Posts Tagged ‘Movie’

Have you ever been awake in the wee hours, desperately wanting to sleep, but instead you’re making a list of all you need to accomplish in the morning, the day, the week?  Or have you ever thought, ‘I’ll never have kids, life will be so much less complicated’?  If either one is you, you will love “I Don’t Know How She Does It!”

This movie is a great portrait of us modern-day women; mothers, single women, single mothers, stay-at-home mothers, working mothers.  At once, it shows the absolute struggle of the everyday; let’s face it, getting out the door in the morning is no easy feat.  And at times, when it seems that the portrait of the everyday hustle and bustle this movie is painting is going to bring you to tears, there’s a terrific joke.  Just like real life, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry!

Sarah Jessica Parker (my fave!) plays lead character Kate, a working mom who can juggle it all.  Her hair may not be perfect and she may be five minutes late with a little bit of breakfast on her jacket, but she’s a great wife (to Greg Kinnear!), loving mother and darn good at her job.  Christina Hendricks of “Mad Men” plays her bestie, fellow working mom Allison who is always there with a knowing joke and a smile.  At work, Olivia Munn plays Momo, Kate’s junior associate who is so in control, she knows she’ll never have children.  Ever.

Kate’s able to do it all and everything is going fine, until it isn’t.  A new project at work becomes the biggest moment in her career, just when her husband gets a promotion.  The travel, the juggling, the absentee wife and mother routine become the message of the movie.  Can we have it all?  Kate’s character sums it up very well; “I’m living two lives, and I’m not enjoying either one of them.”

Olivia Munn, Christina Hendricks and Busy Phillips (of “Cougar Town”) add lots of laughs to this story about everyday people.  It felt so good to relate to women who try to do it all; even a woman who tries to avoid having it all (that’s me too!)  You will definitely want to go see this one with the girls!  And for you moms out there, I respect you more than ever.  This one’s for you! (Love you Mom!)

If you catch this wonderful movie over the weekend, let us know and comment below! And be sure to check back often for more of the latest movie news and reviews from Megan Stecher, right here on Positively Celebrity!

When the taxi pulled up outside Lime Fresh Mexican Grill and the line was almost round the block we knew we had found a hotspot! Lime was a recommendation from a real foodie so I suspected we were on to a good thing, but this place was so good it made me wish I lived in Miami!

There was a whole stack of shelves dedicated to hot sauce — it was like a shrine to piquantes with 50 variations of spicy sauce and six homemade salsas.

The guy at the counter said Mr. H sounded just like Russell Brand who had just been in before us. Russell Brand has been feeling the heat in Miami where he is shooting his new movie, “Rock of Ages” which also stars Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Paul Giamatti.

The terrace at the South Beach burrito shop was buzzing with cool healthy people happily feasting on really fresh fast food. The waitresses were switched on and smiley and one had a t-shirt that said on the back “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”.

All this before we eaten had a tortilla chip! They arrived in a huge pile with a generous dollop of thick gorgeous guacamole on the side and endless salsa. Yum. When our mains arrived and we were so happy we’d over-ordered so there would be more to snack on later!

The reason the food is so good is because it is fresh and local and all the meat is Humanely Raised. The menu also boasts that at Lime they “Speak Vegetarian” and reassures non-meat eaters than anything on the menu can be made fully veggie-friendly.

This vibrant Mexican food joint was started by John Kunkel in 2004 on the funky Alton Road. There are now nine of these positive restaurants in total with more to come. Now if only I could convince him to open up in London!

I have seen more films since having a baby than ever before. For the first six weeks, I stayed mainly at home with my family. Friends lent me box sets and I stayed on the sofa watching DVD’s and cuddled my newborn close.

Mr. H. and I became addicted to ‘Weeds’, the TV series starring Mary-Louise Parker. We have had to stop watching the show at bedtime because we realized the little guy was more interested in the plot than in feeding!

I was desperate to get my flick fix back on when my cousin D. told me about the joy that is baby cinema. It really is a wonderful concept and I now visit the movie theatre at least twice a month. Screenings are usually early in the day and are open to babies under the age of one with their parents or careers. It is incredibly comfortable with the lights not too low and the sound cranked up to the max so babies can scream!

D was kind enough to introduce me to her movie going mates who visit the historical Rio Cinema (previously Kingsland Empire) in East London.

Kingsland Empire, 1915

Rio Cinema, 2011

I have since been to many different places including Monday Morning Mommy Movies showing at Pacific Theatres at the Grove in Los Angeles, CA.

I am particularly fond of The Everyman cinema in chi-chi Belsize park. They do a fab baby club twice a week. The seats are double leather couch style seats are incredibly comfortable and you get a big slice of cake and coffee with every ticket. If you’re lucky you can even spot a celeb in the audience as well as on screen. What’s not to like?

It is a simple pleasure and one I formerly took for granted. I recently attended the red carpet premiere of the last film I shot and I struggled to stay in my seat for the duration because I was so heavily pregnant! Baby cinema is a genius idea that meets my cinephile needs!

He may only be 16, but apparently when you’re as famous as Justin Bieber, 16 is just old enough to make a biopic. Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, and Island Def Jam Music Group have announced that the teenage heartthrob has signed on to star in his first feature film.

The movie, currently untitled, will give fans a VIP backstage pass into the life of the Biebs, documenting his rise to fame. It will also feature special 3D footage from Justin’s current My World 2.0 tour.

The superstar was discovered on YouTube in 2007, after posting multiple videos of himself …the rest is history.

Justin expressed his excitement for the movie on his twitter, along with his concern for the size of his bodyguard’s head. He tweeted “Next Valentine’s we r coming with a major 3D Movie telling the story with an Oscar winning director and also filmin the tour at MSG in NYC!! …the story the songs the concert. Can u imagine how big my man @kennyhamilton ’s forehead will b on a movie screen. Lol. Sorry kenny. Luv yah”

On a more serious note, Justin released a statement saying, “When the idea for a movie first came to us, we knew immediately this was our chance to give something very special back to the all fans who have been a huge source of inspiration and support throughout my entire career thus far. They simply make my dreams come true everyday…I cannot wait to share all the great experiences I’ve had over the last few years with them.”

Bieber Fever, complete with mobs of screaming teenage girls will come to a theater near you, next Valentine’s Day weekend.

Be sure to check out more of the latest celebrity news from our Entertainment Editor Jessica King right here at Positively Celebrity!

“Blindness” is kind of a scary movie depicting the outbreak of a seemingly contagious illness that renders people blind. Understandably, the worst of humanity comes out. Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Danny Glover, Alice Braga, and Gael García Bernal are some of the actors that make up a group of quarantined individuals living in a vacant mental institution where, literally, the blind are leading the blind, with one exception, a Doctor’s wife who lies about being sick in order to stay with her husband (who is sick). 

“Blindness” is a unique epidemic film that can be admired for its take on the genre, the acting, as well as its views of humanity during such desperate times.   The Good: – Terrific Acting – One sign of a great actor is when they can make audiences hate them, love them, sympathize with them, etc.  “Blindness” features actors capable of bringing viewers into their world so much so that it’s impossible to sit back and submissively watch this movie.

- A Different Take on the “Disease” Film Genre – Within the portfolio of “disease contaminating society” films out there “Blindness” is special. The characters don’t actually die from the “white blindness” disease.  The illness in this movie doesn’t mean death, life as a zombie or other tragic fate – the illness isn’t necessarily the “bad guy.”

- The Tempo – “Blindness’” plot progresses at a nice pace. The audience learns about the disease and how the world is dealing with it at the same pace as the characters in the movie. The pacing is so that the deterioration of society and desperation are sincere – viewers aren’t thrown into chaos and expected to buy into it.

The Bad: - Not a Happy Movie – About 15 minutes of “Blindness” are happy and worthy of a smile, I could have used a little more.

- It’s Pretty Darn Realistic! – Unlike zombie or alien attack movies, “Blindness” is slightly more plausible, making it that much scarier. Seeing how people change and the terrible things they do in the movie makes me cross my fingers that something like this will never happen.

In The End: “Blindness” is a quality film in regards to the acting and plot, but won’t leave audiences with a warm and tingly feeling once it’s over.

Fred Durst (yes the frontman from Limp Bizkit) has a movie hitting theaters Aug. 22.  Titled The Longshots, it’s a family friendly film about a female quarterback. 

In an interview with IFC, Durst describes “I wanted to take the heart and integrity of Hoosiers and Rudy, pull in a little bit of the original Bad News Bears and maybe a slice of The Mighty Ducks.”  

The 37-yearold discovered a love for directing before Limp Bizkit was ever singing about nookie.  Watching skate videos as a high schooler became a gateway for more sophisticated film tastes and he soon began watching John Hughes, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and others.  

The Longshots isn’t Durst’s first turn at directing though.  He’s manned the camera for some Bizkit and Kid Rock videos and was originally signed on to direct Lords of Dogtown.  

However, after the movie started gaining more momentum the producer David Fincher stepped in and eventually hired a new director altogether.  After tirelessly making the studio rounds Durst landed a job directing The Education of Charlie Banks.

“Banks” was never released, but screened at the Tribeca Film Festival where it received positive reviews and an award.  Chris Marquette, one of the stars of “Banks”, says that Durst is “insanely calm” as a director.

If you’ve seen the trailers for The Longshots and didn’t see “Directed by Fred Durst” anywhere that’s because he wanted it that way.  In an EW article Durst says, “I don’t think my name would necessarily draw people to come see the movie. It might hurt the movie, honestly.”  

Check out Ice Cube, Keke Palmer, Tasha Smith, Dash Mihok and introducing Fred Durst as the director, in The Longshots opening Aug. 22.

Jennifer Lopez is teaming up with ABC to develop a small screen adaptation of her 2002 romantic comedy, Maid in Manhattan. In the 2002 film, Lopez played a maid at a plush NYC hotel, forced to conceal her identity when she falls for a wealthy politician, who happens to be hotel guest.

Although Lopez will serve as an executive producer on the show, don’t expect her to reprise her role as the single mother from the Bronx. Chad Hodge, who will pen the pilot, said “the show is a different maid in a different Manhattan.”

However, similar to Maid, the central character will be a young Latina who is navigating her way through the world. The show plans to focus more on her relationships with co-workers, rather than the hotel’s ritzy clientele.

Although we won’t catch J.Lo in a maid’s uniform, “she will be very integral in the pilot and the series,” Hodge has said. This is ABC’s second attempt at adapting Maid in Manhattan for the small screen, and Lopez’s deep involvement in the creative process this time around will likely bolster its success.

The show’s developers are delighted to have Lopez on board, given her Bronx roots. Looks like Jenny from the Block is back!

Is the not-so-hot economy affecting Hollywood? Let’s investigate.

According to a press release on the Disney (including Miramax) official site, profits decreased by 2% for the months of April, May and June compared to January, February and March with total profits of $1,433 million. They are also down 2% from the same quarter last year. Biggest Box Office Hit for April, May & June, “Wall E.”

In an article on the Examiner.com it states that Paramount/Viacom’s (including DreamWorks) profits are up 35% for April, May and June in comparison to a year ago. By this three months’ end their profits equal $1,771 million. They are up 55% from the previous quarter. Biggest Box Office Hit for April, May & June, “Iron Man.”

A Time Warner press release showed a 14% increase for April, May and June over last year (“The Dark Knight” was not in theaters yet). Profits for filmed entertainment totaled $2,564 million, which is a 9% decrease from January, February and March’s totals. Biggest Box Office Hit for April, May & June, “Sex and the City.”

NBC Universal (GE) profits are up 7% from April, May and June of 2007 and up 8% from January, February and March as stated in a GE release. Biggest Box Office Hit for April, May & June, “Wanted.”

News Corp’s earnings release for 20th Century Fox for April, May, and June quarter showed their total profits equaled $220 million a 16% decrease from January, February and March. Their profits only equaled $106 million during April, May, and June 2007. Biggest Box Office Hit for April, May & June, “What Happens in Vegas.”

In the end, we have 4 areas of decreasing profits, showing the economy may be affecting things. But there are also 5 areas with increasing profits, possibly a sign that movie goers haven’t given up their popcorn addictions just yet. With an incredible summer of blockbusters and A List ensemble casts, it seems that although Wall Street is a buzz with red down arrows, Hollywood is still a buzz with millions of green, maybe just not as many as last year.