It’s been a while since we’ve seen a good Fifty Shades of Grey parody make the rounds online, but Brock Baker wins with his impersonation of 50 different people reading the erotic novel. Impressions include Christopher Walken, Robert De Niro, Frank Sinatra, Elmo, Adam Sandler and Homer Simpson.
When I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Grade 9, I was a slightly awkward freshman just like Charlie, trying to make friends and get involved in school. Even though I didn’t deal with the same problems as the book’s protagonist, there were evidently times when I felt alone.
The book’s author, Stephen Chbosky, knows these feelings all to well. On hand to present Perks’ film adaptation at TIFF (which Chbosky also directed), he reminded everyone in the theatre they should never feel lonely. “I’m so proud to be sitting in a room with 1200 people. Whether you like this movie at the end of the day or you don’t, just know that no one in this room is alone.”
His book gathered a cult following when it was released in 1999 and still resonates with many young people who deal with the universal challenges of growing up.
Plot:
The film stars Logan Lerman as Charlie, a bright yet awkward teen about to enter his freshman year of high school. Having spent time at the hospital to deal with the recent suicide of his best friend Michael, Charlie decides to cope with his loneliness by writing anonymous letters.
Hopeful for the upcoming school year, Charlie’s reserved and introverted nature initially makes it difficult for him to make friends. But once he meets the eccentric Patrick (Ezra Miller) and his beautiful stepsister Sam (Emma Watson), he’s soon introduced to a new world featuring mix-tapes, parties, sex, drugs and alcohol.
As things begin to look up for Charlie, curveballs continue to be thrown his way. He fights his growing feelings for Sam and struggles to push away unresolved memories of the past, all while realizing his friends have problems of their own too.
Things I loved:
The cast
The chemistry between actors is crucial in a coming of age story that focus a great deal on love and friendship, and the film couldn’t have chosen better leads. While Watson may forever be known as “that girl from Harry Potter,” it’s nice to see her tackle a more challenging role like Sam, a troubled girl who sleeps with boys for validation. Although she experiences a few challenges with her American accent, Watson flawlessly depicts Sam’s insecurities about getting into university while trying hard not to be Charlie’s dream girl.
However, it’s Lerman and Miller who shine in the movie. While Miller steals scenes as the cynical and sarcastic Patrick, Lerman hits all the right notes by providing a heart-wrenching performance that’ll make you tear up. Also appearing, are Paul Rudd and Nina Dobrev as Charlie’s English teacher Bill and his sister Candace.
The Soundtrack
Featuring songs such as The Smiths’ “Asleep” to 80s hits such as Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen” and New Order’s “Temptation ‘87”, the songs in this film will either take you back to another decade or make you want to create your own mix-tapes.
How it stays true to the novel (includes photos from the premiere below!) Read more…
I understand the awkwardness of reading an erotic novel like Fifty Shades of Grey on the subway. That’s why I’ve come up with this craftacular DIY manual, to guide you through reading it without anyone knowing the better.
Operation: Wrap Around
Level: Easy
Reader: This is the ideal solution for someone with few resources and little time.
Tactic: If you’re not concerned about damaging the spine of the novel, wrap the front cover around the back to block the sultry title from the wide-eyed grandmother sitting in priority seating. If cracking the binding is a concern, consider the following: if you’re standing, face a wall so the title of the novel is blocked from other passengers and if you’re sitting down, balance the book on the top of your thighs. Disclaimer: If you choose the latter, it might be slightly uncomfortable to read the text at this jarring angle but your objective will be fulfilled and judgemental riders won’t know you’re reading about The Red Room of Pain.
Operation: Genius
Level: Medium Read more…
Selling around 10 million copies worldwide and even surpassing the Harry Potter series’ record of the fastest-selling paperback, E.L James’ erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey seems to be taking the world by storm.
It’s hard to believe why that is, since I basically tortured myself from reading this novel just recently. Featuring terrible grammar and sex scenes so weird, my face was literally like this the whole time while reading:
So what better way to poke fun at the horrifying contents of James’ novel than through karaoke?
Inviting three members in his studio audience to sing some actual excerpts from the novel, Jimmy Fallon inevitably creates some comic genius.
But really, the funny thing here isn’t actually the karaoke. It’s the fact that these words were actually published in a New York Times’ best seller.
Lenny Kravitz has joined the cast of ‘The Hunger Games,’ reports Billboard.
Suzanne Collins’ best-selling trilogy will also star Jennifer Lawrence in the main role as Katniss Everdeen.
The plot revolves around the ‘Hunger Games,’ which are an annual televised event where the post-apocalyptic Panem chooses one boy and one girl from each district to fight to the death. The ‘Hunger Games’ are used to demonstrate that even children are not beyond the reach of the Capitol’s power.
The actor-musician will play Cinna, the fashion stylist assigned to Lawrence’s character as she prepares to take part in the Hunger Games. His fashion designs will reportedly play an integral role in her performance in the Games.
“When I saw Lenny’s work in ‘Precious,’ I was just knocked out,” director Gary Ross said. “It was quiet and strong and understated and open-hearted: all qualities which define this character.”
Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth also star in the movie, which Lionsgate is set to release March 23.
Kravitz was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and an ensemble SAG Award for his role in ‘Precious.’ He also has appeared in ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ and ‘Zoolander.’ He is set to release his ninth studio album, ‘Black and White America,’ on Aug. 30.
This movie sounds very cool, and with such an impressive cast, it just became twice as cool.
Tom Ford brings style to his new movie and it’s not just in the wardrobe. The former creative director for Gucci who now fronts his own fashion line makes his directorial debut with “A Single Man”.
Loosely based on the famed novel by Christopher Isherwood, the film follows a single day in the single life of a gay English professor who teaches in L.A. during the ‘60s. After losing his longtime partner Jim (played by Matthew Goode), George Falconer (Colin Firth) plans his suicide in order to end his suffering. However, George has a few things to settle before taking his own life.
The great thing about this film is that audiences can feel the suffering regardless of whether they’ve lost a loved one or not. That’s partly due to Ford’s directing and also to Firth’s impeccable performance.
Whenever George reminisces about his life with Jim, Ford uses black and white, a strong contrast from the vivid, colourful scenes that take place in the present. These colours come to life whenever George meets with his fellow British friend Charley (Julianne Moore) or with Kenny (“About a Boy’s” Nicholas Hoult), a student whose interest in George is more than academic. It’s clear that Ford — who also co-wrote and produced the film — knows how to use light and texture to his advantage.
At points, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” sheds new light into the romantic drama genre. But at others, it just gets old and fails the test of time.
The film – based on the hit novel by Audrey Niffenegger of the same title – revolves around Henry DeTamble (played by Eric Bana), a Chicago librarian with “Chrono Displacement” disorder, a condition which allows him to randomly disappear into both the past and the future without warning (otherwise known as time traveling). He tries to build a life with the woman of his dreams, a young artist named Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams), but their relationship is tested when the couple is forced to part ways for long periods of time due to his condition.
We first meet Henry as a little kid who’s assured by an older version of himself, after going through a car accident that everything is going to “be okay.” Fast forward a few decades later and a 30 something Henry is greeted by Clare whose known him since the age of six – the problem is, he doesn’t have a clue who she is.
The killer clown is back.
Warner Bros. is bringing Stephen King’s “It” to the big screen, almost two decades after the top-selling horror novel was turned into an TV miniseries starring Tim Curry as the sadistic clown Pennywise.
Dave Kajganich (“The Invasion”) has been hired to pen the screenplay, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Brampton-born Michael Cera will star as Nick Twisp in the film adaptation of the 1993 C.D. Payne novel Youth in Revolt: the Journals of Nick Twisp.
The story’s heavy use of black humour, camp and overt portrayals of teen sexuality make it a perfect fit for Cera, 19, whose charmingly awkward comedic talents were showcased in the cult hit show Arrested Development and this summer’s blockbuster hit Superbad.
The film will follow 14-year-old Nick as he deals with his parents’ imminent divorce by setting his sights on his dream girl Sheeni Saunders, hoping that she’ll be the one to take his virginity.
Cera can be seen next in Juno, alongside fellow Canadian talent Ellen Page. The quirky comedy premiered to rave reviews at this month’s Toronto International Film Festival, being called “This year’s Little Miss Sunshine.” A must see, Juno will have a limited release in late 2007.
Until then, get your Cera fix by checking out the Juno trailer, his hysterical summer project “Clark and Michael”, and his indie band, The Long Goodbye.
