BuzzSugar

Finding Amanda: Never Finds Its Footing

BuzzSugar — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:30:43 PDT

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. Sometimes, when you toss those elements into a bag and shake them up, you get something pretty cool. But in this case, it's not cool. In fact, it reminds me of sitting in a car while someone learns how to drive a stick shift, getting jerked around uncomfortably between gears the entire ride. The gear shifts in this movie are so jarring emotionally that it made me want to get the heck out of that car.

To see why I think Brittany Snow should never, ever play another prostitute,

read more. In the opening we meet Matthew Broderick's character, Taylor Peters, a TV writer who's working on a low-rated comedy. We quickly discover he's a bit of an industry loser due to his many addiction problems (drugs, alcohol, etc.). He's supposedly kicked most of these habits at the behest of his wife (played by Maura Tierney) - except for gambling on horse races. Throughout this entire setup, Broderick has some life in him, giving big puppy dog eyes to the camera as he lies to his wife about being at the tracks. All the while, bouncy music a la Curb Your Enthusiasm plays along in the background. But things begin to unravel for Taylor when his wife threatens to leave him and in some strange attempt to prove his worth, he decides to save their niece Amanda (Snow) who is working as a prostitute in Vegas. This is about when things seriously unravel for the audience, too, because we are suddenly jerked into another gear when the bright eyed, sing-songy Amanda joyfully describes to her uncle in explicit detail the sexual acts she performs as a prostitute. She also reveals a terribly shocking secret about her past, to which Broderick basically responds with a shrug. Um, I never want to hear some of these words coming out of Snow's mouth again. It is like watching a Disney movie where suddenly the princess admits she was raped as a girl. It's icky, uncomfortable and completely outside of Snow's acting range. This is all even more disconcerting when Snow is directed to quit with the peppy "Hey, Uncle, I'm a happy hooker!" shtick and is breaking down in a bathroom stall. Her breakdown doesn't make you feel a thing besides "Wait. . .wha??" On some level, this project could be seen as a valiant try. Maybe give it an "A" for effort because it's not unintelligent and there are some good laughs. But the execution is so poor and actors so off that it's hard to care about it one way or another. Photos courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Movie Preview: Finding Amanda

BuzzSugar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:30:42 PDT

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.

The plot for this movie, which I missed when I was at Sundance, is this: "A television producer with a penchant for drinking and gambling is sent to Las Vegas to convince his troubled niece to enter rehab."

Finding Amanda is due out June 27 and you can see the trailer if you

Fall in Love . . . With Belted Coats

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:18:03 PST

We are thrilled to share this story from Lauren Conrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven has started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. This week, she's sharing her favorite belted coats.

It’s easy to look frumpy during the Winter when you’re hidden beneath layers upon layers of clothing. But you don’t have to be a fashion victim just because the mercury dropped. Instead, take a cue from Burberry Prorsum and Diane von Furstenberg and belt that bulky coat of yours! Defined waists are coming back in a major way for 2012, which makes belted coats the perfect transitional piece for this trend. I love the belted look because I think it’s a nice way to create a waist when it’s cold. And I love the understated femininity of the look as well. As a matter of fact, I even designed one for an upcoming Paper Crown collection (stay tuned!).

The belted look can be achieved a couple of ways: Simply cinch your coat or jacket at the waist with your favorite belt or buy a pre-belted (or waist-tie) coat/jacket. You can even work this trend with a closed blazer and cute belt, too. The belted coat works for all body types. It’s universally flattering and adds the ultimate chic-factor to drab Winter wear. The best part? It’s a cinch!

Here are a few of my favorite belted coats:

Topshop Military Belted Coat
Urban Outfitters BB Dakota Romain Belted Coat
Vanessa Bruno Camel Belted Coat

Which one is your favorite?

Also, how do you feel about the belted coat look?

XO Lauren

P.S. Want to see what the original cover concept looked like for the first L.A. Candy book? Click here to see the sketch I did (and just found)!

Link Time - Tim Gunn Is Celibate and Happy

TresSugar — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:20:06 PST

Tim Gunn's gone 29 years without sex. What's your record? - YourTango
Is this the next Bridesmaids? - The Daily Beast
Amanda Knox loves Italy and plans to go back - TheFrisky
Find out which country has banned Valentine's Day - Newser
Give the gift of Jon Hamm for Valentine's Day - Jezebel
Wedding bell blues: when all your friends are getting engaged - CollegeCandy
Cuddle or sleep? What your choice says about your relationship - Huffington Post
See what celebs looked like before stardom took over - theBERRY
What it's like to do Muslim speed dating - GOOD

6 Tips to Start Your New Job Right

Kiplinger — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:08:12 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

I learned some valuable lessons about how to succeed in the "real world" while starting out at my first full-time job, and you can, too.

I never expected my social circle, at age 22, to use the phrase "I feel so old" so much. We know we still have our whole lives ahead of us, but making the transition from college to career can really make you feel like you've aged 20 years. For example, unlike in my college years, convincing myself to go out on a Friday night these days takes almost as much work as getting out of bed on a Monday morning. And I never thought I would be spending my beloved lazy Sundays running whatever errands I didn't get done during the week. Even four internships, including one with my current full-time employer, the Kiplinger Washington Editors, hadn't fully prepared me for this whole professional-life thing.

To help you make the adjustment and overcome common obstacles you might face when you're just starting out, here are some lessons I learned in the first few months of my first job. I hope these tips will help you feel as young as you are. SEE ALSO: Our Quiz on Navigating the First Weeks at Your New Job

Read on for tips.

More Details on Katy Perry and Russell Brand's Split

Lauren Turner — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:17:52 PST

Katy Perry and Russell Brand's friends speak out about the split - People
There is so much to love about Michael Fassbender - Lainey Gossip
Will there be a Bridesmaids sequel without Kristen Wiig? - Huffington Post
Amber Rose makes some accusations about Kim Kardashian's love life - D-Listed
Beyoncé nabs another magazine cover - JustJared
Amanda Seyfried's close to a new role - Hollywood Reporter
Model Irina Shayk goes topless in Esquire - Hollywood Tuna
Madonna and her kids hit the slopes in Switzerland - Pink Is the New Blog
You might be surprised how much Paris Hilton has earned since 2005 - The Superficial
Find out which candidates celebrities are supporting - The Daily Beast
Revenge's Emily VanCamp gets sexy with her costars - TooFab
Vanessa Hudgens shows love for her man - The Blemish

Amanda Seyfried Shares the Best Beauty Advice She's Received

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:36:11 PST

Actress Amanda Seyfried is known for her milky skin and bright blue eyes, and she's down to earth when it comes to her beauty routine. The Clé de Peau brand ambassador, who turned 26 over the weekend, reveals some of the secrets she's picked up during her time on set - and they're surprisingly simple. Watch now to find out how she keeps her complexion glowing and her eyes standing out.

Barbara Walters Reveals Most Fascinating People of 2011

Katie Henry — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:03:53 PST

Find out who ranks on Barbara Walters's most fascinating people list - JustJared
Country singer Mindy McCready and her child are no longer missing - People
Has Michael Fassbender started campaigning for an Oscar? - Lainey Gossip
Jon Hamm to play a butler? - Huffington Post
Is Christopher Meloni joining the cast of True Blood? - D-Listed
Chuck Star Zachary Levi to host Spike TV's video game awards - Hollywood Reporter
Stacy Keibler loves to show off her long legs in skinny jeans - Hollywood Tuna
Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler are engaged. . . again - Pink Is the New Blog
Amanda Seyfried keeps her assets in check - The Superficial
Carey Mulligan talks about her NC-17 role in Shame - The Daily Beast
Ali Lohan denies plastic surgery rumors - TooFab
Twilight fans are flocking to bridal boutiques - Amy Grindhouse

The 5 Stages of Breakup Grief

YourTango — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:00:07 PST

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.

"I think we should break-up."

"I don't love you anymore."

"We aren't right for each other."

Breakups can leave the lovelorn rattled for weeks, months and sometimes even years. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Grieving a relationship is not unlike grieving a death. It's a healing process. But one day, you will move on. 20 Shocking Breakup Statistics

"The key to getting through a breakup is accepting that you are going to be a crazy maniac for the next three to six months of your life," says Elina Furman, relationship expert and author of Kiss and Run: The Single, Picky and Indecisive Girl's Guide to Overcoming Her Fear of Commitment. "There's no skipping steps so even if you think you're over it right away, you're probably not."

If you're recently single, fasten your seatbelt. These five stages of grief can get pretty rocky. It's A Breakup Not A Breakdown: Get over the big one and change your life - for good!

Drunken Denial: A nightmarish state with equal parts alcohol and magical thinking.

"After Andy broke up with me I just didn't accept it," says Eliza, 29, who dated her ex for two years before he called it quits. "I continued to call him exactly as I had before, we continued to have sex and then he would push me away and remind me we were broken up. It was terrible."

As with most matters of the heart, we have nothing but biology to blame for the magnetic pull that drags us to an ex's front doorstep immediately after a breakup.

"Initially there is often shock," says sex and relationship therapist Ian Kerner. "When you've gotten used to routines and patterns, those routines are hardwired and hardcoded in our brains. There's a sense of wanting to resume them."
Sweaty Mania: A confusing state, during which you experience intense feelings of regret, euphoria and guilt. As reality filters in, you find yourself wildly grasping for relief. You're injected with confusing and invigorating energy.
"People do a lot of crazy things during this stage," says Kerner. "I always tell women to watch out for casual sex because men don't produce oxytocin, so it's easier for them to compartmentalize a one-nighter or something casual. For women, it's more difficult. You immediately want to bond with who you are physical with."

Use your newfound recklessness to do something that terrifies you. But pass on the one-night stand! Sign up for improv acting, maybe, or go skydiving.

"Staying busy was really the best cure for me," says Amanda, 26. After she and her boyfriend of a year split, Amanda replayed each and every one of their arguments and endlessly beat herself up until she found a new outlet for her energy. "I trained for a marathon," she says. "I swear it was just as good, if not better, than therapy.”

To read the next three stages, check out YourTango: The 5 Stages Of Break-Up Grief

Written by Melissa Noble for YourTango.

Details on the Alleged Fighting That Drove Demi and Ashton Apart

Lauren Turner — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:58:47 PST

What really drove Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher apart? - People
Does Gwyneth Paltrow have to pay for her red carpet looks? - Lainey Gossip
Ashton Kutcher has a long history of breaking up - Huffington Post
Alex Rodriguez has some questionable company at his Miami pad (NSFW) - D-Listed
Hilary Duff dishes on her Thanksgiving plans - JustJared
See Ashley Greene's sexy red carpet moments - SI's Hot Clicks
Find out which lucky families will watch a Muppets screening at the White House - Hollywood Reporter
Amanda Seyfried shows off her figure in Marie Claire - Hollywood Tuna
Sarah Michelle Gellar claims she doesn't weigh herself - Pink Is the New Blog
January Jones has help with baby Xander - The Superficial
George Clooney's been caught checking out Stacy Keibler's chest - The Daily Beast
Kendra Wilkinson shows a whole lot of cleavage - TooFab
Can't get enough of Beyoncé's new video? Watch it again! - popbytes