Sundance Channel

Review Revue: MOONRISE over MEN IN BLACK

Dan Heching — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:54:37 +0000

Going to the movies should never, ever be stressful (unless, of course, you’re planning on seeing the latest Lars von Trier flick). You want to see something new and relevant so that you can talk it up with your know-it-all friends. But you don’t want to sit through the one film that everyone thought would be great, but…isn’t. So here is our formula, simplifying the should-you-see-it conundrum: 5 new releases x 2 critical samplings = what you should go see. Simple enough, right? This week we have precocious tween lovers, some boyz in black, a bunch of radioactive Ukrainians, a wronged woman or two and a severely depressed Norwegian guy.

Now playing on Sundance Channel: THERE WILL BE BLOOD and nymphos

Sundance Channel — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:39:13 +0000

This week on Sundance Channel we've got milkshakes, nymphos, drag queens and terror plots. I really wish they were all wrapped up into one, amazing film. But, until I finish that screenplay, we've got to make do with four separate movies.

How to improve phone sex without saying a thing

Em and Lo — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

We're frequently asked by readers how they can get into phone sex. They tell us that they don't know what to say, or how to say it, or how to initiate it -- but most of all, they tell us that it just feels so strange and silly and isolated to be sitting there with your iPhone for company, not sure if the person on the other end of the phone is checking their email and and half-listening you while you moan and dirty talk your little heart out. (We suppose that's what Skype is for? But if you can handle Skype-sex then you're a braver human being than either of us.)

Film intelligence: Surprises and disappointments at Cannes

Matt Singer — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:22:27 +0000

Every week there are dozens of film news stories. Every week, we read them all and bring you the five most important ones in the single most important blog post you’ll ever read (today [at this moment]). This week: movies are loved, movies are delayed, and people watching movies get smacked in the face.

Green tech finds: the very unsexy edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:16 +0000

What do scooters, bike helmets, and building retrofits have in common? None of them are particularly cool, but they're all here in this week's green tech finds.

Doctor apologizes for saying you can get over your gayness. Thanks.

Paul Ohan — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:56 +0000

You simply can't "turn" a gay person straight or "pray away the gay," no matter what Michele Bachmann's husband thinks. Now that we've established that as a fact, let's talk about how The New York Times reported that Dr. Robert Spitzer essentially wrote an open letter to the gay community, published in a psychology journal this week, saying—of all things—my bad. Spitzer never became a household name, but he was responsible for removing homosexuality from the canon of mental illness, right next to alcoholism and catatonia, which was a huge step forward for gay rights in 1973. But, he also argued that therapy could cure unwanted gayness...which was a huge step off a short pier.

PUSH GIRLS’ favorite places to party, shop and more

Sundance Channel — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:00:24 +0000

Sundance Channel’s PUSH GIRLS, Angela, Auti, Mia and Tiphany, are four dynamic, outspoken and beautiful women who, by accident or illness, have been paralyzed from the neck or the waist down. But, that doesn't stop them from living large in Los Angeles. Have you ever stopped and thought about how accessible some of your favorite hangouts are? Would it be a problem to organize drinks at a favorite bar if one member of your crew was rollin' in PUSH GIRLS style? Well, the ladies are sharing their list of the most accessible and convenient spots for shopping, dining and entertainment for people living with paralysis. Check out their list, which includes national brands as well as their favorite LA hangouts.

Vice Presidential doppelgangers and metrosexual, black Abe Lincoln

Matthew Rodriguez — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:58:57 +0000

Late last week, the New York Times broke news about a plan put together by "a group of high-profile Republican strategists" and commissioned by conservative billionaire and owner of the Chicago Cubs Joe Ricketts that explored an aggressive Super PAC strategy for attacking President Obama in the upcoming presidential election. Buried in the craziness was this gem which the Internets jumped all over.

In other Phoenix sibling news: Check out River (RIP) in DARK BLOOD

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:55:33 +0000

When I watched that trailer for THE MASTER I thought, "You make a movie with the Phoenix you have, not the Phoenix you want" (just kidding, Joaquin...you're great). And then, lo and behold, /Film has a little story on the effort to finish DARK BLOOD, the film River Phoenix was working on when he died of a drug overdose back in 1993. Now, as a child of the 80s, I've always held onto fond memories of the eldest Phoenix kid (I mean, Joaquin was just that moody masturbator in PARENTHOOD...and wasn't his name Leaf, anyway?). So it was exciting to see Dutch director George Sluizer (THE VANISHING) trot out his DARK BLOOD footage and talk about paying tribute to River:

It’s that Scientology movie: A look at THE MASTER with Joaquin Phoenix

Dan Heching — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:54 +0000

While everyone is over the moon about the latest from Wes Anderson, another favorite Director Anderson—namely Paul Thomas of BOOGIE NIGHTS and THERE WILL BE BLOOD fame—has been makin' waves with his newest project for months. THE MASTER follows a story that very closely resembles the inception of Scientology, the so-seductive religion of the Hollywood elite, and features a stellar cast ranging from Amy Adams to Laura Dern. Apparently, Tom Cruise (the crown prince of that Scientology elite?) got a private screening(after all, Cruise and PT Anderson go way back to MAGNOLIA). The Cruise screening, along with his alleged reservations about the film, is a clear indication that THE MASTER is a sensitive issue amongst Scientologists, who fervently follow the teachings of the extremely controversial (and long dead) L. Ron Hubbard. And now we can all get in on the speculation! The Weinstein Company released a first look trailer of the film direct from Cannes:

Cruise Control 2013: What they’re wearing in Cannes

Paul Ohan — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:08 +0000

How does one get to Cannes, Marseilles, or Moncaco? By yacht, of course. For the vast majority of people, this is a lofty prospect. But for the select few with the means (private jet, Maserati, large boat), the appropriate fashion is paramount. Fortunately there are visionaries in the world that still cater to the one percent of beautiful people in need of haute couture resort wear. Visionaries like Karl Lagerfeld, who seems to be getting more and more boisterous as he enters the new decade (shredding his more austere front), and Thomas Maier—who is still a fan of the quiet approach. While all eyes are on the Cannes, let’s take a peek at some of the fashions that will be all the planet's most glamorous beaches over the next few months.

No zombies in Chernobyl, but plenty of other horrors

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:31 +0000

On Friday, the new horror flick CHERNOBYL DIARIES will no doubt have folks all over the country screaming and holding their hands over their eyes. Those of us old enough to remember the actual Chernobyl disaster, in which a nuclear reactor northeast of Kiev, Ukraine exploded, might take some comfort in this: the world's worst nuclear disaster is far enough in the past that we can make scary movies about it. The nuclear industry might even embrace the film, as it allows them to figuratively pat us all on the head and remind us that radiation doesn't really turn people into zombies.

Legal download: Revenge movies on demand

Matt Singer — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:18 +0000

The world of film is changing. For one thing, there's not much actual film anymore. The future is digital; more and more, it's streaming on our computers, too. Every week in Legal Download, we survey the landscape of online movies to bring you a snapshot of what's available. This week, we have a very particular set of skills: we know what revenge movies are available on demand.

GET TO WORK: Sundance Channel docu-series gets folks jobs

Sundance Channel — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:52:59 +0000

It's no secret that getting, and keeping, a job in this economy takes more than just luck. After enough rejection, it's easy to feel entirely locked out of the game. Right now there are millions of Americans out of work and this August, Sundance Channel's original docu-series GET TO WORK will take you behind inside a groundbreaking back-to-work program in San Diego, a hardcore boot camp that gives hope to the chronically unemployed: those who have no jobs, no direction, and seemingly no chance. It’s a high-stakes make-or-break moment and, for most of the students, this is their last crack at a real future. But it doesn’t come easy: as they push their students to learn workplace skills that will land them a job, the Instructors contend with those who have never learned anything other than bad attitudes and bad behavior. Not everyone makes it to graduation.

Hollywood drama hits the red carpet at Cannes

Paul Ohan — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:26:08 +0000

The Cannes Film Festival is the doyenne of all film festivals. It has kept the attention of film industry and it's supporters for sixty-five years and has no signs of slowing down. And with an abundance of red carpets opportunities, after parties, and the usual fare of celebrities reveling in the beauty of the Riviera, it's a perfect photo opportunity for paparazzi and stars a like. Fortunately, there are plenty of smart tuxedos and evening dresses to go around. The feel in the air so far has been a return to Hollywood drama. Full-length gowns with delicate beading, and the occasional train, have graced premieres at Cannes since the late 1950's. For men, beards and mustaches were de rigeur, as was combing back of the hair. A sort of wet look to accent the sharp lines of their suits, and the soft curves accented in their counterparts' dresses. Of course there was plenty of cheeky behavior to be captured. But this is a family website...

Just how stupid is that homophobic pastor’s plan to round up the gays?

Em and Lo — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:00:14 +0000

This video of a North Carolinian pastor spewing homophobic hate has been making the rounds. Made "pukin' sick" by the thought of men kissing men, Pastor Charles Worley comes up with a big idea to get rid of homosexuality once and for all -- a "final solution," if you will:

Build a great big large fence, 150 or 100 miles long. Put all the lesbians in there. Fly over and drop some food. Do the same thing with the queers and the homosexuals. Have that fence electrified so they can’t get out. Feed ‘em, and– And you know what? In a few years they’ll die out. You know why? They can’t reproduce.

Check out the set of MOONRISE KINGDOM with Bill Murray

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:17:40 +0000

If you're not at Cannes (and if you are, stop reading this and go do something fabulous), then you're probably tired of hearing about the new Wes Anderson joint MOONRISE KINGDOM. You're tired of it because you know you won't be able to see Bruce Willis rock highwaters and spectacles until Friday (if you're lucky enough to live NY or LA...if not, then who knows). But, because Bill Murray loves you, he's got a hilarious tour of the film's set.

Tatzoo: Wildlife advocacy meets tattooing

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:24:30 +0000

Got a tattoo of your favorite endangered species? If you're my age, you'll probably answer "No" with an annoyed look. However, if you're a twentysomething, I may have you thinking "Heyyy - that's a great idea!" Generation Y is into its tatts, as well as making the world a better place. If someone figured out a way to bring those two things together, they'd likely have plenty of people willing to pitch in.

How to spot a hipster in the bedroom

Em and Lo — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:00:33 +0000

Last week we wrote about how to spot a hipster in the wild. Inspired by that, we decided to put together our own guide to spotting hipsters... in the bedroom. Here are our top twenty ways to know you're having sex with a hipster.

Lelo’s short film of vibrators at Cannes

Em and Lo — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:08 +0000

The Cannes Film Festival is in full swing right now (May 16-27) and one of its special guests is one of our favorite pleasure-object producers: the high end Swedish design company, Lelo. They're screening their very own short -- okay, it's a crummy commercial. But as with everything Lelo does, it's beautiful, sleek, glamourous, luxurious and inviting -- like their toys (although we never will get the appeal of squirming around on a bed of roses).

World leaders gather to solve econ…no, watch “football”

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:44:09 +0000

What did you do this weekend? Well, it seems as though all of the important people in the world were either at Zuck's wedding or convening at Camp David for a G8 sleepover. Good times! Allegedly, the world leaders were discussing this economic pickle we still seem to be in. But, really, they were watching the Champions League final. It's kind of like the Super Bowl of European soccer. Or, as my English husband calls it, "football". Regardless, it came down to Chelsea (they're from England) vs Bayern Munich (Germans, obvs.) And as you can see from British Prime Minister David Cameron's reaction...the English won out. And they did it in a super exciting, penalty kick shootout thing!

Kristen Wiig’s final SNL spawns thousands of online tears

Matthew Rodriguez — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:30 +0000

This past weekend on Saturday NIght Live, the show said a final goodbye to cast member Kristen Wiig. It ended on a sweet note with Kristen holding back tears as she danced with her cast members and some SNL alums. The last dance was with Lorne Michaels who whispered in her ear, "If you don't return for another season on my show I will eat your firstborn child." I guess her first child will be eaten by Lorne. Weird. You know who else was upset about her leaving SNL? Dawson. And lots of people on the Internet.

Wes Anderson and Woody Allen save summer cinema

Michael Musto — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:15:27 +0000

Not that sequels prequels, slapstick comedies, superhero flicks, and action/adventure thrillers can't be intelligent, lol. But still, can we expect anything a cut above? Yes! Some warm-weather flicks are filtering in made by actual artistes with real aspirations, at least judging from the heady descriptions. Some of them are even coming before summer’s official start date. Here are some of the most promising looking options for your summer cinema plans:

We’ve got Bill Murray’s candid Cannes photos

Sundance Channel — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:02:42 +0000

Whether he's chauffeuring you home in a golf cart or sneaking up behind you in public, Bill Murray commands your attention. His mere presence at the 65th Festival de Cannes is no different. He is certainly the most important member of director Wes Anderson's party posse. They're debuting their latest collaboration, MOONRISE KINGDOM, and while the critical consensus has been golden, a Bill Murray out in the wild will always steal the show! Take a look:

This week’s top trending videos: Starring food buffet drama!

Matthew Rodriguez — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:43:49 +0000

If you had a stressful week at work just know that it was nowhere near as bad as what the Wisconsin resident featured in video number three had to go through. And here's hoping you have a relaxing weekend, like the cat in the video number five. So, read for more trick shots, Sponge Bob and a little gear-shift supercut.

Naked news: “mankini” to be worn during Olympics Opening Ceremony?

Em and Lo — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:23 +0000

This week, homophobia is down, gaydar is up, female objectification is over the top, and home HIV tests are around the corner. Oh, and a mankini is on the way:

From Cannes to Hollywood: Women still shut out of film jobs that don’t require cleavage

Dan Heching — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:47:39 +0000

image via Slant Magazine

That springtime film festival somewhere in the south of France is now fully under way, and we're sad to spread the word: there are no female-directed films in competition at Cannes this year. Not that things are much better here in the US. Only five percent of the past year's big, studio films were helmed by ladies. What gives?

Change some lives and learn some stuff…with a click

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:08:06 +0000

Which is cooler? Changing the lives of at-risk kids through filmmaking or historical preservation via video? Trick question! They're both awesome. And totally amplified by ReelWorks. Their Teen Filmmaking program recently got together with Partners in Preservation and American Express to make videos of 16 historic sites around New York City.

Sundance Institute selects 13 projects for 2012 June directors and screenwriters labs

Sundance Institute — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:23:25 +0000

Sundance Institute and the Time Warner Foundation announced today the seven artists selected for the 2012 Sundance Institute | Time Warner Foundation Fellowship Program. Each Fellow was identified by one of the following core programs of the Institute: Documentary Film Program, Feature Film Program, Film Music Program, Native American & Indigenous Film Program and Theatre Program.

Now playing on Sundance Channel: Avoid Europe at all costs

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:05:29 +0000

I've got these neighbors who love "cycling holidays". They go to different parts of Europe and pretty much spend ten days doing their own little Tour de France, or wherever. They love it because they get to see "the real countryside" and stay at little farms and inns while burning off all of the crazy food and wine they consume. Well, guess what. That sounds like real trouble to me, especially after I watched all of this week's "now playing" contenders. This week, Sundance Channel is taking you to the mountains of old Europe, the bars of Austin, Texas and Tokyo, Japan. Give what you're about to see, I'm going to stay right here...and maybe plan a trip to Tokyo.

How to spot a hipster in the wild

Em and Lo — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:00:30 +0000

How is it possible that hipsters have been around since the 1940s? (At least according to the OED, which equates the word with "hepcat." Er, thanks for that.) Even stranger still, how is it possible that hipsters have been around since the 1940s and we still can't exactly put our finger on what one is? In recent years the hipster even became a subject for academic (or at least highbrow) debate, with the fancy-pants journal n+1 sponsoring an entire symposium called "What Was the Hipster?" which became a book by the same name. Unfortunately we suspect the folks at n+1 of being hipsters in denial, which is why we can't bear to read their book on the topic.

2 thoughts on 5 films: The critics are trying to get along with THE DICTATOR

Dan Heching — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:30:26 +0000

Going to the movies should never, ever be stressful (unless, of course, you’re planning on seeing the latest Lars von Trier flick). You want to see something new and relevant so that you can talk it up with your know-it-all friends. But you don’t want to sit through the one film that everyone thought would be great, but…isn’t. So here is our formula, simplifying the should-you-see-it conundrum: 5 new releases x 2 critical samplings = what you should go see Simple enough, right? This week we have a deadpan despot, a dreamy-eyed British lady-lover, aliens in the ocean, pregnant ladies and the men who love ‘em.

Film intelligence: Cannes do

Matt Singer — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:15:57 +0000

Every week there are dozens of film news stories. Every week, we read them all and bring you the five most important ones in the single most important blog post you’ll ever read (today [at this moment]). This week: the south of France, a bus in the Bronx, and heavy competition for Jobs.

Green tech finds: the clean development edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:56 +0000

If you can power your phone with sunlight, and carry water purification equipment on your back, is there any need for large-scale, dirty utilities in the developing world? Those ideas and more in this week's green tech finds. What's your neighborhood's Bike Score?: The five-year-old Walk Score online service, which rates walkability of neighborhoods, cities, and addresses, now offers a similar metric for bicyclists. The new Bike Score is available in ten cities (and, apparently, Minneapolis is more bike-friendly than Portland - who'da thunk it?). (via The Atlantic Cities)

People can’t seem to stop remaking CARRIE

Dan Heching — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:06:15 +0000

"They're all gonna laugh at...who?" There are some truly horrid things out there that just won't die. One is the soon-to-be-remade (again!) CARRIE, Stephen King's exceptionally underrated debut novel (if this were required reading in every American high school, there would probably be no 'bullying crisis') and the brilliant 1976 Brian de Palma screen adaptation with Sissy Spacek, masseur-loving John Travolta and Piper Laurie. Laurie, it's worth noting, made the honorable mentions in our Top 10 Mothers In Legendary Films list for Mother's Day—and come to think of it, she deserved her own maniacal place in the list itself for this Oscar-nominated role.

Legal download: The art world on demand

Matt Singer — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:48 +0000

The world of film is changing. For one thing, there's not much actual film anymore. The future is digital; more and more, it's streaming on our computers, too. Every week in Legal Download, we survey the landscape of online movies to bring you a snapshot of what's available. This week, we paint a picture of VOD movies about the art world. THIS WEEK'S THEME: Movies About Art

Bicycling: a love story?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:22 +0000

Most of us don't give a lot of thought to the bicycle as an object of beauty: it's purely functional, designed to get us from here to there. Any elements of design likely came from the marketing department. Describing it as "poetry in motion" seems, at best, clichè. Texas playwright Tammy Melody Gomez dared to go there, though, expressing her love for her bicycle (her sole means of transportation) not merely in a few words, but in a full-length work of art. Her play She: Bike/Spoke/Love is, according to the author, "a love story about bikes and the people who ride them." That emotion gets expressed through a variety of means: not only through typical dialog one expects from a stage play, but also through "poetry... freestyle and choreographed bicycling, video sequences, and a turntablist." In the midst of all of this performance is a story line about a young woman and (you guessed it) her love for her bicycle.

One great New Yorker cover…and the three rejects that come with it

Matthew Rodriguez — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:22 +0000

The timely cover of the latest issue of The New Yorker celebrates President Obama's decision to make a very public stand in favor of gay marriage which he believed was important for him to "go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." I think its long been clear which side SUNfiltered falls on this debate, which in my mind shouldn't even be a debate in the same way interracial marriage is no longer an issue. Bob Staake, the artist who created this cover remarked:

He’s gay enough for me

Paul Ohan — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:35:23 +0000

That the POTUS took a position on gay marriage, which led Andrew Sullivan to write something that I agreed with—for a change—is nothing short of a gay miracle. Joe Biden’s accidental outing of President Obama’s position on the subject has stirred the pot right on the (high) heels of North Carolina becoming the thirtieth state to ban gay marriage.

Cinemagrams: make artsy or creepy gifs with your iPhone

Matthew Rodriguez — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:58:33 +0000

One of my favorite apps in the past couple months for my iPhone has been Cinemagr.am (FYI: This is not a plug!). It's an obvious derivative inspired by both Instagram and artsy gif images or "cinemagraphs," which I've previously blogged about here, that have proliferated all over the Internet. However, as these 20 examples collected by BuzzFeed demonstrates, it's a pretty fun app. Here are a few that I've made in the past.

DO I NEED THIS?: Pursuing happiness at the mall

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:16:08 +0000

Photographer and film maker Kate Schermerhorn seems obsessed with the notion of happiness: in addition to her previous documentary AFTER HAPPILY EVER AFTER (which, as you'll probably guess, focused on marriage), she's also the author of the photography book America's Idea of a Good Time (which explores our "pursuit of happiness" broadly). If you're going to dig into such a topic, and particularly its most American incarnations, you're going to end up at the mall: we love acquiring stuff so much that we now refer to shopping as "retail therapy." But how happy do the things we buy make us, and what are the larger costs associated with those moments of pleasure?

Online dating’s fatal flaws

Em and Lo — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:39 +0000

Researchers recently published a book-length article in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest on the scientific flaws of online dating. They wrote a layperson's summary for Scientific American, but even that was three pages long (practically an eternity in internet time). So here's what you need to know in a nutshell:

What storytelling means to today’s TRANSGENERATION

Alexis Handwerker — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:48:59 +0000

Storytelling has long been used as a tool for recording people's history and to pass down wisdom from one generation to the next. But for those who aren't considered part of society's in-crowd, sharing personal stories takes on an even greater meaning. Telling your story and listening to narratives from 'others' like you, can help you feel connected and grounded in the world. It helps to know that people whose lives look like yours, have been here before and survived. Whether we're aware of it or not, it's instinctual for us to want the comfort of seeing our experiences reflected back. Reality TV and the web have given individuals’ voices a much wider reach. But the truth is it’s still a privileged few whose stories are chosen to be told. And unfortunately transgender folks rarely make the cut.

A hard-wired road trip: SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:42:52 +0000

America has a great history of road movies. We've been able really corner the market because, well...we have more roads, but also because our culture puts a premium on finding oneself. And there is no better way of "figuring your shit out" than going on a long road trip. These sorts of films usually end up featuring an awesome twosome (THELMA AND LOUISE), because watching one person drive around the USA can be pretty boring. But, in SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS, while we've got an awesome twosome, we only really see one road-tripper. She just happens to be pregnant with her co-pilot.

Phrase of the week: sex nerd

Em and Lo — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:53 +0000

We pride ourselves on knowing all the sex lingo — and where there isn’t lingo for something we’ve observed in the world of sex and dating, then we make it up ourselves. For example, three terms we coined in our book Rec Sex: An A-Z Guide to Casual Sex are benched (the state of being [...]

This week’s top trending videos including the return of the lip dub!

Matthew Rodriguez — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:33:27 +0000

If you were like me, this week basically consisted of discussing the awesomeness that was THE AVENGERS (I'm convinced Joss Whedon incepted me with that film) and if not then listening to the Beastie Boys in memory of Adam Yauch. That said, the Internet viral machine continued its job and here are five videos that made the rounds this week.

Naked News: Obama makes us proud, North Carolina, not so much

Em and Lo — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:56 +0000

It's all gay news all the time this week -- there's some good news, some bad news, and some plain old ugly news. As Marc Maron tweeted, NC = Nation's Closet.

Top 10 MILFs (Moms In Legendary Films)

Dan Heching — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:10:52 +0000

Mother’s Day might be upon us, but no, we are not going the cheap route and talking about the MILFs you’re used to (although we do love Jennifer Coolidge in everything she does; even AMERICAN PIE). This list is dedicated to a far more select—and somewhat more matronly—group, namely Moms In Legendary Films. Absolutely everyone out there has something to say about how to be the best mom (as evidenced by the latest cover of TIME, which proclaims "Are You Mom Enough?" and displays a rather distinctive approach). That’s why it’s best to fall back on these sterling examples of maternal heroism (and in some cases, villainy). Whatever the case may be, parenting can be a real bitch, and these women are definitely Mom enough.

Mayans: Chill out, world not ending anytime soon

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:44:42 +0000

Sorry, Internet prognosticators, but the world isn't ending in 2012. At least, it's not going to end this year because of some crazy Mayan prediction. Archaeologists at the Mayan site of Xultún (in modern day Guatemala) have discovered a 2,000-year-old calendar on the wall of a scribe's house. According to National Geographic, the calendar includes dates about 7,000 years into the future. That means the world will actually end some time around 9012, so ha!

Mother’s Day cards from your subconscious

Matthew Rodriguez — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:25 +0000

Mother's Day is around the corner (this Sunday to be exact). Sure, you can be traditional and send her a bouquet of flowers or a present and a nice Hallmark card. If this is just too much effort or you don't have enough time because you're just so "busy at work" then I might have a solution. Send an e-card: nothing says I care quite like taking 3 seconds to press the send button. In particular, I recommend this collection of Mother's Day cards with messages from your subconscious courtesy of GQ.