An Ode to Lindas

Sam Raimi’s Send Help opens tomorrow, and I will have a full review, but first, I want to talk specifically about Rachel McAdams and her performance as Linda Liddle, a downtrodden middle-management drone in bland corporate America. It is critical that her character’s name is Linda. For Linda is the powerhouse of the corporate world, along with her counterparts Susan, Janet, and Patricia. Lindas get the job done, they are dependable, they are NOT expendable.

I used to work with a Linda as my point of contact with a client. That account ran like clockwork for years, no drama, and then Linda retired and that account has been a mess ever since. No matter what I do, I cannot get that client organized. I need a Linda! Or a Patricia! Oh! My queendom for an efficient Patricia! Lindas are the heartbeat of the office, Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who wrote Send Help, understand this. Rachel McAdams gets it, too, portraying a fierce Linda in the film. Never cross a Linda! They will f-ck your sh-t up with spreadsheets and expense reports!

McAdams looked glorious at the London premiere in slinky, sparkling deep crimson. I think there might be a reptile pattern on the dress, but honestly, it’s so dark it’s hard to tell. But it would be appropriate for the premiere of a film set on a tropical island. It’s really fun to watch Rachel McAdams having fun, that’s my capsule review of Send Help. She is having SO much fun.

Speaking of premieres, Crime 101 also had a premiere yesterday, but I really just want to bring attention to Barry Keoghan’s hair.

This is for his role as Ringo Starr in The Beatles’ movies Sam Mendes is making, but also…THIS is the man who inspired “Bed Chem”. Make it make sense! Sabrina! MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!!

What else happened today…

Alessandro Michele did something with tiny windows at the Valentino show in Paris, but the garments look good on camera. There are several gowns here I expect to see over the next couple of months at awards shows. (Go Fug Yourself)

Prince Harry is going to speak at a global privacy summit, and this makes me wonder if he might have a future as a champion of privacy rights beyond just phone hacking and tabloid intrusion. Have you heard of dynamic pricing? I saw it in action for the first time last weekend and let me tell you, I put everything back and left that store and will not return until they promise not to upcharge groceries because an AI program connected to their security cameras decided you look rich enough to afford a hike on bread. No one can afford a hike on bread!

The Financial Diet has an excellent podcast/video about dynamic pricing and the very real threat it poses to our wallets, but it relies on gross privacy intrusion to work. Companies have to have access to all our data to figure out when we’re desperate enough or posh enough to pay for more expensive items. Prince Harry is starting his privacy advocacy from a place of personal intrusion, and having his own private conversations weaponized against him. But if he broadens his lens and starts advocating for EVERYONE’S personal privacy as a matter of consumer rights? A true prince of the people! Harry! This is the way! (Celebitchy)

Paul Dano appreciates everyone telling Quentin Tarantino to shut the f-ck up after Tarantino called him the “worst actor in SAG”. Don’t worry Paul Dano, we’ve got your back. (Pajiba) 

Did you know that Henry Ford attempted to build a utopia in the Amazon rainforest? Welcome to Fordlandia, as told in a podcast. It’s less than 20 minutes, an easy breezy listen, or there’s a transcript linked if you’d prefer to read the story. I wish this episode was longer, though, I feel like we’re glossing over some pretty crazy details. Historically it doesn’t go well when white people try to build utopias in the rainforest! (Atlas Obscura)