Director Jennifer Kent on Her Sundance Horror Hit 'The Babadook'

Photo: Courtesy of Company

Heading home from any big film festival, you can't help gnawing your manicure, knowing that you must have missed something amazing. At Sundance this year, for me it was The Babadook, pegged as a horror film and repeatedly shown at midnight. When I caught up with it later, I just had to talk to its Australian writer-director, Jennifer Kent, if only on the phone from Sydney.
I love this line from your director's statement: "Despite its horror, The Babadook is a love story, a mother moving through the center of hell towards her child."

I wanted this film to be scary and have an emotional quality, but also be quite beautiful.

Is the mother in this story based on an actual woman?

I had a friend who was finding it very hard to love her son. She just couldn't connect with him, didn't like him. I felt he was killing her in a lot of ways emotionally, and it was really having an effect on him. He was seeing what he was calling a monster man everywhere, and the mother found that the only way to deal with it was to see it as real. And then I had this thought—Well, what if it was real?

How are audiences responding to this theme?

I thought maybe I'd be criticized for showing a mother in this light, but I've encountered the opposite reaction. Women have been relieved and grateful to see a complex female character up there who's struggling with motherhood and many other things.

Essie Davis is amazing as the mother, and Daniel Henshall, the boy, is extraordinary. So much is conveyed in his eyes, and you don't expect that from a child.

Davis is a highly skilled, extremely talented actress, but she's not yet someone you'd call a star. And Henshall is a very deep soul. On the set, his mother once asked him why he was so focused here but not at school, and he said, "Well, this is important."

Your movie is singular, in that most horror movies offer up a kind of cookie-cutter menu of brutality and terror.

Horror is a very underrated genre, and it's seen by a lot of people as trash, but when you look at films like Werner Herzog's Nosferatu remake, or the original one, there's a lot of beauty. I think horror gets a bad rap. Its origin lies in fairy tale—these dark, dark stories that were myths, really, and that's why they still survive. They have the power to reach us all.

This article appears in the November 2014 issue of ELLE magazine.

Angelina Jolie Sunglasses Fashion Trends

Angelina Jolie is an American actress and director. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011.

For most people, sunglasses protect the eyes from the sun, but Angelina Jolie sunglasses are an accessory, taking an already glorious face and simply adding an exclamation point. Like many celebrities, Angelina tends to wear the grand, face covering sunglasses more to cover than to simply set her eyes from that urge hour glare, but she also is known to buy a pair of shades that can be smart, classy, and revealing. Whether it's on the site or hanging out with her family, she always seems to catch the perfect get for the moment.

Another pair you may collect in the Angelina Jolie sunglasses wardrobe is the Camila by Tom Ford. The plastic frame with a steel bar on top takes that aviator watch Angelina seems to like and converts it into something else. While it does camouflage her eyes more than the Strummer, the frame screams classy, while not throwing a party out to distract you. In a simple, no-nonsense inspect, the Camila takes a different come at the "spacious perceive" sunglasses to veil without making you see like an extra in a bee movie. The last thing anyone wants is to lose their identity with a pair of sunglasses.

Angelina Jolie loves to mix up her sunglasses, but she keeps the same inspect at the same time. Sometimes though she takes a different come, like when she wears her Josephine 2 sunglasses from Christian Dior. It's a more conservative gawk than the aviator glasses, and the D logo is not intrusive. Angelina's strong cheekbones aren't overshadowed, but the glasses stand out, creating the perfect blend and a classic leer. She can wear sunglasses with style, without losing her possess air of class. Check out our website for more about Angelina Jolie sunglasses preferences as well as those of other famed people.

Adele Rocks Rolling In The Deep For 2012 Grammy Performance

Adele swept the 2012 Grammy Awards, there is no doubt about that. She won Best Pop Song and Best Album along with everything in between, the gentleman who produced “Rolling In The Deep” won Producer of the Year. I mean, Adele won everything and before she received the biggest award of the night from one of the biggest divas in the world, Diana Ross herself, she received a standing ovation from the entire audience at the show. See her performance of “Rolling In The Deep” below which elicited that crowd response thanks to Just Jared. So sorry it’s so bootleg, but no one’s got the sexy clip up yet.The stars from the world of music got together on February 12, 2012 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles to give away the awards for the best of the year that just passed.

British singer Adele, who made her come back with the major event, walked away with six of the awards for which she was nominated, which included Song of the Year, Coveted Album of the Year for her hit ‘Rolling In the Deep’, Best Pop Vocal album and Best Short Form Music Video.
Kanye West took three awards out of the seven categories for which he was nominated, but the rapper skipped the show this year and wasn’t there to receive the award. West won Best Rap album for ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’, while leaving behind Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco and Jay Z. Kanye also claimed Best Rap song and Best Rap Collaboration.
The other major winners for the night included Foo Fighters, who took home five Grammys that included Best Rock Album for ‘Wasting Light’, Best Rock Performance for ‘Walk’, Best Long Form Music Video for ‘Back and Forth’ and Best Hard Rock/Metal performance for ‘White Limo’.
American indie folk singer Bon Iver won the award for Best New Artist and the album claimed the Best Alter native album leaving behind Radiohead, ‘Death Cab for Cutie’, ‘My Morning Jacket’ and ‘Foster the People’.
The Grammys night was also lucky for Skriller, who won three Grammys for Best Dance/Electronica album, Best Dance Recording and Best Remix Recording.
Late singer Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett’s duet ‘Boy and Soul’ won the Best pop Duo/Group Performance.
Bruce Springsteen won Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for ‘The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town’.
Arade Fire, who were last year’s big winners also won Best Recording package for their film ‘Scenes From The Suburb’.

Kristen Stewart Wanted To Play Snow As A Badass

Kristen Stewart, who stars as the warrior Snow White in Snow White & the Huntsman, opening June 1, has said that she wanted to play Snow as a “badass.”

And that’s just what she does. Her version of an empowered and proactive Snow White doesn’t spend a moment cooking, cleaning and keeping house for a bunch of dwarves. Neither does she idiotically keep letting an old woman giver her poisoned hair pins and an apple which she stupidly eats.

No, Kristen Stewart‘s Snow White realizes very quickly that if anyone is going to defeat the evil Queen Ravenna and take back her rightful throne, then it has to be her. She’s not one to wait around for Prince Charming to rescue her either.

Like the other courageous film heroine who stormed the box office this spring – Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games, Kristen Stewart’s Snow White is a leader of men… and other women.

Stewart revealed that she was "destroyed" by the part, which she said was the most physically demanding role of her career.

Co-star Hemsworth admitted he had suffered from Stewart's strength after he was struck with an accidental "big right hook" from the star while filming.

Just as Katniss defended her fellow Hunger Games contestant, Peeta, Snow White even steps up to save the life of the Huntsman.

Kristen Stewart hits the red carpet for the "Snow White and the Huntsman" screening at the Westwood Village Theater where she talks with Access about playing a strong female character and overcoming her fear of horses for the movie.

Emmy Winner Jim Parsons Officially Admitted That He Is A Gay

The Big Bang Theory actor Jim Parsons has skipped the "I'M GAY!" magazine cover approach to coming out: Far down in a New York Times profile on Wednesday was the subtle mention that the two-time Emmy winner has been in a same-sex relationship for a decade.

The blink-and-you'll miss it aside appeared in a story about Parsons' starring stint in the Broadway production of Harvey.

Discussing Parsons' small role in the play The Normal Heart - about gay men dying of AIDS - the story noted: "The Normal Heart resonated with him on a few levels: Mr Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said."

Jim Parsons is known to be a versatile actor and recently he has won quite a few awards for his acting, including the Emmys. Jim Parsons has been in a committed relationship for the past 10 years, and even though in the NYT article, his partner was not revealed, a lot of people believe it is Todd Spiewak. Jim Parsons even thanked Todd Spiewak during a 2010 Emmy Award acceptance speech and the two were rumored to be engaged at one point.

According to the details which have emerged, Parsons, 39, popped the question to Spiewak, 34, and both of them got engaged. The pair were planning a Christmas wedding in Massachusetts, where gay marriages are legal, but Spiewak called off the wedding after an argument took place between the two. Apparently the argument had taken place over children as Spiewak wanted children while Parsons did not. However, according to the latest reports, both of them are still living together and Parsons is reconsidering his decision as he cannot live without his partner.

Parsons, who took home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2010 and 2011, spent last summer on Broadway as well, portraying Tommy Boatwright, a young gay activist in Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart.” He is slated to reprise the role in an upcoming film adaptation of the award winning play.

The Times’ revelation may not be news to some of Parsons’ avid fans, who note that during awards acceptance speeches he regularly thanks his reported partner, Todd Spiewak, with whom he is often photographed.

The 39-year-old said: “I try to master every facet of a character in order to build a safety net for myself, so I can go on to take more risks to create someone really distinct”. For instance, Parsons has a sort of body language obsession. He was the one that gave Sheldon “the angular, ungainly stride”.

During the interview, Parsons talked about his upcoming casting in “Harvey”. The New York Times reporter, Patrick Healy noted about the actor’s new role: “Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said” that Jim Parsons “has lived as a gay man in his private life, but in his professional public life he skirted the issue”.

In “Harvey”, Parsons is going to play Elwood, a character he says it has “warmth and wants nothing more than to connect with other people, whereas my nine-month-a-year job is a character who says things like, ‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop listening to you and talk now”.

Jennifer Lopez Will Leave The American Idol? Rumor Or Truth

If Jennifer Lopez exits Idol, as E! News reported Wednesday she will, then Idol has a chance to be Idol again.
　　
That would be the show that didn't need a velvet rope around the judges' table. With The X Factor landing Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, the pressure will be on Idol to keep up with the divas. But Idol went there with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, and before them, Ellen DeGeneres. The show won in the TV ratings, which is the point, but lost some of its mojo, which is not beside the point.
　　

The household names produced by Idol are legion. But for all the Kelly Clarksons and Carrie Underwoods, the show's biggest creation has been Simon Cowell.
　　
Would the Cowell of 2002, the anonymous music insider, get the call to replace Lopez in 2012?You've read all the reports -- "exclusive! Jennifer Lopez to leave "American Idol" after this season!" -- and maybe even believe them because, after all, she will leave "American Idol" one of these days. So will Randy and so will Steven Tyler. Everybody leaves eventually.
　　
But is she leaving after this year? Here are 12 reasonable reasons why this is all probably bogus. (Hint, it's mostly about Britney.)
　　
J.Lo has deployed underlings to sow the rumors, not facts. I mean come on! "A friend close to J.Lo." Gimme a break! J.Lo's a corporation; it's like saying, "a friend close to General Electric tells me..." For God's sake, she has an army of PR personnel that are sent out to the tab press to tell them whatever she needs to tell them.

 J.Lo - like any well-run corporation - has good advice. She knows how Ryan Seacrest and Matt Lauer and so many others play this game to their great advantage. She's doing the same.
　
J.Lo has had her "friends" tell the tabs that she's just too busy to do "Idol." Just too busy...That's like Goldman Sachs sayings it's "just too busy" to do investment banking, or NBC saying it's "jjust too busy" to air any TV programs...This IS the job, and all the other stuff - the movies and records and tours and who-knows-what - are secondary to this.

J.Lo knows that her resurgent career has resurged in large measure because of this gig.

J.Lo knows the minute she jumps off she'll disappear - just another big star who made another dumb move - and all those things she been "so busy" with will become much less important in the scheme of things. .
　　
J.Lo knows that Britney is her chief rival next season. She'd look like a coward ducking a fight if she left now.
　
J.Lo also knows how much fun it will be to bury "The X Factor" next season, and knows that she'll be the one holding the shovel. Sure they're on the same network, but if she stays, "Idol" will remain far and away the biggest franchise, and she'll be Queen Bee, and the biggest pop star in the world, while Brit will someone trying to prop up flagging "X."
　　
J.Lo knows that there's so much more money to be made -- much, much more. Double what's she's getting now ($15-20M) for a few hours of work, figuratively speaking, a year.
　
J.Lo started having her "friends" spread all this talk about being "too busy" right around the very moment Britney signed on to "X." Coincidence? 'Course not. Timing's brilliant because Fox and Fremantle know that if Brit got what she got (yes, reports say at much as $50 million, believe 'em or not, and Fox, of course, knows the precise figure since it's paying it) they've got to step up to the plate, too. This is a negotiating tactic, period.
　　
Jennifer Lopez looked divine as she strolled the black carpet wearing a gorgeous Maria Lucia Hohan gown at the What to Expect When You're Expecting premiere. E!'s own Catt Sadler and Marc Malkin were on hand to chat up the film's stars, so of course they made sure to spend some time with J.Lo.
　　
The American Idol mama dished on her beau Casper Smart, her ex Marc Anthony and even had some advice for the new hosts of that other singing competition
　　
One thing Lopez has appeared to find balance with is her relationship with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, with whom she cohosts the Spanish reality competition show, Q'Viva.
　　
"Marc and I are gonna be performing together in Las Vegas with our whole Q'Viva crew," Lopez said. "Marc and I were friends for 10 years before we got married. We got married, we had two beautiful children, and we're still friends. Things disappointingly don't work out the way that you dream them in your mind sometimes. That's life. But, that doesn't mean that the caring goes away or the friendship or the things that brought you together disappear. They haven't for us, so we just want to be great parents and great friends and just try to do things well for them."