Anyway, this morning's post is about Hugh Grant. I was never a Hugh Grant fan. Oh yeah, sure I liked him, he was kinda like Keannu Reeves that way, he was cute, but meh, not really for me. Don't get me wrong, I ADORED him in Sense & Sensibility (even Monster Baby loves him as Edward) but Notting Hill, Bridget Jones Diary, Four Weddings..., nah, Hugh just wasn't...IT.
UNTIL I saw him in Music & Lyrics with Drew Barrymore. (I'm a few years late but older movies are like my TBR pile only these are TBS --To Be Seen)
Now I don't know if I loved him in this because he was finally playing a character I could relate to -- he's older, cynical and just a little jaded -- OR if it was because he could sing. (If you haven't seen the movie yet, do find it and watch. I don't think you'll be disappointed but this post isn't about that.)
It's about doing something you've never done before. Hugh Grant sings. Who 'da thunk it. Don't get me wrong, he's not a very good singer, not like Michael Buble by any sort of the imagination, but he does have a very lovely voice.
I Wiki'd him and read the article and it said that Hugh Grant had never sung before. (This article also said he doesn't have CD's for music and he doesn't listen to any but I don't know how that could be -- doesn't everybody listen to music at some point or other???)
ANY-HOO, I also watched the director's notes and Hugh talks about how he had to LEARN how to sing, and play the piano for this role. (Being in the theatre in another life, yes, you do have to learn how to sing for performances and how to read music and such) however, I found it extraordinarily amazing that Mr. Grant did so. He doesn't seem like the sort of movie star who would do that.
But he did. And it was pretty good.
And so my darlings, all of this leads me to ask -- is there something you've learned to become better at what you do? As writers we're always learning (or at least supposed to be learning) how to be better at our craft...what was something you've learned that you hadn't known before?
(I'll say that I learned how to blog. You all know about my crazy technological fears, so I think blogging was something I overcame to become a better writer. Meeting all of you has certainly helped my craft. Oh, and comma's. I learned about comma's.)
26 comments:
I'm with you. I was never nuts about Hugh Grant. I did really like him in Notting Hill though. That's when I warmed to him more. To tell you the truth, I prefer Colin Firth. Is that how you spell his name?
Anyhoo, back to your question. Well I guess I've learned that writing doesn't have to be lonely when you blog! :o)
It was a cute movie. Didn't realize he'd never sung before though.
And I definitely had to learn to blog. I was techno-savvy, but I'd never been online much. I'd say we've both come far!
Stepping out of my head and into the writer's world is what I've become better at doing. In my head, I'm already published. But plodding through the actual process to get published, well . . . I'm working on that.
Oh, and I think Hugh's best performance was when he "owned up" on Leno's show. Got to give it the man for courage.
I learned how to shoot a snub-nose .38 so I'd be able to describe how it felt when one of my characters used one. Surprised myself by hitting the bull's eye one-handed. (My character had to shoot one-handed because she was carrying a cane in her other hand.)
Jessica -- Yes, Colin Firth is ulitmately the better actor, and hottie.
Alex -- Very Far indeed! You're published! Yay!
Leigh -- Yeah, when he owned up, yes, that was a great performance.
Linda -- You suprise me more and more. I used to shoot when I lived out west, loved it. Good for you on the bullseye!
That's so interesting. I didn't know he had to learn how to sing and play piano for that role. But I loved that movie. Especially the beginning with that video. It was SO 80's!! LOL! "Pop, goes my heart..."
I love both Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, but they're very different guys.
I'm with you on the blogging side of things. I had to borrow Blogging for Dummies from the library to figure it out, especially since I hadn't read any blogs up to then.
I always liked him, but Love Actually really sealed it for me!
The biggest thing I've learned is how to discipline my writing. And as a result, I have three novels to show for it.
Jennifer -- Monster Baby makes me play that over and over and over again. What have I done?
Stina -- I need to borrow it too I think, even though I've been on here for a year. There's still so much I don't know how to do.
Summer -- I have to get that movie next. Three is fantastic! I'm only on 2. Guess I need to catch up.
Haven't seen Music & Lyrics, but I love Notting Hill. I think I watch it every time it's on TV. Though, I'm more a Julia Roberts fan then Hugh Grant. I always like his movies/characters, but he doesn't do a whole lot for me. Now, give me a tall, dark-hair/eyed, skinny bad boy and I'm all over it ;)
Interesting post, Anne. I had a personal encounter with him years ago. I was in Hollyweird attending one of the pitch festivals in a hotel which kinda resembles speed dating where each screenwriter has five minutes to sit down with a producer/actor/wardrobe assistant or whatever, to pitch their screenplay. I sat down across from Hugh and began to pitch my screenplay and we ended up in a deep conversation about women. This was literally a week or so after he'd been in the news for cheating on his wife or girlfriend or whatever (I'm not sure as I don't read People Magazine, but I know it was some kind of big deal). Nice guy and I ended up spending almost half an hour with him with a growing line of glowering people behind me waiting their turn, but he wouldn't let me leave. Didn't care for him before as all he'd been in were chick flicks which mostly make me want to throw up in my mouth, but he turned out to be a cool guy. Asked for my script and gave me his card with a note on it for the gatekeepers to include in my submission so it'd get past them, but I lost the card and never did send it to him. Now that we're best friends (I'm being ironic here...) I do watch his movies with renewed interest and the fact that he was messing around having hot monkey sex with others makes him more likable, imo.
Tara -- M&L is a pretty good movie. I think you'll like it. I think that's my problem with Hugh -- He's too skinny. I need some meat on my man.
Les -- Is there anyone in this world you don't know? That's too bad about the screenplay. I bet it was a good one too. (And truthfully I always thought he was gay -- even with a girlfriend.)
I've learned about commas as well. I haven't seen that movie, but sounds like one to watch.
oh man, i'm with Summer - you HAVE to see Love Actually! You will be totally smitten with that movie - it makes you so happy!
Better comma's than coma's! :)
Thanks for the movie recommendation--I had no idea Hugh Grant could sing. But I'm not really surprised because he has a pleasant speaking voice.
I did learn that I could skate as an adult & ended up getting very involved w/ it. It taught me that I was always challenging myself to learn new moves & to constantly perfect them. I learned that skating didn't have rejection, I was fully responsible for what I brought out on the ice w/ me concerning my state of mind. If I made an effort, I got a return. Well, most of the time. I also learned that falling meant I was trying. No shame in falling, just get back up quickly. & try again! Yes, skating & writing can have a lot in common now that I think about it!
TWO WEEKS NOTICE (should be an apostrophe in there, but they didn't use one -- which makes me wonder WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING???) was the absolute *best* Hugh Grant movie, for me. Hugh Grant + Sandra Bullock... I just love it. If you haven't seen it yet, you gotta. ;) And the bloopers had me giggling like crazy.
Jessica
Oh and something I learned? It doesn't have to do with writing, exactly, but going from a PC to a Mac was a learning experience, let me tell ya.;)
I love learning new stuff. The research phase is always one of my most exciting exercises. When I was a kid, I used to read the encyclopedia, and I still bog down on Wiki periodically.
Learning ~how~ to do something... I guess I spent a lot of time these past few years learning how to coach soccer, basketball, baseball, and even football (I never played basket or football). You want a terrifying situation: line up 25 ten-year-old boys to teach them a game you've never lined up to play yourself.
That's scary.
Funny that I had my basketball boys in a soccer formation because I didn't know the positions, and I taught my football boys some karate moves!
- Eric
I've wanted to see that movie for the longest time, I'm always passing it on sale on end caps at Target, now I'll buy it next time! Thanks, Anne!
I'll admit a bit of a Grant weakness on my part in general (though I'm much more a Ewan McGregor/Liam Neeson fan)and I had no idea Hugh could sing! (Ewan sure can *sigh*) now I have to see this movie!
I think I'd have to say that I've gotten better at painting though I still hate every painting I do before its done and for a long time after usually and my family has been known to hide them on me so I can't destroy them. I still say my art doesn't "look like stuff" and it rarely if ever looks like what I see in my head.
I hope that I'm always getting better at being a parent. It does NOT get easier as they get older...
hugs
bru
Learning to ride a motorcycle is it for me. Still not good at it. Too much hand/eye coordination, though I love driving a race car, which also take a lot of hand/eye coordination.
As for Hugh Grant, I love Four Weddings, and Notting Hill. Both are quite funny and remind me of being in London. I have them at home and can watch either at anytime. I also like Love Actually.
I enjoy him in others -- with Drew or Sandra or Sarch Jessica -- but he was best in Weddings and Notting Hill.
Typo -- that was Sarah Jessica Parker.
Hey, sorry I haven't been here in a while. I've missed you and your blog, but here I am, dropping by to say hi!
Hugh Grant doesn't really stick out to me. I'm sure I've seen him in one or two movies, and he's quite good looking, but he isn't memorable to me. I may have to watch "Music & Lyrics" now that you've mentioned it, though.
He's pretty.
I've learned to be better at accepting gifts graciously.
But I really like Hugh Grant.He is nice na...
Eye candy, definitely. I love his smile.
I've learned too many new things to pick only one. I'm experimenting all the time. Maybe that's the thing I've learned - not to have to be perfect just to try.
........dhole
His best movie is "About a Boy" without question. He said in an article that the character in About a Boy was the closest to his real personality and it is excellent on many levels; a great self aware note on personal positives and negs.
Music and Lyrics is one of my favorites also, which was a normal 'Hugh really likes to improvise in the script' dialogue delight.
American Dreamz was great also. Mandy Moore had a huge secret crush on Hugh during filming; it would have been great if they dated in real life as I can't stomach psycho Hurley.
2010 has shown me that family and friends are more important than anything.
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