Latest news with #SlidingDoors'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Book Review: ‘Gwyneth' is a portrait of a pioneering and polarizing ‘It girl' and wellness mogul
'Gwyneth: The Biography,' Amy Odell's thorough portrait of Gwyneth Paltrow, splits her life and career into two distinct periods: the rise (and fall) of the quintessential '90s Hollywood 'It girl,' and her transformation to wellness mogul with the creation of lifestyle brand Goop. In both phases, she struggles with likeability in the press and from the public, often coming across in interviews as elitist and out of touch with 'normal' Americans. But that hasn't stopped her from succeeding on both fronts. Blond, glamorous and patrician, Paltrow is the ultimate nepo baby, the daughter of actor Blythe Danner and TV producer Bruce Paltrow, acting from an early age at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. In the first half of the book, Odell charts Paltrow's rise from chain-smoking party girl at elite New York private school Spence to Hollywood 'It girl.' She starred in 1990s classics like ' Emma,' 'Sliding Doors' and 'Shakespeare in Love,' for which she won an Oscar at 26. She was on the cover of Vogue and constantly in the tabloids with movie star boyfriends like Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck. But she eventually soured on Hollywood and turned to her burgeoning interest in lifestyle and wellness. She started Goop as a newsletter in 2008. Goop promoted some dubious wellness theories and was hit with the same press bashing as she had gotten as an actor. 'Gwyneth has, to her extraordinary credit, found a way to be even more annoying,' the Guardian wrote when Goop launched in 2008. But Odell — who didn't have access to Paltrow or any close family or friends, but based the book on more than 200 interviews with people who know or worked with Paltrow — shows Paltrow has a masterful control of her image, working negative press to her advantage. At Goop, a $66 jade egg meant to be inserted vaginally and a $75 candle called 'This Smells Like My Vagina' were ridiculed in the press — and sold out in short order. When Goop launched a travel app, an advertiser sponsored it with the promise that it would reach 10,000 downloads. 'Call it G. Spotting,' Gwyneth told an executive, according to Odell. 'Everybody will make fun of me for being an idiot and we'll have the 10,000 downloads we need right there.' It worked. 'Gwyneth: The Biography' is a satisfying read about the pioneering and polarizing actor and business woman. ___ AP book reviews:
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Book Review: ‘Gwyneth' is a portrait of a pioneering and polarizing ‘It girl' and wellness mogul
'Gwyneth: The Biography,' Amy Odell's thorough portrait of Gwyneth Paltrow, splits her life and career into two distinct periods: the rise (and fall) of the quintessential '90s Hollywood 'It girl,' and her transformation to wellness mogul with the creation of lifestyle brand Goop. In both phases, she struggles with likeability in the press and from the public, often coming across in interviews as elitist and out of touch with 'normal' Americans. But that hasn't stopped her from succeeding on both fronts. Blond, glamorous and patrician, Paltrow is the ultimate nepo baby, the daughter of actor Blythe Danner and TV producer Bruce Paltrow, acting from an early age at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. In the first half of the book, Odell charts Paltrow's rise from chain-smoking party girl at elite New York private school Spence to Hollywood 'It girl.' She starred in 1990s classics like ' Emma,' 'Sliding Doors' and 'Shakespeare in Love,' for which she won an Oscar at 26. She was on the cover of Vogue and constantly in the tabloids with movie star boyfriends like Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck. But she eventually soured on Hollywood and turned to her burgeoning interest in lifestyle and wellness. She started Goop as a newsletter in 2008. Goop promoted some dubious wellness theories and was hit with the same press bashing as she had gotten as an actor. 'Gwyneth has, to her extraordinary credit, found a way to be even more annoying,' the Guardian wrote when Goop launched in 2008. But Odell — who didn't have access to Paltrow or any close family or friends, but based the book on more than 200 interviews with people who know or worked with Paltrow — shows Paltrow has a masterful control of her image, working negative press to her advantage. At Goop, a $66 jade egg meant to be inserted vaginally and a $75 candle called 'This Smells Like My Vagina' were ridiculed in the press — and sold out in short order. When Goop launched a travel app, an advertiser sponsored it with the promise that it would reach 10,000 downloads. 'Call it G. Spotting,' Gwyneth told an executive, according to Odell. 'Everybody will make fun of me for being an idiot and we'll have the 10,000 downloads we need right there.' It worked. 'Gwyneth: The Biography' is a satisfying read about the pioneering and polarizing actor and business woman. ___ AP book reviews:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Pratt Says ‘Hug Your Loved Ones' After Fatal Shooting of ‘Parks and Recreation' Co-Star Jonathan Joss
Chris Pratt paid tribute to his 'Parks and Recreation' co-star Jonathan Joss on social media after the news of his death in a shooting, telling his followers to 'hug your loved ones.' Joss, who played Chief Ken Hotate on 'Parks and Rec' and was best known for voicing 'King of the Hill' character John Redcorn, was fatally shot in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 59. More from Variety Nick Offerman Slams 'Dumb F--' Who Edited 'Parks and Recreation' Scene to Spread Homophobic Hate: 'Ron Was the Best Man at a Gay Wedding!' Jonathan Joss, 'King of the Hill' Actor Who Voiced John Redcorn, Dies in Shooting at 59 Chris Pratt Says He Plays a ''Sliding Doors' Version' of the Same Character When Making 'Big Commercial' Movies: 'I'm Realizing That There Are Similarities' 'Damn. RIP Jonathan,' Pratt posted on his Instagram Story on Monday. 'Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' Joss was in five 'Parks and Rec' episodes between 2011 and 2015, appearing across the sitcom's third, fifth and seventh seasons. Pratt broke out on the series as Andy Dwyer, a goofy but lovable musician who dated Aubrey Plaza's cynical April Ludgate. Nick Offerman, who led 'Parks and Rec' as the department's director Ron Swanson, told People on Monday that the cast of the show had been 'texting all day' to process their grief over Joss' death together. 'The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken,' Offerman said. 'Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.' The investigation into Joss' death is still ongoing, but the shooter was detained at the scene and booked for murder. In a statement on Joss' Facebook page, the actor's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged that he and Joss were targets of homophobic harassment and that their house burned down 'after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire.' The San Antonio Police Department said in a statement that there is currently 'no evidence to indicate Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Perth Now
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Gwyneth Paltrow's ski lawsuit represents 'everything that's wrong with our legal system'
Gwyneth Paltrow is convinced her "ridiculous" ski lawsuit represents "everything that's wrong with our legal system". The actress-turned-wellness guru went to court in 2023 to fight a lawsuit from Dr. Terry Sanderson who alleged she had bumped into him on the slopes in Utah back in 2016 with Paltrow claiming Sanderson was actually the one who skied into her. The jury ruled in Paltrow's favour after an eight-day trial, but the 'Iron Man' star is convinced the case should never have made it to court in the first place. During an appearance on 'The World's First Podcast', she said: "I have to say, the idea that someone could ski into your back and knock you down and then sue you. I was like: 'This is everything that's wrong with our legal system'. "It was ridiculous. That's why I felt like I had to fight it. I was like: 'I'm not going to be shaken down here.' I'm not doing that." The 'Sliding Doors' star was sued by Sanderson for $300,000 over the 2016 collision and she countersued for costs plus a "symbolic" amount of $1. After the trial, a jury in Park City, Utah, found the retired optometrist "100 per cent" at fault for the accident - awarding Paltrow her $1 plus legal fees. Paltrow later took to social media to note she was "pleased" with the outcome of the trial. In a statement shared on her Instagram Story, she explained: "I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity. "I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case." The Goop founder's comments were echoed in a similar statement released by her legal team. Attorney Steve Owens said: "We are pleased with this unanimous outcome and appreciate the judge and jury's thoughtful handling of the case. Gwyneth has a history of advocating for what she believes in - this situation was no different and she will continue to stand up for what is right."
