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KYLIEWOOD

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He's not a German Shepherd. He's a Belgian Malinois, and his name is MAX! 

6/28/2015

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In MAX, out now in theaters, a precision trained military dog, who served on the front lines of Afghanistan, returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler's family after suffering a traumatic experience.

The reason why I call my movie reviews "mini movie reviews" is because I like to keep it short and sweet. So here we go...

The night I went home after seeing Max, I immediately started searching through Instagram hashtags and googling German Shepherds.  However, I eventually learned that the dog who stars as Max in the film is actually NOT a German Shepherd. He is a Belgian Malinois.  They are different in that Belgian Malinois are commonly used as highly trained military dogs also known as MWD(Military Working Dogs).  

Max is basically this generation's Air Bud.  Saddened by the loss of his handler(Kyle played by Robbie Amell) during battle, Max suffers from post-traumatic stress and can no longer serve his duty.  At Kyle's funeral, Max weeps at his former handler's coffin(which is super sad, so bring some tissue).  Upon meeting Kyle's younger brother(Justin played by Josh Wiggins), he immediately senses the blood relationship and basically decides he now belongs to Justin.  He is, ultimately, adopted by his handler's family.  Together, Justin and Max form a friendship based on trust and loyalty.  (Oh hey, two qualities women always look for in men!)  The plot thickens and Max and Justin, along with new friends, form a team to save the day!

At the press day, I learned that they actually used FIVE different dogs to portray Max in the film.  One dog was used for only the face shots(he was the pretty one), one dog was used because he was the fastest runner, etc.  Favorite thing I learned: only one dog was a woman, and she was used for all of the fight/stunt sequences! You go girl-dawg.  I got to meet Jagger and his trainer!! 

As much as I LOVE Lauren Graham (shoutout to all the Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fans!) Unfortunately, I think the dogs were the best actors in the film.  Final Score: 6/10

Here are my Made in Hollywood interviews with Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins, and the Director Boaz Yakin!




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KYLIE'S KLOSET
#ootd details:
Top: Helmut Lang
Pants: Zara
Necklace: Zara
Shoes: Zara

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Disney Pixar's INSIDE OUT ventures in to our minds to ask the age-old questions: "What is going on inside their head?"

6/23/2015

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The much anticipated 2015 Disney Pixar film Inside Out officially hit $100m domestically in the box office today.  I had the opportunity to cover the film for the nationally syndicated television show Made in Hollywood!  I sat down with voice actors Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black! 

At the press day, there were lots of fun activities like: a blue screen where I got to act out the five emotions: Fear, Anger, Disgust, Sadness, and JOY, and a real-life sized control panel like the one in Riley's head in the movie!

I loved the film, don't get me wrong.  I thought it was brilliant, innovative and creative.  However, unlike other movie critics have stated, I don't think it is my new all-time favorite Disney/Pixar film.  My favorites are still: Finding Nemo and Toy Story!!

(My BF Nick Uhas is currently sitting next to me as I write this, but he's dealing with his Periscope right now. Luckily, he's not paying attention to what I'm writing because he would totally disagree- he LOVED this movie!)

Have you seen the film? What did you think? 
Also, I want to know: What's YOUR favorite Disney/Pixar film?
COMMENT below!

Check out this new episode of KYLIEWOOD: Inside Out, to see the fun!

KYLIE'S KLOSET: #ootd details!

Jumpsuit: H&M
Belt: Vintage
Shoes: Target!

Want to see my interviews with the cast?! Check out my MADE IN HOLLYWOOD interviews!

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KYLIEWOOD: Jurassic World, Girlfriend vs. Boyfriend VIDEO

6/12/2015

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If you follow me on Snapchat, you have already seen the dynamics between my boyfriend, Nick Uhas, and I.  For this edition of #KYLIEWOOD, we decided to co-host a segment called GF vs. BF, where we each take turns voicing our(very different) opinions about the 4th Jurassic Park film- Jurassic World!  So, which side are you on?


SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL! 

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At the IMAX 3D screening of Jurassic World with $20 worth of ITSUGAR gummy bears... because they are the best gummy bears, ever.




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Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, is NOT a Love Story

6/9/2015

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This is not a love story.
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She actually doesn't end up dying, if that makes you feel better.  So, you can all relax knowing she isn't going to die in the end.


Now, I don't remember the exact quote said by the lead character, and narrator, Greg(Thomas Mann), but let me assure you- something along the lines of the sentences above were stated.  





Based on the novel of the same name and written by Jesse Andrews, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a comedy-drama about an awkward high school student named Greg, who is forced by his parents to befriend a classmate, Rachel(Olivia Cooke), who has been diagnosed with leukemia.  Prior to Olivia, Greg, who prides himself on the fact that he survived high school for almost four years by being invisible, really only has one friend whom he spends a significant amount of time with. Earl(RJ Cyler).  On the side, Greg and Earl make crappy parody movies based on classic films (references which will make any true movie watcher proud).  Together, the boys decide to make a film for Rachel.

FYI, for the remainder of this entry I will be referring to the film as "Earl", because typing the entire title out every single time is just unnecessary.

Automatically, when we think about a boy and a girl befriending each other after learning she is diagnosed with leukemia, we imagine A Walk to Remember.  However, this is NOT a love story.  Greg and Olivia do become best friends, and end up hanging out with each other every day, but they don't fall in love.  Instead, think of this movie  to be more comparable to that of the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  BUT- I have to admit to you, that I liked Perks better than Earl.

Earl won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Audience Award for U.S. drama at this year's 2015 Sundance Film Festival.  
Basically, the film is so awkward and weird, it ends up being quite funny.  Olivia Cooke delivers an attention-worthy performance, as her character evolves through the different stages of treatment.  As for Thomas Mann, there's definitely something about him that is so honest, he makes you want to be his friend by the end of the film. The only thing is that about half of the way in to the film, I was ready to find out how it ends so I can go on with the rest of my day.  I do believe it is a unique, less predictable, story with endearing characters but, not necessarily a movie we haven't completely seen before.


As for whether or not Rachel lives like Greg promised, you guys will have to either read the book or watch the movie yourself!

I had the opportunity to cover the movie! I interviewed the three lead actors Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke and RJ Cyler, as well as the Director of the film, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. Who, by the way, actually started as a personal assistant to HUGE filmmakers like Alejandro González Iñárritu, Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, and Robert De Niro!

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KYLIEWOOD

Check out my day from when I covered the film!
KYLIE'S KLOSET
#OOTD Details
Dress: Topshop
Shoes: My go-to white pumps, which I wear with everything and should maybe consider expanding my options, by Charles David

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Melissa McCarthy's SPY takes the #1 spot at the Box Office with a $30m opening!

6/7/2015

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That one time I was in the movie SPY, but my scenes were all deleted.
From the Writer/Director of comedy hits Bridesmaids and The Heat, comes SPY- also starring hilarious comedienne Melissa McCarthy and surprisingly funny guy/action star Jason Statham! The film also stars Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Jude Law, and Allison Janney.

Susan Cooper(McCarthy) is a CIA desk analyst and the true brains behind her partner(Law)'s success during the Agency's most dangerous missions. However, when her partner goes off the grid, and another top agent(Statham) is compromised, Cooper volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer in order to prevent a global disaster.

I've seen the current top ten highest grossing films of 2015, and Spy is my favorite movie of the year, so far!  The reason why I think this movie is so great, is because I honestly think that it is the best written comedy that I have seen since Paul Feig's 2011 Bridesmaids, when the world finally fell in love with Melissa McCarthy. (The rest of us already loved her from Gilmore Girls!) 

Spy is just one of those movies that you can take absolutely hilarious quotes from to use as your Instagram captions, in playfully-offensive text messages to your friends and on social media memes. You all know you live on those!  There are LOL jokes in this film that make you think: HOW does Paul Feig come up with this stuff? Part of that answer is also in McCarthy's brilliant improvisational skills. Not only does Melissa McCarthy deliver in the comedy department, but she also handles an impressive amount of stunt work while thriving in scenes with her co-stars who have proved that they can equally match her comedic skills.  

Surprisingly hilarious, is Jason Statham who is known for his more serious manner in action films like The Transporter series.  In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret.  I had never interviewed Statham before! Prior to interviewing him for Spy, everyone was telling me how serious, dry and cold he can be as an interviewee. When I interviewed him for this film, he was SO nice, friendly, talkative, and would not stop talking! (So, I think he's awesome! All the rest of you reporters are crazy!) Statham and McCarthy have many scenes together in the film. However, there is one particular scene that takes place inside a shady hotel room that will make you sink in to your chair of laughter! Not the loud laughing. The silent, body-shaking, eye-watering laughing... and it is amazing. Statham's character, Ford, is so extremely intense, that it is comical.  I wish for him to go on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, and for Kimmel to feed him incredibly sweet and/or innocent lines for Statham to deliver AS his character Ford!

Another character whom you will love in this film is Rayna Boyanov, played by Rose Byrne.  We've already seen Byrne's comedic chops in films like Bridesmaids and Neighbors, but I will say that I think this is her best role and performance yet.  There is comedy through her snobbish and direct demeanor, even though her character has absolutely no sense of humor at all.  Also amazing is Miranda Hart as Susan Cooper's awkwardly tall, but super honest, best friend Nancy and their boss Elaine Crocker, played by Allison Janney.


This movie made me think about how acting in a film like this gives actors an opportunity to portray someone that they maybe played as a kid.  You would pretend to be a spy, an astronaut, a doctor, etc.  So, when I sat down with the cast I wanted to know: When you were a kid, what did you always pretend to be?

CLICK HERE FOR THE INTERVIEWS!

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KYLIEWOOD
Ever wondered what it is like to be a TV Host/Reporter for movies?? I went BEHIND-THE-SCENES to cover the film and interview the cast! Check out all of the fun activities in this episode of KYLIEWOOD: Spy!

KYLIE'S KLOSET

#OOTD details:
Dress: Topshop
Heels: Nordstrom
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KYLIEWOOD: Hailee Steinfeld, Sophie Turner and Dove Cameron are BARELY LETHAL! Movie review, cast interviews and OOTD details.

6/3/2015

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Barely Lethal is an independent action-comedy directed by Kyle Newman, starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jessica Alba, Sophie Turner, Dove Cameron, and Samuel L. Jackson.

While on a mission, Megan Walsh(Steinfeld), a teenage special ops agent trained as an international assassin since birth, fakes her own death in order to enroll in a suburban high school in search of a “normal” teenage life.  However, she quickly learns that surviving high school could prove to be more of a challenge than international espionage.

I watch a LOT of movies throughout the year. Everything from animated movies, to big blockbuster action films, to small and slightly weird indie films, to award-worthy dramas.  Sometimes, I just want to watch a fun, easy, light movie.. and sometimes, I enjoy films that feed my inner Disney-channel-watching kid and her nostalgia. (Shoutout to those who grew up on Johnny Tsunami, Brink!, Smart House, Zenon, and Halloweentown.)

Starring Pitch Perfect 2’s Hailee Steinfeld and Disney princess Dove Cameron, Barely Lethal was just that for me.  I found it to be a fun, not-so-complex, movie that made me wish I had been cast in it!  (I could’ve totally done it.) Even my boyfriend liked the movie!  Although, he also super loves animated films and 16-year old girl music and hates sad dramas. So…

You’ll be drawn to the film knowing that Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Alba also star in it.  The film references some of our favorite high school films like Clueless, Mean Girls and The Breakfast Club.  However, it lacks the true zing that turns a movie in to a classic high school film.  Though the film, at times, had some laugh-worthy quotes, overall, it didn’t make a lasting impression on me to text all of my friends about it.


Let’s just say, I’ve been out of high school for quite some time now, and I’m also not old enough to have my own kids in high school, so I have absolutely no idea what the jungle is like today.  Basically, I only know what I see in movies. When I sat down with Hailee Steinfeld(18), Sophie Turner(19) and Dove Cameron(19), I wanted to know… What IS high school like today? Could you imagine being in high school today with the added bonus of social media?  It just seems like everything could be a threat... and at least as a special ops agent, your threats are warranted.

KYLIE'S KLOSET: Barely Lethal #OOTD details!
Dress: Topshop
Heels: Topshop
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