Hailee Steinfeld’s “irresponsible” Miu Miu ad banned

Posted on November 23, 2011 by

This morning, I wrote a post for Yahoo Movies about the Advertising Standards Agency banning this advert in the UK. It shows the fantastic young actress Hailee Steinfeld (‘True Grit’) sat on some railway tracks, looking a bit upset, but kitted out in Miu Miu clothes. Why has it been banned? Because it’s deemed irresponsible, since it shows a child in an unsafe location.

Prada – who own Miu Miu – defended themselves by saying that the advert was ”part of a serious, high-fashion campaign” aimed at adult women. So, does that mean it would have been okay to show someone over 18 on the railway tracks? Seems like it. Well then, since there’s no shortage of adult actresses in the world, why aren’t they actually using adults in adverts for clothing and accessories aimed at “adult women”?

With Dakota Fanning, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloe Moretz, and Elle Fanning – all talented young women, but all still minors in the eyes of the law – being used in high profile “aspirational” luxury brand campaigns as teens, are they just selling an extreme version of youth? And doesn’t it all just feel a bit wrong? Maybe it’s just me…

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Inside the ‘Breaking Dawn: Part 1′ UK Premiere

Posted on November 17, 2011 by

I’ve been to a fair few movie premieres in my time, usually penned in on the sidelines with the rest of the online press, trying to grab the stars for quick interviews before they move on to the droves of devoted fans and sign autographs. It’s always fun, it’s always an adrenaline-rush for the hour they’re on the carpet, but there’s usually about two hours of waiting around in the cold before they show up, and then… you only rarely get a ticket inside, instead attending press screenings.

So, it was great to go to the ‘Breaking Dawn: Part I’ premiere last night in Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford, and do all the fun bits with none of the uncomfortable waiting around, or the work(!). It was one of the biggest premieres of the year, with what felt like the longest red (and white) carpet in the world. Some fans apparently camped out for days to catch a glimpse of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, but they didn’t seem knackered in the slightest. In fact, I’ve never seen people so overexcited… except maybe when I covered the ‘Eclipse’ premiere last year.

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Kirsten Dunst is low-key and lovely in REM’s last vid

Posted on October 27, 2011 by

Since I watched Melancholia last week, I’ve become a bit enchanted with Kirsten Dunst and her laid-back low-key California girl look again. Here she is in REM’s just-released video for We All Go Back To Where We Belong.

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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen get us all in the Halloween spirit!

Posted on October 5, 2011 by

The heatwave that’s taken over October so far has ruined that Halloween-y kind of feeling  that usually sets in during autumn. Help is at hand, though! This video from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (promoting StyleMint with a discount code) has got me in the All Hallow’s Eve spirit. Almost as much as my annual viewing of Hocus Pocus will. Check out the video under the jump and answer all the questions right (or do as I did and just click on them randomly until you move to the next one), and you get treated to the twins looking fab as Catwoman and Batman (looking forward to The Dark Knight Rises?), a Stormtrooper and Darth Vader, and more!

Now I see why they’re always carrying coffee…

Watch the video under the cut!

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Happy Birthday, Alicia Silverstone! (I always wanted your hair)

Posted on October 4, 2011 by

Oh, Alicia Silverstone. I was 11ish was Clueless came out and I wanted to be you when I eventually saw it. Or possibly Cher Horowitz, judging by the way “As if!” and various other ridiculous catchphrases became a part of my tweenage to teenage lexicon. At the time, I didn’t know you’d been in an Aerosmith video with Stephen Dorff (swoon). But I also eventually rented that terrible movie Excess Baggage because you were in it. And weren’t you in a film with Mark Wahlberg too? Back when he was Marky Mark and still had his Funky Bunch? Let’s not go into the whole Batgirl thing right now. You kissed Paul Rudd! Back before he was Paul Rudd. And in semi-incestual circumstances if we look into the storyline too closely, so let’s not. What else have you been in? Oh yeah, I’m afraid I didn’t really like your TV show Miss Match, we were… mismatched. And now? Now you have a handsome-despite-the-headband husband and a gorgeous son named Bear. (I ignore all the stuff about the veganism though, sorry, I just like bacon sandwiches a little bit too much.) Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!

PS. THIS is why I wanted your hair (I’ve never achieved it).

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DVD Delight: Whip It

Posted on June 13, 2011 by
Drew Barrymore Director Whip It

I first watched Whip It in a movie theatre in the East Village, shortly after a cab ride from JFK and a quick check in at our hotel. I was exhausted when I sat down in my seat – always more comfy than UK viewing conditions – but by the time I left the cinema I was totally elated and energised. When I got back to London I actually counted down the weeks until it was released and I could watch it again, and Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut remains one of my favourite DVDs to play when I’m feeling a little blue or run down.

The book / memoir by Shauna Cross – Derby Girl – is just as fun, and I’d highly recommend you read it if you loved the film, but there’s something about seeing those brutal roller derby bouts, featuring teams of individual female characters (that you really want to be friends with) on screen that enhances the story. I know at least one person who now skates in a team because of the film, and I thank everything that I didn’t give in to my temptations to try out – I’m the kind of person who manages to break her elbow in the comfort of her living room. Still, my derby dreams live on when I watch this film.

With some of my favourite actresses involved, including Drew, Alia Shawkat, Ari Graynor, Ellen Page, and Juliette Lewis, as well as a standout turn from Kristen Wiig – who I can’t wait to see in Bridesmaids - it has a superb female cast and great guys in the lineup too, including Jimmy Fallon, Andrew Wilson and Daniel Stern. Excuse me… I’m going to go watch it right now.

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at it all under the cut:

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Instant Musical Joy: The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back

Posted on May 18, 2011 by

No song puts me in a better mood. Fact.

You know you want to listen to this. Keep on reading for a video of the Jackson 5 which is going to make you want to wear weather-themed clothes. I now NEED a fringed top to wear while dancing around the flat to this song.

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