Behind the Big Voice: David Archuleta & other

Saturday 6 September 2008

REVIEW: Step Brothers (15)

In many people�s eyes, Will Ferrell can do no wrong. Since armament students across the globe with a seemingly infinite arsenal of quotes from comedy pip Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, the funny man has really had nothing to prove.

But his lacklustre execution in Step Brothers confirms Ferrell has been coasting on his former success for far too long.

Nancy (Mary Steenburgen) and Robert (Richard Jenkins) get married after a whirlwind love affair and begin to plan their dream trip around the world.

The couple decide to affect in unitedly, which forces their adult sons Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (John C Reilly) to share a room after they refuse to move out of the family home.

The pair take an insistent dislike to each other and engage in a battle to end all family disputes involving bike attacks and heads organism forced through walls.

But when their parents give them one month to discover jobs and move knocked out, the pair form an alliance and realise they have more than in common than they first thought...

The beauty of Ferrell�s films is it is enlighten how much free improvisational reign he is apt over the majority of scenes, specially when conductor Adam McKay is at the helm.

However, instead of using the low-concept estimate to give the quote-a-matic actor a golden chance to shine, McKay insists on toilet humour and slapstick for almost the entire length of the film.

This film would ideally be suited to a younger audience if it weren�t for the unsportsmanlike language (which isn�t tied used creatively) and Ferrell brandishing his testicles (he claimed it was a prosthetic in a recent interview; hopefully that�s true).

Without any material plot driving the film, Ferrell and Reilly operate in a series of sketches, most of which are

Wednesday 27 August 2008

How the Economy Could Affect Obama�s Health Reform Plans

obama Obama�s advisers are already pondering which economic issue should be at the top of his agenda if he wins the November elections, this morning�s WSJ reports. The two top contenders: new policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and a big overhaul of how health insurance works.

The shaky economy could tilt the balance in favor of curbing emissions, the article suggests. Obama supports auctioning off tradable permits that allow companies to produce emissions up to a set limit. The auctions could be worth some $100 billion for the government.

Obama�s health-care plan would greatly expand access to health insurance � at an estimated cost to the government of $115 billion a year. He has said he would pay for the plan by allowing certain Bush tax cuts to expire. As the WSJ points out, big changes to health care, combined with tax policy, could make for a tricky political fight.

Health Blog Poll: If Obama becomes president, which economic policy should he push first?

Climate change regulationOverhauling health careNeither: He should focus on stabilizing the economy before moving to other issues.

View results

Update: For more on the climate change side of the equation, see WSJ�s Environmental Capital blog, where readers are also participating in the poll.

More info

Sunday 17 August 2008

Jonas Brothers - Jonas Brothers Help Brinkley Maintain Civil Custody Arrangements

Teen pop sensations THE JONAS BROTHERS have helped forge an amicable custody agreement between former supermodel CHRISTIE BRINKLEY and her ex-husband.

Brinkley settled her biting divorce battle with her fourth married man Peter Cook last month (10Jul08) and was awarded sole custody and final parental deciding power of the couple's children - Jack, 13, and 10-year-old Sailor.

And according to the New York Daily News, Brinkley donated $10,000 (GBP5,000) for a charity meet-and-greet with her two kids and the band at Saturday's (09Aug08) New York concert.

But the beauty's plans to see the

Thursday 7 August 2008

Jessica Simpson claims abuse

Jessica Simpson claims she has been abused - she�made the startling confession in a candid interview, although she refused to go into any farther details.

When asked by America's Elle magazine if she had of all time been physically abused, the singer aforesaid: "I don't want to talk around it, but I take in definitely experienced abuse in a manner that I would distinguish people to take their heart and run."

The �Come on Over' singer revealed all the songs on her forthcoming country album �Do You Know' - which she worked on with legendary country isaac Bashevis Singer Dolly Parton - are autobiographical.

New cartroad �Remember That' includes the lyrics: "It doesn't matter how he hurts you, With his hands or with his words, You don't merit it, It ain't worth it, Take your nub and run."

The singer has previously revealed she was viciously bullied while at school, with those creditworthy even attacking her home.

She said: "I would walk down the school halls and hear people talking about me. Some of them would throw sewer paper at my house or switch eggs at my door.

"They would also write things on the sidewalk in permanent marker. They genuinely hated me."

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More info

Tuesday 1 July 2008

Minnie Driver Goes Green For New Baby

Pregnant actress Minnie Driver is craving green apples and cucumbers after dreaming her unborn baby loves all things veggie.
The Good Will Hunting star felt sure she would want to gobble sweet treats throughout her pregnancy but she's delighted her cravings have all been good and green.
She says, "Green apples are my obsession and cucumber and snap peas, all green foods. It's weird. I really haven't had this huge appetite.
"There's no room to eat tons of stuff. I was ready for having this massive appetite that I heard about but it just never kicked in. I'm really quite lucky.
"I had a dream and they told me in the dream that her (baby) favourite colour is green. Maybe that's why I like green food so much."
Driver, who has three months to go before giving birth to her first child, admits she's having an "easy pregnancy" now the morning sickness has abated.
She adds, "I have a bionic sense of smell that's hardcore. Everything becomes overpowering like aftershave, perfume, and scented candles.
"I'm happy the nausea finally went away; that was the worst part, the sickness and the throwing up to begin with was wretched. Otherwise it's been very peaceful."