then and now: CHOCOLAT (2000)

Though it suffered some critical disinterest and then resentment following its host of Oscar nods (including one for Best Picture), I’m from the school of leaving it alone – it’s a delightful, if misunderstood, movie.  Featuring a cast from all sorts of countries (let’s see – France, the U.S., Sweden…), Chocolat is getting Then and Now treatment!

Juliette Binoche as Vianne

In the 1985 film Farewell to Fred

And in the 2010 film Certified Copy

Judi Dench as Armande Voizin

In the 1960 TV series An Age of Kings

And in the 2011 film Jane Eyre

Alfred Molina as Comte de Reynaud

In the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark

And on the 2010 TV series Law & Order: Los Angeles

Lena Olin as Josephine Muscat

In the 1987 film The Unbearable Lightness of Being

And in a 2010 episode of the TV series Law & Order: SVU

Johnny Depp as Roux

In the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street

And in the 2011 film The Rum Diary

Leslie Caron as Madame Audel

In the 1951 film An American in Paris

And in a 2006 episode of the TV series Law & Order: SVU

then and now: LORD OF THE RINGS (2001-2003)

It’s been a mere seven years since the Lord of the Rings trilogy wrapped up, but I figured I would devote a Then and Now posting to the epic cast (at least a portion of them) to both catch up with what they’ve been up to in the past near-decade and take a gander at some of their earliest work. So, though the likes of Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, etc. have been left off (it’s a giant cast, folks) here is Lord of the Rings, Then and Now…

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins

In the 1989 movie Back to the Future, Part II

And in the 2010 movie The Romantics

Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey

In a 1962 stage production of The Seagull

And in the 2009 miniseries The Prisoner

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn

In the 1985 movie Witness

And in the 2011 movie The Dangerous Method

Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee

In the 1981 TV movie Please Don’t Hit Me, Mom

And in the 2009 movie Stay Cool

Dominic Monaghan as Merriadoc Brandybuck

In a 1996 episode of the TV series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

And in the 2011 movie Soldiers of Fortune

Orlando Bloom as Legolas

In a 1996 episode of the TV series Casualty

And in the 2011 movie The Three Musketeers

Billy Boyd as Perregrin Took

In a 1996 episode of the TV series Taggart

And in the 2010 movie Pimp

then and now: SOAPDISH (1991)

Having just discovered this sorta silly but definitely entertaining gem recently, it seemed only fitting that a return to the Then and Now series would very much suit this very cast-driven bitchy-fest. Following the goings-on and melodrama of a soap opera set, Soapdish features a cast of well-knowns that seems almost impossible to achieve considering the ridiculous content. But I’m very thankful that they were assembled. So here we go – the cast of Soapdish in their earliest (or at least earliest to find footage of) and latest work.

Kevin Kline as Jeffrey Anderson

In the 1980 TV movie Pirates of Penzance

And in the 2010 movie The Extra Man

Sally Field as Celeste Talbert

In a 1966 episode of the TV series Gidget

And in a 2010 episode of the TV series Brothers & Sisters

Cathy Moriarty as Montana Moorehead

In the 1980 film Raging Bull

And in a 2010 episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent

Robert Downey, Jr. as David Seton Barnes

In the 1970 movie Pound

And in the 2010 movie Due Date

Elisabeth Shue as Lori Craven

In the 1983 movie Somewhere, Tomorrow

And in the 2010 movie Piranha 3-D

Whoopi Goldberg as Rose Schwartz

In the 1985 film The Color Purple

And in the 2010 film For Colored Girls

Teri Hatcher as Ariel Maloney

In a 1985 episode of the TV series The Love Boat

And in a 2010 episode of the TV series Desperate Housewives

then and now: STEEL MAGNOLIAS (1989)

Those love-hate ladies of Steel Magnolias are getting the “Then and Now” treatment. So grab your Kleenex for this trip down memory lane. And don’t cross Ouiser!

Sally Field as M’Lynn Eatenton

In a 1966 episode of the TV series Gidget

And in a recent episode of the TV series Brothers & Sisters

Olympia Dukakis as Clairee Belcher

In the 1969 film John and Mary

And in a 2008 episode of the TV series Worst Week

Dolly Parton as Truvy Jones

In a 1960s talent agency photograph

And in a 2008 episode of Hannah Montana

Shirley MacLaine as Ouiser Boudreaux

In the 1955 film The Trouble With Harry

And in the 2010 movie Valentine’s Day

Julia Roberts as Shelby Eatenton

In a 1987 episode of the TV series Crime Story

And in the 2010 movie Eat Pray Love

Daryl Hannah as Annelle Dupuy

In the 1978 movie The Fury

And in the 2009 movie Shannon’s Rainbow

Other “Then and Now” Entries:

Titanic (1997) – Clue (1985) – Ghostbusters (1984)

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) – Jurassic Park (1993)

E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The Addams Family (1991)

then and now: THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)

It’s been an awfully long time since I’ve gotten around to a “Then and Now” column (that E.T. post was AGES ago!), but I’d like to present to you a little retrospective on the cast of the far too underrated film adaptation of the classic TV series, The Addams Family. It’s terribly funny and a perfectly kooky dark comedy. From Pugsley and Wednesday to Gomez and Morticia (isn’t this one of Anjelica Huston’s best characters?), the movie is a gem. Here are the cast members – back in the day and more recently. (And since we’ve recently covered both Christopher Lloyd’s “Then and Now” and Dana Ivey’s entire career, they’re absent here.)

Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams

From an issue of Vogue in 1972

And in the 2010 movie When in Rome

Raul Julia as Gomez Addams

In a 1971 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona

And in the 1994 movie Street Fighter

Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams

In the 1990 movie Mermaids

And in a 2009 episode of the TV series Saving Grace

Jimmy Workman as Pugsley Addams

In the 1991 movie The Addams Family

And in a recent photo

Elizabeth Wilson as “Dr. Pinder Schloss”

In the 1967 film The Graduate

And in a 2002 episode of the TV series Law and Order: Criminal Intent

Other “Then and Now” Entries:

Titanic (1997) – Clue (1985) – Ghostbusters (1984)

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) – Jurassic Park (1993)

E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

then and now: CAST of E.T. – THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (1982)

In honor of one of film’s most beloved sci-fi classics, I give you the latest retrospective from the series Then and Now on Steven Spielberg’s E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial. Now, the difficulty faced with a film like this is that for some of the younger actors, this was one of their first films. So they don’t look so different from the time they filmed E.T. And without further ado…

Henry Thomas as Elliott

In the 1981 movie Raggedy Man

and in the 2010 movie Dear John

Dee Wallace as Mary

In the 1979 movie 10

and in the 2010 movie The Guardian

Drew Barrymore as Gertie

In the 1982 movie E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial

and in the 2009 movie Everybody’s Fine

Peter Coyote as Keys

In 1979

and in a 2009 episode of the TV series FlashForward

then and now: CAST of JURASSIC PARK (1993)

One of my all-time favorite movies (as you’ll likely note as the Top 100 countdown soldiers on), has got to be Steven Spielberg’s underrated and downright fun blockbuster, Jurassic Park. It has amazing rewatchability, it’s buoyed by some great line readings from a stellar, if random, cast of characters, and it’s adapted very well from the fantastic and original novel by Michael Crichton. So take a look below to see your favorite ragtag group of dinosaur-enthusiasts in their early work, as well as some of their recent work.

Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant

In the 1977 film Sleeping Dogs

And in the 2009 movie Daybreakers

Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler

In the 1982 movie Ladies and Gentleman, the Fabulous Stains

And in the 2008 TV movie Recount

Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm

In the 1974 movie Death Wish

And in 2009 in the TV series Law and Order: Criminal Intent

Richard Attenborough as John Hammond

In the 1947 film Brighton Rock

And in the 2002 movie Puckoon

Ariana Richards as Lex Murphy

In the 1990 movie Tremors

And on her 2008 single “The Prayer”

Joseph Mazzello as Tim Murphy

In the 1992 movie Radio Flyer

And in the 2007 movie Matters of Life and Death

then and now: CAST of HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986)

It may come as a surprise that my somewhat unorthodox choice of favorite Woody Allen movie is not 1977’s Annie Hall. Nope, it just so happens that 1986’s Hannah and Her Sisters is one of my all-time favorites. I can’t help but love the pushover eldest Hannah, the artsy and indecisive middle daughter Lee, and the sometimes high on cocaine aspiring actress and writer Holly. And to give you a glimpse of the early and recent work of its great cast, I’ve devoted a Then and Now column to Holly, Lee, Elliot, April, Mickey, and, of course, Hannah.

Mia Farrow as Hannah

In a 1964 episode of the TV series Peyton Place

And in the 2008 film Be Kind Rewind

Michael Caine as Elliot

In the 1956 film A Hill in Korea

And in the 2010 film Inception

Dianne Wiest as Holly

In the 1978 TV movie Out of Our Father’s House

And in a 2009 episode of the TV series In Treatment

Woody Allen as Mickey

In the 1965 film What’s New Pussycat?

And in the 2006 film Scoop

Carrie Fisher as April

In the 1975 film Shampoo

And in the 2009 movie Sorority Row

then and now: CAST of GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)

Then and Now is making a pit-stop at the classic ’80s romp, Ghostbusters, which to this day remains one of the best comedies around. It’s then-relatively-young and green cast have gone on to some lengthy careers, so what better way to honor them by taking a look at some of their earliest and latest work? A word of warning — you’ll notice that the beloved Slimer is noticeably absent, as he has seemingly retired from film work.

Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman

In a 1977 episode of the TV series Saturday Night Live

and in the 2009 film Get Low

Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett

In the 1978 film Madman

and in the 2009 film Avatar

Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz

In a 1975 episode of the TV series Coming Up Rosie

and in a 2009 episode of the TV series Saturday Night Live

Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler

In a 1977 episode of the TV series SCTV

and in the 2009 movie Year One

Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddmore

In a 1978 episode of the TV series Fantasy Island

and in a 2009 episode of the TV series Law and Order

Rick Moranis as Louis Tully

In a 1981 episode of the TV series SCTV

and on the set of the 2006 movie Brother Bear 2

Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz

In the 1978 movie Corvette Summer

and in a 2009 episode of the TV series Two and a Half Men

then and now: CAST of CLUE (1985)

In this entry of “Then and Now,” we’re taking a look at the cast of the 1985 movie Clue, which included a handful of brilliant comic actors playing the roles of the suspects in the classic murder mystery board game of the same name. If you haven’t seen it, you don’t know what truly hilarious cinema is. If anything, you’ve at least had to have heard of the “flames on the side of my face” rant. Take a look at their early and later work:

Tim Curry as Wadsworth the Butler

In the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show

and in the 2009 TV miniseries Cranford

Lesley Ann Warren as Miss Scarlet

In the 1965 TV production of Cinderella

and in a 2009 episode of the TV series In Plain Sight

Eileen Brennan as Mrs. Peacock

In a 1972 episode of the TV series All in the Family
and in the 2007 short film Peanut Butter

Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White

In the 1968 short film The Dove
and in 1999 in the TV series Cosby

Martin Mull as Col. Mustard

In a 1977 episode of the TV series Fernwood 2 Night
and in a 2009 episode of the TV series Eastwick

Christopher Lloyd as Prof. Plum

In the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
and in the 2009 movie Santa Buddies

Michael McKean as Mr. Green

In 1976 in the TV series Laverne & Shirley
and in the 2009 film Whatever Works