***SPOILER ALERT*** The second half of this article contains Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 spoilers. You have been warned, so no complaining in the comments, nerds.
Hollywood loves a franchise. Especially one that has a built-in audience chomping at the bit to see their favorite book or comic characters come to life on the big screen. Continue reading
Bridesmaids opens with a raunchy sex scene between Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig that immediately lets you know this movie isn’t going to shy away from the jaw-dropping sight gags that are a trademark of Judd Apatow-produced films.
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An asshole isn’t a villain. He isn’t the CEO of an evil conglomerate secretly trying to take over the world. He’s the friend you have to apologize for after the party, but you continue to invite anyways. Here’s a list of the Top 10 TV Assholes; what makes them jerkfaces, dickwads, and tools; and the redeemable qualities that earn them a little place in our hearts. Continue reading
This March, Top Chef: Just Desserts‘ Erika Davis led a dessert demonstration for those interested in making the perfect mousse. Today, Erika is the Executive Pastry Chef at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club and the Ambassador for Callebaut Chocolate. In addition to teaching us how to make a trio of chocolate desserts, she was kind enough to answer questions from the audience about her background, her experience on the Bravo show, and her advice for Season 2 contestants.
Erika has been baking since she was knee-high and began decorating cakes when she was 12. She was, of course, a big fan of the Easy Bake Oven – multiple Easy Bake Ovens. “I would blow that joker up just so I could get a new one every Christmas,” she says. She even sold cookies and cakes to her teachers in elementary school. Her chocolate chip walnut cookie, one of the cookies she used to hock to her teachers, was part of the winning team during the bake sale competition on Top Chef: Just Desserts. (Remember Team Pep Squad vs. Team Glee Club?) You can buy the cookie dough that helped crush the glee club like a chocolatey delicious Sue Sylvester at The Ultimate Cooke Dough Company.
After graduating community college for culinary school, Erika got her professional start at several kosher bakeries and restaurants in the Detroit area. Her tip for making a moist parve (non-dairy) cake? Soak it in simple syrup (water and sugar).
When producers called Erika to ask her to apply to the show, she asked if she was being punked. After recomposing herself, Erika gave them her contact information so they could send her the 28-page application. She also had to send them a video demo of her doing something in the kitchen. Next, she was flown to LA for a two-day lock-in in a hotel where participants were only allowed to leave if a show rep came to get them. They were given psych evaluations (a question I’m sure many people have had after watching some Bravo shows). In fact, they met with 3-4 different therapists. According to Erika, the therapists would say “this is who you are and this is your personality” – and totally nail it. Finally, the potential contestants would meet with a couple producers who would decide who moved on to the show.
The contestants stayed in LA for 32 days – whether or not they were eliminated early on. When they arrived, they were put in a hotel room and all recipes and personal items were taken and put in a Ziploc bag. Erika thought, “I’ve just been stripped naked!’ because everything that is personal to you is gone.” As a pastry chef, cooking without recipes would also be a major challenge.
The show took care of the contestants the entire time they were there. Erika notes that the downtown LA loft they were put in was not glamorous like the facilities seen on regular Top Chef. Because it was the first season of Just Desserts, they did not have a major sponsor like Whole Foods since no one knew how the show would turn out. Surprisingly, the cooking show contestants weren’t fed the most delectable of culinary cuisine – Erika soon grew sick of grilled chicken and Caesar salad. The schedule was grueling. It isn’t movie magic – The first quickfire really did take place their first day there. The episode where they were challenged to create a chocolate outfit was a 20-hour day. They started around 10:00 pm, worked into the morning, went to bed around 7:00 am, and woke up for the main event at 11:00 am. Once a contestant was eliminated, he didn’t get to go home; he was put up someplace else for the remaining time and worked on voiceovers.
Unsurprisingly, competing on the reality show came with a certain level of stress.
Says Erika:
There was no break [in the competitions], and they do that to see what you can take on stress and see if you’re worthy. . . You gotta be tough. After a while, it’s like, ‘do I wanna be here?’ You start second guessing yourself. Is it worth it? But it was completely worth it because it just showed how strong you were. And it couldn’t have been harder than us just busting our tail in the kitchen at work, but it was constant without proper sleep. You don’t get to sleep in your own bed, you don’t get to see your family. They take everything away from you that’s your comfort, no bible, no books for reading, no computer, no nothing. All you have is yourself and the people you have in the house.
Her way of dealing with the drama? “I stood back and let everybody clown.”
Bravo recently announced that Season 2 of Top Chef: Just Desserts is being cast now.
Erika’s advice for the next batch of contestants?
Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself with your flavors and your talent, and [say] a nice prayer with your family before you go, and know that you have a support group. For me, I was going against myself; I wasn’t going against Seth or Danielle or Morgan. . . I had my own little war, and if you watch the show, you will see everyone had their own little war, but that’s what made the show, that’s what made each character their own personality. Be yourself and know that you are worthy of being on there or else they wouldn’t have put you on there.
Wednesday night, I attended a free screening of Red Riding Hood. The following review is chock-full of spoilers. It pretty much gives away everything other than the identity of the wolf. If you are heavily invested in seeing Red Riding Hood with unbiased eyes, do not read on. I’m assuming very few of you fall under that category, however, so here we go.
Red Riding Hood is Catherine Hardwicke’s first project since directing the premier installment of the Twilight series. The Big Bad Wolf in this version has been transformed into a werewolf, so naturally, comparisons between the two films are running rampant. Red Riding Hood does indeed have a lot in common with Twilight. Sadly, however, I’d say Red‘s the less entertaining of the two.
From the very beginning, the dialogue clunked along, much of it boring lines you’ve heard in other movies, such as the oft-cried “I don’t want you to see me this way!” Even new lines didn’t resonate. An exchange meant to ramp up the tension between the two male rivals (“If you’re the wolf, I’ll chop your head off” / “I’ll do the same.”) A heavy-handed attempt to make the audience think one of Red’s suitors is the wolf (“I could eat you up.” You know, LIKE A WOLF.) There were very few lines that elicited laughs, genuine or ironic.
My friend and I both left the theater unsure of where and when the movie took place. Seventeenth century England? Sure. Twelfth century Italy? Why not. I’m now leaning towards France in the late-Middle Ages.
The costumes don’t make it much easier to figure out. Similar to A Knight’s Tale, the costumes mix a Renaissance fair aesthetic with modern touches. But without the charm and cheekiness of A Knight’s Tale, some of the costumes just feel tacky.
Gary Oldman dons a purple velvet number that I’m pretty sure was borrowed from Prince.
He completes the outfit with silver-tipped fingernails (the better to scratch werewolves with, my dear.) Tunamelt does it better.
Meanwhile, Red’s grandmother moonlights as a Boho yoga instructor.
Speaking of anachronisms, Little Red’s real name is Valerie. Wikipedia tells me that Valerie does in fact have old origins, but really, when I hear Valerie, there’s only one person I think of. And she may have been a saucy wench, but she was most definitely from the modern age.
After reading Twilight the book (I was curious, okay!), I was actually impressed with Hardwicke’s ability to transform the discombobulated, nonsensical source material into something vaguely coherent and watchable. Sure, the movie’s still drivel, but the kind of drivel that’s good for a few giggles, maybe after sneaking some Schnapps into the movie theater. Red Riding Hood can’t claim the “so bad it’s good” title. It’s just so bad it’s bad.
That said, the two films do have a lot of noticeable similarities. The movie opens by panning across the tops of tall, lush tress, not unlike the ones Edward and his “spider monkey” climb. The heroine is courted by two good-looking young men, one fair (Henry) and one dark-haired (Peter). There is no clear good or bad guy among the two. (Unless one of them turns out to be the wolf!) Both are seemingly nice enough fellas, but lack any real defining personalities other than liking her enough to risk their lives. Despite not trusting each other, at one point they have to join forces to rescue the object of their affections.
There’s a scene where the townspeople hold a bacchanalia-like party that reminds you that Hardwicke also directed Thirteen. There, Valerie engages in the ancient courting ritual – dancing all up on another girl to make a boy horny with jealous rage. Hardwicke does a good job creating a chaotic, animalistic scene, and I think she’d be well-suited to direct a darker teen movie, like Cruel Intentions.
If you’d like to see the telepathic werewolf for yourself, Red Riding Hood opens Friday.
Top Image from here.
You can’t talk about the ’90s fashion revival without mentioning Beverly Hills, 90210. Today’s designers are taking more than a little inspiration from the halls of West Beverly – many of their clothes seem to be taken directly from the angsty teen with a heart of gold, Brenda Walsh. From Minnesota to LA, Brenda had the perfect ensemble for any locale or occasion. Here’s how to make a few of them your own.
June will be here any minute now. You’ll need to look your best when you frolic on the beach, and nothing says summer fun like soggy denim. You, too, can rock Brenda’s beach look above. First, pick your shade of choice from American Apparel’s many-colored Stretch Twill High-Waist Side Zipper Shorts. Let’s go with Butternut. Next, pair it with JCrew’s Stripe Button-Back Tee. According to the site, the tee is their It Silhouette of the season and everyone’s just mad over its “new boxy shape.”
To tie the ensemble together, you’re going to need a statement piece. Nothing says HBIC of the BHBC (Beverly Hills Beach Club) like a chunky belt buckle. This Melamed Vine-Buckle Belt from Sak’s is pricey, but looking better than that bitch Kelly doesn’t come cheap.
What if you’re traveling abroad and want to scream “sophisticated polyglot”? It won’t matter if your French accent is lacking when you’re wearing a chic peekaboo ensemble. Because when Jacques leans in and whispers “I can see your bra,” what he’s really saying is “Je t’aime.”
Brenda mastered the femme fatale look here:
You can make it your own by pairing Urban Outfitter’s Pins and Needles Long-Sleeved Lace Top with the wide-strapped Vanity Fair Illuminations Bralette.
Warning: With a look this hot, Kelly will steal your style faster than she can steal your boyfriend.
Being a teenager is hard. Sometimes Brenda had the weight of the world on her shoulders; other times, it was the weight of her blazer wearing her down.
Power shoulders cost power bucks. Try this strong-shouldered Paul and Joe blazer with shawl lapel for $254.11 from The Outnet. Balance those bold shoulders with Urban Outfitter’s whimsical Square-Knot Headband.
Some people may say Levi’s Relaxed Tapered 550 Jeans are more “mom jeans” than “California teen dream jeans,” but a certain summer of ’91 pregnancy scare reminded us that the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
Of all her varied looks, you could argue that menswear chic is the Quintessential Brenda. Tons of brands let you sport this look today even if you don’t have a twin brother’s closet to raid.
If your mother is a TV icon and money’s no object, Paul Smith’s Spring Summer 2011 Collection will meet all your menswear needs. The line features oversized, jewel-toned suits, in addition to the Bengal striped classic shirt, Tromp L’oeil trousers and spot silk tie shown below. Ditch the polka dot tie for something more colorful and fun, like this Stefano Ricci Patchwork Mixed-Design Tie, available at Neiman Marcus for $635.
If you’ll be picking up extra shifts at the diner to finance your glam ambitions, don’t fret.
Stop by American Apparel instead and pick up their Unisex Denim Long Sleeved Button-Up Shirt and Micro-Poly High-Waist Pleated Pant. Then, head over to KMart and pick up a multi-toned Structure Paisley Tie.
All that’s left to do is hit the malls. If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll never spend the morning stressing over the perfect outfit again:
