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Check Out Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs in Jobs

By
Rebecca Murray
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“It only takes one person to start a revolution”
 
Inspired by the life of Steve Jobs, Jobs follows the career of the Apple creator who changed the world we live in. Open Road has just revealed this new trailer for the dramatic film directed by Joshua Michael Stern, written by Matthew Whiteley, and starring Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs. The trailer shows off bits and pieces of Jobs’ journey from college drop-out to the period in which he was booted from the company he created to his return to Apple.
 
The Plot:
 
Jobs details the major moments and defining characters that influenced Steve Jobs on a daily basis from 1971 through 2000. Jobs plunges into the depths of his character, creating an intense dialogue-driven story that is as much a sweeping epic as it is an immensely personal portrait of Steve Jobs’ life. The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access during shooting to the historic garage in Palo Alto, that served as the birthplace to Apple Inc.
 
Watch the video:
 

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Matt Smith Tapes a Thank You Message to ‘Doctor Who’ Fans

By
Rebecca Murray
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Matt Smith is saying good-bye to Doctor Who and saying thank you to all of the Doctor Who fans who’ve supported him during his tenure as the Time Lord. While on a break from working in Detroit on How to Catch a Monster (for director Ryan Gosling), Smith taped a sweet, touching message – a la Love Actually.

Warner Bros TV Sets Their 2013 Comic Con Schedule

By
Rebecca Murray
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The Vampire Diaries 2013 Comic Con Bag

Warner Bros Television Group is bringing 17 series…yes, 17!…to the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. WB always has a big presence at the event, and over the July 17-21 Comic-Con run, they’ll be dropping into San Diego with stars including The Following’s Kevin Bacon; Arrow’s Stephen Amell; The Vampire Diaries’ Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder; Supernatural’s Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins; Almost Human’s Karl Urban and Michael Ealy; The 100’s Henry Ian Cusick; Childrens Hospital’s Rob Corddry; and Nikita’s Maggie Q.

WB will also be showing off pilot episodes of Almost Human, The Tomorrow People, and The 100 during the 2013 SD Comic-Con.

SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK PILOT SCREENINGS – WEDNESDAY, JULY 17 • BALLROOM 20

Almost Human: In the near future, technology and crime will increase so quickly that law enforcement will not be able to keep up. To maintain order and keep the public safe, all police officers must partner with highly evolved human-like-androids known as synthetics. From J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Production and Fringe executive producer J.H. Wyman, Almost Human is the story of Detective John Kennex (Karl Urban), and his life-like android partner Dorian (Michael Ealy).

The Originals: From executive producer Julie Plec comes The Originals, a spinoff of The CW’s #1 series among Adults 18–34 and Comic-Con fan-favorite The Vampire Diaries. The sexy new drama centers on the Original Family, as Klaus (Joseph Morgan) returns to the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The Tomorrow People: From executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow), Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries), Phil Klemmer (Chuck) and Danny Cannon (Nikita), The Tomorrow People is a story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers, including the ability to teleport and communicate with each other telepathically.

The 100: 97 years ago, Earth was devastated by a nuclear apocalypse, and mankind was nearly destroyed. The only survivors were the inhabitants of 12 international space stations that were in orbit at the time. The stations came together to form the Ark, but with resources dwindling and population growth soaring, the decision is made to send The 100, a group of juvenile delinquents, to the surface to test whether Earth is once again habitable.

Warner Bros Television Group Panels:

THURSDAY, JULY 18

(Panel times and locations to be announced later)

MAD (Mondays 8:30/7:30c Cartoon Network): Get a glimpse behind the MADness with MAD television producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek.

FRIDAY, JULY 19

Almost Human (Late Fall, Mondays 8/7c FOX): Step into the future with series stars Karl Urban, Michael Ealy, and executive producer J.H. Wyman.

The Big Bang Theory (Thursdays 8/7c CBS): In a panel sure to be filled with debate and discussion — and more than a few surprises — executive producers Steven Molaro and Bill Prady and the writers of The Big Bang Theory take fans behind the scenes of TV’s #1 comedy.

Childrens Hospital (Returning This Summer, Adult Swim): Creator/star Rob Corddry and executive producers David Wain and Jonathan Stern join cast members Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Ken Marino and Rob Huebel for a sneak peek of the show’s upcoming fifth season.

The Following (Midseason, Mondays 9/8c FOX): Become a follower with stars Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, and Valorie Curry joining executive producers Kevin Williamson and Marcos Siega.

Nikita (Midseason The CW): Nikita makes its Comic-Con farewell with stars Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Aaron Stanford, Melinda Clarke, Devon Sawa, and Noah Bean joining executive producer Craig Silverstein.

The 100 (Midseason The CW): Series stars Eliza Taylor, Thomas McDonell, Marie Avgeropoulos, and Henry Ian Cusick join executive producers Matthew Miller and Jason Rothenberg.

The Paranormal and Extraterrestrial Squad (Coming Soon, CWTV.com) Join producers Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) & Russ Cundiff and creators/stars John Dale & Michael Hobert as they introduce a new digital series about the misadventures of a ragtag group of ex-community college students searching for paranormal and extraterrestrial (PET) activity.

SATURDAY, JULY 20

Arrow (Wednesdays 8/7c The CW): Chills turn to thrills in this session with stars Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, and Colton Haynes joining executive producers Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg.

The Originals (Tuesdays 8/7c The CW): Series stars Joseph Morgan, Claire Holt, Phoebe Tonkin and Charles Michael Davis join executive producer Julie Plec.

Person of Interest (Tuesdays 10/9c CBS): Executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Greg Plageman join members of the cast for their third visit to Comic-Con. (You’re being watched.)

Revolution (Wednesdays 8/7c NBC): Series stars and creator/executive producer Eric Kripke power up this panel.

The Tomorrow People (Wednesdays 9/8c The CW): Practice your teleportation skills and get to this session featuring series stars Robbie Amell, Mark Pellegrino and Peyton List with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Phil Klemmer, and Danny Cannon.

The Vampire Diaries (Thursdays 8/7c The CW): Comic-Con veterans Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham, and Candice Accola join executive producers Julie Plec and Caroline Dries.

SUNDAY, JULY 21

Supernatural (Tuesdays 9/8c The CW): Returning to Hall H are cast members Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins and Mark A. Sheppard with executive producers Jeremy Carver and Robert Singer.

Beware the Batman (Saturdays 10 a.m. ET/PT Cartoon Network, premiering July 13): The Dark Knight makes his return to television in this new action-packed CG animated series. Producers Glen Murakami and Mitch Watson will give fans a peek behind the cape.

Teen Titans Go! (Tuesdays 7:30/6:30c Cartoon Network): Producer Aaron Horvath joins members of the voice cast, including Greg Cipes and Scott Menville, for this screening and Q&A. Go!




‘The Bling Ring’ Film Review

By
Kevin Finnerty
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The Bling Ring Cast Photo
Leslie Mann, Emma Watson, Israel Broussard, Taissa Farmiga, Katie Chang and Claire Julien in 'The Bling Ring' - Photo © A24

“Let’s go to Paris’, I wanna rob,” says Nicki (Emma Watson) to her friend Rebecca (Katie Chang) who’s been breaking into Paris Hilton’s and other celebrity houses going on an illegal shopping spree in the dramatic film The Bling Ring.

When newcomer Marc (Israel Broussard) goes to high school in Los Angeles, he’s feeling alone and desperate to connect and make some friends. It seems almost too good to be true when Rebecca takes a liking to Marc and starts inviting him to do things with her. After a party one night Rebecca takes Marc car-hopping, a favorite pastime of Rebecca’s where she checks to see if any cars on the street are unlocked and grabs whatever cash/valuables are inside for the taking. It’s not long before Rebecca and Marc are checking out houses owned by celebrities for a way in to see what they can find. Tracking celebrity whereabouts on the internet, Rebecca and Marc sneak into Paris’ house while she’s at a party and steal a few things after taking a tour of her mansion.

After bragging and showing off her new souvenirs to her friends Nicki, Chloe (Claire Julien), and Sam (Taissa Farmiga), they all want to join in the fun and soon Rebecca, Marc, Nicki, and the rest of the gang are tracking the whereabouts of celebrities including Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, and Rachel Bilson, and breaking into and stealing from them while they’re away.

Based on a true story and directed by Sofia Coppola, The Bling Ring is an excruciatingly tedious and bore of a film with one-dimensional performances and an incredibly shallow script. More than half of the film is a montage of scenes of the girls and boy dancing in slow motion, going from houses to their cars in slow motion, trying on outfits…IN SLOW MOTION and so on.

Katie Chang is not very dynamic nor is she charismatic as Rebecca the leader of the young thieves. She has zero on-screen ‘friendship’ chemistry with Israel Broussard, her new BFF who she leans on and depends on to help her get into the celebrity homes. Emma Watson is the best thing about the film, giving a solid performance as Nicki, the fame-obsessed wannabe teen model who may never actually become a famous glamour girl but can at least get a feel for the lifestyle by stealing Paris Hilton’s shoes and outfits. Watson’s portrayal of Nicki in the movie as she is arrested and later interviewed by the press captures effectively the amoral and unethical person she’s playing.

Ultimately, The Bling Ring is nothing more than a monotonous, frivolous, and painful waste of time and money for any moviegoer who makes the awful mistake of paying for and sitting through the film.

GRADE: D

The Bling Ring is rated R for teen drug and alcohol use, and for language including some brief sexual references.




Movie Review: ‘World War Z’

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Brad Pitt Stars in World War Z
Brad Pitt stars in 'World War Z' - Photo © Paramount Pictures

“How do we know they’re coming?” asks Karin Lane (Mireille Enos). “They’re coming,” replies her husband Gerry (Brad Pitt) in a whisper as they and their two daughters wait for a helicopter to meet them up on the roof of a partially deserted Philadelphia apartment building crawling with zombies in the action/thriller World War Z.

After barely surviving an attack during gridlock traffic taking his daughters to school, Gerry contacts his former boss Thierry (Fana Mokoena) at the United Nations to find out exactly what is going on and how bad the epidemic is. Realizing he needs Gerry back, Thierry tells him to find a place to hide out and stay safe for a few hours, and he’ll send an extraction team to bring his entire family to headquarters. Avoiding looters and zombies – and with the help of a few decent strangers – Gerry and his family find refuge in an apartment.

Finally, when it’s almost time to meet the helicopters on the roof, Gerry and his family slowly and carefully begin going through the dimly lighted hallways making their way to what they hope will be sanctuary. Unfortunately, they come across a few of the zombies – or, if you prefer, “infected” – and have to make a run for it.

Upon arriving at headquarters, which turns out to be on an aircraft carrier, Gerry is approached by Thierry and the military commander in charge and asked to accompany their chief scientist and a small squad of Navy SEALs on an expedition Korea which might be where the zombie virus originated. Not wanting to leave his family but knowing that if he doesn’t take the job, Karin and his two daughters will most certainly be transported off the carrier, Gerry agrees and promises his wife that he will come back.

Suspenseful and thrilling, director Marc Forster’s World War is the Must Not Miss summer blockbuster of the year. This is a zombie invasion on a huge global scale with a great script and a very impressive performance by Brad Pitt. He’s completely believable as the loving and protective father and husband who wants to do one thing and one thing only: get his family somewhere safe and keep them there. The scene where Gerry has to calm down one of his daughters who’s having an asthma attack and doesn’t have her inhaler, having just escaped an attack from some zombies, comes across as authentic.

Pitt has solid chemistry with Mireille Enos as his wife and shows Gerry’s softer side with the cell phone calls between the two of them while he’s traveling the world trying to discover the secret of the virus. It’s his best performance in years.

The action scenes in the film are riveting and are sure to have the audience on the edge of their seats. And especially impressive and thrilling is the attack and fight scene onboard the plane headed to Russia. The CGI zombies are terrifying, as are the actors who portray the undead and are sure to have the audience jumping and squirming in their seats. Not to mention the tension and fear during the haunted house-type scenes with Gerry and a few new friends making their way through a medical facility infested with zombies. Be careful and quiet around that corner!!!

The only problem with World War Z is the first attack scene in Philadelphia. The quick, jumbled camera work and editing make it almost impossible to follow what’s happening and to really see anything clearly. But that minor problem aside…compelling and terrifying, World War Z has everything a moviegoer could want from a big-budget summer blockbuster and is the best zombie film since 28 Days Later.

GRADE: B+

World War Z opens in theaters on June 21, 2013 and is rated PG-13 for intense, frightening zombie sequences, violence, and disturbing images.




Movie Review: ‘Monsters University’

By
Ian Forbes
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A scene from Monsters University
A scene from 'Monsters University' - Photo © Disney•Pixar

Contrary to the norm, I’m going to start on the positive side of things. The short film attached to Monsters University is called The Blue Umbrella. It’s about … well … a blue umbrella. He sees an apparently female red umbrella he fancies (apparently gender is color derived in umbrellas). On a crowded, rain-soaked street, our eager blue umbrella strives to catch up to the beguiling red one. Adorableness ensues. The story itself is sweet though rather slight, but what’s really impressive is the photorealism captured in the animation.

Okay, moving on to less positive things, let’s get to the feature. Expectations for Pixar films used to be high. They had a ridiculous streak of exceptional animated films, some of which transcended the kiddie genre and ended up on many critics’ Top 10 lists, despite their intended demographic.

Then came Cars 2, which might as well have been subtitled The Search for More Money though I think if they went that way, Mel Brooks could have a good argument to sue. And then there was Brave, which presented a more positive female role model for little girls and it was beautifully animated but was missing an extra layer of depth to really stand amongst the rest of Pixar’s canon.

Now, with Monsters University, the folks in Emeryville, California have solidified a new streak for the company: Three misses in a row. Simply put, had this come out first, there’s no reason anyone could have expected the chronologically second film, Monsters, Inc., to be anywhere near as good as it is.

Just how bad is Monsters University? Well, keep in mind it’s a prequel and tells the story of how Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. ‘Sulley’ Sullivan (John Goodman) met in college. As such, I can rightfully equate the terribleness to what George Lucas did to the Star Wars franchise with his prequels.

Yes. It’s THAT bad.

The plot centers on our two protagonists leading a group of social outcasts to compete in a series of challenges with other Greek societies on campus. If that sounds familiar, that’s because this is essentially Revenge of the Nerds, but director Dan Scanlon and his co-writers Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird have failed to even follow that road map – veering off the track with a tacked on second ending that takes about twenty minutes and exhausted what little patience I had left. The voice work is also disappointing as a story this uninteresting is a waste of time for so many talented actors and that’s all I have to say about that (all of a sudden, I want a box of chocolates but I digress).

Along the way, Monsters University manages to elicit a laugh or two (and I’m not kidding when I say the funniest bit has nothing to do with the main characters but is instead about a snail rushing to get to class). What’s worse, however, than boring the ever-loving brains out of the adults in the audience … and worse still than disappointing those of us who truly loved Monsters, Inc. and don’t enjoy seeing its reputation “sulleyed” (sorry one cheap shot of a movie deserves a cheap shot of a joke) … is that if you though this would keep your kid silent and still in their seat, you are DEAD WRONG.

At the screening I attended, children were talking throughout (and not about the movie) and/or they were roaming the theater in complete disregard for the film itself. If it weren’t for the fact that I find the merchandising cash-grab that is the Cars franchise more disingenuous, I’d have ranked this below that sequel (though they share the same grade), but I haven’t seen so many children up and wandering around in an animated movie, well … EVER. A fellow critic found time to catch some zzz’s, which I was rather jealous of, but I managed to keep my peepers open and soaked in all the mediocrity and just kept myself busy shifting in my seat until it was all over.

Oh, and P.S. The 3D is as flat as the storytelling, so avoid that if you’re still being forced into the theater on this one. Pixar has yet to make one that worked in the third dimension, and this is no exception.

Really, if anyone needs to go to school, it’s Pixar themselves. They should sit their employees down in a dark room and show them the movies that came before Cars 2. Then they should ban sequels to all but perhaps The Incredibles franchise (the only story that naturally lends itself to the idea of sequels). Perhaps a course about the meaning of the phrase “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” would be a good idea, as the free reign with which the studio was granted due to its string of quality films needs to be drawn in.

As much as some of the key founders of the company should be allowed to continue working on projects outside the Pixar framework, it’d be nice if some of them were brought back to mentor the newer set of filmmakers in the company (except John Lasseter who has had his name on these last few mistakes as executive producer and would likely only bring about a third Cars movie).

Looking ahead (because I’m pretty much done looking at Monsters University), thankfully the next two Pixar films will be originals and have more experienced hands at the wheel. 2014 will see The Good Dinosaur come to screens, directed by Bob Peterson who co-directed Up and co-wrote both Up and Finding Nemo. Then in 2015, audiences will take a trip into the human mind with Inside Out, from director Pete Docter (co-director of Up and Monsters, Inc.; co-writer on Up, WALL·E & the first two Toy Story films). 2016 sees another sequel, this time to Finding Nemo and entitled Finding Dory, but it will be directed by Andrew Stanton who did the first one so I’ll reserve cynicism until after seeing it.

I’m hoping the bad times are behind us (though the talk of a possible fourth Toy Story feature has me worried as the trilogy seemed nicely resolved). And sadly, I’m sure Monsters University will make plenty of money, as parents are given few options when it comes to child-friendly films. However, maybe I can offer some advice I picked up from the movie WarGames: “The only winning move is not to play.” Or more constructively, how about you just sit your kid down in the living room and put the trailer for this stink bomb on repeat. It’s cheaper, and maybe your kid won’t notice.

GRADE: D+

Monsters University opens in theaters on June 21, 2013 and is rated G.




Movie Review: ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

By
Ian Forbes
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Amy Acker and Jillian Morgese in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
Amy Acker and Jillian Morgese in 'Much Ado About Nothing' directed by Joss Whedon - Photo Credit: Elsa Guillet-Chapuis

Adapting Shakespeare for modern audiences while retaining the text is no small feat. Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet found a devoted audience but I’m hard-pressed to remember any truly shining examples within my lifetime (I liked R & J’s soundtrack and production design more than the film itself). Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus dragged on and on, and acclaim for the actors seemed to be based on their intensity rather than effectiveness. I missed 2010’s The Tempest which I heard generally positive things about so maybe that’s another one in the win column.

Of course, there’s the gaggle of Kenneth Branagh-led productions and those are able to convey the Bard’s works well enough, but none have grabbed my attention or particular affection. Moving away from keeping the language of Shakespeare intact, 10 Things I Hate About You, Warm Bodies, and Scotland, P.A. are about the most interesting adaptations I’ve seen, and the first two efforts are the only ones I’ve re-watched multiple times.

Well, Joss Whedon apparently had wanted to adapt Much Ado About Nothing for some time, abridging the text but keeping the Shakespearean language and syntax intact. So whilst on a break from post-production on The Avengers, he gathered a large assortment of longtime acting collaborators, brought them to his house, and shot the entire production in just twelve days. TWELVE DAYS. Now that’s impressive to be sure but while I give kudos for the effort and ambition, slapping a shoot together in such a short time is bound to show, and it does so here.

(I’m going to assume you are attending or have graduated high school and are thus familiar with the basic story so insert your own more detailed plot synopsis here.)

Much of the camerawork and shot selection is lackluster. The choice to go black and white was a good one, but as it was shot digitally in color and converted into b&w afterward, it’s just not the same. There’s a muddiness to the look of it and while The Artist also shot in color and then converted the image to black and white, it’s clear the polish just wasn’t possible in this production. Some of the lighting is too harsh, and some of the shadows are too murky. Frankly, it’s all over the place.

Then there’s the manner in which the soliloquies are handled … well, rather poorly actually. Presenting a character talking to themselves is never easy (ask writer/director Richard Curtis who has a habit of doing so in many of his films; Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, etc.). Playing Benedick is Alexis Denisof, and as much fun as it was to watch him and Amy Acker (playing Beatrice) fall in love again so many years after Angel has left the airwaves, watching Denisof deliver a soliloquy is anything but natural.

Continuing to harp on the casting, for people like myself who have enjoyed Whedon’s television work for the most part (Dollhouse was abysmal), the great fun in watching this adaptation is seeing all the familiar faces. It’s clearly evident they enjoyed getting back together, but it takes quite a bit of time for the production itself to pick up any steam. Not until the plot to bring Benedick and Beatrice together is hatched does the energy of the production swing into full gear.

Sean Maher’s portrayal of Don John lacks almost any emotion and comes off as very one note. Denisof’s strength has been in dry wit rather than the playful kind required of Benedick. Clark Gregg stepped in as Leonato when Anthony Stewart Head couldn’t make the shoot, but it came off much more like Agent Coulson from the Marvel movies than anything else. Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk fill the shoes of Dogberry and Verges, respectively and inject some much-needed levity into the back half of the feature but it would have been nice to have some more of that energy earlier in the film and the manner in which it was shot and acted simply didn’t oblige.

Hmm, I seem to be bad-mouthing the production heavily. Oddly enough, despite all of my reservations, I enjoyed the overall experience. Amy Acker’s portrayal of Beatrice is the most engaging (though why she looks like a Hollywood movie star from days of yore and everyone else seems cut from present day doesn’t make any sense). She is able to give the character the balance of wit and heartbreak lacking in many of the other main players.

I suppose the caveat I’d place on the film is that I spent a good deal of the time enjoying things BECAUSE of the actors Whedon had assembled to undertake production. I often saw them through the lens of their past roles and let nostalgia lift my spirits; very few managed to disappear into their characters well enough to make me confident this will work for the average audience member.

Being able to enjoy Whedon’s take on Much Ado About Nothing depends on some wildly divergent criteria. You may need to love the actors from their previous work as much as I do in order to forgive so many stale performances. You may need to recognize none of them and perhaps the characters will come through more clearly. You may need to be just that big of a Shakespeare fan. Failing to meet at least one of those criteria may seriously hamper your enjoyment. I’m happy to have seen this film, but I think by now you get a clear picture of why I would be an ideal candidate for the task. You, however, may want to give it a quick ponder before heading out to a theater.

GRADE: C

Much Ado About Nothing is rated PG-13 for some sexuality and brief drug use.




Movie Review: ‘The Bling Ring’

By
Ian Forbes
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Emma Watson stars in 'The Bling Ring'
Emma Watson stars in 'The Bling Ring' - Photo © 2013 A24

I think Sofia Coppola may be the smartest person in the world. She’s managed to do something no one else on Earth seems to have figured out. Not Da Vinci. Not Curie. Not Einstein. Not Edison. Not even that Dyson guy and he managed to put a cyclone in a household vacuum! Nope, Ms. Coppola has put all those geniuses to shame and managed to manipulate time itself.

How so you ask? Well, let’s take a look at the four films she made prior to the now widely released The Bling Ring: Somewhere, Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation, and The Virgin Suicides. I want you to guess the running times for each.

Take your time. This isn’t being scored. Got it? Okay, now here are the actual runtimes:

97 Minutes – Somewhere
123 Minutes – Marie Antoinette
101 Minutes – Lost in Translation
97 Minutes – The Virgin Suicides

If you were within 30 minutes of those times, pat yourself on the back. I actually liked Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides but would have told anyone who asked they were each over two hours. And don’t get me started on her last two films, they each felt like an eternity and should be used to treat insomnia.

Well, her latest stab at filmmaking, based on the 2010 Vanity Fair article about real-life teens who burglarized a number of Hollywood stars’ homes, clocks in at a brisk 90 minutes. That should zip by like a turbo-charged Ferarri on sleepy mountain roads. But using her impressive grasp of the flow of time, Coppola has managed to make it feel a good half-hour longer and even managed to put me to sleep for a brief moment (at least I think it was brief though I have no fear I missed anything).

Now, anyone who didn’t read the magazine article may also recognize this tale if you enjoy the programming of the Lifetime network, as this was made into a TV movie there in 2011. For whatever reason (media format, channel interference, rights restrictions), that film failed to include much talk of the teens’ drug use, names had been altered, and events were flat-out changed – at least if one takes the Vanity Fair article at face value (which I have no reason not to and make no claim as to doing any more research than seeing the TV movie and reading the article in question).

Still, despite all that, I’d rather re-watch the Lifetime movie ten times before even watching the trailer for Coppola’s take on events. I repeat, I’d rather watch the LIFETIME movie! At least in that, there was a reason to care for the characters; their motivations were examined to some degree. Here, as always, she’s more interested in providing some reason why spoiled brats might feel empty inside than in doing anything else.

Usually, filmmakers use their first or second film to cathartically work out their demons, but Sofia’s relentless. What could have been an interesting examination of the effect reality television has had on society gets lost amidst a seemingly never-ending loop of watching these kids rob a house while acting vapidly, party while being vapid, and then be vapid while boasting of their feats. There’s not even any rinsing in this cycle, it’s simply repeat, repeat, repeat … vapidly.

There are a couple of good performances, most notably Leslie Mann as the vapid mother of Emma Watson, who does a nice job of being a vapid member of the vapid Bling Ring (though her accent slips all over the place). And Katie Chung, as the ringleader of the group, appropriately acts vapidly at all times. Watching the others line up behind her like lemmings would make sense if we got any real sense of those kids prior to being a part of her inner circle but that’s not presented so vapidity simply abounds. P.S. Vapid.

About the only fun thing The Bling Ring can offer is a parade of expensive and fancy possessions for people to gawk at. This is materialism beneath the guise of cinema. It’s cheaper and far more entertaining to watch the E! Network, which you can do in the comfort of your own home.

I don’t know how many more times Coppola can try to make regular people feel sorry for the wealthy and over-privileged but she doesn’t seem to know how to attempt any other theme so I’ll regrettably look forward to another demonstration of time being slowed to a crawl in her next effort. Thankfully, she seems to take a few years in between each of her films so anyone worried she’ll figure out a way to create a singularity in the center of the Chateau Marmont can breathe easy … for now.

However, since I’m sure most people find me largely cynical and negative, I’ll try to end on a positive note. If Coppola keeps climbing up my grading curve at this rate, she’ll make another movie I’d recommend sometime around 2020 (okay, so it’s passive-aggressive positivity but it’s something).

GRADE: D

The Bling Ring is rated R for teen drug and alcohol use and for language, including some brief sexual references.




‘Big Brother’ Summer 2013 Houseguests Revealed

By
Rebecca Murray
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Big Brother Season 15 CastCBS has announced the 16 competitors who will be houseguests on this summer’s season of Big Brother. Season 15 will once again be hosted by Julie Chen and is set to premiere on June 26, 2013 at 8pm.

Big Brother Season 15 Houseguest Bios”

Name: David Girton
Age: 25
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Occupation: Lifeguard
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Goofy, sarcastic and competitive.
Favorite activities: Surfing and skating.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not going to the beach every day. Surfing is pretty much my life – it just makes me happier, calms me down and helps me out when I’m having a bad day.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Be myself and let my personality show, and hope that my good looks take me to the end.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? I liked Jeff the most because he’s just a cool cat and got a great girl at the end, Jordan. She is 10/10 on my list… quite the babe to say the least. My least favorite is Erica – she is just annoying, always crying, too emotional for my taste and wears too much makeup.
 
What are you afraid of? Spiders, roller coasters and crows.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Doing the Lifeguard Academy.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… To have fun!
 
What would you take into the house and why? Surfboard if there was a wave machine, skateboard if there was a ramp and a TV – I watch way too much of it, and I like to be entertained.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? Open up my own restaurant of some sort, or a surf shop.
 
Name: Andy Herren
Age: 26
Hometown: Aurora, Ill.
Lives: Chicago, Ill.
Occupation: Professor
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Friendly, funny and red.
Favorite activities: Improv, eating candy, watching TV, running, laughing with friends, playing with puppies as they walk down the street, teaching, making lists, ranking things, teaching my family’s cockatiel to call my dad “gurl,” messing with people, eating ice cream too fast and being adorable.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not having any privacy. I would be lying if I said I don’t find this intimidating. Also, the prospect of slop is something I have regular nightmares about. I just… can’t.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: I would start by playing a covertly aggressive game. I would lay low on the surface and be friendly to everyone (if this is possible) while secretly establishing a concrete alliance with people I have deemed the most trustworthy. I would scope out the house very quickly for these people, as I know you need to act soon to solidify trust and bonds. I’m quite good at reading people, so I would choose people I felt comfortable with, as well as people others would not expect me to align with. I also think my background in communications and improv would be great strengths. Through communication and public speaking, I know how to say what people want to hear and through improv I am able to lie without batting an eye. I’m a smiley, friendly person, so nobody will see it coming when I stab them in the back.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? My two favorites of all time are Britney and Ragan from Season 12. I think I would have been BFFs with each of them and I think I would have given Ragan the kick in the pants he needed to go far in the game. I thought he played a good social game (as he seemed to be genuinely well-liked by everyone), but I thought he wasn’t aggressive enough. He never made the big moves that I know he is capable of. Britney was similar. I would have smacked some sense into her and gotten her away from Lane. Her Diary Room confessions were like windows to my soul. She always said what I was thinking. They both made it far, but with me in the house during their season I think one of them (or me) could have won.
 
What are you afraid of? I am slightly afraid of heights, but it is not crippling or anything. I am terrified of bees, though. And people who enjoy Tyler Perry movies.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? There is a wall of graffiti on the first floor girls bathroom of the English Building at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that is solely dedicated to me. Quips include, “I AM IN LOVE WITH ANDY HERREN,” “Ha ha! I know that ginger bastard!” and “Andy Herren for President!” Pretty incredible, right?
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… “From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!” “Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”
 
What would you take into the house and why? 1. My baby blanket. I’ve had it my entire life and it would give me a sense of security and comfort while in the house. 2. A notepad and pen to take notes after competitions/while observing others in the house. Duh. 3. Skittles. Just because, why not? What am I supposed to do if there are no Skittles in the house?
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? If Big Brother made me famous, I would definitely embrace it, but to a certain extent. I would love seeing people smile in my presence (and let’s be real – having the spotlight would feel nice), but I also love my life and my friends and family, and don’t want fame to come in the way of my already-established personal relationships. Thus, I would be sad if horrible tabloid stories were written about me or my loved ones, but I understand that this comes with the territory. Long story short, being famous would be totally cool, but as long as it is on my terms. Me me me.
 
Name: Judd Daughtery
Age: 26
Hometown: Englewood, Tenn.
Lives: Etowah, Tenn.
Occupation: Property appraiser
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Funny, unreadable and unpredictable.
Favorite activities: I love to frog gig (frog hunting) in the summer. I also love to camp, have bonfires, cookouts, go to the river, lake, etc. I love anything outside when the weather is good. Anything with friends and family is a blast.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? If there’s someone I can’t stand, I am used to just getting the hell away from them, so in the house it won’t be that easy. I will not only have to strategize a way to get them out of the game, I will also have to think if it’s a good time to get rid of them or if it would be better to keep them around and torture my sanity for a few more weeks just so it will help me more in the long run.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: My strategy is to play a complete social and strategic game, which I will be very good at. I would like to find an older loyal person to work with and also have a guy who is good at competitions that’s around my age I could relate to and that is loyal, and either a really hot girl or a smart person. Easier said than done. I don’t think a set strategy would ever work going into the game. But these are key character types I am going to be scoping out in hopes of making alliance or two. I want to outplay Will and Dan’s games. Come on, it’s possible!
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? Dan from BB10, Russell from BB11 and Keesha from BB10 are three of my favorite players based on their gameplay and how their attitudes were in the house. I also like Jeff, Jordan, Danielle, Cassi, Dominic, Frank, Jojo, etc. (I’m a fan). I despised Ronnie from BB1, “Cowboy” from BB5 and also didn’t like Mike Boogie! Mike Boogie is my least-favorite player to ever play the game.
 
What are you afraid of? Heights and spiders!
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Overcoming and dealing with anxiety! I have had anxiety all of my life and never really realized it. When I was about 21, I had a panic attack. I realized I had anxiety issues and though I did get some Xanax, I also had to coach myself and train my brain how to not get nervous, and it works! It took me a little bit but I have really learned how to stop it before it happens and just make myself chill. You would never understand what an accomplishment this was unless you have ever had anxiety.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Life’s a game, you should always be strategic and be ready for your next move.
 
What would you take into the house and why? 1. iPhone (would never happen) camera to take crazy pics with my new friends and pranks we pull. 2. Picture of family, 3. A ball – we could make up so many games with a ball. I’m not big on material things, I would be fine with just the basic BB necessities.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would appreciate BB for doing that for me and I would try to enjoy my 15 minutes as long as I could. If I made a lot of money, I would like to travel, donate to St. Jude’s, and maybe even go on a couple mission trips.
 
Name: Jeremy McGuire
Age: 23
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Occupation: Boat shop associate
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Charismatic, spontaneous and fearless.
Favorite activities: Painting, skating, boating and any sports.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not being able to keep in close contact with my mom, since I always have – it would be difficult to just stop.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Just to be versatile and always keep in mind that I’m there to win and not make friends.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? I’ve never really watched the show…my mom loves it though. She was the one who recommended that I sign up.
 
What are you afraid of? Poisonous animals.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Buying and owning my own sail boat, by far.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Dream as if you live forever, live as if you die tomorrow.
 
What would you take into the house and why? Paint supplies, skateboard and a hacky sack.
 
What would you do if “Big Brother made you famous? I’m not sure… I guess work hard to stay famous.
 
Name: Howard Overby
Age: 29 (will turn 30 during the season)
Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Occupation: Youth counselor
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Observant, trustworthy and reliable.
Favorite activities: I love playing city league flag football and softball. I love to mime and do drama skits at church. I love to read and take walks in the park or just be outside. I love to fish and hunt and shoot guns at the gun range. I love love love board games, especially Monopoly.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Nothing except being away from my church on Sundays.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: I will use intelligence without showing I’m as smart as I am and I will befriend people to get to know them and use their strengths and weaknesses against them – no matter how or what I have to use to get what I want to make my plan work.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? Jason from Season 2 because he was representing for the men and played a great game to the end. I didn’t like Lisa from Season 3.
 
What are you afraid of? I hate spiders and big birds.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college after receiving a full athletic scholarship.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is…to conduct myself in a manner that is worthy of Christ and to live abundantly and share it with others.
 
What would you take into the house and why? 1. My Bible, because it’s my guide on how to live and love. 2. My head phones and iPod, because I have to have my music. 3. My Xbox, because it keeps me competitive and calms me.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? Man, I would share it all on some level with the less fortunate and my family because I’m tired of them struggling. We would get some businesses started. Plus, I finally want my mom and sisters to ride a plane and go somewhere beautiful where there are no mosquitoes.
 
Name: Nick Uhas
Age: 28
Hometown: Hilliard, N.Y.
Lives: New York, N.Y.
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Positive, adventurous and excited.
Favorite activities: Skating, running, biking, lifting, hiking, skiing, snow-boarding, traveling, anything and everything that keeps your body moving…haha, yes…everything.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not having information coming in from the outside world…. it will be like a nuclear bomb shelter living … I can still rock, it will basically be like wrestling season or studying for the MCAT operates.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Make quick and personal relationships with a very select few. Stick with them through the thick and thin…. this is really the only way to rock n’ roll.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? Mike Malin the most! He is the man! His personality and attitude are perfect and on point… he’s an entrepreneur and smart as hell. I disliked Ashley… she’s a spray tan technician.
 
What are you afraid of? Actually nothing.. .my body is afraid of heights because there is potential damage… but my mind knows how to deal with it. My body will react to things like grinding a 20-foot drop rail and 540’ing off to the flat pavement with nervousness… but my mind is stronger, which is why I am a great roller blader… overcoming your physical fears with your mind!
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I placed 7th place in the North American World Championship, Aggressive Skating Association (stunt rollerblading); 4th place, Division 1 wrestling State of Ohio, 135 pounds; graduated with a 3.92 B.S. biology (Pre-Med major); minor at Yale University in Economics.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Work wild, live free.
 
What would you take into the house and why? Organic peanut butter and jam with cracked wheat bread: I live on PB and J’s… I know they are good and healthy and I love them! My phone to Instagram all the crazy stuff that goes down. Tony Robbins CD’s (every single one of them) to stay focused, sharp and on point!
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would use all of the brand equity as an entrepreneur and keep the ball rolling and build the life I want… the exact life! Hosted shows, Web shows, partnerships, branded products as residual of shows, collaborations, restaurants, coffee company, expert press consulting – the sky is the limit!
 
Name: Spencer Clawson
Age: 31
Hometown: Conway, Ark.
Occupation: Railroad conductor
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Mouthy, opinionated and chill.
Favorite activities: Watching TV and renovating my other house.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Being away from my dogs and trying to play my way through the game, the stress and the mental gymnastics you have to put forward to get through this thing.
 
Why will you make a great houseguest? I’m highly competitive, assertive, very funny but I’m also polarizing. People tend to either really like me or not like me. I feel like I’m very easy to get along with as long as I’m doing what I want to be doing. I understand that Big Brother is a very complicated game and I’ll be laying ground work from the very beginning to get me through to the very end. Being from Arkansas I’ve got a real laid back personality and people are drawn to me.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? I liked James from Season 6 and All-Stars and Enzo the most. I like Chima the least.
 
What are you afraid of? I don’t have any phobias.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Getting my job at the railroad on my own merit.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
 
What would you take into the house and why? Picture of my dog Murdock because I love him, a good coat, because I get cold easily, and some Twix.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I’d think it was awesome.
 
Name: Aaryn Gries
Age: 22
Hometown: San Angelo, Texas
Living: San Marcos, Texas
Occupation: College student
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Outgoing, driven and spontaneous.
Favorite activities: Snowboarding, wakeboarding, traveling, working out, Zumba, crafting, decorating, planning events, attending festivals and meeting people.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not knowing who is genuine and who isn’t, and realizing that my trusting nature could be my downfall.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: I think I will go into the game with the same mentality I go into life: only focusing on myself and what I need to do to make it through, but I’m sure there will be moments of weakness where I second guess myself. I will use my Psychology training as best as I can and try to be strategic.
 
What are you afraid of? People with evil or absent minds that hurt or deceive others.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I am most proud of my ability to rise above disappointment and press on with a positive and peaceful mind. I am extremely proud that each day, no matter what happens, I do my best to look at every situation in a positive light. I can see my future clearly and I’m taking the right steps to reach my goals.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… What you think about, you bring about.
 
What would you take into the house and why? My music, books by Rhonda Byrne and my cat, Pumpkin, because these three things help my peace of mind.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would be entirely grateful for Big Brother putting my dreams on fast-track, and I would never forget the experience.
 
Name: Jessie Kowalski
Age: 25
Hometown: Beaumont, Texas
Living: San Antonio, Texas
Occupation: Unemployed
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Sexy, driven and smart.
Favorite activities: Reading, social media, yoga, swimming, taking my dog on walks, laying by the pool, cooking and dancing.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Being away from my Ari. He is my whole world and we have a great mom-pup bond.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Lay low as long as possible and align with the smartest and strongest! Also, make a final two deal with who I have the best connection with. Try to win as many competitions as possible. Be friendly, fun and helpful… and enjoy the ride.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? Danielle was my favorite because she is pretty, cool, laid back and knows the game! Dick was my least favorite. I respect his gameplay but I would be annoyed by him.
 
What are you afraid of? Flying and overpasses.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Graduating from University of Texas in 4 years and getting this opportunity with Big Brother means everything to me.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… When at first you don’t succeed, try again.
 
What would you take into the house and why? My dog, Ari! Just kidding, but I would love that! My iPhone 5 so I could see what my friends and family are up to and my iPod because music keeps me entertained and helps me think.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would be the happiest girl on the planet. I would love the opportunity to share my life with others and inspire people to follow their dreams!
 
Name: Candice Stewart
Age: 29 (will turn 30 during season)
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Living: Houston, Texas
Occupation: Pediatric speech therapist
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Outgoing, loyal and compassionate.
Favorite activities: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, cooking, watching movies & TV and exercising.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not knowing what’s going on in the world and missing my family will be the most difficult.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: First and foremost, be myself. Analyze the game as it comes. Be smart and quick on my feet at all times. It is a game after all.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? I love Ian. I love that he was himself, quirks and all. Plus, the whole New Orleans connection is major. The person I like the least is Boogie. His game vibe just rubs me the wrong way. It came across like a shady car dealer that is trying to sell a woman who is buying her first car a lemon just to make a sale.
 
What are you afraid of? Honestly, I’m pretty adventurous, so things don’t really scare me. I don’t like drop roller coasters, though, and I don’t particularly like rodents or bugs. I guess I am more afraid of more serious life issues like health and the well-being of my family.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I’m so proud that I was able to meet my birth mother. I found out I was adopted at 26 and my life did a complete 180 in a matter of months. I am proud of my strength in pursuing the unknown and holding my family together through the struggle. Now things are great!
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Always live in gratitude. I feel that life will always throw curve balls and ups and downs. The only way to keep pushing and have faith to weather the storm is to find gratitude in the things you do have.
 
What would you take into the house and why? Pictures of my family and friends. I’m sure there will be days that I need to see love and the people who love me. I would also bring a journal, because a girl has to vent, right?
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? If I was to ever become famous either through Big Brother or another facet, I would never forget who I am. I would use the megaphone to work on causes that I am passionate about. I respect celebrities who still appear to be grounded and use their notoriety for positive causes.
 
Name: GinaMarie Zimmerman
Age: 32 (will turn 33 during season)
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Living: Staten Island, N.Y.
Occupation: Pageant coordinator
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Crazy, sexy and cool.
Favorite activities: My favorite activities are singing, dancing, modeling, sports and hanging with my friends and family.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Waiting for the bathroom.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Just be me, make friends and try to be smart.
 
What are you afraid of? I would be afraid of aliens, if they ever exist, and if I ever see one I would probably s**t my pants. Those movies scare me.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? One of my biggest accomplishments is when I won the Grand Supreme overall pageant title. It took me over six years to win.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Everything happens for a reason.
 
What would you take into the house and why? I would take my grand supreme pageant crown, makeup and clothes.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would use my personality and popularity to be in the spotlight and make me a household name.
 
Name: Helen Kim
Age: 37
Hometown: Falls Church, Va.
Living: Chicago, Ill.
Occupation: Political consultant
Marital status: Married mom
Three adjectives that describe you: Stubborn, loyal and energetic.
Favorite activities: I love taking my kids to do anything: zoo, museums, swimming, soccer lessons, etc. Because I’m an only child and my parents are older than the parents of my friends, I always wanted to have a family so I would not feel alone. Activities without my kids include running, knitting and reading.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Being away from my family. While I love my husband dearly, I have never been away from my kids longer than one week.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: My strategy is to throw HOH in the beginning and have the strongest players vote each other out. However, I would try to win POV. It is always good to gain favors from people. As the strong players start to vote each other off, I would then do my best to win the HOHs.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? I like Jeff the most because he is down to earth and always was the least annoying. I like drama queen Rachel the least. I had a hard time watching her whine week to week. She has serious issues.
 
What are you afraid of? I’m afraid of blood, which is why I could never have been a doctor. I’m also afraid of bugs.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Leaving my family and moving to Chicago was a huge accomplishment for me. I am from the East Coast and the Midwest is very different. I felt guilty leaving my parents since I was an only child. I remember the day I drove away, my father started crying (the first time I ever saw him cry). I left all my family, friends and job for my husband. It was scary, but I am so glad I did it. I am so happy.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… You can live without it. It seems all good things and lost loves, you never really give them up, you just learn to live without it/them.
 
What would you take into the house and why? My iPad – it has pictures and videos of my kids, my Kindle for reading, and knitting yarn and needles.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would love to bring attention to infectious diseases like MRSA. There is not enough media coverage and public awareness about hospital infections, and we all should be educated and warned.
 
Name: Elissa Slater
Age: 27
Hometown: Concord, N.C.
Living: Kannapolis, N.C.
Occupation: Nutritionist
Marital status: Married mom
Three adjectives that describe you: Effervescent, ambitious and intriguing.
Favorite activities: I love to do yoga. I practice every day. I also run frequently as well as play tennis. I travel a lot and I love seeing the history of other countries. I like to go to the movies and cook.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not talking to my husband or son. It will be difficult because I’m not away from both of them at the same time ever. I’m with either one or the other.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: I am going to bring qualities to the table that the house will like and want to keep around. I’m going to try and keep to myself and not let my emotions get the best of me. I’ll be more of a listener so I can feel out what’s going on in the other houseguests’ minds.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? Rachel Reilly rocks!!! I am biased. Rachel is fun, entertaining, plays the game, didn’t lie very often to get ahead and she is so hilarious. Monet was my least favorite because she was so bad at the game.
 
What are you afraid of? I’m afraid of heights and planes.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I am most proud of my son. He is so precious and such a beautiful boy and loves the Lord. It makes me feel amazing to know I contributed to his personality.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Live life to the fullest and have no regrets. Thank God for each good day He gives you, and learn from the bad days and try not to repeat what caused them. Make no mistake twice. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
 
What would you take into the house and why? A bible, yoga mat and spray tan.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? Use it to minister and help others.
 
Name: Amanda Zuckerman
Age: 28
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
Lives: Boynton Beach, Fla.
Occupation: Real estate agent
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Confident, sexy and funny!
Favorite activities: Horseback riding, hiking, shopping and going to movies.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Being away from my friends, family, my dog and my job, but they will be there when I get back.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: My strategy is to find common ground with everyone and share individual time and secrets to earn their trust. Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? Most – I love Britney! She’s hilarious, real and played an awesome game. Least – Jen from Big Brother 8 because she was fake, annoying and conceited.
 
What are you afraid of? Sharks!
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I’m proud of where I have brought myself to in my career.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Wherever you go, there you are. Which means to me, you choose where you want to be in life. The only person to get in your way is yourself. You are your own means to success.
 
What would you take into the house and why? My dog, my cellphone and my laptop.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would use my fame to further my real estate career and ride the five-minute fame wave.
 
Name: Kaitlin Barnaby
Age: 23
Hometown: Vadnais Heights, Minn.
Lives: Minneapolis, Minn.
Occupation: Bartender
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Persevering, tenacious and analytical.
Favorite activities: Enjoying music and coffee in a shop, taking walks and just being outside on beautiful days biking, running, etc.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Being cut off from the outside world. I am very dependent on the people in my life.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Stay strong and focused! Don’t let these people play you since they can be very manipulative and fake. I’m a very closed off person and will keep to myself.
 
What are you afraid of? Spiders and the dark mostly… also dying alone.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Overcoming the obstacles my life and things my family has thrown at me and the person it has made me today.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… People are as happy as they choose to be.
 
What would you take into the house and why? My computer to stay somewhat connected to my friends and family, my closet because I’m clothes and shoes crazy and my Sudoku or a book to help me sleep at night.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? Pay off all of my debt, enjoy my 15 minutes of fame and send my money towards good causes.
 
Name: McCrae Olson
Age: 23 (will turn 24 during season)
Hometown: Zimmerman, Minn.
Occupation: Pizza Delivery Boy
Marital status: Single
Three adjectives that describe you: Funny, observant and calculating.
Favorite activities: I love playing ice-hockey out on the ponds. I also love reading comics and playing video games. Typical boy stuff.
 
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Just having my own privacy. It’s going to be tough having cameras on you 24/7 and trying to find a little peace in there.
 
Strategy for winning Big Brother: My strategy is to play like James from Big Brother 6. Play smart when you need to, play physical when you need to and lay low.
 
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least? My favorite player is of course Will Kirby. The way that man played the game is like watching the most beautiful ballet ever. It just seems like his mind was built for this game. There is something so beautiful about it.
 
What are you afraid of? Mice and ventriloquist dummies.
 
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Right now I am working on this cartoon that I created and wrote. I am so proud of it.
 
Finish this sentence: My life’s motto is… Don’t take life too seriously…have a little fun with it.
 
What would you take into the house and why? A book, pen and paper. A book because I love reading and it’s going to be tough not reading anything in the house, and pen/paper because then I could write scripts, skits and draw to entertain myself.
 
What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? I would use that fame to tell better stories through the video medium.

‘The Smurfs 2’ New Trailer Shows Off an Evil Smurfette

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Gargamel and his Naughties make cute little Smurfette act evil…well, evil by Smurf standards…in this new trailer for The Smurfs 2. The new trailer features an introduction by Katy Perry (the voice of Smurfette), with the Sony Pictures Animation sequel also featuring Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara, and Hank Azaria as Gargamel.

The Plot: In this sequel to the hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster comedy The Smurfs, the evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties that he hopes will let him harness the all-powerful, magical Smurf-essence. But when he discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, and only a secret spell that Smurfette knows can turn the Naughties into real Smurfs, Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, where he has been winning the adoration of millions as the world¹s greatest sorcerer.

It’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our world, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her! Will Smurfette, who has always felt different from the other Smurfs, find a new connection with the Naughties Vexy and Hackus ¬ or will the Smurfs convince her that their love for her is True Blue?

The Smurfs 2 opens in theaters on July 31, 2013.




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