Then and Now: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

I barely recognized Kate when I first saw this picture!

   I've decided to start a monthly "Then and Now" article that will basically compare two celebrities who've starred in two plus movies and how they looked in their first film together and then their most recent one. (Wow, that was a mouthful.) So, for August I chose Leo and Kate 'cause they're my favorite actors in the whole wide world of the U.S. and Britain (I really wish I could watch more foreign films). But honestly, I love French actress Audrey Tautou in Hors de Prix! In short, I'm a female of varietal taste. 

   Anyway, back to who we're going to focus on: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Some background information first -- Leo was born in 1974 and Kate was born in 1975. Obviously, he's American, she's British, et cetera. On to the facts.

Mhmm. Yum.

Girls, make sure you don't date a
psychopath unless you want to be one.

   In 1996, both Leo and Kate starred in a Shakespearean drama. He was the dashing Romeo Montague and she was the maniacal Ophelia, boyfriend to Kenneth Branagh -- ahem, I mean Hamlet. Seems like destiny, right? I would say so, because they would be launched into stardom as they started filming their next movie, Titanic. Fast forward a year, and on December 19, 1997, Kate and Leo's first ever movie together premiered  in the United States of America. (Condolences to Kate, who couldn't make the premiere due to the death of a dear friend.) Little did they know after all the crazy rumors of Titanic being a flop that they would go on to make movie history.

   After that, they remained good friends. Gossipers like me would say they had a fling but, being the smart people (I think) they were, they kept it a very well-kept secret. And to this day, they are still "platonic friends." They won't see much of each other until after Kate's first marriage fails and she strikes up a new one with director Sam Mendes -- and the stars are reunited once again.

    Let's give a warm welcome to the rated-R marriage disaster film of awesomeness only because Leo and Kate are in it. (Honestly, I've never seen this movie, but apparently it's good. Like, The Reader good.) It's called...hold the silence...Revolutionary Road! And yes, it came out in 2008, ten whole years of dealing with the bumpy road of Leo aging and Kate looking even better!

    Now, let's compare. If you would please take a look at the picture above. As you can see, it's pretty obvious to tell which one is older and which one is younger. Leo has that rounder face and older appearance while rocking out some facial hair. Kate's heart-shaped face has turned around for the better, and her looks have skyrocketed. (In fact, some critics say she's aged a million times better than Leo.) But I'm not here to judge. I love them both!

Frank and April. How could this marriage fail?!

   You don't need me to tell you that the Kate and Leo we love and remember as star-crossed Jack and Rose in Titanic have changed. It's there in the pictures. After doing Revolutionary Road together, Leo gave Kate a ring; but what about the engraving? She keeps that a secret -- for there are many questions about the adorable couple that we will never have answers to. Unless one of them states it in their will, that is. I'll be elderly by then, and my kids will be saying "Ew, you liked that guy?! He's so old!"

Adorable! I fell in love
with this pic when I first saw it.

    Last, but not least, Leo's character (SPOILER ALERTS UP AHEAD!) died in Titanic. I say it's only fair that Kate die in Revolutionary Road. (Which, unsurprisingly, did happen!) But I don't think it serves justice that Jack perished from hypothermia and April died from an abortion gone wrong. I mean, that's grisly, right? Right?? (Though the drama and guilt are fantastic!)

   Leo and Kate. You gotta love them! Do you have a certain celebrity couple you want deciphered? Like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonhman Carter, perhaps? That will be coming up soon! 

Watch the Trailers!

Before There Was "The Notebook"...

Copyright: I saved these pictures on my computer using Google Search, so sadly, I don't have the links with me. But I'll be honest and proclaim I do not own these images!

Entertainment Spotlight Now Brings You the Featured Presentation!

The Notebook, 2004. But Titanic...1997!

   It started in 2004. One of the greatest love stories of all times hit the big screen and starred the coveted Ryan Gosling and darling Rachel McAdams. Yet, when I think about it, it reminds me of a movie I love just as much, maybe even more...

   That's right, kids. Before there was The Notebook, there was Titanic. And what was before Titanic? Romeo and Juliet. But we're not here for that! Read on to learn the similarities between two very famous love stories.

   Just where did I get the idea for this article? Well, the whole forbidden love due to social differences -- and they look the same, too! -- got me thinking... Can Noah and Allie's romance really resemble that of Jack and Rose's? Here are some pictures to summarize that comparison up.

1.) Rich Girl, Poor Boy

It's true: I'm a sucker for these movies. But think about it: Allie is rich, Noah is poor. Rose comes from a rich family, Jack is poor also! Just what is going on here?! Can they be...the same?? And, oh my, they're all so gorgeous! (Thank goodness for stage makeup! But where, oh where, is the symbolic I-love-you-even-if-you're-ugly-and-even-though-I'm-pretty message? Legally Blonde exactly.)

2.) Dinner With the Family

Huh. It looks like Noah was invited to dinner...by Allie's family. And hey, it looks like Jack was invited, too. Coincidence? I don't think so.

3.) Dancing Till We Drop

Do these poses look similar to you, or is it just me? Allie's in Noah's arms as they dance, Rose is in Jack's arms after she falls from her painful ballet pose... Aw, so romantic!

4.) I Now Present...the Fiance!

Cal and Lon look similar, don't they? Hmm, and they have interesting names, too. And look, they're engaged to the rich gals! But poor little Allie and Rose ditch them for their much better-looking counterparts. Sorry, guys. Seems like you've got some work ahead of you.

5.) It's a Bird!

This is probably my favorite scene from The Notebook. Not necessarily for Titanic, but I can't help but notice how familiar Allie's pose is when I really look at it...

Movie Review: "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961)

 Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, the craziest heroine who ever crept between the pages of a best-selling novel! 

Not Rated.

   After watching Audrey Hepburn's famous film Breakfast at Tiffany's, I turned to my mom and said, "So she likes Tiffany's. But what does it mean by she has breakfast there?" Well, there's only one scene where the title lives up to its name: And that's at the beginning. 

   Breakfast at Tiffany's, starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard (who has some of the bluest eyes I've ever seen!), is about a New York socialite, Holly Golightly, who falls in love with her new neighbor, penniless writer Paul Varjak. However, Paul's getting his money from a middle-aged cougar, who goes by the name 2-E, which I don't get at all. Holly has trouble saving money, and until then, she won't even give her cat a name. In fact, she's a gold digger -- and she wants to marry that Brazilian millionaire, Jose. But she also holds a secret about her past...

Holly spends her nights partying
 and her days sleeping.

    A comedic story of friendship and blossoming love, this movie is considered a classic. It won two Oscars (Best Original Song, "Moon River"; Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) and made Audrey Hepburn famous. It also won a lot  at the Grammy Awards for its song, "Moon River." Oh, and did I mention it has one of the best kissing scenes I've ever seen. Totally Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams styles. In the rain, you know?

Looks familiar?

   I think I was more worried about the cat getting thrown out in the rain at the end than Holly and Paul (who she calls Fred throughout the movie because he reminds her of her brother, Fred) getting in that huge, this-movie-is-almost-over fight. It was adorable, and I was going to name it Fluffy...

   Anyway, it's a must-see film if you're into movies and such entertainment. By the way, I saw Legally Blonde -- The Musical this weekend, and let me just say it was hilarious! I especially loved the opening song, "Omigod You Guys," because of some certain lyrics... ("They're just like that couple from Titanic, only no one dies!")

My Recommendation: *** 3/5 Stars for Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard. IMDb rating: 7.8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698/

Watch the Trailer!