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Movie Review: “The To Do List”

July 25, 2013 / David Medsker

Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Scott Porter, Bill Hader, Rachel Bilson, Alia Shawkat, Sarah Steele

Maggie Carey

There are lots of individual things to like about “The To-Do List.” Aubrey Plaza delivers a fearless performance as the curious virgin, her supporting cast delivers laughs by the pound, and the movie has a coming-of-age vibe to it that was unexpected but most welcome. (You would think that the themes of first-time sex and coming of age would cross paths often, but they really don’t.) For everything it does well, though, it could have done it better. It’s funny, but could have been funnier. It’s clever, but botches golden opportunities to deliver a memorable, poignant one-liner. It works in fits and starts, but there always seems to be something that derails its momentum.

It is June 1993, and Brandy Klark (Plaza) has just graduated from high school. She is class valedictorian, fond of correcting her friends’ grammar, and the most inexperienced virgin on the planet. After a drunken, mistaken-identity encounter with mysterious college-age hunk Rusty Waters (Scott Porter), Brandy decides that before she heads off to college, she needs to know how to handle herself when it comes to sex, the ultimate goal being losing her virginity to the out-of-her-league Rusty. As she gains experience, though, she loses perspective on how her actions affect those around her, particularly her longtime adoring lab partner Cameron (Johnny Simmons).

Entertainment, Movie Reviews, Movies

Aubrey Plaza Bill Hader Rachel Bilson The To Do List The To Do List review

The Light from the TV Shows: 10 Highlights from ESPN’s ‘Olbermann’ Panel

July 24, 2013 / Will Harris

When it comes to sports, I have a longstanding history of being the least-knowledgeable member of the Bullz-Eye staff by far – I’ve lost track of how many editorial meetings have found me drifting into silence as the topic of conversation shifted into talk of this team’s record or that player’s performance – so I hope you can appreciate just how much of a pop culture figure Keith Olbermann has become if I’m dedicating my TV column to his return to ESPN. By all rights, I really shouldn’t care.

Like, at all.

There’s something about Olbermann, though, that I’ve always found entertaining, no matter what he’s talking about or whether I fundamentally agree with it. As such, when it was announced that he’d be attending the summer TCA tour to hype his return to ESPN, I actually wanted to be there and hear what he had to say. Unsurprisingly, he kept the crowd of TV critics happy by providing quick quips and well-considered answers to their questions, enough that I was able to put together a list of 10 highlights from his panel.

1. “For all of you who had (August 26) in your pool as to when I would return to do ESPN, congratulations. Any span over, like, 40 years, you could have picked that date. You got it right. So very well done.”

2. ” I’m not intending to talk about politics, certainly not in the partisan sense and not in the sense that I did in the last ten years of work that I’ve done, for the simple reason that it’s a sports show. And there will be occasions in which, as I said in the news conference we had last week, if Barack Obama runs onto the field during the all star game, we will have to talk about the ramifications of that during the game and perhaps for his political future. But it will not be the intent to say, you know, ‘The Chicago White Sox moved to Vancouver, Canada, today; but, first, let’s talk about what Speaker Boehner said.’ I’ve done and enjoy and own the work that I did in politics and news, but that’s not what this is. I wanted to go back into sports, and I wanted to repair some transportation means with my former employer, and I got to do both.”

Entertainment, Interviews, News, Sports, Television

ESPN Keith Olbermann Olbermann TCA Press Tour Television Critics Association The Light from the TV Shows Will Harris

Steve McQueen’s 1946 Indian Chief to be auctioned

July 24, 2013 / Bullz-Eye Staff

Legendary badass Steve McQueen was known for more than just his film career. The “King of Cool” was also known as a truly talented and highly successful racing driver. He loved cars and motorcycles and accumulated quite a collection over the years, many of which have been auctioned off to collectors.

Now his 1946 Indian Chief motorcycle, which was completely restored in the 1990s, will be auctioned of in Los Angeles from August 1-3 by Auctions America. Check out the photos above. The auction will be covered live by NBC Sports and Jay Leno will be a guest commentator.

Lifestyle, Motorcycles

actors classic motorcycles iconic actors Indian Motorcycles King of Cool McQueen Indian motorcycle lifestyle Steve McQueen Steve McQueen auction

Detroit Band Records Song in Chevy Impala

July 23, 2013 / Staff

Check out this unique video from Chevrolet and the Detroit-based blues-rock sensation, The Gentlemen Mutineers. Lead singer, Frankie Turner, recently used the 2014 Chevrolet Impala as a mobile studio to record a remix of the band’s Metro City pride anthem, “Detroit Throttle.” The new Impala is quiet by design, due in part to the Active Noise Cancellation technology used in high-end headphones.

This technology allows the engine to operate at the fuel-conserving range of 1,000-1,500 RPM and helps eliminate the need for some sound-deadening materials, all of which improves fuel efficiency. The new Impala also uses a variety of sound-buffering and -absorbing materials to minimize wind, road and engine noise, including acoustically laminated windshield and front-door glass, triple-sealed doors with acoustic perimeter water deflectors, sound-absorbing carpet and dash mat, and more.

You can see the video below. Very cool.

Cars, Music

Chevy Impala The Gentlemen Mutineers

Car Review: 2013 Lexus GX 460 Premium

July 23, 2013 / Staff

This true-to-form, full-size luxury SUV makes quite a first impression! Full-size SUVs are hard to find anymore, and one with all of the appointments of the 2013 Lexus GX 460 Premium are even rarer. Whether on-road or off-road, this beast of a vehicle will take care of business.

EXTERIOR

A goal of the designers was to have the vehicle create the impression of being sculpted from a single block of metal. This is one tough-looking ride, and there aren’t many blocks of metal that want to get in the GX 460’s way. The distinctive grille features three horizontal bars and, upon closer inspection, intricate detail and texture that conveys renowned Lexus attention to detail. The front bumper features standard integrated fog lamps and functional design elements like low-profile roof rails and an acoustic insulation windshield that helps reduce wind noise. The 18-inch, 6-spoke liquid graphite wheels were large enough to look good on the GX 460. Some of the exterior premium features included adaptive front lighting system, high intensity discharge headlamps, headlamp cleaners and illuminated front door sills.

INTERIOR

The luxurious Lexus GX 460 luxury utility vehicle carries over into 2013 with its quiet cabin and a long list of standard features and options that make it a versatile choice for city and off-road driving. Our loaded Premium model came with these and other options:

• Standard features include: ten-way power-adjustable, heated/ventilated front seats; automatic dual-zone climate control; leather trimmed seats and surfaces; steering wheel audio controls; rain-sensing windshield wipers; power moonroof; memory system for the driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirror positions; and integrated HomeLink transmitter.

• The versatile passenger-side second row seat slides 4.1 inches fore/aft to maximize passenger and cargo carrying ability.

• The foldable and reclining second row seats also feature a 60/40 walk-in function to access the standard power fold-flat third row seats.

• The rear door window has a flip-up glass panel for added convenience.

• Equipped for family multimedia entertainment, the GX 460 comes standard with a Lexus Premium nine-speaker audio system with iPod/USB connectivity, Bluetooth hands free phone capability and music streaming, and an integrated SirusXM Satellite Radio receiver (complimentary 90-day trial subscription included).

Car Reviews, Cars

full-size SUV Lexus Lexus SUV