It’s “Time to Vote Tuesday!” 137

Today is Tuesday! and if you’ve been coming here for any length of time, you know that, for most people Tuesday is just the day after Monday, but for you it means that “Time to Vote Tuesday” is here!! YES!!!

What is “Time to Vote Tuesday”?:

“Time to Vote Tuesday” is the session of fun weekly polls which spark thought, debate, and intrigue! Each poll closes in a week with results posted on the following ‘TVT’!

Last week’s poll entitled “Time for Timeless Talent“ has now closed with a total of 32 votes. In asking what two classic actors from golden times past you would travel back in time for to bring to present-day Hollywood, the results have been revealed. The race was close, but the winning two actors that you would choose to bring back are: Humphrey Bogart and Jimmy Stewart!

Be sure to check out all of the results of last week’s poll HERE.

I wish to thank everyone that voted in last week’s polls, shared it with others, and added to the conversation with your comments!

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In this edition of ‘TVT’ this week’s poll, entitled “The Daring Darren”, we pay tribute to a director who’s given the world some very memorable films full of compelling performances, and it also just so happens to be his 44th birthday today: Darren Aronofsky.

Director of five feature films (to date), Brooklyn native Darren Aronofsky grew up cultivating a great love for classic movies and artistic ability. After attending school in both Kenya and Alaska to study as a field biologist, Aronofsky went on to attend and graduate from both Harvard University, (where he studied both film and social anthropology) and the American Film Institute (where he studied directing). He went on to win several film awards and notoriety for film projects (including becoming a National Student Academy Award finalist) that he created years before he ever directed his debut full-length feature: 1997’s Pi.

Take a look at the works of Darren Aronofsky (courtesy video creator Joel Walden):

Known for surrealism, the sometimes disturbing, visualization, social commentary, characters with often self-destructive obsessions, and contributing and often dark musical scores, Aronofsky directed Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, The Fountain and Black Swan and is currently working on an adaptation of the Biblical account of Noah starring Russell Crowe, Ray Winstone, Jennifer Connelly, Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins and more (currently shooting in Iceland and New York).

Interesting tidbit: Aronofsky was one of the original developers of the 2010 film The Fighter and was supposed to direct. (He actually is the one who approached Christian Bale for his award-winning role). However, due to the similarities to his film The Wrestler, Aronofsky left the project to work on MGM’s Robocop remake. After MGM’s uncertain financial future and the uncertainty of the Robocop film that we NOW know to be in production, Aronofsky left that project to pursue the making of Noah after declining the director’s chair for The Wolverine because of its demand of lengthy time away from his family to film in Japan. What a road to the Ark! It seems that Aronofsky must have the patience of Noah!

More trivia about Darren Aronofsky:

• Was once engaged to Rachel Weisz (One of the stars of his film The Fountain)
• Turned down the offer to direct TWO superhero films: Batman Begins and The Wolverine
• Has directed 4 actors in Oscar-nominated performances; 1 has won: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
• The original cast for The Fountain included Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with a budget of $75 million. Pitt left over “creative differences” and the project was scrapped. Two years later, Aronofsky resold the idea to Warner Bros who agreed to a $35 million budget. Recast with Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman.
• No CGI is used in The Fountain. Aronofsky impressively chose to do the special effects for the film by using micro-photography of chemical reactions on tiny petri dishes, stating that CGI would take away from the timelessness of the film and that he wants the film to stand the test of time.
• Aronofsky’s first feature, π, won the Director’s Award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.

-Trivia courtesy IMDB and Aronofsky’s official site. -click the links for more.

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An impressive filmography. With only 5 feature films so far under his belt, THREE of them (60%) are currently listed in IMDB’s Top 250 movies! (Peter Jackson has 4 out of 11 for 37%!) How many of his movies have you seen?

Today I ask you:

Tell me which of his films you enjoy the most. Which haven’t you seen? Are there any you don’t care for? Are you interested in his take on Noah? And what kind of film would you like to see Darren Aronofsky do in the future?

Happy Birthday, Darren Aronofsky!

Vote before the poll closes on 2-19-13. The results will post on next week’s “Time to Vote Tuesday!” 

Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!

–T, The Focused Filmographer

***Don’t forget: For regular updates on movie news, rumors, pictures, posters, and more, FOLLOW ME on Twitter and Facebook.

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