Tue 29 Jul 2008
Which Eph has been seen by tens of millions of people in the last week? Monique Curnen ‘92, playing Detective Anna Ramirez in “The Dark Knight.” Background reading here and here.
Give Batman attitude? Those who try don’t live to tell about it. But feisty Hollywood up-and-comer Monique Curnen defies that certainty in the new summer blockbuster, “The Dark Knight.”
Confronting the caped crusader (Christian Bale) in one tense scene, the raven-haired newcomer who stands up to Batman says the moment was fun but intense.
“I’m just grateful it came on my last day of shooting,” says Curnen. “I wasn’t daunted by Christian any longer. Believe me. He was very intimidating in that Batman suit, especially up close and in your face.”
As Det. Ramirez, the tough yet vulnerable rookie cop who helps Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) clean up Gotham City, Curnen joins a cast of conflicted characters born from the darkest recesses of the human psyche in this follow-up to 2005’s “Batman Begins.”
Thanks to Curnen’s suitemate Laura Lim Prescott ‘92 for the links.
July 29th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
When was the last time an action-adventure flick spawned a primary Oscar?
July 29th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I can’t tell you how weird it was seeing someone I knew 60-feet tall on an IMAX screen.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Sweet, I had no idea she was an Eph, thanks for the heads up!
Good question, Frank. Does The Fugitive count (sort of an action / drama, TLJ won for that)? The Oscars consistently shaft comedies and action films. If something is among the best comedies in decades and truly pathbreaking in its own right (say, 40 Year Old Virgin or Best in Show or Rushmore), or even more rare, a truly memorable action film (say, Die Hard or certainly Ledger’s performance in Dark Knight) those are a lot worthier of recognition than some mediocre and quickly-forgettable drama. Alas, the Academy does not see it that way, and probably never will.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
The movie was, by the way, a 10 out of 10, and I would support Ledger wholeheartedly for an Oscar.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I haven’t seen the movie…and it will be more fun to do so now.
But even without seeing it, I would bet on Ledger being nominated. For one, he was an absolutely lovely, talented actor who deserves to be recognized, and two, because the Academy will get tons of mileage out of it. A perfect recipe.
Unfortunately, the Oscars have less to do with talent and innovation, and more to do with the millions and millions that the studios pony up to promote buzz. Even in the case of the small movies, it is usually after they have already proven successfull at the box office, and the promotion begins, that they manage to get in the running.
Every now and then there is an exception to this formula…but not often.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
The thing I didn’t like about the movie has a lot to do with the Eph here; her story and place in the plot is hard to pinpoint the first time around.
I think this is because Dark Knight had to be cut down to the bare plot bones, so important parts (like when certain people get abducted) have to be understood as having happened, instead of witnessed.