My Blogathon: 6° of Separation

Why should I let everyone else have all the fun? I have been thinking about hosting my own blogathon for awhile so now I’m going for it. It’s called “ 6° of Separation”, playing off of that idea that everyone in the world is connect through six people or less. I’m taking that idea to actors and film. Of course I know that this idea for a blogathon may have been done before, but I wanted to put my own spin on it. I have to say that this is something I play to myself all the time, seeing how I can connect the most random actors together through some of my most liked films. 

Interested in participating? Here what you have to do:

  1. Pick one of the actors pairings (or more) below. I give you three to choose from. If you want, explain why you choose that particular one over the others or what drew you to those particular actors. 
  2. Connect the actors through film. In six steps or less connect the two actors in the paring. Not only must these be films you have SEEN but also LIKED. Discuss why you liked each (you can even link back to your reviews/posts) and how the actors you are highlighting relate each other in the movie. You can use any form of media (movie stills, video, trailers) to introduce each film. Be creative. 
  3. Post it on your blog and send me the link. I would appreciate it if you would use the banner above on your posts and link back to this post to spread the word on this blogathon. The blogathon will start Oct. 1st and run through the month of October. When you email me, make sure “Six Degrees” in the subject line and in the body of the email have the link and the acting pair you choose. The deadline is October 31st. 
  4. Check back here. The next day I will post all the links under each respective pairing. I will also choose my favorite from each pairing and give them special mention. Bonus points for using mostly or all independent films and paths that are unexpected. The bloggers of my three favorites will then have a chance to choose a new actor pairing each to be used in the next round.

Sound simple enough, right? Well here are the options for this round…

James Marsden -> Denzel Washington
Andrew Garfield -> Claire Danes
Kate Winslet -> Chris Pine

Need an example of how this works? Check out my (brief) example after the jump…

Let’s say an option was Chris Messina -> Jonathan Rhys-Myers, and I choose it, I could do this: 

Chris Messina -> Jonathan Rhys-Myers
I choose these two because they are awesome actors and very hot, duh. 

1. Chris Messina + Zoe Kazan in Ruby Sparks

She (Kazan) was an ideal dream woman personified; he (Messina) was the brother of the guy who made her come to life. What was so great about Ruby Sparks was that on the surface it plays as a sweet but expected indie rom-com but underneath it is thought-provoking commentary on control dynamics in a relationship. Read some more of my thoughts on the film here. 

2. Zoe Kazan + Leo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road

It was the first movie that reconnected Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (love her!) after Titanic. Based on the book of the same name, Revolutionary Road depicts a married couple (DiCaprio and Winslet), clinging to what is expected to them regarding ideals of family and career in the American society of the 1950s. We watch has their marriage slowly comes apart at the seams as they come to realize that the hopes and dreams that fueled their love are slowly dying. As a unhappy husband seemingly does, DiCaprio’s character has many affairs, including one with a new assistant in his office (Kazan) that proves to be important to the story. Side note: This film introduced me to the talents of Michael Shannon who plays a troubled man and neighbor to the family.

3. Leo DiCaprio + Emily Mortimer in Shutter Island

A slightly flawed (why all the thunderous music, Mr. Scorsese?) but really dark and intriguing look at the psychology of a man who is feels tremendous guilty after the death of his wife. The movie is great in that it makes us question the very definitions of insanity. It is the disappearance of Rachel Solando (Mortimer) that brings U.S. Marshall Daniels (DiCaprio) to the Shutter Island, an island that houses a hospital for the criminally insane and begins the mystery. 

4. Emily Mortimer + Jonathan Rhys-Myers in Match Point

Match Point is perhaps my favorite of the contemporary Woody Allen movies, contributing to 2005 being one of my favorite movie years. Set in London with a trio of great English actors, we find (Rhys-Myers), an unhappy married man who beings to have an affair with a budding actress (Scarlett Johanssen), unbeknowning to his wealthy wife (Mortimer). Nothing new and different there right? Wrong. Set to the backdrop of beautifully crafted tennis metaphors, murder, and aspirations of upward mobility, Match Point keeps you glued to the screen until the end. 

…now it’s your turn.