Vanity Fair March 2011 : The Hollywood Issue by Norman Jean Roy

[Breathless]

The only two that don't make sense are Anthony Mackie (but I loved him The Hurt Locker so he's alright in my book) ...

I beg to differ. Anthony is a superb actor who will be starring in about 5-7 films this year alone. He was the lead actor in Night Catches Us along side Kerry Washington last year and was brilliant in it. He deserves his spot on that cover just as much as the rest.

 

[Label Basher]

More pics inside that I saw on E News include -

Ben Affleck - looking so hot.
Annette Benning - flawless
Nicole Kidman - stunning
Halle Berry - same old with the legs
Elle Fanning & Hailee Steinfeld - cutie-pies.

 

[bluedolphin]

ryan renolds looks really hot, he's A list NOW

 

[mint condish]

Vanity Fair is in controversy for whitewashing their Hollywood issue every single year, so yes, they are to blame, IMO, they are always to blame.

Vanity Fair does this every year -- have they ever put a person of colour on the ACTUAL cover -- I'm not talking about the foldout. 99.9999999% if not 100% of the actors on their Hollywood issue cover are white. It's not a coincidence. It's not just "Talent". It's not just "Whatever's hot that year". Please. Give me a break.
Vanity Fair hides the people of colour in the foldout, and in the issue itself. Hailee and Halle are inside the magazine? Yes. Because VF is scared to death of putting people of colour on the *Front*.

Their cover reads like a freaking advertisement for the movie Love & Other Drugs! Does Jake Gyllenhaal really need more publicity? Dating Taylor Whoever was not publicity enough?

"Who should be on their issue then"? Zoe Saldana last year was the perfect answer. Avatar was by far the biggest movie.

Why can't a pregnant person be sexy? Is everyone so disgusted by Natalie Portman's pregnancy? I can understand if she was sick and CHOSE to drop out but I am annoyed with everyone's remarks that a pregnant person can't be included in the "sexy" issue. This is the sexy issue? Do you find Robert Duvall sexy?

* YOUNG HOLLYWOOD/PEOPLE OF COLOUR *

Mindy Kaling
Hailee Steinfeld
Aziz Ansari
Donald Glover (not Danny Glover)
Halle Berry
Jay Chou from The Green Hornet
Ludacris (just did a great job in No Strings Attached)
anyone in "For Coloured Girls"
anyone in any Tyler Perry movie ever (is Tron or Country Strong really that important? Country Strong!? Did anyone even see this film!?)
That guy who plays Abed on Community
Anyone on SNL i.e. Jay Pharoah or Fred Armisen or Andy Samberg, the sexiest man in the world
I come up with more every second.

Write me an essay on why:

Olivia Wilde
Rashida Jones (she's on the same exact show as Aziz Ansari)
Garrett Whoeverthef***
Jennifer Lawrence (she's been in ONE movie, Hollywood magazines like her because she's white, blonde, and pretty)
(and even though I love her) Mila Kunis

Are any more important than my list of actors above and I'll take your opinions seriously.
How is Jennifer Lawrence anymore important than Hailee Steinfeld?
GMAB.

The reality is if Vanity Fair wanted to put people of colour on their cover they would have.
But - they don't. That is all we are saying. Facts.

 

[apriliciate]

More pics inside that I saw on E News include -

Elle Fanning & Hailee Steinfeld - cutie-pies.

oh yeah cutie sweetie attack!

but still no natalie even in inside the VF mag?

 

[Deleted member 116957]

Why can't a pregnant person be sexy? Is everyone so disgusted by Natalie Portman's pregnancy? I can understand if she was sick and CHOSE to drop out but I am annoyed with everyone's remarks that a pregnant person can't be included in the "sexy" issue. This is the sexy issue? Do you find Robert Duvall sexy?

It's not that she can't be sexy, but I am pretty sure there would be lots of people raising hell if she was included on the cover in place of Anne Hathaway. And of course it's a "sexy" issue, look at the pieces they chose to dress the actresses in. Very different compared to what they wore on last year's cover.

Actually, I bet people would complain more about a pregnant woman being photographed in a "bar" than her being sexy.

And it's not like Jennifer Lawrence is nominated for Best Actress in a film nominated for Best Film for a film she basically carried or anything. Hailee Steinfeld isn't on this cover because she's less important than Jennifer Lawrence, it's the fact that she's 14. This isn't Vogue Paris, do you really think Vanity Fair would put a 14 year old actress on a magazine cover that is set at a BAR around actors in their early thirties like James Franco and Jake Gyllenhaal?

And Robert Duvall is obviously not being portrayed as sexy...

 

[mint condish]

If Robert Duvall can be there why can't Hailee Steinfeld?
Natalie Portman wouldn't necessarily have to be portrayed as "sexy" if it is so repulsive, neither would Hailee. I don't really see the controversy of calling Natalie sexy pregnant or not, nor putting her on a cover rather than Overrated Anne Hathaway.
Why does the cover have to be set in a bar?

And it's not like Jennifer Lawrence is nominated for Best Actress in a film nominated for Best Film for a film she basically carried or anything.

Exactly the case with True Grit, except Hailee campaigned to be considered for Best Supporting. Did you see True Grit? Hailee Steinfeld carried True Grit nearly all by herself. She is in every scene, and she was nominated for an Oscar.
Excuses, excuses.

Michael Ealy is currently on both The Good Wife and Californification. Sexy as hell and on two of the best television shows right now. I can't edit my last post but I'm this passionate about the subject I had to add that.
Word to whoever said Javier Bardem... nominated for Best Actor -- maybe this race is not important enough for VF?
No, rather put the girl who was in Tron on the foldout than Javier....

 

[mint condish]

Johnny Depp would also be a great option

 

[Deleted member 116957]

It's not about Hailee being portrayed as sexy. It's that it's actually that she's not even the legal age to ENTER a bar in the United States. I cannot imagine the controversy a cover with her in a bar would generate. I don't know why it was set in a bar and not on a playground to make the cover more appropriate for her. This is such a dumb argument.

And maybe Natalie didn't want to be on the cover after she found out she was pregnant? It's not just a matter of Vanity Fair not letting her be on the cover.

And Johnny Depp had a cover had the January cover, so why the hell would they put him on this one?

 

[mint condish]

How is my argument dumb? VF has to deal with the controversy of never putting people of colour on the front cover of their Hollywood Issue, because VF brings it on itself, period. This controversy exists, that is what we're saying. It's not a dumb argument. No one can argue with the facts of their past covers.

If VF wanted to promote more diversity on their covers, they would, simple as that. Instead they take their cue directly from Hollywood and put someone like Jake or Ryan on the cover. I like Jake and Ryan, they are very goodlooking men, but there are other goodlooking men of colour that could have been used. Can't really argue that Jake or Ryan are Oscar-worthy this year, no more so than Javier. I'm calling a spade a spade. Every year this controversy comes up, not because people bring it up out of thin air.

 

[Deleted member 116957]

[/How is my argument dumb? VF has to deal with the controversy of never putting people of colour on the front cover of their Hollywood Issue, because VF brings it on itself, period. This controversy exists, that is what we're saying. It's not a dumb argument. No one can argue with the facts of their past covers.

I was discussing the setting of the picture, not the issues about race. Who cares why it was set in a bar? I doubt it was set in a bar to exclude actors under 18, because there haven't been any (many?) under 18 who have been on their March Hollywood covers to begin with.

I think discussing the issues with race that Hollywood has that these covers seem bring out is valid. However, usually the arguments about who should be or who should not be on the cover end up being "Oh I HATE actor X, why didn't they include actor Y, he's my favourite!!!"

 

[Northern Star]

Can I just add that who 'deserves' to be on the cover is totally subjective and there will always be omissions regardless of colour or race.
I really don't get all the fuss about Natalie Portman not making the cut here, she probably couldn't give a toss and she's had the cover before, so......

Anyhow here are 2 previous covers that show some actors and actresses who are still around working regularly and some not so much. Also on both front page cover shots........not the foldouts, black actors are featured and both have gone on to have success with Djimon Hounsou being Oscar nominate twice and Thandie Newton winning a Bafta award. Hopefully this will diffuse the discussion somewhat.

April 1998



April 1999



designscene.net

 

[mint condish]

Anne Hathaway was also on the cover for this issue in 2008. My god does VF love her or what.

http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&x...=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1145&bih=561

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/02/hollywoodcovers_slideshow200702#slide=1

Going by this link, I see Penelope Cruz and Chris Rock on two of the covers, which is nice.

No matter what anyone says, I still say VF Hollywood Issues are whitewashed:

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/137571/VANITY-FAIR-HOLLYWOOD-ISSUE.jpg
http://thebosh.com/upload/2008/02/06/vanity_fair_2008_hollywood_issue/VANITY%20FAIR%202008%20HOLLYWOOD%20ISSUE.jpg
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/02/hollywoodcovers_slideshow200702#slide=1
http://daily.greencine.com/archives/vanity-fair-2004.jpg
http://jolienadine.com/blog/wp-cont...anity-fair-hollywood-new-wave-august-2008.jpg

 

[Label Basher]

Race aside mint condish some of the people you are suggesting like Johnny are traditionally too old to be on the March cover (Johnny was appeared on one years ago). The tradition of the Hollywood cover started out by have up and coming actresses then actors that had movies coming out around Oscar time. They have tried a few different things in the last 5-8 years like Tom Fords cover or the Hitchock tribute etc but this format is the tradition.

Usually the people who were nominated had their portraits inside the mag like this year with Annette and Nicole for example. I wouldn't be surprised if Natalie and maybe Javier Bardem are inside the mag as well. I've always thought it's better to be inside than on the cover when when it comes to the Hollywood issue. You get your own page and usually a gorgeous dress.

As much as I love Donald Glover and the guy who plays Abe on Community they don't count cause they are on TV and have no movies out at the moment.

And sorry everyone but I don't get all the Olivia hate. She was in Tron, has Cowboys vs Aliens coming up and she's on House. If that's not relevant then I don't know what is. She has a solid career and is making smart choices.

 

[Northern Star]

^^I think they might be the only ones who have graced the actual front cover, but they have used more black actors on the foldouts.....Omar Epps is featured on the 1999 cover foldout.
We have to also remember that Cate Blanchett, Kate Hudson etc, were all in their day featured on the foldout section and then became big enough in their own right to warrant their own covers. Zoe Saldana and America Ferrera were also featured on the foldout section as recently as March 1998.

Maybe the magazine should have chosen actors of colour and placed them heavily on the main cover, but maybe they chose primarily on popularity. I am saying it's right or wrong either way, but I thought by showing that they have featured these actors on the main cover.....albeit over 10 years ago, that they weren't totally neglecting minorities.

EDIT : mint condish I was replying to your now edited post

 

[mint condish]

I don't hate Olivia Wilde, but she is known as a TV actress like many of the people of colour that I mentioned. Yes, she happened to get a part in Tron, but I don't think she is more special than many of the people that I mentioned.

Johnny Depp being too old for that cover does not explain Robert Duvall's inclusion.

 

[tigerrouge]

There was an article a while back where Chris Hitchens mentioned he used to babysit her, so she has connections, as well as an up-and-coming career and that pretty face.

Duvall is there as a little touch of humour, a tiny point of contrast.

 

[mint condish]

Anyways, for some reason, the arguments seem to be getting lost. Hopefully I won't be compelled to return to repeat myself, and I'm really sorry for all the space I took up.

First argument: VF is not known for being racially diverse when it comes to the cover models for the annual Hollywood issue.

Second argument: Why is anyone bringing up race? VF is not excluding people of different races. That's ridiculous. They are only basing the cover on talent/whoever's sexiest/young people/whoever's most popular right now.

^ Here's the argument I have a problem with.

Rebuttal: I named about 20 stars who are just as worthy as some of those cover models, to show that perhaps most of those cover stars were picked not because of some remarkable talent or special popularity but that I firmly believe VF often picks the young hot "white" talent for their covers (witness the all white, all young female Hollywood issue, was it last year, with Kristen Stewart and Mia Wasikowska among others http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/vanity-fairs-hollywood-is_n_444763.html).

Then the response is something like, oh Johnny Depp is too old, Johnny Depp was on a cover earlier this year, whatever. Whatever. I still stand by my argument.

If I were doing this cover, I'd make it a point of including people in the most popular movies, and people nominated for Oscars:
2008 season: Penelope Cruz would have been perfect, she owned that year with Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
2009 season: that girl from Precious for last year would have been perfect, she's definitely "young", Zoe Saldana last year would have been perfect for Avatar and Star Trek.
2010 season: This year, Hailee and Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie and Mila make a lot of sense, regardless if Natalie's already been on the cover. (Uma Thurman has been on the cover twice, Anne Hathaway too, etc.)
But I am not doing the covers. VF is. And I have a right to comment on it.
They release the cover right in the heat of Oscar season. So obviously to pretend the Oscars shouldn't make a difference for these covers is ridiculous.

 

[dajrekshn]

why is ryan renolds in this picture? he's a funny actor, but hasn't done anything spectacular yet..

no seriously, hasn't anyone here seen Buried? i couldn't stand the guy at all, nor in dramatic or lookwise way, but after i saw the movie..good god, he carried the whole movie all by himself (as he is the only actor in the whole movie) and did a mighty job while doing it (and, if anything, he was praised throughout the whole last year for that very job), so yeah, i find him relevant to "fresh" Hollywood as he def turned a new leaf in his career with going from supporting to lead role and also being mighty good while doing that.

Label - i have to disagree on Olivia. yeah, she has Cowboys and Aliens coming out, but Tron not only was a total disgrace from critical point but also from the boxoffice point. she has a lot to prove, she's in House yup, but she's only the supporting actress and after all it's TV not the big screen. she does make smart choices, but they don't seem to be as "smart" when they hit public eye. good for her, but there are those who did much better last year from critical and boxoffice point. also, making her a center of the pic with Noomi being "thrown" basically in corner is among things that striked me the most as silly.

 

[MyNameIs]

Johnny Depp being too old for that cover does not explain Robert Duvall's inclusion.

Are you being serious with that statement right now?

I can't even...