Tag Archives: housekeeper

Celebrity Big Brother Recap: Was the Recast Twist Used?

Julie Chen always says to “Expect the unexpected” when it comes to twists on Big Brother.  The celebrity edition of the hit series is no different, and we picked up with Shannon Elizabeth’s big win becoming a big question mark.  That was because one houseguest had the power to overthrow her as Head of Household if they had the right swag in their golden bag.  “Normally, I give my gift bags to my housekeeper because it’s full of crap, but this one I might actually want,” said Brandi with a grin. This woman is not pleasant.  The women worried that their grip on power in the house was drawing to a close, so they reeled Ross Matthews into their alliance.  For those keeping score at home, a 7-person alliance almost never works. But maybe the women and Ross can prove otherwise.  In a surprising turn of events, Mark offered Shannon to be a pawn, and that made things a whole lot easier for her when it came to nominating houseguests for eviction.  Metta already wanted to go home, so the ladies realized they could throw him up, and if the opportunity presented itself, they could backdoor James and send him out of the house first.  Marisa decided against using the recast twist, and it proved she did not want to get blood on her hands so early in the game. She’s one of the more analytical houseguests.  With most of the women asking to use the recast twist, it was revealed during the nominations ceremony that Keshia was the lucky victor.  But she shocked everyone when she put James and Chuck on the block. What was the point in her not putting the others up? Maybe it was to try and act like she was not in an alliance with all of the women, but it would have made so much more sense to go for Metta and Mark.  Why give Jason the opportunity to play for Veto? He’s already a threat and has clashed with multiple of the females, so why not make sure he goes home? Obviously, the women have all the votes right now, but much can change in a few days in the house. James is going to manipulate his way off the block. Aside from the gameplay, Omarosa and Ross had a tearful chat about the White House. Omarosa confirmed that she would never vote for Trump again and that everyone should be worried about his power.  Things took an explosive turn when Keshia asked about the White House, and good old O thought she was being confronted by someone.  Omarosa brought up Keshia supporting Bill Cosby during his multitude of sexual assault cases, and well, both women retreated.  We are just two episodes in, and the cracks are already starting to form.  Who do you think will be evicted first?  Hit the comments below.  Click below to find out what happens next.  View Slideshow: Celebrity Big Brother Spoilers: Who Is Going Home?!

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Celebrity Big Brother Recap: Was the Recast Twist Used?

Kate Middleton and Prince William Lose Housekeeper Over Excessive Demands: "They Will Regret" It, Source Says

Kate Middleton may not be perfect after all. This is a stunning declaration to make, and it may prove to be untrue. But a couple of recent stories are making us question the unparalleled awesomeness of the Duchess of Cambridge for the first time in history. Last week, Middleton came under fire after photos emerged of her three-year old son, George, standing and looking out the window of a moving car. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and the Internet went OFF on Middleton in response. It’s worth noting that the car was on a private road at the time, with no other vehicles in the vicinity… but still. Everyone should wear his or her seatbelt at all times. Especially toddlers. It’s not as though one-car accidents don’t exist, right? Elsewhere, Middleton was even criticized for her behavior at Pippa Middleton’s wedding to James Matthews on May 20. Many of the pictures that surfaced online featured Kate with an annoyed or angry look on her face, disciplining her young kids instead of just allowing them to have fun. “Kate didn’t have the time or the patience for his shenanigans,” one witness said of Middleton and George. Somewhere, every mother of a toddler is shaking her head over the gall of anyone to make this critique. But this brings us to the latest Kate Middleton scandal, one that also involves her handsome husband, Prince William. According to The Sun, the beloved couple just lost one of their top employees after housekeeper Sadie Rice decided that Kate and William were asking too much of her. An insider tells the British newspaper that Rice was making $35,000 pounds per year (about $45,000 dollars), yet chose to leave both this paycheck and the Royal Twosome behind due to excessive demands on her time. The issue stems from Kate and William’s planned move to Kensington Palace. They had been spending about two-thirds of their time at Anmer Hall, but will will relocate on a full-time basis to Kensington after William leaves his air ambulance job this fall. “They wanted her to spend more time at Kensington Palace and her work was increasing all the time,” The Sun writes of William, Kate and Sadie , explaining in further detail: “Sadie’s a hard worker but the job’s demands got too much, even for her… “She wasn’t having a normal life outside work. Sadie’s serving her notice and it seems nothing will change her mind. It’s their loss.” This same source describes the situation as a major blow to the famous family, considering how much two-year old Charlotte and little George had grown to love Sadie. Rice was reportedly responsible for cleaning, laundry, shopping and cooking during her tenure as a housekeeper and occasional nanny. In 2015, Kate lured Sadie away from Norway’s Prince Haakon and wife Mette-Marit in Oslo, where she had spent the previous five years doing similar tasks and chores. Prior to that stint, she served as a Buckingham Palace maid and was well liked by the Queen. William and his lovely wife have been hiring more staff member as they prepare to move to London and step up their Royal duties. But they may have trouble replacing someone such as Sadie. “They will regret losing Sadie, as the right people aren’t easy to find,” concludes this The Sun report. Is the shine finally coming off this popular couple? Are we at last seeing a few chinks in their pristine armor? Or must we realize that no one is, in actuality, perfect… yet Kate Middleton still comes as close to this ideal as anyone conceivably could? Anything is possible, we suppose. View Slideshow: 15 Things You May Have Missed From Prince William & Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding

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Kate Middleton and Prince William Lose Housekeeper Over Excessive Demands: "They Will Regret" It, Source Says

Daron Dylon Wint pictures, Savvas Savopoulos murder

Daron Dylon Wint, 34, has previous convictions for sexual assault, theft and weapon possession in Prince George#39;s County, Maryland. Over the years, he has gone by the names Daron, Darron, Davon. He is accused of torturing Savvas Savopoulos, the 46-year-old head of American Iron Works, Inc., his wife Amy, 47, their 10-year-old son Philip and their housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa, 57, before setting the $4.5million D.C. property alight last Thursday.Detectives do not know where Wint is and it i

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Daron Dylon Wint pictures, Savvas Savopoulos murder

Bristol Palin: Engaged to Dakota Meyer!!!

We’re very sorry, Bevi Shippers. But it really is all over between Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston . Because Bristol Palin is engaged!!! The daughter of Fox News contributor Sarah Palin announced the major life news on Instagram today, using her allegedly foul mouth  to kiss fiance Dakota Meyer in an adorable picture of the newly-betrothed couple. “Truly the luckiest girl in the world, cannot wait to marry this man!!!!” Palin wrote as a caption to the image, quickly adding one later of her new engagement ring: Dakota Meyer is a U.S. Marine veteran who received the Medal of Honor in 2009. “I’m definitely the luckiest guy ever to be able to spend the rest of my life with @bsmp2,” the 26-year-old wrote himself on Instagram, adding simply: “#shesaidyes.” Bristol, of course, rose to national prominence when her mom was added to John McCain’s Presidential ticket in 2008. Only 18 at the time, Bristol was unmarried and pregnant with the baby of Johnston, to whom she was engaged before the couple split for good in 2010.  They have a six-year old son named Tripp together. Bristol went on to compete on Dancing with the Stars and to anchor an A&E reality show that no one watched. This will be her first marriage. Bristol Palin Photos: Through the Years 1. Bristol Palin Before Plastic Surgery View Photo Well, before she reportedly had plastic surgery, anyway. You have to admit, she looks different than this now. Very different. 2. Bristol Palin After Plastic Surgery View Photo We don’t know for a fact that Bristol Palin had plastic surgery. But she looks a lot different in the face nowadays. Just saying. 3. Bristol Palin Pre-Plastic Surgery View Photo This is Bristol Palin. She used to look so fresh-faced and normal. 4. Bristol Palin Post-Plastic Surgery View Photo Bristol Palin looks a little different lately, don’t you think? We’re not saying she got plastic surgery, but … she looks like she did. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 5. Bristol Palin Riding View Photo Bristol Palin riding a mechanical bull … Levi Johnston style. Sorry. But someone heckled her with just that line. 6. Bristol Palin Body View Photo Bristol Palin’s body has shrunk considerably over the years. Good for her. 7. You Da Palin! View Photo Bristol Palin gives a shout out to her Dancing With the Stars supporters. She had a heck of a run last season. 8. Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp Photo View Photo Bristol Palin in a promotional photo from her new reality show, Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp. Bristol Palin’s son’s name is … Tripp. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 9. Bristol Photograph View Photo Sarah Palin has told the media to leave daughter Bristol alone. There’s just one problem with that request: Bristol Palin continues to show up on television and pose for tabloid covers. If she goes away, we promise not to follow her. 10. The Thrilla From Wasilla View Photo Bristol Palin is the Thrilla From Wasilla. We just made that up but it sounds good no? 11. Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin View Photo Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston cheer Sarah Palin as she accepts the Republican Vice Presidential nomination from John McCain at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. 12. Bristol Palin and Tripp Johnston View Photo Bristol Palin cradles baby son Tripp. It’s a cute photo. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 13. They Chose Life View Photo Bristol Palin and Sarah Palin chose to keep their babies. This is an interesting way of talking about that decision. 14. Bristol Palin, Teen Mom View Photo Bristol Palin will lament or flat-out embrace being a teen mom … whatever floats her boat at that instant or benefits her financially. God Bless America. 15. Bristol and Willow Palin View Photo Bristol and Willow Palin in Harper’s Bazaar. These two seem like really nice youngsters. 16. Bristol Palin and Her Baby View Photo Bristol Palin and baby Tripp cover People magazine in May 2009. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 17. Caged Bristol View Photo From the looks of it here, Bristol Palin is about to become uncaged. We cannot wait for that moment. 18. Bristol Palin Shakes It View Photo Bristol Palin shakes it on Dancing With the Stars. Mark Ballas wholly approves. 19. Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas Photo View Photo Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas are tearing up Dancing With the Stars. Or are at least paired together. 20. Bristol and Mark: So Sexual View Photo Look at the sensuality of Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas on the floor. What heat. Pure heat. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 21. Bristol at the Mint View Photo Bristol Palin heads to the Mint in L.A. The daughter of Sarah Palin is going all out. 22. Bristol P. Pic View Photo Bristol Palin is doing her thing on Dancing With the Stars. That thing is busting a move hard core. And going into bars underage. 23. A Bristol Palin Pic View Photo Bristol Palin is one of the best. She continues to make so much news for us for basically no reason! 24. Bristol Palin, Tripp Palin View Photo Bristol Palin and her son Tripp in a promotional photo from Life’s a Tripp, her new reality show. Yes, this is a real story. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 25. Bristol Palin Book Signing View Photo Bristol Palin at her recent book signing. Who ever ghosted her book isn’t terrible. 26. BP Spills View Photo Bristol Palin back before she got her new jaw. She’s opening up about all sorts of things like coughing up her v-card. 27. Bristol Palin, Car View Photo Bristol Palin poses with her shirtless son and her car. Nice Twitpic. 28. Bristol Pic View Photo Bristol Palin on Dancing With the Stars with Mark Ballas. She had a good run, twice. Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 29. The Pistol View Photo Bristol the Pistol is going all the way on DWTS. Just accept this now. 30. Bristol and Tripp View Photo Bristol Palin with her son, Tripp, on her new reality show Life’s a Tripp. He’s cute. Her? The verdict is still out. The End. Up Next: ” Bristol Palin Photos: Through the Years .” We’ll be redirecting you shortly…

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Bristol Palin: Engaged to Dakota Meyer!!!

Khloe Kardashian Kuddles with Niece: Krazy Kute!

Khloe Kardashian has shared a krazy kute photograph on Instagram. The reality star – who will return to the small screen tonight when Keeping Up with the Kardashians Season 10 kicks off on E! – posted a sweet snapshot of herself and niece Penelope on the social media site yesterday.  “Kisses,” Kardashian simply wrote of the picture, which features giving a peck to Kourtney Kardashian’s two-year old daughter. A day earlier, Khloe posted another cuddly photo of the relatives watching TV in matching holiday pajamas. She included with it the caption “KoKo [loves] P.” Penelope is one of three kids Kourtney has with terrible baby daddy Scott Disick . Her siblings include five-year old Mason and two-month old Reign. Khloe, of course, does not have any children of her own. But she’s been open in the past about her desire to squeeze some out. For now, however, Kardashian is working on her baby abs more than she is on having any actual babies. And she’s looking pretty darn hot while doing so! 11 Kardashian Secrets: Booze, Body Odor, and Bruce’s Fetish 1. Scott and Kourtney Sleep in Separate Rooms View Photo Not surprising: Scott’s a slob. Surprising: He and Kourtney sleep as far away from each other as possible. “Scott was a complete and utter mess,” the maid claims. “He’d leave food everywhere and crumbs covered his bed, which was on the opposite side of the house from Kourtney.” 2. Bruce Jenner Loves to Cross-Dress View Photo The maid describes finding women’s underwear under Bruce’s bed: “He’d hide it under his bed. I guess he didn’t want his family to know.” 3. Kanye Stinks View Photo “One time, Kim asked me to wash Kanye’s white T-shirt,” says the maid. “It reeked of the worst body odor I have ever smelled. There were armpit stains that were soaking wet. It made me shiver.” 4. Kim is Kind View Photo “Kim would sit and chat with [the housekeepers],” says the source. “And she was generous. One time she gifted someone on her staff a computer for Christmas. It was awesome and so kind. She was the only one out of the three to give anyone helping out any gifts.” Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 5. But She’s Also a Slob View Photo “Kim’s bedroom and bathroom are beyond filthy at all times no matter how often it was cleaned,” the maid claims. “The minute Kim entered everything was trashed – like a tornado had just gone through it.” ​ 6. Scott Disick: Raging Alcoholic View Photo The Kardashian’s maid describes Scott as “constantly drunk.” She claims he would litter the house with empty booze bottles and she once found a white powdered substance in his bathroom. 7. Kourtney is Hell on Heels View Photo “Kourtney was by far the most rude and unappreciative person in the family,” says the housekeeper. “She was also extremely strict and a total neat freak.” 8. And She’s Cheap View Photo “One time she called two different grocery stores to compare the price of a chicken breast. Who does that?” Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 9. Khloe is the Most Fun View Photo “She loves to play practical jokes, especially on Kim,” says the source. “She would hide her clothes and shoes and Kim would panic. Khloe would think it was the funniest thing.” 10. And She Puts Kim in Her Place View Photo Khloe is apprently the only one willing to lay down the law with her more famous sis: “She couldn’t handle that Kim would just leave her clothes on the floor for someone to pick up. She thought her sister was a slob.” 11. Kris Likes to Get Sloshed View Photo The housekeeper describes Kris as “the life of the party.” “When she has a few too many drinks in her she’s been known to bump into walls but otherwise, she was so nice and always asked everyone on the staff about their home lives.” The End. Up Next: ” 11 Kardashian Secrets: Booze, Body Odor, and Bruce’s Fetish .” We’ll be redirecting you shortly…

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Khloe Kardashian Kuddles with Niece: Krazy Kute!

Khloe Kardashian Kuddles with Niece: Krazy Kute!

Khloe Kardashian has shared a krazy kute photograph on Instagram. The reality star – who will return to the small screen tonight when Keeping Up with the Kardashians Season 10 kicks off on E! – posted a sweet snapshot of herself and niece Penelope on the social media site yesterday.  “Kisses,” Kardashian simply wrote of the picture, which features giving a peck to Kourtney Kardashian’s two-year old daughter. A day earlier, Khloe posted another cuddly photo of the relatives watching TV in matching holiday pajamas. She included with it the caption “KoKo [loves] P.” Penelope is one of three kids Kourtney has with terrible baby daddy Scott Disick . Her siblings include five-year old Mason and two-month old Reign. Khloe, of course, does not have any children of her own. But she’s been open in the past about her desire to squeeze some out. For now, however, Kardashian is working on her baby abs more than she is on having any actual babies. And she’s looking pretty darn hot while doing so! 11 Kardashian Secrets: Booze, Body Odor, and Bruce’s Fetish 1. Scott and Kourtney Sleep in Separate Rooms View Photo Not surprising: Scott’s a slob. Surprising: He and Kourtney sleep as far away from each other as possible. “Scott was a complete and utter mess,” the maid claims. “He’d leave food everywhere and crumbs covered his bed, which was on the opposite side of the house from Kourtney.” 2. Bruce Jenner Loves to Cross-Dress View Photo The maid describes finding women’s underwear under Bruce’s bed: “He’d hide it under his bed. I guess he didn’t want his family to know.” 3. Kanye Stinks View Photo “One time, Kim asked me to wash Kanye’s white T-shirt,” says the maid. “It reeked of the worst body odor I have ever smelled. There were armpit stains that were soaking wet. It made me shiver.” 4. Kim is Kind View Photo “Kim would sit and chat with [the housekeepers],” says the source. “And she was generous. One time she gifted someone on her staff a computer for Christmas. It was awesome and so kind. She was the only one out of the three to give anyone helping out any gifts.” Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 5. But She’s Also a Slob View Photo “Kim’s bedroom and bathroom are beyond filthy at all times no matter how often it was cleaned,” the maid claims. “The minute Kim entered everything was trashed – like a tornado had just gone through it.” ​ 6. Scott Disick: Raging Alcoholic View Photo The Kardashian’s maid describes Scott as “constantly drunk.” She claims he would litter the house with empty booze bottles and she once found a white powdered substance in his bathroom. 7. Kourtney is Hell on Heels View Photo “Kourtney was by far the most rude and unappreciative person in the family,” says the housekeeper. “She was also extremely strict and a total neat freak.” 8. And She’s Cheap View Photo “One time she called two different grocery stores to compare the price of a chicken breast. Who does that?” Advertisement A message from our sponsor. 9. Khloe is the Most Fun View Photo “She loves to play practical jokes, especially on Kim,” says the source. “She would hide her clothes and shoes and Kim would panic. Khloe would think it was the funniest thing.” 10. And She Puts Kim in Her Place View Photo Khloe is apprently the only one willing to lay down the law with her more famous sis: “She couldn’t handle that Kim would just leave her clothes on the floor for someone to pick up. She thought her sister was a slob.” 11. Kris Likes to Get Sloshed View Photo The housekeeper describes Kris as “the life of the party.” “When she has a few too many drinks in her she’s been known to bump into walls but otherwise, she was so nice and always asked everyone on the staff about their home lives.” The End. Up Next: ” 11 Kardashian Secrets: Booze, Body Odor, and Bruce’s Fetish .” We’ll be redirecting you shortly…

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Khloe Kardashian Kuddles with Niece: Krazy Kute!

Justin Bieber Issues Heartfelt Apology for Racist Joke, Use of N Word

Give Justin Bieber credit:  Just hours after a video leaked of the singer telling a racist joke at the age of 15, Bieber has come out and issued a lengthy explanation and heartfelt apology for the incident. “As a young man, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt,” Bieber told TMZ. “I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.” Justin went on to say thank his “friends and family” for helping him lean from mistakes and understands that he needs to “apologize again to all I have offended” now that one of those mistakes has become public. “I’m very sorry,” he continues. “I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake. “I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again.” Justin Bieber Racist Joke Last week, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik were caught on camera using a similar racial epithet and the artists are getting flak for not apologizing for the word use. “Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future,” Bieber added. “I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what’s right.” The star concluded: “Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again….I’m sorry.” Straightforward. Immediate. From the heart. Bravo, Justin. This is how you diffuse a scandal.

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Justin Bieber Issues Heartfelt Apology for Racist Joke, Use of N Word

Ann B. Davis Dies; Brady Bunch Star Was 88

Ann B. Davis, the actress behind Alice on The Brady Bunch, fell in her bathroom today, suffering a subdural hematoma and never regaining consciousness. She was 88 years old. Despite her age, Davis’ death came as a surprise to the couple with whom she lived. One roommate tells TMZ that Davis was in good health, walking downstairs on Saturday evening to say goodnight. Davis rose to fame on The Bob Cummings Show (1955–59), twice winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. But she will forever be remembered as Alice Nelson, the housekeeper on The Brady Bunch for five years who dished out words of wisdom to Mike and Carol and their six kids. In 1960, the Schenectady, New York native received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We send our condolences to her loved ones. Celebrities We Lost in 2014 1. Philip Seymour Hoffman R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). He will forever be missed!

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Ann B. Davis Dies; Brady Bunch Star Was 88

J.J. Abrams, Master Of The Universe: Nears Deal To Direct ‘Star Wars Episode 7’

J.J. Abrams appears to have cornered the universe.  Both The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter are reporting that the filmmaker behind the rebooted Star Trek franchise is close to sealing a deal to direct Disney’s Star Wars Episode 7 , which means he will boldly go to a galaxy far far away very shortly.  Abrams office wasn’t commenting on the story when I called, but if the deal is indeed finalized, it will be interesting to see how fan boys for whom Star Wars vs. Star Trek is the equivalent of Beatles vs. Stones, and Paramount, the studio behind, Star Trek Into Darkness ,  will react to the story. As Indiewire’s Kevin Jagernauth astutely pointed out, “we can’t [imagine] the studio being thrilled that press rounds for Star Trek Into Darkness will essentially become non-stop questions about Star Wars: Episode 7  unless that subject is strictly taken off the table (not that people still won’t try anyway). Moreover, one wonders if we can ever live in a galaxy where nerds will be happy with the same director shephereding both Star Wars and Star Trek . Then again, Abrams has done a very smart job of revitalizing the Star Trek franchise, and making it relevant to a much broader audience than the Trekkie contingent. At the same time, he’s shown respect to die-hard fans by (mostly) respecting the canon. (I was always a Star Wars guy, and he’s got me hooked on this whole who-is-Benedict-Cumberbatch thing.)   Star Wars could benefit from a similar update. If Abrams and Bad Robot do take on the Force and the Dark Side, you can be sure there will be plenty of guessing games about the identity of the villains who will be plaguing the Jedi and Droids that populate the newest entry in the Star Wars saga. Reports are that producer Kathleen Kennedy convinced Abrams to take on the daunting job.  She must be very good at persuasion. In November, Abrams told HollywoodLife that he wasn’t the right man for the job.  “Look, Star Wars  is one of my favorite movies of all time,” Abrams said adding:  “I frankly feel that – I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek  fan growing up, so for me, working on ‘Star Trek’ didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more than anyone to the next iterations of ‘Star Wars,’ but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!” More on Star Wars Episode 7:  ‘Star Wars Episode 7’: Is The Force With The Ladies For A Change? [ Indiewire ,  The Wrap , The Hollywood Reporter ] Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter. 

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J.J. Abrams, Master Of The Universe: Nears Deal To Direct ‘Star Wars Episode 7’

SUNDANCE REVIEW: Splendidly Demented ‘Stoker’ Should Quench Park Chan-Wook Fans’ Thirst

When South Korean genre iconoclast Park Chan-wook decided to bring his peculiar gifts to a Stateside production, anything could have happened — and anything pretty much does in Stoker ,  a splendidly demented gumbo of Hitchcock thriller, American Gothic fairy tale and a contemporary kink all Park’s own. Led by a brilliant Mia Wasikowska as an introverted teenager whose personal and sexual awakening arrives with the unraveling of a macabre family mystery, this exquisitely designed and scored pic will bewilder as many viewers as it bewitches, making ancillary immortality a safer bet than Black Swan -style crossover biz for Fox Searchlight’s marvelously mad March hare. Earmarking future cult items is a fool’s errand, but Park’s film nonetheless stands to be treasured not just by his existing band of devotees, who should recognize enough of the Oldboy  and  Thirst  director’s loopy eroticism and singular mise-en-scene amid the studio gloss, but by epicurean horror buffs, camp aficionados and even a small, hip sect of post- Twilight   youths. Not all those auds will follow the stream of wink-wink storytelling references in the brazenly nasty script by Wentworth Miller , the British-born actor best known for his work in TV’s Prison Break , here making his feature writing debut. None is more blatant than the naming of Matthew Goode’s antagonist figure. When morbid-minded honor student India (Wasikowska) loses her beloved father, Richard ( Dermot Mulroney ), in an apparent freak car accident, the ink is barely dry on the death certificate when her globe-trotting uncle Charles (Goode, his unhurried charm and preppy handsomeness put to their best use since 2005’s Match Point ), whom she’s never met before, arrives to stay. Before you can say Shadow of a Doubt ,  this urbanely handsome “Uncle Charlie” is arousing India’s suspicions (and, it’s implied, other things besides) as he swiftly cements himself in the household by seducing her brittle, emotionally susceptible mother, Evelyn ( Nicole Kidman ). Shortly afterward, their housekeeper disappears without notice; ditto India’s meddlesome aunt (a brief but tangy turn from Jacki Weaver ), who appears to know troubling truths about the intruder, dismissed out of hand by Evelyn. The is-he-or-isn’t-he question is answered sooner than Hitch might have done it, as India’s darkest instincts about Charles are confirmed by the end of the first half – though, unsurprisingly in this particular story world, this knowledge actually causes her to warm to him a little. (And only a little: when he mentions his desire to be friends, her typically pithy reply is, “We don’t need to be friends, we’re family.”) But there’s still plenty of mileage in Miller’s warped family melodrama, as the respective and inevitably linked uncertainties about Richard’s death and Charlie’s long absence are kept aloft, while Charlie’s gradual playing of India and Evelyn against each other adds queasy sexual tension to an already chilly mother-daughter relationship. Auds will either go with this festering hotbed of secrets, lies and severed heads, or tune out early, and even the faithful may debate whether or not Park, who otherwise oversees proceedings with amused precision, overplays his hand in the bizarre, bloody finale. Material this wild demands actors fully committed to the cause, and Park has found them, particularly in his two female leads. Kidman, here extending her commendable record of counterintuitive auteur collaboration, has such form in the area of passive-aggressive ice queens that her work here shouldn’t surprise, but the performance gets more bravely unhinged as it goes along, culminating in a spectacular Mommie Dearest tirade against her daughter that seems ripe for future impressions. Still, it’s Wasikowska’s film, and she shoulders it with witty aplomb: equal parts Alice in Wonderland and Wednesday Addams, her India is in constant, silent argument with the world around her. All the actors are given an invaluable assist from Kurt Swanson and Bart Mueller’s crisply tailored costumes, which are period-indeterminate even as the film is set in the present day. This kind of chic otherness is also at play in Therese De Prez’s superb production design: the Stoker family house, all angular architectural fittings and inventively distorted scale, is a creation worthy of prime Tim Burton . Park’s regular d.p. Chung-hoon Chung appears to be channeling photographer Gregory Crewdson’s eerily high-key Americana in his lighting schemes, while Clint Mansell’s characteristically rich, modernist score is embellished with haunting piano duets composed specifically for the film by Philip Glass. The repeated use of the Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra number “Summer Wine,” meanwhile, is typical of the director’s cockeyed take on American culture. Long may he continue to explore. Follow Movieline on Twitter. 

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SUNDANCE REVIEW: Splendidly Demented ‘Stoker’ Should Quench Park Chan-Wook Fans’ Thirst