Future Weather, a screening at the Tribeca Film Festival
Future Weather is a film about three generations of women wrestling with their dreams, brought to you by Jenny Deller, writer, producer and director of this special glimpse into these women’s lives. The story is fueled by the struggle of thirteen-year-old Lauduree, played by Perla Haney-Jardine, as she attempts to survive being abandoned by her trashy mother. I say trashy because bad parenting is just that, trashy.
Instead of falling to pieces Lauduree toughens her already hardened shell and throws herself into her passion for science and her ever looming worry over global warming. Think, Angela Chase from “My So-Called Life” but instead of being obsessed with Jordan Catalano and being cool, she’s obsessed with reversing mankind’s carbon footprint. Her sanity among all this chaos, comes from her determination to save our fragile environment through a series of experiments she conducts in her own back yard.
When her functioning alcoholic, cig-smoking bad-ass grandmother, played by Amy Madigan, finds out her granddaughter has been left in such an atrocious manner, she swoops in like a rebel bird and takes Lauduree into her own nest. The dynamic between the two is rocky to say the least (remember how difficult you were when you were thirteen?) but held together by almost a primal bond of love that must survive the storm that Lauduree’s mother has left behind.In between Perla’s heartbreaking performance we come up to breathe in laughter that is needed and provided by actor, Anuvhav Jain, who plays Neel, another science enthusiast and hopeful romantic. He is devoted to sticking by Lauduree’s side and watching him trying to get there provides all the humor and awkwardness you forgot existed in teenage romances.
The thread of environmentalism is woven through this tapestry of a movie in such a way that you almost can’t feel yourself absorbing the dismal data of how sick our poor little earth is but in the end you do and you get to walk away with a message and a feeling that things don’t have to go extinct. In the q&a after the screening Perla stated, “I want to put my work into something that is going to benefit other people.” Well, Perla, you really nailed it. Jazz hands.
I was lucky enough to catch Future Weather at the fest (see this film!)—and to meet the amazing Molly!
Finally, directions to Thunder Road. Just follow designer Dan Cassaro’s map of Bruce Springsteen lyrics. As a fan, I want this; as a Jerseyan, I need it. Mentioned in NYT, Cassaro is also creator of the Fifty and Fifty project illustrating state mottoes. (After leaving LA, I bought “California” as a commemoration of my time there, and it now proudly sits above my Jersey-based fireplace. Unfortunately, Jersey’s poster needs a redo—The Boss’ home state deserves better than a Juicy Couture–clad derriere.)
While absentmindedly scanning the gotta-have-it-don’t-need-it racks on the checkout line today, I saw this month’s Cosmo and it made me smile. It’s refreshing to see the lovely, incredibly talented Adele—instead of an often-hungry, overly airbrushed, hyperstylized model/actress/singer/pseudo-celeb—grace Cosmo’s cover. Celebrate this small triumph, like I am, by listening to her latest album, 21.
(Photo via huffingtonpost.com)
The Office’s Mindy Kaling’s book dropped today. The question is, what combination of laughing my ass off, wishing I was clothes shopping with her, and feeling like a total underachiever will this comedy wunderkind’s (she’s 32) memoir evoke?
What’s with all these intrigue-filled soapy dramas I’m loving this season? Ringer, Revenge, and my latest obsession, Once Upon a Time.
Created by Losties and featuring Big Love sister-wife Margene, I have high hopes for this series—especially if they keep the good-schoolteacher vs. evil-career-woman cliché to a minimum. Watch the pilot via ABC, then catch the next episode this Sunday.
Dancing, ’80s remixes, and cowboy boots. That pretty much sums up the new Footloose. Oh, and the clunkiest Boston accent since Julianne Moore in 30 Rock. It’s a bit watered-down—a warm-and-fuzzy preacher, a less-menacing boyfriend. But it’s still fun. Mostly due to Miles Teller’s Willard, played by Chris Penn in the original.
See it with low exceptions and a good friend. Bonus if it’s the same friend you saw the original with.
Love getting a book in the mail, especially a classic. Thanks, MEH. (Taken with instagram)
Katherine Heigl has taken a break from being “The Women Who Is Obsessed with Her Career and Is No Fun at All” to lead a romcom detective story.
Hailing from North Jersey I can’t vouch for her Trenton accent (any locals out there who can say if it’s accurate?). Her character does feel familiar. Oh, us Jersey Girls—we’re such stereotypes of ourselves. Still, One for the Money looks fun. It’s directed by Julie Anne Robinson, written by a few women, and based on a book by Janet Evanovich, and so I must brave my local AMC theater on a Saturday night to catch it opening weekend.
Nancy Upton is the real deal. It’s a shame that AA offered this tone-deaf reply and missed the opportunity to make up some much-needed karma points.This evening (September 13) at around 7:30 PM, I received an email from Iris Alonzo. I had not intended to share any quotes or specific content from this email with anyone, other than to explain that American Apparel had declined to offer me a prize for receiving the most votes in their…
This is why I need to watch other Portlandia eps than just the premiere: Two friends argue over who reads more intellectually hipster periodicals, like McSweeney’s (shout out to open letters).
Thanksgiving touch football game with overly competitive siblings wearing Ivy League T-shirts.
Tree decorating on Christmas Eve while fondly reminiscing about previous Christmases.
Surprise birthday party where guest of honor knows about party, then (badly) feigns surprise, fooling all the guests except their BFF/true love.
Romantic weekend at a family cabin in Vermont when uninvited friends arrive and everyone gets snowed in.
I just read a few posts from Tavi Gevinson’s new online mag Rookie. It’s like discussing media criticism, music, and Gilmore Girls with Christina Kelly (real) and Angela Chase (fictional) while DIYing a hideous birthday-gift sweater into an adorable A-line skirt. And to my 14-year-old self that sounds just perfect.