If you don’t yet recognize this face yet live in New York City, you may as well be living under a rock.

This week I am featuring one of my favorite young actors, Jesse Eisenberg, because he is just incredible, and should be mentioned in every hot topic column regarding film actors.

Several years ago I discovered for myself the immense talent of Jesse Eisenberg in indie films such as “The Squid and the Whale” and “Roger Dodger“.  I thought to myself – “this guy is great, and he is going to get better and blow up”. Here we are many years later in September of 2010, and I cannot walk anywhere in New York City without seeing a huge poster of Eisenberg’s face as Mark Zuckerberg in the highly anticipated upcoming film “The Social Network” directed by David Fincher. The film, which follows the true life- too insane to be fiction- story of Harvard student Zuckerberg and his friends and how they (or someone else?) invented Facebook is already receiving major Oscar buzz. Mainly for the 26 year old Jesse Eisenberg… And here is when I say “I told you so”…..

It opens soon, and in honor of this young actor who is about to explode into a huge media spotlight, I wanted to recommend a few films from his eclectic background of work. Check out this year’s “Holy Rollers”- where he plays a young Hasidic Jew who is lured into drug smuggling, or see his incredible, awkward talent for comedy in films such as “Adventureland” and “Zombieland“. Or better yet, rent those, but see “The Social Network” when it opens October 1st. This kid will blow you away.

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I don’t ordinarily feature films in the ‘De Profil’ section on THM, but I figured this is a grand exception.  As I walked past the Aneglika today in Manhattan, I saw a film poster for “The Concert” starring a wonderful French actress named Melanie Laurent. I decided to check it out, and was blown away by this amazing, little film that came out of nowhere!

“Le Concert” is about Russian conductor who is demoted to janitor under the Communist Party for his support of Jewish musicians. Years later, he intercepts an invitation from the Bolshoi Orchestra to play in Paris and uses the opportunity to reassemble his old orchestra-30 years prior- and finish the concert that was interrupted by the Communist authorities all those years before.

A classic triumph of the underdog tale– beautiful classical music and incredible acting. After the finale, I was reduced to what I like to call- ‘feel good tears’.

I must say this a gem, and completely unexpected. I highly reccomend you to see it, if you are in the area. You won’t leave dissapointed.

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If you live in the New York City area then you have heard of DavidJr.Com. If you haven’t, you must have been sleeping.

A trademark within himself, David (Bates) set up his franchise with only one thing- himself. As a filmmaker, one of a million in New York, he needed to stand apart from the rest, and market himself, since no one else would listen. Oh boy, did he. The DavidJr bling belts he made out of thin air, have become available for purchase on his website, as well as t-shirts bearing his face image only.

That is all we need to know, right? No. It should also be noted this guy writes, directs, edits, and shoots (mainly improvises) ALL of his own material.

As the lead videographer for the NY based indie film company GEN ART for the last 5 years, David established himself as a force to be reckoned with- “Punking” celebrities before Ashton Kutcher-among those filmmaker Warner Herzog, and even former Vice President Al Gore- and writing, directing, shooting, and editing his mini masterpieces for the Gen Art Film Festival, as well as his own website, which has logged in millions of hits to date.

David also found himself filming a documentary this past year for Austin band “One-Eyed Doll” which won him several contests including the Talenthouse.com contest- where he will direct a music video for the legendary Rik Cordero.

Last year, I had the pleasure of accompanying him to Las Vegas, where Billboard (yet another contest he has conquered) sent us to see Lady Gaga, where we shot a 10 minute short film on Lady Gaga and the modeling industry called “Fame and Loathing in Las Vegas”.

So far, this small-town guy from Connecticut  (whom I assume no one would listen to in a big city filled with struggling filmmakers) took fate into his own hands, and made us all listen- and laugh. We are all the ones now struggling to keep up with him.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Meet DavidJr.Com:

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This week, I’d like to feature one of my favorite singers and actresses of the past 20 years- Vanessa Paradis.  If you are only familair with Ms. Paradis as the wife of Johnny Depp, you are sadly missing out.  In France, this woman is a star-and has indeed earned it.

Coming from Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Val-de-Marne, France, Vanessa became a national star at age 14 with her hit song “Joe le Taxi”.  She rose to work in French cinema for the next 15 years, and has maintained her musical career- every album topping the next.

My personal favorite is  “Vanessa Paradis au Zenith”. It is a live album, and it is magical.

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This week I would like to feature a long time favorite actor of mine, German actor Daniel Bruhl.  Born in Barcelona to Spanish and German parents, Bruhl has been acting for 15 years; he’s been nominated for  and received over 12 film acting awards.

You may have seen him in the German films “Goodbye Lenin!”, “Love in Thoughts“, and “The Edukators“. He also was featured (and spoke 3 languages fluently) in France’s Joyeux Noel in 2005. My favorite film of Bruhl’s is the American-French comedy “2 Days in Paris” where he makes a hilarious cameo.

Most recently Daniel appeared as the Nazi war hero in “Inglourious Basterds”, where he won a SAG award for film acting.

I chose this young actor for his versatility and compassion he brings to each role. He has eyes that connect with each character and make them incredibly touching and real. He is a rare actor who is versatile in many different genres and languages, and I think this year is his. We have just begun to see what a great and underrated talent Daniel Bruhl is.  Cannot wait for what comes next.

Look out for him in the upcoming “In Transit”,  filming now.

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Last Sunday evening, I had the absolute pleasure of attending “Conversations with Vincent Lindon”. Hosted by the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, and UNIFrance festival (Closing night is this Sunday, the 21st).

For those not familiar with Vincent Lindon, born in Boulogne Billancourt, France- he is just extraordinary and well known actor in his native France and has worked consistently for the past 25 years, in over 50 feature films. For this event, the audience was lucky enough to sit down for a private, wonderful talk and watch a Q & A session hosted by the Walter Reade Theater.

Anne and Vincent

During this time clips were shown of some of his amazing work, and his detailed experiences behind making his films, how he started out in cinema, and personal triumphs and tribulations. Two of his latest pieces of work- Welcome, and Mademoiselle Chambon are currently showing this week at the festival. I chose to feature Mr. Lindon in my weekly profile, because of his charm, wisdom, and for the incredible talent that he posesses. He was the most gracious actor I have ever met, and for a person of such “star power and fame”, this quality is rare-almost nonexistent. What a pleasure.
I’d like to share several of my personal favorites: include last year’s Pour Elle (trailer below) featuring Vincent opposite Diane Kruger, and the Hitchcockian La Moustache, from 2005, with Mathieu Amalric. This is a versatile actor who will be around for a very long time, and whether he knows it or not- he is certainly one of the best.

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These Actresses are a MUST SEE! … Even if you have never heard of them.

I feel very compelled to write about foreign actresses. Many I admire, some are colleagues, most are around my age. There is so much young female talent circling around France, my adopted home country. Someone had to write about it! So here is a list, and those to look out for in upcoming films, all coming from France-and hopefully to take the US by storm very soon.

5. Isild Le Besco (France). This young woman has it all. Beauty, grace, and a raw energy and eerie presence on the big screen.  I first saw her with Emmanuelle Seigner in the French drama Back Stage and she is heartbreaking. Her big eyes, her ability to cry from the inner parts of her soul, make her effective, and she carried a talent on her shoulders that is certainly exciting.

4. Emmanuelle Devos (France). A winner at Cannes, and an Arnaud Desplechin leading lady, this classy French woman has it all. She is quirky, funny, and truly a character actress. A chamelion, and a charisma on the big screen. From starring opposite Vincent Cassel in Sur mes Levres, to last year’s Un conte de Noel, she is one of her own.

3. Ludivine Sagnier (France). You may know her as the young seductive woman from the English film Swimming Pool but this young girl has grown up. She is sexy, seductive, and lethal …and better yet–she sings. Check out her incredible voice in  8 Women, and in my personal favorite Les Chansons D’Amour (Love Songs, 2007). Having grown up into an adult before our eyes, she is always jumping to new and different, eccentric projects.

2. Clemence Poesey (France). Fun, exotic, fashionable, and flirty. She is an icon both on screen and off, and a new favorite among Belgian and French markets. You may have seen her in the American film In Bruges, but she has more up her sleeve, as well as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. She is rumored to return for Part 2. Let’s hope this is nothing short of true.

1. Melanie Laurent (France). What can NOT be said about this 26 year old newcomer? She is fierce, and announced to the American cinema go-ers that she is a force to be reckoned with by appearing as the French Jew hero “Shoshanna” in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Not only did Melanie steal the film from both Pitt, and Tarantino-she stepped up and showed the world a strong young survivor, while having a blast on screen. This talented French actress is also a director, and debuted her short film De Moins en Moins earlier this year at Cannes. She is beautiful, smart, and will definitely be here to stay-on her terms only.

Melanie Laurent as Shoshanna Dreyfuss

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A lot has to be said about the 52-year old Austrian actor who burst onto the Hollywood scene last year in Tarantino’s Oscar nominated Inglourious Basterds. Certainly, Quentin knows how to pluck them out of nowhere, and I am sure glad he found Christoph Waltz.

A method actor, originally from Vienna, Waltz grew up acting on the stage, and studied at Lee Strasberg Studio here in New York. It is said that when Tarantino met him, he refused to make the film with anyone else to portray the evil  ‘Jew Hunter’  Hans Landa. Waltz signed on, and has been an unstoppable force since the film’s debut last May at Cannes. In 2009 and 2010 Waltz has gone on to win virtually every single award in each performance category he was nominated for.  Including, but not limited to: the SAG supporting actor, the Golden Globe supporting actor, the Cannes best actor, Nation Society of Film Critics best actor, the BAFTRA award and 24 other Best Actor Awards for his portrayal of Landa. He is next signed up to portray the villian in ‘The Green Hornet’ and expect to see him walk away next Sunday with the ‘Best Supporting Actor Oscar’ in Hollywood. It’s a safe bet to draw.

Stop by each Wednesday for a new featured ‘player actor’ in my DE PROFIL series.

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