<p>In the minority here, because though I went to see Hairspray expecting NOT to like Travolta’s Edna, he ended up charming and impressing me. He gave the character of Edna an appealing vulnerability; I ended up believing his Edna. In my opinion, the movie’s weakest link was by far Amanda Bynes as Penny. It wasn’t really Bynes’ fault; the way the character was rewritten for the movie took most of her personality away, and the costume/makeup people did not allow her to undergo the transformation "“Mama, I’m a pretty girl” a la Gypsy) that she gets to undergo in the Broadway musical. I kept looking at how tan Bynes’ was and that bright pink lipstick she was wearing from the beginning and thinking “Prudy Pingleton would NEVER let her daughter go out of the house like that.” Plus, Penny’s big scene – when she steals the scene from Tracey without saying a word in “I Can Hear the Bells” – was stolen from her. All in all, I liked Travolta’s Edna (and Walken’s Wilbur) very, very much, and disliked Bynes’ Penny. (Keep in mind, too, that I am from Baltimore, so I went into that theater last weekend ready to be a very harsh critic!)
Best actress nomination will go to Nikki Blonsky, who was ADORABLE.</p>
<p>Hairspray really did rock 
Also very pleased they used Mama I’m a Big Girl Now over the credits (I made my friends stay til the end so I could sing along!) cos that’s one of my fave tracks from the stage show.
I loved Travolta but certainly wouldn’t think it Oscar-worthy.</p>
<p>DramaPrincess, my D (a huge Hairspray fan) was also disappointed that they didn’t use “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now” in the movie musical. (I wished they hadn’t cut “The Big Doll House.” <g>) Guess we can’t have it all. Anyone who has seen the new movie musical and the Broadway show ought to screen the original Hairspray movie if they want a real treat. Nothing beats the original, imo. Best is writer and director John Waters as the hypnotist/shrink who treats Penny, not to mention Pia Zadora and Ric Ocasek (sp?) of The Cars as the beatnik couple.</g></p>
<p>Hehe NMR I phoned my mum on the walk back from the cinema to tell her they cut that song - it’s one of “our” songs. I tend to sing the “Mom I gotta tell ya that without a doubt I got my best dancing lessons from you/ You’re the one who taught me how to twist and shout because you shout nonstop and you’re so twisted too!” to her all the time (affectionately I must assure you! :D)
Apparently, though I wouldn’t know what he looks like to recognise him, John Waters has a cameo in the new film as the flasher in Good Morning Baltimore!</p>
<p>DramaPrincess, indeed he does (have a cameo as the “flasher who lives next door.”) We see him plenty around town. He’s one of our favorite local celebs. :)</p>
<p>
Yep! I’m from Baltimore too, and the whole thearter went crazy when he cameoed.</p>
<p>Actor all the way. Jeez, he’s a guy!</p>
<p>In 2003, Harvey Fierstein won the Tony Award for Hairspray for his portrayal of Edna. Category: Best Actor.</p>
<p>Too bad we’re only limited to “actors” and “actresses” for Oscars/Emmys/Grammys/Tonys/Golden Globes, etc, etc. (I say this because my teacher tried to lecture us that there are 3 genders and my friend tried to explain to me that there are 5 genders. They both made their cases well but I don’t remember them.)</p>
<p>The same teacher did not like it when we said “actress” and said that we should call all actors ‘actors.’ I think she made a good point, although I’m not an actor, so I cant make any judgments.</p>
<p>The whole “actor” and “actress” debate is ongoing. Some female “actors” prefer to be called “actresses,” whereas others believe that that word has negative connotations, a la “model and actress.” (In other words, they think the word is fluffy. :)) I am not an actor or an actress (or a model! :)), but I think whichever word the person wants to use herself is the right word for the job. John Travolta is an actor.</p>
<p>John Lithgow was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for playing Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp - a post-op transsexual.</p>
<p>As one in theatre, I tend to call myself an actress (well I call myself a director more often now! ). It has more connotations of diva for me I’d say, but that’s an idea to capitalise on! ;)</p>
<p>Incidentally, would be interested in knowing what the 3 or 5 genders were. I was taught 4 - masculine, feminine, common and neuter (with male and female being sexes rather than genders). Funny how I can’t remember the slightest thing about all the advanced calculus from when I left school but can still remember being taught genders ten years ago!</p>
<p>Incidentally, Hairspray seems very popular - the cinema I work at totally sold out of it tonight ahead of films like the Simpsons. Or rather than Hairspray “The one with the bloke in drag” as most customers seem to be calling it!!</p>
<p>There is nothing more disgusting than watching a man cross-dresses to prtend to be a woman, and vice versa. There’s nothing amusing about it. We should boycott cross-dressing movies, then they will stop making them.</p>
<p>Don’t worry, they’re not coming after you!</p>
<p>I thought Travolta’s Edna was more of a distraction than anything else. I just don’t think he carried it off.</p>
<p>I agree with the poster who wasn’t crazy about Amanda Bynes. Her character needed a lot more charm and charisma to keep pace with Seaweed. My favorite by far was James Marsden, who played Corny Collins. He was the one single character who seemed perfect for the part, and the era.</p>
<p>The real question for me is how he goes from Pulp Fiction to this.</p>
<p>Yeah, well, Dustin Hoffman made Ishtar, too. Must’ve been a full moon.</p>
<p>One poster said: “There is nothing more disgusting than watching a man cross-dresses to prtend to be a woman, and vice versa. There’s nothing amusing about it. We should boycott cross-dressing movies, then they will stop making them.”</p>
<p>I don’t agree at all and don’t see why it’s “digusting.” Back when Shakespeare was writing plays, men played ALL the parts, including Gertrude and Juliet!! It’s just another challenge for a good actor, I would think. But it’s a free country, so if such things bother you, well, just don’t buy a ticket. That leaves another seat free for me and the other people who are not bugged by such things. ;)</p>
<p>If he gets an Oscar nomination for Hairspray, the Academy needs to have its head examined! I agree with lspf — Edna was a distraction. Every time s/he opened her mouth, I wanted to scream, “Travolta, what IS that accent?!”</p>
<p>I didn’t expect to like Hairspray very much and was surprised that I enjoyed it, quite alot. Maybe because my expectations were low–I actually found JT’s Edna pretty amusing. I’ve never seen the play though so don’t have anything to compare it to. I’m told that by two teenage girls that the Broadway version is “WAY better”.</p>
<p>Loved Nikki Blonsky, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, and James Marsden.
Agree with those above–didn’t really get the part of Penny, but loved her mom!</p>