As a simple story about a young woman having a hard time of it, Wendy and Lucy is a bit irritating at times. But after viewing this quiet little movie directed and co-written by indie darling Kelly Reichardt, I sat with it and mulled it over for a few weeks. Only then did I realize how effective it is at capturing the bitter realities and melancholy that exists for those who live at or below the poverty lines and on the edges of our society.
It's certainly a downer — but a superbly rendered downer that may ultimately be seen as a cinematic snapshot of the times we're living in. Reichardt and her star, the impressive Michelle Williams, succeed at capturing a certain downtrodden vibe that's in the air nowadays and for that I can forgive it for being, well, boring. To see where I think it soars and where it stumbles, just read more
In the hectic craze of holiday shopping, did you miss a relative or two on your list? Below I've rounded up some of my entertainment-related gift guides for familial folks. All of these suggestions can be ordered online and most can be shipped quickly. Happy shopping!
And if your family's not so much into entertainment, check out all the many, varied gift guides across the Sugar network. Christmas is almost upon us!
It seems the dismal weather plaguing parts of the nation proved detrimental to box office earnings this weekend. Of the less-than-robust numbers, however, the Jim Carrey-Zooey Deschanel comedy Yes Man ended up taking the most in ticket sales with a little over $18 million. Will Smith's Seven Pounds did almost as well, though still worse than expected with $16 million.
Variety claims both movies "were expected to come in at least $5 million higher" and blames inclement weather for the quiet opening weekend:
Friday’s crippling storm in the Northeast dragged down grosses dramatically in a menacing start to the Christmas holiday. Weekend was down by as much as 44% over last year. In Boston, Friday’s B.O. dropped a whopping 81% from the previous Friday, while it fell 45% in Gotham.
Yeesh. After Seven Pounds, The Tale of Despereaux came in third place, followed by The Day the Earth Stood Still and Four Christmases respectively. In less bah-humbuggy news, the indie film market is doing quite well these days: The Mickey Rourke movie The Wrestler had an excellent weekend, as did Slumdog Millionaire.
This upcoming holiday weekend promises a whole slew of fresh blood at theaters: Marley & Me, Valkyrie, Bedtime Stories, The Spirit, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button all open in wide release on Christmas Day this Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
There's something about these songs that makes me feel all warm and cozy — like I'm already home and snuggled in for the holidays. If some country Christmas songs have a similar effect on you, check out my playlist after the jump. Some of my very favorites include "Merry Christmas Mary" with Johnny Cash's rich, deep voice giving thanks to the woman who, you know, helped make the first Christmas happen, and the exuberant "Baby Jesus Is Born" by Garth Brooks.
It's a nice little group of songs, so to check it out and share your own favorites, read more
Is January 5 burned into your brain yet? If you're a Gossip Girl fan, it probably will be after you watch the promo video below. That's the night the show returns with new episodes, and it looks like we'll have plenty of drama to greet us on the other side of the holidays.
"Like what kind of drama?" you might ask. Why, drama like:
- Dan behind bars
- Lily and Rufus nekkid together in bed.
- "Dan-Serena-Dan-Serena-Woooo!" — Jenny Humphrey
- Chuck with many scantily clad women.
You know, that sort of thing.
Hey, it's just two weeks. We can make it to the other side, right? To check out the video, just read more
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