Gina Carano, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor | R |
ACTION
Have you got a moment? There's someone Steven Soderbergh would very much like you to meet. The suave director builds his spare double-cross yarn around Carano, a star in the mixed-martial arts world, and the first actress in ages to look like she really knows how to put a hurt on somebody. As covert operative Mallory, Carano is light on charisma, but tough enough to handle whatever the boys throw at her, even as a mission to rescue a Chinese journalist goes all kinds of wrong.
And that's about all you need to know, because while Soderbergh gives Carano plenty of scenes to dazzle us with her skills (her tango with Fassbender is epic), when it comes to the story, there's not much there. Michael Douglas has a nice, small turn (and return to the screen) as a D.C. bigwig awed by Mallory, but dramatic heft isn't really the point here. If you go, go to see how well some of Hollywood's finest leading men can take a punch.
AWESOME ANIMALS
1 'THE DOG'
IN THE ARTIST
Jack Russell Uggie is adorable, funny and such a natural actor. If dogs were eligible for Oscars, he'd give costar Jean Dujardin a serious run for his money.
2 JOEY
IN WAR HORSE
Thoroughbred Joey (played by several horses) truly has to be bulletproof since he survives a tank, barbed wire and one insufferable little French girl.
3 SNOWY
IN THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
Snowy is gritty and focused ... unless a sandwich distracts him. But that's what you get when you pay your sidekick in kibble.
KATE WINSLET
Her 20s? Bleeping awful. But the Carnage star has found her bliss at 36 (think roast chicken with the kids at home)
YOU VOMIT A LOT, AND VERY WELL, IN CARNAGE!
I'm actually quite proud of my vomiting! It was everywhere: in my hair, down my cleavage, and I'd go home every night totally disgusting and smelling of sick, but I loved it.
YOU PLAY A VERY FLAWED MOM. DID YOU RELATE?
I couldn't. [Being a mom] is something Nancy hopes to do well one day, but my children come first. I'm blessed not only to have two glorious, solid kids [Mia, 11, and Joe, 8], but they're great little travelers who are very much with me.
YOU SAVED A WOMAN FROM A FIRE LAST YEAR! ARE YOU SUPERWOMAN TO YOUR KIDS?
I'm just their mum! Obviously they understand that I'm famous: I raised them largely in N.Y.C., and they've been exposed to paparazzi. But they're savvy, smart kids.
DO THEY GET STAR PERKS?
Believe me, they get their fair share of, "We're not skipping the line!" I fight to keep those things separate. We are extremely outdoorsy and do a lot of cooking and hiking and being on beaches.
YOU COOK? REALLY?
Every day! I find it therapeutic. Yesterday I wanted to make my kids a super yummy-scrummy dinner, and the way to their heart is a good roast chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. So that was what we had.
HAPPY KIDS, HAPPY MOM.
I'm in a very good place. Your 20s are kind of awful, actually, and terribly confusing. You still haven't really formed yet. I'm really enjoying being in my 30s and just not having to worry about all that bull----.
"In my 30s, I feel very confident and strong. It takes a long time to get to that place"
