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Showing posts with label awesome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label awesome. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

‘Mad Men’ class examines consumerism, why ‘Mad Men’ is so awesome

Mad-Men-WaldorfImage Credit: AMCYou’d think a class about Mad Men might focus on the art of seduction, better living through structured undergarments, or how to win over attractive women and influence drunks. But no! Northwestern University’s MM class is about history and commercialism. Well, that sounds good too.

Professor Michael Allen’s course, Consumerism and Social Change in Mad Men America 1960-1965, is a freshman seminar, and he told the Northwestern Newscenter that he likes teaching history and politics “from the ground up.” “Mad Men provides a good understanding of how ordinary people participated in history and produced change in politics broadly conceived,” he said. “In class we’ll discuss the ways women got involved in second-wave feminism, how they decided to enter the workplace, as well as the emergence of civil rights activism, which often occurred in commercial settings, such as lunch counters and drug stores.”

So … I want to take this class really badly. I want to think about how choices of what to buy inform and are informed by how we see ourselves in a changing society! What was I thinking taking Medieval Women’s Religious Writing instead of stuff like this? (Just kidding — I actually loved that class so hard.)

Shall we sign up for this together or what, PopWatchers?

Read more:
‘Mad Men’ Central
‘Ken Cosgrove’ stars in new ‘L.A. Noire’ trailer
Clip du jour: Don Draper says what?


View the original article here

Friday, November 12, 2010

Sprint’s ‘Notebook’ spoof: Do not silence this awesome pre-movie spot

the-notebookImage Credit: Melissa MoseleyHere’s another reason to get to the movie theater early: Sprint’s latest spot for their “Silence Your Cell Phone” campaign features the iconic scene from The Notebook in which tragically parted lovers Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are reunited in the pouring rain. (I’ll give you time to swoon for the hundredth time just thinking about it.) But the scene doesn’t quite play as it does on your DVD. Instead of hearing Gosling say, “I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you every day for a year,” the dialogue has been replaced with, “I was at the vet’s office, Trixie ate dark chocolate. I couldn’t talk, but I texted.” (This is followed by McAdams’ character’s actual response, “You wrote me?” before the following from faux Gosling: “Yeah. And she barfed. I helped clean up.” And….scene!)

“We were looking for iconic movie scenes that were both cinematic and memorable,” say Jamie Barrett and Christian Haas, executive creative directors at the ad agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, in an e-mail. (The agency is responsible for coming up with the spot, currently running in 1,400 theaters nationwide through the new year.) “We also needed the dialogue to fit the story we were trying to tell. We worked with Warner [Bros.] to find movies we could license, then watched hours of film to find a scene that fit. It was a pretty good scam, watching movies all day at work.”

We’re told both Gosling and McAdams had to approve the changes. And there’s a reason Gosling’s voice in the spoof sounds familiar: Adam Harrington, an actor/comedian who’s appeared on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, provides the voice for the spot.

Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, you will only be able to see the spoof in theaters…but do you really need an excuse to go to the movies? Who else has seen the spoof? And is loving it?


View the original article here

Monday, October 25, 2010

Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, and Oprah to co-star in home-shopping movie. Michael Patrick King, YOU get an awesome cast!

Sandra-Meryl-OprahImage Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; George Burns/Harpo ProductionsAnd I thought the power of three only existed on Charmed! Today came the announcement via Universal that Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey would all co-star in Michael Patrick King’s untitled project about a home-shopping channel. Wait a tick — you’re telling me I can get Hollywood’s three wisest women for one easy payment of $12?! (Or, $17, if King decides to go the 3-D route.) Can they come with a bonus Slap Chop too?

In all seriousness, this is some pretty awesome casting news, even if we have barely any idea of what exactly happens in the film. (But if the plotline is anywhere near as entertaining as the one in the Magic Bullet infomercial, count me in.) With these three powerhouses on board, I’m wondering where King can go from here — should he just go ahead and Ocean’s 11 this joint by adding the likes of Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, and Tina Fey (who’s already co-starring with Streep elsewhere) to the cast too? Who else should come on board? Will Bullock and Streep face-off for Oscar again? And are you hoping Winfrey gives away tickets to the film to everyone for free? (If not, it’s okay Ms. Winfrey. I’ll gladly shell out a dozen bucks for this film, as long as I can drive there in my Pontiac G6.)

Read more:
Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, and Oprah join forces


View the original article here