Film & TV
Going Green
Despite the recent “eco-movement,” few trendy environmentalists would consider trying Colin Beavan’s (the self-proclaimed “No Impact Man”) approach to reducing our environmental footprint: no electricity, no new clothing and possessions, only locally-grown food and no energy-guzzling transportation for a whole year.
MAXimum Debauchery
This past year, the box-office has been inundated with a host of so-called “buddy comedies” — films focused on male camaraderie that an overexposure to testosterone inspires.
Guilty Pleasures: Hairspray (2007)
Who wouldn’t love John Travolta in drag and Zac Efron with a Jheri curl? Adam Shankman’s adaptation of the Broadway smash Hairspray hit the big screen with the same impact it had on the stage.
Best in Show
Turning a beloved Broadway musical into a Hollywood film isn’t as easy as you’d think. On screen, stage productions expand onto full sets, often with A-list stars and big-name directors.
Exposing Anna
Street: What led you to make a documentary about Vogue and Anna Wintour? Cutler: Anna is this extraordinary cultural figure.
In Vogue
Director R.J. Cutler’s The September Issue is a fly-on-the-wall look into the life of the elusive Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Guilty Pleasures: Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
Thirty, single and overweight. Every woman’s worst nightmare is Bridget Jones’s reality. Renée Zellweger stars as the awkward yet adorable heroine who keeps a diary to record her endeavors to lose weight, stop smoking and find Mr. Right.
Weighty Roles
As Matt Damon demonstrated this week, sometimes even movie stars sacrifice their typically enviable bodies for the sake of their roles.
Bon Appetit!
Before the blogosphere blew up, Julie Powell started the Julie/Julia Project in 2002. The objective?
British Satire Comes Stateside
If Monty Python wasn’t evidence enough, In The Loop is proof that the Brits are comedic geniuses.
Seraphine
With seven French Academy Awards to its name, Seraphine might be the year’s most honored film.
Model of the Sümmer
It’s impossible not to compare Bruno with Sacha Baron Cohen’s last mockumentary, Borat. It follows the same formula of staging pranks on the most appalling examples of American citizens.
What Never Works
Looking back at classics that glorify New York like Annie Hall and Manhattan, Woody Allen lovers were eager for the return to his beloved hometown.
Going, Going, Gone
There’s something to be said for the perfect road trip. Dashing away to “find yourself” in the grand tradition of Kerouac is an oft-invoked cinematic theme.
Sign us Up
We all have that friend who thinks he’s the only person in the world who can truly appreciate subtitles.
If Life Gives You Lemons...
Palestinian widow Salma Zidane (Hiam Abbass) is tending to her lemon grove when Israeli Defense Minister Navon (Doron Tavory) moves into the upscale home across the street.
Days of Our (College) Lives
Get accepted. Getting into college is tougher than it used to be, so you may need to resort to stealing the SATs.
Guilty Pleasure: Frequency (2000)
It’s impossible to describe the plot of Frequency without sounding like a raving lunatic, but I’ll do my best.
Going Solo
In The Soloist, sardonic divorced journalist Steve Lopez (Downey Jr.) is searching for his next story.
