahim, a young actor that, as the French put it, "creve l'ecran", which means that his presence alone steals the whole scene.

He plays Malik El Djebena, a 19-year-old robber, iliterate and family-less, convicted to a 6-year sentence in prison, who, thanks to his natural wit, is able to dominate to his advantage that world of despair.

But that's all I'll tell you. You have to see it.

The movie is already a candidate to be nominated for Best Foreign Movie in next year's Academy Awards, and believe me, you'll hear lots about it!

I love Tom Ford!!

This one is definitely a carreer!! And quite a successful one too!

Born 48 years ago in Austin, Texas, he begun first as a model (for he is sooo goodlooking!) and then entered the Parsons School of Design to study Architecture. From then on, he started giving his first steps towards the Fashion bussiness.

After working at Perry Ellis in New York, he decided he had to try Milan or Paris.

In 1992, the Gucci Group hired him to renovate the image of the label. In no time, Gucci increased its sales in 90%. When the company owning Gucci bought Yves Saint Laurent, Ford was named its new Creative Director.

In 2004 he decided to retire to begin his own sunglasses and perfume label, called Tom Ford, of course.

Today he has stores in cities like New York, Toronto and Zurich.

But now we lay eyes on him again, this time as a movie director!

Yesterday, at the Venice Film Festival, he presented "A Single Man", based on the novel by Christopher Isherwwod which he adapted together with David Scearce. The cast include Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Lee Pace.

Critics have been unanimous to judge Tom's excellent directorial debut and some even say that the film could get a Gold Lion in Venice.

I love Tom Ford! So chic!

With his cast in Venice

Millennium I - Trailer