Thursday, June 18, 2015
MEOW: An upcoming study to be published in Computers In Human Behavior finds that "results support a conceptual model arguing that the happiness gained from viewing Internet cats can moderate the relationship between procrastination motives, guilt, and enjoyment." You may now resume watching cat videos.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WORTH: Kyle Buchanan explains why "If anyone in Hollywood is worth a $20 million paycheck, it's freaking Jennifer Lawrence."
DINOSAURS BEHIND THE CAMERA, TOO: Jessica Ritchey, on Jurassic World:
It’s hard to believe a female director would let the characterization of Bryce Dallas Howard’s scientist that four credited screenwriters coughed up, stand. Poor Howard runs the gamut from “brittle” to “screaming” and seems mainly to exist so Chris Pratt (drained of every ounce of charm he showed in “Guardians of the Galaxy”) has someone to constantly be a horse’s ass to. Sneering at her choice of heels in the lab leaves an especially bad taste in the mouth. It’s not that a female director wouldn’t put her in heels, but a female director would know she wears heels because she likes the extra height; she can look her co-workers in the eye. A female director would know she wears sneakers on the trek to work and changes into them there. And a female director would know she keeps the sneakers in her bottom desk drawer so there’d be something to change into when the fleeing-for-your-life portion of the film starts. And yes, it’s “just” shoes, but it’s more than that, it’s paying attention to the details, it’s caring enough to see women as people with worthwhile stories to tell. Because that’s the great irony of effectively barring women and minorities from directing blockbusters. The tools may get fancier and more futuristic, but you’re stuck spinning tales that are hopelessly prehistoric.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
NO, NOT THE GUY FROM AEROSMITH: Bradley Whitford talks to the AV Club about his career, ranging from a small role on an episode of The Equalizer to ER's "Love's Labor Lost," and how Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds In Paradise was instrumental in him becoming Josh Lyman.
BUT DOES IT FEATURE "KING TUT?" Bright Star, a new musical from Steve Martin (book and music) and Edie Brickell (music and lyrics), will premiere in DC this fall before a Broadway transfer in the Spring. Other musicals competing to lose a bunch of Tony Awards to Hamilton this time next year include School of Rock (featuring new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber) and George Takei in a musical about Japanese internment in World War II.
Monday, June 15, 2015
FOR WHICH THE TRADITIONAL ANNIVERSARY GIFT IS ... TIN? Congratulations to Ms. Kim Cosmopolitan, who joined our blog ten years ago this week: "Kim is new to ALOTT5MA, but not to the business of opining on matters pop cultural. She’ll be joining the fracas on The Amazing Race and American Idol while bringing back nuanced discussion of America’s Next Top Model. Her passion, however, is the oeuvre of J.J. Abrams, and thus we may expect to hear a great deal over the coming months about both Lost and Alias. She’ll also discuss both current theatre and the occasional work of fiction, as the mood strikes her."
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