Finding Amanda
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Finding Amanda: Never Finds Its Footing
For me, there are two big issues with writer/director Peter Tolan's feature-length debut: some crazy, disconcerting tonal shifts and a crazy, disconcerting casting choice. There's also a third, less important issue adding to my perplexity about Finding Amanda which is that Matthew Broderick lifelessly sleepwalks through his role.
Tonally, the movie seems to have no idea what it wants to be and vacillates between screwball comedy, dark humor, high drama, and bleak character study.
Movie Preview: Finding Amanda
You know, if someone told me Ferris Bueller grew up to have a gambling problem, I'd totally believe it. Which is probably why I watched the trailer for Finding Amanda with a little smile. It looks like the first role in a long time that lets Matthew Broderick stretch those acting muscles we know are in there, and he's paired with the lovely Brittany Snow.
Other Search Results
Cute Movie Couple Alert: Amanda Seyfried, Gael Garcia Bernal
How cute is this? Amanda Seyfried and Gael Garcia Bernal are teaming up to play a couple in the Italy-set romantic movie Letters to Juliet. They're joined in the cast by Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero.
Ugly Betty Rundown: Episode 23, "Curveball," and Episode 24, "The Fall Issue"
Well, friends, this week concludes Ugly Betty's run on Thursday nights. The show brought out loads of stars for its third season finale, but then a lot of things happened and then unhappened and then rehappened again, and I'm wondering this morning if we actually needed two whole hours of that.
Betty has the job!
Ugly Betty Rundown: Episode 20, "Rabbit Test"
This week's Ugly Betty is a little bit late to the Easter party, but no matter. It's still lots of fun — what with Daniel in a neon pink bunny suit and all. Financially speaking, things at Mode are looking quite grim, and Daniel is forced to put his dignity aside to save the company.
What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday
All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my selections below, you can also catch Jean-Claude Van Damme in JCVD on DVD.
New Mandy Moore Video Kicks Butt (and the Song Is Awesome, Too)
I find it easy to root for Mandy Moore. Despite her bubble gum music roots, it's been clear for some time that she's serious about finding herself as an artist. Her 2007 album, Wild Hope, was a good effort but lacked a standout single and also struck me as a little too adult contemporary for such a young, vibrant artist.
Ugly Betty Rundown: Episode 13, "Kissed Off"
A bunch of you weighed in on what's ailing Ugly Betty these days, but while the Internet may have heard our ideas for how to make it better, the show's writers have yet to turn it around (hey, any Betty writers out there reading our comments? Hey, you never know) because this week's episode is another sad sack of a show.
There's something so listless about it right now — even Marc and Amanda's zingers are falling flat!
Ugly Betty Rundown: Episode 17, "Sugar Daddy"
This week's episode of Ugly Betty is ripped from the super-crazy-depressing recession headlines that have been ruining all of our days for months now. I guess I'm not surprised the gloomy financial news finally seeped into my Thursday night television lineup but I'm not totally happy about it.
Thankfully, there was also a story woven in there about people down on their luck (surprise!
Ugly Betty Rundown: Episode 18, "A Mother of a Problem"
This week's Ugly Betty comes with a super-special treat: Christine Baranski! Honestly, once Baranski's involved with something I'm hard-pressed to be very critical of it. She is pitch-perfect as Betty's new boyfriend's upper-crust snob of a mother who disapproves of our young heroine.
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