22 May 2007

P-E-R-F-E-C-T


After seeing these arrival pictures of Brad and Angelina at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of her new film, A Mighty Heart, I decided to take back every negative comment I've ever made about Angelina's pretentiousness.

These two simply take my breath away. And I'm not talking about how objectively good-looking they are as individuals - that's a given - but rather how good they look together. These two reach a level of class Hollywood hasn't seen since the days of of Bogart and Bacall, Tracy and Hepburn, and Ford and Hayworth. Even the subtle intimacy of their body language - the protective double-hand hold, the small-of-the-back circular rub, the nape-of-the-neck clasp while leaning in for a make-her-laugh whisper - has about it a sweet, genuinely-in-love contentedness. This is a couple that, when I look at them I think, "That's what I want. Not a slice of that, not most of that, not almost that -- I want that." And that, one day, I'll have. Again.

These two are reluctant movie stars. These are people who have more pressing and frankly more meaningful pursuits in their back pockets, but for at least one night, for one red-carpet-walk, they'll say "f**k it" and give in to all that is indulgent and fancy and glamorous about their industry. There will always be orphanages and refugee camps to worry about tomorrow, but tonight, it's time to kick off the motorcycle helmets and black t-shirts and usher in the A-list crowd with some Armani Privé.

There's no getting around the fact that Angie is at present frail-thin. Looking at pictures of her from the set of the first Tomb Raider film, it's clear she's unfortunately shed a good 10-15 pounds in recent years. And as much as fashion designers might think otherwise, the thinner a woman gets does not a better fit make. Therefore, I'm impressed with Angie's choice to wear this vintage Balmain couture black lace shift with chiffon straps and satin ribbon cinch. Not only is it simple and elegant but the straight-up-and-down cut also serves to add some much needed curves, invented as they may be, to her frame.

Angie's accessories are also spot-on. The simple peeptoe sets a sophisticated tone but allows the intricate pattern on the lace to be the rightful showpiece of the ensemble. With her hair in a half-upsweep, pearl-and-diamond drop earrings in their contrasting ivory hue was the perfect choice, because even though the dress is beautiful, it is not on its own particularly show-stopping. The bit of sparkle, not to mention the fabulous eye makeup and bad-girl tatts polish off the look nicely.

As for Brad...well, when you're standing next to Angie, there's only so much you can do.

Only hours earlier, Angelina also looked the pretty part (get a load of her close-up!) of Hollywood's sexiest mum in a mocha netted-neck matte-silk belted Elie Tahari blouse, slim black pencil skirt and the same trusty black satin peeptoes at a press event for A Mighty Heart:

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

love them! wonder what Jen's up to? Oh right, wah wah wah.

Anonymous said...

T-R-A-S-H-Y.

Johanna said...

I think *someone's* still sore Andy chose the half-Asian, not the blonde on last night's "The Bachelor" finale...

Anonymous said...

sore? more like baffled. one doofus deserves another, which is why he should have gone with bevin. tessa is a disappointment to womankind. i thought she was the one smart, irreverent one. turns out she's just as pathetic as the rest.

angie still grosses me out.

Johanna said...

If Tessa is the clever mixed-blood I think she is, she only pretended to love Andy and his chiclet-teeth to get more screen-time. And to put that other chick in her place.

There was no excuse, however, for her ill-fitted aqua column gown last night. I could see her "pooch" - and I use quotes because I know she doesn't have one, it was just the way the fabric bunched at her waist - all the way from Honolulu.

Angie is a goddess. This might be the tipping point in our nascent relationship, etcetera...

Johanna said...

by the way, I don't want to offend anyone with the term "mixed-blood" -- that is the literal translation of the Chinese phrase for a person with two ethnic backgrounds. As anxious as I am for the next HP book to come out in a month, I was not making an ill-conceived "mudblood" allusion.