Newsletter Friday, September 15, 2017

[LaineyGossip.com - Calling all smuthounds!] Friday, September 15, 2017 [Intro for September 15, 2017](�©-jayz-attend-rihannas-diamond-ball-and-intro-for-september-15-2017) [Beyonce and Rihanna attend Rihanna's 3rd Annual Diamond Ball Benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 14, 2017 in New York City]( Dear Gossips, I had an entirely different open planned for today. And then I woke up at 5am and saw how supported Rihanna was last night at her third annual Diamond Ball. Kendrick Lamar performed (in a great pair of well-tailored black pants). Dave Chappelle spoke. Jamie Foxx showed up. Many other celebrities too. And the biggest name of them all: Beyoncé, who was there with Jay-Z. As you know, Beyoncé’s pretty selective about what events she attends, especially now, with three babies at home. It’s been a while since we got a shot of Beyoncé and Rihanna together. It doesn’t happen often either which is why there are constantly rumours that there’s some Girl Sh-t between them. Is it Girl Sh-t though or is it brand management? The more it happens, the less special it feels. And both are well aware of what it takes to maintain the special, to keep their special at a high level. That Beyoncé chose to be there on a night that mattered so much to Rihanna, in support of the Clara Lionel Foundation, is a testament to the respect between them. Both of them would know what this photo would mean and how much attention it would receive. It certainly helped get me out of bed. Beyoncé + Rihanna is an excellent way to start the day. And the weekend. Have a great weekend! Yours in gossip, Lainey [Click here for the rest of the photos.](�©-jayz-attend-rihannas-diamond-ball-and-intro-for-september-15-2017) Posted at 11:37 AM [JLO’s “golden era”]( [Jennifer Lopez in the new issue of HOLA! USA]( Jennifer Lopez is featured in the new issue of [HOLA! USA](. The interview and the shoot took place at her home in the Hamptons to promote her upcoming Spanish album. She tells the magazine that she’s never felt better, that she’s never been better. Here’s the thing about [JLO]( though – even when she’s not feeling good, I don’t know how you would know. You would never know from the outside. And I’m talking straight up superficial here. JLO sometimes wears a sh-tty dress. And sometimes I don’t like her eye makeup. But JLO is never a mess. Even when she’s coming from the gym, that f-cking skin is always on. I wonder if part of the reason for that JLO glow is because she’s almost always in love. Right? JLO doesn’t go too long in between. And she has said herself, time and again, that she loves love. Does she ever truly love though? Or does she just want to love? Is there a difference? Right now, she’s in love with [Alex Rodriguez](. This is what she told HOLA! about their situation – and there’s no doubt, it’s LOOOOOOOVE, the most intense expression of JLO’s loving: “I’m in a good relationship. I feel like I can say that for the first time— I don’t know — maybe ever. And not that I didn’t have great relationships, full of love and adventure, but this is the first relationship I’ve been where I feel like we really make each other better. We complement each other, and there’s really pure, true love. Just wanting to support the other person and make them happy. So there’s a different selflessness in the love that’s beautiful and different. And healthy!” The first time? Maybe ever? Yes. For her, in her mind, it’s probably true. It’s true every single time JLO falls in love. That’s why she falls in love so much – because when she does, it’s like it’s never happened to her before. In some ways, this is not a bad way to live. In an ideal world, love wouldn’t leave scars and/or we would be able to experience new romances without feeling it through those scars. Few people can live this way though. JLO’s a f-cking unicorn in this way. It’s why I believe that she truly believes that she and ARod “really make each other better” and “complement each other”. The rest of us are looking at it like, girl… no. YOU make HIM better. You compliment – not complement – HIM. But it’s not like she can see it. Not until later. For about 5 minutes, until she falls in love again. It goes back to what Duana and I said about her on an episode of [Show Your Work back in June]( – you can’t separate Jennifer Lopez from her love stories, overall. She’s known for her loves and loves lost. And yet, somehow she separates from each and every one in that none of them ever define her. JLO sticks to Ben Affleck more than Ben sticks to her. Diddy too. And Marc Anthony. She leaves her mark on them. They don’t leave their marks on her. It’s kind of amazing, non? [Click here]( to see more photos of JLO in HOLA! USA. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 7:36 PM [Smutty Social Media, September 15, 2017]( [Busy Philipps out in Los Angeles, September 11, 2017]( As Duana wrote yesterday, Amber Tamblyn’s “[scorched earth](” approach to James Woods has been very effective. And supported. "Creepy old dudes who didn't think she'd repeat the story, for $400, please, Alex..." — Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) [September 12, 2017]( James Woods: Amber Tamblyn's ([@ambertamblyn]() Underage Pick-up Attempt Story 'Is a Lie' [pic.twitter.com/KoUsXsiBiZ]( — TheWrap (@TheWrap) [September 12, 2017]( You won't be able to find anyone with more integrity than [@ambertamblyn]( . She has always called out untruths and injustices. Always. 🙌 — Jason Ritter (@JasonRitter) [September 14, 2017]( Your strength gives strength to all. I honor you. It may seem easier to be silent but it's compassionate to be ear-splittingly truthful. — Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) [September 14, 2017]( Meanwhile, James pretends not to care but he has sure been dropping a lot of names this week. (I had to read through James Woods’s Twitter to find all this, so I deserve a cookie or something.) When asked about the top three living actors he replied: Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 15, 2017]( On his start in acting (which involved Ben Affleck’s father, who was a stage manager). I did a play at MIT that Jon Voight saw. He talked me into going to NY. He and Tim Affleck, the stage mgr. at Theatre Co. of Boston. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 14, 2017]( That stage manager was Ben Affleck's father. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 14, 2017]( They are both great guys. I ignore the politics of the people I like. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 14, 2017]( Jeremy Renner for Best Actor: 100% true. [@Renner4Real]( is a remarkable father and a superb actor. Just top drawer in every way. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 14, 2017]( On Rob Reiner: He hired me for Ghosts of Mississippi despite objections of some naysayers. I owe my second Oscar nomination to him and am forever grateful. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 14, 2017]( Congratulations on Rebel’s lawsuit: This is just fabulous. Way to go, [@RebelWilson](. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 13, 2017]( “My beloved Sharon.” The whole cast was great. Sly, my beloved Sharon, Rod, Eric, everybody. Just a great time. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 13, 2017]( On Liam’s special set of skills: No! I love Liam Neeson in thrillers. Seriously he cannot retire from them. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 12, 2017]( And finally, the {NAME} brothers (or at least two of them). Daniel and I did "Vampires" and Alec and I did "Ghosts of Mississippi" and "The Getaway." Love them both. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) [September 12, 2017]( A Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake (of a remake) with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson is filming – it was titled Nasty Women but it looks like they’ve nixed that. Female scam artists are hot right now, with [Ocean’s Eight]( and the desperately needed [Lupita/Rihanna collaboration]( in the works. And of course, the ultimate scammer, Joanne. [Just started work on my new movie I'm producing too! You may have heard of the legendary DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS - well this is a remake of that remake. We're keeping the title secret for now. We're keeping the updates secret. But for now here's a sneaky sneak peak of Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway, Tony Award winner @alexanderiansharp1 and '2nd in the state in Food Technology' winner (me) tearing up the European dance floor x]( A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson) on Sep 14, 2017 at 12:52pm PDT Pushing my ex husband off of his own balcony has been the highlight of day. And looking utterly fabulous while doing so. [pic.twitter.com/7LUEjMDY74]( — Joanne The Scammer (@joanneprada) [August 14, 2017]( Someone mistook Freaks & Geeks-era [Busy Philipps]( for Sarah Huckabee Sanders and… has anyone checked on Busy? Because she was understandably devastated. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? IS THIS A JOKE? THIS IS ME FROM FREAKS AND GEEKS. FAKE NEWS. — Busy Philipps (@Busyphilipps25) [September 14, 2017]( ALSO I LOOK NOTHING LIKE SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL -?!?????!!!!! — Busy Philipps (@Busyphilipps25) [September 14, 2017]( I AM NEVER GETTING OVER THIS. I AM ACTUALLY DEAD NOW — Busy Philipps (@Busyphilipps25) [September 14, 2017]( APPARENTLY NOT SINCE HE THINKS IM SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS — Busy Philipps (@Busyphilipps25) [September 14, 2017]( ALSO. Pick on a woman for the insane lies she tells. Not cause she looks pissed off while telling them. I love women who look pissed off. — Busy Philipps (@Busyphilipps25) [September 14, 2017]( [Gwen Stefani]( is in Korea and this is an impressive meal. I love when people order for the table, but only if I trust them to choose enough dishes and variety. Here there’s proteins, greens and carbs in equal measure. Good choices. [Experiencing #southkorea ❤️ gx]( A post shared by Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) on Sep 14, 2017 at 1:30pm PDT [Diane Keaton]( thinks [Joaquin Phoenix]( is a “soulful beauty.” It is a great photo of him, the best I’ve seen in a very long time. [GUESS WHO? WHEN DID JOAQUIN PHOENIX TURN INTO SUCH A SOULFUL BEAUTY? THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN BY THE BRILLIANT CRAIG MCDEAN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES' T MAGAZINE. PURE GENIUS. @craigmcdeanstudio @tmagazine]( A post shared by Diane Keaton (@diane_keaton) on Sep 12, 2017 at 11:52am PDT [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 7:19 PM [TIFF Review: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart]( [Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart movie poster ]( In 1959, Lorraine Hansberry wrote, “One cannot live with sighted eyes and feeling heart and not know or react to the miseries which afflict this world.” It’s a variation of, “[if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.](” That quote has now become synonymous with Heather Heyer, the young woman who was murdered in Charlottesville by white supremacists. It was the last thing she posted on Facebook. I thought of Heather Heyer when I was watching Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart because Lorraine Hansberry was not only the brilliant playwright who wrote A Raisin in the Sun and became the first black female playwright to have a play performed on Broadway, she was also an activist who was urgently and desperately striving to leave the world a better place than when she lived in it. Lorraine Hansberry was convinced one way to fix America was to “transform the white liberal into a radical.” I thought about how decades after her death and just weeks after Heather’s, the world needs Lorraine Hansberry’s words. Urgently. Desperately. Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart is the first feature documentary made about Lorraine Hansberry’s life. Nina Simone sang at her funeral. Malcolm X, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sidney Poitier were there. Hansberry was friends with James {NAME} and went toe-to-toe with JFK on race issues. She won a Pulitzer. A Raisin in the Sun is one of the most important pieces of art ever created. When it debuted on Broadway, it starred legends Poitier and Ruby Dee (who are both interviewed in the doc and share some tear-inducing anecdotes) and explored truths about black life that had never been broached on stage. Hansberry literally changed the face of theatre. It took Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart director Tracy Heather Strain 13 years to get this documentary made. I don’t want to ask why because the answer most likely has to do with the fact that stories about black women are rarely prioritised. A story about a black woman who challenged her oppression at every turn, wrote uncomfortable but necessary works and was a self-described “heterosexually-married lesbian?” To me, that sounds like an Oscar-worthy script waiting to be written. For Strain, it was a labour of love she took on because she believed people needed to hear Hansberry’s “[extraordinary voice.](” In Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart, Lorraine Hansberry is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, who reads snippets from Hansberry’s letters and essays. Of course, her words are beautiful but what the doc does so well is make them feel personal. In a letter to her husband, a Jewish activist, Hansberry wrote, “I love you. Problem be damned…I am right about those things about you that must change. And I am going to struggle with you.” Is it weird if I make these my future wedding vows? For context, Lorraine Hansberry married a white man in Chicago in the 60s when in many states interracial marriage was still illegal. Hansberry was black, a woman and an artist at a time when it was arduous and exhausting to be any one of those things. James {NAME} is quoted a few times in the doc but the passage that stood out most to me was this: “Every artist, every writer goes under the hammer but the black writer is by definition public and he goes under something much worse… the strain will kill you.” Lorraine Hansberry’s official cause of death was cancer at age 34 but her friends and family interviewed in the doc repeatedly mention the stress of her work. And the stress Hansberry put on herself to do more, to be better. On her deathbed, she was still wondering how she could make a difference. She was writing about how to push white moderates to step up for civil rights. She was writing her way out of the physical and emotional pain. She was too sick to go to the opening of her follow up to A Raisin in the Sun but it was maligned by critics. They didn’t get it. It made them uncomfortable. It was about a group of artists from different backgrounds, not just black people. It forced people to ask, “what is a black play?” and who has the right to tell what stories? These are questions we are still asking. When A Raisin in the Sun was made into a movie, the studio came back with notes to cut the “race material” and, “We can’t let people know in advance it’s about Negroes.” Then, for her follow up, Hansberry included different races and critics wanted her to stick to writing about the black experience. She couldn’t win. This is what James {NAME} meant when he said the black writer “goes under something much worse.” Throughout Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart I became more and more upset that we lost this voice so young and that her legacy isn’t more celebrated. I now want to read every word Lorraine Hansberry has ever written. After her death, Hansberry’s writing was turned into the play To Be Young, Gifted and Black. Here’s where my upset gives way to hope. One of Hansberry’s life goals was to let the younger generation know, against all odds and a history of oppression, that black could be beautiful. Before she died, Hansberry left her hospital to give a speech to teenage winners of a national creative writing contest. I’ll leave you with words you should pass on to any young, gifted and black person in your life. You are young, gifted and black. In the year 1964, I, for one, can think of no more a dynamic combination that a person might be. Look at the work that awaits you. Write if you will but write about the world as it is and as you think it ought to be and must be. Work hard at it. Care about it. Write about our people. Tell their story. Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart is still screening at TIFF and will air on PBS in February. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 6:35 PM [The best comedy so far this year: The Death Of Stalin]( [Jason Isaacs, Andrea Riseborough and Steve Buscemi attend 'The Death of Stalin' premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Winter Garden Theatre on September 8, 2017 in Toronto, Canada]( Armando Ianucci (Veep, In The Loop) is one of the best satirists working today—certainly the best working in narrative forms. His latest piece of satire is The Death of Stalin, a Cold War era comedy about, you guessed it, the death of Joseph Stalin. Or rather, it’s about the bureaucratic scramble that follows the death of Joseph Stalin, as his deputies and the members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party scramble for power. It’s easy to imagine this as a dead boring, dull grey biopic with an ominous score that swells every time Nikita Khrushchev—Stalin’s eventual successor—appears on screen. But The Death of Stalin could not be further from that History Channel imagining. It’s F*CKING HILARIOUS. Death is cast flawlessly, starting with [Olga Kurylenko]( as a Stalin-hating pianist and Paddy Considine as Comrade Andreyev, a beleaguered radio producer tasked with getting a recording of a symphony to Stalin himself. The tone of Death is tricky, because it is an outright comedy, but it’s also about a brutal dictator, so the laughs come fast and frequent, but so do scenes of utter horror, such as nighttime raids and executions. Everyone lives in terror under Stalin’s regime—Andreyev’s whey-faced panic in the face of a failed recording quickly establishes the life and death stakes of even the smallest interactions in Soviet Russia. The heart of the story isn’t the symphony radio station, though, it’s the Committee of the Communist Party after Stalin dies. His chosen successor is his chief deputy, Georgy Malenkov ([Jeffrey Tambor](), but a power struggle quickly erupts between Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi), and Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale), the head of the NKVD security force. Also along for the ride is Svetlana Stalin ([Andrea Riseborough]() and Vasily Stalin (Rupert Friend), who is drunk and conspiracy-minded to incredible comedic effect, and World War II hero Field Marshall Zhukov (Jason Isaacs), who gets involved with a coup attempt mostly because he seems bored. A deep dive down Wikipedia reveals that the historical detail in Death is incredibly accurate—Vasily Stalin, for instance, really was raging about conspiracies and had to be sidelined during the state funeral proceedings—but what Ianucci does so well is combine factual detail with scathingly funny satire. These people are so feared among the public, but behind closed doors they’re bumbling bureaucrats and dweebs whose various machinations keep f*cking up and rarely work as planned. The Death of Stalin is one of the funniest movies in recent memory. There are some disturbing scenes of violence, but one of Death’s best tricks is how effectively harsh Soviet reality is combined with Ianucci’s take on bureaucracy and the power-mad, back-stabbing nerds who keep it running. Death is packed with brilliant jokes, including two great gags, one involving the pee-puddle Stalin left on the floor, and another about getting just the right girl to pose with Malenkov when he’s named Stalin’s successor. Ianucci’s work is about piercing the veil of power and exposing how ridiculous those who seek it can be. The Death of Stalin is a perfect realization of his goals, and easily the best comedy so far this year. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 6:13 PM [Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool may be the one for Annette Bening]( [Annette Bening attends the 'Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool' premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on September 12, 2017 in Toronto, Canada]( [Annette Bening]( and [Jamie Bell]( dance their way into your hearts in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. Really, they do. Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, they’re grooving to Boogie Oogie Oogie inside Gloria Grahame’s boarding house. Yes, obviously, there’s an age difference between Gloria (Annette) and aspiring actor Peter (Jamie), but he’s very, very into her. If you’re wondering why or how an Oscar winner like Gloria ended up in Liverpool on the theatre circuit, you are missing the point. Gloria’s star may have dimmed, but she remains always “on” and she wants Peter to be a part of her life, as much as she says she doesn’t. She wants to be adored, and Peter falls for her quickly. She’s fun, vibrant, sexy, and carries herself as if she’s still a star, because she is. In Annette’s words, Gloria is “[written with flaws](”. Yet, this movie is all about the strength of their connection, and starting fresh in a relationship, in spite of one’s notorious reputation or emotional backstory. She’s a complicated woman, trying to keep several secrets from bubbling up to the surface, but Peter’s just going along for the ride. The film moves back and forth through time as if it’s a lucid dream, and much like Vanilla Sky, you’re constantly reassessing whether or not you’re getting the full story. Without giving too much away, there’s a twist in this movie which, in etalk’s Devon Soltendieck’s terms, is “like seeing the Emerald City for the first time.” It makes you rethink every romantic or personal choice you see in the movie, and possibly, in your own life. Gloria and Peter are able to maintain their connection in spite of other people’s perceptions of who they are, what they’ve done, or who they should be. It’s a beautiful love story, and when I screened it last week, there was not a dry eye in the house. Of course there are several parallels to look into here: Gloria Grahame is an Oscar winner who struggled in her later years to get work, respect, and maintain her familial ties. Annette has never won an Oscar, which is bonkers because she’s a one in a generation talent. There’s a big age difference in the Gloria-Peter relationship, and Annette herself is married to a Hollywood legend with a formerly notorious reputation, Warren Beatty, who is older than her. But this could be the one for her. It’s accessible, heartbreaking and works on every level. If you believe love is something that should be shown not told, than you truly see it “shone” in this movie. It will also make you rethink May-December romances. So, ahem, yes, I ship Darren Aronofsky and Jennifer Lawrence [even more now](. And this is also a career-defining role for Jamie Bell. When we interviewed the film’s director Paul McGuigan in our etalk lounge, he said this movie works so well because Jamie’s eyes are “so reactive.” He’s right. There’s a warmth to their bond together, and you feel the love he has for her, and how she disarms him, both when she’s vibrant and also as she dims. Even the cast knows it’s a hit. Sony Pictures Classics acquired the film about a month before TIFF. This is the same studio that picked up Still Alice from TIFF in 2014 and helped Julianne Moore earn her first Oscar. But they only bought it after they saw it. Will they be able to do the same for Annette? It’s definitely possible. Annette’s been attached to this part [for 20 years]( and reportedly based her performance in The Grifters on Gloria. It’s made for her, and for her talents. Warren, Annette, Jamie and [Kate Mara]( were all at the premiere of the film on Tuesday night. Jamie talked about the disco dancing they do [at the start of the film]( as did Annette, who insisted she wanted to prove to her four kids that she’s a cool mom, [and a great dancer](. This is a pretty cool foursome. On one hand, you have two Hollywood legends who are reveling in the moment, and on the other, you have two stars ready and hungry to make a name for themselves. Next up, though, is their biggest challenge: turning this beloved critical hit into a box office must-see. And I can’t wait to see it again. [#FilmStarsDontDieInLiverpool]( isn't just a slam dunk for Annette & Jamie, but it may be favourite of 2017. [#TIFF17]( [#etalkTIFF]( [@MongrelMedia]( [pic.twitter.com/iWEibGZ8pY]( — Joanna Adams (@nowstarringTO) [September 13, 2017]( [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 5:47 PM [Jake & Tatiana in Stronger]( [Jake Gyllenhaal and actress Tatiana Maslany attend the 'Stronger' New York Premiere at Walter Reade Theater on September 14, 2017 in New York City]( Many of you have written to ask about Stronger and the truth is, I totally forgot to write about it and then the New York premiere happened last night which works out well for me, almost like I had that planned. Here’s [Jake Gyllenhaal](, with Jeff Bauman, and [Tatiana Maslany]( alongside director David Gordon Green. Stronger opens next weekend. The reviews are solid. But this isn’t a surprise given the talent involved. And Jake Gyllenhaal is never sh-t. As usual, he’s very, very good in this film. Having said that, I don’t think he’s the star of Stronger. To me, the star of Stronger is Tatiana Maslany. And the supporting cast, which actually strengthens the film and doesn’t take away from it. I don’t know that it was meant to be a vehicle to showcase Jake and only Jake. I don’t know that he takes work like that at this point in his career anymore. Stronger reminds me in parts a lot of David O Russell’s The Fighter and, yes, I suppose it’s because of the Boston connection. You remember Mark Wahlberg’s family in The Fighter? All those family members and the drama caused by his mother, played by Melissa Leo who went on to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in that film? The dynamic in Stronger is similar with Miranda Richardson totally killing it as Jake’s mother. She’s the one who tries to find meaning in senseless tragedy by pushing her son forward as an inspiration. This is one of the themes of sto– to highlight, of course, the courage of victims after trauma but also to remind us that those from whom we want to find inspiration often don’t actually want to inspire. It’s an experience that’s almost forced on them, unfairly. Imagine you get your legs blown off at a time in your life when you don’t even know what you want your life to be. And then, while trying to rebuild your life, everyone wants you to be their emblem, a symbol that takes the shape of whatever it is that they need symbolised. Some people step naturally into that role. And their stories are valuable. But some people also struggle with that experience. Those stories are worth telling too. As are the stories about the caregivers, because, for me, this is what is at the heart of Stronger – and that’s where we find Tatiana Maslany. For every Jeff Bauman, there’s an Erin Hurley (Tatiana Maslany). The people who love the victims are victims too. Their lives change too. Stronger is as much as profile of Jeff Bauman’s struggle and tenacity as it is a love letter to his caregiver, to caregivers. Tatiana Maslany represents those in the support roles, those who clean up, those who lift, those who drive their loved ones from rehab to therapy to the hospital and back. Those who may not be able to express their frustrations, their fears, and their grief over their own losses because their traumas, regrets, and resentments are often overlooked. I’m particularly sensitive to this because my father is a caregiver, to my mother who is disabled. She has an incurable disease. For years he’s been the one to put on her diaper when she was paralysed from the waist down, to wipe her drool and vomit, to carry her onto her commode, to empty her bedpan, to push her up and down the aisles of the hospital in the middle of the night. This has been his reality since retirement. Her life would not be possible without him. It’s his lifestyle, a lifestyle dedicated entirely to her. And he has never, ever complained. Caregivers don’t complain. They just care, often in the shadows, while their pain doesn’t get acknowledged. This is what Tatiana Maslany carries in Stronger and she too is a symbol, in this case a symbol for the essential role of caregivers everywhere who stoically and silently navigate trauma and its aftermath. I recently [did an interview]( about caregiving and my own experience as one of ma’s caregivers. Please know that my intention was not to highlight myself but to contribute to Campaign Participation, raising awareness about blood health, organ donation, and the importance of caregivers. To read about the campaign, please [click here](. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 4:59 PM [TIFF Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri]( [Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell attend the 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson Theatre on September 11, 2017 in Toronto, Canada]( Mildred Hayes ([Frances McDormand]() lives at the end of a lonely road in rural Missouri, the only thing marking her way are three decrepit billboards. She buys the ad rights for the billboards and up go three violently red billboards asking the town police chief why her daughter’s murderer still hasn’t been caught. And so begins the story of the three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri. It’s a story set in Middle American decline, but its roots are mythological. This is anger, violence, tragedy, forgiveness, and revenge of Hellenic proportions, and all because a woman asks a question of a man. Three Billboards is Martin McDonagh’s third film, following In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths. McDonagh is also a playwright, and that shows more in Billboards than it does in his previous works, which have great dialogue, too, but the pacing of Billboards is that of a play, with spectacular monologues that include applause breaks, which are useful as the audience burst into applause following a scathing monologue about culpability delivered by McDormand. But Billboards still speaks the language of film, with incredibly well-staged scenes and a great visual gag involving Officer Dixon ([Sam Rockwel](l) and his music. There’s a strong Coen Brothers streak in Billboards—aided by the presence of McDormand—but there is more forgiveness in Billboards than you’ll find among the Cohens’ films. Mildred is still grieving her daughter, and is frustrated and angry that there has been no progress in solving her case, but though she singles out Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) in her billboards, it’s not about attacking him, though most of the community sees it that way. Willoughby is sick, you see, and everyone just wants Mildred to lay off—including some audience members. After the screening, a couple guys behind me asked each other why Mildred couldn’t just get over it, after all, Willoughby seems like a pretty good guy. But it’s not about whether or not Willoughby is a good guy, and Mildred never doubts his sincerity. She just wants him to find her daughter’s killer, preferably before he dies. But the story is really about Officer Dixon, the kind of dim bulb character only Sam Rockwell could play. He looks like a Barney Fife type, but right away we learn there is an incident on his record in which he (allegedly) tortured a black man while in custody. When Mildred puts up her billboards, the non-white citizens of Ebbing support her, because this town is a microcosm of America, in which there are two justice systems and they do not work equally for all. Dixon represents the “bad apple”, in whom, for some reason, Willoughby sees some good. So the question of Billboards isn’t really the one Mildred puts up on her signs, it’s whether or not Mildred and Dixon can let go of their anger before they utterly destroy themselves and each other. The road to forgiveness, of self and others, is not easy, and Billboards does not present a final answer. It resists pat resolution and leaves the ending open for interpretation. But the tone of the film definitely shifts in later stages, from the raw, angry nerve of the opening act, to a more reflective tone that allows forgiveness to find its way into the characters. Dixon, particularly, must find forgiveness from people he has hurt, and it comes to him through small acts of kindness, from being shown a basic decency he has never shown anyone himself. Does he deserve it? That’s up to you. Three Billboards is dark and profane, at times funny and at others tragic. It’s a joy to watch, perfectly cast with great actors who are given some of the best dialogue you’ll hear all year. It feels like these roles could only be played by these actors, that only Martin McDonagh could imagine this world, which is essentially an outsider’s view—McDonagh is Irish—of contemporary America. But it’s a searing portrait, at once condemning and forgiving. Three Billboards is fueled by anger, but it’s the chance for forgiveness that propels the characters through the story. It starts with one question and ends with another, and we’re left to wonder whether or not the cycle of violence and destruction continues, or if that forgiveness, once offered, is enough to overcome hurt and anger. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 4:12 PM [Angelina’s big New York premiere]( [Angelina Jolie visits The United Nations on September 14, 2017 in New York City]( [Angelina Jolie]( met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres yesterday at the United Nations headquarters. Details of what was discussed were not released but he was formerly the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and she’s the Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency so it’s probably not hard to guess what their conversation was about. Later on, Angelina and all six of the children attended the New York premiere of First They Killed My Father. And all six kids wore yellow flowers. Miss Zahara had hers in her hair. Angelina held hands with Loung Ung on the red carpet. And she attended the after-party with Maddox and Pax, wearing a white trench coat. And whenever she’s in a trenchcoat it reminds me of the trenchcoat she wore in Mr & Mrs Smith. Which brings us to Brad Pitt and all the rumours that they might be reconciling. From her though, there’s been no indication that there’s to be a reconciliation. The only legitimate reconciliation here is the one with her father, Jon Voight, who was also there last night in support of his daughter and maybe to babysit, though I’m not sure for how much longer we can say that because Vivienne and Knox are already 9 years old. 9! They’re all getting more and more independent. This is the goal, non? For kids to go off and have their own lives? Maddox probably has a pretty full life that’s all his own. What will that look like for Angelina Jolie, [who just told the NY Times that]( “They really help me so much. We’re really such a unit. They’re the best friends I’ve ever had. Nobody in my life has ever stood by me more”. This was the quote that stood out to me most from that article. For over 15 years, Angelina has defined her life by her children. Her children, however, may not define their lives by her, as many parents already know. As Angelina approaches that stage, what version of her will we meet? I just realised that today I’ve written about the last three women in Brad’s Pitt’s life, in the order that they were in his life. This was not a conspiracy…I don’t think? [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 2:54 PM [TIFF Review: Borg McEnroe]( [Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf attend the 'Borg/McEnroe' premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on September 7, 2017 in Toronto, Canada]( The other tennis movie that played at TIFF is Borg McEnroe, which was the opening night film because…someone at TIFF really likes tennis? It’s a tennis themed year. If you’re a big tennis fan, you might enjoy Borg McEnroe for its recreation of the 1980 Wimbledon finals in which Björn Borg and John McEnroe played a great, close match. At the time, Björn Borg was the best men’s tennis player in the world, and McEnroe was number two, better known for his temper and antics than his game. Swedish actor Sverrir Gudnason stars as Borg, and [Shia LaBeouf]( as McEnroe, and they’re both pretty great. Gudnason gets the focus and intensity of Borg, and LaBeouf is perfect as a hotheaded guy who can’t quite control himself. I’m just not sure why this movie exists. I think it wants to be the Rocky of tennis, but the build-up to the final match isn’t as compelling as it needs to be for that to work. Oh, Borg was a temperamental child who eventually learned to channel his rage into his game? And McEnroe had impossible-to-please parents? Okay. Why is that this movie? Borg McEnroe might as well be a documentary, because its most notable element is the imparting of biographical information. (To be fair, most biopics should just be documentaries.) The tennis scenes are, admittedly, very good, but you can watch [the real thing on Youtube](. Again, I’m not sure what about Borg McEnroe justifies its existence. Shia LaBeouf’s performance, maybe? He really is a very good actor, and it’s been a while since we’ve seen him be very good in something. And this Gudnason is also very good, and very handsome, which is a pleasant bonus. There’s also Stellan Skarsgård, another Very Good Actor doing Very Good Acting. There’s nothing wrong with Borg McEnroe on a technical level, but the story, even with the drama of an intense final match, isn’t terribly compelling. Do we need a rule in movies, that just because a sporting event is exciting, it shouldn’t be a movie? Maybe we do. I used to be annoyed at Seabiscuit for not recreating the match race at the climax of the film, but in retrospect, that was a good decision. Partly because there will never be a greater horse race in narrative film than the one in The Black Stallion, but mostly because Seabiscuit knew that the race wasn’t really the point, it was the underdog story of this little horse. But what is the story of Borg McEnroe? Battle of the Sexes uses tennis to make a larger point about the condition of the world, but Borg McEnroe isn’t making a point beyond “professional athletes are intense people”, and also “these two guys eventually became super good friends”. And THAT is interesting. How about a Borg McEnroe that follows them past 1980, when they become friends? How about a story about two great competitors bonding? There’s the whole “gentleman vs. the rebel” set-up the press used to hype the Wimbledon finals in the movie, but it’s not really explored beyond that most surface level. We don’t really get into McEnroe’s inner process at all, and all we see of Borg is that he has panic attacks and really doesn’t seem to enjoy tennis. That’s also a story! How about a movie about Borg’s retirement at age 26? What did he do next? I don’t know! Tell me that story. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 2:07 PM [Jennifer Aniston: the wedding dress and wellness too]( [Jennifer Aniston covers Harper's Bazaar]( [Jennifer Aniston]( is on the cover of the October 2017 issue of Harper’s Bazaar to promote her new fragrance, Jennifer Aniston Luxe. Amy Sedaris did the interview though. Which is why it’s a longer conversation than what usually happens in a Jennifer Aniston beauty magazine feature. I feel like I’ve probably read every Jennifer Aniston magazine article over the last 20 years. This one might be the best one, because Amy is a close friend of [Justin Theroux]( (she was the best man at their wedding) so there’s a lot more detail, gossipy details since Amy’s asking the questions from an insider’s point of view. Like what she just gave Justin for their anniversary – “our edited video of the wedding”. And a scrap of information about her wedding dress, which we still haven’t seen. This is interesting, non? We all remember the photo from her first wedding. That was actually the only official shot that was ever released by Jen and Brad Pitt after they got married. It reveals enough but not that much. We don’t know what the bottom of the dress looked like. Or the back. We’ve never seen the full length of the veil. And we have yet to see a shot of her and Justin at their wedding. (We did, however, get an entire photo album of Brange’s wedding which, in retrospect, was probably a bad omen.) Will we ever see a shot of Jen and Justin at their wedding? If she’s a strong contender at some point for an Oscar? Other observations: -Jen still speaks in corny platitudes. Like “brother from another mother”. And later, “sisters from another mister”. I dunno, maybe it’s an inside joke. But it makes me crazy how she recites from the pages of a Chicken Soup book. -Jen is always renovating. She redid Justin’s apartment in New York and their place in LA. Also she loves entertaining and she and Justin have people over all the time. -She’s really crafty. She made a wedding day fragrance for her friend Andrea. -She hosts spa nights and gives everyone facials. -She takes vitamins. She obsessively hunts down new vitamins. Ummmmm….are you smelling what I’m smelling? Do you smell goop? It’s not even that subtle. She actually puts it right out there: “My dream is to open a wellness center. I have a fantasy where you have this beautiful space with facialists, rotating workouts, meditation classes, and a café with recipes that are healthier versions of delicious foods so you’re not deprived. I’m working on it in my brain. Not to sound all woo-woo, but if you go out into the world with inner peace, you’re more joyful. There’s a life’s-too-short policy that I now have with my work; no negative Nancies. So I’m looking forward to my facial.” Sounds like Jennifer Aniston wants in on the wellness game. I mean she’s kinda halfway there. With the water contract, the hair products, the skincare through the Aveeno sponsorship, the fragrances, the fitness, we know she knows about a good tan, she’s an expert at Cabo and Mexico so the travel component is there, and evidently she knows about interior design. And the MiniVan Majority thinks she’s fashionable. A line of little black dresses would totally make sense. How much longer before Jennifer Aniston Lifestyle Enterprises is a reality? [Click here]( to read the full Jennifer Aniston interview at Harper’s Bazaar. The cover looks weird to me. They’ve chosen a shot of her face at a weird angle. It’s almost unrecognisable. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 1:34 PM [Gwyneth tries to rescue retail and print]( [Gwyneth Paltrow's goop magazine]( The first issue of goop, [Gwyneth Paltrow](’s quarterly “wellness”-themed magazine in partnership with Conde Nast, was released this week. She’s on the cover, lying in mud, probably high quality organic mud. (Is that redundant?) G is also featured in the new issue of [Architectural Digest]( ahead of the opening of goop Lab, their first permanent store at the Brentwood Country Mart. AD has exclusive photos of the shoppe with commentary from Gwyneth and the designers, Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, about the store concept and aesthetic. It’s 2017. And we’ve been hearing all about the decline of print and retail. And here’s Gwyneth getting into the print and retail spaces. If successful, she’ll be able to take credit for rescuing print and retail, as she does for the popularity of yoga, gluten-free, and acupuncture. The first issue of goop, the magazine, [includes an interview]( with G about her wellness philosophy and how she came to be the all-knowing wellness expert: “We’ve always been a lightning rod for that kind of thing. It’s funny, when I started doing yoga in the nineties, people were like, “What is she doing?” There was negative press about me doing yoga. When my cookbook came out, It’s All Good, with allergen-free recipes, there was such a vicious backlash about, “What is this gluten-free thing she’s talking about? She starves her children.” I mean, it was so intense. Now, every menu, gluten-free. I had the same with “conscious uncoupling,” I had the same with acupuncture. I’m very accustomed to being the person who says, “Hey, what about this? This worked for me.” And everyone having a freakout, and then you start to see, like, there’s yoga everywhere. But people initially were like, this is nuts.” Do you do yoga? Do you love it? If so, did you know you have to thank Gwyneth Paltrow for it? Earlier this week, Olga Khazan wrote a piece for The Atlantic called [The Baffling Rise of goop](, examining how and why it’s become so popular, the conditions that were in place that G exploited – although she would say that she was just listening to an increasingly frustrated demographic that felt ignored by the mainstream healthcare community. In response to the criticism that goop has received for its shady recommendations and unsubstantiated claims, G insists that the goal of goop is to encourage its followers to be curious, to ask questions, to wonder about things, the way she wonders about things, to challenge the information that’s been presented, especially if you don’t “feel good”. The problem, as many have pointed out, is that the curiosity that she’s inciting often leads to a purchase. Of “earthing”, the practice of going outside and walking barefoot to recalibrate your energy sources and reduce pain and stress, she says on the one hand that, “It’s free to walk in the grass. It’s free to meditate”, but, you know, if you don’t want to go outside – because it’s free and anyone can do it! – as The Atlantic points out, goop will tell you where to buy “bed sheets and mats that can be plugged into the grounding port of an electrical outlet. One queen-sized sheet goes for $200”. For Gwyneth, then, it would seem that curiosity can only be directed from her and not at her. She’s asking the questions, she’s challenging the science. But when you question her answers and her science, when you are curious about HER alleged discoveries, she relabels it as judgment. By that logic then, the “right” kind of curiosity must be Gwyneth Paltrow approved. Has Gwyneth made curiosity exclusive? Well, considering the price points of some of her items, her brand of wellness is certainly more accessible to some than others. Which is why her opponents have warned that her business is turning wellness into a privilege. G refutes that and argues in goop’s first issue that her approach to wellness doesn’t distinguish between class and that any attempts to characterise it that way is misogynistic. Seriously. “People are afraid of women, because when a woman gets an idea things change. Women are in charge of where the money is spent in a house—when that consumer behavior starts to change, industries change. So corporations want everything just how it is. They don’t want women asking too many questions. It’s a very misogynistic response.” The problem here is that she’s starting with consumption. Women should be able to affect consumer change – but their power to do so has to begin with social change. For all her talk about women “not feeling good” because they’re so busy, too busy, because they’re trying to manage at home and at work, because many workplaces are institutionalised for inequality, because they work harder for less money, because parental leave is insultingly inadequate in America, how is throwing a bottle of vitamins at the situation going to help? To be fair, that question was asked of her by Sarah Mesle who interviewed Gwyneth for this first issue of goop: You made the point that so many women have chronic problems. Why do women feel so bad all the time? Why is there so much pressure? So, for me, one of the things that is clear is that these are not only personal problems, but social structures, that the US particularly hasn’t figured out how to deal with. We don’t have good childcare, we don’t have great support for healthcare in general; education is always strapped for cash. So, I’ll get these emails about, like, “Okay, we have to do this big fundraiser to, like, get an art teacher for the public school, ’cause otherwise we’re not going to have art classes.” And I’m like, okay, this is so great, but also, what we should all do is take all this energy and go to Sacramento and pass a bill to f%$king hire the art teacher so that everybody, all the kids, have art teachers. Right? So, it’s that funny question of how to spend your energy trying to do what’s best for you and your family and the household that you manage, and then how to think about pushing that energy towards a broader change. This was G’s response: “Yeah, I mean, I think it’s our mission to empower women. Our mission is to support women with content, product, ideas, where they can get closest to their real identity and have the courage to speak and operate from that place. Whatever it is that they want to do in the world, whether they want to stay home with children, whether they work, whether they want to start a second career, whether they want to understand, like, you know, how an alternative health modality might benefit them.” Supporting women with content, PRODUCT, ideas. Did we really have to throw PRODUCT in there? As one of the things that might help women find their “real identity” and the “courage to speak”? Women have always had the courage to speak. It’s never been about not speaking. It’s about being HEARD. By the people and the systems that are the root cause of women not feeling empowered. Saying that goop is providing women with “content, product, ideas” to further their curiosity so that they can make positive changes in their lives implies that women haven’t been effective at pushing for change because they didn’t have the right resources until goop came along and told them about f-cking earthing! Like, oh, it will happen when we get better at asking for it. Right. Because the assholes who get to decide about reproductive rights and equal pay and racial equality, they’re suddenly going to start paying attention after women get their auras read at the crystal booth while attending the goop summit? [Click here]( to read G’s full interview at goop. [And here]( to see the Architectural Digest feature on the first goop retail space. And [here]( to read Olga Khazan’s essay on goop and the future of health journalism. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 12:57 PM [TIFF Review: The Current War]( [Benedict Cumberbatch at 'The Current War' premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada]( The Current War is about Thomas Edison ([Benedict Cumberbatch]() and George Westinghouse ([Michael Shannon]() scrambling to build the electrical grid that will power a nation. When the movie begins, Edison is already a famous “inventor”, known most recently for the invention of the lightbulb, and Westinghouse has made an enormous fortune from air brakes and is in the natural gas business. As electricity emerges as a power source, Edison supports direct current, and Westinghouse sees the greater potential of long range alternating current. We know the outcome, of course, because we still use alternating current today, so there isn’t much suspense involved. What it all boils down to is a movie about two rich men arguing over which one will get richer. The stakes could not be lower. Cumberbatch and Shannon are perfectly fine, though Cumberbatch has played so many geniuses it’s starting to get stale. To his credit, he tries to put a spin on it, but it’s really hard not to see nineteenth century Doctor Strange farting around with lightbulbs. (An impression not helped by the presence of Tom Holland as Samuel Insull, Edison’s secretary. It’s like Doctor Strange and Spider-Man doing old timey science together.) On the other hand, it’s always nice to see Shannon outside of psychopath mode, and he plays Westinghouse as a dignified man whose defining feature is his mustache. It’s not his fault—the writing is pretty limp. (The screenplay was written by Michael Mitnick, but story would be better served by Ken Burns.) There is one bright spot, though, and that is [Nicholas Hoult]( as Nikola Tesla. He’s barely on screen, because once you introduce Tesla into a story he completely takes it over, but Holt is PERFECT as Tesla. He bears a passing resemblance—chiefly in the “tall, thin, pale” category—and he delivers on some known Tesla quirks without turning Tesla into a twitchy mess. He makes his choices small, like a slight hesitation to shake a hand, and a decision not to touch a doorknob. He’s also attired beautifully (costumes courtesy Michael Wilkinson, Zack Snyder’s go-to costumer) in keeping with Tesla’s reputation as a sharp dresser. The best scenes in The Current War are the two in which Tesla interacts with Westinghouse, solely because they talk of the future Tesla envisions. It would have been interesting to watch a movie about Tesla inventing the A/C mo