Is Kristen Stewart the Next Sissy Spacek? Or Is It Kirsten Dunst?

While working on posts for past Best Actress races, I was struck by the poster of Heart Beat starring Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte, and John Heard.  John Byrum wrote and directed the 1980 film based on the autobiography by Carolyn Cassady (or, for the purposes of On The Road, "Camille").  If one were to insert the 2012 counterparts into the lower equation of the image, the actors would be (from left to right): Sam Riley, Kirsten Dunst, and Garrett Hedlund.  Looks like this poster wants you to think that Camille made out as well as Marylou in the sex department.  Frisky, warm, and polyamorous aren't normally qualities of characters Dunst plays, though it might help soften her image as cold and prickly.  Regardless, she continues to amass an array of solid performances.  Have you seen her in All Good Things yet?  The movie is a mess, but knowing that its wacky plot contrivances actually happened helps sweeten the pot.  This poster also begs the question: is Hedlund as limber as Nolte in his prime?  Look at the configuration of his legs!  Initially, though, the picture reminded me of the oft used press shot of Kristen Stewart's Marylou (Luanne Henderson in real life, who, it should come as no surprise, isn't listed as one of characters for Heart Beat).  I haven't seen Heart Beat, but I found On the Road to be mostly not my thing.  Was it yours?

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KStew as Prophet

Not to rehash old news, but while surfing the net, I find an old recent nugget that takes on an interesting shape in retrospect.  Back in May (though it's dated late June), before Escándalo broke, Kristen Stewart was interviewed/fashion photo op'd by Elle magazine.  She is quoted as saying, 

"You can learn so much from bad things. I feel boring. I feel like, Why is everything so easy for me? I can’t wait for something crazy to fucking happen to me. Just life. I want someone to fuck me over! Do you know what I mean?"  

Do you think Liberty Ross read that article, chuckled to herself, and thought, "Oh, just wait, honey, you're going to get exactly what you're asking for"? 

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Kristen Stewart, Not So Pure as the Driven Snow

It has been widely reported that the planned sequel to Snow White and the Hunstman has been shelved, and Universal will now develop a film based on "the Huntsman" (Chris Hemsworth), that would not include Kristen Stewart's Snow White.  Universal has denied this.  First of all, that the original movie didn't even earn back its budget domestically makes this whole production of Snow White, the Huntsman, or both, an unsound business decision. It's yet another reason why I don't understand Hollywood and never will. So while I can't comprehend its existence to begin with, with Stewart, who recently had an affair with the married director of the movie, having perhaps become "a liability" to the film's box-office potential: I get it. I don't like it if it becomes true, but it makes perfect sense. However, it draws attention to the source of the bad publicity she has received. Apparently, millions of people have eviscerated the single 22-year old actress (who was in a long-term relationship) for having an affair with a married man, while letting the betrothed guy walk. This too I get to a degree. Stewart: actress, in front of camera. Sanders: director, behind the camera, who, frankly, has no other feature-length credits to his career, and few people know about. (Yet, crazily enough, many people now know the name of his fresh-faced actress wife)  It's not like he shot up a room full of people, so no one is getting on him. So why Stewart? Well, she broke the heart of the beloved movie star who millions of teenage girls (and adults) adore. As well, she wasn't much liked to begin with--tolerated even--because he was in love with her and there was nothing they could do about it. I get it: teenage girls (and boys) can be misdirected in their thinking, as youth often dictates. They are so full of life and energy; not being fully-formed human beings can lead to a lot of bad choices and ill-picked words, with no guidance. But, while it is hard to decipher what demographic is up-in-arms in what proportion on this matter, it's pretty safe to say that the level of outrage suggests that it isn't just junior and high-schoolers adding weight to the anti-Stewart side.

When Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Angelina Jolie, he definitely let down soccer moms everywhere (or the Minivan Majority as Lainey says). However, there wasn't anywhere near the desire for him to be burned at the stake. In fact, in the six years since he validated the truth about the affair, he has starred in *FIVE* best picture nominees. He didn't even star in ONE pre-Mrs. & Mrs. Smith (though Oscar Revisionism would change all that). He was finally approaching the sweet spot of his career and nothing was going to get in his way, not even an act of infidelity. When the single Russell Crowe engaged in sexual shenanigans with married Meg Ryan (hat-tip to Lainey for the reminder), he was at the beginning of his three consecutive Oscar nominations (the middle of which he won). But, for Ryan, it was all down hill from there. She had a brief spike with the lackluster, but notable box-office showing Kate & Leopold (starring Hugh Jackman, in one of his earlier lead roles), but her career proper was done. Now, that could have been because of a number of reasons. Proof of Life was a flop, she was approaching Hollywood's "Kiss of Death" (for women) age of 40, and it's quite possible that she wanted to take her career in a different direction. However, at the very least, it appears she didn't have a choice.

If Stewart gets no award recognition for On the Road and Lie Down in Darkness gets made without her, then, something indeed is rotten (sad, and pathetic) in the state of Denmark.  But, for the time being, it's all very sound and fury.  Whatever the case, I noted a change in her demeanor a few months back.  She exuded a relaxed and mature confidence that she appeared to be enjoying (some have speculated she had a breast augmentation).  And she strikes me as one of those actresses with enough raw talent (albeit minimal) that, with the right choices, could blossom into something much more developed.  She's also so young, that her age bestows her with a built-in resilience.  At the very least, this whole scandal has made her usually self-absorbed, entitled, boring presence just a tad more interesting.  How Stewart will fare in all this remains to be seen.  If anything, I'm on Team-Kristen-Distance-Yourself-From-Twilight-As-Soon-As-You-Can.  Looks like she has already gotten a head-start.  

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