Our Interview With Vanessa Hudgens About Her New Film “Gimme Shelter”!

Since starring in Disney's High School Musical eight years ago, Vanessa Hudgens has turned her focus to roles any 25-year-old actor would be anxious to undertake. From last year's vastly underrated Spring Breakers, to the upcoming Gimme Shelter, Hudgens is setting herself up to have a long-lasting acting career and not just be a teenage star.

I hate that I even have to mention Hudgens' "transition" from Disney roles to her more recent characters, since it's not that she is making a huge effort to break from the Disney mold. In fact, she has actually been given the opportunity to leverage her early fame to take on the edgy, meatier roles, that would peak the interest of any actor. If I were in her shoes, I would also be looking for roles like this - characters that would help me showcase my talent.

In Hudgens' lastest film, Gimme Shelter (which is based on a true story), she is almost unrecognizable as Apple, a pregnant teenager with a family life so terrible, she inevitably has to live on the streets of New Jersey. When a priest (James Earl Jones) helps Apple find a bed in a shelter catered to other homeless, pregnant women like herself, her life is changed forever. To prepare for the role, Hudgens not only changed her appearance, gaining fifteen pounds and cutting her hair, she also spent several weeks living in the Several Sources Shelter from which the movie was based. After watching the movie, it's easy to see how much this preparation paid off.

Photo Credit: Evenpro.com

I had the opportunity to conduct a roundtable interview with the energetic Vanessa Hudgens, where we talked about her exotically painted fingernails, the insane cold in DC, and, of course, her new role in Gimme Shelter. I enjoyed hearing Hudgens talk about her transformation for this role, her butterfly tattoo, the fact she sent the script to Rosario Dawson (who plays her abusive mother), and the real women behind this true story (who also made cameo appearances in the film). Additionally, I made sure to ask Hudgens about the characteristics and mannerisms she gave to Apple (such as always eating really quickly and her different walk). Were there any others she wanted us to notice? I won't call this Hudgens' breakthrough role, since I think we already saw that in Spring Breakers; however, I will say, based on her bold performance in Gimme Shelter, I am excited to see what she has coming next!

Make sure to check out Gimme Shelter (directed by Ron Krauss) this Friday, January 24 in Washington, DC area theaters!

Vanessa Hudgens Interview

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Spike Jonze Excels with the Intoxicating ‘Her’

Her begins with a long and insistent close-up of Joaquin Phoenix. The camera plainly captures the large glasses, pale face and the bland voice of its main character. Phoenix’s character Theodore is reading a love note he composed and recording it on his computer, blankly revealing his sensitivity to the addressee of his letter— a person he will likely never meet or come in personal contact with. But this type of digital emotionalism is where society is going— writer/director Spike Jonze seems to be saying— and his new drama seeks to show where that direction will ultimately lead us.

Photo Credit: NewYorker.com

Theodore works in an elaborate but sparsely-occupied office and lives in a home that feels as empty as the resident who dwells within its walls. He occupies his time playing video games (which look and feel like the Nintendo Wii) and engaging in sexually-explicit phone calls with lonely women looking for a good time. One call becomes a bit troubling and eventually Theodore purchases what is advertised as being the “first artificially-intelligent operating system.” Voiced by Scarlett Johansson, this new system—which quickly names itself Samantha— speaks and listens to Theodore as any friend would and knows everything about him that is accessible online (Samantha reads all of his e-mails, for instance.)

Jonze, who previously helmed Adaptation and Being John Malkovich is a masterful writer who knows how to build a concept and then examine it with the intricate know-how of a heart surgeon. He never lets an idea define a film. Instead, he only lets it begin a movie and then slowly but surely removes the layers of the concept. What starts here as a gimmicky concept—a man falls in life with his faceless operating system— becomes something more as it shows both the man and the system growing together.

Photo Credit: Slate.com

“What makes me me is my ability to grow through my experiences,” Samantha states early on as she reveals how she was created. Her program was built over a long period and so the system has taken on the traits of the people who helped build it and can grow and adapt because of that. As a system, she can learn and grow and the plot finds her learning and building a life as much as it shows Theodore building his.

Throughout the story, Jonze finds unique obstacles for Theodore and Samantha to overcome in their “newfound” relationship. Samantha struggles with the idea of never having a body. Theodore struggles with his ex-wife Catherine’s (Rooney Mara) insightful comments about his own relationship weaknesses. The duo struggle with the idea that they can never be truly intimate with each other. Each struggle is a realistic one that would likely appear if relationships such as these existed. Additionally, Amy Adams appears as Theodore’s ex-girlfriend Amy, a woman who struggles with her own relationship insecurities and who longs to be as warmly comforted as Theodore is with Samantha.

Photo Credit: TheHollywoodNews.com

Overall, Her is a wondrously creative and beautiful film that never feels like too much of a fantasy. With our reliance on technology and intuitive computer systems, this movie comes across as a parable about how lonely people can sometimes find comfort in technology when real relationships fail on us. Phoenix and Johansson are great performers together here and show that while this future relationship doesn’t seem too far off, it’s not something to hope for. In fact, the tragic realism of this situation is something to dread.

My review: A

Her Trailer

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‘Frozen’ might be the best animated movie of the year

The new animated comedy Frozen proves that Disney still has the filmmaking magic that previously inspired classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. The new film combines witty comedy, catchy musical numbers and a unique story that will keep families entertained. It’s one of the best animated films of the year and easily one of Disney's best animated films in years.

The story focuses on the relationship between two royal sisters who live with their parents in a massive castle. As children, future Queen Elsa (Eva Bella) spends most of the time with her mischievous sister Anna (Livvy Stubenrauch). The two are nearly inseparable but during a day of playful fun, Elsa— who has the ability to freeze anything at a moment’s notice— accidentally hurts her sister, knocking the innocent Anna unconscious.

Photo Credit: Hollywood.com

Worried about Elsa’s mysterious power, the sibling’s parents ask Elsa to stay away from Anna so Elsa— unselfishly looking out for her sister— locks herself away, hiding her powers from Anna (who can’t remember the incident) and keeping her safe.

For several heartbreaking years, Elsa avoids her sister (who simply wants to build a snowman with her) and the castle is locked down to prevent people from knowing about Elsa’s strange powers but eventually, the gates are opened up for Elsa’s coronation to the throne. An argument breaks out during the party and Elsa accidentally freezes the kingdom and runs away from the uncaring townspeople who believe she’s a freak. It’s then left to Anna (now voiced by Kristen Bell) to find her sister (Idina Menzel) to end the long winter.

Photo Credit: Movies.yahoo.com

The plot revolves around Elsa’s search to find her sister. Despite becoming engaged to the charming Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) at the coronation, Elsa quickly befriends a jovial goofball named Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), who sells ice for a living (poor occupation to have during a long winter). The two bicker and laugh as they travel through the woods encountering strange creatures-- including Kristoff’s own family--along the way. A wonderfully naïve snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) joins the entourage, stealing nearly every scene he’s in.

The comedy here is wonderful, wrapping audiences in a warm blanket of cute jokes and hilarious bits (a segment featuring Olaf dreaming about a life during the summer is particularly memorable). The songs are likewise enchanting and could easily remind audiences of some of Disney’s best musical moments. Some of the original music here arrived courtesy of Tony winner Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who both do incredible jobs creating musical numbers that are easy to enjoy and engaging enough to get audiences tapping their feet to them.

"FROZEN" (Pictured) ELSA. ©2013 Disney. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Collider.com

In a wide variety of ways, Frozen stands out in the animated category. Its focus on siblings—rather than one woman pursuing a prince— gives the plot an unlikely newness while its impressive songs fill it with an exuberance that captures the spirit of the story. Musical films are often restricted by the numbers that seem to be forced in. Here, they are part of the story’s essential plot. For that and more, Frozen is a wonderful family film and should be celebrated as such. It’s one of the year’s best films and a great family one to check out this holiday season.

My review: A

Frozen Trailer

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Celebrate The 40th Anniversary Of “The Exorcist”!!

As many of you probably know, The Exorcist, one of the best horror movies of all time, was filmed in DC! To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, Warner Bros. is bringing the film back to town! Academy Award® winning author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty will kick off an Exclusive One Week Engagement of The Exorcist with a Q&A following the 7:30 pm showing on Halloween night, Thursday October 31 at AMC Georgetown. The engagement continues through Thursday, November 7 and tickets are on-sale now.

William Friedkin’s suspense masterpiece is one of the top ten box-office performers of all time, with 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and a win for Blatty’s Best Adapted Screenplay. The Exorcist tells the now-famous story of a young girl’s demonic possession, and her mother’s struggle to find a priest able and willing to perform an exorcism, resulting in a gripping fight between good and evil.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of William Friedkin’s suspense masterpiece with the recent release of a new Blu-ray featuring the Extended Director’s Cut and Theatrical Version with new special features, premiums and an excerpt from Friedkin’s book The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir .

Again, The Exorcist opens for an exclusive one week theatrical engagement October 31 – November 7 at AMC Georgetown. Perhaps afterward you can take a walk down the infamous "Exorcist Stairs" at 36th St NW and M St NW!

The Exorcist Trailer

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The Powerful ’12 Years a Slave’ is one of the Year’s Best

It was supposed to be a quick trip for Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a 30-something New Yorker who in 1841 went on tour in the South playing the fiddle. It turned into a nightmare as this free black man was kidnapped and turned into a slave, a story that has now been adapted into the heartbreaking film 12 Years a Slave.

The story starts out with Solomon’s quaint life in New York, where he is a happily-married free man with two young children. He is respected and even beloved in the community but such memories are forgotten when he takes up the opportunity offered by two strangers to go on tour playing music. Along the way, his life changes and he is forced into slavery. Without the papers declaring him a free man, he is left to rot in a cold prison until he can be sold like a piece of meat.

Photo Credit: Collider.com

The scenes that follow powerfully show the grotesqueness of slavery. Stripped naked and sold, Solomon clings to his past life while suffering through the present. A slave trader ironically named Freeman (Paul Giamatti) says “My sentimentality extends the length of a coin” and his feelings are shared by many others. They are certainly shared by a psychotic plantation manager named Tibeats (Paul Dano), whose inhumanity is on clear display.

During his twelve years of captivity, Solomon confronts a wide variety of experiences. From his attempt to run away (which ends with him witnessing a hanging firsthand) to being asked to torture a fellow slave, he sees a world that few could ever survive. There are inevitably kind-hearted people he meets along the way (including a scruffy Brad Pitt) but most of his experiences are raw and difficult to watch.

Photo Credit: Collider.com

Showing a wide-ranging series of situations, 12 Years a Slave powerfully brings this difficult subject to the big screen. It succeeds by showing the inhumanity of the practice while dwelling on how normal it once seemed to those who witnessed it firsthand. Some of the most heart-breaking scenes shown here feature sick acts of violence—including a man in a noose struggling to remain standing in order to survive for hours on end— while others (including children) think nothing of it. The barbaric practices seemed normal to them.

From start to finish, the acting here makes this story stand out. Of particular note are Michael Fassbender, who plays a demented slave owner who rapes one of his slaves, and Lupita Nyong’o, the victim of his attacks. Both will likely be awarded for their powerful performances during award season. Credit should also be given to Ejiofor, who captures the changing emotions of his character. Solomon is indeed a complex character who often must hide his educational background and his emotional state to survive. Educated men don’t survive long in the slave trade, he is told, and neither do people who can’t let go of the families they’ve lost. (“Your children will soon be forgotten,” one female slave owner tells the newest addition to the plantation.)

Photo Credit: CBSNews.com

Films like 12 Years a Slave are difficult to watch but powerful to experience. It’s an important story that never shies away from its harsh depiction of slavery. Easily one of the year’s best films, director Steve McQueen has succeeded in telling an incredible true story without cleaning it up to make it more palatable to more general audiences. This film stands as it is and should be applauded as a cinematic achievement.

My review: A

12 Years a Slave Trailer

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Don Jon, A Thoughtful Directorial Debut from Joseph Gordon-Levitt

There are few things that truly make title character Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) happy in the new comedy Don Jon. Spending time with his bros, his family and at the gym are a few of the things the Catholic character enjoys. But when he's away from those three, Jon spends much of his time watching pornography. It seemingly pleases him in a way that his usual flings-- with the locals he meets at a nearby bar-- do not.

But early on in the story, he meets a girl named Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), who temporarily pushes him away from that mindset. Instead of meeting a new girl every weekend, he pursues Barbara asking all of his friends about her and slowly closing in. He eventually starts dating her but his desire for porn persists, despite Barbara’s obvious affection for him. He even needs the comfort of it after he’s slept with her.

Photo Credit: New York Daily News

This romance inevitably runs into road blocks when she discovers his affection for watching x-rated videos, at which point he argues that the bubbly romantic comedies she drones on about are a fantasy as well. He notes that she takes solace in fake and unrealistic stories so why can’t he do the same?

That focus on the media and the romanticization of fictional stories is one of the major themes in a story that often speaks to greater themes than its plot suggests. Writer/director Joseph Gordon-Levitt has attempted to craft a story here that is ambitious both in its ideas and in its overriding themes. He earnestly succeeds by crafting a relatable crew of characters that help further his ideas.

Photo Credit: The Daily Rotation

Jon’s father (played by an appealing Tony Danza), for instance, is obsessed with a different type of media. Throughout the family dinners hehosts with his wife Angela (Glenne Headly), he looks on at the television beyond the table to see what the latest football scores are. Jon’s sister Monica (Brie Larson) is meanwhile occupied as well as she spends her time texting. None of these people are paying attention to their surroundings or the real world.

They are lost in a fantasy and never satisfied being where they are.

As the story unfolds, Jon returns to school where he meets with an older woman named Esther (Julianne Moore), who has more experiences facing the heartbreak and the satisfaction of the real world than Jon has ever known. Her character, unsurprisingly, is the most-fleshed out one and ultimately the most powerful one in the script. In a story where people are driven by one type of media or another, she actually seems real.

Photo Credit: Slant Magazine

“Don Jon” has a few noble ambitions and ultimately succeeds at most of them. At times, some of the characters—like Barbara— seem one-dimensional but the ideas of the stories overshadow such flaws. The plot ultimately leads viewers on a story that includes some obvious characters while pushing a less-obvious theme.

It is truly however a great achievement for Joseph Gordon-Levitt to craft such a story— the first full-length feature he wrote and directed. Despite its flaws, it shows what a talent this young man is and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

My review: B+

Don Jon Trailer

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Our Interview with Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, and Nick Frost About “The World’s End”

Since their hit British T.V. show Spaced (1999), director Edgar Wright and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have consistently collaborated on projects together. Their first hit film, Shaun of the Dead (my personal favorite of their collaborations), propelled their level of notoriety even higher and was the first film of “The Cornetto Trilogy” (which also consists of Hot Fuzz and The World’s End). The term, “The Cornetto Trilogy”, was coined after fans noticed a different flavor of the Cornetto ice cream cone in each film. In Shaun of the Dead, the flavor is strawberry (symbolizing the film’s blood and gore), in Hot Fuzz the ice cream is blue (symbolizing the police), and in The World’s End the ice cream is green (symbolizing the sci-fi aspect of the film).

thecornettotrilogy.tumblr.com

Along with the symbolic flavors of the ice cream, the films in The Cornetto Trilogy also have four main similarities. First, all of the films are directed by Wright, co-written by Pegg and Wright, and star Pegg and Frost. Second, they are filmed and set in England. Third, the films focus on the characters vs. a group of people: Shaun of the Dead features humanity vs. zombies; Hot Fuzz features police officers vs. mysterious townspeople; and The World’s End features humanity vs. “aliens” (I don’t want to get too spoilery). Fourth, each of the films’ plots center around the characters’ reluctance to fully “grow up”.

While Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End do not share the same characters or general story line, it’s easy to see how the similar themes tie the films together. There are even some running jokes that the filmmakers like to throw in for those diehard fans (like myself), such as the hilarious fence-jumping bit. This is the brilliance of the trilogy; Pegg and Wright are able to write a series of movies that are just as alike as they are different. Their hilariously clever dialogue and unique film-making style make The Cornetto Trilogy a “can’t miss” for comedy fans, as well as anyone who enjoys unique movies.

Photo Credit: rte.ie

Sadly, The Cornetto Trilogy has reached its end with the aptly named finale, The World’s End. This hilarious film hits theaters Friday and Cloture Club (along with Dean Rogers “The Rogers Revue” and Leslie Combemale “The Movie Siren”) got the chance to conduct a roundtable interview with the English trio to discuss their writing process, things they are (or aren’t) nostalgic about, and what type of Apocalypse they would prefer to encounter (zombies vs. body snatchers). All three men were a delight to talk to, and are just as funny as you would expect them to be!

Check out the audio below (we asked the questions about the Apocalypse and what the men feel nostalgic about) and don’t miss seeing The World’s End this weekend! AMC Theaters are also running a Cornetto Trilogy night to allow fans to watch all of the films in one sitting.

Our Interview With Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost!

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Opera Lovers! Verdi’s “La Traviata” On DC Area Movie Screens

Hey DC! Who likes opera? We’re excited to let you know about a cool event happening tomorrow evening, July 17^th at 7:00 p.m.! The Metropolitan Opera and NCM Fathom Events present a magnificent opera performance of Verdi’s La Traviata on select Washington, DC screens including AMC Mazza Gallerie 7, Regal Ballston Commons 12, AMC Tyson’s Corner, and Regal Potomac Yard Stadium 16!!

Natalie Dessay stars as the tragic courtesan Violetta Valéry in Willy Decker’s innovative modern-dress staging of “La Traviata,” which “delivers style, sparkle, and stirring drama” (Los Angeles Times). Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leads the tragic love story, which also stars Matthew Polenzani as the lovesick Alfredo and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as his disapproving father, Giorgio Germont.

Tickets for the performance are available at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.

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What Are You Worth Socially and In Business

Written by guest contributor: Josh Shapiro, Founder of BeersandCareers.com

In today’s world, the sluggish economy is on the minds of most people. How are you going to put your kids through college? How much do you have saved for retirement? Instead of talking about raw numbers in a checking or savings account, I want to discuss how much you are worth – solely based off of your social and business network.

Millionaire Mike

Let’s take ‘Millionaire Mike,’ for instance. Mike just graduated from college and is looking for an entry-level job in a tough market. He signs onto online job boards in the hopes of landing that perfect first position that will eventually yield him millions of dollars down the road, yet he finds it frustrating that he’s not getting any responses – after all, he just graduated from one of the top schools in the country. He vents with his close friends about how he’s worried about getting something soon. He keeps plugging away online and figures that one of these days, an executive is going to call with his perfect $100,000 job (which probably won’t happen out of college – sorry, Mike). A few weeks turn into a few months, and he is forced to take a position that he doesn’t like.

What Mike doesn’t realize is that he needs to try other avenues. For starters, he needs to reach out to his family, his extended group of friends, and his old summer boss. Mike also must be open to network at social functions and meet others in his desired industry. Instead of being so one-sided, he needs to expand his comfort zone and crawl out from behind his laptop to meet people face-to-face. Unfortunately, Mike was so caught up job searching online that he forgot the power and authenticity of the human relationship.

Networking Nate

Now let’s move to the opposite side of the spectrum and meet ‘Networking Nate.’ He’s more of the introverted type, but met a lot of new contacts at a business event that his industry association puts on twice a year. Even though he’s not great with people, Nate soon realized the power of adding valuable contacts to his Rolodex and sometimes has the occasional coffee with his industry colleagues. Since that first year, he has gone to every biannual event the association puts on.

After five years at his current position, he decided it was time to take a look at moving to another company – after all, they downsized and now he does double the work for the same pay (which unfortunately happens all too often in today’s world). Since Nate attended a few events over the years, he reached out to a few of his new friends in the industry and, instead of going through the elongated process of searching online for jobs online, he made use of his existing network to get his foot in the door. He applied for a job was granted an interview with the HR manager at a new company the next week – all because of a word-of-mouth recommendation from someone who had already worked there.

Conclusion

It is within this simple mindset that some people can take advantage of their surroundings and put in their extra time on the ground. Instead of clicking through online job boards – which usually get a very low ratio of responses – ‘Networking Nate’ made the extra effort to network and found himself in a better position to find a new job.

There’s only so much you can learn on paper – similar to the limits of a recruiter looking at your resume (hence the reason they bring you in for an interview). Instead of solely applying online the first day you decide to find a job, use a steady mix of business networking in between the years of both positions. It will help you meet other people in your industry and the city you live in – which I guarantee will help leverage you further in life.

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“This Is The End” Review- First FUNNY Comedy of the Year!

This Is The End, the latest film from the minds of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad), is a comedy that is :gasp: actually funny! As opposed to this year’s Hangover III and Identity Thief, it is refreshing to finally have a movie that made me laugh out loud multiple times. While the film is completely raunchy and over the top (as you can probably tell from the trailer), fans of the Superbad and Pineapple Express genre will not be disappointed.

Certainly the most hilarious aspect of the film is the fact that audiences get to see the actors playing stereotypical, over-the-top versions of themselves! For example, the movie includes a scene of TMZ paparazzi following Seth Rogen in an airport, asking him to do “the laugh”; Jonah Hill is really serious about acting now that he has an Oscar nomination (he even prays and tells God “this is Jonah Hill from Moneyball”); James Franco is a pretentious artist, etc… It was hilarious to see these actors play into the personas they have been given by the media (and public).

Photo Credit: drafthouse.com

The film begins with Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) arriving at LAX to pick up his friend Jay Baruchel (She’s Out Of My League). Like in real life, the pair have been friends for a long time and Jay is excited to hang out with one of his best friends. However, Jay is quickly disheartened when he finds out Seth wants to go to a party at James Franco’s new house instead of hanging out alone for the whole weekend. Jay doesn’t like Seth’s “Hollywood” friends because he thinks they think very highly of themselves and don’t like him.

After Seth’s insistence, Jay reluctantly decides to attend the party as long as Seth promises not to ditch him. Unfortunately, when Jay and Seth arrive at the mansion, Jay’s fears are confirmed. At the door, Franco can’t remember his name but fawns all over Seth, Jonah Hill is overly nice to him (which Jay doesn’t trust), and everyone else basically ignores him. After awhile of dealing with this, Jay decides he has to get out of there, so he tells Seth he is going to get cigarettes. Seth follows him to the convenience store and the two begin to discuss their problems… that is, until the apocalypse hits. All of the Christians are raptured to heaven through blue beams of light, leaving the Earth (and all of its remaining citizens) to the devil’s terror.

Jay and Seth quickly retreat back to Franco’s Hollywood party, where interestingly no one has been taken to heaven and the party is still raging like normal; no one in the house has any idea what is going on outside. In fact, none of the partiers believe Seth and Jay’s apocalyptic story until a giant earthquake rattles the house. As everyone runs outside, a giant sinkhole opens in Franco’s front yard, swallowing many of your favorite celebrities into a pool of lava. Jonah Hill, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride (who has been passed out upstairs for the entire party) decide to hold up in Franco’s house until they can figure out how to survive the apocalypse. Is there any way they can get themselves to heaven or is it too late?

Believe me, a lot of the action in the film is so crazy, you’ll wonder why you’re still watching (especially a scene between the devil and Jonah Hill) but that’s how entertaining and hilarious the script is! No matter how ridiculous the scenes were, I was still totally into the plot. I was also continuously waiting for other celebrity cameos. Make sure to look out for Emma Watson, Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari, Michael Cera (and many others that I won’t spoil), who make hilarious appearances in the film (some meeting more horrific deaths than others).

Rogen and Goldberg do a fantastic job centering the storyline on a group of friends who need to come together in order to survive. Though this survival includes avoiding a giant, well-endowed devil, the theme of friendship was not lost in the film’s many instances of absurdity. While the apocalypse may not be the most likely setting for a study on dealing with the way friendships change over time, I certainly enjoyed where the filmmakers took me.

Over all, This Is The End is very funny and did a great job incorporating the theme of friendship throughout the storyline. At some points, the film did feel a little long, but I think fans of the actors’ previous work will really enjoy this movie. PLUS there is an added bonus for Pineapple Express fans eager for a sequel! When the house guests are bored, they decide to film Pineapple Express 2!

My Review: B+

This Is The End Trailer

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The New 100 Dollar Bill

The Federal Reserve Board announced today the redesigned of the new 100 dollar bill will begin circulating later this year. Thew new 100 dollar bill will incorporates never before seen security features such as a blue, 3-D security ribbon. This will make it easier public to authenticate but more difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.

The new design for the $100 note was unveiled in 2010, but its introduction was postponed following an unexpected production delay. To ensure a smooth transition to the redesigned note when it begins circulating in October, the U.S. Currency Education Program is reaching out to businesses and consumers around the world to raise awareness about the new design and inform them about how to use its security features. More information about the new design $100 note, as well as training and educational materials

Find out more about the $100 note from the federal reserve’s new website, http://newmoney.gov.

New $100 Dollar Bill Video

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New 100 Dollar Bill – Photo courtesy of newmoney.gov

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Cloture Club Review of Dance Trance Fitness Classes

Hey Cloture Club readers, the folks that run the site have noticed that a few of you still haven’t lost the 10 lbs you gained during campaign season so they asked me to review some of the new fitness classes and gyms in the area to give you an extra push of motivation. If there are any classes or gyms you’re curious about, feel free to let me know in the comments or via twitter.

After attending a SweetGreen-sponsored Dance Trance class hosted at the Lululemon store in Georgetown, and loving it, I decided I would try out the dance classes for real at their location inside Balance Gym’s Thomas Circle location. From what I understand, Dance Trance is a nationwide franchise and they operate separately but rent space from Balance. The classes are not cheap ($18 drop in fee, with various packages and memberships available) but they offer the first week free, and I took full advantage by attending 3 classes last week. Dance Trance is nothing like the dance aerobics, hip-hop or Zumba classes offered at other gyms. It actually feels like you are out clubbing with your girlfriends, minus the uncomfortable heels and unwelcome manhandling! For newbies like me, they have a one-hour breakdown class where the instructors run you through the steps of two routines. The second hour is “high cardio” where you dance the routines you learned as well as many that are unfamiliar. The lights are low, the music loud, and you’re too focused on keeping up with the complicated steps, turns, and hip thrusts to realize you just got a great hour-long cardio workout.

Routines to Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Gone Bad,” Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite,” Def Leopard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and, a personal favorite, Maklemore’s “Thrift Store,” repeat sequences just enough that by the end of the song you feel like you almost have the hang of it. Pro tip for newbies: scope out the regulars (they are hugging friends and chatting with others before the class, it seems be a very collegial group!) and try to position yourself near a few, you’ll often want to have someone to watch on all sides of you when you can’t see the instructors. Speaking of the instructor, the owner, Sarah Sands, teaches the classes and could not have been nicer or more encouraging to all of the participants!

I have to say that my class at Lululemon where, with no mirrors, I could pretend that my shimmying was just as sexy and coordinated as the instructors, was a little more enjoyable! With walls of mirrors in the Balance Gym studio, I had no such illusions. However, I found that when I ignored my reflection, watched the instructors, and focused on having fun I got a great workout and the hour of “high cardio” flew by. By the end of the week did I have all of the routines down? No, but I was much more confident and less apt to hit a neighboring dancer with a flailing arm or wrong turn. What’s that Justin Timberlake? You want me as a backup dancer in your next video? I’d LOVE to.

And on to some of the logistics: it takes some time commitment to come to the breakdown classes and learn the routines, but Dance Trance is a good workout for the fitness beginner too intimidated by other classes that require major muscle. For those looking for the maximum burn in a short time, stick to boot camp classes or spinning, because you aren’t going to wake up after a Dance Trance class needing an Advil and a day off. While going to Balance has the added bonus of seeing the buff Crossfit dudes throwing tires around shirtless, the ladies locker room was no-frills (showers had body wash and conditioner but no shampoo) so it’s not the most comfortable place to shower and change. Lastly, the classes I went to each had only 1 male participant, so guys who love to dance shouldn’t be shy!

The post Cloture Club Review of Dance Trance Fitness Classes appeared first on ClotureClub.com.

Mentor You — Issue 2

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The post Mentor You — Issue 2 appeared first on ClotureClub.com.

Introducing Mentor You

With “Mentor You” Cloture Club readers will now have the opportunity to observe weekly a set of characters facing the everyday professional and personal challenges that we all know, live and face ourselves. Created by Arnie Thomas of “Every Day Mentor,” who many of you read every month here at Cloture Club, and editorial cartoonist and Cloture Club member Mark Ranslem, we hope “Mentor You” serves a purpose– to entertain some of you, challenge others, and enlighten everyone. The stories are real. The characters are all fictional– except for Arnie, who has been mentoring professionals for years in search of becoming happier and more successful people. Soon select readers who write in about the strip will periodically get to see their questions answered through performances by our characters. We want to hear from you. You may visit Arnie’s mentoring site at www.everydaymentor.net, and visit Mark’s cartooning site at www.clevertoons.com. We hope you enjoy it.

The post Introducing Mentor You appeared first on ClotureClub.com.

Mentor You — Issue 2

Click to expand

The post Mentor You — Issue 2 appeared first on Cloture Club.

Introducing Mentor You

With “Mentor You” Cloture Club readers will now have the opportunity to observe weekly a set of characters facing the everyday professional and personal challenges that we all know, live and face ourselves. Created by Arnie Thomas of “Every Day Mentor,” who many of you read every month here at Cloture Club, and editorial cartoonist and Cloture Club member Mark Ranslem, we hope “Mentor You” serves a purpose– to entertain some of you, challenge others, and enlighten everyone. The stories are real. The characters are all fictional– except for Arnie, who has been mentoring professionals for years in search of becoming happier and more successful people. Soon select readers who write in about the strip will periodically get to see their questions answered through performances by our characters. We want to hear from you. You may visit Arnie’s mentoring site at www.everydaymentor.net, and visit Mark’s cartooning site at www.clevertoons.com. We hope you enjoy it.

The post Introducing Mentor You appeared first on Cloture Club.