New Girl: Zooey Deschanel

New Girl, Zooey Deschanel, is making a massive impact on our screens now. She has been up and coming for and while but recently come into the big time.

Zooey Deschanel, 32, was born into showbiz. Her father, Caleb Deschanel, is an Academy Award nominated cinematographer and her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is an actress. She got her first big break playing a model in a TV sitcom Veronica’s Closet. The following year she got a role in her first movie, Mumford where she played Nessa Watkins. She then made the decision to drop out of university and pursue her dream of full-time acting, a move which has clearly paid off. Zooey’s distinctly unique acting style found her voted Best Actress at the Mar Del Plata Film Festival in 2003.

After her role in 500 Days Of Summer, in which she played Summer Finn, a quirky young woman who does not believe in love or fate, her fame level shot through the roof. Since then she has stared in Bones, Funny or Die Presents…,    Drunk History,  Our  Idiot Brother  and Your Highness, before now taking up her leading role in the US sitcom New Girl.

In keeping with Zooey’s unique style, she now plays Jess, a very quirky woman. Jess breaks up with her boyfriend of six years and moves in with three guys she met on the internet. The show tells the comical story of how they get along living together and her life. Zooey brings to life the character beautifully.

New Girl is on Channel 4, Fridays 8.30pm  

By Jess Embrey

Bringing it Back: Pretty in Pink

Old School Films You Don't Want To Miss

Review of Pretty in Pink

‘Pretty in Pink’ is this issues Valentines offering and although it is a story of teenage romance, it bypasses the dreamlike, Disney fabrications of modern Hollywood and instead bestows a little bit of golden eighties romance along with one interesting pink dress.

Andie is the leading lady in this film and she is your average outcast; less than popular, looking after her heartbroken dad she works in a record store to help keep herself above water as the family’s finances are struggling.

Helping to keep her spirits up are best friends Iona and Ducky. But Ducky wants to be more than her good time guy as he is totally and madly in love with her and has been since they were kids. But Ducky can’t compare to popular and rich Blaine, who despite Andie’s social status, signals his interest and starts to make a move. Like any girl Andie can hardly believe her luck when he asks her out and to Ducky’s disappointment she’d thrilled.

This is all until Blaine takes her to a party and his friends are less than pleased with his new choice of girl and don’t take warmly to Andie, wounding her pride. Hastily Blaine whisks Andie away to one her favourite places. A live music bar but there Blaine is the one with the frosty reception as Ducky doesn’t take kindly to his presence. Despite all the hardship Andie and Blaine want to make the best of it and so Blaine asks Andie to prom. But Blaine hasn’t got the courage and with the goading of his friend Steff he breaks the date with Andie.

Initially inconsolable, our Andie isn’t discouraged and with her hand crafted, bubble gum pink prom dress she sets out alone to prom head held high. There she meets Ducky and to repair the damage done from the other night.

Seeing Andie pretty in pink causes Blaine to realise how stupid he was so he rushes to apologise but it’s too late. It is then up to Ducky to put his friend first and selflessly he tells Andie to go after Blaine. The car park is the setting to Andie and Blaine’s reunion and they make up passionately settling everything perfectly in place once more.

Cute and quirky this film is the perfect alternative to sickly love stories and also has that nostalgic feel and awesome soundtrack that all eighties films seem to have. All in all it’s a winner for this Valentines.

By Katherine Cudmore

Worst Films of 2011

The Roommate

‘The Roommate’, loosely based on the 1992 film ‘Single White Female’ follows college student Sara as she discovers her new roommate, Rebecca, has an obsession with her. I wasn’t expecting a huge amount of this film but what I found was that the film itself, contained no chills, thrills or excitement of any kind, and the only shred of praise I can give is of Leighton Meester’s (Rebecca) performance.

She really does add a hint of fascination to the entire film. The sad thing is, the film desperately longs to be a successful thriller amongst the rest when in reality, it doesn’t deserve even the slightest bit of our attention. The only time the film picked up was in the last 10 minutes and even then, it wasn’t enough to save it from becoming another film thrown on the pile of boring re-makes we could’ve lived without seeing.

The Tree of Life

Upon first hearing of ‘The Tree of Life’, I had heard mixed reviews of those saying it was particularly awe-inspiring and of those saying it was not worth the watch. My guard was up whilst viewing; I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. The acting finesse of Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Hunter McCracken is shown in every single scene; they are the cream of the crop when it comes to emitting emotion.
Also, you will not get another film that contains so much visual imagery that may appear disjointed but is in fact, the most beautiful piece of artwork you will see in modern day cinema.

For those viewers who are patient enough to sit and relax for a couple of hours and are willing to stick it through till the end, then you won’t be let down I assure you because nothing will compare to the stunning and poignant acting and cinematography that is thrown together in ‘The Tree of Life’.

By Will Jennings

Valentine's Day Planner

If you’re in a relationship...

Option One

A romantic day spent with your loved one.. If the weathers good this could include a picnic in castle park.. Or if the weather is not so good, a trip to the cinema to see one of the new romantic comedies coming out in time for V-Day: The Vow (with Channing Tatum ;)) or Like Crazy!

Option Two

If you are unlucky enough to be working on Valentines (or have a loved one that is), maybe a dinner out would be best suited? Choose from a wide range of restaurants sure to be doing Valentines discounts..Ask, La Tasca, Nandos, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Coco Cabana & many more!


Option Three

If you can financially afford it, a bit of time away would be a magical way to spend Valentines Day! A night in London, with a show, a trip on the London Eye!..ahh romance!

Option Four

A day in with your loved one.. Watching movies, cuddling up.. You know the drill. Just make sure nobody winds up feeling bad about themselves because they don’t look like Taylor Lautner or Megan Fox.. -_-

If you’re a single pringle...

Option One

Get all your single ladies together *cue Beyonce* and make a dive for the popcorn and everyones two favourite guys..BEN AND JERRY. I’m thinking lots of movies (rom coms or horrors, depending on your style), lots of food & lots of smiles! If you don’t have a man, why not dribble over Ashton Kutcher instead? ;)


Option Two

Since option one is relatively girl aimed, GUYS, (or girls).. What about a day spent paintballing with you buddies? £8.99 including lunch and 100 paintballs!


Option Three

Looking for a fun way to spend it with your friends? What about a day at Go Bananas! A fun way to spend the day, with all your friends! Definitely breaks the v-day blues!

Option Four

If you can afford it, take a pampering day with your friends, lots of deals this time of year! Recommending ‘Clarice House’ in Colchester, with 2 for 1 deals at the moment! If thats a little out of your price range, take a go with your girls, face packs, eyebrow plucking & makeovers! Ensure you have a date for next years Valentines Day!

Happy Valentine's to you all!

By Paisley-Rose Tedder

How to Survive Valentine's Day Alone

Valentine’s Day: A day filled with love and warmth for that special someone... Or simply a “singles awareness day”? Yes, that time of year is here again. The overly commercialised mush fest where everyone around you seems to be head over heels in love. You see them holding hands through town, you sigh at the heart shaped cards in the shop windows and the stuffed animals that say “I LOVE YOU!” Valentine’s day only adds to the growing feeling of loneliness in many of us, and the fact that there are approximately 2 billion singletons feeling the exact same way, does not help in the slightest. So, to stop you from resorting to digesting a whole freezer full of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream this holiday (and then complaining you’re fat and THAT’S the reason you’re single...) follow these simple steps on how to survive valentine’s day if you’re single and try to, dare I say it, have fun?

Be your own Valentine – when you wake up, go straight to the mirror and tell yourself you love you, because then at least someone does. Treat yourself to remind you that you are special, whether or not no one else sees it. Buy yourself a rose or some yummy chocolate, but not too much!

Share the love – at work there will be many couples parading their diamond bracelets, endless bouquets of roses or singing telegrams, but there will also be those who are like you, dateless. So, we say you show them some love and give the unlucky ones a chocolate too. BUT at all costs do not engage in conversation with them. They will only gush about their promise ring or their shock that their shnookums said they love you for the first time! These conversations are equal to those had in hell for many of those singletons. So try and bury yourself in your work so as to avoid that awkward question everyone asks, “Did you get any valentines cards?” (Sigh.)

Spend the night drinking martinis and watch some movies. Steer clear of the chick-flicks! Comedies, dramas and even horror movies would make a much better choice for the occasion. The last thing you want to do is cry over some silly movie that makes you wonder why you can't find a guy like the one in the movie! Try The Exorcist to put you off men for life.

Hit the clubs - What better way to celebrate your single-ness than going out and having some fun! Hit up the local bars to spice up the night. Not to mention that the alcohol will probably help you forget all about Valentine's Day. Chances are the majority of the people there will be single too. So who knows, maybe you will meet your next Valentine there!

Celebrate with friends - While your ‘taken’ friends are out with their other half, round up your single friends for a fun night. Just because you are single doesn't mean you have to spend the day or night alone!

The Morning After - It's February 15th. You can healthily resume all normal daily activities and safely leave Valentine’s Day behind you. Look, act, and feel your best -- Valentine's Day is over, and you now have a year to prepare for the next one! And with careful preparation, you won't spend it alone! After all, we don't enjoy wallowing, the only reason we hate Valentine's Day so badly is because we have no one to love it with!

So, this year instead of moping around on Valentine's Day, make it a day to recognize how great it is to be single. There are many different ways to make the holiday more exciting if you are single. It doesn't have to be a day designed only for couples anymore. Let it be a day to love yourself and have some fun....because those guys and girls out there don't know what they are missing!

By Vicky Golding and Abi Harley

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dragon

This Chinese New Year it’s the year of the Dragon. According to Chinese astrology to be born under the Dragon seems to be a double edged sword.

Dragons are said to be intelligent, generous and charismatic not to mention also charming, confident, eloquent, and artistic. But with every quality given it seems the stars take it away. Dragons can also become tyrannical, prejudiced, deceitful and ruthless.

Overall it’s pretty clear we’re dealing with some intense and powerful individuals, capable of great good or great evil. Which figures when you think of their symbol. Still they’re highly potent energy and unpredictability makes any dragon seem spontaneous and exciting.

But why should we  let the Dragons have all the fun?

Nothing is stopping you from making these gloomy mid winter months a little more firey with some Dragon magic.

Spicing up the winter isn’t hard although it may seem so when it it’s either drizzling or sleeting. Trying something totally new adds another dimension to your life and adds a bit of spontaneity.

It doesn’t have to be ridiculously cliché like learning French or sky diving . Throwing fancy dinner parties for your friends, going to a jazzersize class or trying charity shopping will suffice.

But the real trick is to capture a Dragon’s confidence and try that thing you’ve wanted to do for ages but never have, buy that dress that is so not your usual style or carry on trying when it seems like everything is against you.
 
Live like a Dragon this year but just remember to tame to tyranny.

By Katherine Cudmore

On the Road – Film Preview

The film adaption of Jack Kerouac’s famous American novel is not due to be premiered until the Cannes Film Festival, but it is already ringing with promising contributions for those with a penchant for travel movies.

Its director, Walter Salles, is no stranger to adapting raw literature onto the big screen, having previously directed The Motorcycle diaries – a film made from the early diaries of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevera. And poignantly, the soundtrack for both films was composed by Argentine Gustavo Santaolalla. Furthermore, the role of Marylou is played by Kristen Stewart; whose pre-Twilight works included a cameo in backpacking film Into the Wild. The film also stars Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, while protagonist Sal Paradise is played by English actor Sam Riley.

Some novels just translate naturally and effortlessly onto the big screen, and having recently read Kerouac’s masterpiece of ‘spontaneous prose’ for the first time, it instantly struck me as a potentially great screenplay. And soon, fifty years after the story was first told, we will have the opportunity to judge that for ourselves.
On the Road is the largely autobiographical tale of Sal Paradise – a reflection of Kerouac himself Neal  Cassady. And – and his adventures ‘on the road’ with zestful friend Dean Moriarty – a fictionalised portrayal of   Neal Cassady. And the relationship between those two characters is at the heart of the story, as they hitchhike repeatedly between New York and the Great American West. And their wanderlust is something to which we can all relate.

Jack Kerouac is heralded as the leading figure of the ‘Beat Generation’, inspiring hundreds of kids to hit the road. It is a tale full of sex, drugs and jazz. But the author once described himself as ‘a strange solitary crazy Catholic mystic’. And that is what really lies at the heart of his travels; a spiritual search for man’s own role in the universe.

Kerouac typed On the Road, the story of seven years’ worth of travel, in three weeks on a 120-foot long scroll of paper. And as such, he just wrote whatever formulated in his mind, giving life to long, vivid descriptions of jazz performances, people, and the Mexican heat. And undoubtedly this film will see those descriptions transcend words and adopt a whole new significance.

The original novel, first published in 1957, has influenced and inspired multiple generations of young people, and that is a lot to live up to when it is finally screened. But with Walter Salles behind it, I can see it becoming a fitting tribute to the late author, as well as introducing a whole new generation to the genius of Jack Kerouac.

By Martin Greenacre

Ben Howard: Every Kingdom – Album Review

Nothing epitomises Ben Howard’s debut album, Every Kingdom, more than the way they celebrated its launch. A few songs from his Totnes living room where the album was masterfully written, together with Chris Bond on double-bass and cellist India Bourne, streamed live to their rapidly growing fan base. And it was apparent that they are just three good, grounded friends who appreciate every second they spend performing.

And celebrate they should – because this album does not disappoint. In this industry there is inevitably a barrage of comparisons to other artists. But the band’s soft, melodic folk sound deserves to be praised and appreciated in its own right. After all, comparisons are odious. I feared that to a degree the stripped-back element may be lost in production – or over-production – but Island Records also deserve credit for resisting that temptation, and it shows through for the duration of the album.

The record opens with Old Pine, a song written about a young Ben’s surf trip to France. It is a beautifully melodic track which captures the essence of being young and carefree.

The better known The Wolves has also been re-recorded from the single, and extended by a further two minutes, inspired by a live performance. . And here we see the choir-esque backing vocals of Chris and India, which help cement the view that the trio are a match made in heaven. Those backing vocals also make a significant appearance in Keep Your Head Up, and if anything I would have liked to have seen them utilised even more throughout the ten tracks. The Wolves has also been adopted by Surfers Against Sewage, a campaign for which Ben has expressed his support; not only vocally, but by holding free, barefoot beach gigs around the country to clean up Britain’s beaches.

The album really does take you on the clichéd proverbial rollercoaster; from the sombre Black Flies to the inspirational Keep Your Head Up. This song should be remembered for whenever you are far from home and feeling defeated. It really is a true ‘traveller’s song’.

So if you are yet to listen to Every Kingdom, you can expect intricate guitar playing, soft but uplifting vocals, and meaningful lyrics. It may have been released too late to be the album of your summer, but it will no doubt be the album to get me through the harsh winter. After all, it grows more and more powerful with every listen.

By Martin Greenacre