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Tag Archives: movie trivia
Getting To Know Judy Greer
Anyone who has seen a fair number of romantic comedies is sure to recognize the face of Judy Greer. She often plays the female protagonist’s best friend, business associate, or both. No doubt directors keep casting her because she effortlessly provides a level of humor to the plotline without deflecting from the main characters.
In The Wedding Planner (2001), Greer plays assistant to Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez). Greer’s character Penny is unsure of her capabilities and looks to Fiore for guidance. She jumps around nervously at a Greek wedding and ultimately ends up throwing plates and joining in the festivities. In 2004, Greer played Lucy Wyman, best friend and business partner of Jenna Rink (Jennifer Gardner), in 13 Going on 30. This movie had her take on a more snobby persona, but her character still remains loveable and oh-so Judy. In Love Happens (2009), Greer plays alongside another romantic comedy great, Jennifer Aniston. This role has her as Aniston’s hippie, goofy, flower shop employee.
Greer has had a few attempts at comic television, though sadly none of them have yet made it past a first season, with the exception of Arrested Development where she played a minor role. In 2008 she played the lead in Miss Guided—a comedy about a guidance teacher who gets hired by her old high school. In 2001 she starred in the sitcom Mad Love alongside Jason Biggs and Sarah Chalke. Sadly both shows were canceled.
Greer can currently be seen in the Nick at Nite cartoon Glenn Martin, DDS; and the upcoming drama The Descendants, starring George Clooney.
Photo copyright Ariwasabi – Fotolia.com
Tagged famous actresses, Judy Greer, movie trivia
How To Be A Movie Buff
Want to watch a movie like a pro? Be aware of these key elements which are present in any movie plot.
The Protagonist
Who carries the story? Whose head are we inside? Who gets the most airtime? Sometimes the protagonist plays second fiddle to the antagonist, but in most story lines, the protagonist is the key character.
The Antagonist
The antagonist foils the peaceful ebb and flow for the protagonist. In romantic comedies, the antagonist can turn into a positive character later on.
The Catalyst
Something happens which propels the story forward near the beginning. This can be the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or, like in American Beauty, the moment when Kevin Spacey’s character first sets eyes on his daughter’s friend Angela (Mina Suvari).
The Big Event
The big event happens later in the story. For instance, in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) choosing Matthew McConaughey’s character to be the “victim” of a magazine article is the big event.
The Crisis/The Showdown
Right when the plot line seems to be going along smoothly, something interjects, and the characters realize that some change must happen, either in their own lives or in their perceptions. The Crisis and Showdown are often made apparent through yelling, the revelation of secrets, and the subsequent break between the central characters.
The Realization
The Realization is one of the most common parts of a movie, particularly in romantic comedies. The realization usually happens in a public setting, where the character purposefully leaves his or her present course in order to publicly request the forgiveness and love of the one he or she slighted.
The Denouement
As they say in theater, “All’s well that ends well.”
For more insider tips, check out The Screenwriter’s Bible by David Trotter.
Photo © Alexander Vasilyev – Fotolia.com
Tagged movie breakdown, movie buff, movie trivia, movie writing
Top 10 TV-to-Movie Crossover Actors
Do you remember these actors’ humble beginnings on weekly television?
1. Michelle Williams
This Dawson’s Creek teen went on to have a major role in Brokeback Mountain and now stars in a slew of top-notch Indie films.
2. Jennifer Aniston
Her Friends character even had a hairstyle named after her, but Aniston is now a major player in big-grossing comedies, thanks in large part to her role in the darker “The Good Girl.”
3. Tom Hanks
Hanks is such an iconic movie actor in movies like the Toy Story trilogy, that it’s hard to remember his humble beginnings as a transvestite on Bosom Buddies.
4. Claire Danes
Danes portrayed the definition of teenage angst in My So-Called Life, and then went on to play an angelic Beth Marsh in Little Women and the drop-dead gorgeous Juliet alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
5. Katherine Heigl
We all hated to see Heigl leave Grey’s Anatomy, but her many romantic comedies have made her a regular on the big screen, starting with Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up.
6. Jason Segel
He’s still Marshall Eriksen of How I Met Your Mother, but he’s also an up-and-comer member of the Frat Pack. His first role was in Knocked Up along with the above-mentioned Heigl.
7. George Clooney
This heartthrob left ER at its peak, then went on to become a staple hunk in an incredibly wide variety of movie roles including his most recent: The American.
8. Will Smith
Smith admitted to having no acting experience when he began The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but that hasn’t stopped him from saving us from aliens in Men in Black; robots in I, Robot; and villains in Hancock.
9. Robin Williams
Mork & Mindy premiered way back in 1978 but Williams is still a much-celebrated actor and comedian who still lands large roles like Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum.
10. Amanda Seyfried
Seyfried still plays the daughter of polygamist Bill Henrickson in Big Love, but her minor role has afforded her the time to become a loveable “It girl” in Hollywood who made name for herself with Mamma Mia!.
Photo © Isaiah Shook – Fotolia.com
Tagged actors, movie trivia, tv to movie actors
10 Movies with Protagonists Who Want to Be Writers
Before you peek, how many can you count? See if you remembered some of the ones we mention here:
1. Little Women
Jo Marsh (Winona Ryder) writes trashy fiction before penning her own family’s heartfelt story.
2. My Girl 1 & 2
Teenage Veda Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) takes a crazy writing class and visits her favorite poet in order to get inspiration and feedback for what she hopes to do as a career.
3. Mansfield Park
Fanny Price (Frances O’Connor) writes a History of England for the amusement of her childhood sweetheart-turned-husband, who in turn gets her a publishing deal.
4. Anne of Green Gables
Similar to Jo Marsh, “Anne with an E” (Megan Follows) longs to turn her creative musings into published works, but she first must come to realize that heartfelt truth is better than far-fetched fantasy.
5. Almost Famous
William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a teen with his first writing assignment—to accompany Stillwater on tour and divulge his findings in a Rolling Stone article. Will he be brave enough to write what he sees?
6. Harriet the Spy
Eleven-year-old “spy” Harriet (Michelle Trachtenberg) fills notebooks full of findings and becomes the editor of her school paper.
7. Wonder Boys
James Leer (Tobey Maguire) is a creative writing student who gets his novel published while still in school.
8. Jerry Maguire
Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a sports agent, not a writer, but in the first few minutes of the movie he stays up all night writing a mission statement which transforms his career, for better or worse.
9. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) longs to document meaningful political events for Composure Magazine instead of the frivolous articles she’s been assigned.
10. Sex and the City
True, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is already a writer in the TV series. But she turns her column into a book, and in Sex and the City: The Movie, she keeps writing even though she married wealthy Mr. Big (Chris Noth) and wouldn’t have to lift a finger if she didn’t want to.
Photo © Alexander Trinitatov – Fotolia.com