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Welcome to my world, Britney
As you know, the world is consumed with concern about whether Britney Spears is expecting again. The evidence we have for this — aside from Brit’s established track record of bad decisions — is her protruding tummy.
I had been savoring this as much as the next Us Weekly reader, until I realized I was being a terrible hypocrite. Britney, if in fact you are not once again filled with the miracle of Federline-sired life, then I feel your pain. Hi, I’m Sarah. People think I’m pregnant, too.
I am a woman with a pooch. A pot belly of the kind that Maria de Medeiros rhapsodized about in “Pulp Fiction.” Sometimes it is diminished, but even in the skinniest of times it’s always there. My friend Kim and I named my bump Desmond.
And some people, God bless them, ask about Desmond. Surely, they mean well.
I don’t like those people.
The upside is that they feel very awkward after I tell them that I am not great with child. I don’t try to assuage their guilt, because I want the life lesson on minding one’s own business to really sink in.
But you know, actually, I don’t feel Britney’s pain, because there’s a big difference between an embarrassing little moment in the nail salon and having your paunch splashed all over tabloids.
Hang in there, Britney — and maybe rent “Pulp Fiction.”
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
It is finished
“Project Runway,” that is, with an ending that I thought was both exactly right and a total surprise.
Chloe has been my favorite since early on, but, while I wasn’t wowed by anyone’s collection, I thought Chloe’s puffy coats were going to sink her.
I’m going to assume that the judges considered factors beyond what was on the runway at Fashion Week — namely, Chloe’s strong cumulative record on the show, her emotional groundedness and her business savvy. With Season 1 winner Jay McCarroll kind of foundering and squandering his opportunity, I’m guessing that the “Runway” gurus really want a success story, and they saw their best chance for it with Chloe.
Of course, there’s no need to weep for Santino and Daniel V. Michael Kors seemed ready to take Daniel under his wing, and Santino is on his way to establishing himself as a professional celebrity.
And how sweet is it that our Chloe — sweet, hard-working girl from Houston — got to stand up there and beat the competitors who said she didn’t even deserve to be at Fashion Week?
I will blame the loooong delays between posts on busy-ness around here with the Oscars (a snooze except for the “Crash” upset) and the South by Southwest Film Festival. From what I’ve previewed so far, here are some fest recommendations:
— “Friends with Money” — great actresses Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener and Joan Cusack (and OK actress Jennifer Aniston) in a smart, honest comedy.
— “Slam Planet: War of the Words” — a locally made doc about poetry slams. Well-made and full of fascinating personalities.
— “This Film Is Not Yet Rated” — another superb doc, this one about the MPAA film ratings board. Sounds dry, but is really subversive and funny.
— “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey” — My screener copy died on me, so I didn’t even get to watch all of this, but it’s awesome and totally reminds me of my years as an Iron Maiden groupie.
Outside the fest, if you like hip-hop and neo-soul even just a little bit, check out “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.” The concert film bursts with joy, especially during Kanye West’s show-stopping performance of “Jesus Walks” backed by a college marching band.
And speaking of Kanye, we were doing the “Best Song of the 21st Century” brackets in the new Esquire and it came down to a final two of “Jesus Walks” and Jay-Z’s “99 Problems.” How do you make a choice like that? I finally gave a slight edge to Kanye, but now I’m vacillating. So what’s your choice for best song of the 21st century?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Bizarro ‘Runway’
So, last night’s episode was apparently beamed in from an alternate universe that has a different version of “Project Runway” — one where Chloe is flighty and silly, Daniel is not talented enough to have won five competitions and Santino is a gentle soul who creates exquisitely beautiful clothes.
There were things to like. I enjoyed the glimpse into the designers’ real lives, especially the pictures of Santino as a funny-looking kid you just wanted to hug and the visit with Chloe’s large family. Although I am jealous that she got a holiday visit from Tim Gunn. I want Tim Gunn in my Christmas pictures.
(A personal side, unrelated to our rigorous academic analysis of “Runway”: When Tim Gunn and Santino were sitting by the basketball courts in Venice Beach, they were at the exact spot Jeff and I sat during our L.A. visit last month. I think we must have sensed they’d been there.)
And I really like what we saw of Santino’s collection. I wanted him to make those outfits in normal-girl size and give them to me. Maybe it was all editing or an act, but he seemed like he’d been changed by the experience.
Now the gripes, or if not exactly complaints, points of hurt and confusion: What was up with Chloe’s collection? After all the marvelously accessible clothes of the season, she now turns in a puffy coat? I hurt for Daniel and those bags he brought. And how could he have construction problems like uneven hems at this point in the game?
But what really bothered me was that “one final surprise”: The designers have to come up with one more look to be part of their Fashion Week shows. This is just sadistic. You could see the despair on their faces. The show didn’t need this element of artificial drama. The upside, though, is that it was good to see the other designers again, especially Andrae!, when the finalists got to pick an assistant for the last design.
I understand why Chloe picked Diana — they’re good friends, and she probably wanted a supportive presence around — but I think it’s a huge mistake. Diana wasn’t that good at sewing, as I recall. Chloe would have been better off with other best bud Emmett, who also had some sewing problems, but would have been better than Diana.
The previews of next week make it look like a full-on disaster, but I doutbt it’s that bad. Until then, bravotv.com has so many “Runway” extras that I feel daunted by them. In that spirit, here’s my own “Runway” extra from pop-culture guru Sharon:
“Last night’s ‘Runway’ was topsy-turvy world. I loved Santino! It was sweet seeing him with his friends; those little girls clearly loved him. Tim Gunn seemed touched by it, too. I don’t recall St. Charles, Mo., being all that small, but it’s been awhile. I am concerned for Chloe. I hate that Santino went with the tired ‘Hollywood glamour’ theme, but I liked what I saw. Chloe’s collection did not seem cohesive. But it’s all probably an editing smoke-screen — I doubt there is that much concern about Daniel V.’s work.”
Carry on!
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The ‘Race’ is on!
So how much did you want to shake Fran and Barry when they kept walking RIGHT BY the clue box last night on “Amazing Race”? I had high hopes for this team, but they’re dead to me now.
On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of all-female teams Danielle and Dani, who had a lot more common sense than I imagined, and all-around endearing Wanda and Desiree. Sadly, past races haven’t led me to put much faith in women’s teams. I would like to add, however, that even I don’t like pink as much as Danielle and Dani do.
Also stronger than expected were sweet nerds David and Lori, whose every appearance was accompanied by the haunting “Amazing Race Nerds in Love” theme.
Then again, there were some things that weren’t surprising at all. Texas sisters Lisa and Joni were exactly the hot mess that I imagined. “Why can’t they be from Oklahoma instead?” beau and “Race” companion Jeff opined at one point. We weren’t a bit sorry to see John and Scott go, but, for the sake of Texas honor, I hope Lisa and Joni are next.
And right after them, Lake and Michelle can go home. Insufferable! Especially him. Meltdowns loom.
We also weren’t feeling any love for Monica and Joseph, especially after learning they’d dubbed themselves MoJo. Sure, that seems cute when you’re back home in Arkansas and still think you’re invincible, but when you find yourself hauling cinderblocks in Bangalore and about to collapse from exhaustion and pure hatred of your teammate, that perky little moniker is going to come back to mock you.
Ray and Yolanda didn’t have the strong showing I’d hoped for. Poor Ray — he was struggling to put together that motorcycle while a throng of Brazilian guys blatantly ogled his girlfriend. I hope things get better.
Eric and Jeremy had a great show, except for the unsuccessful pickup attempt of Danielle and Dani. I also respect their honesty in admitting they want to be rich but don’t want to work for it
But our favorites overall were second-place finishers BJ and Tyler, aka The Hippies. We are not fans of all the mean nicknames like The Frosties and Barbie and Ken, but BJ and Tyler are indisputably The Hipppies. Funny, bursting with enthusiasm and clad in godawful hippie clothes, they are downright lovable. But beyond that, I think they’ll be tough competitors. They weren’t a bit fazed by being out of their culture (that’s past travel paying off) and they get along beautifully, which is key to longevity in the Race. Being no fan of jam bands and hemp clothing, I never thought I’d say this, but go Hippies!
And then, of course, “Project Runway” is on tonight. This week and next mean both “Race” and “Runway.” which means chances are excellent my head might explode. I really, really, really, REALLY want Santino and Andrae to become reality-show repeaters and go on “Amazing Race” together. A girl can dream …
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Santino seduces me
… with his awesome Web site.. I’d stayed away before the finalists were revealed, lest he let any spoilers slip, but now I’m hooked. You can find a clip of “Project Runway: The Musical,” a Santino cake (!), a “Runway” “Star Wars” parody, news that Andrae! is selling his infamous shorts, photos of Santino at Red Lobster and plenty of genial self-promotion. “Santino,” I say, in Tim Gunn voice. “It’s gorgeous. You’re winning me back.”
And yet more “Runway”: Read about Heidi Klum’s guilty pleasures in the new InStyle, and check in with Diana Eng in Wired.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
See…
This is why cats shouldn’t live in the forest.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Race’ and Rhett
What a red-letter day in pop culture. Tonight at 8 is the return of “The Amazing Race,” again featuring two-person teams instead of the four-person family units of disappointing “TAR 8.” By all accounts, the show is back on track. Welcome back, Phil. All is forgiven.
As if that weren’t enough, Rhett Miller’s new album, “The Believer,” comes out today. In a blurb on amazon.com, Rhett describes the album this way:
“The songs on ‘The Believer’ are about sex, war, love and death … but mostly sex. Before going into the studio, I thought I’d be making a punk rock ‘Ziggy Stardust,’ but I wound up with George Gershwin does T. Rex’s ‘The Slider.’ “
That’s a good description. The album is a little rawer and harder than his last solo album, “The Instigator,” but still filled with great pop songs.
Also, based on my limited exposure, he seems like a nice person who deserves your support. In honor of the new CD, here’s a Rhett story:
Picture it, Austin, fall 2002. I have just been dumped. I have an ailment of a personal nature that involves drinking lots of cranberry juice. The dumper and I had tickets to a Rhett Miller show at the Parish, but instead I drink a lot of margaritas and go with my friend Erin. Rhett puts on a great show. I sing my lungs out.
Post-show, I hang around like a geek to get Rhett to sign my CD and thank him for the fine performance. I have to wait my turn because he’s talking to a couple of grandmotherly women. (I don’t know. I guess they just like cute boys, too.)
When it is my turn, I tell Rhett, “I’m so glad you played tonight, because I was having a terrible week.”
Instead of just saying “thanks,” he asks, all serious, “Is it getting better?”
I can’t believe he doubted the power of his own rock ‘n’ roll super powers to improve most anything, but I was touched by the kindness. I told him the week had gotten a lot better.
Of course, a few days later, my cat — my dear sweet little kitty Sally — bit me so hard I could barely use my right hand for a few days and I threatened to throw her in the river, but even Rhett couldn’t have prevented that. Although he would probably still feel bad about it.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Ricin, ‘Runway,’ Roky
I’ve never dined at Hudson’s on the Bend, and I’m looking forward to my inaugural visit next month. They already have a head start on charming me. When I made my reservations this weekend, the gentleman helping me closed the call by saying “You have a beautiful phone voice.” However, unless you are my date for Hudson’s that night, you do not have permission to call me to verify this for yourself.
The ricin scare is over now, so we can quit worrying and just savor the punning opportunities it gave us. At Saturday’s UT-Kansas basketball game, a fan held a sign that read “Texas is ricin to the challenge.” And the sign at the Fifth Street El Arroyo was “Try our ricin beans.”
The ricin sign was only the second funniest thing at the game, though. No. 1 was the brief chant that rose from the UT students when the Jayhawks were losing badly: “Worse than Baylor! Worse than Baylor!’ Heh.
Two of my favorite Horns fans were representin’ at the game. Guy Who Knows All the Dance Moves was in fine form, as was Tiny Cheerleader. I so love Tiny Cheerleader. In fact, I will amend my earlier statement: If you know Tiny Cheerleader, or if you yourself are Tiny Cheerleader, you can call me.
We were thoroughly and pleasantly surprised when Roky Erickson came out to play at half time, and even more delighted when he and brother Sumner (who had performed the National Anthem beautifully) showed up at Amy’s on Sixth just as we were leaving. It was one of those nights it’s especially good to live here.
It was a Horns kind of weekend. We wrapped up Sunday by watching the “Live the Dream” DVD of highlights from the football season. We almost gave up very early in the DVD because we were so aghast at the music: a rewritten version of “Long, Tall Texan” from the point of view of Vince Young. The writing was also achingly bad, the nadir being the phrase “the thrilla in Stillwata” regarding the Oklahoma State game. And it was hard to wrench much drama from blowout games. Like with the Rice game, most of the narration was about how hot it was that day. Somehow, I don’t think Houston native Vince Young was fazed by a little heat.
But we did enjoy the scenes of hip-hop dancing that broke out frequently in the locker room, Mack Brown’s pep talks and the shot of a VERY INTENSE Matthew McConaughey on the sidelines at the Rose Bowl. It made me, a girl who dated into the faith, eager for football season.
And speaking of reviewing higlights, I watched the “Project Runway” reunion episode again, because, of course, no episode of “Runway” can be properly appreciated until you’ve viewed it several times. Some thoughts:
— What was up with Lupe? I mean, even for someone who’d clearly imbibed before the show, she was talking crazy.
— How great was “Project Runway: The Musical”? Especially the finale (or, as Heidi Klum says it, “FEE-NAH-LEE!”) of the Daniel Franco song.
— Finally, and most importantly, the Andrae! montage ruled. Didn’t it make you just want to go through revolving doors?
Swear to God, I darn near burst into tears when I found out that Andy Griffith was at Don Knotts’ bedside when he died. Let’s take a moment for the world’s best deputy.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Ready for ‘Runway’ reunion?
I know I am. Most of all, I’m ready to see Andrae! (I’ve decided to start spelling it that way), whose expressiveness I’ve missed in the past couple of weeks.
If you just can’t wait until tonight, you can download the episode on iTunes before it airs. And now I am making an Andrae!-like expression of awe at the wonder of it all.
After “Runway” is the special “Project Jay”, which follows the post-“Runway” life of Season 1 winner Jay McCarroll. It’s another serving of Bravo reality TV goodness. I didn’t watch the first season of “Runway,” but, in this hour at least, McCarroll comes off as complicated, endearing and frustrating. As he moves to New York from his home in rural Pennsylvania, he cracks jokes (often at his own expense) and veers from confident to needy.
Season 1 designers Austin Scarlett, Kara Saun and Wendy Pepper pop up, as does “Runway” den father Tim Gunn. “Runway” host Heidi Klum is never seen, but she looms over everything as Jay takes on the assignment to make her a dress for the Emmy Awards. “Project Jay” leaves you hoping the designer will make it, yet terribly afraid that he won’t.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Miss Ricky?
If you’ve ever wished for just a few more perfect episodes of the original British “The Office,” Ricky Gervais has become quite the rock star in the podcasting world.
“The Ricky Gervais Show” has just wrapped up a 12-episode run, and will soon be back for a new season.
You’ll have to pay for the new episodes, but there are some free archived episodes still available at the Guardian Web site.
The show features Ricky, “Office” co-creator Stephen Merchant and their producer, Karl Pilkington.
Ricky and Stephen relentless rib Karl about his rather amazing views on life. Jeff (beau and podcasting guru) and I have devoted ourselves to the study of Pilkingtonian philosophy, which seems to question whether most things have any sort of point. Like space travel. And camels. Karl is also an avid supporter of survival of the fittest and advocates the return of dinosaurs to take care of overpopulation. He thinks Ricky (a very smart man, worlds apart from David Brent) worries himself with lots of useless things — such as science.
Karl also presents a regular feature called “Monkey News,” which tends toward stories of primates flying airplanes and hosting TV shows.
The podcast is laugh-out-loud (very loud) funny, and will have you dropping favorite quotes like “They found a dishwasher on Mars” in conversation.
In further good news, Ricky and Stephen are going to write an episode of the American “Office”, which has come into its own as an excellent show. The Valentine’s Day episode was a beaut, sad and funny and surprising. I’m eager for the show’s return post-Olympics.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Totally tiki
I like tiki-bar style. Once, I even hallucinated a promise of a tiki-bar in a guidebook’s description of a Key Largo hotel. (There was none, but our room had murals, so there was some consolation.)
But I hate tiki compared to how much these folks love it. Check out the photo gallery and have a mai-tai.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Best. Show. Ever.
Are you ready for “Hello Kitty: The TV Series”?
Are you beyond ready? Have you been waiting for it all your life? Or is that just me?
Actually, the name of the show is “Hello Kitty, Stamp Village”, Sanrio reports. The series will air in several countries, with world peace no doubt soon to follow.
I hate to interject any troubling notes into such a lovely scenario, but a couple of things must be said.
First, consider this quote from the Yahoo! News story:
“The series to be done in clay animation revolves around Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters including the red-hooded bunny My Melody and the mischievous penguin Bad Badtz-Maru.”
When I started reading that paragraph, my thought was “Badtz-Maru had better be part of this, or I’m declaring eight kinds of boycotts.” That thought quickly changed to “Bad is part of Badtz-Maru’s name? Since when?”
Am I just not up on my Sanrio lore? I thought he was just good ol’ Badtz.
There is also this: The show is set in a forest.
Forest. Hello Kitty lives in a forest? I always imagined that Hello Kitty lived in a cute little cottage in a gentrified neighborhood or maybe a fourplex apartment building with her bike parked out front. And that she would ride her bike to her job, which would be at a fashion boutique (maybe one that she runs with Chloe Dao! And they would be my best friends and give me discounts!) or a bakery painted sunny yellow. And then after work she would ride her bike to a cute cafe and have tapas with Badtz-Maru and Chococat and then they would go dancing at the club where Badtz-Maru deejays. What’s she going to do in a forest?
This had better be good, Sanrio.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
California dreamin’
If only I had the Mamas and the Papas on my iTunes, I would rest my head in my hands and stare wistfully into space while a montage of favorite moments from our L.A. trip played.
(OK, never mind that this is the first cold, gray weather we’ve had in ages, and that usually Austin is a perfectly lovely place to be on a winter’s day. Let me have my montage.)
Our vacation was fantastic, start to finish, and you all are so kind to have given us your tips on what to do in L.A. I still can’t quite adjust to the fact that my job is here at this computer and isn’t driving around, visiting cool places, eating great food and making eyes at my beau. Because I think I’d be really good at that job.
I’ve described our entire L.A. itinerary in detail to patient friends and family, and frankly, I’m still not tired of doing so. But the Statesman expects me to do more than blog around here (you’re shocked, I know), so I’ll parse out highlights as I have time. First in a series:
— The scent of jasmine permeates Beverly Hills at night.
— At Warner Bros. studios, you can turn the corner from County General from “ER” and you’re in Stars Hollow from “Gilmore Girls.”
— Venice really has canals.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Runway’ rundown
I am trying to accept that Santino is going to Fashion Week. I knew it was coming, knew that they’d want to keep him around for the drama, but the reality is still pretty darn cold and hard.
It’s not so much the outcome of last night’s episode. Really, Kara didn’t have any business getting as far as she did, either. It’s more the process that got us here. Santino has too weak of a track record to be where he is.
I was nervous, nervous, nervous for Chloe during the entire episode. She did herself no favors by declaring at one point that she wasn’t sure she wanted to win (although she later recanted), and I think that’s why Daniel and Kara turned on her on the runway. That was hard to watch.
Chloe is still my favorite, but I think Daniel is going to win. Can’t you just see him in the ad for Daniel Vosovic cologne?
The episode also highlighted how the judges see the designs differently than regular folks like me do. Most of the girls I know would have absolutely no problem with Daniel’s “boring” dress.
Hmmm, I’m kind of glum and overdramatic about this, huh? I’m going to sing a few rounds of “Lighten Up, It’s Just Fashion.” Meanwhile, you should go read Tim Gunn’s blog.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Hook ‘em again
“Live the Dream,” the official DVD of the Longhorns championship season, is out Tuesday. You can pre-order here.
(I know you were expecting “Runway,” but, hey, I can be well-rounded. Santino-bashing and the report on L.A. later.)
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
L.A. bound
So, any advice on what to do in Los Angeles? My beau, Jeff, and I are heading west on vacation, and I’m so excited I’m fidgeting in my chair, like Sarah Jessica Parker in “Footloose” when they were at the honky-tonk and she just wanted to dance but Willard (RIP, Chris Penn) was being all balky.
Your tips will be added to our vast database on L.A. activities. Looking things up is one of our shared interests as a couple, and now that it’s almost time to put our research into action I’m atwitter with geeky pleasure.
I’ve been to L.A. only once, for a work convention, a trip that included an excursion to the Viper Room — in a minivan. It was awesome. While faithful to Austin, I have a crush on L.A. I love the canyon roads, the cute little apartment complexes with courtyards, the way that everything looks slightly familiar because you’ve seen it in movies and on TV. Also, I’m a faithful reader of both Us Weekly and Francesca Lia Block. In short, I am ready.
Because I am not as filled with the Holy Spirit as Dave Thomas is, I won’t be reporting in from the road. I’ll make an exception if we get into a car accident involving Lindsay Lohan.
Your job while I’m gone, of course, is to watch “Project Runway,” repeatedly, and to analyze thoroughly. I’ll be keeping an eye out for L.A.-based designers like Santino and Nick.
Speaking of SJP, “Sex and the City” is now available in repackaged “Essentials” for 10 bucks a pop. While my gut reaction to cute packaging and “Sex and the City,” is “I want that,” I have to admit that, upon deeper reflection, I do not. What’s the point of “SATC” DVDs if you can’t watch episode after episode, following story lines and ignoring everything else?
And speaking of L.Lo, Lindsay — she’s just like me! In her lost diary, she reportedly wrote she had a cough she couldn’t get rid of. I have a cough I can’t get rid of! OMG!
OK, signing off till next week. Leave me some trip advice, and I’ll bring you back takeout from Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Chloe!
An interview with “Runway’s” awesome Chloe Dao.
(Link found on the equally awesome Pink Is the New Blog.)
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Important ‘Project Runway’ dates
This just in from from Bravo regarding the last three episodes of the season:
— Feb. 22: Reunion episode. New interviews with the designers, plus outtakes. I’m not sure how this will affect the premiere of “Project Jay”, featuring last season’s winner, which Bravo’s Web site still has airing at the same time as the reunion episode.
— March 1: The three finalists return home to work on their collections for Fashion Week. Each gets a visit from Tim Gunn. (Deep, deep envy. I want Tim Gunn to come visit me and tell me witty anecdotes.)
— March 8: The Fashion Week runway show.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Sometimes
I feel sad for the young people.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Diane in Defamer!
Our Diane Holloway’s “American Idol” scoop hits the L.A. gossip site. She’s also on EW’s Web site.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Runway’ recap
You know, if Andrae makes it big as a designer, I’m not going to buy any of his clothes.
Why? Well, he can’t work with plants. I don’t wear anyone who can’t work with plants.
Last night’s challenge — create a “garden party” dress out of plants — was not my favorite. (You can see all the dresses, and read Tim Gunn’s always stellar blog here.) One of the things I like about “Runway” is the real-world nature of most of the challenges. And, just as I think an inability to design figure-skating outfits isn’t going to come back and haunt Emmett, I’m pretty sure that Andrae’s loss last night is no indication of his future as a designer.
I’m sorry to see him go, even though I can’t argue with the judges’ decision. I’ll miss his gasping, his eye-rolling, his possibly crushing on Daniel (although at ths point, who isn’t crushing on Daniel?).
I thought for sure Kara was going to be out, but she pulled off a beautiful creation. The difference between that dress and what she did for the inspiration challenge was night and day. She was a strong contender for the win last night, but I still think she’s lucky to be there when better designers — Emmett and Andrae — have been out.
Daniel pulled off an amazing fourth win and seems unstoppable. Chloe was making me nervous but came through beautifully.
While there was a clear quality difference between the best three dresses (Daniel’s, Chloe’s and Kara’s) and the rest, I still had a hard time getting a handle on what the judges wanted. Especially when Nina Garcia called them out for not using more flowers. I don’t see how you can fault them for choosing sturdier materials.
Outside of competition, the highlight was Santino getting busted for his Tim Gunn impression, which is eerie perfect. I also appreciated Daniel’s conversation about coming out with Nick and Chloe. It was personal without being maudlin.
Next week, I think Kara, Santino and Nick all stand an equal chance of being out. Daniel’s immunity isn’t that much of a twist, since he’s so strong anyway. Again, the challenge seems odd: Make over another designer. Wouldn’t it be strange to design for someone who doesn’t want you to win?
That’s my take. What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Race’ rundown
How the new “Amazing Race” teams stack up:
Lake and Michelle: Strengths — They look fit, and married couples like Joyce and Uchenna and Chip and Kim have fared well in the past. Weaknesses — Lake is Type A, which could mean lots of screaming. Also, they’re from Hattiesburg, Miss., and teams from small towns sometimes have trouble dealing with new cultures.
Danielle and Dani: Strengths — Friends can sometimes do better in the Race than teams with family ties. Weaknesses — Oh God, y’all. They have the same name.
BJ and Tyler: Strengths — They’ve traveled a lot and speak different languages. They’ve been to Burning Man, and so should not freak out at anything they encounter on the Race. Weaknesses — They’re hippies.
Ray and Yolanda: Strengths — They’re smart and athletic. Weaknesses — They’re both opinionated, and, as we’ve seen in past Races, that rarely results in calm, well-reasoned arguments on how to proceed.
John and Scott: Strengths — Again, the strong track record that friends have on the show. John has completed a 250-mile bike rid and shows tenacity, and they’ve traveled together before. Weaknesses — John is afraid to fly and hasn’t been on a plane in eight years.
David and Lori: Strengths — Their personalities seem well-matched. Weaknesses — She’s ready to get married. He’s not. You just know they’re going to have relationship talks at the airport. Also, he’s afraid of heights.
Eric and Jeremy: Strengths — They’re both very athletic, which is a huge plus. Jeremy is well-traveled. Young, male friends are historically strong. Weaknesses — This could be a team of two Boston Robs, with all the good and the bad that entails.
Fran and Barry: Strengths — Extremely athletic and fond of “adventure travel,” the two might be the toughest older contestants ever. Weaknesses — It’s a flaw of the show, but older teams are still at a disadvantage. Barry also sounds like he could turn domineering.
Lisa and Joni: Strengths — From Texas. Weaknesses — Maybe the closest thing we have to a home team will surprise me and make it as far as the Bowling Moms, but I doubt it. “Older mom”-type teams seldom do well.
Joseph and Monica: Strengths — What a bland profile. It’s hard to tell much beyond the fact that they’re young and fit. But then, past strong contenders Jon and Kris also seemed pretty nondescript at first. Weaknesses — Again, being from a conservative area could hurt them as they venture out into the bigger world.
Wanda and Desiree: Strengths — Mom Wanda is hard-working, well-traveled and knows Spanish. Weaknesses — The bad track record by parent-child teams. Also, daughter Desiree is a writer, and the Race rarely hinges on writing skills.
“Amazing Race” returns Feb. 28.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Oscars! Racers!
Oscar nominations and a list of the new “Amazing Race” teams are both out today. This means I’m entertaining myself with daydreams of the two lists getting confused, and Reese Witherspoon racing around the world with Philip Seymour Hoffman, yelling “RUN, Philip! Run!” as the great actor huffs and puffs through a marketplace in Bangladesh.
The best surprise in the Oscar pack is the best actor nomination for Terrence Howard of “Hustle & Flow,” a performance I thought would get overlooked. He’s great in the film, and he works hard. Besides “Hustle & Flow,” in the past year he’s been in best picture nominee “Crash,” “Four Brothers” and “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” as well as “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and “Lackawanna Blues” on TV.
And how great is that the song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from “Hustle” was nominated? I hate to say a word against Dolly Parton (who’s nominated in this category for “Transamerica”), but it would be so, so wrong if “It’s Hard Out Here” doesn’t win. The song is the heart of the movie.
I was also happy to see “Munich” do better than expected. I liked, but did not love, the film right after I saw it, but it’s stayed with me. “Crash” surprised me by showing up in the best picture category (I was expecting more love for the Woody Allen comeback “Match Point”).
In the supporting races, I have soft spots for Michelle Williams and Matt Dillon, because did you ever think you’d see either of them nominated for an Oscar? Williams deserves the trophy just based on The Look she gave in one jolting scene of “Brokeback Mountain” (if you’ve seen it, you know the one).
What’s most striking overall, though, is what a socially conscious pack of nominees this is. And I like that. Even when I’m not crazy about the movie (say, “Syriana”), I’m happy to see a film taking on bigger issues than “Why is Gwyneth Paltrow sad with bad hair?”
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Take that, Brad and Angie
Sure, they’re beautiful and successful, but they have bad skin. At least according to skinema.com, which I am now expecting to receive financial backing from Jennifer Aniston.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
SAG Awards recap
Better than any of the actual honors during the Screen Actors Guild Awards was the fact that Jamie Lee Curtis tripped and nearly wiped out right there on stage, but somehow made an incredibly graceful recovery. I fall a lot and I want Jamie Lee to come to my apartment and give me lessons on how she did that. I remain awestruck.
Reese Witherspoon picked up another trophy for “Walk the Line.” One can only imagine what she went through to assure that her dress had never even been in the same ZIP code as Kirsten Dunst.
Two of the films nominated for best acting ensemble — “Hustle & Flow” and eventual winner “Crash” — featured both Terrence Howard and Ludacris, who has to be having one of the best music-to-screen transitions ever.
“Empire Falls” won a bunch of awards. Do you know anyone who actually watched “Empire Falls”? Does it even exist, or did Paul Newman and Ed Harris just put together a bunch of clips and send them to award shows?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
You can do it, Baru
Warning: You will tear up upon visiting Baruchito’s homeCage, where there are updates on the brave Japanese hamster’s fight for life. Baru is an Internet celebrity in his own right and a mainstay on Cute Overload. Send some good thoughts to Japan.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Project Runway’ recap
OK, how dead-on and totally hilarious was Santino’s imitation of Tim Gunn?
The laughs were needed, because I found last night’s episode a little uncomfortable. First, there was the business with Zulema getting rid of her model, Rachael, and taking Nick’s, Tarah.
Rachael was shooting death rays out of her eyes she was so mad, but getting switched to Nick really brought out the best out in her and, of course, saved her from possibly being out next week. And there’s your “Project Runway” life lesson for the week: It all works out for the best. Unless you’re Tarah.
Zulema was well within her rights to pick another model, and it seemed like she had real issues with Rachael and wasn’t doing the switch to sabotage Nick. Yet, she was clearly breaking some kind of unspoken code among the designers to stay loyal to their models. Rationally, I don’t think she did anything wrong, but I own up to a hearty “Ha!” when she got eliminated. Maybe if she’d taken Santino’s model instead of Nick’s …
With the drama over the models still running high, Tim decided to give the designers some “tough love” and point how they needed to improve.
His warnings to Santino (you’re in trouble, Mister) and Kara (take some risks) were spot-on. While Zulema needs a lecture, his advice to her (again, to take more risks) seemed odd to me. She had a risky design the week before in the figure-skating challenge, and her larger problem was shoddy construction.
Tim’s admonitions to the stronger designers — Nick, Daniel, Andrae and Chloe — seemed a little contrived and out-of-the-blue to me. If these issues were so dire, why hadn’t they come up before in Tim’s blog? Sure, the designers need to be tough and deal with criticism, and it did seem to motivate some of them, but I still feel they got blindsided.
Nick, especially, took things badly and was on the verge of quitting before a pep talk from Daniel, who has emerged as the stealth star of the show. His designs are strong, he’s won the most challenges and he’s a good influence.
My friend and “Project Runway” mentor Sharon now thinks the three designers going to Fashion Week are Chloe, Daniel and Andrae (who knew he’d rebound so well after the crying fit early in the season?). I think she could be right.
So what do you think? Was Tim too harsh? Was Zulema out of bounds? Who’s out next?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Goodbye, Willard
Chris Penn was Willard in “Footloose.” That’s all I can really comment on in his long resume, but it’s enough of a cinematic legacy.
Penn, who was found dead Tuesday in Santa Monica, clomped like no one before or after as a graceless country boy who learns to dance from Kevin Bacon, playing a big-city transplant and sort of a proto-metrosexual.
With Bacon’s love interest played by the chock-full-o’-crazy, Lori Singer, the Willard-Ren (that was Bacon’s name. Ren. Really. And I didn’t have to look that up) relationship, was the most believable one in the movie, which is the ’80s teen flick nearest and dearest to my heart. I’m sad that someone who was part of it is gone.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Runway’! Tonight!
To prepare, check out the excellent analysis by reader Angelia in Comments.
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The Brangelina babies
Your choices for names so far:
Jennifer and Billy Bob
Skank and Homewrecker
Vanity and Pride
Keep ’em coming.
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Spirit squad
No disrespect to the Horns, but my attention during Monday night’s basketball game against Oklahoma State sometimes wandered off the court.
I’m not even talking about the Frisbee-catching dog in a patriotic sweater who performed at the half (I’m going to guess that at least half the crowd last night will go out today and get their own Frisbee-catching dogs).
Even better than that were some fans who were ardent in showing their love for the Longhorns.
First, there was Tiny Cheerleader, a little girl in orange and white who delivered her own routines from the sidelines while the cheerleaders performed. Much like the Frisbee-catching dog in the patriotic sweater, Tiny Cheerleader is unstoppable, and I fully believe that, if they had their way, both would still be at the Erwin Center doing what they love, just waiting for the basketball team to show up again.
Tiny Cheerleader works alone, but the other super-fans are a unit. They are Goggle Guy, Mexican Wrestler Mask Guy and Knows All the Dance Squad’s Moves Guy. They are awesome.
And fascinating. What leads these young men to their own expressions of spirit? When did they say, “I will do more than wear burnt orange”? Does Goggle Guy wear his goggles to class? Does Mexican Wrestler Mask Guy don the mask when he takes his girlfriend to Death Cab for Cutie shows? And what of the lonely hours Dance Squad Guy spends with “Orange Blossom Special” on his iPod, getting every move just right?
Whoever you are, boys, I salute you.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Name the babies
Brad and Angelina are having twins. Or say so those ubiquitous insiders. Whether it’s true or not, it’s a good opportunity to play Name the Babies. I consider us semi-successful in our efforts to name Britney’s baby (since “Sean Preston” kind of rhymes with one of our picks, “Destin”), and I know we’ll do even better this time.
So, what should they name Maddox and Zahara’s new sibs?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Oscar to Isaac: Cut it out
I’m not the only one in a bunch over Isaac Mizrahi’s rampant tackiness at the Golden Globes. The folks in charge of the Academy Awards are advising that stars’ breasts go unmolested and their very personal grooming habits unquestioned.
The head of E! said he brought in Mizrahi to shake up the boring red-carpet telecast. I cringe imagining meetings where E! execs get all excited about having something “outrageous.”
I so wish Scarlett had slapped him.
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Beautiful deal
If you are running out of all the supplies that make you a pretty, pretty princess and need to do some serious product shopping, check out nordstrom.com, which has a great free gift with purchase.
My dad could live off food samples at the Sam’s Club. With me, the sample gene mutated into a love of trial-size beauty products. My big bag o’ happiness from Nordstrom came yesterday. You get one-application samples of cool stuff like Smashbox’s Photo Finish primer, but there are also plenty of creams, serums and potions that will last you a while.
My favorite thing so far is Remede’s Sweep Body exfoliant. Honestly, if you roll around in money (and if that hasn’t already made your skin pretty enough), get this RIGHT NOW. It is tingly … peppy … za-za-zingy, and I kept thinking “Editors at Lucky magazine probably use this every day and that’s why they keep making up little words like ‘exoliate-y.’ ” Three hours after use, my skin is still so happy it’s downright smug.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Thinking Globally
Tomorrow it gets easier to see some of the films that were among the nominees at the Golden Globes on Monday.
Woody Allen’s “Match Point” finally makes its way to Austin. It’s opening at the Arbor. “Capote” expands to the Tinseltown Pflugerville theater and big winner “Brokeback Mountain” adds a few new theaters: Alamo South, Alamo Lake Creek and Metropolitan 14.
Next Friday, Austin is set to get “The Matador,” which earned an acting nomination for Pierce Brosnan.
There are no local opening dates set for “Mrs. Henderson Presents” and “Transamerica,” but I think it’s likely we’ll get them by the beginning of next month, which gives us time to see them before the Oscars.
As always, remember that opening dates are subject to change, especially with films like these that are being rolled out gradually across the country.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Project Runway’ recap
Much better than I expected. The preview last week looked less like “Runway” than some weird dream you’d have about the show, like “I dreamed I was watching ‘Project Runway,’ but all the designers had on figure-skating outfits.” (And yes, I do have dreams about “Runway.” One last night, in fact. Nick was staying in my guest room. And I don’t even have a guest room.)
Anyway, the big question is, would you have send Santino or Emmett home?
The case for Emmett being out: That was a pretty dull design (although I understand his impulse to play it safe while venturing into the unknown territory of skating outfits). And he lacks technical skills.
Plus, keeping Santino guarantees more drama. I’m betting that he’ll make it to Fashion Week if for no other reason than that, although he’ll almost certainly come up with some good designs before then, too.
The case for Santino being out: Heidi “Angel of Justice” Klum wanted him gone, and I wouldn’t ignore her lightly. The Banana Republic challenge should have been his last chance, but once again he ignored the customer.
Emmett’s departure made Nick cry (did you see the tear?), and I don’t like that. Plus, Emmett has been more consistent than Santino. Santino’s triumphs are bigger, but his failures are worse. Emmett has been good every week except the one when he was on Santino’s team for the lingerie challenge.
I also find Emmett enormously endearing — a sweet, awkward man whom I imagine envying the social ease of some of the other designers.
And if he had to go, how awful is that he lost to both his worst enemy on the show and that it happened while he was wearing a terrible pink skating shirt?
Favorite line of the episode: Andrae’s “Meet Princess Cyclone!”
And one question: Why did Chloe have to move while Emmett seemed to have an apartment to himself?
So what’s next? The preview looks intriguing, with Tim Gunn lecturing the designers. And it looks like Zulema might claim someone else’s model (her right as winner of the skating challenge), which should set off all kinds of sniping.
I think the next to go will be Kara, who is the only remaining designer not to have won at least one challenge. By my count, it’s two for Santino, one for Nick, one for Chloe, two for Zulema (one team, one individual) and two each for Andrae and Daniel (both as part of teams). I’m amazed Nick and Chloe, the strongest designers, have fewer wins than the uneven Zulema.
Yes, possibly I am thinking about it all a bit too much, but you know you are, too. So comment and let’s discuss.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Globes can’t quit ‘Brokeback Mountain’
Golden Globes highs and lows:
— Way to go, Rachel Weisz. Thanks for messing up my record of predictions.
— E!’s pre-show coverage was terrible. And the worst part was once-charming designer Isaac Mizrahi, who crossed the line from unfunny to rude and awful. First, he grabbed Scarlett Johansson’s breast. Call me conservative, but I just think a young actress should be able to walk the red carpet without nonconsensual groping.
And then he asked a just-separated Hilary Swank whether she was just trying to look extra-sexy now that she’s “single.” A clearly flustered and offended Swank, responded that she wasn’t single and that she was trying to work on her marriage. The moment was beyond tacky and awkward. I found myself missing the red-carpet days of Tyra Banks. Mizrahi should not be asked back.
— What was with notable cute girls Sarah Jessica Parker and Mandy Moore chewing gum? Ew.
— You’d think that if a movie is a romance, the clips of it would show kissing. But that wasn’t true of “Brokeback Mountain” at the Globes.
— Reese! Her win was expected, but still made me happy. And she even responded with grace with asked on the red carpet, “Who are you here with tonight?” Um, that’d be her husband.
— The only dress I hated was Gwyneth Paltrow’s, and I hated it big time. That would get someone kicked off “Project Runway.”
My favorites included Reese(of course), a surprisingly subtle Mariah Carey (although this dress seems to be getting a lot of hate from other sources), Marcia Cross and Ziyi Zhang in colors absolutely perfect for them and Felicity Huffman in graceful white.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Golden Globe film picks
The awards are on Monday on NBC.
Drama
Best Picture “Brokeback Mountain” is pretty much unstoppable, but if another film does win, I think it’ll be “Good Night, and Good Luck.” George Clooney had a great year, and I think everyone wants him to go home with an award. I’m guessing that it’ll come for his role in “Syriana,” though, and not the behind-the-camera work on “Good Night.”
Best Actress Felicity Huffman is probably a shoo-in here for “Transamerica,” which, sadly, doesn’t have an Austin opening date set. I wouldn’t mind seeing the award go to Maria Bello, who was great in “A History of Violence” (although I’m not a fan of the film as a whole). Gwyneth Paltrow somehow got nominated for “Proof,” but I’m hoping that all the self-congratulory interviews she’s given in the past few months have convinced everyone that any more accomplishment would just not be healthy for her.
Best Actor Likely between Heath Ledger in “Brokeback” and Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Capote,” although David Straitharn and Terrence Howard are also deserving for “Good Night, and Good Luck” and “Hustle & Flow,” respectively. I don’t have much use for Russell Crowe (who’s nominated for “Cinderella Man”) since he and his band terrorized Austin a few years ago.
Musical or Comedy
Best Picture “Walk the Line” should easily claim this prize, even though I think it belongs in the drama category.
Best Actress We all know this one is going to Reese Witherspoon for “Walk the Line,” right? And I say good for her.
Best Actor Either “Joaquin Phoenix” will bring in another “Walk the Line” win, or Jeff Daniels wil triumph for his comeback role in “The Squid and the Whale.”
The supporting awards and director aren’t divided into categories.
For supporting actress, the two main contenders are Scarlett Johansson for “Match Point” (which should open in Austin soon) and Michelle Williams for “Brokeback Mountain.” Scarlett is supercool — completely outclassing the other actresses her age — but I’m still cheering for Michelle, because I like the idea of a “Dawson’s Creek” girl making good (and we know it can go a whole lot worse for them).
And I already prognosticated above that George Clooney will win for “Syriana.” But Matt Dillon could also win, as I think the Globes want to honor “Crash” somehow.
Directing is a weird category because it contains Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, who were snubbed (unjustly!) for “Munich” and “King Kong.” I’m predicting Ang Lee for “Brokeback,” though. Woody Allen is also a possibility for his “comeback” film “Match Point.”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Glory Road’ preview
“Glory Road” is a heck of a crowd-pleasing movie. I would also like it noted that my fondness for it is proof that I’m not a big grumpypants who doesn’t like anything.
Yes, it’s formulaic, but it’s a good formula. The young actors (including Austin’s Mehcad Brooks) have an easy chemistry, and the best parts of the film are when they rag each other affectionately.
My colleague Ed Crowell noted something interesting. As Coach Haskins, Josh Lucas looks a bit like UT basketball coach Rick Barnes.
You know, I’m sure what Lindsay wrote is just being misconstrued and taken out of context by Defamer. Just like those awful liars at Vanity Fair.
Before “Arrested Development” was Fox’s great but criminally underwatched series, there was “Action,” a pitch-black, scathingly funny Hollywood satire with Jay Mohr and Illeana Douglas. It was mean, brilliant — and a huge flop. Just found out it’s due on DVD Feb. 21. Check it out if you like “Arrested Development,” “The Office” or “Nip/Tuck.”
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Gay cowboys: bad. Torture: OK
I think it’s interesting that the Utah theater that decided not to show “Brokeback Mountain” has no problem showing “Hostel”, a graphically violent barrage of torture and sadism.
More news:
— Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” isn’t having the best awards season (it’s not even nominated in the Golden Globes race for best drama), and now it’s run into more trouble in Great Britain. The screener DVDs sent out ahead of the BAFTA awards (the British Oscars) don’t play in UK machines.
— Dr. Phil has joined up with match.com to get your love life into shape. And also because he’s so underexposed.
— Watch the Lil’ Kim reality show? You bet I will.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
All about you
A lot going on in the comments section these days, despite my paltry efforts:
— Some varied thoughts on “The Book of Daniel.”
— Ever-observant Tim O. Thompson makes a very apt comparison between that “Arrested Development” episode I complained about and the end of “Seinfeld.”
— Will, a longtime friend of this blog and my legal heir, was having some doubts about “King Kong,” but I hope he saw it and liked it.
— Louise has also been sucked into the cult that is “Project Runway.” Join us.
— Regarding the “Chronicles of Narnia,” Beth Miller remembers the same cartoon version that deeply impressed me as a kid.
And Tony Jackson, who I am guessing is slam poet Tony Jackson, but who is darn funny regardless, finds Tilda Swinton as the White Witch kinda, well, hot.
Also, I must belatedly report that we have heard from our old friend Rob the Intern and he is doing well.
So why all the catching up? I’ve been stumbling around for months with walking pneumonia, and a rarely discussed side effect of this is writers’ block. I’m feeling better now, but things were iffy for a while. How iffy? Well, one night I fell asleep before “Project Runway,” which you know means that I was bad off.
(Spoilers ahead if you didn’t watch last night. Turn back now.)
I thought Wednesday’s episode ended exactly as it should, with Diana and Marla out. I used to like Diana’s sweet geekiness, but by last night, I was sick of her. And Marla is just … ugh. Both were totally clueless in the challenge to design an outfit for Banana Republic and did not seem to remotely consider the consumer.
I would be happy if Santino had to pack up all his airbrushed big-cat shirts and go home, but I was glad he didn’t drag sweet Nick down with him last night. The top tier is still clearly Santino, Nick and Chloe, but I think Daniel V. is coming on strong, and Emmett continues to be a stealth presence to contend with. The promos of next week’s episode — designing a figure-skating outfit — look totally frightening. I mean, is there such a thing as a good one? Aren’t they all kind of tacky? Perhaps the “Runway” crew will school me.
Also noteworthy: I don’t mind telling you. I live for Cute Overload. And this made me laugh despite its tragic nature.
And I continue to be obsessed in a Lucky magazine editor kind of way with Dikson Fluid Restorer, which is the single best hair product ever. I have now stocked up, so if there’s a bird flu epidemic, I’ll still have soft hair.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Holy ripoffs
Think NBC’s new show “The Book of Daniel” is going for a “Six Feet Under” kind of look?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Making a huge mistake
“Arrested Development” shamed itself with Monday’s too-cute, too self-referential episode. I’m very disappointed in you, Bluths.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Cute cards
Send these to your favorite dog lovers.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘King Kong’ preview
“King Kong” is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
Seriously. I’ve seen so many middling movies this year. Left the theater so many times thinking “well, that was OK,” as if that’s some kind of compliment. This film is different.
“King Kong” reminds you of what it was like to go to the movies when you were a kid. The high-tech filmmaking is breathtaking, but what really matters is the heart behind it. The character of Kong is more recognizably human than, say, the entire cast of “Domino.”
I can’t recommend this movie enough. It’s only my fear of a restraining order that’s keeping me from finding your personal number and calling you repeatedly until you agree to see it.
Write yourself a note to attend Lights in the Heights in Houston next year. Residents of Woodland Heights decorate their homes, and there are entertainers (bands, ballet, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator) and excellent people watching. Many of said people are wearing Santa hats (though not in a Jake Gyllenhaal in “Jarhead” way) and/or skates.
We visited with our friend Ellen, an expert on fleece, the business world and being pretty, who was in town from Colorado and who took us along to a couple of very good holiday parties, including one thrown by Off the Kuff (with whom I was honored to discuss “Amazing Race” with) and his lovely family. My heart grew three sizes that day.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The squirrel strikes!
Look who has a blog. I hope the authorities are monitoring this.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Hit the catwalk
A “Project Runway” preview (because it’s not like you need to be out tonight running around in the cold and ice):
Y’all. Please watch it. Pleeeeeeasssseeee. Because I want you to be able to talk about it with me tomorrow.
I did not get into the first edition of “Runway” until the last few episodes, which is a terrible regret to have to live with. The second edition starts tonight at 9, and it’s so awesome that I get a little hyper just thinking about it.
There are some very good, thoughtful reasons to recommend “Runway.” For one, it has probably the most diverse cast you’ve ever seen. And it’s fairly highbrow by reality TV standards: The contestants are judged on actual skills instead of, say, the ability to roll around in bugs while wearing a bikini.
But it’s also slick and shiny and pretty. Resistance is futile. Here are the players that grab attention in the early going:
— Heidi Standridge from Atlanta is so Southern that even Reese Witherspoon would tell her to settle down.
— Fragile, flaky Daniel Franco is back from last season. I worry about him.
— Diana Eng is a quiet yet fascinating young woman whose designs are more influenced by technology than what’s in the pages of Vogue.
— Santino Rice is very, very talented and knows it.
— I suspect that friends of Andrae Gonzalo love him, but end up rolling their eyes at him a lot.
Host Heidi Klum returns in all her chipper menace, as does thoroughly intimidating design guru Tim Gunn from the Parsons School.
Don’t wait for Bravo to do a “Runway” marathon. Get in on the drama, dread, sniping, griping and, of course, pretty clothes tonight.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The mane event
“Chronicles of Narnia” preview (rich with spoilers):
The good: The special effects are both gorgeous and nondistracting. The talking animals seem almost as real as the humans. This is important, because anything remotely Jar-Jar-esque would have been a deal-breaker here. Aslan the lion is especially cool, and, as messianic figures go, a lot more huggable than Keanu Reeves in the “Matrix” movies. As a fledgling crazy cat lady, I’m happy to see a heroic kitty. Felines get a bad rap in film.
Tilda Swinton is full-on freaky as the White Witch. She storms around Narnia in dresses that Bjork would wear to the Oscars and sporting truly impressive dreadlocks, although she did apparently head to the salon for a blowout before the big final battle. (Also, I’m kind of convinced she made a dress with shorn Aslan mane. That’s hardcore. Tell me what you think after you see it.) She’s effortlessly scary, as if commanding ghouls and beasties is part of her usual routine and the filmmakers just happened to catch her.
Little Georgie Henley is the heart of the film as a spot-on Lucy. Dakota Fanning will probably put out a hit on her. Skandar Keynes is convincingly horrid as Edmund.
And, as with “Zathura,” it’s nice to see an old-fashioned kids’ tale with a regal pace (although it is a bit slow at times) and that doesn’t rely on a barrage of pop culture references.
The bad (or at least the “Could Have Been Improved Upon”): While the effects are well-done, the overall look of the film is a little conventional. I found myself thinking that a director like “Amelie’s” Jean-Pierre Jeunet could have made it more visually sumptuous. The older Pevensie kids aren’t as convincing as the younger two, and I wish the family dynamics had the resonance of those in the underrated “Zathura.”
I haven’t picked up the Narnia books since I was a kid, but I remembered the story as a little more powerful. With the film, I wasn’t quite sold on the children’s deep attachment to Narnia and Aslan. They (and we) barely know him before he sacrifices himself for Edmund. The lion’s death scene is powerful, but he’s back before you know it. Things never seem truly dark for the Narnia good guys.
The kind of weird: Mr. Tumnus the fan made me a little uncomfortable. I kept thinking he was going to ask Lucy out.
The Beavers were awfully nice to the children, considering they showed up wearing fur coats.
So if the children grew up in Narnia, but then were kids again when they came back through the wardrobe, wouldn’t they be ticked that they had to go through puberty again?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Syriana’ preview
You know, I liked this movie better when it was called “Traffic.”
I wanted to be totally excited about “Syriana.” Big movie. Big issues. And, of course, The Clooney.
Instead, I found myself fidgety and, it must be said, kind of bored. Maybe it’s a little ironic. After a year of complaining about movies that underline and highlight their main points just to make sure we don’t miss anything, I wanted Cliffs Notes at “Syriana.” The multiple story lines left me baffled. If you go, make sure you read all you can about the plot first. Or that you have George Clooney’s number so you can get him to explain it.
Clooney himself gives a fine performance as a tired-out CIA agent. I’ve read criticisms that “Syriana’s” characters are two-dimensional, but Clooney makes Bob Barnes sad and real — it’s easy to imagine the young and arrogant man he must have once been.
Alexander Siddig, Amanda Peet and Tim Blake Nelson are also very good in small roles. As he did in “Jarhead,” Chris Cooper plays Chris Cooper, which is always fine with me.
The movie does build up suspense and dread in its last third, but the stakes would have felt higher if we’d gotten a chance to know the characters better. There’s material for at least three movies in “Syriana” mashed together into one disappointing one.
And here’s my most damning complaint: The oil company the film centers on is named Connex Killen. But everyone in the movie says the last word as “Killeen.” Come on. If you’re going to make Texans the villains, at least spell our towns right.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Made’ woman
Movies: The two movies I’d been most looking forward to turned out to be Just Pretty Good instead of great, but both have things to recommend them.
“Walk the Line” had some stinker moments of film-bio cliché, but the Johnny-June romance kept it from becoming another “Ray.” (I haven’t kvetched about it in a while, but you might remember that I have a bitter, bitter dislike of “Ray.”)
My favorite thing about the movie was Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash. I don’t know enough about June to comment on the veracity of Reese’s performance, but I do know Southern womanhood, and Reese nailed that. To me, she wasn’t just playing June but a lot of women I have known who are smarter, tougher and wilder than people suspect from their sweet manners and perfect lipstick.
After reading mixed reviews of “Jarhead,” I was starting to worry that the best thing about it would be the trailer with Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks.” And indeed, it can’t really be said that the movie has what you’d call a “plot.” But it’s still worth seeing.
Magazines: Bust has an interview with the woman who designs the Dirty Girl line and other products that are probably in your bathroom right now. … Us Weekly had my second-favorite “Stars … They’re Just Like Us” caption after the immortal “They cross medians!” This week, we learned that stars are just like us because “They hold things under their arm!”
TV: MTV’s “Made” is the sweetest reality show around and makes me feel good about the young people today. In Sunday’s marathon, I finally saw the episode with Joan, an endearingly sweet and goofy student from Lake Travis High who wants to me made into a wakeboarder.
Kids on “Made” usually start out a little surly and averse to hard work, but Joan was a trouper from the get-go. She didn’t offer an excuse when she was late for practice one day even though she had a good one — some bad kids had SPRAY-PAINTED HER PET LAMB. Honestly, if you spray-paint a lamb, I think you forfeit your rights to live among decent people.
Joan perservered, though, and won second place in a wakeboarding competition. I hope she’s keeping up the good work.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Jen Garner baby watch
I have been worried sick about when Jennifer Garner is going to birth that child. If I recall correctly from my Us Weekly studies (and trust me, I do), she was due Nov. 11. Finally, we have a least a little bit of an update.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Keepin’ it real
The short list for the best documentary Oscar is out, and, in addition to those hallowed marching penguins, it contains some films you might remember from the South by Southwest Film Festival.
I’d be most thrilled to see “The Boys of Baraka” make the final list of nominees. The doc about middle-schoolers from Baltimore who go to a boarding school in Africa deserves the attention an Oscar nod would bring.
The other SXSW alumni on the list: “The Devil and Daniel Johnston,” “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” and “Murderball.” (The latter two also enjoyed theatrical runs in Austin.)
A pleasant suprise last night at the UT basketball game: Under a program called “Barnes’ Benchwarmers” (after coach Rick Barnes), we got to abandon our upper-level perch and claim the prime seats of absent season ticket holders. We would have had to have relinquished if they showed up, but they never did. So, thank you, no-shows, whoever you were.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Retro fun
“Chicken Little” held onto the top spot at the box office this week, but I would have rather seen the honor go to the sweet and old-fashioned “Zathura.” Check out Dale Roe’s insightful review (and by “insightful” I mean “agrees with my opinion”).
The movie seems like something you would have gone to see on a Saturday afternoon in 1980, and I mean that in a really good way. Young star Jonah Bobo even looks retro. I thought they stopped making moppets like him around ‘83.
Kind thanks to the Off the Kuff blog for linking to the Statesman’s “Lost” story this past Sunday.
Can we do anything in this country without Sheryl Crow? Guess not.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Here comes a plague!’
The whole existence of “Category 7” has been justified by the fact that curlyhairedtvdork live-blogged it.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
A cultural moment
I’m a big fan of former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins’ “Poetry 180” books. Current laureate Ted Kooser has a project that’s just as cool: a column showcasing modern, easily accessible poetry at American Life in Poetry. Here, you’ll find emerging talents as well as poetry all-stars like Naomi Shihab Nye and Marge Piercy.
Kooser’s own poems aren’t a part of the column, but they’re pretty marvelous, too. Try the elegant, gently witty “Selecting a Reader” and see what you think.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Cruise control
Granted, this story is crazy enough on its own, but at first I totally thought “Cruise ship ‘used sonic weapon’ ” meant a ship belonging to Tom Cruise. And you can laugh, but do you really doubt that he has this kind of thing?
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Durantastic!
If you remember why Feb. 17 was a very special day here in Austin, this is your DVD.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Chick flick
At the sneak preview of Disney’s “Chicken Little” last night, I spent the first half of the movie thinking that all those critics who gave it mediocre reviews were mean, mean people devoid of souls. The animated movie has considerable charms. Zach Braff and Garry Marshall do delightful voice work, sight gags and throwaway jokes hum in the background and CL himself is a winning character — creative, resilient and just freakishly cute.
Too bad it all kind of falls apart. The worst sin is that the movie lapses into psychobabble, showing instead of telling the morals that Disney films instill. It doesn’t trust kids to get the point unless it’s all spelled out for them. That’s insulting.
It also loses its narrative momentum. I pick on the chicken for two reasons: First, this could have been an outstanding movie with some work on the plot. Second, the problem seems epidemic among movies I’ve seen this year. Even “Fantastic Four,” 2005’s cinematic nadir for me, was ruined not by Jessica Alba (who actually tried very hard to act through the the lip gloss weighing her down) but by a meandering script where nothing much happened.
Another perspective on “Chicken Little”: One of my companions for the evening was Alex — honor roll regular, defender of good manners, world’s best 12-year-old. He gave the movie three stars to the grown-ups’ two. Strengths: the aliens. Flaws: extraneous characters, and the mere presence of Foxy Loxy, whom Alex declared an all-around abomination.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Halloween 4’ on Halloween
Owen Egerton of The Sinus Show called us with some late-breaking Halloween news. He is very, very excited about this and e-mailed this dispatch on his screening of “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” at the Alamo South:
Outside of the classic original this is without a doubt the finest of the “Halloween” films. And in some ways (dare we say it … we do dare) it improves on the original. There’s more screen time given to the rantings of Donald Pleasance (he is sooo good in this), more pure action, a wilder ending and more outright fun. “Halloween 4” is the ultimate ’80s horror sequel! Owen Egerton of The Sinus Show will be hosting, but rest assured he will not be mocking or talking over the film. He’ll offer some haunting preshow surprises (including a short presentation on the Meaning of Michael Myers) and then sit with the audience and watch in awe and admiration.
Egerton has been petitioning Tim League of the Alamo to show this film for five years, and when he finally agreed, the Alamo had to hunt high and low to find the film. It turns out that 35 mm prints of “Halloween 4” are not in high demand. All seemed lost, but in the last moment a private collector came to the rescue with a beautiful rare print.
Expect a sassy heroine, an innocent child and drunk vigilante yokels (they rock). Expect beer, expect screams and, of course, expect evil incarnate. Experience the underappreciated but overwhelmingly cool “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.
(9:45 p.m. tonight, Alamo Drafthouse South)
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Lemony fresh
I have now lived. Mr. Lemony Snicket waved an alligator head in my face.
Snicket was a total rock star as he brought some good, wholesome darkness to the Texas Book Festival on Saturday. He’s a tall, somewhat portly man with a marvelous voice. He never says anything. He intones. And what he intones is mostly awful: tales of an armpit-attacking beast (which explains why you should never, ever raise your hand in class, he told the assembled children), warnings to a young girl that the police will be coming for her, reminders that his own books are simply agonizing and should not be read.
What makes him so charming is that amid this wickedness is considerable evidence that Snicket is a gracious man. No doubt he could draw amazing amounts of money simply by showing up and reading a chapter or two, but he was constantly in motion: leaping on- and offstage and streaking around the Paramount Theatre — even up in the balcony — to shamelessly entertain.
That afternoon, we went to a panel featuring Seth Mnookin and other smart journalists who decried the attention paid to celebrity gossip at the expense of serious stories. Given their stance, they seemed to know an awful lot about Brad Pitt’s love life. Hmmm.
Sunday brought Ted Allen, my first love among “Queer Eye’s” Fab 5 (these days, I would say I love them all the same. Except Jai). I’ve fallen away from the show (I guess we all have) but Ted, at the fest to promote his new cookbook, was suave and genial as ever. He’s more of a live music fan than you’d figure — I assumed he stayed in every night and threw parties — and told a funny story about being at CBGB in a crowd consisting mostly of rock critics who paid more attention to their Blackberries than the band. The presentation could have benefited from an alligator head, but then, what presentation couldn’t?
Joss Whedon’s “Serenity” didn’t do much for me, which puts me in disagreement with several people whose opinions I value and goes against my tendency to adore all things Whedon-esque. I mean, it was fine. It just wasn’t “Buffy.”
One thing I did like about “Serenity” was its depiction of a culturally blended future where everyone switches back and forth between English and Chinese.
Alamo South build on this aspect of the movie with a preshow presentation on Chinese swearing, which I now aim to devote my life to studying. The video featured a lovely older gentleman who seemed both scandalized and delighted by the bad words he was sharing. I would love to see him do a tutorial video on “The Aristocrats.”
While “Serenity” might cause some awkwardness between me and Joss, I was totally happy with a new product from one of my other favorite geniuses. “Beavis and Butt-head, Vol. 1 — The Mike Judge Collection” is out Nov. 8. Even before its release, the set seems to have irked some fans on Amazon.com, who want complete sets by season instead of this curated collection. Point taken, but I also understand Judge’s desire to winnow out what he sees as lesser episodes.
The banter between the two endearing idiots holds up remarkably well and still induces rampant snickering. The episodes don’t include videos, but there are several, including one by Wilco (!), on the third disc.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
It’s a tough call
Which of these three women do you feel most sad for?
Shawnee Smith in “Saw II.”
Emmanuelle Vaugier in “Saw II.
Meryl Streep in “Prime.”
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
It’s Hello Kitty’s world…
we just live in it.
Hello Kitty airline links here, here and here. (Courtesy of Jeff)
And, brace yourself, Hello Kitty wedding links here and here. (Courtesy of Lydia)
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Just like Christina
I would like to report the greatest achievement of my life. Last night, we went out for sushi and then had ice cream for dessert back home while we flipped through Us Weekly.
There, in the “Hot Pics” section, was a shot of Christina Aguilera picking up some ice cream after a sushi dinner.
Stars — they really are just like us.
The issue also marked the pinnacle of achievement in Us photo captioning. In the official “Stars — They’re Just Like Us!” photos was a shot of Nicollette Sheridan and her fiance. How are they just like us? Why, “they cross medians!” There’s no stronger indication of everywomanness than crossing a median.
Sadly, the median photo is now bittersweet as Nic is engaged no more. Stars — they break our hearts.
You know, none of this would have happened if I had a Cabinet-level position that involved advising the president about personnel choices based on their style and grooming. “That woman wears too much eyeliner, Mr. President,” I would have said. “She’s unfit to serve on the Supreme Court.” And he would have said a hearty “Thanks, Lindy!” and let me sit with his parents at the World Series.
“Dirt” richly deserves the best doc prize it picked up at the Austin Film Festival. The film follows a season of auto racing at the Devil’s Bowl in Mesquite. The race footage is cool — in fact, this is one of the most visually exciting docs you’ll ever see — but the racers themselves are even more fascinating. The sport, though it will never make them rich or famous, consumes their lives and dominates their relationships. There’s even a bit of a love triangle. “Dirt” looks like a total guy movie, but the most interesting people in the film are the women, whether they’re fighting for their right to drive or acknowledging that their husbands’ true loves are their cars. An extra treat: Jeff’s dad took us out to see the Bowl last weekend when we visited.
Durandy, a friend of this blog and the world’s biggest Duran Duran fan, writes in to remind us that today is Mr. Simon LeBon’s 47th birthday. Durandy adds: “Please feel free to engage in celebratory activities if you feel so inclined … swinging from chandeliers, adopting a British accent for the day, renting a yacht to re-create the ‘Rio’ video, or simply keeping Mr. LeBon firmly in your thoughts for the afternoon — it’s all goooood!”
As we would say in my Southern Baptist past: I have a praise: Chris Garcia has returned to the blogging fold. (Your proper response here would be, “Girrrrrrl, that is AWESOME!!!!!”) I guess the cumulative effect of Michael Barnes and I joining hands and singing “Softly and tenderly XL is calling/Calling, o blogger, come home” finally wore him down.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Hang on, George
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Me vs. ‘Housewives’
OK, I’m going to do something I don’t like to do: Spout off without knowing all the facts. Possibly, my Nordstrom slingback-clad foot will soon be inserted in my mouth.
But the idea of “Desperate Housewives” keeping a “developmentally disabled” man chained up in the basement just repulses me.
I am not the most sensitive girl in the world. And I know this show (of which I am not a fan) is satire. But … still. I just think of some wonderful kids I know, and of their parents, and I want to go key a bunch of expensive cars at ABC.
Happier things: I was pleased with Liz Phair’s performance at Game 1 of the World Series, but possibly I am all alone in this opinion … Did you know there was an arrow in the FedEx logo, between the E and the X? Jeff told me about this a couple of days ago and my mind has remained absolutely blown. I’m now worried about what else I’ve been missing. … I should have gone back for a second Fletcher’s Corny Dog at the State Fair of Texas this weekend. It’s a regret I’m having trouble living with, but I guess I’ll be OK.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Shopgirl,’ cough girl
So I finally went back to the doctor about the icky, hacky cough that I’ve had since, oh, the Carter administration. She prescribed some cough suppressant that is terribly effective, but it also makes me want to move to Houston and make super-slow rap records. So this will be short.
But I have to put in a good word for Shopgirl, screened last night at the Austin Film Festival. Granted, I am inclined to be generous to any movie that starts out with a panoramic shot of a makeup counter (MAC! Nars!) and puts Claire Danes in breathtaking vintage clothes, but I got caught up in the love triangle between Danes, Steve Martin and Jason Schwartzman. Despite my fondness for “Doom” and “Hustle & Flow,” sometimes I like to see movies where people fall in love, kiss and wear nice clothes. The problem is it’s hard to find current romantic comedies populated by anyone who resembles a human. Danes shines as real-live girl, albeit one who looks better driving and wearing glasses than I do.
The film is set to open in Austin on Nov. 4.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Austin Film Fest is here
A quick look at just a few offerings:
— “City of Mermaids” is a documentary short that has an excellent chance of charming you if you’ve spent a lot of time in Florida, especially the non-Disney parts. It’s about the women who work as “mermaids” at Weeki Wachee Springs, and it will induce immediate flashbacks if you ever went there as a child. The mermaids perform in an underwater theater, getting their oxygen from air hoses. Their pride of current and former mermaids is enormous, with some of the women defining themselves by their few years under the water. A few cheesy, ’80s style visual effects mar the film, but it’s still worth a look. (Screening Saturday and Monday at 9 p.m. at the Hideout with other short films.)
— It may look like a Christopher Guest film, but “Muskrat Lovely” is a real documentary. It chronicles two important competitions at the National Outdoor Show in Golden Hill, Md.: The Miss Outdoors Pageant and a muskrat-skinning competition. Director Amy Nicholson has a great eye for all the little dramas of beauty pageants. She can spot the tension in moments that at first seem innocuous. The juxtaposition of the muskrat skinning doesn’t quite work — even though one of the pageant contestants skins as her talent — but it’s all entertaining enough, especially when the pageant contestants spectacularly bungle the interview question. (Tonight and Sunday at the Hideout)
— “Halfway Decent”, sadly, doesn’t even live up to its title. Ernie Hudson is likable as a police officer who’s separated from his wife, and he has one great scene of painting drunk (it’s not advisable). But the rest of the movie never comes together. And points off for having the characters recite poetry. Ugh. (Saturday at the Stephen F. Austin Theater and Tuesday at the Arbor.)
— “Going Through Splat: The Life and Work of Stewart Stern” examines the life of the man who wrote “Rebel Without a Cause.” Stern is a character — sad, insightful and a little oversensitive — and there are some lovely anecdotes, such as the writer and James Dean making barnyard noises together. But the talky doc isn’t enough to hold the interest of anyone beyond serious cinephiles. (Tonight and Sunday at the Stephen F. Austin Theater)
For more info, visit the festival’s Web site.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Unfounded theory of the day
I think they shaded the “Good Night, and Good Luck” poster to make David Straithairn look more like George Clooney.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
‘Real World’ evacuates?
You can’t really blame Key West business magnate Edwin O. Swift for not wanting “The Real World” in town. Had I known what was coming before “Real World: Austin,” I would have filed a class-action suit on behalf of all of us and then Charlize Theron would play me in a movie someday.
Some questions:
— Since “Real World: Key West” seems to already be shooting, will the cast flee Wilma or hole up for a drunken hurricane party?
— If you were an evacuee, how annoyed would you be to find yourself at a shelter with them?
— And would an episode involving either scenario manage to be more interesting than the entire “Real World: Austin” season?
Discuss.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Less talk, more Rock
Last night, I saw a movie that my mom — a schoolteacher and brand-new grandmother — would love.
And that would be “Doom.”
“Doom” combines two of the qualities my mother finds most admirable in movies: 1) It’s violent. 2) It’s in space.
And because I’m her daughter, I liked it pretty well myself. “Doom” served up the big, dumb fun we’d gone looking for with “Domino” last week.
Entertainment Weekly sheds some light on what went wrong with that film. Screenwriter Richard Kelly — who, bizarrely, also penned “Donnie Darko” — said that he was out to make a statement about pop culture. He should have focused less on statements and all that godawful talky exposition and more on creating scenes where Keira Knightley gets to throw knives and hit people.
I don’t think “Doom” was making any kind of statement, unless it was that you should shoot things that try to rip you to shreds. There was carnage, sort-of zombies (yay!), a twist I didn’t see coming (and not one of those horrid “he’s really dead!” endings) and the Rock got to yell a lot.
“Doom” also confirms for me that severed arms are very big this year. An arm figured prominently into “Domino,” and the Corpse Bride could detach hers. I was thinking that I was four-for-four in severed arm movies, but as much as it seems like one would fit right into “A History of Violence,” I don’t remember one. Maybe on the DVD …
Also noteworthy from EW: After citing the Alamo Drafthouse as the country’s best theaters, the magazine singles out KGSR as one of the country’s best radio stations. And the EW Web site has recaps of “The Amazing Race” and “Real World: Austin” that are far better than the shows themselves.
More film notes: One of the outstanding documentaries of this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival comes to the Alamo South next week. “Troop 1500” plays Monday and Tuesday …Sure, “The Brat Pack Movies and Music Collection” comes with “The Breakfast Club,” “Sixteen Candles,” “Weird Science” and a CD of music from John Hughes films, but the really cool thing is that the packaging (which, unfortunately, you can’t tell from the Amazon page) looks like one of those big, blue binder notebooks I carried when I was a kid, and the title looks like it was written with Liquid Paper and black marker. … Our first look at media images for “The Family Stone” has me feeling anxious for my beloved Sarah Jessica Parker, who seems to have found her way into a terrible chick flick. One of the photos shows SJP with Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams in their PJs, collapsing on the kitchen floor in laughter. Oh, the merriment. Let’s hope there’s a severed arm to redeem it all.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
No thanks, Seventeen
I will not be watching MTV’s Miss Seventeen, a competition in which the prize is an internship at the magazine whose Sex and Your Body column really, really left a lot out.
Even reading the Gawker brief brings up bad memories of when I was a slip of a girl in southwest Georgia and applied for an internship at Sassy, Seventeen’s bad-girl counterpart. Mercifully, I can’t remember exactly what I put on my application, but I think it’s safe to say that the same qualities that made me a standout officer in Future Homemakers of America did nothing to endear me to Sassy doyenne Jane Pratt. She and Gigi Guerra and Christina Kelly probably sat around and got drunk and mocked me. I can’t blame them.
You know who you are. You not only watch dog shows, you have conversations with each competitor (“Hey, buddy! Look at you! Aren’t you something?”). You make up back stories for your pets (my childhood cats, according to my dad, were a military veteran and a churchgoing nurse). At the movies, you can stomach all manner of violent acts against humans, but God forbid anyone even look funny at an animal.
One of my former bosses has a blog geared toward people like us.
Ann is one of my all-time favorite people, and I’m so happy to see her writing this. She’s tough, tenderhearted and jaw-droppingly funny. And British. Very British. Stop by and say hello to her.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Siegfried, no!
I hope this isn’t true. I just want someone to be happy. I mean, someone besides Tom and Katie.
And, for the record, I never made Rob the Intern do anything like this.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Dear Keira Knightley
I have to apologize, because before “Domino” I thought you were kind of a twit. You’re actually really cool, and I liked it when you hit people and threw knives. I also admire the way you glare and look simultaneously bored and hateful. Can you teach me how to do this?
… OK, I feel bad now, because I was totally flattering you before I gave some criticism, and you probably saw through that. I’m just going to say it: “Domino” is bad. It’s not your fault. I’m sure it all sounded like a great idea, and I know that there aren’t a lot of great roles for women to choose from (hey, at least you weren’t in “Fantastic Four”).
I think, though, that there a couple of questions you can ask from the get-go to avoid situations like this in the future.
— How long is the movie going to be? A good rule is, if the length in minutes is larger than your weight, you should say no.
— How much of the script is hitting, knife-throwing and glaring and how much is exposition? The right ratio here is 90 percent mayhem, 10 percent back story. Look, you’re British, beautiful and you punch people. You don’t have to explain yourself.
— Does your character do something that absolutely defies all logic? This could really apply to most of “Domino,” but I’m thinking specifically of the part where she signs on for the reality show hosted by Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green of “Beverly Hills 90210.” If you had watched the show (and it’s OK that you haven’t. You’re young.) you would know that anything involving Ian’s character, Steve Sanders, comes to no good. Steve Sanders=ill-advised scheme. Remember this.
Better things are ahead, my friend.
Sincerely, Sarah
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Where’s Kermit?
When I saw this image of Jeff Daniels in the upcoming movie “The Squid and the Whale,” at first I totally thought he was starring in “The Jim Henson Story.”
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Pumpkins: A good thing
Is this real? After the perfect storm of celebrity gossip Wednesday, I’ve lost all grip on reality.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The sorrow and the Kitty
So, I soften my criticism of the new “Amazing Race” after last night’s episode. Pretending to be a spy in Washington? This is TV tailor-made for me. Plus, there was the reliably strong “TAR” editing that crafted strong storylines for the Weavers (Team Mean Girl, but I mean that in a good way) and the Roberts, whose evil, evil patriarch seemed on the verge of driving hunky son Brock out of the family.
Tim Schmelter of Austin360 and Cusack Medal-winning boyfriend Jeff both flagged my attention to Halo Kitty. Which is more proof that she never stops thinking of new ways to spread happiness.
Anyway, I’m taking the rest of the day off to try to deal.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Tuesday TV
After starting off by making sweet, sweet children cry, “The Amazing Race: Family Edition” is back tonight to further sully the reputation of the Emmy-winning reality show.
Now, I talk all tough, but I’ll watch. As long as Phil Keoghan strides purposefully while describing what a Detour is, I’m there. But this edition of the “Race” is a mistake. Since there are kids along, the teams are sticking to the U.S. That means no airport drama, no culture clashes and no attempts to convey to cab drivers who don’t speak English why they must go very, very fast. However much the producers think we’re tuning in to see people bicker, I think there’s a deeply square streak in “Race” fans, and we love the glimpse at other cultures. Especially if the members of those cultures are snickering at doltish Racers who can’t even plow or cook an ostrich egg.
Gripes aside, so far we’re rooting for the Weavers, because the women of this family look like they would totally cut you if you tried any nonsense, and the Gaghans, mostly because of Billy, who’s 12 but has the demeanor of a 40-year-old mob accountant.
Elsewhere on the dial, Real World: Austin lurches on. Here’s what we’ve been mulling: Besides Melinda and Danny, is there anything even approaching a storyline?
Over on NBC, the American “Office” continues to find its own identity as a fine sitcom. It’s getting easier to consider the show in its own right without comparisons to the BBC original. If kids start tearing up again on “Race,” I’m switching channels.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Buy Britney’s stuff
It used to take a lot of work to look this trashy. Now eBay makes it easy.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
What I learned at QT 6
Thursday was sexploitation night at the Quentin Tarantino Film Festival, but the true purpose of the evening was educational. Here’s what I learned about the ’70s from the films screened.
• Agriculture was so efficient that farmworkers were able to spend most of their days trysting in meadows and haylofts.
• Most bodies of water were occupied by skinny dippers.
• If you had a debt, men were open to creative forms of repayment.
• I knew this from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” but the sexploitation films confirmed it: Girls in the ’70s were cute and plucky and resourceful; men in the ’70s were trolls with bad hair.
Tarantino made the case that the girls of sexploitation films are charming, especially compared with dead-eyed porn stars. Indeed, they weren’t unlike Mary — they just came up with a really different answer to “How will you make it on your own?”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The end of Kenny and Renée
So, we can dwell on the incredible tragedy of it all or we can see it as an opportunity to educate ourselves about what annulment means. Because — admit it — you weren’t totally sure, either.
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Brownie points
OK, I’m not going to comment about Michael Brown’s fitness to lead FEMA, but I am going to point out the best accidental pop culture reference I’ve ever seen.
Check out this paragraph from the Time story (the italics are mine):
“Before joining FEMA, his only previous stint in emergency management, according to his bio posted on FEMA’s website, was “serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight.” The White House press release from 2001 stated that Brown worked for the city of Edmond, Okla., from 1975 to 1978 “overseeing the emergency services division.” In fact, according to Claudia Deakins, head of public relations for the city of Edmond, Brown was an “assistant to the city manager” from 1977 to 1980, not a manager himself, and had no authority over other employees.”
Fans of the BBC’s “The Office” will recall poor Gareth’s habit of referring to himself as “assistant regional manager,” only to be corrected by David that Gareth is “assistant to the regional manager.” I’ve also heard this joke come up at least once on the American “Office.”
Maybe Gareth wouldn’t be a bad FEMA leader. All the Territorial Army experience, you know.
I was happily surprised at the full house for the Alamo Village’s “Office” event last night. It was “pub quiz” tonight, and the winner took home an Alamo gift certificate and a package of paper (allegedly “British paper”). I am more than little proud of this, as I was the winner’s date. I think he could even crush Finchy.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Great Scott
I’m starting to think Campbell Scott doesn’t want me to have a crush on him.
The actor-director — he of the sensitive eyes and noble profile — seduced me back in the early ’90s with “Singles,” in which he loved Kyra Sedgwick through crises and her tragically unplucked eyebrows. The scene where they meet at a nightclub messed with my mind for a long time. Weaving through concert crowds at Antone’s, I would scan the faces for Campbell types. Maybe I was at the wrong shows.
My admiration seems to be shared by a lot of the overly thoughtful, slightly jittery girls I pal around with. Campbell is just so calm. The kind of man who wouldn’t upset your cat.
But he doesn’t make it easy for us. He makes quirky, independent — and occasionally stupefyingly dull — movies and slums every once in a while to pay the bills.
At least that’s what I tell myself about fare like “The Love Letter,” a TV movie in which he falls in love with Jennifer Jason Leigh. Now, that sounds pretty cool so far, right? But Leigh lives 130 years in the past, and they exchange letters through a magic desk. No. Really. A magic desk. I imagine much weeping between takes.
But at least — even though his character was unfortunately named Scotty and he wore wimpy sweaters — he was in a romantic story. The man treats his dreaminess like a curse, steering clear of boyfriend roles and making himself unattractive — just look at his picture on IMDB. We devotees savor what we can — the brief turn in “The Daytrippers” in which he charms Parker Posey senseless and the decadent tour de force of “Roger Dodger,” which he apparently thought would sate us for the next 10 years or so.
Now he’s back to taunting us. In “Saint Ralph,” he plays a priest, and in “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” he’s a devout Baptist lawyer. I guess it’s all more dignified than the once great John Cusack doing “Must Love Dogs,” but still. Help me out here, Campbell.
I just finished “Necklace of Kisses,” Francesca Lia Block’s new book that catches up with the much-beloved character Weetzie Bat.
Weetzie and her friends are the stars of a series of novels that are ostensibly for young adults but that deal with love and fear and all the other things that vex grown-ups. The books are sensual, magical-realist fairy tales set in a lovingly described L.A. They are among the most girly of the girly things I love, right up there with Hello Kitty (in fact, I read most of it while reclining on a Hello Kitty pillow).
“Kisses” is a more prosaic novel than the earlier books, but then it deals with a tired, grown-up Weetzie. A few bits feel tacked on, and I wanted to hear more about some characters (like Dirk and Duck), but it was deeply satisfying to find out what happened to Weetzie, her boyfriend and her daughters. The book, like its predecessors collected in “Dangerous Angels,” is a gentle, yet profound read in a terrible time like this. Plus, it’s pretty on your shelf.
Hey, I can be balanced: I also went to my first college football game. And had fun. The key was a tutorial utilizing “NCAA Football 2006.” After many slowed-down instant replays, the light bulb slowly flickered to life above my head. I got it. It was like the montage in “Footloose” where Kevin Bacon teaches Chris Penn to dance. The only disappointment was that there was no food in helmets at the game. Think about it, ‘Horns: Helmet food could stun OU into submission.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
An easy way to help
Courtesy of the Oxygen Network. In fact, it couldn’t be much easier (or more free for you).
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Houston weekend
Ah, you see it’s not like I haven’t written. Some sort of technical glitch here has resulted in a couple of posts going missing. Possibly, that glitch may have occurred with the user. One never knows.
Certainly not helping is my disorientation after a birthday weekend mini-break in Houston. Work? Computer? What? I am a lady of leisure. There must have been some mistake.
First things first: Food. Empire Cafe served up a big, tasty breakfast in cool surroundings. Fried seafood is so great if done well, so sad if done badly, but Magnolia Bar & Grill got it right. Becks Prime has burgers to rival Casino El Camino. And the milkshakes. My God. Do you know what happens when you ingest something that’s 10 percent butterfat? Bliss.
I also continued my mission to eat more food served in helmets. Minute Maid Park disappointed me at first — the nachos and fries were served in, well, food-serving things. But then we found the Helmet Sundae, and all was well.
Baseball was also a theme at the Museum of Fine Arts, where we enjoyed Jim Dow’s photographs of baseball stadiums, most of which are gone now. Upstairs was the Cy Twombly “Lepanto” exhibit. I sound like a dolt talking about art, so I’ll just say that it was cool.
And after all that, John Cusack Medal of Honor boyfriend hooked me up with “Freaks and Geeks” on DVD and some Longhorn flair, as I will soon be attending my first EVAH college football game. Stay tuned.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The next Madonna?
I was talking last night with one of my sources (OK, Jeff) when the conversation turned to Madonna’s riding accident and how the headlines should have been “Madonna falls off horse … and she’s 47? OMG, I had no idea. Really? 47? Wow.”
My source asked if I thought there was a “new” Madonna — a celeb who’s as influential with the kids today as Madonna was back when we were whippersnappers. Gwen? Beyoncé? I don’t know. Maybe celebrity has been too downsized for there to be another Madonna.
I didn’t go to a high school that embraced trends — word was slow to get to rural Georgia — but even I remember wearing my hair tied back with lace.
The conversation got me thinking about whether there were any female celebs who influenced me as a kid. I was a lot more into the Go-Go’s and Stevie Nicks than I was Madonna, but they weren’t role models. On balance, this is probably a good thing.
So, what do you think? Is there a queen of all cool girls now? And whom did you look up to during your Seventeen-subscribing years?
One of the things I’ve tried to cultivate in my soon-to-be-35 years is the acceptance that change is a part of life. That is to be embraced and even celebrated.
Except when change is really bad and stupid and makes you want to put your hands over your ears and go “lalalalala.”
So it is, I fear with the upcoming “family” season of “Amazing Race.” The teams have been announced, and a couple have young kids. This raises several questions:
— How will they come up with challenges that are equally fair to teams that have children and those that are four adults?
— Will the presence of children curtail locations where the Race will go?
— This show is hard work. Hard enough to make a grown man kneel in the mud, shake his fists and rage to the heavens, “My ox is broken!” I don’t think they’re going to put 8-year-old in front of a plow or make them carry a side of beef, but the Race is inherently grueling. And if they make it less grueling, will it still be interesting?
— On a similar theme: Parenting is hard work, too. Seeing dysfunctional couples lose it with each other is one thing. Seeing Mom and Dad lose it with the kids when they can’t finish a pound of caviar is another.
I can’t imagine that any of this was host Phil Keoghan’s idea. Or if it was, He probably wanted to take the kids into the wild and teach them to live off zebra jerky.
But I’ll watch, of course. And if it all goes wrong, I’ll keep the faith that the blogger twins will get on the next season and save the show.
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Pore me
You’ve no doubt caught yourself wondering, whether during meetings, while reading to your children or waking up out of a sound sleep at 4 a.m., “How are Sarah’s pores doing?” Well, I have good news.
After properly mourning the discontinuation of my beloved Neutrogena mattifying gel, considering all the other options you good folks offered up and saving some money, I made a big trip to Nordstrom. Several products for general upkeep were purchased, including pore products from (drumroll) Clinique.
I am very, very pleased. My pores were nice enough to take out to Zoot by the very next night. I will even say (but quietly, because Neutrogena needs to think I’m hurt for a little bit longer) that the Clinque products are even better than what I used before.
The products even came with a free gift: overhearing this intriguing phrase pass between a couple at the jewelry counter as I was leaving Nordstrom: “I think we have very different definitions of what’s ‘too much.’ “
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Guest blog: Rob the Intern says goodbye, crushes our spirits
I feel old.
I’ve said this a lot recently.
And yes, I know I’m just 21, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m entering the PHASE in my life; college is almost over — one more semester to go — and this (fingers crossed) could be my last stint as an intern.
But I’m ending my last phase — the reckless, wild-eyed college student/ professional intern — on a good note.
I hope.
Whether it was barking up the wrong tree — terrible pun I know — for my exposé on a certain rat dog breed or asking a trained professional, “Would you like to comment on Ms. Lohan’s mental well-being?� I’ve had my share of fun assignments. I’ve also, as clichéd as it sounds, been pushed, whether it was sorting through more than 200 pages of background check materials for one particular story or spending an entire hour holding a phone receiver to my ear as Ted Nugent ranted — my most exhausting interview to date.
And it’s not like I didn’t get a lot of help along the way. There’ve been quite a few peeps — not the marshmallows — in features whom I’ve always been able to go to when I needed help. (You know who you are.) I’ve also appreciated the great work done by the copy/photo/layout desk. I’ve never been happier with any article I’ve done than I was with the Nuge interview and the Taco Bell dog story, and it’s because of y’all’s work. And yes, copy desk, I did just make y’all into a possessive.
Special thanks to all five editors I’ve worked with but especially Mr. Out & About and Ms. Tex and The City herself. And my mentor, the distinguished and blazingly talented Pat Beach.
So finally, after seven Life & Arts leads, one XL cover story, one A1 and numerous secondaries, I’m done with my summer gig. I think my storycraft has improved substantially and I think, yes, I want to pursue journalism as a career. Either that or go after the humdrum and write the great American novel about growing up Latino: “Tigrillo.� Yeah, that’s a novel name.
Until then, maybe I’ll see all of you guys again.
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Guest blog: Rob the Intern ignores how he’s breaking our hearts, instead complains about pop culture
You know I filter through entertainment news almost constantly during my day; it’s my job. But lately, I’ve been unnerved. Miffed perhaps. Plain-out disconcerted by gobs of bubble-gum pop culture gone awry. And no, it’s not the Brad, Jen, Ange triangle. Not the fact that one of my favorite series, “Alias,” might have lost its two stars: Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan. Not Eminem’s annoying “(Expletive) Like Thatâ€? song — How can anyone say Britney Spears has masculine shoulders? Not the ongoing Omarosa vs. Janice Dickinson fight on VH1’s “Surreal Life,â€? which I doubly appreciate. No, what’s really bothering me is…
Exhibit A: Breaking news of the upcoming Lindsay Lohan single. OK, just because the pop star wasn’t able to sell music based on her new waifish looks and her thin pipes alone doesn’t mean she has to plummet to producing a self-confessional track about her problems with her parents. Lohan is no Sylvia Plath or even Pink. And that song is a move to stay in the illuminating H’Wood spotlight more desperate than anything Ms. Britney Spears has ever done. There’s no reason to go heavy on us now, hon. We know life as a glamorous pop star/ silky starlet/ Mean Girl is hard and full of life’s tribulations, but no need to get someone else to write a song about your dilemmas. Didn’t one Mary J. Blige sing once, “No More Dramaâ€?? And the really sad thing about all of this: You’ll also “directâ€? the song’s video.
Exhibit B: News of another vid: the cinematic masterpiece that is the newest music video from everybody’s favorite singing heads, The Backstreet Boys. I thought you guys had learned your lesson. Boy bandagery is done. Over. Finito. I mean with the tinkling Coldplay piano of your most recent hit/piece of catchy melodrama, “Incomplete,â€? there was hope for y’all. You’d never even be Keane-lite — which if you didn’t know is Coldplay-lite-lite — but you’d still have a few songs that would sound halfway decent. “Just Want You to Know,â€? of course, doesn’t. In fact, it is such a vintage piece of mindless ‘90s dance pop that this could just as well be an LFO or Five — remember them? — track. The idea behind the song’s on-screen interpretation is that the Backstreet Boys have morphed into a, get this, metal band. So it’s already weird watching the Boys sing in their whiny falsettos while not-so-stylin’ with their “outrageousâ€? hair metal wigs. The real problem however is the appearance midway through of a scad of scantily clad “rocker chicksâ€? — or what the Boys would envision a rocker chick looking like. Call me old-fashioned, but women dressed as hookers gyrating provocatively on top of cars in a Backstreet Boys video seems out of place and deeply threatening to our nation’s moral fabric.
Exhibit C: The title — “And The Band Played Onâ€? — of Jessica’s new album and the leading lady’s new sound. While Simpson reports it will have its own share of partying tracks, including predictably Jessica’s own “Dirrtyâ€? in “Fire it Up,â€? there’s also a little something else in the mix this time around. With the country flavor of “These Boots Are Made For Walkin,’â€? it’s no surprise that Jessica might try to pull off a Trisha Yearwood or Shania Twain. She’d probably succeed. Simpson has bigger plans though and I quote from the MTV.com article, “(Simpson) compares the LP’s sound with “Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline, Stevie Nicks — it’s all over the place.â€? The Apocalypse is coming I tell you.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Wailing, gnashing of teeth, etc.
Today is Rob the Intern’s last day, and we are bereft. I’ve know that the time was coming when he’d have to leave the nest, but still … that doesn’t make it in any easier. There’s a lot I’m going to miss. I’d finally taught him just the right way to mix my drinks, and he’d gotten the hang of sorting my mail and tying each bundle with pretty pink ribbons. Screaming at him recreationally was really good for me — my skin looks so healthy! The only thing that consoles me is the hope that he’ll keep in touch.
So what’s been going on? What do you think of the Jennifer Aniston interview in Vanity Fair? My official stance on this is that silence would have been the best response, but since she’s got to play the PR game, she did it really well. Writer Leslie Bennetts for the most part avoided the excessive fawning that plagues VF interviews, although she did insinuate that all of Angelina Jolie’s good works are simply to distract from her bad behavior.
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Guest blog: Rob the Intern’s music recommendations
After nominating my favorite songs of the moment, I thought it’d be neat to showcase the most promising — and some not so much — cuts to hit radio any second now. Some of these songs will be revolutionary and some of them will hopefully fall by the wayside. Fast.
“Everything To Me� — Liz Phair. Music connoisseurs may not be one bit surprised to find out that Phair has sold out once again. The former queen of indie rock became an Avrilabee in the blink of an eye on her last record. And while songs like “Why Can’t I� and “Extraordinary� were delightfully tasty pieces of bubble-gum pop, the sudden departure from the gnarly, brazen anthems of “The Divorce Song� and “(Expletive) and Run� was mindblowing… at least to some diehard fans. On her latest single, Phair wants to be a traditional singer-songwriter in the vein of Sheryl Crow or Michelle Branch (except she doesn’t really write her songs as much as she used to). Not even a bite of derision or snarliness is present; Phair’s sharp tongue has finally dulled. This from the woman who even when she sold out the last time penned a song called “H.W.C.� (The spelled-out abbreviation is unprintable.)
“Soul Meets Bodyâ€? — Death Cab For Cutie. Last year’s (and that Orange County show’s) finest band returns with the first track of their sure-to-be-biggest LP ever. The good news is that Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard has amped up his band’s already heavenly melodic quotient. The bad news is that they now sound more than ever like this band, whom I don’t like. The song’s fine, but the lyrics prove to be a bit insipid in comparison to the rest of their oeuvre and the looped guitar arrangement, a bit cloying. It’s not their best song, but I’m still hoping for a brilliant LP.
“I Need Some Fine Wine, and You, You Need To Be Nicerâ€? — The Cardigans. The last three Cardigans albums have been just perfect but entirely different. “First Band on the Moonâ€? was all about ’50s lounge-pop. “Gran Turismoâ€? infiltrated trip-hop territory, and “Long Gone Before Daylightâ€? ended up being an alt-country masterpiece. This newest single off the band’s upcoming album “Super Extra Gravityâ€? sounds like a mixture of all the other Cardigans styles. It doesn’t work as well. And the lyrics are nothing to write about. Lead singer Nina Persson’s icy vocals, though, get me every time.
“One Word� — Kelly Osbourne. The ‘80s are back and this trendhopper with reportedly little talent has shed her cheap Hilary Duff threads and jumped on the newest musical bandwagon. The end result: an epic New Wave anthem. Who would’ve thought? One look at the track’s pedigree, namely Gwen Stefani and Pink scribe Linda Perry, and you understand how it came about. And while Osbourne’s thin vocals are still present, the track’s not really about her vocals. Instead, it’s all about the uber-libertine, over-cool feel the 1980s reveled in. The track even features ominous lines of whispered French. C’est magnifique!
“I Don’t Care� — Ricky Martin. Latin pop’s golden boy is back. And while he didn’t ever fall off in Spanish-language music markets, it’s interesting to hear him try to break into the American market once again. Not a “Livin’ La Vida Loca� retread like “She Bangs,� “I Don’t Care� is a bit more distinctive. It’s funny: Martin’s Spanish material always sounds more substantive than its English counterpart, and the same goes here. It’s an interesting track particularly because Martin includes two known quantities: Fat Joe and Amerie affecting a perfect J.Lo vocal. I find his vocals here, which are generally top-notch, too strident as he attempts to distance himself from his previous work. Unlike “She Bangs,� though, this track will impact radio, but watch for it to wear on repeat faster than you can say, “Livin’ La Vida Loca.�
“Thinking About You� — Ivy. A sparkling-great return to form for these adorable twee poppers. Parisian Dominique Durand still has some trouble singing in English but her lisp makes the song ever more precious. It’s a feel good anthem that though without a power hook is another solid song from a consistently good group. The only disturbing thing here is the buck-toothed in-love caterpillars in the song’s music video.
“Invisible Drugsâ€? — the Comas. One of the best tracks off of this Chapel Hill band’s latest LP “Conductor.â€? Visionaries in the stoner rock genre, lead singer Andy Herod’s caterwauling vocals propel the track over slippery guitar licks and a killer drum beat. All as Herod sings about the lure of something maybe no one can quite make out. This is assuredly the Comas’ bid at rock superstardom.
“Monster Hospital� — Metric. I love Metric. In fact, I would go so far as to say that they’re the best synth-poppers out right now. Which is a big deal. So I was very excited to hear the premiere single off their sophomore LP, “Live It Out.� And while it sounds a lot more Yeah Yeah Yeahs than Elastica (which was more their style on debut “Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?�), it’s still every bit as good. And, of course, lead singer Emily Haines’ mesmerizing lyricisms like “I fought the war, I fought the war, but the war won,� are still intact here. A rousing preview of what should make an incredibly delicious album.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Oh, what the heck
“Amazing Race” probably does need a bald, twin, blogging team. Although they do seem kind of scared of our airport.
(Thanks to Jeff for the link)
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Guest blog: Rob the Intern sees ‘Dukes of Hazzard’
I’m fresh back from last night’s prescreening of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” a wondrously gimmicky yet so-sweet film (and I still haven’t seen an actual episode from the actual series) and it got me thinking.
OK, so I was raised in Southern Florida (read: south of Miami), the ATL (Atlanta) and Texas (but in San Antonio, which isn’t real hard and gritty Texas). I go to school currently in North Carolina. And as a kid I was familiar with some indelibly Southern things like grits, horseshoe competitions and the guy behind KFC. At the same time, I was never aware of such things as the original Hazzards, the Confederate flag or, much to my regret, the refreshing quench of a glass of sweet tea.
But besides the occasional “y’all” that I utter (which could be more indicative of my Texanness than my Southernness), I’ve always been an outsider in the South. In fact, the closest I’ve come to in terms of living in the South is my current abode in Durham, N.C. And honestly, I don’t think the region’s been that Southernly hospitable. In my three years there, there’s been a two-week blackout, numerous city shootings from the local gangs, and several city government scandals. And while Durham is more urban than the true South, I’ve also visited that South: a mechanics’ shop in the sleepy nowheresville hamlet of Walterboro, S.C. after a tire blowout during a crosscountry road trip. Two of the mechanics called themselves “Bubba.”
The movie adaptation of “The Dukes of Hazzard” sort of made me wish I had grown up in a town like Walterboro, a place that’s still a small town and still has people that might not all wield cell phones and wireless Internet-equipped laptops. And I’m not talking about the bad things about the South, because those things are still present and all too visible to this day. Nor am I saying what a classmate of mine at Duke U. (no relation to the “Dukes of Hazzard” of course) once published in an infamous school newspaper editorial: “There is no grace in being born a Southerner.”
Instead, I found out Monday night that being Southern can actually be synonymous with being glamorous, which is an idea that somehow has eluded me as I’ve skirted around the region.
In retrospect, I should’ve already stumbled on that particular conclusion when Louisiana starlet Britney Spears dumped stardom for two husbands who were decidedly more hometown. I should’ve known when Paris and Nicole hammed it up in Altus, Ark., during the first installment of “The Simple Life”. And when McDonald’s included sweet tea on its menu (at least in North Carolina). And when country music from Shania on Top 40 to Lucinda and Willie on alt-country came to dominate radio. And when Nascar became yet another of the nation’s pasttimes.
Indeed, the Dukes — Bo, Daisy, and Luke — (and perhaps Spears and the rest of them) were always living on the edge of danger. They were the town’s heroes and scofflaws at the same time. They wore their Southern culture on their sleeve and they were entirely too cool about it. And isn’t that the essence of glamour?
It almost made me wish that in my younger days I had perhaps studied up on my drawl and maybe pitched a horseshoe or two.
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Guest blog: Rob the Intern’s 10 songs
As a longtime — though part-time — music critic, I feel it’s my duty to post my own current Top 10.
It would have to be:
10.) “Hi-Fi� — M Ward. Probably the most upbeat song the group will ever make. It’s also the best cut on Ward’s third album, “Transistor Radio.� The alt-country group — a more listenable version of Wilco — whose lyrical tunes sort of evoke a latter-day Dust Bowl is in fine form here as our troubadour Ward sings bittersweet lines of “burning bridges� and “settling ties.�
9.) “Lose Control� — Missy Elliott. Scatting over the most revolutionary thing to hit radio in awhile, Elliott rides a wild techno beat that never stops rollicking. With a seamless vocal assist provided by up-and-comer Ciara (Beyonce better watch herself), the track couldn’t be any more bumpin’.
8.) “In Stateâ€? — Kathleen Edwards. On her debut “Failer,â€? Edwards unveiled a stunning portrait of who she might be: a lone wolf looking for a sweet lil’ duck. It was one of the most mesmerizing first albums I’ve ever listened to. Perhaps, due to this high benchmark, her recent followup, “Back To Me,” failed miserably, except for the dazzling premiere track, “In State.â€? A prequel to her landmark song, “Six O’Clock Newsâ€? about a pregnant woman whose boyfriend ends up robbing a bank and then dead on the evening news, Edwards here turns the table and instead, turns in her philandering boyfriend, whose “last job was never big enough.â€?
7.) “Feel Good Inc.� — Gorillaz. Good enough for an iPod commercial, the Gorillaz’s most recent single boasts one of the most flexible basslines in musical history. The song itself as it lolls and leaps sounds like three different things meshed with fluid dexterity into one. The De La Soul cameo toward the end leaves us with a, “no, those cartoon monkeys did not just go there.�
6.) “Diamonds From Sierra Leone� — Kanye West. So the track has enough bombast to snuff even the most cocky rappers out, but it’s still good. And while the single took forever to grow on me and I’m just now getting into it, no one can contradict West’s flawless production skills nor his smooth flow. When you walk into the clubs, people aren’t going to be yelling, “Jesus Walks.� No, the new anthem has arrived and it’s “Diamonds are Forever�.
5.) “Bubble Pop Electricâ€? — Gwen Stefani. The hottest track off of Stefani’s debut “L.A.M.B.” hasn’t even hit radio. The bubbalicious song smacks off a sugar high unrivaled by anything in recent radio history. And plus Andre 3000 as a smoldering Johnny Vulture guests. What could be more fun?
4.) “All These Things That I’ve Doneâ€? — The Killers. I hated this song when I first got the Killers’ debut, “Hot Fuss.” At five minutes, it seemed overlong and the gospel choir seems a bit much for a New Wave revivalist’s record. What a difference a year makes! Critics make mistakes, too.
3.) “Don’t Cha� — The Pussycat Dolls. This song has been on Top 40 radio so long. The first month I heard it I thought, “oh no, another Beyonce wannabe.� The vocal on the track though is strong and the beat is infectious. This is the summer’s song. It’s even better now that I know it’s from a girl-group, a dying breed surely. Here’s to the next Spice Girls, 702, Before Dark, 3LW, Dream et cetera.
2.) “La Torturaâ€? — Shakira. While Shakira’s latest CD, “Fijación Oral,” is largely tepid in terms of creative inspiration, the album’s first single is pure gold. Showcasing the Colombiana’s flair at incorporating pieces of her culture into her songs, she brings in everything from flamenco to cumbia into this mindblowingly good Top 40 single and the best Spanish song since, well, Shakira’s last en español album..
1.) “The Start of Something� — Voxtrot. About a month ago, I saw these Austinites live and I wrote about them, not thinking that their cooing mix of ‘60s rock and ‘00s indie would remain stuck in my head. This particular song could easily be fitted to the backing soundtrack of a car or burger chain commercial. It’s just that good. You can hear it here: Voxtrot
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
10 songs
As a woman of honor, I do not shrink from a challenge, and Ellen has blog-tagged me:
List 10 songs that you are currently digging … it doesn’t matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they’re no good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the 10 songs in your blog.
Further, I do not shrink from the challenge even when it reveals me to be behind on my pop music. That said, here you go:
“Ordinary People” — John Legend. This is my favorite track on a fine CD. It’s a very autumnal song. Listening to it, I want to put on a suede jacket, wool hat and hoop earrings, walk wistfully down a street lined with brownstones, stop at a cafe, stare thoughtfully out the window, buy a newspaper and walk home to my apartment filled with original artwork and flattering light.
“It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp” — Djayz. I will not rave again about how much I love “Hustle & Flow,” although I would really like to and probably would if you gave me the slightest bit of encouragement. Instead, I will just say that this song from the soundtrack is totally addictive, and I don’t even usually like this brand of hip-hop.
“Straight Outta Compton” — N.W.A. and 4. “Bring the Noise” — Public Enemy. In the excellent documentary “The N-Word, Chuck D. of Public Enemy says rap was at the crossroads at the time these two groups were at their zenith, and that it went the way of N.W.A. He isn’t too happy about this, arguing that thugged-out anthems like “Gin and Juice” replaced calls-to-arms like “Fight the Power.” At the time, I was too busy listening to the Indigo Girls to be aware of any of this.
“Voices Carry — ‘Til Tuesday. There’s a cover version in supercute tween film “Sky High.” It’s used in a party scene that reminds me of the ones in John Hughes films like “Some Kind of Wonderful.” Maybe they had to use ’80s songs in “Sky High” because some Disney marketing guru decreed it. But I like to think that maybe the screenwriter had had that scene and that in his head for a couple of decades.
“I Want You” — Marvin Gaye. It’s on the “Broken Flowers” soundtrack. It’s Marvin Gaye. It’s good.
“Jolene” — Mindy Smith. I like this song in just about any version it takes, and, of course, Dolly Parton’s original must always be considered the best. But I can never imagine Dolly having any trouble keeping her man’s eye from wandering to Jolene. I mean, she’s Dolly. Mindy Smith’s cover feels more real to me.
“My Baby Love Love Loves Me” — Jonathan Richman. I think Jonathan Richman is a saint. A strange little nasal-voiced saint who gets on a lot of people’s nerves, but a saint. His goofy but profound songs have always made me happy, but I think his album from last year “Not So Much to Be Loved as to Love is among his wisest. I love Jonathan because there’s never any smirking detachment in his happiness. No irony. I can’t imagine the Strokes saying they’re loved even more than they’d prayed for.
“Like a Rose” — Lucinda Williams. You know how you listen to a song for years and years and you suddenly just get it in a totally different way?
“Ring of Fire” — Johnny Cash. Partly because we were just watching the “Walk the Line” trailer. Partly because it reminds me of driving out to the Salt Lick last week while boyfriend Jeff and visiting pal Sharon, who has just met about an hour before, got into an animated discussion about how Johnny Cash has once been attacked by an ostrich. But mostly because it’s probably the best song ever about being in love. Which I am. (Like you couldn’t tell.)
So what are your 10?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
No love for the haters
Another Friday, another movie opening that doesn’t make me wince. What’s going on?
“Sky High” is a mighty pleasant surprise, and I don’t understand the nasty reviews. Sure, you can see every plot point coming, but it’s a sweet little film, and it’s “supeheroes are common” universe is well-imagined. Also, I’m not going to argue with anything that gives Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald from Kids in the Hall work. It could have been a great film with Joss Whedon or Brad Bird in charge, but I’ll take nice any day.
Meanwhile, we’re feeling all defensive of “Hustle & Flow,” which is being accused of misogyny. I didn’t go into it expecting Terrence Howard’s character to set a moral example for me — that’s why I have Hello Kitty. I still contend that there are plenty of other movies doing far more insulting things to women. I throw snits when I read things like “Island” director Michael Bay declaring that because Ewan McGregor is 32, he needed a 20-year-old co-star. But I just can’t see getting in a bunch over “Hustle & Flow.”
Not precisely misogynistic but still no boon for chick kind is this week’s “Must Love Dogs,” which not even John Cusack’s presence could get me to see. Yes, I am judging a movie I haven’t seen, but I can smell trouble from here. And if you’re wondering, trouble smells like quirk, cliches and a middlebrow pop soundtrack.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
I’m fat. So are you.
I am a chunk. A heifer. Offensive to the eye. I should not leave the house, but if I must make a run for hot-fudge sundae fixings — because you know, that’s what we fatties do — I should cover myself from head to toe. Oh, and also probably not go out during daylight.
Or at least that’s the impression I get from the men at the Chicago Sun-Times.
The paper has run a couple of pieces this week about the Dove “Real Beauty” ad campaign — the one with models who aren’t a size 2.
Honestly, I hadn’t given the the Dove ads a lot of thought. Maybe a brief “oh, that’s nice.”
But apparently the campaign is disturbing the sleep of sensitive men.
“Chunky women in their underwear have surrounded my house,” columnist Richard Roeper writes. He goes on to call the Dove models “plump gals” and to share that he finds the ads “a little unsettling.”
There’s also a feature on the Lifestyles page that’s kind of a “he said-she said” about the ads between two reporters. Maureen Jenkins says they’re a good thing. Her co-worker Lucio Guerrero takes the other side.
He writes:
One word comes to mind when I see those Dove ads — disturbing. And disturbing quickly morphs into frightening when I see the ad while waiting for the L at the Merchandise Mart. There — in all of their 4-foot-high glory — are the ladies of Dove more lifelike than I’d like to see in my advertising.
Really, the only time I want to see a thigh that big is in a bucket with bread crumbs on it (rim shot here).
Just to make clear, this is what’s so frightening. Just women.
I don’t deny that some women (and men) are, in fact, “plump” and “chunky.” But not these women. I’d use exactly the same word Dove uses: “curvy” According to Jenkins’ part of the lifestyles story, Lindsey Stokes, who looks like one of the larger women in the ad, is a size 8-10. That’s pretty average.
It would be uncool if the reporter had made the chicken-thigh joke about morbidly obese women. It seems to me even more damning, though, that he hurls it at women who are probably the same size as the women he sees every day — family, friends, co-workers. Average isn’t good enough to keep someone from mocking you.
Both men take a tone that they’re proud to be un-PC and proclaim their preference for skinnier girls. As if you’d have to be a crazy hippie to be attracted to a size 8 woman. As if a normal-size woman who likes her body is making some kind of radical statement.
What really confounds me about both of these men is the vehemence of their reactions. Look, we all like what we like. I, for example, would much rather stare upon pictures of Johnny Depp than of Richard Roeper. But why can’t they pass by these ads with a shrug and a “not for me”? Why, as we would say in the South, do they have to get so ugly? Last time I checked, there was no shortage of ads with more conventional models. Is Dove’s little blip on the radar that offensive to them?
For the record, I’m 5’6, 150 pounds and a curvy size 10. I have never been this happy in my own skin. I’ve lost weight before, and I’ve also shed a lot of my body issues. The second job is harder. Yes, I am resolved to weigh less, but I’m also resolved not to let 10 extra pounds turn into a ton of issues.
I also think I’m going to start buying more Dove.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
The pimp who saved summer
“Hustle & Flow” makes me happy.
Actually, from the sound of things, it made a whole theater’s worth of people very happy at the sneak screening last night. It was downright odd to walk out with big smiles on our faces and saying “wow!” instead of “eh.”
But it also kind of makes me angry. “H&F” makes me dislike all the bloated would-be blockbusters of this summer even more than I did initially. I was starting to think of words like “watchable” as a compliment. But forget that. You want a film that makes you want to call everyone you know and threaten to revoke friendship unless they see it. You want a film you’re going to be thinking about the next day.
The plot of “Hustle & Flow” is as basic as it gets: A man pursues his dream. In this case, the man is a pimp named D-Jay, and the dream is rap stardom. The movie is a reminder of just how powerful that simple story can be. The characters want things, and they do things to get them. How refreshing after a spate of movies where everyone onscreen seems utterly bored and apathetic.
No one in this movie is quite what you expect. Yes, it’s often a bad sign when all of a film’s female characters are whores, but “Hustle & Flow” has respect for and interest in its women. They’re integral to the story, and they have their own dreams and desires. To me, that’s’ a lot more dignifed than being an afterthought in George Lucas’ or Steven Spielberg’s world.
Even the setting is more alive. Steamy, grimy Memphis is more intriguing to watch than a bunch of CGI tricks.
In a great scene, D-Jay (Terrence Howard, amazing) shames superstar rapper Skinny Black (Ludacris, ditto) for getting away from the raw intensity of his DIY early work. The film calls out Hollywood in the same way. Hollywood has it coming, and I’m hoping this small film is successful enough to make it listen.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Weekend update
— We saw “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which resulted in the usual Heavy Post-Movie Sigh of Disappointment. I’m just not sure what the point was, unless it was to convey that Helena Bonham Carter looks cute as a destitute mum. The movie is doing fine without our love, but here’s something that would have made it rake in even more money and made me like it: Tom Cruise as Willy Wonka. He’s charming! He’s crazy! He’s studied candy and you haven’t! I weep for the movie that could have been.
— We also made a trip to Fredericksburg, which was my first ever. What we learned: The store “Phil Jackson’s World of Amazing Things” does not, as you might imagine from the sign, contain three-headed animals or haunted coffemakers or anything like that. It’s just home furnishings and accessories. We soothed our disappointment with goodies from Rather Sweet.
— The “Annie Leibovitz: American Music” exhibit at Austin Museum of Art is well worth your time and 5 bucks. On your cell phone, you can dial into recordings of Leibovitz talking about the photos. If you have a hands-free device, bring that for easier listening. And don’t be like me and show up with an almost-dead battery.
— At the bookstore, I peeked at The Star (which I do not buy. Let me stress that. Us Weekly is one thing. The Star is quite another. Except for that one time I bought it in Vancouver, but that’s because I was in Canada and confused. And it made me feel bad.) and learned that not only was Victor Garber the only guest at the Garner-Affleck nuptials, he also performed the ceremony. Which leads me to believe that clergy and elected officials in the Turks and Caicos all want no part of blessing this union.
— I must be falling down on my shopping (note to self: request sabbatical) because I hadn’t seen the new Armani Exchange store at Barton Creek Square. It gave off a definitive vibe. I would call it “Yes, we are by the food court, but so what? We’re still cool. See? See?!”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Riot!
I scoffed, but “Wedding Crashers” must truly be a laugh riot. On the heels of the EW coverline, now there’s a TV ad quoting Rolling Stone using those same words.
Based on the review by your friend and mine R to the I, it sounds less like a laugh riot and more like a tired joke melee.
I don’t know if I’m up for a laugh riot anyway. Maybe a laugh sit-in or a laugh discussion group. I’m still in a fog of allergies. Everything I do feels like that part in “Fantastic Four” where The Thing tries to dial the phone with his big, thick Thing hands. Why do I tell you this? As a naked plea for pity. I mean, look at me: I’m referencing movies I don’t even like.
Luckily, there is comfort. And comfort’s name is Phil, or, as Ellen and I say, He or Him. Nightly “Amazing Race” on Game Show Network is such a good thing. With the show nominated for another Emmy, this is a great way to get caught up.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
Our town to ‘Elizabethtown’
Our own Patty Griffin is featured in a promo photo for Cameron Crowe’s upcoming “Elizabethtown” on Pink Is the New Blog. Scroll down a bit and you’ll see her standing right by the film’s star, Orlando Bloom. The movie is due out Oct. 14. Yay Patty! (And yay to this always entertaining blog for calling attention to her with a link.)
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune reports that while Toledo residents like hometown girl Katie Holmes just fine, the local celeb they’d really jump up and down on a couch for is Jamie Farr.
Permalink | | Categories: By Sarah Lindner
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