Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Grace notes

God bless Emma Thompson and her glorious, gorgeous Botox-free face. Actually, bless all of her bits and pieces (especially the naughty ones). But it’s her face in “Last Chance Harvey” that reminds us what a rare and remarkable privilege it is to see our stars age gracefully – or for that matter at all. At 49, Emma is of course far from old; banish the thought. But in this age of baby-faced senior citizens and frozen-foreheaded fortysomethings, to see a woman embrace her age makes me smile almost uncontrollably – laugh lines be damned. As Emma told More magazine about our youth-obsessed culture:
“Well, I’m not fiddling about with myself, if that’s what you mean. We’re in this awful youth-driven thing now where everybody needs to look 30 at 60, and you go, ‘Don’t you get it? This is the law of diminishing returns. You are creating what can only be described as a great big cat-o’-nine-tails to flog yourself with as you get older.’ The trick is to age honestly and gracefully and make it look great, so that everyone looks forward to it.”

Well, she is certainly doing that. I’ve always harbored a not-so-secret crush on Emma. Her bawdy good humor, her unapologetic Cambridge smarts, her standing firm on the importance of eating dessert. In “Last Chance Harvey,” Emma’s Kate is achingly real: single at a certain age, guarded yet too world-weary to be anything but direct and with a mother who has her cellphone number on permanent speed dial. Still once Kate meets, or spars more accurately, in an airport bar with Dustin Hoffman’s Harvey, you know the poor fella is a goner. The film is simply charming – a romance for grown-ups in the best possible sense of the phrase. Love knows no season, lovely knows no age. Emma is proof positive that you can rage against the dying of the light without ravaging your face. When I grow up, I want to be older, wiser and just as wonderful as Emma. Now, bring on those laugh lines.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see the film!
I love emma, she's my favorite actress ever!

love from vienna,
;) babs

Lezlie Mac said...

Amen.
Bring on the graceful wrinkles and the no-BS lady attitude !

Landlady of Fat said...

I really like her...

I think though, that most of the actors and actresses that don't get work done are the ones that were never really liked for their sex appeal but their merit.

The ones that were hired just b/c they are sexy are the ones hauling ass to get work done. :)

Anonymous said...

I have loved her since I was 13 and saw her in Junior. Remembering the way she says "sex" when talking with Arnold Schwarzenegger still makes me laugh 14 years later!

There just must be something about the British, really...I think when I saw Kate Winslet in Titanic is when I realized I would be a lady lover all my life!

Anonymous said...

Emma is one of my all-time favorites! Beautiful, smart, talented, and SO funny.

Two other lovely ladies that refuse to fall prey to the plastic-face syndrome are Frances McDormand and Holly Hunter. Apparently, they've made a pact to never have work done so they can have all of the old-lady roles in Hollywood when they're older. ha!

Unknown said...

Gran actriz, sí señor. (Great actress, yes). The remains of the day, Carrington, Much ado about nothing, these are a few of mya favourite... films (thanks, Julie Andrews for helping me to comunicate in English).

bisquiat said...

hell yeah. kudos as well (from me, anyway), to the real face of Julia Ormond in B. Button. lovely.

Anonymous said...

There's been a "Real Food" movement - guess it's time for a "Real Face" movement!!

(And I second the tip to Julia Ormond for simply looking her age in B.Button! She was great in that, and remains lovely to look at....How do people think they can act if they can't have an expression?? Yeah, I'm talking to you NK!)

Anonymous said...

I do love me some Emma. She is utterly charming. Do you suppose today's Kate Winslet is tomorrow's Emma Thompson? I adore them both for the exact same reasons.

roark said...

my mom wants to see Last Chance Harvey, is it really that good>?

I'm not the biggest Dustin Hoffman fan even if he played Toosie.

Norma Desmond said...

Fantastic. I'm glad to hear this movie is as good as the preview made it out to be. I will certainly be paying it a visit at the BO.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you, and I am indeed glad to see a woman who is willing to be her age. Plus I just love Emma in anything, everything, and would totally vote for nothing.

However, if you look at a pic of Phyllida Law...Emma's also got the benefit of some good-agin' genes.

Paula said...

OK, I admit I have a HUGE crush on Emma Thompson. The woman is just awesome. Have you seen her film with Queen Latifah and Will Ferrell - Stranger Than Fiction? I loved that movie!

Snooker said...

Emma is the best!
Hear, Hear to the comments about aging gracefully. I'm really happy to hear that she is going to be an example for women everywhere that there is nothing wrong with showing your age.