Apparently, How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer made the festival rounds back in 2005, but is only now coming out in theaters. Why? I don't know. All I know is that Garcia Girls finds America Ferrera in yet another coming-of-age tale (see also: Real Women Have Curves and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), which doesn't really bother me because I think she's so compelling in these roles, I could watch her do these movies several more times (and I'll get another chance this summer with the Pants sequel).
The description on the movie's official site puts it best:
What does female desire look like? And how do self-inflicted limitations and social expectations shade and color it? [Director] Georgina Garcia Riedel lovingly explores the terrain of longing, loneliness, and self-realization among three generations of single women in a Mexican American family as they grapple with romantic drought.
A lot of movies and TV shows like to pretend that female desire stops at a certain age, so I for one am stoked to see someone — anyone — exploring the issues of female sexuality — at different ages. For exclusive iVillage clips from the film, click here. To check out the sweet-looking trailer, read more
I'm gearing up for Sasquatch and just thinking about the Columbia River Gorge in the sunshine and listening to good, live music gets my heart pounding with excitement. This week I've been running down some of the artists and bands I'm looking forward to seeing including The Kooks and Joshua Morrison.
If there is one genre of music that matches my outdoor music festival-loving soul, it's soulful alt-country by female singers of the Lucinda Williams tradition, and Kathleen Edwards is one of the greatest. She hails from Canada, isn't even 30 years old, and yet her songs contain great lyrical wisdom and insight. I love sticking in tracks like "Back to Me" on road trips. Alternatively, songs like "Alicia Ross" are incredibly moving, and remind me that a simple song with powerful lyrics can evoke such strong emotions.
She's oh-so-talented and seems to be always on the brink of mainstream success. Her song "Summerlong" was featured on the soundtrack of Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown, for example. For now, though, she enjoys a loyal fan following and continues to make great music.
To check out the video for "Back to Me" and let me know what you think of Kathleen Edwards, read more
Friends, the time has come. Just when it felt like we got our Thursday night television back after the strike, it's ending again with tonight's season finales of both Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty.
In the case of Grey's, I'm kinda glad to see this season put out of its misery. The show tends to have really great runs of interesting story lines, but something tells me the writers' strike had a major impact (understandably) on the show getting its mojo back. I've said before that I just don't care about Derek's relationship with Rose because she's just . . . annoying. Hopefully tonight's episode will finally deliver and leave us wanting more.
Ugly Betty, on the other hand, did not skip a beat upon returning, and the show just gets better and better with each episode. Of course, the Gio-Betty-Henry love triangle is compelling. Not to mention the fact that Wilhelmina and Marc are back — along with Amanda — which adds up to a lot of laughs. Call me a sap, but I think the show continues to do a great job of unleashing outlandish plot lines and then reeling itself back in for some genuinely touching moments.
Tonight is a biggie as it looks like Henry returns with a big question to ask Betty, plus there are guest stars galore including Lindsay Lohan and Naomi Campbell. I'm very excited — nay, giddy! — for this one.
To check out a preview clip from each show and weigh in on which finale you're looking forward to the most, read more
Come this Fall, the current administration will be movin' out of the spotlight just as Oliver Stone's movie about it is heading to theaters. As reported earlier this month, W. will be released October 17, 2008 so it's no wonder the casting news continues to break at a rapid pace. They've got George and Laura, and even found their British Prime minister and National Security Advisor-turned-Secretary of State but one of the most buzzed-about casting slots left to fill was that of Vice President Cheney. Now there's news that Richard Dreyfuss will likely fill those shoes.
The Hollywood Reporter notes similar public service roles Dreyfuss has taken on in his career thus far:
The 60-year-old Dreyfuss has never played a U.S. leader, but has had a few related roles. He starred as an opposition senator to Michael Douglas' commander in chief in 1995's The American President, as Alexander Haig in a television movie about Ronald Reagan and played the president of a banana republic in the 1980s comedy Moon Over Parador.
Usually Dreyfuss' name makes me think of Mr. Holland's Opus and What About Bob. Still, I think the acting veteran will have no problem pulling off this, ah, controversial White House guy. Rob Corddry is also signed on to play the president's former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer and Toby Jones will step in as Karl Rove. I believe that just leaves Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld open. Got ideas?
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Just like many of you, I was dismayed at the cancellation of ABC's Miss Guided starring Judy Greer. I love watching her and I thought overall it was a fantastic ensemble comedy. From my poll results, it also looks like some folks are none too pleased to see Notes From the Underbelly go, too, but as sad as these cancellations are, take heart: Judy Greer and Rachael Harris (from Notes) have already scored new gigs — and on HBO, no less!
The two will star in HBO's half-hour pilot Suburban Shootout. Hollywood Reporter has more:
Based on the critically praised British series, Shootout is a dark comedy about a woman (Greer) who escapes the city for suburban bliss only to find herself caught between two rival gangs of homicidal housewives as they vie for control of their idyllic town.
In addition to Greer and Harris, so far the cast is rounded out by Kelly Preston and Reno! 911's Kerri Kenney (Deputy Trudy Wiegel!). Man, HBO is on such a roll with the female-led programming this year. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us.
Photos copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.
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