Tag: Anna Kendrick

“Another Simple Favor” Opens SXSW on March 7, 2025

On March 8, 2025

In Movies, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Reviews, Uncategorized

Paul Feig, Director of SXSW Opening Night film “Another Simple Favor” on March 7, 2025 (Photo by Connie Wilson)

Opening night of SXSW 2025 was a star-studded affair. Paul Feig, Director of “Another Simple Favor” was present with Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick and numerous co-stars in attendance. He was fashionably attired in a very western fringed soft leather look.

Director Paul Feig of “Another Simple Favor.” (Photo by Frank Miceletto)

Suffice it to say that the true fans in the audience seemed happy. Among the celebrities present on the Red Carpet, were Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding, Michele Morrone, Andrew Rannell, Bashir Salahuddin, and Alex Newell. The film picks up directly where the first left off and takes viewers to Capri, Italy.

Since the first film was not on my Must See list, the plot was incomprehensible to a newbie. Writing credit goes to Lada Kalogridis and Jessica Sharzer, who crafted some good zingers. There was the remark to Joshua Satine playing Miles Smothers (Blake Lively’s character’s son), who is launching a drone, “You don’t need a drone to find your Mom. Just follow the trail of destruction.” I snickered at the character who asked for “enough booze to kill a small show pony.”

But, other than the sets and costumes, which were fantastic, I was not the audience for this one. Andrew Rannells said that, of eleven scenes he had that were supposed to be set in Connecticut, all were actually filmed in Rome. The listed Capri settings were J.K. Place Capri for the elegant wedding scenes, as well as Lido Del Faro (a west coast beach club) and Villa Jovis (ancient ruins), but the sign on the back of one hotel door said Grand Hotel Quisisana, which is only 2,750 feet from the beach; the entire area was gorgeous. Costuming of Lively at one point in something that looked like it came right out of “Bride of Frankenstein” was odd, but, again, not an expert on the effect desired.

The new “lead” who portrays Blake Lively’s husband-to-be in the film (Michele Morrone) was a handsome hunk of eye candy. So far, there have been no stories of the two not getting along. There were a few implied jabs at the relationship between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, but everyone played nice. (No lawsuits, to date.)

Feig directed “Snatched” with Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer, which I liked very much. (Where was Amy Schumer when we needed her?) This film was beautiful, with wonderful sets and costumes. Director Paul Feig told IndieWire that he had never done a sequel and was trying to make his “Godfather 2.” (I’m thinking, “No.”)

Henry Golding (Ex-husband of Blake Lively’s Emily Nelson) in “Another Simple Favor on the Red Carpet at SXSW on March 7, 2025. (Photo by Connie Wilson).

Anna Kendrick on the Red Carpet at the Premiere of “Another Simple Favor” on March 7, 2025 at SXSW. (Photo by Connie Wilson).

Blake Lively, up close and personal at the Premiere of “.Another Simple Favor” on March 7, 2025 at SXSW. (Photo by Connie Wilson)

Star Blake Lively of “Another Simple Favor” with co-star Michele Morone who portrays Dante Versano, embracing as they meet outside the Paramount Theater in downtown Austin on March 7, 2025. (Photo by Connie Wilson).

Bits & Pieces of Random News for April 3, 2019

By Connie Wilson

On April 3, 2019

In Humor and Weird Wilson-isms, Mexico, Movies, News, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Texas, travel

Some random thoughts of the day:

One of the Decorah eaglets has died. Poor little thing had a name/number, like DN10, but he (or she) was one of 2 born in the Raptor Research nest and it appears—judging from the way Mr. North pushed the little bird body off to the side of the nest—
The Day Shall Come at SXSW. (SXSW Press Photo)
the chick died only a day or two after being born.
The mysterious polio-like illness that doctors are calling AFM (acute flaccid myelitis) has struck at least 228 known victims in the U.S. in 2018. In an every-other-year cycle, has afflicted more than 550 Americans, including a 32-year-old. More than 90% are children around 4, 5, or 6 years old who come down with a cold that paralyzes them. Those of us who lived through polio epidemics are praying for another Dr. Jonas Salk.
Biden on the caucus campaign trail in Iowa prior to the 2008 presidential race. Don’t worry: I’ll be back to politics by the end of the week.
Conflicting reports on whether the GOP is going to address health care before or after the 2020 election. DJT has been quoted as saying they should come out with a plan before the election, but having a plan has not been the GOP’s strong suit under this president, no matter what the issue. There seems to be no desire to “fix” the things that would be fixable under Obama-care, because the current occupant of the White House is too obsessed with denouncing, denigrating and destroying the record of his predecessor to really do much beyond “framing” issues and using media to “pose” as having plans on issues, when it seems that little is being done.
Read a horrifying in-depth article (“New York Times”) about Michigan’s schools, which have largely been turned over to a topsy-turvy crazy quilt of Charter schools, which are not doing any better a job with the students than the public schools they replaced. Truly sounds like a nightmare scenario, but this is the scenario that Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, has always tried to foster. She is a native of Michigan and a huge proponent of charter schools, despite her own home state’s dismal record. She also has absolutely not one credential for occupying the position of Secretary of Education.
With Vice President Joseph Biden (then Senator Biden) at the Jefferson Jackson dinner in Davenport, Iowa, caucus season, 2008.
The Democrats continue to attack one another. I would say “eat their young,” but Joe Biden is not young. The latest attacks on the former Vice President come from a woman actively supporting Bernie Saunders and are largely undercut by photos of her with her hands on his shoulders at the same event that she claims so traumatized her. It is sad that campaigning in the year 2020 has come to this.
The weather remains pleasant here in the Austin area, but it sounds like the Midwest is pretty well flooded. With Trump’s typical lack of concern for those in dire straits, whether Puerto Ricans on that hurricane-ravaged island or Midwestern farmers who seem to have pretty well taken it in the shorts with the Chinese tariffs and flooding, it is going to be no fun at all trying to navigate the construction zone for the proposed new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River, joining Iowa with Illinois. (Construction was delayed by the brutal winter). Not looking forward to dealing with it.
Image from Suzanne Weinert’s “A Good Son.” (SXSW Press)
The Lagoon in Cancun, Mexico, at sunset.
Posting a picture of one film I had to leave early in order to make it to “Shrill” and perhaps a photo from “A Good Son” (see interview with Director Suzanne Weinert, above). “The Day Shall Come” had not, to that point, “gelled.” It did have Anna Kendrick and I had an interesting encounter with Ms. Kendrick when I attempted to stop in the women’s rest room at the Paramount Theater on my way to the opening of “Shrill” right next door. A policeman told me I couldn’t enter the rest room. Cop: “I have someone in there.” Me: “A prisoner?” Cop: (Smiling) “No.” Me: “A female someone or a male someone.” Cop: “Female.” At that point, another woman, holding a Big Gulp cup and having just entered the theater from a side alley entrance tried to cut around the two of us out in the hall to gain access to the rest room. She was quickly dispossessed of the notion that either of us could enter. We continued standing awkwardly in the hall, while I tried guessing who or what was going on. Just then, the film’s star, Anna Kendrick, emerged, having been primping in the bathroom for at least 20 minutes.
The Royal Islander, penthouse view (9th floor).
I’ll be in Cancun in 3 days. I’ll try to post some photos.