BuzzSugar

Pop Preview: The Wackness

PopSugarUK — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0700

NB: I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this indie movie back in early June, and was so taken with it that I posted the preview for you back then. The movie's coming out this Friday, so here's a reminder / rundown of what I thought of it!

First things first: The Wackness is dope. Yes, brush up on your '90s lingo because the next big indie film is set in the sweltering New York summer of 1994! It follows adorable "most unpopular of the popular" teen Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) as he lives out his last summer before college – selling pot, falling in love, finding an unlikely best friend and trying to sort out his parents' problems. The movie's not out until August 29 (UK), but I liked last night's preview so much that I had to post about it now!

The soundtrack is absolutely awesome – from the cheesy yet oh-so-summer strains of Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, to the classic hip hop of Notorious B.I.G and Nas. After last night I know that 90s hip hop and all those rediscovered classics will be the soundtrack to my summer! The film is visually gorgeous too – being set in NYC doesn't hurt it of course – but the cinematography is beautiful and sets the chilled tone of the film.

For more of my thoughts on the movie including some on Mary Kate Olsen, Juno's Olivia Thirlby and Sir Ben Kingsley, and a gorgeous gallery from the film just read more

After Juno we all know Olivia Thirlby is coolness personified, and in this movie she's also great as Stephanie – the object of Luke's affections – and brings more layers to the table than perhaps her lines or the character gives her. Thirlby is a class act. Mary-Kate Olsen pops up in a couple of scenes, and I really liked her carefree performance - although what's with her and the drug-related TV / movies – Weeds and The Wackness? Anyhow, she was really fun and likeable (with some great Beverly Hills 90210 references).

Sir Ben Kingsley has a lot of fun as Dr. Squires (Stephanie's stepdad), a guy at the same breaking point as Luke but at a completely different stage of his life. Their friendship is ultimately believable and, although I wanted Luke to walk away from this weird old guy, I also cared enough to want Dr Squires to sort himself out.

The stand-out, however, was Josh Peck as Luke – he's definitely one to watch in the future. He played the awkwardness / bravado that teens struggle to balance so beautifully, occasionally cutting through any front his character was pulling with a subtle yet heartbreaking flash of hurt or confusion in his eyes. Having watched him exaggerate and pratfall (in that way kids' sitcoms demand) for years in Drake And Josh I was really impressed with his understated performance.

I think you can tell I loved it. Although it's a bit of a cop-out to compare it to Juno (as it's really not like that movie at all) I loved it in a similar way and I just hope it has some of the same success. The Wackness is a film with a massive heart and really deserves to do well.

View 10 Photos ›

Ben Brings The Wackness To Britain

PopSugarUK — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:00:00 -0700

Sir Ben Kingsley attended a screening of The Wackess in London this week, kicking off promotion on this side of the pond for the awesome indie movie that's out on August 29. As you know, I have a lot of love for this film set in the hot New York summer of 1994, which is currently on limited release in the US and slowly opening in more cities as the weeks go on. Ben was accompanied by his supportive wife Daniela at the London screening, but I think it would be fantastic if we get a glimpse at his co-stars Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby and Mary-Kate Olsen on our shores too in the coming weeks!

View 7 Photos ›

Stefan Reimschuessel/BigPicturesPhoto.com

Mary-Kate Has Many Outfits For Every Red Carpet Occasion

Molly — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:05:00 -0700

Mary-Kate Olsen looked put together and pretty in white and a little more mussed up in a short flowered number at last night's NYC premiere of The Wackness. Can't blame her for the unbrushed hair when we can clearly see she just slipped out of one dress and into another. She missed the LA Film Festival premiere of the movie on Tuesday, but was happy to pose alongside her costars Olivia Thirlby and Josh Peck. While we anxiously await this one on the big screen around the country, I can't wait to see Mary-Kate on one of my new favorite shows Samantha Who? next season. Here's to more acting and fewer negative rumors from this half of the twins from here on out.

To see more from the premiere just read more

View 21 Photos ›

Images include: Olivia Thirlby, Mary-Kate Olsen, Beth Ostrosky, Josh Peck, Jonathan Levine, John Corbett, Daniela Lavender

Source

Mary-Kate and Sir Ben Join the Dope Show

PopSugarUK — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

With an adorable film gem under their (rather large in Mary-Kate Olsen's case) belts, the cast of The Wackness are promoting like crazy in the US at the moment ahead of their July release date. Last night The Cinema Society screened the movie and, unlike the LA premiere, Sir Ben Kingsley and Mary-Kate showed up to take part in the festivities. Mary-Kate rocked two outfits (a la Sienna Miller at The Edge Of Love London premiere) – one for the red carpet and a more colourful mini dress for the afterparty, Fab UK wants to know which on you prefer! Josh Peck was all in black (which I think is an improvement on yesterday's pale pink jacket) and he shared a hug/tussle with the guy he calls "the Michael Jordan of acting", Sir Ben.

If you haven't checked out the trailer yet I've posted it after the jump, as well as many more photos including Mary-Kate's two outfits and some classic polaroids – so just read more

View 28 Photos ›

Source

Hilary Duff Smiles and Stays Cool

PopSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:58:48 -0700

Hilary Duff flashed a smile for the camera with Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby at The Wackness premiere during the LA film festival last night. Hilary has a new movie of her own to start working on, she has just signed on to the star-studded cast of Stay Cool. Hilary will play a high school teenager who flirts with an older alumnus, which sounds like it should fit right in with the former teen queen's new mature persona.

View 7 Photos ›

Source

The Wackness Goes LA

PopSugarUK — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:00:00 -0700

The New York-set movie The Wackness had its LA premiere last night at the Los Angeles Film Festival and some of the cast of my Top Pop Preview showed up to support their indie gem. Sadly Mary-Kate Olsen wasn't there to show off her kooky cool fashion sense, but her equally awesome co-star Olivia Thirlby brought some cute indie-girl chic to the red carpet. The film's star Josh Peck grinned his sweet cheshire cat grin in front of the cameras and then caught up with another former child star Hilary Duff at the afterparty. The fab movie had its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival last week and is out on July 3 in the States before we get it on August 29th.

To see more pictures of the cast, Hilary and the film's director Jonathan Levine on the red carpet, just read more

View 14 Photos ›

Source

Blake, Zoe & Mary-Kate Don Their LBDs At Tribeca

PopSugarUK — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Mary-Kate Olsen has been at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this week, as well as my girl Buzz, who really enjoyed her latest movie The Wackness (not that she's in it a whole lot...). Mary-Kate showed up for the Chanel dinner at the film festival last night, looking beautiful in basic black, along with my (current) favourite Gossip Girl Blake Lively.

Zoe Kravitz, the gorgeous daughter of Lenny, also continued the monochrome theme in her black dress and white bag – I think the trio all look beautiful, what's your favourite look? It wasn't all lonesome girls there, though – couples Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson, and Christy Turlington and Ed Burns also attended. To see more of the Chanel dinner, just read more

View 10 Photos ›

Source

Mary-Kate and Her Wackness Are All Over Sundance

Molly — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:48:14 -0800

I haven't seen Mary-Kate Olsen either in person or on the big screen here at Sundance just yet, but her movie The Wackness is the talk of the town. The good news is that the reviews I've been hearing are mostly positive (yay!) despite the fact that the title is so horrible. Park City isn't the only place where MK is super popular these days either - rumor has it that she was quite the little flirt on the set of the movie last summer. Plus, she looks so happy doing her thing at the festivals, premieres parties and all, love it. Fingers crossed this means we'll be seeing her and Ben Kingsley's Wackness in theaters all over soon.

To see more of Mary-Kate and her costars around Park City just read more

View 35 Photos ›

Images include: Mary-Kate Olsen, Aaron Yoo, Olivia Thirlby, Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Quentin Tarantino, Daniela Lavender, Geoffrey Gilmore, Joe Elliott, Jonathan Levine

Source, Source

Mary-Kate's New Movie Sounds Wacky

PopSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:12:59 -0700

MK looks cute and cozy with co-star Hunter Parish in these promo shots for Weeds. While we're eager to see her on the show, MK is already working on a new movie, The Wackness with Ben Kingsley. The movie sounds a little bizarre and even includes a passionate kiss between MK and Ben, which is kinda creepy considering their 42 year age difference. Our hopes aren't too high for this one, but we're still very excited to see MK on Showtime. Check out our first glimpse of MK as a Christian girl with a bad side after the jump.

To check out a teaser of the first glimpse of Mary-Kate on Weeds, just read more

View 2 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of Showtime