BIG SCREEN: Movie Reviews
BIG SCREEN: Movie Reviews
HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS & ALIENATE PEOPLE
A defanged adaptation of Toby Young's barbed memoir about being fired from Vanity Fair. Simon Pegg's bright-young-thing routine (as celebrity journo Sidney Young) becomes just plain goofy as he grasps for fame, a hot actress, and coworker Alison (Kirsten Dunst). Media types will savor the Devil Wears Prada--ish caricatures of magazine heavyweights--like Jeff Bridges, in a leonine gray wig, as Graydon Carter. But the flick also works as a broader satire, hilariously skewering celeb culture and our slavish fascination with it.
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Blissful nuptials get messy when the bride's spotlight-whoring, straight-outta-rehab sister shows up. That's the premise of this beautifully observed drama from Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme (no gore, but plenty of family gristle here). A de-glamorized Anne Hathaway, playing the troubled sister, joins a terrific cast that includes Debra Winger as the neglectful mom and Rosemarie DeWitt as the put-upon bride. But the film's real star is the vibrant, emotionally raw screenplay by Jenny Lumet. Its brutal honesty captures the oh-so-competitive kinship of sisters.
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
It's easy to spot wannabe eccentrics: off-kilter wardrobe, unfiltered gabbing, unfounded hope. But as Poppy, an endearing London schoolmarm who learns to drive a car from a man as surly as she is chipper, Sally Hawkins triumphs over cliché. This is decidedly lighter fare than the bleak dramas director Mike Leigh is known for (Vera Drake, Naked). Thankfully, he never strays toward the predictable--not that plot matters for a sunny heroine who figures life is in the here and now, so why trifle with self-pity?
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Dedicated to women of power, purpose, and style, Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. Reaching millions of women every month, Marie Claire is an internationally recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages.
-
Why Did Drunk Elephant Recall Three of Its Best-Selling Skincare Products?
Here's how to know if yours were compromised.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Kendall and Kaia's Favorite Nike Sneakers Are Under $100 Right Now
They're on sale ahead of Black Friday.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Princess Diana's Chauffeur Only Found Out Why He Was Fired After Watching 'The Crown'
"The consequence for me was that I was forced out of a job I wanted to be my life’s work."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
The Best Movies to Watch If You're Getting Into Old Hollywood Musicals for the First Time
Cinephiles and theater kids would agree that these Old Hollywood films are iconic.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The Best Movies About Female Friendship
From outrageous comedies to empowering dramas.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The Ascension of Sophie Thatcher
With ‘Heretic’ in theaters and her debut EP out now, the ‘Yellowjackets’ star is believing in herself and her art more than ever.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
In 'Zurawski v. Texas,' the Post-Dobbs Reality Is Darker Than You Could Have Imagined
A new documentary, produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, and Jennifer Lawrence, shows just how catastrophic anti-abortion bills are—and what’s at stake if we stop fighting them.
By Jessica Goodman Published
-
The Best Biopic Movies of All Time
From portraits of influential leaders to stories about iconic musicians and athletes.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
2024 Netflix Christmas Movies: Every New Holiday Film and Special Coming This Year
Expect the titles streaming soon to be steamier than your hot cocoa.
By Sadie Bell Last updated
-
The Best On-Screen Style Transformations Ever
From 'Mean Girls' to 'The Devil Wears Prada.'
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
'Woman of the Hour' Real-Life Story: Who Is the True Crime Movie Based On?
You'll be surprised by what's fact and what's fiction in the new Netflix movie directed by Anna Kendrick.
By Sadie Bell Published