Fashion Is Not Saving Lives, It Shouldn't Kill People Either: The True Cost Tackles Cheap Clothing

I just watched The True Cost on Netflix and I urge you to do the same. The documentary explores the adverse impact of dirt cheap clothing on the people who make them and the natural resources they are made from.

My Thoughts on Lindsay Lohan Hosting SNL

Tonight's SNL episode marks the return of Lindsay Lohan as a host. People are calling and hoping it to be a comeback. She survived the week without getting replaced or getting negative press so maybe there is hope for her. I have my reservations. It's either really going to be funny since she is a great actress and there's so much material to work with given what's occurred these past few years. Or really bad because of what's occurred these past few years. Who knows. Maybe Lindsay ruins her umpteenth chance but for her sake and her career let's hope she doesn't.

As usual, I'll be live tweeting during the show and tell you how it goes. So follow me on Twitter.

For now, let's relieve happier times and watch the first Debbie Downer skit Lindsay was in:

Jay Strut on Andrew Mukamal's Today's Look

Ever since Kell on Earth (Kelly Cutrone's underrated short-lived reality show), I have been a fan of Andrew Mukamal. I still remember him in the floor length silver dress/plaid shirt combo on the first episode. He's hilarious and has a ridiculously adventurous style (currently filled with envy-inducing Proenza pieces). Since then, he's been doing different things including a daily internet show called Today's Look. I've been watching it since day one and this week, he had a familiar face on the show.

Jay Strut, as you may know is a popular Canadian blogger. I've met him a few times in functions and he's just as fashionable and candid in person. He was in New York for fashion week and ended up in Andrew's vintage Versace throne chair. They talked about becoming a blogger, the fashion scene in Toronto, about how amazing Givenchy is (I agree), and did you know he made music? Needless to say, these two were entertaining to watch together. And a tad surreal.

Check out Part Two after the jump.

We Need To Talk About Kevin Review

"The film is uncomfortable, some times infuriating, to watch.  The idea that something natural, such as maternal instincts, doesn't occur is unsettling."

 It is awards season and that only means one thing, all the noteworthy movie comes out.

One of the movies I was really interested in seeing is We Need To Talk About Kevin. Ever since I've seen the trailer I wanted to see it. The trailer itself was fear and stress inducing. And the rest, I'm happy to say, was just as eerie.

In a good way of course.

We Need To Talk About Kevin is a psychological thriller starring Tilda Swinton, who plays Eva a mother of a disturbed child Kevin. The film revolves around their relationship and the difficulty Eva has bonding with her child Kevin (Ezra Miller).

The performance from both actors were stellar. Tilda Swinton carried the audience in her emotional roller coaster throughout the film. As an audience you sympathize the maternal dillema she is faced with. Ezra Miller, too, played his role as a sociopath so well. Just from his body language and the way he glared. That glare... You just knew he was bad news. Very bad news.

The nonlinear narrative was also an effective way to tell the story of Eva and Kevin. The disjointed timeline contributed to the unnerving atmosphere of the film. As an audience, you're forced to pay attention and put the pieces together as the story horrifically unravels itself. 

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The film is uncomfortable, some times infuriating, to watch.  The idea that something natural, such as maternal instincts, doesn't occur is unsettling. Eva fails to bond with her son, Kevin, and as a kicker Kevin is a manipulative and violent sociopath. You see Eva watch him grow and increasingly become destructive with his mind games while she helplessly try and fail. The movie is a fascinating look at the taboo topic and its brave to say hey, maybe maternal instincts is not as natural as we're widely to believe.

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P.S. The movie is based on a book of the same title so yeah, go read it.

Holiday Gift Guide: Movie DVDS

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Christmas is coming soon but don't fret I am here to help. Movies are kind of an easy gift to give but just stick with me here for a second. I love watching movies and this year there has been a lot of releases that I was impressed by. I mean, X-Men: First Class? The Help? And my top choice this year, the hilarious Bridesmaids! There was something for every one and if you have somebody that was especially fond of a movie, then get it for them!

Check out other standout movies here.

P.S. You know Harry Potter will have a gift set of all the DVDS right? Just saying.

The Help: Movie Review

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"A beautiful film with depth, entertaining but poignant,  and a dark tale with a ray of hopeful light running throughout. "

Last week, I finally got a chance to watch The Help. The movie is about three women who lived in Jackson, Mississippi and document what life was like as a help, for the white families during the 1960s. The three main characters are played by Emma Stone (Skeeter), Viola Davis (Aibileen), and Octavia Spencer (Minny). This movie takes place during the Civil Rights Movement for African-American people and specifically the segregation happening at Jackson, Mississippi.

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The story, if anything, is the reason you should go see this movie. For people who have read the book, its exciting to see this story come to life in the big screen. And for those who haven't read it, this story is universal and a reminder of the dark history we progressed from. As a fictional story set in a historical background of racism in America, it is easy to compare it with To Kill A Mockingbird (a favourite of mine). Although dealing with similar social issues, the stories told are different. For one, TKAM is set in the 30s and reading The Help, set in the 60s, its interesting to see how little progress has happened in between. Now in present time, this movie is a reminder of the changes that has happened since then and the courageous people who fought to make those changes happen.

Harry Potter : A Lookback

 

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Like for many, it feels like I grew up with the characters of Harry Potter. To see it conclude is sad but the arduous effort and daunting task of doing this book justice is greatly appreciated. The alternate world of Harry Potter is full of magic and science fiction but it is the underlying theme and foundation of family and friendship that resonates with billions of people. Other series pale in comparison to what J.K Rowling has painted with words. She has created a universe full of intricate concepts, creatures and characters into one series that make other movies seem simple. In this sense, Harry Potter has truly been magical not only because people will escape to the rich world of fantasy but hope to dream of a utopia of  love and friendship as ideal as Harry Potter's.

Check out my Harry Potter Day Of Review.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollow Part 2 Review

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If you have been remotely out in public these past few weeks you may have noticed the many Harry Potter ads proclaiming 'The End'. I personally refused to watch trailers, interviews or read reviews so I can go in with a fresh mind. It has been a long road of adventure but alas the end came this Friday ( thursday midnight for the dedicated ) as the final film of Harry Potter hit the theaters.  Many lined up, camped out, and dressed up for the occasion. For many it is the end of an era and an emotional farewell to a big part of their childhood.

X Men: First Class - Movie Review and Analysis

via twitchfilm

"The storyline almost makes you believe that mutants are very much real and can actually exist." 

It seems as of late movie theaters are hitting us with its best shot by releasing highly anticipated movies week by week. First with the fourth installment of Pirates of The Caribbean and then The Hangover 2 (notice the sequels, is there any original ideas out there Hollywood?). Although both got poor reviews both were commercial hits at the box office. This week's offering takes it one notch up: its anticipated and its really good.

X- Men: First Class, a  prequel to a series with abundant stories to tell, brings it all the way back to how it all began. It centers around the coming out of mutants and a time before the idea of an academy of mutants was conceptualized. Set in 1962, the story is introduced through Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr (who becomes Magneto), who becomes great friends through a common goal: Sebastian Shaw, a mutant with the power to absorb energy and transfer (plus he's bent on world domination but that is just an after thought, just kidding). All grown up, Erik seeks revenge for his mother who was killed by Sebastian Shaw during the Holocaust. Charles on the other hand makes a name for himself as a brilliant mind coming out of school and becomes recruited to assist the CIA to stop Sebastian Shaw from starting a nuclear war. Together they start recruiting and training other mutants to help fight against Sebastian Shaw and his evil colleagues.

Bridesmaids - Movie Review

Ah, it's wedding season yet again (as if the Royal Wedding didn't get you in the mood already) and that means the movie industry is joining in, as they do every year, to capitalize on those big wedding budgets and offer a fun night out with their latest offering of bridal movies. Luckily for us viewers, this time around is no average run off the mill wedding cliches.

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  Bridesmaids is a movie about  Annie, a less than perfect lost in this big world character (played by the SNL superstar Kristen Wiig), being responsible for helping her childhood best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolp) with her wedding. Annie ends up having to work with a set of colorful characters from different aspects of Lillian's life:

Hanna: A Movie Review

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It's been a while since I reviewed a movie. It's partially because I don't have time to go to the theater but it's also because of the movie drought after the academy awards. Now that summer is fast approaching the block busters are starting to trickle in!

Hanna was in no way a filler movie. Director Joe Wright who also directed Atonement and Pride and Prejudice did a great job. Even though he has done mainly movies in the drama genre this action film was well paced. It had great action chase scenes, fight scenes and even an interesting story line revealed through out the film. The balance of story depth and action is a difficult challenge in movie making and although Wright did not succeed fully what did made the final cut was impressive.

Blue Valentine Review

 

Yesterday, I finally got to watch a movie in the theatres again after not being able to do so for 3 weeks. I watched Blue Valentine with a bunch of friends and I have to say I was really impressed....

Never Let Me Go Novel Review

I recently posted about seeeing the movie Never Let Me Go. After I watched a hundred interviews of the cast, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley, I found out it was based on a novel by Kazuo Isihiguro. Now I am reading the novel and getting immersed in the world of Cathy, Tommy, and Ruth. The novel and the movie are similar in mood and style but of course with the novel having more detail. This story really is something everyone should watch/read and this coming from someone who doesn't read novels much you know that says something.

Never Let Me Go

Today was really cold (-25 degrees celsius) making it a perfect day to stay in and watch a movie. I decided to see Never Let Me Go after hearing good things about it and the fact that rising stars Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Andrew Garfield (soon to be Spiderman) are starring in it - along with Keira Knightley. Its a triad of British talent that doesn't disappoint.

The movie is set in an alternate world where people have clones and they are raised to become adults and start donating their organs 3-4 times until completion (aka die). Its a magnificent concept and a terrifyingly plausible reality. I don't want to ruin everything for you but it truly is heartbreaking and really questions the definition of humanity. Who  deserves respect and dignity? Is it justifiable and is it okay to sacrifice our ethics for the "bigger picture".

If you want to watch something that discusses the value of life then this movie is for you.

Black Swan

I go to the movies a lot and during this time of year a lot of Oscar-worthy movies are churning out. One that I was really looking forward to seeing was Black Swan. I have to say the buzz around it is well deserved. In a word its psychotic. The idea of a ballet thriller doesn't sound great on paper but the story, acting, environment, and overall execution of the movie is really well done. I definitely recommend seeing this in the big screen!