andPOP » hathaway

Movie Review: Bride Wars

Eric Emin Wood — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:38:24 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

I get it, studios. I’m wise to your game. Every year since I began writing for andPOP, just before Oscar time, I’ve been ~~suckered into~~ invited to my first screening of the year, a featherweight comedy I’ve heard nothing about, starring an actress I really like (this time Anne Hathaway instead of Diane Keaton), and whose presence at the multiplex is meant to provide a welcome respite from all that serious fare. And every year, when your movie is over, my brain hurts and I watch an example of said multiplex’s so-called serious fare to restore my faith in cinema.

I am not an elitist. I enjoy romantic comedies. I wanted to like Made of Honour. I loved Sex and the City. I’m looking forward to Confessions of a Shopaholic. And I was impressed by the quality of one-upmanship as Kate Hudson and Ms. Hathaway played dirty tricks on each other throughout Bride Wars.

But there’s no getting around it: this is a not-good movie.

It will entertain its intended audience. Its set-up (two best friends are forced to mount their dream wedding on the same day) is executed about as admirably as it can be. Only one plot contrivance stretches the boundaries of credibility. But every instance of “character development” brings the film to a screeching halt.

I empathize with movie characters easily. This means I’m more likely to be strung along in a genre film, provided the characters are consistent, but it also means I’ll curse the screenwriters especially vehemently when I recognize them trying – and failing – to sell me on what occurs. It also means I devote more space to a movie like Because I Said So or The Happening than it really deserves.

Basically in Bride Wars Hudson’s character is a bitch and Hathaway’s character is a doormat. Proving the screenwriters understood the first paragraph (and little else) of character development 101, by the end of the film Hudson recognizes that she does not have to be in control all the time and Hathaway is no longer a doormat. There is, however, a fine line between assertiveness and becoming an arrogant jerk, and I think Hathaway crosses it. Instead of the logical conclusion (the brides agreeing to a dual wedding), we’re offered a false ending masquerading as a happy one.

I feel obligated to mention that I am not a fan of Ms. Hudson. If you are, your enjoyment of Bride Wars will increase accordingly. Nor do I regret seeing it, but that is solely because of Ms. Hathaway. The ending made my brain hurt. I would not have paid good money to see Bride Wars outside of andPOP.

The film I saw afterward, you may ask? Milk. Wonderful movie. Populist entertainment, believe it or not. Worth every cent.

A Date With Anne Hathaway Costs $12,000

andPOP Staff — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:36:32 +0000

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How much money do you spend on a date? Does the total amount to 12 thousand dollars?

Probably not, but that’s the price that three fans have paid for a date with movie star, Anne Hathaway during a bidding at the 11th annual Cracked X-Mas Fundraiser held at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles Sunday night.

“I’m not usually very forward, but I thought if there was ever a crowd for me to do something like this, this is my crowd so I would like to auction myself off for drinks somewhere fabulous and basically get you totally sh*tfaced. Tell me what I’m worth,” Hathaway said to People’s.

When Hathaway’s price continued to skyrocket, she stated, “I’m blushing. Wow, I feel really good right now.”

The fundraiser must have felt rather nice as well, because all of the night’s proceeds will be supporting the Trevor Project, a crisis helpline for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth.

Anne Hathaway’s ex-bf sentenced to 4 1/2 years

andPOP Staff — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:24:17 +0000

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Anne Hathaway’s ex-boyfriend, Raffaello Follieri, was sentenced Thursday to 4 1/2 years in prison in a Manhattan federal court.

Follieri delivered a statement through an interpreter, in which he stressed that he wasn’t raised with bad values, and started off with good intentions. He also admitted that what he did was wrong and hopes to be forgiven by those he has hurt. He will to not appeal a sentence of less than 63 months in prison.

Follieri was arrested in June and pleaded guilty to 14 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy in September. Initially, sentencing was planned for December, but the hearing was moved up to Oct. 3 after Follieri was unable to meet his $21 million bail.

Hathaway began dating Follieri in 2004, and the two broke up in June this year. Follieri was arrested in April of this year as well, for trying to pass a $215,000 bad cheque.

Anne Hathaway Dating Rules

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:27:24 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

Although Anne Hathaway has recently split from her boyfriend of four years—accused conman Rafaello Follieri—the “Get Smart” actress has some dating rules, reports E! News.

“I try not to date where I work. It makes life easier,” says Hathaway. “I don’t say no to anybody because I’d hope that people wouldn’t say no to me just because I’m an actor – but they’d have to be pretty extraordinary.”

And who are Hathaway’s role models when it comes to relationships?

“My parents have been married more than 25 years, with all the glory and the pain you can imagine, but they’ve stayed together. I want a strong marriage like that.”

Hathaway’s ex-beau remains in prison in the U.S., awaiting trial on a dozen counts of wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.