by StuntDouble

Hilary Swank soars as Amelia Earheart

What's that sound you hear? Oh, it's just Hilary Swank locking up another Oscar nomination for her starring role as Amelia Earhart in the biopic Amelia.

How do I know Amelia is going to garner Swank another Academy Award nod? Well, Fox Searchlight is giving it a limited release on October 23 (Oscar-bait studio, with Oscar-bait release date). The Academy loves them some biopics (see: Milk, Walk the Line, Ray). And, I've seen the trailer.

See, I told you! Can anyone get inside a character's skin like Hilary Swank? The aviator goggles, the determination and charm, that languid '30s rhythm to her speech. Plus, how about the lush cinematography? Biplanes skipping across the desert and ocean, it's perfect.

And how nice is it to see a biopic about a woman for once? Hollywood only turns out about four decently written parts for women each year. (That's a generous estimate.) Equally lovely is watching Hilary Swank embrace her talent. After her Oscar in 2005 for Million Dollar Baby, she tried to go mainstream with a turn in rom-com (P.S. I Love You) and a horror flick (The Reaping), but Amelia puts her back where she belongs: inside an epic story about a female heroine.

Originally, Amelia was supposed to focus on the early life of the famed aviatrix, but the trailer seems to tease that it's about her now-infamous attempt to fly around the world. Either way, I'm there.

What do you think about Amelia?

StuntDouble's blog

Submitted by

StuntDouble

on July 8, 2009 - 5:00pm.

TAGS ::

I literally got some chills

Submitted by

Lucas (153 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 5:15pm.

I literally got some chills watching this, Amelia Earhart has always been one of my favourite historical figures and Hilary Swank was amazing in Million Dollar Baby. So I'm definitely going to see this one, it looks great!

Wowza!

Submitted by

thekatienator (2 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:59pm.

I got some chills, too. I can't wait!

zooooomg!

Submitted by

d! (17 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 9:31am.

me too! chills chills chills up the wazzooo!

hillary swank is brilliant! i love her!

Brilliant!

Submitted by

Rhyfelwr (157 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 5:29pm.

I've been thinking for sometime that the film industry should do something about Earhart's fantastic story. Amy Adams in Night at the Museum part deux just didn't cut it however. I'm very happy about the casting of Hilary Swank; I can't think of another contemporary arctress who has a chance of pulling this off. I'm really looking forward to this!

This will be great

Submitted by

Melissa Hsu (not verified)

on July 8, 2009 - 5:37pm.

Looking forward to seeing this movie and be inspired by Amelia's extraordinary courage. I wonder how the story of her disappearance will be portrayed. It's ridiculous to believe a woman as goal-oriented as Amelia would contrived on espionage.

just reading about it gave

Submitted by

EggFace (60 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 5:42pm.

just reading about it gave me chills. i LOVE swank, and i know this movie is going to blow us away.

Forget Jennifer's Body

Submitted by

Shannon (700 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 5:50pm.

I'd not waste my money on that when epic fare like this is on screen! I know where I'll be in October. What's with the "limited release"?

~Without risk, there can be no innovation. Without innovation, there can be no advancement. ~

Swank as Amelia

Submitted by

moony (145 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 5:55pm.

Is truly perfect casting. She even looks like Earhart. This is wonderful. I have always been fascinated with Earhart's story, because of the fact that she was a trailblazer, and also because of the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Read a book years ago theorizing that she was captured by the Japanese, who thought her a spy, imprisoned her, and later killed her and her navigator, Fred Noonan. Probably, she was lost at sea, but I've always wanted to believe that she survived and went on to live in anonymity to a ripe old age. Anyway, what a brave and remarkable lady. Thanks for posting the trailer, StuntDouble. I'm excited to see this.

I didn't know that Mira Nair

Submitted by

JesseStone (43 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 6:25pm.

I didn't know that Mira Nair directed this! That makes this film even cooler. Can't wait to see it!

Mira Nair

Submitted by

Thembani (122 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 9:03pm.

I want to know how the heck Mira Nair got this gig!

Nair directing Swank in the starring role of Amelia Earhart seems like the sort of project I would dream up in my head. Too awesome to be true!

Now I have to see it.

This gave me chills. I have

Submitted by

Fruxie (20 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 6:42pm.

This gave me chills. I have a huge historical crush on Amelia Earhart. She could've been queer in this day and age.

For once Im glad Im named after her...

Submitted by

lucky charms (147 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 7:21pm.

When I tell my mom about this she will probley cry...

Does anyone know the ending to this story cause histrory won't tell me

Amelia's end...

Submitted by

Eris_of_Myth (212 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 2:58am.

No one knows for absolute sure. I personally think she was taken hostage, then executed as a spy, by the Japanese. But like I said, no one knows. I do think she would have been proud of this movie, and Hilary Swank was the perfect choice for the role!!

------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the gravity...

Yeah, watching the trailer

Submitted by

girlbeatsdrums (298 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 10:29am.

Yeah, watching the trailer made me wonder how they would end the movie...

wow

Submitted by

kooliokid (3 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 7:30pm.

that looked amazing.

I've researched her before for a paper, and she was truly an amazing person.

I think that's why it was [and still is!] so difficult for many people to accept that her disappearance wasn't knee-deep in controversy.

Wow

Submitted by

Ash (2840 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 7:32pm.

It looks so cool... Her independency and strive for freedom really shows through. And gee, who really knows the ending to Amelia's story? She could be sipping a pina colada on a deserted island somewhere for all we know.

One word: awesome

Submitted by

breakaway627 (26 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:14pm.

Finally, a solid movie to look forward to. I love stories about strong women, especially when they are true. And the cinematography looks stunning. Hilary Swank=awesome, aviation= awesome. I am counting down the days til this comes out.

great...but...

Submitted by

historygal (19 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:43pm.

relevant to ae and gay women n what way?

Relevance

Submitted by

Bett Norris (69 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 5:15am.

I had a huge crush/fascination with Amelia Earhart as a child. I read everything I could find, several biographies included. Most establish that her marriage was one of convenience, finance, promotion, and companionship, and some imply that Amelia was gay, some do not. Reference her letter written to her husband on the eve of their wedding.

She was however, very far ahead of her time in living her life as a free woman unbound by convention.

www.bettnorris.com

www.bywaterbooks.com

you're kidding, right?

Submitted by

alex (471 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 10:27am.

since when have strong, inspiring women NOT been relevant to this site?

not everything has to be about an LGBT issue; the simple fact is, hilary swank is a great actress (who may or may not be hot, depending on whether you side with Kelly Kapoor!) who has played some incredible roles, both straight and gay. heck, i even liked her in the karate kid! And Mira Nair! Since when hasnt she been fantastic (okay, Vanity Fair may have been a little ambitious)?

Moreover, Earheart's story is an important one. She was far ahead of her time, and did a lot to show that women were just as fearless and capable as men. considering your tag is HistoryGirl, i think you can probably appreciate that. Sorry, dont mean to call you out. Just wanted to say lighten up - the trailer is really interesting, and i can gaurantee (just look at the other comments) that a lot of AE readers are looking forward to this!

---------
http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com

Amelia>>

Submitted by

shortypants (501 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:51pm.

I want to believe this will be brilliant BUT I have noticed a pattern in my movie viewing over the years: in a trailer, when studios play up an actor's/director's past achivements ("2 time Academy Award winner Hillary Swank, Golden Globe winner Richard Gere"), the movies are usually a letdown.

I'm still gonna put my $$$ down for this and keep hope alive but I'll go into the theatre with trepidation.

I want to see this so bad..

Submitted by

Ashley Maile (170 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:52pm.

I want to see this so bad.. If I had the money this would so be my next step in traveling solo. Too bad she wasn't gay!!

"There would be no black and white, the world would just treat my wife right. We could walk down in Mississippi, and no one would look at us twice. That's my dreamworld." - Dreamworld by Robin Thicke

:D

Submitted by

sexhair (89 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 10:00pm.

Well that looks just a bit awesome!!...I love Hilary Swank.

They think we're ugly, but I know we're beautiful.

gonna go

Submitted by

daysye (54 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 10:38pm.

i am def. going to go and see this. i love hilary swank. she was great in iron-jawed angels and million dollar baby, hell even in boys don't cry. i like her better when she is in a role that can show her true talent. and seeing her rockin' some aviator goggles-a major bonus.

oh lordy.

Submitted by

girlbeatsdrums (298 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 10:56pm.

I love hilary swank. Iron-Jawed Angels, ftw!

Looks amazing. I can't wait.

Doesn't she end up on

Submitted by

Luna (356 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 11:37pm.

Doesn't she end up on another planent later discovered by Captain Catherine Janway?

Finally a release date

Submitted by

7Up (639 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 11:50pm.

I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Amelia! Hilary swank has that total genious that reminds me of Meryl Streep, I hope I'll be watching Swank on the screen just as long!!!!

I'm still blown away by her Brandon in Boy's Don't Cry... But she never fails to deliver.... She even made P.S. I Love You feel genuine beyond the formulaic style of the movie, it made me cry, which I rarely ever do. What could have turned into a sort of lightweight romantic movie she turned into something that felt genuine. She seems to have that effect on whatever she touches (aside from that early karate kid movie, but at least she did karate!).

Ok, I admit it, I'm a huge fan.

I love..

Submitted by

Frenchie (224 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 4:00pm.

Hilary Swank!!! She blew me away with her performances in "Boys Don't Cry" too. I think she lived one month as a boy before filming the movie. She went by as the cousin of Hilary Swank. She was shocked how cruel people can be.

As a kid I loved the Karate-kid trilogy; I even loved her in "The Next Karate-kid". I simply love her movies. Insomnia, Red Dust, Million Dollar Baby (her dedication); Iron Jawed Angels (Women Rights), Freedom Writers. I will see any movie she plays in.

She has the talent to portray people. Here is one of her quotes:

"I think when you're playing a real character you have an extra responsibility to do it really right, so because of that, I do extensive research. I really try and figure out the person inside and out. I read the lines, but I read in-between the lines and try and find the qualities in that person that makes them human and I hopefully try and bring that out in what I do."

Finally!

Submitted by

norwegianwalrus (14 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 3:43am.

I've been dying to see this trailer since I heard they were making a movie about Amelia Earhart! I have to admit that I wasn't entirely sure if Hilary Swank would be able to pull this off, but after seeing a few pictures of her in costume and now seeing this trailer, I'm more than confidant that she'll be nominated for this role and after seeing this I can't think of anyone else better to play such an amazing and inspirational woman.

Long Live Amelia Earhart!

Mira Nair

Submitted by

Mély Mel'eau (159 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 7:31am.

I was gettng worried about Hilary's career when she started making questionable movies but thank the heavens for this. Mira Nair can always count on my money for a movie ticket and a double disc DVD, my collection will be growing soon...

*partir en premier ne veut pas toujours dire arriver en premier*

Oh whoa.

Submitted by

Mara (1184 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 12:35pm.

I got goosebumps just watching the trailer. Count me in.

_ _ _ _ _

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

...

Submitted by

woody-69 (100 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 4:35pm.

I have seen her in a couple of interviews, and there is something so genuine about her as herself it makes me want to cheer for anything she does. When I saw Boys Don't Cry I thought I may never recover from the pain I felt. I didn't know the story of Brandon before that film, and she brought him to life for us. That was my introduction to Hilary's work, and I try not to miss anything she does. Like the comment above stated, she managed to make a romantic comedy substantial....that's talent.

The storyline doesn't look

Submitted by

Lauren (190 posts)

on July 10, 2009 - 5:19pm.

The storyline doesn't look terribly interesting but the cinematography, music, and Ewan McGregor you can't pass up.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Submitted by

Janay (481 posts)

on July 12, 2009 - 6:57am.

I've been waiting fot this for so long! As usual when I'm really excited about something on AE I didn't read the comments lol, not yet, always a lot of negative ones and I don't want to be brought down about this yet!

It's going to be EPIC! Amelia Friggin Earhart, all I wanna know is WHAT TOOK SO LONG!?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I know how I was born and I know that I have no choice. I know it may not show on the color of my skin, but I know it’s in my heart and in my soul."-Sara Quin

Woohoo

Submitted by

Jill (35 posts)

on July 13, 2009 - 2:34am.

I want to see this, then again I'd watch Hilary Swank read the phone book!!!!

Jill

<3

Submitted by

sandra (18 posts)

on July 13, 2009 - 6:19am.

I love hilary swank.. well, who doesn't? definitely watching it..

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by StuntDouble

Hilary Swank soars as Amelia Earheart