Little Girl Lost

To the north of London, about a galaxy away from the cobblestone streets, double-decker buses and any use of the word “cherrio,” lies a small section of Essex County. Here you will find a number of government-run housing estates, dilapidated and overcrowded. And inside those buildings, as writer-director Andrea Arnold reminds us in her riveting film Fish Tank, are the people who are getting by on old dreams, explosive anger and the solace of a new bottle of booze...
[ more ... ]

Don’t Give Me Charity
by Becky Bain

Nobody bats an eye when I make AIDS and Hitler jokes anymore, but the moment I criticize a charity single, I get screamed at for being insensitive. I have refused to buy either of the “It” Charity Singles of the moment benefiting Haiti earthquake relief: the “Everybody Hurts” cover organized by Simon Cowell and the rerecording of “We Are The World,” performed by every musician on the planet (and Vince Vaughn, for some inexplicable reason). Why? Because they are awful, awful songs.

“But Becky!” you tell me, a judgmental look in your eye. “It’s for chaaaaaaaarityyyyy! Have a heart!” Hey, I’m not against donating to worthy causes. If you’ve got extra money to spend and you choose to help people instead of buying that awesomely pointless $150 Monkey Head from The Sharper Image catalogue, I certainly won’t judge you...
[ more ... ]