S2S Goes to the Movies: 'Frankie & Alice'

Fri, 02/11/2011 - 21:15 — Sonya E

Halle Berry is riveting in her latest performance playing two different people in Frankie & Alice.


Halle Berry is riveting in her latest performance playing two different people in Frankie & Alice.

Frankie & Alice, based on a true story of 1970s stripper Frankie Murdoch, who suffered from multiple personality disorder, is a movie that will have your eyes glued to the screen--mainly because of its talented star Halle Berry.

The film is about a young woman raised in 1950s Georgia whose personal and social letdowns contributed to her personality disorder and instability. Frankie's mental and nervous breakdowns, complete with unmanageable alter egos, at first, land her in jail and then later in a psychiatric institute. From there, the jazz-loving psychiatrist Dr. Oz (Stellan Skarsgrd) takes on Frankie's case and investigates the history behind her mental problems.

Phylicia Rashad also delivers a great supporting performance as Frankie's mother, Edna.

The role of Frankie is a tour de force, and it would be a dream for any real actress to play someone who is this complex. The story itself, however, is one that we've seen far too many times--especially from Halle.

The direction is a little all-over-the-place and the film credits eight writers for penning a screenplay for a movie that isn't even two hours long. Also, none of the major studios are distributing the movie, which is very rare for a film featuring a star of Halle's caliber. Instead, little-known indie label Freestyle Releasing is distributing the film.

Halle undoubtedly commands the screen in this role and you are reminded of the fact that she is a star capable of carrying any picture. It sure would be nice to see her in a romantic comedy again--something she hasn't done since the '90s. Instead she consistently takes on roles like the ones in Gothika, Things We Lost in the Fire, Monster's Ball, and Perfect Stranger, where she plays women so damaged and emotionally unstable that it can be sometimes painful to watch. They're roles that loudly scream, "I'm trying to win another Oscar!"

We miss that infectious smile and slow motion walk that first grabbed our attention in earlier films like Boomerang, which made Halle a gigantic star and role model. These days it seems like we only get to see that side of her in Revlon commercials.

Grade: C

Halle Berry Plays White Racist Southerner Frankie and Alice

CBS | 04 February 2011 | 10 likes, 2 dislikes

CBSNews.com's Ken Lombardi speaks with Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry about her return to the silver screen with "Frankie and Alice," a film in which she stars as a person suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder.

 

Halle Berry is Moving on to 'The Student' with Paul Verhoeven Next?

Thanks to sansanityus@yahoo.com for the heads up

Halle Berry is Moving on to 'The Student' with Paul Verhoeven Next?

February 8, 2011
Source: Badass Digest
by Alex Billington

I've been secretly hoping that we would one day see Paul Verhoeven return to his 80's roots and lash out with a violent action-sci-fi movie again, but that seems less and less likely every day. Last year we reported that Verhoeven was working on a "baby mama thriller" called Surrogate that Halle Berry was attached to. Well, Badass Digest says that apparently Surrogate is now dead, or back on the shelf, and Berry/Verhoeven are instead teaming up for a film titled The Student. Staying in his wheelhouse, The Student is a "sexual thriller about a 19 year old kid who takes up a summer internship... and then takes up with his boss' wife."
They don't add much else, except that the script was written by newcomer Wendy Diane Miller. Relativity is developing The Student, but no word on if it's slated to start shooting soon or if Verhoeven will lose interest before the end of the summer and wander on to some other project. Berry has been offered this lead role of the wife, which I'm sure she'll accept. Honestly, Verhoeven hasn't done much since Black Book in 2006 and seems to be dabbling in some weird "sexual" projects, so if one takes flight, good, but I'm still not expecting much out of him. We'll continue to keep you updated, as long as you think this might turn out okay. Berry appears in Frankie & Alice this year and is also lined up to star in the Wachowskis' Cloud Atlas adaptation.

Memories Halle Berry promotes "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" - Part One

Halle Berry Profile - Part One

Thanks to Robin for the heads up !

GregWn | 08 February 2011

First Look at Halle Berry as 'Simpsons' Character

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February 09, 2011 06:47:54 GMT

Berry is one of the presenters at the Academy Awards show where Bart's new movie 'Angry Dad' is nominated.

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"The Simpsons" re-creates Halle Berry's 2002 Oscar red carpet moment, simpsonizing her in the same stunning dress that makes her memorable. The FOX animation is going to do an Oscar-theme episode on February 20, just one week before the actual Academy Awards ceremony takes place.

In episode "Angry Dad: The Movie", Bart's cartoon about an angry dad is turned into "Angry Dad: The Movie" and quickly becomes a critics' favorite. When Russell Brand (guest-voicing as himself) presents the Golden Globe to Bart's film, Homer usurps the podium and gives his own acceptance speech. The film's winning streak continues with Homer taking credit at each ceremony, so when "Angry Dad" receives an Oscar nomination, Bart keeps it a secret.

With the help of DJ Kwanzaa (guest voice Smoove), Homer and Marge arrive at the ceremony just as Halle Berry (guest-voicing as herself) presents the award. Bart's fellow nominee, Nick Park (guest-voicing as himself), helps him realize that creating a film is a team effort, and Bart gives credit where credit is due.

Al Jean tells TV Guide Magazine, "Halle starts talking about herself as she's presenting. She ad-libbed something she actually dreams about at night that we left in." As for re-creating her Elie Saab gown, Jean said, "We always ask the subject to give us a photo they'd like us to work off, and then we give the character an overbite. It's hard to make Halle Berry look bad."

Halle #5 in '50 Most Beautiful In Film'

Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway Make '50 Most Beautiful In Film'

Beyoncé, Halle Berry and newbie 'American Idol' judge Jennifer Lopez also among L.A. Times Magazine picks.

By Terri Schwartz


What do Natalie Portman, Blake Lively and Beyoncé Knowles have in common with iconic Hollywood royalty like Marilyn Monroe, Vivien Leigh and Faye Dunaway? Well, they're all talented, accomplished and, of course, stunningly beautiful.

With the Oscars just around the corner, the Los Angeles Times Magazine compiled a list of the 50 Most Beautiful Women in Film, celebrating how these stars "set the standard for grace, glamour and allure." The magazine admits to being "totally biased" in their selections, and it made for some surprising results.

Landing in the top five are Academy Award winners Kim Basinger (#3) and Halle Berry (#5). The Times noted Basinger's sexy turn as a prostitute employed as an actress look-alike in "L.A. Confidential" as an example of her best and sexiest work, while Berry easily captured her spot thanks to her Oscar win for "Monster's Ball" and her turn as a Bond girl in "Die Another Day."

While love from the Academy wasn't a requirement, many of the beauties on the list have some Oscar credentials. A 2011 Best Actress nominee for her turn in "Black Swan," Natalie Portman took the #39 slot, while "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively (the youngest woman on the list) was honored with a spot at #30 thanks to her roles in "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and the upcoming "Green Lantern." "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez follows behind Lively at #31.

Jennifer Connelly landed at #9, with her Oscar win for "A Beautiful Mind" and her glamorous turn in 1996's "Mulholland Falls" as evidence of her talent. "Pirates of the Caribbean" star and fellow Oscar-winner Penelope Cruz followed her at #11.

This year's Oscars co-host, Anne Hathaway, earned the #19 ranking, making the 28-year-old actress the youngest on the list in the top 20. Rounding out the top 20 is Salma Hayek, whose "Wild Wild West" was cited as her sexiest work.

Angelina Jolie placed surprisingly low at #23, with classic Hollywood actress Grace Kelly placing right behind her at #24. Beyoncé made something of a surprise appearance on the list at #25, largely thanks to her work in 2006's "Dreamgirls"; the singer/actress was recently cast in Clint Eastwood's "A Star Is Born" remake.

Hollywood A-listers also making the list include "Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto (#38), Julia Roberts (#40), Charlize Theron (#45), Rachel Weisz (#48) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (#50).

Halle Berry on Letterman in leather pants promoting "Executive Decision" & "Race the Sun"

Thanks to Robirob for the heads up !

GregWn | 06 February 2011

From 1996

Halle on the Cover of Ebony Magazine February 2011

Thanks to Robirob for the heads up !

Halle Berry feels her daughter is black

Halle Berry feels her daughter is black Published: Tuesday, Feb 8, 2011, 12:35 IST Place: London | Agency: ANI

Halle Berry with daughter Nahla Halle Berry feels that her two-year-old daughter Nahla, who is at the centre of a bitter custody battle, is black. Her comment emerged a week after the fight between Berry and her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry over their daughter turned ugly. "I feel like she's black. I'm black and I'm her mother and I believe in the one-drop theory," the Daily Mail quoted her as telling Ebony magazine. When asked to define her daughter's race, Berry - who has both white and African-American heritage, said, "What I think is that that's something she's going to have to decide. "I'm not going to put a label on it. I had to decide for myself and that's what she's going to have to decide - how she identifies herself in the world. "And I think, largely, that will be based on how the world identifies her. That's how I identified myself. "But I feel like she's black," she added.

Halle on cover of Alma Magazine

Showing off her sexiness, Halle Berry is on the cover of the February 2011 issue of ALMA magazine.Looks like they have used old photos from other publications to me

Halle Berry video link to New Revlon Ad on Photoready Makeup + Colourstay Aqua Ad

http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Beyond-The-Look-Menu/Brand-Ambassadors.aspx#/halle-berry/video0