Margot Robbie is one gorgeous gal at the opening of two new BOSS stores on Thursday evening (March 27) in Hong Kong, China.
Margot Robbie Helps Jason Wu Celebrate His ‘Big Night' For Hugo Boss
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Supermodel Cindy Crawford On Losing The Baby Weight
Cindy Crawford's body is one of the lynchpins of her uber-successful modeling career, which is why it might come as a surprise that the beauty gave herself almost a year-long window to shed those pregnancy pounds.
"What I always tell new moms -- because they start stressing themselves out -- is that you give yourself as long as it took you to get that body," she recalled to HuffPost Live's Nancy Redd. "It took you nine months from when you got pregnant to when you have the baby, so I think you should give yourself that nine-month period."
The supermodel acknowledged the frustration many women feel when they see other new mothers shed the weight at lightning speed.
"First of all, you're tired," she continued. "You're not sleeping, you need to eat if you're nursing, and the pressure to lose that weight in a month -- some people it just happens for, and guess what? Those people annoy me, too. I had to work for the body that I have, but I definitely think that shouldn't be the focus of a new mother's attention."
Watch the rest of Cindy Crawford's HuffPost Live conversation with about her upcoming appearance on "Oprah's Lifeclass" below.
"What I always tell new moms -- because they start stressing themselves out -- is that you give yourself as long as it took you to get that body," she recalled to HuffPost Live's Nancy Redd. "It took you nine months from when you got pregnant to when you have the baby, so I think you should give yourself that nine-month period."
The supermodel acknowledged the frustration many women feel when they see other new mothers shed the weight at lightning speed.
"First of all, you're tired," she continued. "You're not sleeping, you need to eat if you're nursing, and the pressure to lose that weight in a month -- some people it just happens for, and guess what? Those people annoy me, too. I had to work for the body that I have, but I definitely think that shouldn't be the focus of a new mother's attention."
Watch the rest of Cindy Crawford's HuffPost Live conversation with about her upcoming appearance on "Oprah's Lifeclass" below.
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Joe Budden, Hip Hop Artist, Posts Anti-Sikh Photo On Instagram, Twitter Reacts
Joe Budden, an American rapper and member of the hip hop group Slaughterhouse, is receiving some social media attention, and it's not because of his music.
On Friday, Twitter user Fateh Singh (@FatedDOE) posted a photo he came across on Budden's Instagram account depicting a man wearing a turban and standing in an airport security line. Budden's accompanying caption read, "Not on my watch Homeboy!"
Many Twitter users joined in the dialogue, expressing their anger over Budden's photo.
One user addressed Budden directly, challenging him to take a serious look at his actions.
Budden and Dhanoa subsequently entered into a Twitter discussion.
Budden's response may fall short of what Reddit user "european_douchebag" did after posting a mocking photo of Ohio State student and observant Sikh Balpreet Kaur. The Redditor offered an apology, saying, "Making fun of people is funny to some but incredibly degrading to the people you're making fun of. It was an incredibly rude, judgmental, and ignorant thing to post."
Budden did, however, remove the post from his Instagram account, though the rapper's publicist did not respond to HuffPost's request for comment.
The photo may be gone, but it appears the damage has been done.
On Friday, Twitter user Fateh Singh (@FatedDOE) posted a photo he came across on Budden's Instagram account depicting a man wearing a turban and standing in an airport security line. Budden's accompanying caption read, "Not on my watch Homeboy!"
Racism and ignorance at its finest @JoeBudden pic.twitter.com/LgDwfBbY9l
— Fateh Singh (@FatehDOE) March 28, 2014Many Twitter users joined in the dialogue, expressing their anger over Budden's photo.
.@JoeBudden fails to understand that "stereotypical terrorist" jokes have gotten innocent sikhs killed, post 9/11, purely off of ignorance
— Raginder 'Violinder' (@Violinder) March 28, 2014PLEASE RETWEET: Tell Rapper @JoeBudden: Posting a picture of Indian Sikh man insinuating he's a terroist is not cool! pic.twitter.com/tNzdne3tMA
— Arsalan Iftikhar™ (@TheMuslimGuy) March 28, 2014One user addressed Budden directly, challenging him to take a serious look at his actions.
@JoeBudden you are a human just like everyone else. Same blood runs in our veins. Your ancestors know about racism. Shouldn't I know better?
— Jaskaran Dhanoa (@JaskaranDhanoa) March 28, 2014Budden and Dhanoa subsequently entered into a Twitter discussion.
@JoeBudden lighten up to a racist joke? Would you lighten up if I dropped the "N" word to you? Think about it, seriously. Read ur comments b
— Jaskaran Dhanoa (@JaskaranDhanoa) March 28, 2014@JoeBudden So that makes it OKAY to make racist jokes? Two wrongs don't make a right Joe. C'mon man, you're still defending your pic/cmnt?
— Jaskaran Dhanoa (@JaskaranDhanoa) March 28, 2014@JaskaranDhanoa I’m taking off, i’ll erase it cuz I like u, ok ?! Great. ✌️
— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) March 28, 2014Budden's response may fall short of what Reddit user "european_douchebag" did after posting a mocking photo of Ohio State student and observant Sikh Balpreet Kaur. The Redditor offered an apology, saying, "Making fun of people is funny to some but incredibly degrading to the people you're making fun of. It was an incredibly rude, judgmental, and ignorant thing to post."
Budden did, however, remove the post from his Instagram account, though the rapper's publicist did not respond to HuffPost's request for comment.
The photo may be gone, but it appears the damage has been done.
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'Frozen' Soundtrack Could Take Down Adele, Taylor Swift In Its Billboard Warpath
Is Adele's hot streak about to be bested by a Disney soundtrack? Probably not, but it's fun to postulate anyway.
The "Frozen" album is eyeing its eighth week atop the Billboard chart, and if it succeeds, it'll be the longest-running No. 1 release since Adele's "21." The beloved Disney tunes have a ways to go to catch up to the singer, however, as "21" spent a whopping 24 weeks as the highest-ranked album.
"Frozen" can count Taylor Swift among its conquests, though. It's currently tied with "Red" for the longest No. 1 trajectory since "21," but this week's chart should change that.
The soundtrack is expected to top Shakira's self-titled new album, which came out this week and is expect to sell 80,000 copies -- her largest debut to date. Johnny Cash's posthumous "Out Among the Stars" should take the No. 3 spot, industry forecasters predict.
"Frozen" doesn't face the stiffest of competition in the coming weeks either, so its reign could continue. Tyler, the Creator, Martina McBride, Jason Derülo and the Pixies are among the acts with new albums out in April. We called it back in February, but here's further proof that the first quarter of 2014 is a lame one for new music.
[via Billboard.com]
The "Frozen" album is eyeing its eighth week atop the Billboard chart, and if it succeeds, it'll be the longest-running No. 1 release since Adele's "21." The beloved Disney tunes have a ways to go to catch up to the singer, however, as "21" spent a whopping 24 weeks as the highest-ranked album.
"Frozen" can count Taylor Swift among its conquests, though. It's currently tied with "Red" for the longest No. 1 trajectory since "21," but this week's chart should change that.
The soundtrack is expected to top Shakira's self-titled new album, which came out this week and is expect to sell 80,000 copies -- her largest debut to date. Johnny Cash's posthumous "Out Among the Stars" should take the No. 3 spot, industry forecasters predict.
"Frozen" doesn't face the stiffest of competition in the coming weeks either, so its reign could continue. Tyler, the Creator, Martina McBride, Jason Derülo and the Pixies are among the acts with new albums out in April. We called it back in February, but here's further proof that the first quarter of 2014 is a lame one for new music.
[via Billboard.com]
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Katherine Webb Engaged To AJ McCarron
Congratulations go out to Katherine Webb, who got engaged on Friday, March 28, to her boyfriend of two years, AJ McCarron!
The former Miss Alabama and her former University of Alabama quarterback beau started dating in 2012. He popped the question yesterday at the Beach Club restaurant in Gulf Shores, Ala., People reports.
The brunette beauty shared the joyous news on Twitter with a photo of the two of them embracing, the huge sparkler visible on her ring finger.
She later tweeted a closeup shot of her gorgeous ring, noting that McCarron designed it himself:
McCarron's mother told TMZ that both families are happy, excited and are already in "wedding planning" mode.
The 23-year-old football player is currently awaiting the 2014 NFL draft. Webb, 24, was featured in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue after garnering national attention during the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. ESPN commentator Brent Musburger memorably spotted her in the crowd and pointed out that "quarterbacks get all the good-looking women."
The former Miss Alabama and her former University of Alabama quarterback beau started dating in 2012. He popped the question yesterday at the Beach Club restaurant in Gulf Shores, Ala., People reports.
The brunette beauty shared the joyous news on Twitter with a photo of the two of them embracing, the huge sparkler visible on her ring finger.
WE'RE ENGAGEDDD!!! @10AJMcCarron pic.twitter.com/f1abwtv9Fo
— Katherine Webb (@_KatherineWebb) March 29, 2014She later tweeted a closeup shot of her gorgeous ring, noting that McCarron designed it himself:
He designed it himself ❤️@10AJMcCarron pic.twitter.com/YFJcZ868VC
— Katherine Webb (@_KatherineWebb) March 29, 2014McCarron's mother told TMZ that both families are happy, excited and are already in "wedding planning" mode.
The 23-year-old football player is currently awaiting the 2014 NFL draft. Webb, 24, was featured in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue after garnering national attention during the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. ESPN commentator Brent Musburger memorably spotted her in the crowd and pointed out that "quarterbacks get all the good-looking women."
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Mark Wahlberg Hosts Kids' Choice Awards With Appearances From Pharrell, Lea Michele And More
It's time to slime a few hapless guests on the Kids' Choice Awards.
The 27th annual awards are back with some of today's top stars scheduled to attend, including Pharrell Williams, Kevin Hart, Andy Samberg, Lea Michele and Chris Evans. And as usual, the focus will be more on what celeb takes a good-natured slime bath than who carries off an orange blimp-shaped trophy. Mark Wahlberg hosts and Aloe Blacc and American Authors are scheduled to perform Saturday night during the live broadcast from Los Angeles that starts at 8 p.m. EDT on Nickelodeon.
Katy Perry is the top individual nominee with three, including favorite voice in an animated movie for the "The Smurfs 2." ''The Hunger Games" franchise and "The Smurfs 2" have four nominations apiece.
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Online:
http://nick.com/kids-choice-awards
The 27th annual awards are back with some of today's top stars scheduled to attend, including Pharrell Williams, Kevin Hart, Andy Samberg, Lea Michele and Chris Evans. And as usual, the focus will be more on what celeb takes a good-natured slime bath than who carries off an orange blimp-shaped trophy. Mark Wahlberg hosts and Aloe Blacc and American Authors are scheduled to perform Saturday night during the live broadcast from Los Angeles that starts at 8 p.m. EDT on Nickelodeon.
Katy Perry is the top individual nominee with three, including favorite voice in an animated movie for the "The Smurfs 2." ''The Hunger Games" franchise and "The Smurfs 2" have four nominations apiece.
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Online:
http://nick.com/kids-choice-awards
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35 Photos Of Kurt Cobain's Suicide Scene Developed Ahead Of Death Anniversary
SEATTLE (AP) — Police say recently developed photos show the greenhouse room above a garage where grunge rock icon Kurt Cobain killed himself 20 years ago.
The four rolls of crime scene photos were developed by a cold case detective in anticipation of the anniversary of the Nirvana frontman's suicide on April 8, 1994. Police made two of the photos public March 20 when they announced the development. Those images show a box of drug paraphernalia and items such as glasses, a wallet and pack of cigarettes.
All 35 photos were released this week to CBS through a public disclosure request. The Associated Press also is seeking the images.
Police spokeswoman Renee Witt says nothing from the additional photos has changed the conclusion that Cobain killed himself with a shotgun. The case remains closed.
The four rolls of crime scene photos were developed by a cold case detective in anticipation of the anniversary of the Nirvana frontman's suicide on April 8, 1994. Police made two of the photos public March 20 when they announced the development. Those images show a box of drug paraphernalia and items such as glasses, a wallet and pack of cigarettes.
All 35 photos were released this week to CBS through a public disclosure request. The Associated Press also is seeking the images.
Police spokeswoman Renee Witt says nothing from the additional photos has changed the conclusion that Cobain killed himself with a shotgun. The case remains closed.
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Neil Patrick Harris & Jason Segel Sing 'Confrontation' On 'Inside The Actors Studio'
Well, this is just delightful. On the "How I Met Your Mother" episode of "Inside The Actors Studio," an audience member asked Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel to sing "Confrontation" from "Les Miserables," since the show is returning to Broadway.
"You haven't sung that in a long time!" Cobie Smulders said. But, without hesitation the guys launched into an A+ rendition. Seriously, it's great. Watch the whole clip above.
The "How I Met Your Mother" series finale airs March 31 at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.
"You haven't sung that in a long time!" Cobie Smulders said. But, without hesitation the guys launched into an A+ rendition. Seriously, it's great. Watch the whole clip above.
The "How I Met Your Mother" series finale airs March 31 at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.
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Nikki Reed And Paul McDonald Have Separated
Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald have decided to end their marriage, PEOPLE has learned exclusively.
"After much consideration, Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald are ending their marriage. They have been living separately for the past six months due to work obligations," says a rep for the actress.
"After much consideration, Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald are ending their marriage. They have been living separately for the past six months due to work obligations," says a rep for the actress.
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Shirley Jones' 80th Birthday Plans? Why, Jumping Out Of An Airplane, Of Course
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Inspired by a former president, Shirley Jones can't wait to jump into her birthday plans.
The Oscar-winning actress and singer says she'll take her very first skydive on Monday — her 80th birthday. "That's something I wanted to do all my life," Jones said Friday. The inspiration to try comes from former President George H.W. Bush's jumps on several birthdays, including when he turned 85 in 2009.
"When I saw him do it I thought, 'Wow, if he can do this, I can,'" Jones said.
Jones, who starred in TV's "The Partridge Family" in the 1970s, gained fame with the 1950s film versions of the Broadway musicals "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel." She won an Oscar for the 1960 drama "Elmer Gantry."
She will be jumping in tandem with an instructor in Perris, a popular Southern California skydiving spot, according to her husband, comedian Marty Ingels.
Ingels was taken aback when she suggested it but has since come around, Jones said. Her children, not so much.
She quoted her oldest son, Shaun Cassidy, as saying, "Mom, what's the matter with you? Why would you want to do this at your age?"
Jones said she understands her sons' concerns, especially since she has arthritis, and she realizes that "anything like this can be dangerous."
But she's not deterred. It was either skydiving or the other top item on her to-do list, an African safari to satisfy the animal lover in her, Jones said.
Family members, including 12 grandchildren, are planning a big party Sunday, Jones said. She's also welcoming a friend she's known since they were in third grade back in a small town in Pennsylvania.
She's looking forward to the party but not what's being celebrated.
"I'm not very happy about" turning 80, she said. "The number scares me to death. I don't even like to say it. Eighty years old, it can't be."
Is skydiving a way to prove there's still more living to do?
"Yes, maybe," Jones said.
And for this actress, at least, it's apparently less worrisome than turning 80.
The Oscar-winning actress and singer says she'll take her very first skydive on Monday — her 80th birthday. "That's something I wanted to do all my life," Jones said Friday. The inspiration to try comes from former President George H.W. Bush's jumps on several birthdays, including when he turned 85 in 2009.
"When I saw him do it I thought, 'Wow, if he can do this, I can,'" Jones said.
Jones, who starred in TV's "The Partridge Family" in the 1970s, gained fame with the 1950s film versions of the Broadway musicals "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel." She won an Oscar for the 1960 drama "Elmer Gantry."
She will be jumping in tandem with an instructor in Perris, a popular Southern California skydiving spot, according to her husband, comedian Marty Ingels.
Ingels was taken aback when she suggested it but has since come around, Jones said. Her children, not so much.
She quoted her oldest son, Shaun Cassidy, as saying, "Mom, what's the matter with you? Why would you want to do this at your age?"
Jones said she understands her sons' concerns, especially since she has arthritis, and she realizes that "anything like this can be dangerous."
But she's not deterred. It was either skydiving or the other top item on her to-do list, an African safari to satisfy the animal lover in her, Jones said.
Family members, including 12 grandchildren, are planning a big party Sunday, Jones said. She's also welcoming a friend she's known since they were in third grade back in a small town in Pennsylvania.
She's looking forward to the party but not what's being celebrated.
"I'm not very happy about" turning 80, she said. "The number scares me to death. I don't even like to say it. Eighty years old, it can't be."
Is skydiving a way to prove there's still more living to do?
"Yes, maybe," Jones said.
And for this actress, at least, it's apparently less worrisome than turning 80.
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Beyonce And Jay Z's Fabulous Life Detailed On 'The Fabulous Life Of,' Which Is Only Fitting
Just how much does Beyonce and Jay Z's lavish lifestyle cost? Well, considering they topped Forbes' list of Highest Earning Celebrity Couples last year and are worth an estimated half a billion dollars -- way more than we could ever afford, that's for sure.
VH1 dived into the power couple's finances on "The Fabulous Life of," putting price tags on anything from Beyonce's $5 million giant sparkler of an engagement ring to their $4 million private Bahamas island.
See the full episode below for a breakdown of what their opulent day-to-day consists of:
[h/t Refinery29]
VH1 dived into the power couple's finances on "The Fabulous Life of," putting price tags on anything from Beyonce's $5 million giant sparkler of an engagement ring to their $4 million private Bahamas island.
See the full episode below for a breakdown of what their opulent day-to-day consists of:
[h/t Refinery29]
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Katherine Webb And AJ McCarron Are Engaged And That Ring Is HUGE (PHOTOS)
This might break the heart of at least one college football broadcaster, but model Katherine Webb is no longer on the market.
The former Miss Alabama announced her engagement to former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron, 23, on Twitter yesterday. Webb, 24, showed off her gorgeous new diamond ring in a picture posted on her Twitter and wrote "WE'RE ENGAGEDDD!!! @10AJMcCarron."
The couple started dating in 2012, after Webb graduated from Auburn University, according to The New York Daily News.
The beautiful brunette also tweeted a close-up version of the ring and said "He designed it himself."
Next up, the couple will find out which team McCarron will be drafted for in May's NFL Draft.
Webb became an overnight star when veteran ESPN analyst Brent Musburger noticed -- and ogled -- her during the 2013 BCS National Championship Game between McCarron's Crimson Tide and Notre Dame.
"Wow, you quarterbacks get all the good looking women. What a beautiful woman, whoa!" Musburger fawned as ESPN cameras showed Webb in the stands. "If you're a youngster in Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with pops."
The former Miss Alabama announced her engagement to former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron, 23, on Twitter yesterday. Webb, 24, showed off her gorgeous new diamond ring in a picture posted on her Twitter and wrote "WE'RE ENGAGEDDD!!! @10AJMcCarron."
WE'RE ENGAGEDDD!!! @10AJMcCarron pic.twitter.com/f1abwtv9Fo
— Katherine Webb (@_KatherineWebb) March 29, 2014The couple started dating in 2012, after Webb graduated from Auburn University, according to The New York Daily News.
The beautiful brunette also tweeted a close-up version of the ring and said "He designed it himself."
He designed it himself ❤️@10AJMcCarron pic.twitter.com/YFJcZ868VC
— Katherine Webb (@_KatherineWebb) March 29, 2014Next up, the couple will find out which team McCarron will be drafted for in May's NFL Draft.
Webb became an overnight star when veteran ESPN analyst Brent Musburger noticed -- and ogled -- her during the 2013 BCS National Championship Game between McCarron's Crimson Tide and Notre Dame.
"Wow, you quarterbacks get all the good looking women. What a beautiful woman, whoa!" Musburger fawned as ESPN cameras showed Webb in the stands. "If you're a youngster in Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with pops."
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Lady Gaga Has Nothing On These Bizarre Marine Worms
Marine zoologist and photographer Alex Semenov has a talent for capturing extraordinary portraits of underwater life, and he doesn't disappoint with his latest collection documenting the wonderful (and strange) world of polychaetes!
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Rick DeMint Presents Polaroid Portraits Of Celebrities In His Exhibition, 'Portroids'
Rick DeMint has an unusual hobby. Since 2003, he’s taken Polaroid portraits—or “Portroids,” as he calls them—of friends, family, and just about every famous person you can imagine.
DeMint’s day job, in cash management and investment, puts him close to scores of well-known personalities. “From where I work it's probably five to 10 blocks to any of the Broadway theaters or morning shows or late-night talk shows. It's easy on the way to work to stop at one of those shows and potentially get a picture. Just walking around anywhere in the city you end up running into people,” he said.
DeMint’s day job, in cash management and investment, puts him close to scores of well-known personalities. “From where I work it's probably five to 10 blocks to any of the Broadway theaters or morning shows or late-night talk shows. It's easy on the way to work to stop at one of those shows and potentially get a picture. Just walking around anywhere in the city you end up running into people,” he said.
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'Noah' Review: 8 Observations About Darren Aronofsky's Captivating But Flawed Epic
"Noah" floods theaters this weekend with perhaps as much controversy as it will cash flow. Darren Aronofsky's religious epic cost at least $125 million to make, and now it opens with close eyes on how faith-driven moviegoers respond to the loose biblical interpretation of Genesis' great-flood parable.
After seeing the film, it's clear that "Noah" is not the next "Passion of the Christ." It's weird (but not weird enough), shrouded in fantasy (yet nowhere near as blasphemous as certain Christian bloggers like to espouse) and plastered with just as many Aronofsky-esque qualities as the "Black Swan" and "Requiem for a Dream" auteur could shove into the 138-minute drama (not enough). Here are some observations about the film.
1. Everything you've read in the Bible is there. It just fills in the holes with fantasy. So calm down.
![noah scene]()
The story of Noah spans four chapters of Genesis, a decent length for a biblical parable. Still, if our ark-building hero is going to appear on the big screen, it's necessary that Aronofsky -- who wrote the screenplay alongside frequent collaborator Ari Handel -- make specific deductions about what happened in between God's apocalyptic request and Noah's fulfillment of his promise. That's not distorting fundamentalism; it's a director retaining his right to shape a classic story in the manner he sees fit. If moviegoers approach "Noah" as the "fantasy epic" Aronofsky billed it to be, they'll understand that aspects like the Watchers -- fallen angels that look like a hybrid between Transformers and Rockbiter from "The NeverEnding Story" -- are not meant to scorn the religious narrative.
2. Speaking of the Watchers, they're pretty ridiculous, but somehow they work.
"This is still a Darren Aronofsky movie, right?" I asked myself when the Watchers made their first appearance. They're towering creatures made of boulders and clearly intended as a crowd-pleaser amid the darkness that envelops the movie. I'd liken them to a displaced "Lord of the Rings" outtake. But these primeval brutes are equal parts goofy and fascinating, just as the Ents were in "The Two Towers." To give the fallen angels wings and frocks would have seemed a pointed effort to thrust the non-biblical approach in our faces, as if Aronofsky wants it known that he can distort religious motifs. Instead, it's overwrought to get lost in the assumption that no such created walked God's early earth, and so we settle back and allow these absurd additions to prance around with their gravelly voices (Nick Nolte, Frank Langella and "Breaking Bad" actor Mark Margolis among them) and eclectic demeanor. By the time they're aiding Noah in seeing the ark to completion, I was enamored with their presence.
3. Noah may be heroic, but he's still human.
The Old Testament is nothing short of haunting. It's brimming with destruction, desolation and impressions of a wrathful God. Noah is presented, appropriately, as a lasting bastion of righteousness. Yet why should he be exalted for his heroism in a way that in turn dehumanizes him? Russell Crowe plays Noah as a brooding man, one who's filled with both bitterness and an infinite capacity to adhere to his Creator's commands. In depicting Noah's drunken stupor and avoiding a portrait of obsequious peacekeeper, Aronofsky skips the whitewashed Noah that a more traditional (and less affecting) approach would have employed.
4. And Russell Crowe is pretty good in the role.
Crowe gets into Noah's skin while avoiding a repeat of the repugnant scowl that stank up "Les Misérables" and "Robin Hood." Where you expect a stentorian delivery, Crowe is thoughtful. This Noah is tormented, and -- particularly in the movie's third act, when his devoutness is tested -- he wrestles with some of the same demons that any discerning man or woman of faith should. Crowe is just sensitive enough to make Noah a real person but just domineering enough to shepherd the story's morality.
5. But this is Emma Watson and Jennifer Connelly's show. (Too bad all the other characters are so underdeveloped.)
![noah scene]()
Watson plays Ila, whom Noah and his three sons and wife adopt as an orphaned child. Ila isn't part of Noah's bloodline, yet she's more essential to the story than any of Noah's offspring, including the one she's in love with (Shem, played by a nondescript Douglas Booth). The movie attempts to make the middle son, Ham (Logan Lerman), the token black sheep of the family, but it's a trite way to enact conflict, and his ultimate fate -- no spoilers -- is inexplicable. So that leaves Watson ample room to shine, and she does, in her best post-Hogwarts performance to date.
Ila is barren, but with the divine help of Noah's grandfather Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins), she and Shem are able to conceive and thereby help to repopulate the world. The turmoil Watson carries through the performance results, in the third act, in an arc so electrifying that even Dumbledore would gawk at the magic she emits. Similarly, Connelly, playing Noah's wife, gets her crowning moment, in which she confronts her husband after he's informed them God has demanded he kill himself and his family as well, including Ila's new baby. These tear-stricken moments give Watson and Connelly a bravado that the movie's male actors don't achieve.
6. The visuals are stunning, but the movie could be weirder.
Aronofsky's indie sensibilities are intact, but sometimes you have to squint to find them. Otherwise, you might mistake "Noah" for apocalypse porn. They're most present via evolution sequences: interludes in which the earth forms and expands before our eyes in a mystical swirl of birth. Like Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life," "Noah" depicts the creation story -- biblical and otherwise -- through the backdrop of nascent landscapes and unripe humanity. But that's about as Aronofskian as the movie gets, since the Watchers feel like they could just as easily hail from a Peter Jackson or -- and I swear I don't mean this as invective -- a Michael Bay effort. The distinctive touches Aronofsky is known for imbuing (the canted camera angles of "Requiem," the unfiltered feel of "The Wrestler," the psychological twilight of "Black Swan") are missing. It's a semi-squandered opportunity for the director to bring his eclecticism to the masses.
7. The third act's tension punches us in the stomach and then hits us over the head with its moral.
Without spoiling what happens with Noah's determination to sacrifice his family so the world can belong to the animals' Eden-like purity, the movie's crescendo is wrenching. It's as much of a CGI-laden spectacle as imaginable, and it works as both a narrative climax and multiplex-friendly grandiosity. The stakes! The drama! It all barrels to a gasp-worthy conclusion, and then, after the action comes to a halt, we're pounded with a conversation designed to exact the moral proclamation we'd already surmised. A ravishing finale is reduced to schmaltz, like the indie-happy Aronofsky expected his biggest-budgeted movie to be too sophisticated for us to gather our own assessments about the denouement's principles. It's patronizing.
8. But, overall, the movie is a success.
![noah scene]()
Not without its flaws, "Noah" is a valiant effort. It's creative and engrossing, and Aronofsky succeeds in bookending his flat notes with chords of movie magic. There's a sprinkling of a muddy environmentalist message, but it's easy to ignore it if you so choose. The animals are an afterthought in this ark's equation, but the deluge's CGI is cranked up to just the right octave. It's cartoonish enough to remain fantasy but breathtaking enough to be shrouded in terrifying reality. With committed performances and no holier-than-thou overtones, "Noah" is a dreamboat for all sorts of moviegoers -- just as long as you can dismiss some of the murkier storms that precede the rainbow.
After seeing the film, it's clear that "Noah" is not the next "Passion of the Christ." It's weird (but not weird enough), shrouded in fantasy (yet nowhere near as blasphemous as certain Christian bloggers like to espouse) and plastered with just as many Aronofsky-esque qualities as the "Black Swan" and "Requiem for a Dream" auteur could shove into the 138-minute drama (not enough). Here are some observations about the film.
1. Everything you've read in the Bible is there. It just fills in the holes with fantasy. So calm down.
The story of Noah spans four chapters of Genesis, a decent length for a biblical parable. Still, if our ark-building hero is going to appear on the big screen, it's necessary that Aronofsky -- who wrote the screenplay alongside frequent collaborator Ari Handel -- make specific deductions about what happened in between God's apocalyptic request and Noah's fulfillment of his promise. That's not distorting fundamentalism; it's a director retaining his right to shape a classic story in the manner he sees fit. If moviegoers approach "Noah" as the "fantasy epic" Aronofsky billed it to be, they'll understand that aspects like the Watchers -- fallen angels that look like a hybrid between Transformers and Rockbiter from "The NeverEnding Story" -- are not meant to scorn the religious narrative.
2. Speaking of the Watchers, they're pretty ridiculous, but somehow they work.
"This is still a Darren Aronofsky movie, right?" I asked myself when the Watchers made their first appearance. They're towering creatures made of boulders and clearly intended as a crowd-pleaser amid the darkness that envelops the movie. I'd liken them to a displaced "Lord of the Rings" outtake. But these primeval brutes are equal parts goofy and fascinating, just as the Ents were in "The Two Towers." To give the fallen angels wings and frocks would have seemed a pointed effort to thrust the non-biblical approach in our faces, as if Aronofsky wants it known that he can distort religious motifs. Instead, it's overwrought to get lost in the assumption that no such created walked God's early earth, and so we settle back and allow these absurd additions to prance around with their gravelly voices (Nick Nolte, Frank Langella and "Breaking Bad" actor Mark Margolis among them) and eclectic demeanor. By the time they're aiding Noah in seeing the ark to completion, I was enamored with their presence.
3. Noah may be heroic, but he's still human.
The Old Testament is nothing short of haunting. It's brimming with destruction, desolation and impressions of a wrathful God. Noah is presented, appropriately, as a lasting bastion of righteousness. Yet why should he be exalted for his heroism in a way that in turn dehumanizes him? Russell Crowe plays Noah as a brooding man, one who's filled with both bitterness and an infinite capacity to adhere to his Creator's commands. In depicting Noah's drunken stupor and avoiding a portrait of obsequious peacekeeper, Aronofsky skips the whitewashed Noah that a more traditional (and less affecting) approach would have employed.
4. And Russell Crowe is pretty good in the role.
Crowe gets into Noah's skin while avoiding a repeat of the repugnant scowl that stank up "Les Misérables" and "Robin Hood." Where you expect a stentorian delivery, Crowe is thoughtful. This Noah is tormented, and -- particularly in the movie's third act, when his devoutness is tested -- he wrestles with some of the same demons that any discerning man or woman of faith should. Crowe is just sensitive enough to make Noah a real person but just domineering enough to shepherd the story's morality.
5. But this is Emma Watson and Jennifer Connelly's show. (Too bad all the other characters are so underdeveloped.)
Watson plays Ila, whom Noah and his three sons and wife adopt as an orphaned child. Ila isn't part of Noah's bloodline, yet she's more essential to the story than any of Noah's offspring, including the one she's in love with (Shem, played by a nondescript Douglas Booth). The movie attempts to make the middle son, Ham (Logan Lerman), the token black sheep of the family, but it's a trite way to enact conflict, and his ultimate fate -- no spoilers -- is inexplicable. So that leaves Watson ample room to shine, and she does, in her best post-Hogwarts performance to date.
Ila is barren, but with the divine help of Noah's grandfather Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins), she and Shem are able to conceive and thereby help to repopulate the world. The turmoil Watson carries through the performance results, in the third act, in an arc so electrifying that even Dumbledore would gawk at the magic she emits. Similarly, Connelly, playing Noah's wife, gets her crowning moment, in which she confronts her husband after he's informed them God has demanded he kill himself and his family as well, including Ila's new baby. These tear-stricken moments give Watson and Connelly a bravado that the movie's male actors don't achieve.
6. The visuals are stunning, but the movie could be weirder.
Aronofsky's indie sensibilities are intact, but sometimes you have to squint to find them. Otherwise, you might mistake "Noah" for apocalypse porn. They're most present via evolution sequences: interludes in which the earth forms and expands before our eyes in a mystical swirl of birth. Like Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life," "Noah" depicts the creation story -- biblical and otherwise -- through the backdrop of nascent landscapes and unripe humanity. But that's about as Aronofskian as the movie gets, since the Watchers feel like they could just as easily hail from a Peter Jackson or -- and I swear I don't mean this as invective -- a Michael Bay effort. The distinctive touches Aronofsky is known for imbuing (the canted camera angles of "Requiem," the unfiltered feel of "The Wrestler," the psychological twilight of "Black Swan") are missing. It's a semi-squandered opportunity for the director to bring his eclecticism to the masses.
7. The third act's tension punches us in the stomach and then hits us over the head with its moral.
Without spoiling what happens with Noah's determination to sacrifice his family so the world can belong to the animals' Eden-like purity, the movie's crescendo is wrenching. It's as much of a CGI-laden spectacle as imaginable, and it works as both a narrative climax and multiplex-friendly grandiosity. The stakes! The drama! It all barrels to a gasp-worthy conclusion, and then, after the action comes to a halt, we're pounded with a conversation designed to exact the moral proclamation we'd already surmised. A ravishing finale is reduced to schmaltz, like the indie-happy Aronofsky expected his biggest-budgeted movie to be too sophisticated for us to gather our own assessments about the denouement's principles. It's patronizing.
8. But, overall, the movie is a success.
Not without its flaws, "Noah" is a valiant effort. It's creative and engrossing, and Aronofsky succeeds in bookending his flat notes with chords of movie magic. There's a sprinkling of a muddy environmentalist message, but it's easy to ignore it if you so choose. The animals are an afterthought in this ark's equation, but the deluge's CGI is cranked up to just the right octave. It's cartoonish enough to remain fantasy but breathtaking enough to be shrouded in terrifying reality. With committed performances and no holier-than-thou overtones, "Noah" is a dreamboat for all sorts of moviegoers -- just as long as you can dismiss some of the murkier storms that precede the rainbow.
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Now That Beyonce's World Tour Is Over, Relish In These Behind-The-Scenes Photos
After wiping away the tears, Beyonce bid farewell to her Mrs. Carter Show world tour almost one year after it kicked off. The 132-stop stretch concluded on March 27 in Portugal, and one day later the singer's Tumblr was flooded with behind-the-scenes photos of Beyonce, her sets, her dancers and everyone else involved with the show. Here are some highlights.
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See more behind-the-scenes shots here.
See more behind-the-scenes shots here.
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24 Signs You're Still Crushing On Freddie Prinze Jr.
So the era of Freddie Prinze, Jr. — teen heartthrob extraordinaire — may be over, but that doesn't mean you've moved on.
In fact, FPJ (as you like to call him) is still very much a part of your life ... and your heart. Why wouldn't he be? His rom coms are always on TV, he's married to Buffy, and he is a straight up DILF (Dad I'd Like to F***). Frankly, there is no reason not to be obsessed with him.
In fact, FPJ (as you like to call him) is still very much a part of your life ... and your heart. Why wouldn't he be? His rom coms are always on TV, he's married to Buffy, and he is a straight up DILF (Dad I'd Like to F***). Frankly, there is no reason not to be obsessed with him.
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'Smash' Actress Megan Hilty Is Reportedly Pregnant
A Broadway Baby is on its way for Megan Hilty and her husband, Brian Gallagher! The newlyweds confirmed the news to Us Weekly, just in time for Megan's 33rd birthday.
Megan and Brian were married just four months ago in Las Vegas and discovered their pregnancy on Gallagher's 34th birthday back in January.
Megan and Brian were married just four months ago in Las Vegas and discovered their pregnancy on Gallagher's 34th birthday back in January.
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SNL's 'Dyke & Fats' Is The Aidy Bryant/Kate McKinnon Cop Show You'd Totally Watch
"Saturday Night Live" ended its Louis C.K.-hosted episode with a short look at something we could watch a lot more of: a new cop show called "Dyke & Fats."
Created by and starring SNL's Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant, "Dyke & Fats" is the story of the best cops in Chicago: Lez Dykawitz (McKinnon) and Chubbina Fatzarelli (Bryant). Just don't go calling them by their nicknames -- Only THEY get to say it.
Watch the Lena Dunham-approved sketch above.
Created by and starring SNL's Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant, "Dyke & Fats" is the story of the best cops in Chicago: Lez Dykawitz (McKinnon) and Chubbina Fatzarelli (Bryant). Just don't go calling them by their nicknames -- Only THEY get to say it.
Watch the Lena Dunham-approved sketch above.
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Charlotte Casiraghi 'Drop It Like It's Hot' In Silver Chanel Couture Gown At The Rose Ball (PHOTOS)
Charlotte Casiraghi is proof that moms can be stylish and the life of the party.
Making her first official post-baby appearance at the Rose Ball in Monte-Carlo, Monaco on Saturday evening, Casiraghi joined Monaco's royal family to celebrate and support the Princess Grace Foundation.
For the glamorous event, she sported a silver strapless Chanel Couture gown with an embellished shawl. Casiraghi sparkled in the metallic number as she cut loose on the dance floor to the sounds of Lebanese-British singer-songwriter Mika.
Her aunt Princess Charlene looked stunning in a one-shouldered navy and black dress with diamond drop earrings. Beatrice Borromeo (Charlotte's brother Pierre Casiraghi's girlfriend) also attended the annual charity ball wearing a breathtaking peach gown with a matching fur stole. And, of course, Chanel's head designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld was all up in the royal mix sporting his signature black-and-white.
Check out Casiraghi and her fellow Monaco nobles at last night's Rose Ball and tell us what you think of their luxe party looks.
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Making her first official post-baby appearance at the Rose Ball in Monte-Carlo, Monaco on Saturday evening, Casiraghi joined Monaco's royal family to celebrate and support the Princess Grace Foundation.
For the glamorous event, she sported a silver strapless Chanel Couture gown with an embellished shawl. Casiraghi sparkled in the metallic number as she cut loose on the dance floor to the sounds of Lebanese-British singer-songwriter Mika.
Her aunt Princess Charlene looked stunning in a one-shouldered navy and black dress with diamond drop earrings. Beatrice Borromeo (Charlotte's brother Pierre Casiraghi's girlfriend) also attended the annual charity ball wearing a breathtaking peach gown with a matching fur stole. And, of course, Chanel's head designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld was all up in the royal mix sporting his signature black-and-white.
Check out Casiraghi and her fellow Monaco nobles at last night's Rose Ball and tell us what you think of their luxe party looks.
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