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lu-sn · 1 year

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i am here today to talk about HORRIBLE OVERSIGHT in the pete fandom we NEED to correct our ways and see the light

but it is ok i will Explain

ok do u see this

this is a pha khao ma (spelling up for debate). it's a waistcloth commonly worn in south and southeast asia — you may have heard of it as a lungi / longyi. it's a rectangular, light, soft piece of cloth that (mostly) men tie around their (mostly) waists to wear in hot humid climates because it's very comfy and breezy and dries fast.

some fun facts:

it's very common to wear right out of the bath / shower because the dampness stays on your skin for a while after so this helps air it out

underwear is ✨ optional ✨ (although really mostly only at home. the fear of being pantsed in public is universal, after all)

it's often worn at home, but people wear it out as well and it is especially common in rural communities. if you've got a bunch of old uncles sitting outside on a veranda in a small town, they're all maybe sitting around in pha khao mas

(let me follow this up with: while it is common in rural regions, people in rural areas all over thailand do also just wear shirts and shorts and pants 😂 it is merely an option, not a rule)

what you see is the casual version. there are much more formal versions, and fashionable versions, and they are apparently having a resurgence with the thailand youth rn

the plaid-like patterning is a specific design that has centuries of history in thailand! different regions produce styles of designs with vibrantly different colors and dyes, and they're very proud of it

there's many ways to tie it: in these pictures, pete has it tied so that it hangs down well past his knees, but you can hoist them up to mostly be around your upper legs (leaving the knees showing). this gives you a TON more mobility to, say, run around or climb trees or beat up people

here is a reference of real people wearing pha khao mas. as you can see they are chilling

and the most important fun fact of all:

post-canon pete wears it ALL. THE. TIME.

we know pete wears these in the privacy of his home! they're his comfy post-shower post-workout jammies! every time we see him with one he has a different one! HE HAS LIKE SIX MORE OF THESE TUCKED AWAY.

he probably wore them a lot around his yaai. and now, at home, vegas sees him in them CONSTANTLY.

you may be looking at me, and then looking at these photos, and then looking again at me, and going, lu, noooooooo, this ruins the post-canon pete being unbearably cute and stylish and hot agenda!!! to which i say

it ENHANCES IT. it's about the DICHOTOMY

vegas watches as pete walks out of the bathroom wearing one of these and nothing else, and they're riding real low on his hips, and vegas chokes out a "what the hell are you wearing" and pete leans against the doorframe and wiggles his eyebrows and puts on his thickest northern accent and says "you wanna fuck me so bad city boy" and he's RIGHT OKAY VEGAS HATES THEM AND VEGAS DOES WANT TO FUCK HIM SO BAD ANYWAYS

macau gives pete sooo much shit for it but then he watches pete kick ass in one during training one day and pete looks like some rural film movie star in his tank top and pha khao ma and his fists of fury and macau goes, huh, actually, phi looks fucking cool, can i have one

when they visit yaai pete basically forgoes pants and just wears these all the time and blends in with all the old grandpas who pat pete on the back and ask him for his opinions on politics and vegas is so fucking confused and totally in love do you UNDERSTAND

anyway. all of this to say, if you were to write fics where pete wears a pha khao ma and/or draw him in one it would be HIGHLY CANONICALLY ACCURATE. and i would love you. thank u for coming to my ted talk.

(and thanks to @minorfamilysupremacy for being the first victim of said ted talk)

#i am simply spreading the agenda #this is very important to me. we talk extensively about ass-out pete but NEVER ABOUT PHA KHAO MA PETE #it is a Look. it is CRITICAL TO HIS CHARACTER #also allows for uh #easy access #👀#if you know what i mean #i hope this was informative LOL and if i got anything wrong or you have more to add please let me know!!!!#kinnporsche #pete saengtham #vegaspete

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misspoetree · 2 years

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[Hi. :) I still love talking about mirrors in movies and how brilliantly they use them in KinnPorsche.]

I know, I know we all got very...different things on our minds when it comes to episode 12 but still: let me share some thoughts on Kinn and Porsche's more subtle mirror scene in that episode.

Porsche and Kinn are in the car, watching the man who supposedly caused the car crash of Porsche's parents. They're more or less on a revenge mission - led on that path by Korn.

Like I wrote in every mirror post so far: reflections and mirrors are the oldest trick in the book to make inner struggle visible, to make inner struggle accessible to the audience.

And now we got Porsche one his way to kill a man. Porsche who struggled with the violence of this lifestyle from the very beginning. Who just wants to leave all this mafia business behind. Who just wants to live a simple, peaceful life where the people he loves are save and protected. So, it would be perfectly logical to use his reflected image to underline this conflict, right?

Surprisingly though, they don't. We get to see Kinn's reflection instead. Kinn is behind the steering wheel - seeing his eyes reflected in the rear-view mirror makes sense from a practical point of view. But still. Look how the shot his framed. The rear-view mirrror, Kinn's reflection is in the centre, your attention gets automatically drawn to it. There's obviously intention here. [Not to mention that every mirror shot in this show had intention and deeper meaning so far.]

This gets basically confirmed with the frame-filling shot of the wing mirror - because the focus is yet again on Kinn. His reflection is sharp and in front while Porsche's is blurry and in the back.

I was wondering quite a while why they chose to give Kinn these mirror shots - and not Porsche, the obvious choice with his inner struggle, his moral conflict.

But one can't forget that there's also that other meaning of mirrors - a way of showing that there's a different side to a character by literally breaking them up into multiple versions of themselves.

Taking revenge, this 'eye for an eye' mentality, killing people in cold blood - that's the reality of the mafia life. That's the reality of being a Theerapanyakul. It's the other side of Kinn, the side that is still there, even though he's playing house with Porsche. I think that this is one thing they are trying to convey here.

But there's also a second layer, an inner struggle after all: during most of this scene, Kinn is looking at Porsche. He obviously doesn't want him to do this because he knows Porsche could never forgive himself afterwards. And yet, it's not his call to make. He is here to support his boyfriend in whatever decision he's going to make. But still, I feel like Kinn's struggling with the knowledge that he and his family have changed Porsche, made him into something darker he wasn't before.

Nevertheless: Porsche's reflection remains blurry. He has killed people, he got sucked into this vortex of violence and death...but it's still not who he is. Who he wants to be or could ever accept to be. He might be considering revenge, but he can't go through with it (maybe even without the kid showing up, I would argue).

The first time we get to see Porsche's reflection clearly is when he clings to Kinn and breaks down crying. Because THAT'S Porsche's other side: not the violence but all these suppressed emotions, all this hurt, all this grief buried beneath his smiles and jokes and supposed ease. And that's also where Porsche's real inner struggle lies: allowing himself to feel this pain, to be truly vulnerable by sharing it with someone he trusts and loves. And to finally let go of it.

Thanks for coming to yet another TED Talk of mine. 😌

[Oh, quick shout-out to Porchay's mirror scene - very straight forward with the inner struggle / identity crisis. But now I will be very disappointed if Pete doesn't get one in the last two episodes. I mean, come on, all these conflicting emotions and loyalties 👀 - and, like I said, even Porchay got one. It should be inevitable at this point. 😂]

Mirror Talk Ep. 7 / Ep. 9 / Ep. 10

#this is the first of these kind of posts I didn't write at 3 in the morning #yay me #and #yay more mirrors #i said it before and i'll say it again #I love the details and the visual language of KinnPorsche to death #kinnporsche #kinnporche the series #thai bl #kinnporsche mirrors #kinnporsche meta #kinn × porsche #kinnporsche ep12 #english is still not my first language btw 😂#kinnporsche scene analysis

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peterfankoffski · 2 years

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Love your writing!

Can you do Steph x Pete, "healing isn't linear" please?

Hey, thank you so much!!

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Pete had been doing better lately, he supposed. Finding out that his brother had died over the summer was…a shock, for sure. It’s funny how suddenly a person can just disappear in the blink of an eye. One day they’re there and the next, nothing.

Well, maybe funny wasn’t the right word, exactly. It wasn’t funny when his parents had to explain why Ted couldn’t pick him up. It wasn’t funny when Pete had been in a depressive state for most of the semester.

Weird. That was the word he was looking for. It was weird that things could just happen so quickly.

But he’d been doing better, he guessed.

No, no he wasn’t, he realized not too much longer later.

He and Steph had been on a movie date, seeing a matinee of some new horror flick, and he’d been pretty into it, feeling halfway normal for the first time in months.

Then while they were walking to the bus stop to catch a ride to Steph’s house, Pete had noticed out of the corner of his eye he noticed the Coldstone he used to go to all the time. Back when he’d first gotten his diabetes diagnosis and learned that he’d have to watch his blood sugar, his go-to snack had been a small bowl of peanut butter ice cream.

Rather, it would’ve been his go-to, but his parents didn’t buy ice cream often, so usually he’d have to make do with what he could find.

But whenever he’d spend the day with Ted, he’d almost oblige the five-year-old and cook up an excuse to go into town so they could stop inside the ice cream parlor.

And more often than not, it was just as simple as “hey, let’s go on a walk!”

Some of Pete’s most cherished childhood memories were those walks with Ted, and the ice cream that followed.

Before Pete really knew it, the tears began welling up, and Pete couldn’t stop it.

“Hey, Pete? What’s wrong?” Steph asked.

“Sorry,” Pete said, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. “I just…we just passed Coldstone, and Ted and I used to go there all the time, and I…” Pete trailed off, not sure where to go from there. And he what? What else could there possibly be to say?

“You miss him a lot, don’t you?” Steph filled in.

“Y–yeah,” Pete admitted. “I just…I haven’t broken down like this in forever. I’m sorry, I thought I was doing better—”

“What’s ‘better,’ anyway?” Steph asked. “Healing isn’t linear, Pete. It’s okay to mourn. People can’t like, ever fully recover from a loss, y’know. That’s what grieving is for. Learning to adjust.”

“Yeah?” Pete quietly responded.

“Yeah,” Steph said. “It’s okay. Really.”

They made it to the bus stop. Pete sat down at the bench and tried to stop more tears. Steph squeezed his hand.

“I’m sorry, Pete. I know what he meant to you, the way you talked about him.” she said. “I’ll be with you every step through the grieving process, though. We’ve made it this far.”

“Th–thanks,” Pete replied.

They sat in silence, until the bus came and during the whole ride. It was a comforting silence, though. Pete suddenly felt a lot less alone.

#team starkid #starkid #hatchetfield #hatchetverse #abstinence camp #nightmare time 2 #peter spankoffski #steph lauter #stephanie lauter #ask game #em writes fics

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inktober-of-a-fan-girl · 1 year

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Day 4: Hans Conried

This is Walt Disney's Peter Pan from 1953, which is after World War 1. (It got shelved while the war happened which means it was in production before.) Walt Disney himself had an impact on how this version was portrayed with Captain Hook's Wikipedia page saying:

In the animated film Peter Pan, Hook is a far more comical villain than the original character: he is seen as a vain coward with a childish temper who is prone to crying out in terror. During the film's early development, the story department analyzed Hook's character as "a fop… Yet very mean, to the point of being murderous. This combination of traits should cause plenty of amusement whenever he talks or acts".

There are more notes & links in Keep reading.

Walt Disney's Peter Pan (released on 5 February 1953), an authorized animated adaptation. Disney licensed the film rights to the story in 1939 from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. It featured music by Sammy Cahn, Frank Churchill, Sammy Fain, and Ted Sears. 15-year-old film actor Bobby Driscoll supplied the voice of Peter, while Wendy was portrayed by Kathryn Beaumont, who previously portrayed Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Hook was portrayed by Hans Conried (who also played Mr. Darling), and Margaret Kerry did live-action references for Tinker Bell. This version contained little of the original dialogue from the play or its novelization.

(I noticed they updated the cover for the movie a while back.)

The story of what happened later on to the boy who voiced Peter Pan (Bobby Driscoll) is quite depressing but I will just let you read his Wikipedia:

This probably is why Peter Pan is portrayed the way he is in 2022’s Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

As Chip & Dale find a middle-aged and overweight version of Peter Pan who became a crime boss after being fired due to his age, going by the name of Sweet Pete is played by Will Arnett.

Anyways....

Links for Captain Hook:

This version has the hook on his left hand and also with brown eyes (Yes, in the artwork I changed back to blue. Not the first person to do that on here.) But this version has his hair….and his mustache finally! I also love how they used the voice actor in a costume as a reference…it is so smart.

Here is the youtube link if you wanna watch it on Youtube….but it is also on Disney+.

Also here it is on Spotify!

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kittybellestark · 4 years

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Tony teasing Peter

Omg this was so hard to write I just kept wanting to make it really angsty and I struggled so hard what the heck. Massive respect to anyone who can write fluff easily bc that’s hard

@peterbeanie I really hope you like this and it loves up to your expectations ?? I had to read a bunch of fluff and comfort fics to make sure I got the right idea ,, it’s mostly just dialogue bc I am trash but it is teasing so there’s that

Peter wasn’t shy around Tony anymore. He didn’t stumble over his words or stutter nearly as bad as he used too. Peter’s wide eyes of hero-worship faded and turned into something much more complex. Peter wasn’t guarded around Tony anymore. There was no fear of talking to The Tony Stark or Iron Man. It was just Tony and Peter.

They had lab time together and watched movies. Tony would make sure to pick Peter up from school personally at least once a week on top of Happy already picking Peter up every other day.

Peter already stayed at the tower whenever May was working doubles or doinng overnight shifts. Tony viewed Peter as his own son and Peter viewed Tony as a father-figure.

So Tony was bothered when Peter started icing him out again. It wasn’t anything big at first. It started with Peter no longer talking about his friends. And then Peter ditching lab days. Then the stuttering and word stumbling was back, and Tony was worried.

Calling May was helpful, to a point, but Tony still didn’t feel better about it. May had suggested that Peter had a crush on someone. How outrageous. Surely Peter would have told Tony about it.

When Peter finally showed up for a lab day, red-faced and pouring out apologizes, Tony decided it’s time to face the music, and start getting his answers.

“It’s okay Pete, you found someone better than me, and you’re slowly replacing me with them, I get it. I’m just one of the two people who provide for you. Le sigh.” Tony then sighs dramatically brining a hand up to his head and leaning backwards.

“No, no, I swear I’m not replacing you! Tony, I wouldn’t replace you I promise I was just a little busy.”

Peter moves to his workbench , tossing his bag on the ground and activating some of the holo-screens. Tony watches him, seeing how Peter avoids Tony’s eyes, with his shoulders up to his ears. He hates that his kid doesn’t feel comfortable enough to tell him what’s happening.

“Oh, I see. ‘A little busy,’ I understand, I remember being your age. Of course when I was your age I was in college and therefore ‘a little busy,’ was technically illegal, although consensual, I get it, no worries. You got your needs. Just be ‘a little busy’ on May’s time not mine.” Tony shrugged working on getting Peter to open up.

Peter dropped his head against the workbench, a resounding thud that had Tony jump up and check to make sure Peter was okay.

“No harming yourself. That’s an order. We use our words. I don’t like seeing you hurt kid.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m just, ugh, no that’s not the type of busy. No. God, no we’re not talking about that.”

Tony leveled Peter with a look, trying to maintain eye contact with Peter, but Peter keep avoiding his eyes.

“So, who is it? I can have Iron Man go pay them a visit and make sure they never hurt you. Apparently, from what I’ve heard Iron Man can be pretty threatening.”

“Tony!” Peter scolded. “You’re not threatening them. Drop it.”

Tony laughed, ruffling Peter’s hair. And moving back to his own bench.

“So there is someone?”

“Yes,” Peter finally relents with a sigh, “but we’re not ready to have anyone know, so please don’t threaten anyone, or go snooping to find out through some way that makes you look innocent, please?”

“Kid, I promise I will never invade your privacy unless I believe you to be in danger, okay? If you’re not ready to tell me that’s fine, tell me when you’re ready, but until then it’s my job to tease you about it.”

Peter wasn’t shy around Tony anymore. He wasn’t. No wide eyed wonder or hero worship. Which is why, when two weeks later when Peter whispered “it’s Ned, by the way,” unprompted during movie night, Tony felt so proud.

Of course, he couldn’t help but saying, “you mean Ted, or was it Fred?” Earning a laugh from Peter.

#peter parker #bi peter parker #irondad #spiderman #spiderson #avengers #bi peter #marvel #mcu #Ned Leeds #irondad and spiderson #Peter/Ned #irondad fluff #I hope #I’m really bad at fluff I’m sorry #ah #marvel cinematic universe #Peter keeping secrets from Tony

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tcm · 4 years

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A Guy Named Van Johnson and His Guardian Angels By Jessica Pickens

From actors to athletes, an injury can end or postpone career. On a March night in 1943, a wreck not only could have halted a promising new film career, but actor Van Johnson was nearly killed. Johnson came to Hollywood from Broadway in 1940. For the next four years, he had brief or secondary roles in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films, such as playing a reporter who interviews Marie Curie in MADAME CURIE (’43). The same year, he received his first credited film role in THE WAR AGAINST MRS. HADLEY (’43), which Johnson later credited as the beginning and “then things began to roll.”

In 1944, Johnson was cast in a leading role in the World War II drama, A GUY NAMED JOE (’44). Cast alongside Hollywood veterans Irene Dunne and Spencer Tracy, Johnson plays a young Army Air Corps pilot who is guided by his guardian angel, played by Tracy. The title of the film references the universal nickname United States servicemen were called abroad. “Anybody who’s a right chap is a guy named Joe,” a child says in the film while watching pilots land.

Maj. Pete Sandidge (Tracy) is a good but daring pilot, who narrowly escapes both danger and formal reprimands for his reckless actions. His girlfriend Dorinda Durston (Dunne) is also a pilot who ferries aircraft. Dorinda worries that Pete will be killed during a mission, and while bombing a Nazi aircraft carrier, Pete is killed. Finding himself in heaven, Pete is tasked with being a guardian angel flight instructor to Ted Randall (Johnson) during flight school and in combat. However, this becomes complicated when Ted and Dorinda meet and start a romance. Johnson’s character of Ted doesn’t appear until 45 minutes into the two-hour film, but this was his first leading role.

Johnson was announced for the role in February 1943. Robert Young was originally slated to play Ted, but MGM officials felt that Johnson would attract the teen audience. Nervous during his screen test with a major star like Irene Dunne, Dunne gave Johnson a pep talk and also pretended to be nervous to put Johnson at ease, as recounted in Van Johnson: MGM’s Golden Boy by Ronald L. Davis.

Spencer Tracy also helped the young actors on set. Actor Barry Nelson, who co-stars in A GUY NAMED JOE, said, “He liked young actors and he tried to help them … he was certainly a role model,” according to Spencer Tracy: A Biography by James Curtis. But on March 30, 1943, an event happened that almost caused Johnson to be replaced in the film and almost killed him.

Johnson was in his DeSoto convertible driving to a screening of the film KEEPER OF THE FLAME (’43). The passengers were his friend and actor Keenan Wynn, Wynn’s wife Evie and two servicemen friends. Another vehicle ran the red light at Venice Boulevard and Clarington Street, hitting Johnson’s DeSoto, turning the car on its side. Johnson hit his head on the windshield and then was thrown from the car into a gutter, where he hit his head again. He later said his face was wet with blood. Evie sustained a back injury and the other passengers were shaken but okay. Johnson’s condition was much more grave; a bystander even thought he was dead.

Johnson had a skull fracture, facial injuries, glass cuts on his face and neck, and the back of his head was peeled off, with his brain pierced by skull fragments. A doctor later told him he was almost decapitated, but Johnson was never unconscious. While waiting 45 minutes for an ambulance, Davis states that Johnson lost three quarts of blood.

A GUY NAMED JOE director Victor Fleming, Tracy and Dunne visited Johnson at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. The Chicago Daily News reported that Tracy volunteered to donate blood for Johnson, and Dunne again gave him a pep talk: “You are going to get well and you are going to finish that picture. It’s a great role and you’re not going to lose it.”

Doctors and MGM leaders weren’t so sure. Doctors initially said Johnson would never work again in movies, and he would be lucky if he lived. MGM was planning to replace Johnson in A GUY NAMED JOE with John Hodiak or Peter Lawford. But similar to his role in A GUY NAMED JOE, Tracy looked after Johnson and went to bat for him. Tracy went to MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer and said he and Dunne would walk off the set if Mayer didn’t shut down production of the film until Johnson recovered, according to the book, Irene Dunne: First Lady of Hollywood by Wes Gehring.

Due to the support from his co-stars, Johnson was kept in the film. His treatment and recovery included several surgeries, including a five-inch long metal plate on the left side of his head and a muscle graft from his right arm to help rebuild his forehead. After three months, Johnson returned to filming A GUY NAMED JOE in June 1943. He was still weak and had headaches each day, but he was thankful to be working and alive. “Things like that you never forget. I’m a man with a debt to pay,” Johnson said.

Not only did the film role bring stardom, but so did the publicity of the accident. By the time the film was released, the wreck was heavily covered and film fans rallied behind Johnson’s recovery. Johnson’s scars are visible in A GUY NAMED JOE, and you can spot a long scar on his forehead in later film roles. The injuries from his wreck and the metal plate kept Johnson from serving in World War II, but he frequently performed in military roles, and within a year was a top box office draw. Doctors said Johnson would be lucky if he performed again. Performing until 1992, luck seems to have been on Van Johnson’s side.

#Van Johnson #A Guy Named Joe #WWII #near death #old hollywood #Spencer Tracy #Irene Dunne #MGM #angels #TCM #Turner Classic Movies #Jessica Pickens

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365days365movies · 3 years

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February 6, 2021: Romeo + Juliet (1996)

From the top!

Two households, both alike in dignity In Fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lover take their life; Whose misadventured, piteous overthrows Do, with their death, bury their parents’ strife The fearful passage of the death-mark’d love, And the continuance of their parents’ rage Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; The which, if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strike to mend.

I mean, c’mon. It’s Shakespeare, I practically had to.

Which is why it may come as a surprise to hear that I think this play is overrated, far too overexposed, and honestly stars two of the most obnoxiously immature protagonists that Shakespeare ever wrote. Which is not to say that I don’t like it, but it is to say that it isn’t my favorite. Which one is my favorite, you ask? Eh, I vacillate between a few, but I might get into it, we’ll see.

Weirdly fitting, though, since this film is directed by a director who also isn’t my favorite. Can’t say I have a definitive favorite director either, but Baz Luhrmann ain’t it. To be fair, I haven’t seen Moulin Rouge (probably should, huh?), but his turn on The Great Gatsby...wasn’t my favorite, I’ll just leave it at that.

And while we’re into it, lemme just address Romeo and Juliet adaptations on film real quick. To be completely transparent, before today...I’ve only seen one adaptation of the play: Franco Zeffirelli’s excellent 1968 turn on it, and it’s a fantastic adaptation at that. Sone of you, however, may now be realizing that, if I’ve only seen one adaptation of the play...there’s an extremely glaring omission to my film repertoire.

Yeaaaaaaaaah...we’ll get there, I promise.

But, of course, the adaptations only scratch the surface of this plays influence. See, the whole point of the rivalry between the Montagues and the Capulets is that it’s SO OLD, that nobody truly remembers why it started in the first place. Because of that, other romance films have sought to supply a reason for that rivalry.

In other words, the two protagonists destined to fall in love often come from two backgrounds, if not families, that class. And, yes, only ONE FILM that I’ve watched this month doesn’t do that. Dirty Dancing and The Notebook make their “ancient grudge” class-based; low-class vs. upper-class. Even You’ve Got Mail makes it about money, although that one’s a little more of a stretch. In any case, versions of this trope have lasted for centuries, and it’s...maybe poisoned romantic cinema? I mean, there’s a reason they all seem similar. They’re all taking from a classic. And, yeah, more of them than you’d think use this formula. I mean...

Hell, if you think about it, both of them are technically dead by the end.

Anyway, jumping right smack dab into the ‘90s, where teen heartthrob of the decade, Leo DiCaprio himself, is cast to play the titular teen boy, and sort-of popular at the time Claire Danes is cast as the titular teen girl. Put them together, and you have a hatred that will last for centuries. Because yeah, they HATED each other apparently. Let’s watch! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap

...Look, here’s a quick recap of a story that EVERYBODY KNOWS.

Two families hate each other, and each has a teenage kid; a boy named Romeo and a girl named Juliet. They see each other at a party, they IMMEDIATELY get those teenage hormones a flowing and fall in love at first sight. They talk a few times, then decide to get married. Romeo’s friends say, “Dude, her family’s all dicks,” and Romeo says “naw, dude, she’s hawt,” They hook up, and they get secret-married. But, since they can’t be together in life, and since Juliet’s supposed to marry a whole other dude, Juliet runs to the priest and says, “hey, fake my death real quick?” He gives her a potion, she pretends to be dead, Romeo finds out (after one of his friends is killed by Juliet’s cousin), and runs to her side. Dude then ACTUALLY kills himself with poison, only for Juliet to wake up, see his dead body, and then kill HERSELF with a KNIFE, and then the families find out, and the Prince comes by and just says, “Goddamn, you guys are dicks. So much so that you killed your kids, congrats.” And that’s the end.

Yeah. Two hours of play and movie (nice touch, by the way, Luhrman) compressed into a paragraph. And yet...I’m still gonna recap this movie. Glutton for punishment, I guess. And with that said...

It all starts with a newscaster, speaking the lines of the Prologue in the guise of a newscast, which is...very neat, actually! That’s followed by...Pete Postlethwaite saying the whole thing over again, backed by a hell of a lot of fast cut editing.

...Oh God, it’s a Luhrmann movie. I forgot. Also, uh...really trying to stretch out that runtime to make that 2-hour mark, huh, Bazzie? I admire that you’re trying to stick to that “two hour-stage” quote from the Prologue, really I do...but you had to repeat the Prologue TWICE to do that?

As the lines flash on screen, we’re also introduced to out major players, whom I’ll just introduce as they come up. After a little montage of the movie to come, and a confirmation that the ancient grudge has broken out into a gang war on the streets of Verona Beach (clever), we jump in the car of a few Montagues: Sampson (Jaime Kennedy), Benvolio (Dash Mihok), and Gregory (Zak Orth).

At a gas station, they meet some Capulets, specifically Abra (Vincent Laresca) and a few others. After some thumb-biting, they all draw their swords. Which are guns that have sword written on them. Well, that’s just silly.

This standoff is interrupted by the arrival of another Capulet: Tybalt (John Leguizamo). This, of course, leads to a swordfight (ugh), during which all players are, just...REAL dramatic with their movements, holy shit. In the process, Sampson’s shot (or...stabbed, I dunno), and the gas station explodes.

It’s war in the streets now, as Tybalt and Benvolio are eventually intercepted by Captain Prince (Vondie Curtis-Hall), the chief of police for Verona Beach. He reads out his rage upon the heads of the families. For the Montagues, these heads are Ted (Brian Dennehy) and Caroline (Christina Pickles); and for the Capulets, they’re Fulgencio (Paul Sorvino) and Gloria (Diane Venora). Is...is the grudge taking place because one of them is named “Ted,” and the other is FUCKING “FULGENCIO”? Because that’s one hell of a dichotomy.

Captain Prince lets them all off with a warning (I mean, no, they should ALL be arrested), and Caroline and Ted question the whereabouts of their melodramatic emo son. That son is, of course, Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio), who laments poetically about how fucked up his family is.

Hanging out at a decrepit carnival (because of course he is), he’s soon found by Benvolio, and he laments on the lack of love between their two families. They bond over talk of women, and decide to secretly go to a party held by the Capulets that night to check out some girls.

Meanwhile, Fulgencio is speaking about this whole mess to Dave Paris (Paul Rudd). D...Dave? Really? We’re keepin’ fuckin’ Benvolio and Balthasar, but we had to name Paris DAVE? Guys, a little consistency with the name shit, PLEASE! Anyway, Dave (uuuuugh) is the governor’s son, and very wealthy, while also being a suitor for Fulgencio’s daughter.

That daughter is, of course, Juliet (Claire Danes), who’s being attended by her vain mother and kindly Nurse (Miriam Margoyles). As her mother’s preparing for the party, she talks up Paris as a suitor, although Juliet doesn’t seem SUPER into it. And s the Nurse tells her to “seek happy nights to happy days,” we go to Sycamore Grove, and to another party.

And this is where we meet my favorite character (everybody’s favorite character, let’s be honest): Mercutio (Harold Perrineau). Mercutio has been invited to the Capulet’s party, and invites Romeo to come along, in disguise. In the process, he gives one of the play’s most famous monologues: Queen Mab’s Speech. It’s truncated here, ad to be frank, Perrineau’s performance is a bit...over the top. But, it ends up to be fairly effective.

Also, Queen Mab is ecstasy. Yeah, that kinda dulled by enthusiasm for the whole enterprise, I ain’t gonna lie. But Romeo lies with Queen La, and they head to the Capulet’s party. And we’re about to hit PEAK LUHRMANN, people.

Look, I’m lame, I’ve never really done drugs, ecstasy included...but it FEELS like I’ve taken something now. And Romeo’s now trying to sober-up a bit. He dunks his head into a sink in the bathroom, and looks at a tropical aquarium that’s in there. And through that aquarium...

However, Juliet’s quickly spirited away by Nurse, and brought to dance with Dave. Romeo, meanwhile, gives his “Did my heart love till now” speech, and DOESN’T SAY THAT SHE DOTH TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN BRIGHT??? Seriously, the beginning of that speech is completely deleted. That line, in and of itself, should’ve been left in.

Anyway, Romeo and Juliet speak, and the teenagers kiss...a lot. And yeah, they do kiss in this scene in the ply, but not that much. Immediately afterwards, they discover their family alliances, and Romeo and Mercutio flee the party. Romeo heads back soon after, and, well...you know the line. But soft...

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This movie...LOVES water, huh? We see both Romeo and Juliet from underwater at separate points, they see each other for the first time through an aquarium, they’re making out in a pool right now. I mean, I’m sure there’s some symbolism to that, but I’m not sure what it is yet.

Anyway, the two starcross’d lover come just short of crossing stars, and they IMMEDIATELY get engaged to marry.

After a bit of ‘90s music whiplash, we meet Father Laurence (Pete Postlethwaite), a botany-loving priest, and soon-to-be ally to the young couple. Romeo asks Laurence to wed them, despite the fact that Romeo actually was in love with a woman named Rosaline. But, yeah, she’s one of the unseen casualties of this play, only sometimes making it into adaptations. As Romeo speaks to the Priest, I think this is a great time to mention that there is a FUCKTON of Jesus and Christian imagery in this movie. Water and Jesus, goddamn.

The Priest agrees, believing that a marriage between the two could bring peace to Verona Beach at last. We also get a bunch of quick edits showing various parts of the Luhrmann Shakespeare Cinematic Universe, all backed by a choir boy singing “When Doves Cry.” This is an...unusual movie.

It also seems that Tybalt has issued a challenge against Romeo, which Mercutio and Benvolio muse upon. They meet with Romeo on the beach, and as they hang around, their revelry is interrupted by the arrival of the Nurse. She gives him a warning not to fuck with Juliet’s heart, which he says that he won’t, as they’re planning on marrying. She appears to approve, but Mercutio seems not to. Definitely going with a more superficially mercurial take on the character, which fits. But that’ll be more apparent later.

Nurse goes to Juliet, and...OK, is she supposed to be Italian or Hispanic? Because I feel like I’m supposed to be mildly offended, but I don’t even know what she’s going for here. Anyway, the wedding time approaches, and the two get wed in secret. But on the beach, Tybalt has come to go after Romeo. Romeo tries to make amends, even giving up his “sword” to him, much to Mercutio’s anger. Which, uh...he’s not gonna stand for.

And, of course, Mercutio’s fatally stabbed while defending Romeo’s honor. He lays A PLAGUE O’ BOTH THEIR HOUSES, and dies. Romeo’s PISSED, and immediately goes to kill Tybalt. That leads to Romeo’s banishment, although they consummate their marriage before he takes off. Also, Juliet KNOWS that he KILLED HER COUSIN...but it’s Leo, I guess, and...hormones.

Romeo’s banished and goes to Mantua, AKA a trailer park in the middle of the desert. Juliet, meanwhile, is commanded by her father to marry Paris, although she REALLY isn’t into it now! She goes to Laurence and, yeah, threatens to kill him AND herself if he doesn’t have an idea. Hormones, man. They’ll fuck you UP.

Laurence’s solution, of course, is to have Juliet pretend to have killed herself by drinking a potion. No idea why he comes up with this idea, or has the skill to make the potion, but some questions aren’t meant to be asked or answered. He also says to that he’ll send a litter to Romeo, to let him know what the deal is.

Juliet pretends to kill herself, and it interred with her relatives. Meanwhile, Romeo’s cousin Balthasar (Jesse Bradford) comes by the desert, having just gone to Juliet’s funeral, and tells him that Juliet’s dead. And since Romeo never got the goddamn letter, he’s decided, “Well! Guess I’m gonna kill myself.”

He gets some poison, then goes to Juliet’s tomb, which is...decked in neon crosses. I mean, it looks nice, even it’s very, uh...over the top. Goddamn.

And, at this point, you know how this goes. Romeo drinks the poison and dies, Juliet wakes up JUST after, then kills herself as well, and the parents of both parties arrive to see them both dead, along with the Prince, who says “Y’ALL ARE DICKS,” and bounces.

That’s Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet. And it’s a movie. Yeah, that I’ll give you. What did I think? What rating does it get? Well...I’ll elucidate in the Review.

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tabloidtoc · 4 years

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People, June 29

Cover: Tyler Perry -- We Must Never Give Up

Page 1: Chatter -- Alicia Keys on the decade being the worst time ever for her, Lizzo responding to fat-shamers, Dax Shepard on isolating with wife Kristen Bell, Victoria Beckham on her quarantine style, Pete Davidson on Marisa Tomei playing his mother in his new movie, Jennifer Garner on her pet chickens keeping her family stocked

Page 2: 5 Things We’re Talking About This Week -- did SpongeBob come out?, Lori Loughlin won’t appear on Housewives, Disney parks plan to reopen, Dave Chappelle releases a surprise set, Tan France becomes an American

Page 4: Contents

Page 5: Editor’s Letter

Page 6: Stars in the Sun -- Rob Lowe boogie boarding in Santa Barbara (full page)

Page 7: Josh Duhamel in Malibu, Alessandra Ambrosio in Malibu, DJ Khaled and his two sons Asahd and Aalam in the pool, Heather Graham in Malibu, Derek Hough went out for a jog

Page 8: Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 94th birthday with the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, Brandon Anthony and Tiffany Haddish and Megan Thee Stallion and Common teamed up at a Black Lives Matter protest, Shaun White debuted bleach blonde hair

Page 9: Chris Hemsworth out for lunch in Byron Bay, Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber wore face masks during a bike ride, Dwayne Johnson hits the gym

Page 10: Fun With Furry Friends -- Emilia Clarke walks her dog Ted in a London park, Jennifer Lopez and daughter Emme and fiance Alex Rodriguez surprised son Max with a puppy, Simone Biles’ workout was interrupted by her two dogs Lilo and Rambo, David Beckham with his family dogs Olive and Fig and Sage, Shia LaBeouf carries his pup, Please Adopt, Don’t Shop

Page 13: Famous Families -- Arnold Schwarzenegger and son Joseph Baena on a bike ride, Tia Mowry with daughter Cairo and son Cree, Chrissy Teigen had a family tea party with husband John Legend and kids Luna and Miles, David Burtka and husband Neil Patrick Harris and their twins Harper and Gideon, Paris and Nicky Hilton in the Hamptons

Page 15: The Scoop -- The Bachelor franchise -- demands for diversity onscreen

Page 16: Meet the new Bachelor Matt James, Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt celebrate 1 year wedding anniversary

Page 19: Heart Monitor -- Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson back on?, Winnie Harlow and Kyle Kuzma new couple, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello happy anniversary

Page 20: Inside the Vanderpump Rules cast shake-up -- Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute fired for racist behavior, This Week in People History -- 1997 -- Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow broke up

Page 21: Open House -- Kyle Richards’ Bel Air mansion on sale for $5.95 million, why prosecutors want to talk to Prince Andrew

Page 22: Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom count down to baby

Page 24: Passages

Page 27: Stories to Make You Smile -- a dad uses his toddler’s play restaurant to shine a loving light on black-owned businesses, Mayor Murfee a dog raises money and spreads cheer

Page 29: People Picks -- Love, Victor, One to Watch -- Michael Cimino

Page 30: Miss Juneteenth

Page 31: Artemis Fowl, The John Legend Concert: A Live Virtual Concert, Into the Dark: Good Boy

Page 33: Books

Page 36: Cover Story -- Tyler Perry on seeing hope -- amid a time of tumult Tyler shares his pain, his thoughts for his son and his dream for the nation’s future

Page 40: 100 Reasons to Love America

Page 42: American Optimism -- we have an opportunity to do better and be better by Gayle King

Page 47: The Pace of Medicine -- the coronavirus pandemic has sparked innovations in medicine and vaccine development by Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Page 55: The American Dream Job -- despite the current turmoil in our nation the space program reminds us what’s possible by Jessica Meir

Page 66: George Floyd Laid to Rest -- feeling pain, finding purpose -- an emotional Houston funeral unites mourners pleading for change even as yet another black man is killed in Atlanta

Page 74: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock -- inside their shocking split -- after nearly seven years and two kids Kelly files for divorce from the man she has long called the one

Page 78: Shattered Hopes, a Shocking Arrest -- deadly secrets -- after months of searching authorities finally find Lori Vallow’s missing children Joshua and Tyree buried in her husband Chad Daybell’s yard

Page 82: Kevin Costner -- I Don’t Take Anything for Granted -- he opens up about his love for family, his path in Hollywood and his hopes for the future

Page 86: Scott Turner Schofield -- Boldly Living His Truth -- the first transgender man nominated for a daytime Emmy opens up about his journey

Page 88: Sixteen years ago when Terri Herrington’s husband died suddenly she donated one of his kidneys to Jeff Granger and when that kidney began failing last year she gave him one of her own and saved his life again

Page 92: My Life as a Dad -- Ron Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard

Page 94: Kenan Thompson, real-life hero dads

Page 95: Patton Oswalt

Page 97: The Royals’ Secret Weapon -- Sophie, Countess of Wessex -- the mom of 2 and confidant to the queen quietly steps up to fill the void left by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Page 100: Gabriel Iglesias from salesman to comedy superstar -- the former quiet kid turned his knack for making people laugh into a booming career but his journey hasn’t always been easy

Page 104: Country singer Chuck Wicks baby joy after male infertility -- the musician and wife Kasi open up about their struggle to have a child and reveal they’re now expecting

Page 109: Summer TV Preview -- Matthew Rhys redefining an icon Perry Mason

Page 110: Merle Dandridge -- a bittersweet farewell from Greenleaf

Page 111: Yvonne Strahovski from Handmaid’s Tale to Stateless

Page 112: Bryan and Sarah Baeumler of Renovation Island

Page 117: Style -- swimsuit season -- Nina Dobrev

Page 119: Your beauty questions answered

Page 121: The Crises of 2020 -- High Anxiety: Tips for Coping -- how to manage the challenges testing everyone’s mental health this year

Page 131: Second Look -- Rob Gronkowski of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and James Corden take center court in L.A. Lakers gear for Game On!

Page 132: One Last Thing -- John Lithgow

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maryanntorreson · 3 years

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How literature can help you better connect with others

Pete Ryan

Greetings from an evangelist for a declining field: literature!

English majors, like all humanities majors, are on the wane. In the US alone, one-third of the degrees from liberal arts colleges were awarded in the humanities before 2011; now just one-quarter are. At research universities, humanities degrees have dropped from 17% to 11%.

So, in some ways, it makes sense that the study of literature is less popular. But guess what else is on the outs? Empathy. A study which analyzed 15,000 college students found that they’re scoring 40% lower in empathy than those in the past.

What’s the connection? I’ve spent the past two decades in the classroom teaching literature, and what I deeply believe — and what the emerging field of literary neuroscience is beginning to prove — is that literature makes us more empathetic.

Are we frustrated or sympathetic with Hamlet’s reluctance to avenge his father? When Jane Eyre realizes Mr. Rochester is married, do we urge her to flee Thornfield, or to stay?

During engaged reading, we compare the protagonist’s actions to what we’d do in a similar situation or what we’ve done in the past. The mind-reading we do when thinking through a character helps us develop social sensitivity, as demonstrated ingeniously by the “reading the mind in the eyes” test. In this study, participants were presented with a series of gray-scale photos cropped to reveal only a person’s eyes. They were then asked to identify the expression contained in the eyes from four options. Turns out, regular readers of fiction scored higher on this test, and I think it’s because reading gives us practice taking on another’s point of view. We may stereotype bookworms as paste-eating, socially awkward loners, but reading literature helps us read the room.

How do books pull off their magic trick of transporting us into another person’s body? Taking a look at the brain — specifically, the multiple regions that engage and coordinate when we read — gives us a clue.

One of my favorite authors is Jane Austen, and in one of my favorite studies, literature PhD students were given a Jane Austen novel to read — but not on a couch. Instead, they read the Austen inside a fMRI Machine, which depicts brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. Natalie Phillips, the literary scholar who worked on the study, hypothesized that the subjects, while reading, would experience an increase in blood to the areas of the brain responsible for processing language. To her surprise, the students experienced a dramatic global increase, with blood flowing to areas that have nothing to do with processing language.

Say you read a passage about running through a forest. You’d expect the left temporal lobe, the area responsible for language processing, to light up. It does — but so does the frontal lobe’s motor cortex, which coordinates the body’s movements. In fact, it lights up in the same way it would if you were actually running. Say you read the words “lavender” or “coffee” or “cinnamon.” You’ll experience the activity we’d expect in your left temporal lobe but you’d also have activity in your olfactory cortex, which lights up in the same way it would if you were actually smelling those scents.

This kind of activity doesn’t happen with fact-based nonfiction, such as political journalism, movie reviews, or Ikea bookshelf assembly manuals. That Ikea manual might result in a cool bookcase, but if you want to light up your brain like fireworks on the Fourth of July, you need to stock that bookcase with Jane Austen (and read it).

Is there any practical application to this increased brain connectivity?

What if I told you that empathy we feel for characters could make people less racist? That what was demonstrated by Dan Johnson, who used Saffron Dreams, a novel from the point of view of a Muslim-American woman, to see if empathetic reading could reduce racial bias. For his study, Johnson divided the participants into two groups. Half of them read a 3,000-word excerpt from the novel. The other half read a 500-word synopsis of that excerpt, which retained all the facts but none of the character’s rich interior life, dialogue or metaphors, or sensory details that make a book come alive. Afterwards, participants were presented with photos of what Johnson described as “ambiguous Arab-Caucasian faces,” some of which appeared angry. When asked to identify the race of the person in the photo, participants who read the fact-based synopsis were disproportionately likely to categorize the angry faces as Arab. This bias was absent among those who read the lush, transporting excerpt.

Children, too, can improve their opinions about stigmatized groups through reading, as proven in a study using the first Harry Potter book in Italy, a country where immigrants are often stigmatized. The control group read a passage in which Harry gets his first wand. The other group read a passage relating to prejudice, in which Draco Malfoy, a shockingly blond pure-blood wizard, calls Harry’s friend Hermione “a filthy little Mudblood.” A week later, the children’s attitudes were assessed, and those who’d read the passages dealing with prejudice had significantly improved attitudes towards immigrants.

These findings make me think of the students in my office who are struggling over whether or not to choose to be an English major because they want to be successful. If by “success,” they mean the highest average starting salary, perhaps I should lead them from the English building towards the Business Administration building. But if success means helping to create a more harmonious world, pull up a chair.

I know some folks play fantasy football; I play fantasy fiction seminar and my “players” are those most in need of the heightened brain connectivity that literature induces — namely world leaders and policymakers. Imagine if, before initiating aggressive military action, leaders had to read a novel from the point of view of an enemy combatant. Imagine if, before cutting social services, legislators had to inhabit the interior life of a person who is on welfare. Imagine if leaders couldn’t set a prison sentence or create immigration policy until they’d aced my midterm. We would have a world in which decisions are informed by empathetic imaginations, processed by brains experiencing increases of blood flow to multiple areas of the brain.

I’ve been discussing all the ways that literature educates us emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually, but I’d like to end with what it does for us hedonistically.

Don’t read because it’s good for you. Read because it’s good. Doesn’t it taste so good to suck a novel’s sweet juice? Reading not only helps us feel — it helps us feel better. Books make us less isolated. As James Baldwin once put it, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.”

The best takeaway from literary neuroscience is that our beautiful brains are tremendously malleable. We can change our minds, literally.

So why not give it a try? Go lose yourself in a book. Which is also to say: Go find yourself. And, while you’re at it, find the rest of us, too.

This article was adapted from a TEDxUniversityofMississippi Talk. Watch it here:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beth Ann Fennelly is the poet laureate of Mississippi and teaches in the MFA Program at the University of Mississippi, where she was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Her sixth book, Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs (W. W. Norton) was an Atlanta Journal Constitution Best Book of 2017. Learn more at http://www.bethannfennelly.com

This post was originally published on TED Ideas. It’s part of the “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.

How literature can help you better connect with others published first on https://premiumedusite.tumblr.com/rss

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samdukewieland · 4 years

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Stuck Inside Media Diary Week 9

It was sometime during this week, very possibly the week before that I realized why egg-zacktly Mad Men has been so (”comforting” seems like a big word here, but let’s just say) comforting during this period of time. Well I guess there’s a couple of reasons, time being one of them: being able to escape to other peoples’ problems and not have them be (overtly) contemporary. The second just as obvious being that this show spends probably 95% of its settings indoors. Maybe once a season do you see these people outside for whatever reason; season 3 was probably the height of having scenes outdoors, between Sally’s teacher and those scenes and then the Roger/Jane Old Kentucky Home wedding. Surely I’ve been outside more hours than watching Mad Men these past 7 weeks, but at this point I don’t really know. Hasn’t made me want a cigarette, so that’s something.

Sunday, May 17

Sour Grapes, Rothwell & Atlas 2016 [as of now this is available on Netflix]

Pretty neat little telling of rich people getting scammed. Definitely better than the Fyre Fest docs that came out last year, though you can see this as almost a model for it, however my problems with those are the same problem here, being I don’t really care that these insanely rich people got duped. I mean I care because it feels good, but rarely do you get someone in that position (especially from a financial standpoint) admitting they got duped or doing it in a way where they’re trying not to come across as a victim. And like I get it, I know that’s the point of some of these where it’s “look at their lack of self-awareness” but that’s not particularly satisfying. What’s satisfying is seeing the person do this and explain how they did it (the why is pretty obvious) and what their process is. You wouldn’t want to see a documentary about Terry Benedict having his casinos robbed and act like he doesn’t know why (I mean I would, because I invite almost anything from the Ocaen’s-verse, but you get my point).

Mad Men, “Collaborators”, “To Have And To Hold”, “The Flood”

Season 6, upon this viewing, appears to be the weakest or second to weakest season of the series; I don’t really know for sure. It’s definitely not bad, but lacks the sense of urgency to watch. It’s a little repetitive in some of its storytelling choices with Don, but does explore the motives of the men who want to be him, but lack that Dick Whitman/Don Draper drive that only he has (in the realm of Mad Men). Pete, not unlike Don, decides to keep up his habit of having an affair (with another married person too) and keeps it close to home feeling very in tune with Pete Campbell mentality: not seeing the dangers of shitting where he eats. Sure he keeps his affair to the confines of his Manhattan apartment, but it’s with a woman who not only lives in his neighborhood, but someone who is friendly enough with his wife. It backfires instantly and because no one has ever had a frank discussion with Pete about the consequences of his actions, this might be the first time Pete has actually had to learn a lesson. But because no one talks him through “this is where you messed up and this is how you can become a better and bigger person from this” it almost feeds his outwardly victimhood. Once again, props to Vincent Kartheiser for playing Pete Campbell perfectly for 6 straight seasons (and beyond).

And here’s something Season 6 decides to ponder: how about Bobby Draper? How about Bobby Draper deals with the assassination of MLK through seeing Planet Of The Apes? Probably the toughest look Mad Men took in its run (besides Hamm losing every year to Cranston for best actor) that it totally asks for.

The Last Dance, Parts 9 & 10

The end. This thing went out how it lived: absurdly entertaining while still being confounding in what it decided to say and how to present itself. There’s probably a lot to be taken from it, but my brain will forever linger on “eat the pizza.” (partly due to The Ticket, partly due to it being one of the funniest lies I’ve ever been told) Also I’m not a Pearl Jam listener (this genre of rock is my absolute biggest blind spot), but uh, that song’s pretty cool that they played there at the end; good sports montage moment-reminded me of a montage to close out a season of The Wire. No “Right Here, Right Now” though.

Monday, May 18

Circus Of Books, Mason 2019 [as of now this is available on Netflix]

Pleasant enough li’l entry of history about an important cultural landmark in LA; it really banks on the notion of “you’d never assume these people run this store” which isn’t ineffective. But it doesn’t come from an impartial place, it comes from the daughter of the store owners, which you could argue makes her the most qualified person to tell this story. But when your subjects are so unassuming and almost bothered by your insistence to tell this story it comes across as more (unintentionally) uncomfortable rather than trying to prove a point. But that’s kind of the looming question over all of this too-what’s the point? The titular bookstore closed last year, implying that there’s importance to this instantaneously being a historic document, when really it’s just a love letter to your parents and also your brother to tie it together just a little bit nicer.

Mad Men, “For Immediate Release”

The episode where it starts to find its footing again; as interesting an idea as it is to separate Don and Peggy on paper, the execution leaves so much to be desired. Peggy needs a force to push up against and while I’m sure she might have with Jim Cutler, but that’s not super interesting. Teaming up Ted and Don, maybe the only person to respect Don as an artist, but openly questioning his method to him on the show and not taking his excuses at face value.

Tuesday, May 19

Platoon, Stone 1986

Yeh, I don’t think I like Oliver Stone movies. I think I like the ideas of them, but ultimately I just don’t think it’s a match (heartbreaking for him). Part of this was I was on a massive Apocalypse Now high chose this as a chaser for that, which is mistake, and I knew this as I was watching. Or maybe it’s just that, explicitly, Vietnam movies set out to punish you for watching them, both in trying so hard to prove its authenticity while still being heavy-handed in other regards. Oliver Stone kind of feels like your cousin who insists on telling you that Dr. Strangelove is *actually* a farce and satire (yeh, I’ve used this before-guess what, it’s happened to me).

Mad Men, “Man With A Plan”, “The Crash”

Mad Men does its Sopranos karaoke best when drugs are involved, plain and simple. Though truly wild and Tony Soprano-levels of insanity when Don forces Lindsay Weir Sylvia to stay in that hotel room for like two days straight (or maybe a day, I don’t remember).

Wednesday, May 20

Blown Away, Hopkins 1994

I can 100% guarantee you that the only reason I thought I should see this movie is because it’s been lodged in my brain and marked as “important?” because Bill Simmons mentioned it offhandedly in a podcast once saying it’s a “_____ Boston movie.” So when I was scrolling through local listings, as I’m wont to do, and I saw that it was on, almost like a Pavlovian response, I immediately hit set to record. I’ve fallen for the trap of “record movie that should only be watched if it just happens to be on-do not go out of your way to watch it” and this is just the latest entry into it. This thing’s a quintessential dad-movie that has a wayyyy better poster than it should. I should probably be mad that I watched it, but this thing is so beautifully stupid that I’d be betraying myself by acting like it isn’t entirely in my wheelhouse. I was just happy to see the marble machine pop back up when it did.

Mad Men, “The Better Half”

“Hey, uh....how about Bobby goes to Bible Camp and we just use that as an excuse to bring Don and Betty back together for a one-night fling? Yeh, I think it’s pretty good too.” Tough break for the loss of Abe, though-they always kept him far enough to want you wanting more of him, which was probably the right decision, ultimately.

Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, Bahr & Hickenlooper & Coppola 1991

Was this good for Coppola’s image in 91? It’s coming kind of off the heels of Godfather III, which is maybe the most damning way to start off a decade. Maybe the biggest knock against this is that there’s probably still a lot unsaid, or the thing that’d be better is if you could’ve been a fly on the wall during the actual production or the editing of the documentary.

Thursday, May 21

S Is For Stanley, Infascelli 2016 [as of now this is available on Netflix]

You have to wonder if the Kubrick estate was pulling some strings to have this made as a preemptive strike against Filmworker. Yeh, yeh, we all know Stanley was difficult (man geniuses tend to be!) but what if I told you that he had a friendly side with his sweet old Italian driver who he kind of held hostage? I guess because Emilio D'Alessandro had the benefit of not working directly on the movies/Art Kubrick was making a professional/personal distance was able to be established. It’s cute and charming (small, old Italian men have that effect on me)-there’s not much more you should demand of it.

Mad Men, “A Tale Of Two Cities”, “Favors”

Sopranos karaoke meets coke part from Annie Hall. Then maybe the most traumatic thing to happen to Sally Draper, rivaled by the most traumatic thing to happen to Pete Campbell (via Peggy relaying info). Though I will say, those small moments between Peggy and Pete, moments we don’t get a lot of, are so nice, because it is one of the few times this show’s characters are stripped of trying to have an upper hand. Honesty between people, not Mad Men’s bread and butter (it has never sought to be), but they know how to serve it up in small enough doses that you don’t take them for granted when they happen.

Friday, May 22

Chinatown, Polanski 1974

Weird how no one talks about this movie being incredible. Glad I can be at the forefront for this, clearly, little seen flick and champion it as much as possible! With that said, knife to the nostril is a very real new fear for me.

Top Chef, Season 17 episode 10

If I were a person who cared about the olympics I could see myself either being very melancholy or furious after this episode. Fine challenge, though not totally surprising. I dunno man, you gotta imagine how annoyed these contestants get every time Malarkey outlives them-or at the very least incredibly tickled by it. Looking forward to binging Last Chance Kitchen before this next week’s ep.

Mad Men, “The Quality Of Mercy”

The Ken Cosgrove eyepatch is such a weird choice, but not altogether terrible. Hard to take a guy with an eyepatch seriously, which is probably the reason they gave it to Ken, because no one in that office does. The Bob Benson is a fraud reveal is fascinating in the sense of the writers trying out an experiment of “what if Don Draper but different job” though far more obvious. And what perfect symmetry having Pete find out from Duck (the man who thought he’d be able to use this information against Don and the man who, at the top of his game, absolutely could’ve used it against Don) about Bob and learned his lesson from 5 years ago and knowing how to use that information to his benefit (the setup to it is still pretty good, because I reacted this time the same way I did in 2014 with “oh Pete, you are dumb as hell” forgetting what the reveal is).

Saturday, May 23

Cast Away, Zemeckis 2000 [as of now this is available on HBO]

Somehow made it as long as I did without having seen Cast Away and it’s pretty good and also maybe the first time a Zemeckis movie gives worth to its character being (almost) extraordinary? Like in almost all his movies these characters kind of stumble into this otherworldly, almost other plane, level of humanity and ability; there tends to be a lot of right place at the right time with his main characters. So I had no idea that Cast Away flash forwards 4 years in the middle of its story (I’m kind of amazed with how little I knew about the bigger plot points of this movie, like no idea that it takes place in 1995 to start off) and not just making him instantaneous amazing hermit-man. It’s a fun movie, though I’m sure if I’d seen this in high school or early college I’d be all in a huff because of the whales, which is clearly just Zemeckis not being able to help himself. Whatever, pretty good and I’m glad he and Helen Hunt don’t end up together (though it does raise an incredible hypothetical). Though if you’re throwing a “welcome back from nowhere” party to a guy, wouldn’t you want to stick to specifically turf food as the delicacy you deliver to him? Like you’re already in Memphis, which is a pretty suspect location to have crab-give the man some BBQ, something without a shadow of a doubt he didn’t have access to on a deserted island.

Mad Men, “In Care Of” [season 6 finale], “Time Zones” [season 7A premier], “A Day’s Work”, “Field Trip”

The birth of “Not Great Bob!” truly a landmark. Season 6 is weird, it’s all a build-up, but Don’s descent has been going on for so long it’s hard to pinpoint what led to it all (maybe his divorce with Betty? Signing a contract? Anna passing away? there are so many chaos dominoes on the table that contribute to it all). Man needs therapy or to be reminded of who he is or how he got here. He’s brought down several, several pegs and he stays there and lingers in it, but he’ll be dammed if he isn’t loyal till the bitter end, or at least loyal to what he can be in control of and what he cares about (he does not care about Megan’s acting, though he does care about Megan and how much of her life he has put on halt).

Minority Report, Spielberg 2002 [as of now this is available on Netflix]

Steven Spielberg makes perfect Saturday movies. This is the sort of thing that if you had put it in anyone else’s hands it’d be without that crucial Spielberg twinge of hope or love that is the motivation behind its lead’s actions. It’s fun and pulpy and washed out and dark and takes Spielberg back to his feature debut: it’s a chase movie. It’s almost 2½ hours that flies by.

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iampaulywalnuts · 7 years

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Casting “Obstruction”, the Inevitable HBO Original Film on All This Shit

Perhaps it’s because reality has felt very much like a prestige drama recently that I have started wondering “who’s going to play these guys in the HBO version of these guys?”

Methodology: VERY SCIENTIFIC!

First I chose who I believe are the ten most important players in the real life obstruction, between the time Trump won the election and his future indictments.

It was tempting to try to capture the whole 2016 election, and other GOP cowards, but then we’d be here all day, and the New York Times already did that sort of. So no Bannon. No Stephen Miller. No Jaime Foxx...I mean Ben Carson. I also didn’t include Sean Spicer or Sarah Sanders, because they might as well not even be there they know so little.

I tried to select from actors that I knew offhand, but when that well dried up after about three minutes, I reached out to some trusted friends, Wikipedia, etc. I asked myself:

1) Does it look like their real life counterpart?

2) Could they pull off the role as a lead?

So let’s get started! ACTION!

Group 1: The Obstructed

1) James Comey

The now former FBI director, once hated by every liberal in America, now holding the torch to guide America out of the darkness I guess. Election manipulating dickhead.

Bryan Cranston

Rationale: Originally I was overthinking the height issue; for a while all I could come up with was Adrien Brody and I thought for a second “now I’ll never make it as a casting director”. Cranston is a boring selection but it’s the right one to play the careful, calculated Comey. Make him seem taller like in the other one. Can’t go wrong.

2) Sally Yates

Former deputy US Attorney General. Holdover from the Obama administration who informed the Trump White House that Michael Flynn was compromised before being fired for, basically, being a competent woman.

Amy Sedaris

Rationale: I really think I nailed this one. The first time and pretty sure only time I have ever seen Amy Sedaris was in that scene in Louis CK’s Horace and Pete, and I was totally blown away like everyone else. She was a light in the darkness of that miserable place.. When I think of Yates my mind goes to how she handled Ted Cruz like a 6th grader who thinks he knows shit in that Senate meeting. I get that same feeling! She’s unflappable, so obviously smarter than you, a light in the darkness! Plus, Yates and Sedaris could be sisters. Genius!

3) Preet Bharara

Former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Led investigations into Trump finances before being removed from his position by Trump. Revered by his peers and those who worked for him. We don’t hear as much about him but in a movie called “Obstruction” you can’t leave him out.

Erick Avari

Rationale: Surprise! I don’t know many Indian actors :( I do recognize this guy from everywhere, however. Avari’s mostly in sci-fi films and television, although he’s also been in classics like The Mummy, Independence Day, Mr. Deeds, and whatever’s on TNT right now. This is the best I could do sorry Indian people don’t hate me!

Group Two: The Complicit Enablers

4) Paul Ryan

Speaker of the House and Representative from Wisconsin. Backed a monster because he wanted to cut taxes and take health insurance away from poor people. Embarrassment to Pauls everywhere.

Jeremy Renner

Rationale: The key to a good Paul Ryan performance is capturing his enthusiasm for allowing people to die. Paul Ryan smiles when he talks, not because he wants to give Americans “more choice” on health insurance, but because he knows if you support what he says you will die, and is excited by the prospect. Anyway, Renner’s pretty good and they kinda look the same.

5) Mitch McConnell

Senator from Kentucky, majority leader. Everything that is wrong with politics. Currently awaiting his stay in hell.

Tim Robbins

Rationale: Recreating the ugliness, on the inside and out, of Mitch McConnell, requires the combined craftsmanship of a master actor and make up team (perhaps enlisting the experts on Game of Thrones would be wise). I know this casting is unduly generous to Mitch McConnell. I can’t imagine a bigger gulf between how much I enjoy looking at two different men. But Robbins does have the height, and could nail McConnell’s gravelly, unfeeling Kentucky accent. And Robbins is the definition of PRESTIGE.

GROUP 3: The Spy

6) Sergey Lavrov

Russian foreign minister and spy. Fooled Trump into giving away highly sensitive information and compromising intelligence partnerships. A shark swimming with really dumb fish.

Boris Lee Krutonog

Rationale: I reached out to my only Russian friend about this casting. You look at Krutonog and think “oh he’s the bad guy in that one movie” (side note: “that one movie” is always The Italian Job), which is ultimately all we’re going to need for this story. I’d probably know of more Russian actors if I watched The Americans --he’s in the The Americans--but there are way too many shows. If he can say nice things in English followed by mean things in Russian in front of whoever is playing Trump for a scene we’ll be ok!

Group 4: The Criminals

7) Michael Flynn

Retired General and former National Security Adviser. Winner of Russian medals. Failed to register as a foreign agent after taking money from the foreign governments. Chanter of “Lock Her Up”. Soon to be locked up.

Christopher Waltz

Rationale: Waltz seems to always play eccentrics, and Flynn certainly would qualify in a conspiracy theory peddling Islamaphobe kind of way. We of course have seen Waltz in military attire in Inglorious Basterds, and Nazi-garb aside it suits him. The key moment for Flynn will be as he’s listening to his sentence read aloud, staring into the void, finally discovering that he was the bad guy all long. Can’t wait!

8) Jeff Sessions

Middle name is Beauregard, yeah ok. Attorney General. Lied to Congress about connections to Russia. Recused himself from Russian investigation only to be interviewing new FBI directors weeks later. So much awfulness outside of this scandal but we have to press on.

Chris Cooper

Rationale: We know Chris Cooper from many of his films and performances, the most memorable to me in American Beauty as a bitter man stuck in his ways, afraid of the future as the world progresses around him. Jeff Sessions plays that role in his normal life every day, the only differences being he has terrifying power, and we don’t know he’s a closeted homosexual. He could be!

9) Jared Kushner

Senior (lol) Adviser. Delegated by Trump to perform all duties of the presidency. Likely suggested and encouraged the firing of James Comey. Failed to disclose financial ties to Russia before entering White House. Proof that nothing matters.

Paul Dano

Rationale: In Little Miss Sunshine, Paul Dano played a kid who couldn’t become a fighter pilot because he was colorblind, and so took a vow of silence for some reason I forget. Maybe Jared Kushner has taken a vow of silence, because as it’s been noted elsewhere, I don’t think we’ve ever heard him actually speak! Don’t even give Dano any lines. He can just occasionally throw on a pair of black Ray Bans and look dumb.

10) Donald Trump

CEO of Trump Steaks. Vessel of ignorance and hatred. President of the United States.

Hologram of Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Rationale: PSH was too talented to play someone as widely parodied as Trump, but as the scandal rages on, and reports come out of Trump summoning his communications staff and going off on epic tantrums I think he’d be perfect.

youtube

Hoffman also played a misogynistic, lying con artist in The Master; specifically a cult leader in the vein of L. Ron Hubbard. One of my favorite scenes is when he’s confronted by a persistent skeptic during a session with a wealthy patron. This is the first time in the movie Hoffman’s character, The Master, is questioned at length, and you can see him slowly losing composure before blowing up in an angry “PIG FUCK”. It’s an awesome scene and demonstrates why, among many other reasons, Hoffman would have made a great Trump. We have plenty of “TV Trump” impressions; the catchphrases, bloviating, etc. I would want an actor could tap into his boundless anger and fear as he slowly wilts under the pressure of his own incompetence and senility. Hoffman could bring a level of nuance to such a shallow figure.

Great job, everyone! Less than six months into Donald Trump’s presidency and we already have AT LEAST one HBO-ready prestige scandal, so for that let’s give ourselves a round of applause, America. Our ratings are going to be SICK...and so is everyone with a pre-existing condition!

No one knows what the future will bring, but we’ll be watching. Not TV. HBO.

#russia #trump #justice #comey #yates #sessions #ryan #hbo #drama

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thisdaynews · 5 years

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Congress flails after Trump’s deportation ultimatum

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/congress-flails-after-trumps-deportation-ultimatum/

Congress flails after Trump’s deportation ultimatum

Central American migrants wait on the top of a parked train during their journey toward the U.S.-Mexico border in Ixtepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico. | Moises Castillo/AP Photo

Congress

Lawmakers are struggling to pass emergency funding for the border and are avoiding asylum changes demanded by Trump.

Lawmakers are stumbling in their efforts to address the border crisis before bolting for the holiday recess, dimming long-shot hopes that Congress can meet President Donald Trump’s two-week deadline to stave off his threatened mass deportations.

House Democratic leaders spent Monday night fighting off a last-minute liberal rebellion to tank their $4.5 billion emergency spending package. Across the Capitol, Senate leaders were moving forward on a funding bill but largely dismissing Trump’s aggressive timeline on changing asylum laws.

Story Continued Below

Senior lawmakers say the idea that Congress could come together to overhaul thorny immigration laws in two weeks — as Trump demanded over the weekend — is a pipe dream, especially with members out of town next week for July 4th.

“It’s unrealistic and right now we’re focused on the border supplemental. That should be our priority,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.). “The president can tweet or say whatever he wants.”

“It’s going to take weeks,” said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the lead Democratic negotiator on asylum laws. “He did the same thing on DACA, we came up with a bill. He didn’t like it. You know, I’ve seen this movie. I know how it ends.”

Durbin is working with Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on an asylum package, but they hadn’t spoken about it since Wednesday of last week, as of Monday night.

The congressional stalemate puts Trump in a precarious position if Congress fails, leaving him again with the choice of following through with raids to deport “millions” of undocumented immigrants or backing down.

Trump has issued hard-line threats before only to pull back after winning some concessions. He recently avoided imposing broad tariffs on Mexico by claiming victory after Mexico announced it would send thousands of troops to the border to try to stem the surge of Central American migrants.

Some Republicans applauded Trump’s latest move, saying the lingering threat of widespread immigration raids and deportations could finally convince Democrats to negotiate on long-stalled immigration talks.

“If it brings Democrats to the table I think that’s a pretty shrewd move,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “They seem to be totally impervious to any sort of persuasion or pressure, but I think it’s worth a try. At least he will have demonstrated his good faith.”

Democrats were quick to dismiss Trump’s red line, saying it’s just the latest in a string of immigration-related provocations that the president has floated only to retreat from at the last moment.

“Look at the things he’s gone through: Tariffs, close the border, issue after issue. He makes threats and then backs off because none of them make any sense, none of them have been thought through,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday.

And if he were serious about wanting to change asylum laws, Trump would have brought it up before a weekend tweet, Democrats say.

Trump did not raise the issue during a 12-minute call with Speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday night in which she asked him to call off the ICE raids, according to a source familiar with the call. Furthermore, Trump made his two-week deadline just days before a scheduled break, with no one predicting the recess will be cancelled to deal with an immigration debate.

Meanwhile Democratic leaders were struggling to contain an 11th hour revolt by some progressives and Hispanic members to derail the supplemental spending measure.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-Cortez (D-N.Y.) voiced her opposition to the bill on a weekend call with other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

She and other progressive freshmen, including Democratic Reps. Ayanna Presley, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, were whipping in opposition to the legislation on Monday, according to multiple sources.

But supporters of the bill pushed back hard behind the scenes, arguing that if Democrats sink their own legislation, they’ll end up with the Senate plan which doesn’t contain language to block Trump from using the funds for his border wall or to increase deportations.

Pelosi was set to huddle with members of the CHC and Congressional Progressive Caucus and top appropriators on Monday night to work out differences before the scheduled floor vote on Tuesday.

Among the key differences between each version of the legislation is a provision in the House bill that requires the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in development aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

The House bill also leaves out $65 million included in the Senate legislation to cover Immigration and Customs Enforcement pay shortfalls and overtime costs, according to a House Democratic summary.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who leads the DHS spending panel in the Senate, said she was working closely with House Democratic leaders to produce something that can become law.

“We’re working well together and I’m hoping we can iron out those differences,” she said. The House has “a different thought, particularly in the ICE area, and I think we’re going to have to dig down on those.”

Capito said she hoped a compromise between Senate Republicans and House Democrats could be struck this week. But reconciling two competing bills by Thursday or Friday may prove too tough a task.

In addition, the House legislation stipulates that care for unaccompanied minors by the Health and Human Services department must include additional safeguards for children, including guaranteed access to legal representation, as well as food, clothing and appropriate activities.

Shocking reports of unsanitary conditions for detained children are trickling out, with HHS Secretary Alex Azar conceding they are “not good conditions for kids to be in.”

And though Trump has made the border spending bill a priority, he’s been more focused publicly on the more difficult task of overhauling asylum law.

Graham, who was in touch with Trump over the weekend, shelved his partisan asylum bill last week as it became clear it had no path to becoming law.

But he and Durbin have big challenges ahead of them as they try to add new immigration judges and encourage asylum seekers to make their requests in Mexico or their home country to avoid putting added stresses on the border.

As point man for congressional Democrats, Durbin is resisting reforms to the definition of asylum and weakening protections for unaccompanied minors. Any bipartisan deal is likely to tick off restrictionist Republicans and outside groups pushing for tougher border policies.

It also could be exceedingly difficult for liberals like Durbin to find common ground with a president who has already thwarted bipartisan immigration action in the Senate.

“I think people finally convinced him what a disaster this would be,” Durbin said of Trump’s proposed mass deportations. “How about kids coming home to an empty house? Cruelty. Open cruelty involving families across this country instead of prioritizing those who may be a danger to us.”

Ted Hesson and Gabby Orr contributed to this report.

#Deportation #Foreign #Politics #ultimatum

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tabloidtoc · 5 years

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People, February 18

Cover: The Truth About Meghan Markle

Page 1: Chatter -- Arnold Schwarzenegger on his daughter Katherine marrying Chris Pratt, Lupita Nyong’o on a Taylor Swift song, Nicki Minaj on her faith, Julia Roberts, Gisele Bundchen on why she dumped Leonardo DiCaprio, Jake Gyllenhaal on Velvet Buzzsaw haircut

Page 2: 5 Things We’re Talking About -- John Legend embraces diaper duty, Marisa Tomei and Julianne Moore find out they’re cousins, Ashton Kutcher tweets his phone number, The Masked Singer gets a second season, Christina Aguilera claims she never hit Pink, A Chat With Leona Lewis

Page 5: Contents

Page 6: Contents

Page 8: StarTracks -- The stars of Super Bowl LIII -- Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen and daughter Vivian Lake

Page 9: Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Gladys Knight, Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman

Page 10: Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges, Gina Rodriguez and America Ferrera and Eva Longoria, Bryce Dallas Howard named 2019 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year

Page 11: Lea Michele’s bachelorette bash with Jamie-Lynn Sigler and JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Stephanie Levinson, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, Tom Cruise, James Middleton credits his dogs with providing emotional support during his battle with depression

Page 12: Famous Fathers -- Kevin Hart with wife Eniko and kids Hendrix and Heaven, Josh Duhamel and son Axl, David Duchovny and son Kyd, Andy Cohen and infant son Benjamin Allen

Page 13: Sneak Peeks -- Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton in The Sun Is Also a Star, Cynthia Erivo in Harriet, Style Tracks -- White Suits -- Jada Pinkett Smith, Rachel Brosnahan, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, Awkwafina, Usher

Page 15: Celine Dion slams body shamers

Page 17: Flipping Out’s Jeff Lewis reveals he’s separated

Page 18: Heart Monitor -- Jenny Slate and Ben Shattuck new couple, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez 2 years and going strong, Kate Beckinsale and Pete Davidson getting flirty, Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus may be back on

Page 20: Rami Malek Oscar-nominated and in love

Page 22: Malcolm McDowell -- a villian’s second act, Ariana Grande’s botched ink

Page 24: Cardi B talks motherhood and fixing her marriage, Mark-Paul Gosselaar from teen star to proud dad

Page 27: Stories to Make You Smile -- A studly polar bear named Wolodja, third graders shave their heads in support of a classmate

Page 28: Passages, Why I Care -- Emmy Rossum advocates for protecting mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Page 31: People Picks -- The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Page 32: Velvet Buzzsaw, Miracle Workers

Page 33: Everybody Knows, Better Oblivion Community Center

Page 34: Cold Pursuit, One to Watch -- Jade Pettyjohn

Page 35: One Day at a Time, Boomerang

Page 37: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, People Magazine Investigates: The Sound of Silence about murders at Gallaudet University, Fighting with the Family, Q&A -- John and Callahan Walsh

Page 38: Books

Page 40: Cover Story -- The Truth About Meghan Markle -- her best friends break their silence

Page 48: Kristoff St. John of The Young & the Restless’s tragic death

Page 50: Taraji P. Henson -- I Want My Story to Give Someone Hope

Page 55: Caring for B. Smith through Alzheimer’s -- the iconic restaurateur’s husband Dan Gasby won’t hide or apologize that he’s fallen in love with another woman and made her a part of B.’s life

Page 58: Susan Lucci’s heart scare

Page 62: Empire star Jussie Smollett’s horrific attack

Page 64: At home with Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner

Page 66: At home with Lenny Kravitz -- Life, love and giving back

Page 70: Escaping Ted Bundy

Page 72: Denise Richards -- Tales of a Hollywood Survivor

Page 77: Style News -- Sofia Vergara’s new clothing line

Page 78: Beauty

Page 81: Jonathan Van Ness’s Shamazing New York apartment, cat decor tips

Page 83: Food -- Please try a plant-based diet

Page 84: Family Dinner with Top Chef judge Gail Simmons

Page 87: Second Look -- Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow and Ellen DeGeneres

Page 88: One Last Thing -- Kelsey Grammer

#tabloids #duchess meghan #meghan markle #lenny kravitz #emmy rossum #gorilla doctors #volcanoes national park #daniel radcliffe #miracle workers

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