Be Blunt With Me
Kate Beckinsale. Diane Kruger. Angelina Jolie. In that order. That’s been the list of my three favorite actresses for a good while. Then I went to see a movie called The Adjustment Bureau a few months back.
Emily Blunt. That’s the new name on my short list since I discovered her this spring. I gave a couple people a lot of grief for all the swooning they were doing over Colin Firth, but I would be powerless against Blunt. It’s not even right. Just allow me to swoon in silence.
I’m sure you’re reading this thinking, “Is she the one to take over your top spot Clay?” To that I say relax. What Kate and I have is too special to just toss aside after all these years. What’s more, I’ll be absolute putty when Underworld: Awakening comes out next January and Beckinsale reprises her role as Selene. I know that she would murder all the bad guys for me. So adorable when she kills.
But this post is supposed to be about Emily Blunt. She’s married. I get it. To John Krasinski no less. That makes things even worse since he’s one of the few actors I really like in everything he does. Plus we have a similar style of humor. Hmm, I bet Emily would dig that about me.
Nevertheless I sought her out on Netflix a couple months back and ended up falling asleep very quickly during The Young Victoria, a film for which Blunt was nominated as best actress at the Golden Globes. I should’ve known better than to try watching a movie categorized by the great and mighty Netflix as “Emotional, Romantic.” Yeah, it just ain’t me without a splash of Braveheart.
I wondered how I had missed her in three other films I’d already seen (The Devil Wears Prada which I hate, Dan In Real Life which I like, Charlie Wilson’s War which I own) but then summer came and my busy schedule only drove us farther apart. Oh well, I sighed, I’d always have Kate to slay the undead with.
Then a DVD arrived in the mail via Netflix. The title, Wild Target
Blunt plays a second-rate con artist named Rose who earns a contract on her life by veteran hitman Victor Maynard played by Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean and Underworld if you want to keep the Beckinsale connections going). Maynard isn’t able to pull the trigger on Rose (which I totally understand ;-)) and the movie is off to the races as his angry client (Rupert Everett) gives chase.
Also tagging along is interesting supporting actor Rupert Grint who you know best as Ron Weasley of Harry Potter fame. Nice to seem him outside of Hogwarts, a regular Muggle even. Grint has a nice comedic touch in some really funny scenes, sort of a Simon Pegg vibe. Come to think of it, those two would make a really funny tandem.
Emily Blunt's going to be in The Muppets?! I can't even process this information.
The biggest laughs come courtesy of Bill Nighy who does deadpan as good as anyone out there right now. You know the cast and writing were good if I didn’t stare at you-know-who the whole time. Wild Target reminded me of an Elmore Leonard story like Get Shorty. I recommend it.
So I’m off on the great Emily Blunt hunt to watch her other movies. What’s this? Can’t be. She’s gonna be in The Muppets later this year?! Great gaga. One of the most important movies in my entire life and she’s starring in it? I can’t take this. Not gonna make it to Christmas. Better toss me in a freezer because I’m melting.
Has a celebrity ever made you swoon (to steal the Canadian’s phrase)?
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Life. Culture. Education.
Life as Pop Culture Professor Clay Morgan
In The Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo he can take the blue pill and go on believing whatever he wants to believe. Or he can take the red pill to stay in Wonderland and find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
This is a red pill type site that provides information in an entertaining way. It’s about clear thinking and good writing. It’s about finding meaning amidst the absurd. It’s about humor and truth.
I’m a writer / speaker who teaches history and political courses at a couple of local colleges. Where is local, you say? Well, that would be Wonderland of course.
On topics ranging from pop culture to the meaning of life, my brain’s always poppin’. Take the red pill and unplug.
EduClaytion 
I’m partial to Orlando Bloom in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 🙂 He was even cast as my “dead husband” when I played a gold digging widow at my friend’s Murder Mystery Dinner. No, he didn’t show up because he was dead. But, I still carried a pic around of him all night long and recounted all the sweet nothings he said to me over our courtship.
What’d you think of The Adjustment Bureau? It’s on my list for possible pop parables, but I haven’t seen it yet. Is it worth it?
Loved Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning.
Definitely worth seeing. Not the greatest movie ever (although they could’ve played cards for 2 hours and I would’ve watched Blunt :-)), but I love the idea of a story about fate and free will. I intended to write a piece about it before the film even hit, but I never made it happen. For peeps like you and me though, a must watch. Fun to break it down.
Yvonne Strahovski is the heel to my Achilles. I can’t even speak right now.
I can’t believe you just went there! I so understand. Matter of fact I already have a follow up post coming in a week or two and she’ll be a big part of it. And yes, Australia gets full credit for Ms. Strahovski. Now I’m on overload too.
It’s so nice to be able to say that she’s a born and bred Aussie; unlike some of the other talent we’ve tried to claim in the past! I look forward to reading the follow up on this one mate and I have to agree with Amber – you do have great taste. 🙂
Yes Clay I have had my moments of swooning over the impossible. Karl Urban is definitely my number one on that list.
Interesting choice Pam. Don’t hear his name too often but many people will recognize his face and work. I especially liked him as Bones in the new Star Trek.
The first to come to mind is Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. aaaaaaaahhhh…. There are several others, but he has those bedroom eyes…. Okay now for a cold shower! Hahaha! Great post!
Yeah, Gere certainly owned at least a year or two there in the 90s. I think he’d find a lot more runaway brides these days 😉
I have a running list of celebs I’m currently swooning over. The list is long so I won’t bore you.
Emily Blunt is a good choice. My husband thinks she is swoon worthy and has placed her at the top of his list!
Do tell Melissa. Hubby knows whereof he speaks, but you didn’t even drop one name. I’m calling false swoon.
You have some seriously good taste there. I practically swoon over those ladies.
My swoonworthy lists changes regularly – I’m fairly fickle, but lately here it is:
Robert Downey Jr: Aside from his good looks, the man is a talented actor, and is quite the charmer.
Craig Bierko – Watch an interview with the guy – he is quick witted. There is nothing I swoon over more than I an intelligent funny man.
Nathan Fillion – I’ve adored him for a long while. And he’s a geek. 🙂
I have only one question: Which muppet will she be?
I really liked her in The Adjustment Bureau. Have you seen Sunshine Cleaning? She’s in that one, too.
Most people who know me know I totally swoon over Hugh Jackman and Alexander Skarsgard. I have plans for them to join me in a lovely polygamist relationship. 🙂
Netflix: eHarmony for unrequited lovers.
Swooning in silence? Nonsense. It’s always more fun to share crushes. Okay. I need some new ones. Off to research. I’ll report my findings later. Maybe.
Great post…
You are such a fan boy.
I’ve adored Paul Rudd ever since Clueless. I giggle over James Roday. And yes, then there’s John Krasinski.
It’s the a-dork-able guys that grab my heart.
Um, you may place your dig into Leanne about Colin Firth, but I’d just like to point out, since you failed to mention, that Emily Blunt is in the film THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB. I’m just saying.
I cracked up at “So adorable when she kills.” That was lovely.
Ha, duly noted Jess. I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch a movie called Jane Austen Book Club, even if it is for Emily.
Oh Lord! Gerard Butler – I’ll take a side of that any day. Oh and Viggo Mortensen… oh lord – he’s got something special in that dirty guy in need of a shower and some shampoo sort of way.
But the UFC Fighter, Roger Huerta… I’d lick… never mind 😉
Uh oh, you better stop yo self!
Ok in my order, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Heather Locklear and Kathryn Mullen as “Mokey Fraggle”….
Catherine Zeta-Jones – what can you say, from “Mask of Zoro” to “Entrapment” and the musical “Chicago” , there is a woman with sex appeal, style, grace, smart and can act, a combination you don’t find in most Actors/Actresses..
Heather Locklear – Just always been nice to look at, in her numerous T.V. series and few movies…Liked her best in “Spin City” with Michael J Fox…
Mokey Fraggle – alway’s the the one with wisdom, never mean to anyone, loved her hair and would of been a blast to take to Woodstock back in the day..
So there you Clay my pics…. Ohhhh almost forgot the one I always Swoon over is of course my wife.. ( I think I’m safe now because I know she reads your blog also)….
Good taste. I actually had a major Locklear phases known as junior high-college, but back then it really wasn’t about acting ability or stuff like that.
Why do I feel confident that you are going to meet/interview/video and possibly cause Blunt to fall in love with you (or in strong “like”) and ask you to star in some Zombie movie?
Are you swooning?
It could happen.
I like the way you think Renee. I hadn’t considered that I might be her co star someday. Imma start workin on that.
Whenever we’d watch “Lost,” and Juliet was in a scene, my wife would give me the evil eye, because she knew. Somehow, she knew. Elizabeth Mitchell is also the reason I can make it through those God-awful “Santa Clause” movies, but I drew the line at the reboot of “V.”
Haha, the evil eye is certainly something to watch for. I didn’t know too much of Mitchell until V, but I didn’t make it past episode 4 or so.
Swooned….well I would say; Richard Gere, of course..Chris Noth, most definatley…oh and last but not least Johnny Depp….that would be dreammmmyyyyy…..
I think Johnny Depp has been fairly popular for a few years. 🙂
I go through phases…for a while it was Mel (back in his Lethal Weapon and Braveheart days), Brad and Matthew McConaughey took a turn in the top spot briefly. So have Johnny Depp, Brendan Fraser and Patrick Dempsey. Oh, and George Clooney.
Dang, I’m a FanGirl Ho…
You are right in the Gen X wheelhouse. Fangirl.
I am totally looking forward to the muppet movie.
I’m really crushing on Adam Levine right now. It’s the first time I’ve swooned over a celeb since Brad Pitt in Legend’s of the Fall. After he made the movie Seven, I lost interest in him. That movie was just a bit too gross for me.
I’ve been thinking about what to post about the Muppets for 7 months. At least. I already have one post written, but the pressure is intense. I really did like Seven though, but then again that explains me a bit.
I didn’t think there was another guy out there who saw The Young Victoria. Whenever people ask how it was I say, “Not bad…if you like Emily Blunt.” I’m not sure I’ve ever swooned over an actress, though. I always liked Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
So you’re saying I didn’t miss out on a great movie, just scenes with Emily Blunt. Hepburn is all-time swoonworthy.
How to choose……there’s Matthew (McConaughy-hey), Jason Stratham (he can Transport me anytime), Ian “Bite-Me-Damon” Somerhalder, and CT from the Real World…yea, does that count as celebrity?
I should’ve known you’d have a few names Tiff. Now, do you require acting skills in your leading men?
When I was in middle school I was in love with Alyssa Milano. I bought a poster of her and put it up in my bedroom. No matter where I stood she was always looking at me. It creeped my out so I took it down.
Yes! I made a Who’s The Boss reference to her in my class the other day. Definitely like Alyssa Milano for a bit.
To me, talent is incredibly swoon-worthy. So, my will-see-any-movie-he’s-in-no-matter-what, can’t-take-my-eyes-off-him guy is Steve Buscemi. Yes, the guy with the weird eyes. Can’t help it. He makes me swoon.
But, my red-blooded female side swoons over Adam Baldwin (John Casey in Chuck). I’ve had a “thing” for him since Full Metal Jacket (he played Animal Mother).
Agreed. A forthcoming follow up post discusses our attractions on a superficial and talent-based level. And Adam Baldwin is brilliant as Casey in Chuck. Love that show. He’s perfect in that role.
Not sure who Emily Blunt is but she must have the goods. I’m fond of Drew Barrymore. She seems genuinely fun, attractive, great smile. The fact she was a little girl in ET is something I try to block out.
Emily Blunt made ME swoon in The Adjustment Bureau. Wow, she was gorgeous, fun, and amazing. I’ve seen all her movies, and have loved her in everything.
You could do what Ross in Friends did and make a laminated list. That way in case you run into Kate Beckinsale or Angelina Jolie, you’d still have options. 😉
Celebrities don’t really make me swoon because I think they’re a little too “caught-up”, you know what I mean? But, I have to admit that when I saw Sawyer from Lost for the first time, I stared at my TV, drooling, for a good 5 minutes or so. He’s such a bad boy, but he reads all the time, so he’s gotta have a good streak in him…right?
As for Ms. Blunt, good call. She seems rather cool…I mean, she’d have to be if John Krasinski wanted to marry her. He’s pretty awesome, so she must be too. 🙂
Just rented it on your recommendation. If it’s lousy, this be on your own head, Clay.
Haha, I can take the pressure. Come back and let me know what you think.
You win, Clay.
We’re watching it a second time now.
Nice! I thought you’d like that one.
I’m fully on board the Kate Beckinsale train; she’s been a favorite for a long time. I like Emily Blunt but I don’t think I’ve seen her in a great role yet.
You’d probably like Wild Target. She’s pretty good in that one. And stay off my Kate Beckinsale train.
I can’t believe that Emma Stone does not make your list. After all, she fought the undead in “Zombieland.”
It’s true she fought those zombies, but Emma is more of a girl I’d like to hang out with or go people watching at Walmart with.
To be uh, blunt, I really didn’t like the adjustment bureau but I did however, like Blunt. She was great in the mediocre state of that movie. My male faves are Will Smith. That boy can play a range! And my newest crush is Gabriel Macht (Suits) who has the mutant ability to act with his eyes alone. It is amazing to watch the various emotion that his non-verbal face can emit.
I’d have to give my female crushes some thought since I usually don’t go there…..Swoon on Clay they are all yours!
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When Raquel Welch and I were quite young she and I had a “thing” going on for several years. Eventually I gave her up for a more physically available set of twins. For us, holding hands constituted physically available. Their cruel father saw us holding hands one day and that ended the fun.