Baby Mama: Writer’s strike casualty

May 1, 2008 - 10:14

Tina! Tina Tina Tina Tina Tina Tina Tina Tina Tina! Tina Tina! I’m stuck repeating your name because my brain short-circuited midway into your latest film, Baby Mama. I allowed myself to hope, and my hopes were dashed, although after Leatherheads,... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 2 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Forget those flaws

April 23, 2008 - 09:09

Sometimes it’s tough to like Judd Apatow. I liked The 40 Year Old Virgin, loved Knocked Up, and tolerated Superbad — it’s not really the movies themselves that provoke these qualms. It’s the fact that the guy puts out a few good... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 3 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

I tend to plan ahead

April 20, 2008 - 22:53

I love how Richmond-natives-and-recently-reunited Denali refuses to be outdone by the bands that are now finally beginning to trickle into town (thanks to our new fancy venues). On the contrary! For their reunion show this July 5, they grabbed The Great... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 1 | Filed Under Literally et cetera, Op/Ed

I Didn’t See Prom Night

April 18, 2008 - 09:10

I didn’t see Prom Night this week, but I can review it right now for you if you like. 1.5 stars, some starlet who is astonishingly busted looking for being so young (can’t they dig up some fresh new seedlings in Hollywood? Can we get a talent... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 9 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Economic stimulus “package”

April 15, 2008 - 13:24

You’ve probably seen this already, but this article contains a chart that lets you know when your money will show up in your mailbox/bank account. Also, in case you heard this bogus story on NPR, do not panic (like I did). It was an April Fool’s... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 4 | Filed Under Literally et cetera, Op/Ed

Leatherheads: George, let’s never talk about this again.

April 10, 2008 - 08:55

I’m really hoping that this is comedy’s year. The Oscars are slowly reflecting America’s fatigue of big, sweeping epics in favor of more detailed and experimental character studies (a result of our war weariness perhaps?), and in the... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 7 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Style Weekly, sometimes you kill me

April 9, 2008 - 09:44

I am delighted by the Hipster’s Dilemma. It comes with a handy chart at which I just snorted aloud whilst reading. Way to keep your finger on the pulse, Style. I know tons of hipsters who are actually tearing their hair out trying to be in two places... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 9 | Filed Under Op/Ed

Ugh Personal Property Tax

April 2, 2008 - 13:59

I think we should have more time to pay the personal property tax. I mean, 30 days. That’s one paycheck for me. It would be nice to spread it out over two month’s pay. Yeah, yeah, I should have set money aside for it. But still.

by Susan Howson | 16 | Filed Under Op/Ed

Run Fatboy Run: A pleasant jog down memory lane

April 2, 2008 - 08:47

It’s easy (and fun!) to scoff away at films that recycle old devices and try to pass them off as new. Usually that sort of thing makes me furious…or at least annoyed and/or whiny. But sometimes a movie will follow a path that is so well-worn... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 0 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

VCU French Film Festival: A Sunday spent cozying up to everybody else in town

April 1, 2008 - 08:10

The VCU French Film Festival! An annual three day event during which Richmonders stampede the Byrd Theatre like eager vessels for French directors to fill up with their wisdom! A time for us to wonder while we stand in line how we possibly got so lucky... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 6 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

I know one of you has got to be a French film savant

March 28, 2008 - 14:41

If so, please peruse the schedule of films at this year’s annual French Film Festival, and tell me how to prioritize. I don’t even know where to begin, and I can’t go to the entire thing! OR CAN I?? (NO.)

by Susan Howson | 4 | Filed Under Op/Ed

BREAKING NEWS - Men get better jobs than women! Who knew?!?

March 20, 2008 - 09:40

Entertainment Weekly Online posted this well-intentioned but ridiculous article posing the idiotic question “Do we need more women movie critics?” Of course, the specific profession in question here is close to my heart, but it seriously terrifies... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 3 | Filed Under Op/Ed

Funny Games: Worst date movie ever

March 19, 2008 - 09:05

The funniest thing about Funny Games is how spitting mad it made Roger Ebert. Ebert is one of my favorite movie critics. He’s concise, he’s passionate, and he judges big budget movies and independent movies by the same criteria (although... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 0 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: The Art of Elegant Comedy

March 13, 2008 - 09:32

Darlings. I write this to you from my silken boudoir, perched on a heap of dressing gowns, money, and servants. Yes, that is correct. I have abandoned my boring, polyester world for a life within a screwball comedy from the 1930s. And who can blame me?... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 2 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Check your receipts?

March 5, 2008 - 09:24

In the past couple of weeks, two of my very favorite restaurants in town have overcharged my credit card for tip. I won’t mention who they are because they are so beloved to me that I don’t want to throw them under a bus just because they’ve... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 13 | Filed Under Op/Ed

Wake Me for the Summer Blockbusters

March 5, 2008 - 08:47

It’s going to be a bleak time in movie theaters for a little while.* The Oscars are over, but the world’s not ready for this year’s roster of superhero sequels. The weather is slightly better, but not mild enough to really embrace any... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 1 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Rap-rock party like it’s 1999

February 27, 2008 - 12:19

Oh lordy! 311 is playing at The National next week. This coincides eerily with the dream I had last night about my running into my high school boyfriend, who was wearing his trademark red hoodie and hanging out with some ne’er-do-wells outside of... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 1 | Filed Under Op/Ed

Be Kind Rewind: 2.5 stars. Be Kind Rewind’s version of Ghostbusters: 5 stars.

February 27, 2008 - 09:01

According to me, Michele Gondry is very creative at putting together music videos, but he shouldn’t bother making full-length films. According to everyone else I know, he burst forth from the head of Orson Welles with camera in hand. I’m prepared... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 6 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

I’m Entering Cloonz into the Pool

February 22, 2008 - 12:49

We can mail him his free Westhampton tickets if he wins: George Clooney’s Oscar Predictions

by Susan Howson | 0 | Filed Under Op/Ed

2008 Oscar Predictions: Let’s Keep It Interesting

February 20, 2008 - 11:00

My annual exhaustive list of what’s going to win Academy Awards, what should win Academy Awards, and the wisdom to see the difference. (For the full list of nominees, go to Oscar.com.) (But then come back to RVANews immediately.) Best Actor Who... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 14 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Throw golden statuettes at Daniel Day-Lewis (FIGURATIVELY)

February 19, 2008 - 18:20

Oscar picks end tonight. Just a reminder. Flavored cupcakes of your choice may be amongst the prizes.

by Susan Howson | 0 | Filed Under Op/Ed

The Savages: There’s Gray on the Horizon

February 13, 2008 - 13:32

Greetings, good people! I have been enjoying three days of a work conference in yon Colonial Williamsburg! Everything is so pleasant here; there are guys in three-cornered hats, sheep safely grazing, and everywhere is the scent of a wood-burning stove.... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 5 | Filed Under Entertainment, Features, Literally et cetera

Weekend things

February 1, 2008 - 09:00

The excruciatingly boring process of moving house has filled up all of my weekends as of late, and I’m the kind of person who obsessively rubs salt into wounds by looking around the internet at things that I could be doing if I were rich enough... (more...)

by Susan Howson | 3 | Filed Under Op/Ed

Cloverfield

January 30, 2008 - 07:30

This is what happened. I saw Cloverfield on a Friday night, a fair amount of my friends saw it Saturday night, and our Monday morning nerded-out IM conversations went something like this (loosely translated):* Me: A pleasant Monday morning to you! Them:... (more...)