Friday, December 03, 2004

Runaway childbirth

Congratulations to Julia Roberts, who gave birth to twins earlier this week. Heaven knows I'm no fan of Ms. Roberts, but any woman who successfully toughs out a dual birth gets major props from me. You go, mommy!

Julia named the new additions Hazel and Phinnaeus. Hmmm...with millions of options to choose from, she named her kids after a maid in a comic strip, and a guy who owned a circus. Whatever trips your trigger, Erin Brockovich.

Someday, someone will explain the Julia Roberts phenomenon to me in terms I can comprehend. Why is this woman so popular? She's not an especially gifted actress — in fact, I'd go so far as to say she's not really much of an actress at all. Her brother Eric is a far superior thespian, but doesn't get nearly the accolades.

And while I'll allow that beauty is subjective — "eye of the beholder" and all that — I don't think she's beautiful, either. She has lopsided features, as though she stepped out of a Picasso cubist fantasy. With that Brobdingnagian, Jack O'Lantern mouth, she could swallow a banana sideways — when she grins, I fear that the corners of her smile will meet at the nape of her neck, at which point the top of her head will simply fall off. Plus, from the neck down, she's gangly and awkward-looking.

Pretty Woman? More like Pretty Homely Woman, in my humble estimation. (Not that I'm any George, Brad, or Denzel myself. I'm just saying, is all.)

But clearly, despite my perceptions, Julia Roberts appeals to a multitude of people of both genders. Women want to be her and men want to be with her. Me, I don't see the attraction.

6 insisted on sticking two cents in:

Anonymous Anonymous offered these pearls of wisdom...

It is her smile, in my opinion. She smiles and it lights up the room.

Kera Sedgwick (I am a horrible speller) has the same quality.

Just my 2 cents worth

Eric
http://www.eshriner.com

7:43 AM  
Blogger SwanShadow offered these pearls of wisdom...

Now, see, Kyra Sedgwick I understand. A lovely woman, and a talented, sadly underused actress.

Julia Roberts...well...there's no accounting for what enthralls us, is there? Marilyn Monroe does nothing for me, either, but at least in her case I can see and appreciate what people were fixated upon.

BTW, thanks for stopping by, and for commenting, Eric. Hope you'll do so again.

8:40 AM  
Blogger annette offered these pearls of wisdom...

With Julia, people love her BECAUSE she isn't 'perfect' - she is like the girl next door - and she isn't all about "look at me, aren't I wonderful?"

Julia is a person people feel they could approach without being intimidated.

I am not a huge Julia fan, but I can see why people love her so much. It's not her acting or beauty, but her person.

10:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous offered these pearls of wisdom...

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

11:31 AM  
Blogger SwanShadow offered these pearls of wisdom...

Thanks, Annette. That makes sense to me. Although it's odd: I'm usually most enamored with the average-girl-next-door type myself. My list of actresses I think are attractive is laden with such names as Linda Fiorentino, Annette O'Toole, Joan Allen, and Diane Lane, who aren't your stereotypical Hollywood glamour girls. Julia Roberts to me just looks like Andie McDowell's reflection in a funhouse mirror.

But I appreciate what you and Eric both suggest, that her appeal is based on her uniqueness, not her conformity to some mythic ideal. I can respect that, even if I don't see it myself.

11:38 AM  
Blogger SwanShadow offered these pearls of wisdom...

In case anyone's wondering, the deleted post was my own. I inadvertently posted anonymously rather than as myself. I wasn't censoring anyone's input, just reposting my own under my name!

11:40 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home