Less than 24 hours after Democrats took control of the House of Representatives, President Trump effectively fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He did so for no discernible reason other than his frustration with Sessions’ recusal from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, which has led to the indictment of several figures in the Trump’s orbit. Replacing Sessions is his chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, who last year wrote an op-ed arguing that Mueller’s investigation had “gone too far.” According to the New York Times,...
- 11/8/2018
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been accused by media critics of using doctored video footage of CNN’s Jim Acosta that was previously promoted by the conspiracy-oriented website InfoWars to justify the revoking of Acosta’s press privileges at the White House.
“Where’d you obtain the distorted @Acosta video you posted?,” CNN media reporter Brian Stelter tweeted early Thursday. “InfoWars personality @PrisonPlanet posted the same video two hours before you did. Surely you don’t trust InfoWars…?”
Late Wednesday, Sanders doubled down on the decision to revoke Acosta’s press credentials, sharing a video of an incident between Acosta and a White House intern which she said showed his “inappropriate” behavior.
“We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass,” said Sanders in a tweet that did not mention Acosta by name. “We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video.
“Where’d you obtain the distorted @Acosta video you posted?,” CNN media reporter Brian Stelter tweeted early Thursday. “InfoWars personality @PrisonPlanet posted the same video two hours before you did. Surely you don’t trust InfoWars…?”
Late Wednesday, Sanders doubled down on the decision to revoke Acosta’s press credentials, sharing a video of an incident between Acosta and a White House intern which she said showed his “inappropriate” behavior.
“We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass,” said Sanders in a tweet that did not mention Acosta by name. “We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video.
- 11/8/2018
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
Ben Flanagan was a participant on this year's Film Critics Day workshop at the Cinema Rediscovered film festival in Bristol and Clevedon in the U.K., a celebration of the finest new digital restorations, contemporary classics and film print rarities from across the globe. Further examples of the writing from the workshop, as well as information about the program, can be found on the Cinema Rediscovered Blog.If the memic arts were put under psychoanalysis, the practice of embalming cinema might turn out to be a fundamental factor in their creation. I’m reworking André Bazin’s Ontology of the Photographic Image here, wherein the great critic, who would have turned 100 this year, states that the cinema “embalms time, rescuing it simply from its proper corruption”. Similarly, the autonomy afforded the online user to remix and re-contextualise moments on film may be a way to navigate and index its history.
- 8/26/2018
- MUBI
A fresh round of speculation that Idris Elba could step into Daniel Craig’s shoes as the next James Bond sent fans in a tizzy on Friday, with even “Solo: A Star Wars Story” director Ron Howard weighing in on the frenzy.
A report in the U.K. tabloid The Daily Star on Thursday posited that Elba, who has long been speculated/rumored/wished for by fans, could step into the role after Daniel Craig finishes his latest Bond film.
According to the newspaper, director Antoine Fuqua said that longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli thinks it’s time to bring some diversity to the role. The paper added that Fuqua specifically mentioned Elba: “Idris could do it if he was in shape. You need a guy with physically strong presence. Idris has that.”
However, a representative for Fuqua told TheWrap that the report “is not true. He never had a conversation about this with Barbara.
A report in the U.K. tabloid The Daily Star on Thursday posited that Elba, who has long been speculated/rumored/wished for by fans, could step into the role after Daniel Craig finishes his latest Bond film.
According to the newspaper, director Antoine Fuqua said that longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli thinks it’s time to bring some diversity to the role. The paper added that Fuqua specifically mentioned Elba: “Idris could do it if he was in shape. You need a guy with physically strong presence. Idris has that.”
However, a representative for Fuqua told TheWrap that the report “is not true. He never had a conversation about this with Barbara.
- 8/10/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Johnny Depp's surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con this year was a shock on multiple levels. The 55-year-old actor, who has recently been wrapped up in multimillion-dollar lawsuits and other public financial problems, stepped out on the Hall H stage on Saturday dressed in the costume of his evil character in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Gellert Grindelwald. His physical presence - a shock of bleach blonde hair, icy blue contacts, a floor-length black coat, and a wand - was enough to catch fans in the audience off-guard regardless, but given the recent controversy surrounding his casting in the sequel, it makes his choice to attend the annual convention even more concerning.
In 2016, Depp was embroiled in a contentious divorce from actress Amber Heard that dragged on for months before ending with disturbing domestic abuse allegations. Heard alleged that Depp "violently attacked" her on a number of occasions...
In 2016, Depp was embroiled in a contentious divorce from actress Amber Heard that dragged on for months before ending with disturbing domestic abuse allegations. Heard alleged that Depp "violently attacked" her on a number of occasions...
- 7/23/2018
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
San Diego Comic-Con was host to some awkward scheduling on Saturday.
During Warner Bros.’ Hall H presentation, Johnny Depp made an appearance as his titular “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” character, helping to debut the latest trailer for the upcoming fantasy film. Roughly an hour later, his ex-wife, Amber Heard, appeared at the convention to promote WB’s “Aquaman,” which released its first trailer at the event.
In court documents, Heard accused Depp of physical abuse while they were married. She won a $7 million settlement in the divorce case, all of which she donated to charity. They settled their divorce in 2016, when she dismissed the claims.
Depp’s appearance was something of a surprise to the audience. It came at the end of the “Fantastic Beast’s” segment, after much of the main cast had already been fielding softball questions along the lines of what they’d do if they had magical powers.
During Warner Bros.’ Hall H presentation, Johnny Depp made an appearance as his titular “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” character, helping to debut the latest trailer for the upcoming fantasy film. Roughly an hour later, his ex-wife, Amber Heard, appeared at the convention to promote WB’s “Aquaman,” which released its first trailer at the event.
In court documents, Heard accused Depp of physical abuse while they were married. She won a $7 million settlement in the divorce case, all of which she donated to charity. They settled their divorce in 2016, when she dismissed the claims.
Depp’s appearance was something of a surprise to the audience. It came at the end of the “Fantastic Beast’s” segment, after much of the main cast had already been fielding softball questions along the lines of what they’d do if they had magical powers.
- 7/21/2018
- by Alex Stedman and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Look, I enjoyed Justice League. It was a fun and entertaining film. But, there's one major aspect of the film that bugged the living hell out of me! It was Superman's CGI upper lip!
When Henry Cavill was brought in for reshoots with Joss Whedon, he had to grow out a mustache for his role in the next Mission: Impossible film. Unfortunately, he was contractually obligated not to shave it, so Warner Bros. had to spend a shit-ton of money to remove it digitally.
It was even more unfortunate that it turned out to be some of the worst CGI in a major big-budget film that I've seen in a long time. As much as I enjoyed how the character of Superman was handled, that CGI upper lip was super freakin' distracting, creepy looking, and laughably bad. When previously talking about reshooting his Superman scenes with his mustache, Cavill told...
When Henry Cavill was brought in for reshoots with Joss Whedon, he had to grow out a mustache for his role in the next Mission: Impossible film. Unfortunately, he was contractually obligated not to shave it, so Warner Bros. had to spend a shit-ton of money to remove it digitally.
It was even more unfortunate that it turned out to be some of the worst CGI in a major big-budget film that I've seen in a long time. As much as I enjoyed how the character of Superman was handled, that CGI upper lip was super freakin' distracting, creepy looking, and laughably bad. When previously talking about reshooting his Superman scenes with his mustache, Cavill told...
- 11/20/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
President Trump shocked the Lgbt community on Wednesday when he tweeted his decision to ban transgender people from the United States military, prompting politicians, media members and other influential figures to express outrage. “Trump is pretty sure the T in Lgbt stands for Trump,” author Dana Schwartz tweeted following the announcement. “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow… Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming,” Trump wrote. “Victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous.
- 7/26/2017
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
Fans of Tom Hardy’s face are finally getting an answer as to why it always seems to be covered up in his films.
Whether he’s sporting a scraggly beard like in The Revenant, or metal face masks like in Mad Max and The Dark Knight Rises, the actor’s mug always seems to be obscured onscreen.
The pattern holds true for his new film Dunkirk, in which Hardy’s face is hidden behind a pilot’s air mask. Now, Christopher Nolan, who directed him in The Dark Knight Rises and Dunkirk, is offering an explanation for the choice.
Whether he’s sporting a scraggly beard like in The Revenant, or metal face masks like in Mad Max and The Dark Knight Rises, the actor’s mug always seems to be obscured onscreen.
The pattern holds true for his new film Dunkirk, in which Hardy’s face is hidden behind a pilot’s air mask. Now, Christopher Nolan, who directed him in The Dark Knight Rises and Dunkirk, is offering an explanation for the choice.
- 7/25/2017
- by Mike Miller
- PEOPLE.com
Ed Sheeran had fans buzzing when he made a surprise cameo on Sunday night’s season 7 premiere of Game of Thrones. But less than a day later, the 26-year-old singer did something else that sent shockwaves through his Sheerios: he deleted his Twitter account.
The “Shape of You” songster’s handle disappeared off the popular site late Monday without any explanation.
He remains active on Instagram, posting a photo with girlfriend Cherry Seaborn while “climbing mountains in Peru.”
As fans may remember, Sheeran has had a complicated relationship with social media and Twitter specifically — telling The Sun in an interview...
The “Shape of You” songster’s handle disappeared off the popular site late Monday without any explanation.
He remains active on Instagram, posting a photo with girlfriend Cherry Seaborn while “climbing mountains in Peru.”
As fans may remember, Sheeran has had a complicated relationship with social media and Twitter specifically — telling The Sun in an interview...
- 7/18/2017
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
Fans are thinking out loud (on social media) about Ed Sheeran‘s appearance in Sunday night’s episode of Game of Thrones.
The 26-year-old “Shape of You” singer made a cameo in the season 7 premiere Sunday night, performing a folksy campfire song before breaking bread with Maisie Williams‘ Arya Stark.
The scene came halfway through the episode when Arya crossed paths with Sheeran and a gang of wayward soldiers in the woods. She complimented his singing and sat down for a warm meal with the men, exchanging a few short lines with Sheeran.
From what is heard in the sequence,...
The 26-year-old “Shape of You” singer made a cameo in the season 7 premiere Sunday night, performing a folksy campfire song before breaking bread with Maisie Williams‘ Arya Stark.
The scene came halfway through the episode when Arya crossed paths with Sheeran and a gang of wayward soldiers in the woods. She complimented his singing and sat down for a warm meal with the men, exchanging a few short lines with Sheeran.
From what is heard in the sequence,...
- 7/17/2017
- by Benjamin VanHoose
- PEOPLE.com
The New York Observer has laid off longtime film critic Rex Reed, in addition to several other members of its entertainment staff, in the latest cutbacks to the newspaper since owner Jared Kushner divested from the paper after the 2016 presidential election.
Reed was notified of the decision last week, he said, concluding a career at the paper that lasted more than 25 years. His last reviews, for “Alien: Covenant” and “Wakefield,” ran May 19. Reed’s editor at the Observer did not return a request for comment.
“The shocking truth is that the Observer has been going down the drain financially for quite some time,” Reed said via email, adding that he felt the future of the paper was thrown into doubt after investment banker Arthur Carter sold it to 25-year-old Kushner in 2006. The young mogul left the paper after his father-in-law, Donald J. Trump, was elected President of the United States last fall.
Reed was notified of the decision last week, he said, concluding a career at the paper that lasted more than 25 years. His last reviews, for “Alien: Covenant” and “Wakefield,” ran May 19. Reed’s editor at the Observer did not return a request for comment.
“The shocking truth is that the Observer has been going down the drain financially for quite some time,” Reed said via email, adding that he felt the future of the paper was thrown into doubt after investment banker Arthur Carter sold it to 25-year-old Kushner in 2006. The young mogul left the paper after his father-in-law, Donald J. Trump, was elected President of the United States last fall.
- 5/31/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Image Source: Getty / Neilson Barnard In case you somehow missed it, the Met Gala went down on Monday night. Although it gave us some truly memorable looks (*cough* Rihanna *cough*) and plenty of celebrity Pda (we see you, Kendall Jenner!), the most important thing to come out of the annual high-fashion soirée was the pure abundance of memes. Were they funny enough to out-do the hilarious, savage observations from last year? You be the judge. Related49 Met Gala Photos That Will Make You Feel Like You Were There 1. my inner monologue: "remember, not everything is about you."also me: pic.twitter.com/6C2pqGCCd1 - ChampagnePetty (@__Dutch) May 1, 2017 Image Source: Getty / Neilson Barnard 2. pic.twitter.com/NBZlOaiB7d - Josh (@JellaYonce) May 2, 2017 Image Source: Instagram user beyonce 3. I wasn't able to make it to The #MetGala but here are my outfits for the event!!..These looks took Years to create.
- 5/3/2017
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
President Donald Trump — who has faced several charges of anti-Semitism in the past — almost made it through the Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony without controversy.
Almost.
While some applauded the solemn tone Trump struck in his remarks at the ceremony on Tuesday, Late Night host Seth Meyers couldn’t help but notice the president’s mispronunciation of the word “Nazi” as “nozzie.”
In his Tuesday night monologue, Meyers roasted the president’s latest grammar flub, pointing out that the word “Nazi” is not supposed to rhyme with Fozzie (as in Bear).
“Who can forget Hitler’s famous words: ‘Waka.
Almost.
While some applauded the solemn tone Trump struck in his remarks at the ceremony on Tuesday, Late Night host Seth Meyers couldn’t help but notice the president’s mispronunciation of the word “Nazi” as “nozzie.”
In his Tuesday night monologue, Meyers roasted the president’s latest grammar flub, pointing out that the word “Nazi” is not supposed to rhyme with Fozzie (as in Bear).
“Who can forget Hitler’s famous words: ‘Waka.
- 4/26/2017
- by Tierney McAfee
- PEOPLE.com
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
Lineup Announcements
– The 2017 HollyWeb Festival, sponsored by AMC Independent and running March 30 – April 2, has announced the full schedule of digital series, filmmaker panels, and events for this year’s edition of the festival, celebrating the world’s premiere digital content. 97 digital series will have episodes screened at AMC Universal CityWalk 19 (100 Universal City Plaza), the Universal Hilton (555 Universal Hollywood Drive), and the Fonda Theatre (6126 Hollywood Blvd.).
HollyWeb Festival Co-Director Daniel Doherty said, “From the beginning, the HollyWeb Festival has sought to shine a light on web series creators, honor their collective vision and work, as well as create a yearly event where they can gather and meet, exchange notes, and possibly form partnerships that will lead to even more outstanding and entertaining web series.” HollyWeb Co-Director Jennifer Doherty,...
Lineup Announcements
– The 2017 HollyWeb Festival, sponsored by AMC Independent and running March 30 – April 2, has announced the full schedule of digital series, filmmaker panels, and events for this year’s edition of the festival, celebrating the world’s premiere digital content. 97 digital series will have episodes screened at AMC Universal CityWalk 19 (100 Universal City Plaza), the Universal Hilton (555 Universal Hollywood Drive), and the Fonda Theatre (6126 Hollywood Blvd.).
HollyWeb Festival Co-Director Daniel Doherty said, “From the beginning, the HollyWeb Festival has sought to shine a light on web series creators, honor their collective vision and work, as well as create a yearly event where they can gather and meet, exchange notes, and possibly form partnerships that will lead to even more outstanding and entertaining web series.” HollyWeb Co-Director Jennifer Doherty,...
- 3/23/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Rachel Maddow’s surprise announcement Tuesday night that she would be broadcasting portions of President Donald Trump‘s tax returns created a frenzy on social media.
But by the time The Rachel Maddow Show aired, reaction was mixed. Many liberals were disappointed that Maddow only had two pages of the billionaire businessman’s taxes from 2005 – and no bombshell.
Conservatives – including the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. – crowed that the documents showed Trump paid $38 million on $150 million in revenue, seemingly refuting claims that he dodged taxes.
Kal Penn got bored and changed the channel to Real Housewives of Beverley Hills.
But by the time The Rachel Maddow Show aired, reaction was mixed. Many liberals were disappointed that Maddow only had two pages of the billionaire businessman’s taxes from 2005 – and no bombshell.
Conservatives – including the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. – crowed that the documents showed Trump paid $38 million on $150 million in revenue, seemingly refuting claims that he dodged taxes.
Kal Penn got bored and changed the channel to Real Housewives of Beverley Hills.
- 3/15/2017
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
Donald Trump is supposedly sensitive about his small hands, and now the internet is wondering if the White House altered an official photograph to make the new president’s hands look a little bigger. The mystery kicked off when Observer arts and culture writer Dana Schwartz tweeted a comparison of the Inauguration Day photo — which she said appeared in the White House during Trump’s interview earlier this week with ABC News’ David Muir. It certainly looks like the size of Trump’s hand, placed on Barack Obama’s shoulder, has been slightly scaled up. Trump 100% photoshopped his hand bigger for this picture hanging.
- 1/27/2017
- by Phil Hornshaw
- The Wrap
Twentieth Century Fox’s “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” hits theaters Friday, but the story of two incorrigible bros that inspired the movie is already the stuff of legend. In 2013, Mike and Dave Stangle posted an ad on Craigslist looking for dates to their cousin’s upcoming wedding. Why? The pair were told that they had to bring guests, otherwise the bride-to-be would worry about them harassing her friends all night. The ad was basically what you would expect from two twentysomethings with a predilection for getting rowdy at weddings: mildly amusing and more than a little misogynistic.
Watch: Wild New Red Band Trailer For ‘Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates’ With Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Adam Devine, And Aubrey Plaza
“You should be attractive or our aunts will judge you, but not Too attractive or one of our uncles might grope you,” the post read. It was also slightly prophetic,...
Watch: Wild New Red Band Trailer For ‘Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates’ With Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Adam Devine, And Aubrey Plaza
“You should be attractive or our aunts will judge you, but not Too attractive or one of our uncles might grope you,” the post read. It was also slightly prophetic,...
- 7/8/2016
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Entertainment writer Dana Schwartz doesn’t plan to leave the New York Observer anytime soon — even as she publicly battles the paper’s owner Jared Kushner over his defense of Donald Trump, who recently tweeted a meme she called “anti-Semitic.” The tweet featured a photo of Hillary Clinton beside a six-point star emblazoned with the words “Most Corrupt Candidate Ever!” with a background of 100-dollar bills, an image Trump defended at a rally on Wednesday in Cincinnati, where he admitted it wasn’t his idea to delete the tweet. “You know, they took the star down,” Trump said, referring to his staff.
- 7/7/2016
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Wrap
New York Observer owner Jared Kushner published a first-person response today to an open letter on the paper’s website that criticized his support of father-in-law Donald Trump’s candidacy for president. Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, started his response with the message, “My father-in-law is not an anti-Semite,” continuing, “It’s that simple, really. Donald Trump is not anti-Semitic and he’s not a racist.” In her open letter, published yesterday, entertainment writer Dana Schwartz referenced what she called the “anti-Semitic imagery” of a meme tweeted by Trump over the weekend, which depicted presidential rival...
- 7/6/2016
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
Jared Kushner, publisher of the New York Observer and son-in-law of Donald Trump, is defending the Gop presumptive nominee against claims that Trump is anti-Semitic. In his statement - which came in response to an open letter for Observer entertainment writer Dana Schwartz - Kushner, who is Jewish, said that Trump "does not at all subscribe to any racist or anti-Semitic thinking," Politico reports. Schwartz's open letter spoke in-depth about her feelings towards a now-deleted photo that Trump tweeted on Saturday, which showed Hillary Clinton pasted onto a background made of hundred dollar bills, with the words "Most Corrupt Candidate Ever!
- 7/6/2016
- by Naja Rayne, @najarayne
- PEOPLE.com
Jared Kushner, publisher of the New York Observer and son-in-law of Donald Trump, is defending the Gop presumptive nominee against claims that Trump is anti-Semitic. In his statement - which came in response to an open letter for Observer entertainment writer Dana Schwartz - Kushner, who is Jewish, said that Trump "does not at all subscribe to any racist or anti-Semitic thinking," Politico reports. Schwartz's open letter spoke in-depth about her feelings towards a now-deleted photo that Trump tweeted on Saturday, which showed Hillary Clinton pasted onto a background made of hundred dollar bills, with the words "Most Corrupt Candidate Ever!
- 7/6/2016
- by Naja Rayne, @najarayne
- PEOPLE.com
An entertainment writer at the New York Observer is calling out Jared Kushner, the paper’s owner and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, for supporting the presidential candidate following a controversial meme he tweeted on Saturday. In an open letter published in the Observer, Dana Schwartz referenced what she called the meme’s “anti-Semitic imagery,” which depicted Hillary Clinton beside the words “Most Corrupt Candidate” superimposed over a six-pointed silhouette resembling a Star of David atop a background of $100 bills. Though Trump claimed the symbol was a sheriff’s star, he deleted the tweet and republished the image with a circle instead.
- 7/5/2016
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Wrap
David, Devindra, and Jeff discuss AMC’s crazy new (now rescinded) plan to allow texting in theaters, and their reaction to the first image out of ScarJo’s Ghost in the Shell. Also, special guest Dana Schwartz joins us to discuss the place of Avatar in our culture. Be sure to read Dana’s original tweet about this topic, Ebert’s review of Mr. Payback, […]
The post /Filmcast Ep. 363 – The Jungle Book (Guest: Dana Schwartz from Mental Floss) appeared first on /Film.
The post /Filmcast Ep. 363 – The Jungle Book (Guest: Dana Schwartz from Mental Floss) appeared first on /Film.
- 4/19/2016
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
From Gamergate threats to her new autobiography, we chat to Felicia Day about being weird on the internet...
Being a nerd doesn’t mean what it used to.
In Back To The Future, Marty McFly travels to the fifties and discovered his father is the town punching bag. Being a nerd back then meant tucked-in pants, a shirt buttoned to the top, and a feeble, nasally willingness to do the jocks’ homework. George McFly was a cartoon of tropes, including a professed love for science fiction. But the key difference between the nerd as a high school stereotype and the nerd of 2015 is this: George McFly wasn’t a nerd because of his interest in science fiction – he was a nerd because he was insecure and hadn’t danced to a Chuck Berry riff yet. His interest in sci-fi was an accessory to add credibility to his nerdy identity.
But today,...
Being a nerd doesn’t mean what it used to.
In Back To The Future, Marty McFly travels to the fifties and discovered his father is the town punching bag. Being a nerd back then meant tucked-in pants, a shirt buttoned to the top, and a feeble, nasally willingness to do the jocks’ homework. George McFly was a cartoon of tropes, including a professed love for science fiction. But the key difference between the nerd as a high school stereotype and the nerd of 2015 is this: George McFly wasn’t a nerd because of his interest in science fiction – he was a nerd because he was insecure and hadn’t danced to a Chuck Berry riff yet. His interest in sci-fi was an accessory to add credibility to his nerdy identity.
But today,...
- 10/4/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Based on the nearly omnipresent ads online for the last month, "Insurgent" appears to be the story of a girl who lives in a world made entirely of giant windows who is determined to lead a revolution by jumping through panes of glass at every opportunity. To be honest, that would be no less ridiculous than the film they're actually releasing. By now, the Ya model is as ossified as any other genre, with beats they all seem to hit like someone's got a checklist next to them as they write. If you want a great laugh, make sure you follow @DystopianYA on Twitter, where comedian Dana Schwartz has been publishing a line-by-line pitch-perfect parody of Ya novels, so sharp and on point that I don't know how anyone could publish another one of these with a straight face after this. "Insurgent" is the second film in the series inspired...
- 3/20/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Last September, comedian and writer Dana Schwartz created a parody Twitter account called @GuyInYourMFA. Meant to gently mock the precious, pretentious attitude affected by a stereotypical, Ivy League–educated, white male in a graduate writing seminar, the feed became an immediate sensation (it's now garnered more than 32,000 followers), because, well, everyone knows a dude like that, whether or not you've actually witnessed the mock-intellectual hipster snobbery of a creative-writing seminar's "safe space." (Sample tweets: “I only see plays that can be described as Brechtian.” “This was fun, but I don't think you should stay the night. I tend to be inspired to write at 3am, and I listen to percussive jazz.”)In the strongest scene from this week’s Girls, written by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner and directed by Dunham, the latter zooms in on what actually goes on in said seminar — and she nails it. The classroom turns...
- 1/19/2015
- by Rachel Syme
- Vulture
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