Annette Bening

Real Women Take Center Stage

Vivian Diller, Ph.D. | Posted 04.25.2012

Read More: Merly Streep, Plastic Surgery, Aging, Aging Women, Real Housewives, Botox, Midlife, Adele, Annette Bening, Cosmetic Surgery, Glenn Close, The Oscars, Academy Awards, Vogue Cover, Janet McTeer, Viola Davis, Oscars, Women News

Could it be that Madison Ave and Hollywood are finally getting it right -- that audiences are eager to celebrate real-looking women, rather than plastic, youth-defying ones?

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PHOTOS: Leading Ladies Return To Their SF Roots

Robin Wilkey | Posted 02.01.2012

Read More: ACT San Francisco, Elizabeth Banks Annette Bening, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco Around Town, Annette Bening ACT, American Conservatory Theater San Francisco, Act, Elizabeth Banks, ACT Awards, Elizabeth Banks ACT, Annette Bening, American Conservatory Theatre, Elizabeth Banks San Francisco, Slidefreestyle, Annette Bening San Francisco, ACT Sf, San Francisco News

On Tuesday, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater honored alumni Oscar-nominated Annette Bening and Emmy-nominated Elizabeth Banks at its inau...

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The Double-Standard for Movie Actresses

Marshall Fine | Posted 01.03.2012

Read More: Glenn Close, Family Leave Act, Bridesmaids, Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Gosling, Jessica Chastain, Diane Keaton, Michelle Williams, Helen Mirren, Kristen Wiig, Elizabeth Olsen, Something's Gotta Give, Edie Falco, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Deneuve, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Marshall Fine Commentary, Cameron Diaz, Avatar, Natalie Portman, Damages, The Sopranos, Women in Film, Anne Hathaway, Anna Faris, Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Lawrence, Marshall Fine, What's Your Number?, It's Complicated, Meryl Streep, Annette Bening, Julia Roberts, Nurse Jackie, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Lauren Ambrose, Drew Barrymore, Julianne Moore, Carey Mulligan, Entertainment News

In September, I wrote about the transition of the generations between actors and how we're at a moment where we can see it happening.

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Annette Bening: Kristen Wiig's Mom!

Posted 09.20.2011

Read More: Kristen Wiig, Imogen, Kristen Wiig Annette Bening Imogen, Bridesmaids, Annette Bening Imogen, Annette Bening, The KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Kristen Wiig Imogen, Entertainment News

When Kristen Wiig goes looking for lady co-stars, well, Hollywood now knows to listen. Wiig, she of wild "Bridesmaids" success this spring, is now ...

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PHOTOS: Who Is The Greatest American Film Actress Ever?

Posted 09.03.2011

Read More: Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, Actresses, Greatest Actresses, Rita Hayworth, Meryl Streep, Annette Bening, Diane Keaton, Katharine Hepburn, Geena Davis, Bette Davis, Greatest American Actresses, Movies, Hollywood, Entertainment News

Like most other fields, professions, hobbies and, well, really, anything else, to truly succeed, on a lasting level, as a woman in show business has r...

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8 Celebs Who Bounced Back Better Post Split

Huffington Post | Ashley Reich | Posted 07.03.2011

Read More: Harrison Ford, Celebrity Second Acts, Martha Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Nora Ephron, Annette Bening, Denise Richards, Denise Richards Divorce, Jennifer Lopez Divorce, Celebrity Divorce Reinvention, Celebrity Divorce Second Acts, Kathryn Joosten, Jack Nicholson, Celebrity Reinvention, Celebrity Divorce, Divorce News

Can divorce be a catalyst for greatness? Not many celebrities have second acts, and one box-office flop or tabloid taboo can relegate even the hott...

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Warren Beatty's Birthday Gift: Dick Tracy is Yours

Lonna Saunders | Posted 05.30.2011

Read More: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Reds, Dick Tracy, Robert Blake, OJ Simpson, Chicago Cubs, Natalie Wood, The Wall Street Journal, California News, Donald Trump, Tcm, Turner Classic Movies, The View, Chicago News, Splendor in the Grass, Chicago News

Happy Birthday, Warren Beatty! You get to keep the rights to Dick Tracy. The Tribune Company lost a few days ago, so it was an early birthday gift.

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The Oscars: Life After Death

Gwen Davis | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Oscars, Entertainment, Oscars 2011, Nostalgia, Bob Hope, Annette Bening, James Franco, Anne Hathaway, Entertainment News

The 83rd Oscars, revitalized as it was supposed to be, was arguably as boring an awards show as has hit, or, rather, leaned against, the airwaves.

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Anatomy of Oscar: Nothing Gels, and No Surprises

John Farr | Posted 05.25.2011

The show tried too hard to be topical, cute and tongue-in-cheek, and though it offered scattered moments of freshness at the start, it soon curdled.

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Live-blogging the 2011 Oscar telecast

Marshall Fine | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Kathryn Bigelow, Rick Baker, Prince, Eminem, Scarlett Johansson, Lord of the Rings, Country Strong, Hugh Jackman, Zachary Levi, Marilyn Monroe, Jeff Bridges, Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Steven Spielberg, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mandy Moore, David Fincher, Eli Wallach, Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, Arthur, David Seidler, As Time Goes By, Florence and the Machine, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hope, Smile, In a Better World, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar, Black Swan, Tim Burton, Lena Horne, Tangled, Francis Ford Coppola, Banksy, Russell Brand, Clint Eastwood, Marshall Fine, Toy Story 3, Celine Dion, Robert Downey Jr., Warren Beatty, Marky Mark, Hilary Swank, Inside Job, Javier Bardem, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, Auto-Tune, Cat Stevens, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, Colin Firth, Biutiful, James Franco, Jack Nicholson, Charlie Sheen, Billy Crystal, Josh Brolin, Australia, A.r. Rahman, Kirk Douglas, Susanne Bier, President Obama, Trent Reznor, Dicky Eklund, Citizen Kane, Alec Baldwin, Marisa Tomei, Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, Jean-Luc Godard, Guthrie Theater, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Incendies, Christian Bale, Elton John, Phil Collins, Harry Potter, Marshall Fine Commentary, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Dancing With the Stars, Geoffrey Rush, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Charles Ferguson, Sandra Bullock, Twilight, Stella Artois, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hanks, Alice in Wonderland, Jude Law, Paddy Chayefsky, Inception, Meryl Streep, Annette Bening, Aaron Sorkin, Randy Newman, Melissa Leo, Grapes of Wrath, Adrien Brody, Tom Hooper, Raging Bull, Pixar, Kevin Brownlow, Bruce Springsteen, Entertainment News

8:39PM EST Off to a good start with the hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, inserted into scenes from several of the Oscar nominees, on an Incept...

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Indie Spirit Awards 2011: Chilly Day at the Beach

Jon Chattman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Vera Bradley, Darren Aronofsky, James Franco, 127 Hours, The Last Exorcism, Lg, Vanessa Hudgins, Annette Bening, The KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Indie, Awards, Winter's Bone, Natalie Portman, Rabbit Hole, Dark Knight Rises, Diego Luna, The Dark Knight, Spirit, Independent Spirit Awards, Anthony Mackie, Oscars, Colin Firth, Danny Boyle, Gift Lounge, Black Swan, Cyrus, 3d, Entertainment News

Prior to the show (on that cold red carpet) and during, I caught up with some of the nominees and attendees and chatted about the awards and their respective projects.

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Ed Koch Predicts the Oscar Winners

Ed Koch | Posted 05.25.2011

If justice is served in Hollywood tonight, the people and films I predict in this video are the ones who will take home Oscars.

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Here Cum the Oscars

Andrea Savage | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Natalie Portman, The Kids Are All Right Oscar, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Tropic Thunder, The Academy Awards, Ben Stiller, Films, Annette Bening, Blue Valentine, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Williams, Black Swan, Sean Penn, Oscars 2011, Comedy News

Let's examine the facts. Three of the five nominees for Best Actress received oral sex in their films and all received ample publicity for these racy scenes.

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The Kids Are Alright... but Is the Movie?

Nancy Graham Holm | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Oscars 2011, Sperm Donors, The Academy Awards, The KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Lesbian, Annette Bening, Entertainment News

Superficially speaking, The Kids are All Right is a good film. But is it really alright that a man who'd been invited into a family's life is viciously banished?

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The Kids May Be All Right, But What About The Parents?

George Heymont | Posted 05.25.2011

There is a distinct subset of films about same-sex couples who, unlike in The Kids Are All Right, are forced to take over the care of a child due to unexpected circumstances.

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Will Oscar Voter Annette Bening Vote For Herself?

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Annette Bening Oscars, Best Actress Oscar, The KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Annette Bening the Kids Are All Right, Academy Awards, Oscars 2011, Annette Bening, Video, Entertainment News

She's up for Best Actress, but Annette Bening is pulling no punches about her Oscar vote. As a four time Academy Award nominee, Bening is a member ...

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Julianne Moore Talks Marriage, Therapy

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Julianne Moore Bart Freundlich Married, Julianne Moore the Kids Are All Right, Julianne Moore Married, The KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Julianne Moore, Julianne Moore Bart Freundlich, Annette Bening, Entertainment News

Julianne Moore learns about the value of family in the lesbian marriage dramedy 'The Kids Are All Right,' this year's indie smash hit, and says her re...

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Awards Season & Second Looks: What Ever Happened to Mother & Child? Winter's Bone Miracles & The African Queen Restored

Penelope Andrew | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 1951, Katharine Hepburn, Film Forum, The African Queen, MOTHER and CHILD, Jennifer Lawrence, Awards Season, Winter's Bone, Annette Bening, Berlin International Film Festival, Film Awards, Gotham Awards, Vivien Leigh, Debra Granik, Humphrey Bogart, Wfcc, Entertainment News

While there were no surprises regarding SAG wins for best male lead actor, Colin Firth, and supporting actor, Christian Bale, it was refreshing to see Melissa Leo snag the best supporting actress award.

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Comparing the Golden Globes from 1981's Raging Bull to Today

Carole Mallory | Posted 05.25.2011

"In 1981, I went to the Golden Globes with United Artists executive Steven Bach who green lighted "Raging Bull". This film went on to win Best Actor ...

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Who Deserves The Oscar?

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, Best Actress 2011, The Oscars, Film, Movies, Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress, Awards Season, Nicole Kidman, Oscar Nominations 2011, Annette Bening, Best Actress Oscar, Slidepollajax, Academy Awards 2011, Oscars 2011, Oscar Best Actress 2011, Entertainment News

Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday, and there were no big surprises in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category, where the strong performance...

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Oscar Picks and Predictions: A Year of Few Surprises

John Farr | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Jesse Eisenberg, Natalie Portman, The Kings Speech, The Academy Awards, Colin Firth the King's Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Incpetion, True Grit, Black Swan, Best Movies by Farr, The Oscars, Christian Bale, Toy Story 3, Jeff Bridges, Annette Bening, Aaron Sorkin, The Fighter, Melissa Leo, Leonardo Dicaprio, Colin Firth, James Franco, Geoffrey Rush, Oscar Nominations, Oscar Predictions, Oscar Picks, Oscars, Entertainment News

This field of 10 illustrates how movies that would once have been judged just solid are now praised to the skies. To my mind, the Best Picture nominees that meet the historical standard number five.

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Aging Gracefully In Hollywood

Vivian Diller, Ph.D. | Posted 11.17.2011

My eye caught something about the 2011 Globes that goes slightly underneath the surface and that I haven't seen discussed, written or blogged about, as of yet.

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New York Film Critics Circle Contretemps

Regina Weinreich | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: David Michod, Jacki Weaver, Stuart Blumberg, David O. Russell, Charles Ferguson, Ed Norton, Jeff Hill, Darren Aronofsky, Lisa Cholodenko, Mark Ruffalo, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Armond White, James Toback, New York Film Critics Circle, Matthew Libatique, Michelle Willliams, Colin Firth, Entertainment News

You expect an awards event to be a love fest with awardees waxing benighted and grateful. When Darren Aronofsky got up to speak about Black Swan's cinematographer, things got ugly.

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Film Critic Makes Annette Bening Cry

popeater.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Michelle Williams, Annette Bening, New York Film Critics Circle Awards, Armond White, New York Press, Entertainment News

New York Press film critic Armond White isn't exactly beloved in Hollywood -- in fact, he's quite the opposite -- and things came to a head last night...

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10 Things I Liked About 2010

Albert Imperato | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Mad Men, Gustav Mahler, Annette Bening, Netflix, Stephen Sondheim, The Social Network Movie, John Stewart, Aloe Blacc, Barack Obama, Jonathan Franzen Freedom, Modern Family, Ipad, Best of 2010, Top 10 List, Arts News

Ever the optimist, I decided that my last post of the year should be a tribute to the things, from Mahler to Freedom, that made the past year endurable, if not, at times, outright beautiful.

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