BuzzSugar

Rocket Science: Charming, But Not Quite Enough

BuzzSugar — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:03:57 PDT

Rocket Science is the kind of movie that people, including me, will describe as charming or endearing. The problem with the film - the first narrative feature from Oscar-nominated director Jeffrey Blitz, who directed Spellbound - is that it's not quite as charming as it thinks it is.

Rocket Science centers on Hal Hefner (Reece Thompson), a meek high schooler with a serious stutter and a wrecked home life. After embarrassing himself by going mum during a school assembly, he's recruited for the school's debate team by Ginny Ryerson (Anna Kendrick), the state debate runner-up who's still nursing the wounds from being abandoned mid-finals by her former partner, Ben Wekselbaum (Nick D'Agosto). Ginny tells Hal she sees real potential in him, and he falls completely for her ploy, never thinking that Ginny might have more self-interested motivations in mind. In normal high school underdog tales, Hal would lose the stutter, get the girl and win the state debate trophy, but Rocket Science is more complicated than that, so

From the opening scenes, the central idea of Rocket Science is that on the night Ben Wekselbaum stopped speaking at the New Jersey state debate championships, his voice started slowly making its way toward Hal. And it's an appealing idea, because Hal is obviously smart and witty and easy to root for; you want him to be able to tell the lunch lady he wants pizza without suffering through two minutes of "um"s and "uh"s first. Basically, you want Hal to get what he wants, which is 1) the ability to speak clearly and 2) Ginny. Thompson and Kendrick deliver nuanced performances far beyond their years here; there's one scene that ends with a cello through a window that's simultaneously hilarious and deeply moving.

Rocket Science isn't content just to tell a story of a stuttering, lovelorn wannabe debater, though, and that's where the movie's weaknesses lie. I assume Blitz, who also wrote the film, was aiming for a universal "finding your voice in a messed-up world" theme, with broken marriages, deviant teenagers and unhelpful school counselors to spare. But the movie is bloated with supporting characters and plot threads that don't ever seem to tie into the whole. The counselor, a staple of every high school film, fades in and out of relevance; Hal's mother's lover is little more than a caricature. I would have been content to lose virtually all of those characters and plot lines in favor of spending more time with Hal and Ginny.

The movie starts coming back together toward the end, however, when Hal seeks out Ben for advice. D'Agosto, so so young and goofy-looking in photos, looks positively like a man next to tiny, insecure Hal; Ben's confidence couples with Hal's insecurity to create some of the funniest and truest scenes in the film. I just wish Rocket Science had stuck to dealing with love, revenge, and high school debate; it's a smaller story, true, but one that the film could tell very well indeed.

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"Heroes" Fans: Claire Gets a New Boyfriend

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:16:41 PDT

Remember Claire's sweet Southern diner fiance from the last season of "Heroes"? Well, forget him. There's going to be a new guy in Claire's life: West, played by Nick D'Agosto. Yes, his name is going to be "West."

No news on exactly what kind of power he'll have, but apparently it's "very cool."

D'Agosto has been in a few TV pilots, but curiously, he's also in an indie movie called Rocket Science, the trailer for which I was just watching this morning. In it he plays Ben, a brilliant high school debater and the counterpart to the lead character Hal whose stutter prevents him from succeeding in the world of high school debate.

The trailer is incredibly endearing and funny, so I can see why the movie got great reviews at its Sundance premiere back in January. It looks similar to the awkward teenage indie movie Thumbsucker - only this time it's stuttering that's the problem, not thumb sucking - with elements of Napoleon Dynamite thrown in. The movie comes out in limited release August 10. To watch the trailer,

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The Burden of the Working Mom: Fact or Fiction?

LilSugar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:33:40 PST

If you've been part of an office environment while pregnant or as a parent, chances are, you've faced challenges (and some judgments, too) that are nonissues to your co-workers. In a recent article for Forbes.com, Victoria Pynchon states her case for the working mom, admitting frustration when her "mom employees" would have conflicting obligations but also noting that she now realizes that it wasn't necessarily their fault. She writes:

As I look back on the problem for both me and the working mother, I realize that my law firm simply failed to take into account the existence of working mothers on my team when planning my staffing needs. This was not rocket science. There was plenty of work for women to do at home if they had to relieve a babysitter or pick up a child at 6 p.m. If I needed a live, warm body in the office, better management on my part and better support from HR could easily have solved the problem.

According to a set of statistics presented by Dina Bakst, cofounder and copresident of A Better Balance: the Work & Family Legal Center, absences because of illness, injury, or medical problems are often two to three times as high as absences because of "child care problems, other family or personal obligations, civic or military duty, and maternity or paternity leave."

We want you to weigh in! Share your workplace experience by voting in the below poll.

How to Roll Your Yoga Mat to Avoid That Annoying Curl

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:54:35 PST

Rolling a yoga mat shouldn't be rocket science, right? But as with most things, there's a right way and a not-so-right way. If you unroll your yoga mat and are left with the end curling up by your hands or feet, here's a simple solution to put into your practice.

Lay your mat out on the floor, with the side you practice on facing up. To help you remember which side is which, you can write your name in small print with a Sharpie on the top corner where your hands would be in Down Dog (learn the basics of the Down Dog pose here). Writing your name on your mat is also a good idea in case you lose it.
Off the mat, walk over to the end where your feet would be in Down Dog. Squat down, hold onto this end with both hands and then flip it to the right so the side you don't practice on is now facing up.
Start rolling your mat from this end all the way to the top of your mat. The side you practice on will be exposed (as well as your name).
The next time you're ready to practice, hold onto the top end with both hands and flick the rest of the mat away from you, unrolling it so the side you don't practice on is facing down. You're left with a flat mat every time.

How to Save Money by Skipping the Hairstylist (and When)

LearnVest — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:15:27 PDT

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

Talk about hating paperwork: Four in ten Americans would rather cut their own hair than do their taxes without the help of an accountant.

Actually, we would rather not pay anyone to do something we could do ourselves. So, in our DIY or Not series, we convince the experts to give us the inside scoop on when we do - and when we don’t - need to pay them a visit, plus tips on how to DIY well.

In our first story we asked an accountant when it’s OK to do your own taxes. But now, since spring is the perfect time to freshen up your look, it’s a also great time to cut down on those pesky hair expenses. We just want to make sure you don’t find yourself in a tough spot (or with a terrible haircut).

To get the facts on the rules and tips for doing your own hair without penalty to your self-esteem or social life, we talked to Eugene Toye, a stylist at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City.

Here’s what he told us:

Don’t visit me if:

You’re handy with the blow dryer. Getting your hair blown out for a special event is one of the least essential salon services. Most salons include a blow dry in the price of the service, but other places like the Hair Cuttery will charge less if you forgo the hot air. Note: If you’re doing it at home, be wary of “salon grade” hair dryers and tools. They come with professional grade heat, which could burn.

3 Reasons to See Indie Comedy Ceremony

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:30:33 PDT

The indie film Ceremony, starring Michael Angarano as a lovelorn writer who tricks his best friend (Reece Thompson) into helping him crash the wedding of the woman he's in love with (Uma Thurman), expands its limited release today. While the film, the first feature from writer/director Max Winkler, has flown under the radar, I have a few reasons why it might deserve to be on your must-see list.

Because you love Wes Anderson. While it's not an Anderson film, Winkler's distinct voice has a clear influence from Anderson, particularly in the script and style. Along with Anderson, the movie is also reminiscent of Woody Allen's work. If you're a fan of Allen's lovably neurotic male characters who are also head over heels in love, then you'll be into Ceremony.
The ridiculously charming cast. Angarano and Thurman have believable chemistry as former lovers, but it's the friendship between Sam and his best friend Marshall (Thompson, best known for Rocket Science) that really stands out. The actors seem like old friends, nailing Winkler's funny dialogue in their scenes together. The supporting cast also includes two scene-stealers: Lee Pace is on point as Zoe's fiancé, a quirky British filmmaker who loves himself but loves Zoe more, and Jake Johnson as Zoe's drunkard brother.
If you're getting married. The movie has wedding inspiration for days, from its inclusion of the old-fashioned game paper chase as a group activity for guests, to the decor and fashion. The ceremony setting is a gorgeous outdoor venue with paper lanterns and round globe lights, while Thurman's hair and makeup are stunning. Likewise, the bridesmaids are outfitted in various shades of pink and red - even if you're not getting married, it's cinematic eye candy.

Energy Saving Tips From a Rocket Scientist (Really)

LearnVest — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:50:30 PDT

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

The Scene: A 1500-square-foot, mid-century modern house in Phoenix, AZ, home to Bob and Helen Winkel.

The Inspiration: After unclogging lint from their dryer tube and realizing they were saving $15 a month on their energy bill, they decided to tackle energy-saving around the house.

The Challenge: Cut energy bills in half. Yes, half.

The Story: Despite rising energy prices, Bob and Helen cut their energy bills by 50% last year, saving an amazing $1,300 a year. They used this money to fund a trip to Paris (next year: a riverboat cruise in the Ukraine).

The Mad Scientist: Bob Winkel has been an engineer for over 40 years, and is a Chief Fellow at Honeywell. “It wasn’t rocket science,” says Bob, an engineer who has patents for space shuttle and satellite components – OK, so maybe it is?

Over the course of two years, Bob hooked up smart meters to read energy usage on almost every device throughout the house, graphed data, crunched the numbers, and kept a big binder with all his energy use findings.

The upshot? We get his best tips, sans the meter-reading and number-crunching.

Helen did veto one of Bob’s energy-saving tweaks, though: turning down the hot water heater. “There’s one thing that I need,” she says, “and it’s a hot bath.”

Learn how you can use Bob's tips in your own home after the break!

Tim Allen Says That Last Man Standing is Like "A Flip-Flop" of Home Improvement

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:13:15 PDT

If you fawned over Jonathan Taylor Thomas on Home Improvement back in the 90s, then I've got some good news for you. No, JTT is not making his return, but his onscreen dad, Tim Allen, is taking on a new comedy in ABC's Last Man Standing. The show offers the same brand of Allen's dad humor, only this time he's got three daughters instead of three sons, and he works for a men's sporting goods catalog instead of on a show about tools. The jokes were copious when Allen was joined by his costars and showrunners at the TCA, as he talked about his new gig and why he wanted to do the same kind of show as Home Improvement.

Allen made it pretty clear that he's fully aware of the similarities between Last Man Standing and Home Improvement. He compared his craft to the way Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer make the same kinds of movies over and over again, and said that though he looked at some dramedies, none of them were of interest to him (well, except for Castle). He also noted that of what he was offered, "it was never the same show [as Home Improvement], and I didn't know why we wouldn't do a version of the same show."
Allen went on to say that what he really wanted to do was "flip-flop" Home Improvement, in replacing his three sons with three daughters. He said he "wanted to investigate what it would be like to be around four women who are intelligent, strong, fun and loving." And he later added, "It isn't rocket science what I'm doing. Instead of tools, it's sporting goods and guns and boats."
Executive producer Jack Burditt made it clear that the audience won't be hit over the head with the "what makes a man a man?" premise, even though it's largely featured in the pilot. Burditt said that at the heart of it, this is "just a family comedy" and that there will be lots of other themes introduced and explored.
One element that won't be woven in, though, is politics. Allen said, "My preference would be to limit that because we learned very quickly on the past show that it lasts longer if you're not talking about political current events. Sometimes it's enticing but if you get too timely then it doesn't last very long."
As for what Allen himself believes makes a man? He brought up a debate he had with Joy Behar when he stopped by her show, saying, "I really think men need stuff to do. You have to have hobbies and you should be able to fix stuff. My grandmother said there's nothing more attractive than a man busy doing something. Maybe it's traditional but I like women who know how to cook . . . the process of letting women taking care of you. It's either old school or it's misogynistic."

9 Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Diet

Prevention — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:42:25 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Rules to help you eat less junk and slim down naturally
By Joe Kita, Prevention

Back to the Basics
Base your diet on Mother Nature's finest foods and the weight will come off

Food used to be simple. You ate what you grew on the land or you bought from nearby farmers. Processed food was nothing more than canned, frozen, or cured. Today, food is much more complicated - and we're both better and worse off for it. We can eat a greater variety of healthy foods than our ancestors did (think fresh berries in Winter), but we also can eat a lot more highly processed, chemical-laden ones. And that fare seems to be winning the day, if our epidemics of obesity and diabetes are any indication.

But an increasing trend toward clean eating - with its emphasis on whole, fresh, traditional fare - could mark a turning point in our sometimes dysfunctional relationship with food and help us achieve good health, culinary satisfaction, and optimal fitness.

To help you clean up your own diet and reap the benefits (weight loss and possible decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer), we created these nine rules. Start taking baby steps to adjust your diet, and you'll be eating clean in no time!

7 Healthy-eating mistakes you could be making.

Toss a few heavily processed staples
Instead of overhauling your pantry all at once, start by eliminating corn oil and soda - both highly processed, says Nina Planck, author of Real Food: What to Eat and Why. "That alone," she says, "is a huge first step." Another easy step is replacing refined breads and pastas made from white flour with ones made from whole grains.

Focus on favorite foods
To keep it simple, assess what part of your diet supplies the most calories, suggests Mary Ellen Camire, PhD, a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Maine. If you're an omnivore, buy meat that comes from grass-fed cattle and eggs from pasture-raised chickens, but stick to conventional produce instead of organic. If you're a vegetarian, buying organic produce makes more sense.

There's more so keep reading.