CliqueClack

Win passes to the Baltimore screening of The Kings of Summer

CliqueClack has partnered with CBS Films and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer our readers in the Baltimore area free passes to the advance screening of the new, critically acclaimed, Sundance favorite The Kings of Summer. The film depicts a unique coming-of-age comedy about three teenage friends — Joe (Nick Robinson), Patrick (Gabriel Basso) and the eccentric and unpredictable Biaggio (Moises Arias) — who, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land. Free from their parents’ rules, their idyllic summer quickly becomes a test of friendship as each boy learns to appreciate the fact that family — whether it is the one you’re born into or the one you create — is something you can’t run away from. The film also stars Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and Alison Brie.

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American Idol alumni … as judges?

I wasn’t expecting to discuss anything post-season where American Idol was concerned. But I have people watching my back here on CliqueClack. (Lord knows someone needs to monitor my activities … uhm … I mean … watch my back.) This particular rant post comes courtesy of my CC buddy Chuck Duncan. You can thank him for instigating what you’re reading. Please send your cards, letters and otherwise to: Chuck Wash, c/o CliqueClack.

Think about it a minute: There was a lot going on even before the start of Idol’s latest season got underway. (Judge in-fighting, format changes, talk of doing away with mentors.) So why would I think anything different post season finale? Of course the drama continues. And, for a change of pace, it doesn’t involve sniping cat fighting between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. (Surprise!)

The Current Big News? Idol season 3 alum and success story Jennifer Hudson will be sitting behind the judges’ table next season. Additionally, the two other spots (there will only be three judges on the upcoming season, not four) are for season 1 winner (and success story in her own right) Kelly Clarkson and one of two past contestants, Adam Lambert or Clay Aiken.

My immediate reaction on hearing this? *ugh* … with an appropriate lower case “u” in the interjection.

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Luther’s first season intoxicates

I am seriously in love with Idris Elba. He is amazing as the titular character in BBC One’s Luther. Everything he does – his walk, talk, and mannerisms all portray the fragmented shell of a man desperate to hold onto a wife desperate to leave him; desperate to hold onto a tenuous sanity; and desperate to hold onto a job that represents all that’s familiar.

If you haven’t seen Luther, Elba plays brilliant serial killer investigator, John Luther. After not saving a child murderer (possibly deliberately), he mentally implodes, sequestering himself away for his safety, his family’s safety and his colleagues’ safety. Yet, when he returns, his wife reveals she moved on and his co-workers continuously watch him, fearing his fragile mentality and eggshell temper will erupt. Season one’s plots follow Luther post-suspension as he tracks cases of patricide, serial cop killing, taxi driver murderers and American gangs. For Luther, walking in the darkness means holding the darkness inside of you and hoping it doesn’t absorb those around you.

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Fast & Furious 6 is an awesome and explosive thrill ride

After the crew walked away with millions of dollars at the end of Fast 5, the team members went their separate ways except for Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), Elena (Elsa Pataky) and Mia (Jordana Brewster). They all settled down in the Canary Islands with a new baby added to the family.

Dom and Brian are content to put their old life behind them and settle down. Though, that didn’t mean they put away their hot rides and fast driving. That all changes when Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) shows up on their doorstep asking for their help.

Spoiler alert: This article discusses specific details from the film. If you haven’t seen it yet, please stop reading. For review of the movie, check out Cisco Davis, Jr’s Fast and Furious 6 review.

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Scatter My Ashes makes Bergdorf Goodman accessible

I recently started obsessing over clothes and fashion to a level I can’t explain. While I haven’t hit the arena where it affects my pocketbook, as a former frequenter of Old Navy, Gap Outlet and TJMaxx, I don’t understand why my style shifted from faded denim overalls to quirky business professional. Maybe it’s the conundrum that occurs when you pass your twenties and grow more interested in presenting yourself for yourself as opposed to your date. But, after chronicling my ongoing love affair with Breakfast at Tiffany’s, searching for the best Birkin bag not-knock-off and uncovering the perfect Little Black Dress, of course, I had to cover Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s.

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s is a documentary about the iconic New York department store’s relationship with its fashion designers as well as a behind the scenes look at key staff that interact with the public through sales and window dressing. For the screening, in honor of Bergdorf, I threw on my very best Melie Bianco from Target, dusted off my best priced-down Banana Republic, and shook out my favorite almost-Noelani Jelly flats.

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Frances Ha is one very buoyant, affirming, quirky hipster

It’s difficult for most people to find purpose in life, let alone the means to achieve it once you think you’ve found it. Most don’t have rich parents or spouses to fall back on. Regardless of our wants or desires, our hopes and dreams, sometimes we just need to face the truth: life goes on. And sometimes the only way to achieve what we want is to wait until it’s the right time to get it. Not so easy, really, especially in an age where we can get everything measured in blinks of an eye. And for those in the time of life when you’re supposed to “figure things out,” it’s wildly exciting and exceptionally terrifying.

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Fast & Furious 6 will be the summer action movie to beat

If you would have told me back in 2001 that The Fast and the Furious would go on to become a ridiculously successful film franchise spanning over five movies and counting, I probably would have laughed in your face. But as time went on I can honestly say that I really didn’t see it coming, because The Fast and the Furious franchise snowballed into a feverish sleeper hit of a film franchise that even I enjoy watching — especially on the big screen.

With a huge ensemble cast starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Sung Kang, Luke Evans and more, Fast & Furious 6 picks up after Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and his criminal gang of street racers finished their Rio de Janeiro heist in the last film.

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It’s Vegas ticket mania on So You Think You Can Dance

We’re barely a couple weeks in and a sour taste forms in my mouth each time So You Think You Can Dance lights up my cathode ray tube.

It started with last Tuesday’s premiere. By the end of the hour, it seemed as if the show was handing out Las Vegas tickets to the contestants like they were candy. The next night? Wednesday night? More of the same. Those Vegas tickets were flowing just as fast as a winning one-armed bandit pull.

Then came this week’s 2-hour episode. Good gordness: Tickets were flying hand over fist. The judges were beside themselves, thrusting them in the grasp of any willing outstretched hand. That’s the way it felt, anyway.

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The Wolfpack reunites one last time in The Hangover Part III

You pretty much had to have been living under a rock for the last few years to not have heard about The Hangover movies and the epic drunken adventures and hijinks the “Wolfpack” have been on after wild nights of partying and drinking. With The Hangover Part III being billed as the third and final film in the series it had the difficult task of being fresh and unique enough to set itself apart from the first two films, while still keeping consistent with a level of crazy humor.

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The Looney Tunes Show – Cartoons for Adults

There’s a difference between the old school Looney Tunes cartoons and Cartoon Network’s Looney Tunes Show. Although the old school WB cartoons focused on a child audience, with a secondary layer for adults, the new school Looney Tunes Show focuses on savvy adults while including comic pratfalls to entertain the elementary aged viewer. Basically, these contemporary cartoons are geared towards former Saturday morning watchers who want cartoons they can watch with their kids while the old school Merry Melodies were geared towards our younger selves with elements our parents could appreciate.

Cartoon Network’s Looney Tunes Show clearly targets an older audience while maintaining slapstick for the younger crowd. If you haven’t caught an episode, Bugs and Daffy are adult male roommates, a la Bert and Ernie, who handle dating while snarking on contemporary society. In the “Black Widow,” Daffy takes a spring vacation while Bugs recreates a 1930s mystery with his girlfriend, Lola. Is it like the original Tex Avery/Chuck Jones cartoons? No. The Looney Tunes Show is closer to its mid-90s WB cartoon siblings who used pop culture to comment on contemporary society for a more aware adult audience. There’s a great opening moment when Daffy snarks about the number of vacation and holidays in the American education system while deciding his low-employed self should vacate instead. The episode includes mild unspoken commentary on adults who recreate their former youth and deliberately enact mischief while fearing facing the consequences. Porky’s ongoing “I left my iron/curling iron/magnifying glass/etc. on”, will resonate with every single vacationing adult.

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