I Wanna Be Queen! Contest

February 18th, 2008 by Poise Daily Staff Member

by: Iris Clamor

I first saw Dame Helen Mirren in her Oscar-winning performance as Her Majesty in the most trying time for the British monarchy in The Queen. I must admit that I’ve never heard of her before but apparently, she’s quite popular among the, umm, older generations, having been in the big screen and the telly (as the Brits so like to say) for over 40 years. Of course, I couldn’t help but love her. I’ve only ever seen her as grandmotherly, royalty or not, but I heard that she was quite the stunner when she was a young lass.

So if you’re curious about the dame’s earlier performances, just like me, there could be no better timing than the DVD release of Helen Mirren at the BBC. It’s a compilation of 9 TV movies she’s made in the ‘70s to the early ‘80s for the British network, some of which might never have been seen or heard of in other parts of the world.

Indeed, don’t you just love DVD compilations? I’m especially looking forward to Caesar and Claretta, the story of Benito Mussolini’s last night of love with paramour Claretta Petacci, played by no other than the dame herself, of course. Everybody loves a tragedy and this looks like it’s going to be (or was) a good one. You can own it on DVD starting February 19. Check out the official site for more synopsis of what’s in store.

If you don’t feel like buying it, you’re in luck. We’re giving it away right here at SHE Unlimited. Tell us who do we fabulous gals have to marry to become the next Queen of England. Email your answers to submissions@sheunlimited.com with the subject: I Wanna Be Queen! You might not get a throne or a crown, but you do get a fab DVD.

Technorati Tags: BBC, Helen Mirren, She Sponsors, She Unlimited

Just Another Women-Rule-in-Manhattan Show

February 1st, 2008 by Poise Daily Staff Member

by Iris Clamor

How does a gal, single or married, get to be strong when it comes to life and its many quirks (e.g. career, dating, toxic men, etc.)? Why, she turns to her friends and watches a lot of chick flicks and chick shows where women rule (always in Manhattan) and men are, umm, disposable. Such was the influence of Sex and the City, the HBO series based on THE Candace Bushnell’s best-selling book. And it was this success that encouraged various studios to come up with their own bands of sassy females set to take over the world.

Meet Mia, Zoe, Juliet, and Caitlin, the ladies of ABC’s Cashmere Mafia. No, they don’t shear sheep or import bootleg sweaters. They’re sexy, highly ambitious, and hugely successful women who met in business school (of all places), trying to balance their high-powered careers and complex love lives by creating their own little club where they can whine and commiserate about how “deprived” they are; hence, the Cashmere Mafia. It’s a predictable enough plot and one that won’t be complete without the token philandering husbands, lesbians, two-faced “frienemies”, and career rivals – this time, in the form of Mia’s fiance, of all people.

The “love, friends, and career” plot is pretty solid. Unfortunately, some of the situations are a bit too farfetched to be believable, not to mention relatable. Because it’s produced by Darren Star (of SATC fame), many had rather high hopes of the show’s integrity and ability to reach out to its viewers. I daresay many would be sorely disappointed.

The show is a direct competition to NBC’s Lipstick Jungle, written and produced by the great Candace Bushnell (is it obvious that I’m a fan?) based on the book that she also wrote, who, incidentally, worked with Darren Star in SATC. It’s pretty much the same story, really, except this time there are only 3 ladies, all straight, and no ridiculous posse name. I feel that Lipstick Jungle might actually fare better than Cashmere Mafia as long as it doesn’t stray too far from the original novel. But that’s just me.

Cashmere Mafia stars Lucy Liu (who was in an episode of SATC so she should’ve known better), Miranda Otto, Frances O’Connor, and Bonnie Somerville. It’s a pretty solid cast, but one that lacks the chemistry of the original Manhattan “it” gals.

Overall, the whole “woman-in-New-York” thing might have just become overrated with Cashmere Mafia. It certainly doesn’t merit any comparison to THE chick show of all chick shows – SATC. As for success, it may actually have its share of it; for awhile, at least. After all, there’s no shortage of broken-hearted women in the world and watching beautiful and successful women who seem to have it all go through hell and back for toxic men is always strangely inspiring (admit it, you know it is). Most of all, it’s hard to look away when rich, whiny people are living it up in excess in front you – just as it’s hard to look away from a car crash.

Technorati Tags: Bonnie Somerville, Cashmere Mafia, Frances O’Connor, Iris Clamor, Lucy Liu, Miranda Otto, NBC, New York Women, SATC, She Unlimited