T LOunge for September 3rd 2024

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Noa by Olivia Restaurant – Singapore

Hellishly enough, it is TUESDAY, but the good news is, it’s only three days until Friday, so let’s focus on that, shall we? After a lovely three-day holiday weekend, we’re ready to tackle a backlog of Venice Film Festival and various other red carpets, so settle in and prepare for frivolous distractions to help you get through your day.

Angelina Jolie Opens Up About ‘Maria,’ Her Operatic Life and Her Bold Return
After her self-imposed hiatus from filmmaking and a turbulent period in her own saga, the elusive actress sits down with THR to discuss her reemergence, her portrayal of tempestuous diva Maria Callas and her own movie about trauma and survival: “I’m a very deeply feeling person and kind of a raw nerve.”
It’s mid-August, and Jolie is about to do something she hasn’t done in years—travel to a bunch of film festivals to promote her movies. Maria, the Pablo Larraín biopic in which she plays opera’s defining diva, Maria Callas, is set to premiere in Venice, Telluride and New York […] The film projects are personal in ways that are almost uncomfortable to discuss, with Maria — for which Jolie spent more than six months learning to sing, breathe and walk like the mercurial soprano — a portrait of an icon imprisoned by her own image. The movie is set in Paris in 1977, in the final days of Callas’ life, when she is trying to sing again after years away from a stage, for a public that had booed her when they didn’t like the sound of her voice and branded her a “tigress” for her temperament. Larraín says that, like Callas, “Angelina has an enormous amount of mystery. I thought she could play this woman who is looking to find her own identity.”

Your Guide to the Cast of Netflix’s ‘Kaos’
Meet the gods and mortals of Netflix’s modern spin on Greek mythology.
Mythology is having a moment, and Netflix’s new must-watch TV series Kaos brings the Greek gods and heroes to the modern day. Created by The End of the F***ing World’s Charlie Covell, the dark dramedy, which premiered on August 29, 2024, takes place in a world where the characters of Greek mythology roam the skies and the earth in a contemporary eat-the-rich allegory. Kaos starts with Zeus in charge as the king of the gods, but a looming prophecy threatens to take him and the rest of the Olympians down.
To fill the cast of the larger-than-life (literally) ensemble, the streaming giant gathered several esteemed actors and rising stars, led by one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors.

TikTok’s dopamine menu trend explained, and how to curate yours
Today’s special: self-care.
Are you constantly scrolling and swiping for that next dopamine hit? Doomscrolling is so not demure, and definitely not mindful. Prioritising self-care is everything, and thankfully wholesome trends are taking over our TikTok and Instagram feeds in a big way (and we are so here for it).
One super wholesome TikTok trend gracing our FYPs at the moment is the ‘dopamine menu’, which is all about curating lists of activities that make you happy. Whether it’s dancing, trying a new recipe or spending time with loved ones, there’s a dopamine-boosting activity out there for everyone. It’s time to get off the apps, stop scrolling endless social media feeds and focus on the things that really bring you joy. Ready to curate your own dopamine menu?

Bonjour Tristesse Follows “Aperol Spritz Problems” on a Glittering, Tragic French Holiday
Chloë Sevigny anchors the impressive debut film by Durga Chew-Bose, which is already set to be honored at the Toronto International Film Festival.
More than seven years ago, the Canadian author Durga Chew-Bose was hired to write a new screen adaptation of Bonjour Tristesse, the beloved coming-of-age novel by Françoise Sagan. This was right around the publication of her first book, Too Much and Not the Mood, and after she’d established herself as a sharp essayist in the then-nascent world of literary blogs and websites (if you read The Awl, you know her). She’d been a fan of the original 1958 film by Otto Preminger, starring Deborah Kerr and Jean Seberg; she’d never written a movie or even been on a set. But she had something to say with this material. Her script had visual descriptions so exhaustive and specific, down to the camera movements, that they read like shot lists. She wrote with specific artisans, like production designer François-Renaud Labarthe (High Life), in mind. It read like the work of a director, which may be why the producers spent years trying to find a filmmaker for the project. “The miracle of doing something for the first time is you don’t know the right or wrong way,” Chew-Bose tells me. “I didn’t know at first that that might not be the way to go when you’re trying to attach a director.”

Angelina Jolie Explains Her Years-Long Break From Acting
In a revealing interview, the Oscar-winning actor describes herself as “a raw nerve.”
Angelina Jolie stepped into the spotlight 30 years ago, and a spin through her resume shows that she’s worked non-stop ever since. That is, until 2021, when she joined the Marvel universe with a role in the ensemble cast of Chloé Zhao-directed superhero film Eternals. The collaboration between the Oscar winners (Zhao for Nomadland in 2021, Jolie for Girl, Interrupted in 2000) wasn’t a success, but that’s not the reason for her lengthy (for her) break from the business. Instead, she tells The Hollywood Reporter that her family’s needs superseded Hollywood’s.
She returned to the screen at the Venice Film Festival this week, hitting the red carpet in support of Maria, director Pablo Larraín’s portrait of iconic opera singer Maria Callas. Jolie is prepared for the public to blur the line between the role and the actor. “I’m sure there’s a lot that will be read into it of our overlaps as women,” she says. “There was a pressure behind the working that wasn’t just the joy of the work.”

Considering Cutting Your Hair? You May Want To Consult The Moon First
Interest in astrology is on the rise, but how it affects our hair could come as a surprise.
Where would you turn to for haircut inspiration? Instagram, a chic celebrity or Pinterest, perhaps? Either way, I’m willing to bet you’re searching on your phone. Yet, while the days of bringing a magazine tear-out into the hairdresser are long gone, it seems we should consider consulting more than just social media apps before making any changes to our appearance. In particular, the ones you may head to for your horoscope.

How Ageing Became A Class Issue
From Botox and filler to wellness tools and health trackers, is the pursuit of eternal youth turning into yet another area where economic inequality plays a defining role?
Recently a video of Christina Aguilera, 43, looking eerily similar to her 20-year-old self, went viral on TikTok. It is remarkable – no tell-tale shiny forehead or puffy cheeks, this is the holy grail, many commentators have pointed out, ‘work’ that looks completely effortless.
By comparison, a few weeks before, pictures of the most recent crop of Love Island contestants prompted millions to speculate on their ages. The consensus across social media was that the women – all in their early or mid-twenties – looked much older than they were because they’d had so much Botox and filler. Too puffy, too shiny, too stretched – the disdain poured on them was vitriolic.
Behind The Storming Return Of The Studded Bag
The main message on the bag front for 2024? More is more. Whether it’s the capacious proportions of The Row’s cult Margaux, the jingling charms and cords seen swinging from shoulder bags, the act of overstuffing holdalls – see, Miu Miu’s spring/summer runway – or the pocketed cargo bags doing the rounds on the fashion circuit, excess in its many forms has been a popular accessory trend this year. Studded bags are another major accessory focus for autumn, and can be found at big-name brands, independents and at high-street giants alike.

Chez T&C: Would you Buy Gordon Getty’s Temple of Wings Villa for $5 Million?
Plus, a rug collection within Los Angeles’s Stahl home, a rising demand for Shell Grotos, and a hotel designed by the director of Call Me By Your Name.
Gordon Getty, the son of oil baron J. Paul Getty, purchased their Temple of Wings home with his wife, Ann Getty, in 1994. It became an oasis for the couple, as seen by the collection of Tiffany Studio glass panels and lamps, Fortuny dresses, and William Morris rugs the two collected over time and kept in the home. (Last year, these were sold at auction by Christie’s.) Now, Getty has decided to sell the house itself.

Prince Harry’s Emotional Tribute to Late Uncle Leaves Guests ‘Astounded’ and Him ‘Pleased,’ Source Says
“He was on remarkably good form — and you could tell he was very pleased to see everybody,” a source tells PEOPLE of the Duke of Sussex’s appearance at a memorial service for his uncle
Prince Harry’s unexpected journey across the Atlantic to pay his respects at the memorial service for his late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, was deeply emotional, leaving him “pleased” and guests “astounded,” a source tells PEOPLE.
The trip carried extra significance, coming just two days before the anniversary of the death of his late mother, Princess Diana. However, Harry’s surprise arrival in the U.K. — despite earlier reports that he wouldn’t attend — didn’t lead to a public reconciliation with his brother, Prince William, 42.
At the Aug. 29 service at St. Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, the estranged brothers sat apart, each with different groups of their maternal cousins.

Princess Kate’s Response to Fan’s “Future Queen” Comment Is Going Viral on TikTok
“You’ll be waiting an awfully long time!”
Princess Kate is going viral on TikTok thanks to a hilarious response she delivered to a fan way back in 2013.
A TikTok user shared a pertinent video clip of Kate Middleton on the social media platform, and viewers can’t get enough of it. In the video footage, the Princess of Wales can be seen greeting fans during an official royal visit to Grimsby in 2013. During the outing, Kate shook hands with one lady, who adoringly told her, “I’m waiting for you to be queen!”
Without missing a beat, Princess Kate responded, “You’ll be waiting an awfully long time!”

The 54 Best Bollywood Movies Ever
Spoiler alert: There’s a lot of Shah Rukh Khan.
Named “Bollywood” by movie enthusiasts, the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry accounts for a major portion of the global film space and continues to grow with each title it pumps out. Bollywood beats out Nigeria’s Nollywood and America’s Hollywood to be the world’s largest film industry in terms of output and reach, with its content appealing to moviegoers in every corner of the world. But tread lightly; the term “Bollywood” is less accepted by those working in it, as it situates the industry in the shadow of its western counterpart.
With such an output—over 1,000 films released each year—it begs the question: What is it, exactly, that makes Bollywood so epic, its film so special?

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Wine
Easy tips to take the stress out of buying your next bottle.
Shopping for wine can be an intimidating and sometimes costly experience. There are well over 11,000 wineries in the United States alone, and when you go global, that number increases to the hundreds of thousands. Even navigating your local wine shop can involve being confronted with a wall of unfamiliar labels, strange designations, and wondering exactly what you’re buying with each bottle. What type of grape is behind that funky label that seems to tell you nothing about the wine itself? Is that Riesling you picked up sweet or dry? And how can you make sure you’re getting the best deal possible?

20 New Recipes We Can’t Wait to Make in September
Whether you want to savor the last of summer or lean into cozy fall vibes, we’ve got ideas for what you should cook now.
September is a bridge between the seasons, when the farmers market is still awash in late-summer produce but we’re starting to crave crisp apple recipes and comforting fall stews. Let this collection of new recipes from the F&W Test Kitchen and contributors guide your transitional menus. Turn late-summer tomatoes into an effortless no-cook pasta sauce, or go full-on fall with a one-pan wonder of pork chops, apples, and bacon on the cover of the September issue. Use up those blueberries for muffin-inspired cookies, or make your first cider doughnuts of the season. Whichever direction you take, you can’t go wrong.

You Should Only Ever Use Linen Dish Towels — Here’s Exactly Why
If linen can wrap an Egyptian mummy for 5,000 years, the fabric ought to be tough enough for your kitchen.
Meal in and meal out, a dish towel is the tool that you’ll pick up dozens of times a day, many multiples of the times you’ll need a knife.
This is why professional chefs strap towels to their belts and sling them over their shoulders. A red-hot roasting pan wants lifting in this second; a wine glass needs a smudge buffed before it heads to table; and you need to dump that huge pile of mashed potatoes on a serving platter, but it’s still wet.

Krispy Kreme Is Honoring Barbie’s 65th Birthday With 4 All-New Doughnuts — Including One Inspired by Her Dream House
It’s the sweetest way to start the month.
As the saying goes, the devil works hard, but Krispy Kreme works harder (or at least we think it’s something like that).
On Tuesday, the doughnut shop announced it’s entering into yet another awesome partnership, which means we’re all getting more limited-time treats.
This time, Krispy Kreme is “making an iconic flavor statement” alongside Barbie to celebrate the toy brand’s 65th anniversary. That statement includes four all-new doughnuts that come with both unique flavors and designs for a total sensory experience.

Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby: Erotic Films Seduce Venice
Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson get hot and heavy in ‘Babygirl,’ Daniel Craig dives into obsessive gay desire in ‘Queer,’ and there’s plenty of sex on the beach in Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Disclaimer.’
Venice has got its sexy back. Erotica of all varieties — gay, straight, kinky and theoretical — is on glorious display at this year’s Venice Film Festival, with plenty of sizzling action on screen and little of it gratuitous.
Two of the, em, hottest festival titles this year — Halina Reijn’s Babygirl and the TV series Disclaimer from Alfonso Cuarón — open with orgasms. Babygirl also climaxes to a close, with star Nicole Kidman, playing a tech manager who discovers a taste for BDSM, in a state of near or total undress throughout much of the movie.

Angelina Jolie and Pablo Larraín on How Opera Being ‘Beyond a Description’ Inspired Their Major Contender ‘Maria’
Telluride: The star and filmmaker behind one of the festival season’s instant hits walks IndieWire through their meticulous process, from real singing to even more real emotion.
Angelina Jolie and Pablo Larraín had been wanting to work together for a long time when “Maria” came up. The filmmaker got his star interested in the role before he wrote the script (with her firmly in mind). The film, the third in his Great Woman trilogy (“Jackie,” “Spencer”) debuted to solid reviews in Venice (where Netflix picked it up) and Telluride and could return the Oscar-winning Jolie to the Best Actress race (she won Best Supporting Actress for “Girl, Interrupted” and received the honorary Jean Hersholt award).
In the film, plays the Greek opera diva in her last days in 1977 Paris, when she was losing her voice and taking strong drug cocktails that gave her hallucinations. She wanders through Paris in one fabulous outfit after another talking to imaginary journalist Mandrax (Kodi Smit-McPhee) about many of her past lives, which we see in black-and-white flashback.

Should we think twice about fluoride?
Too much fluoride might lower IQ in kids, a new federal report says. The science (and debate), explained.
If you live in the US, there’s a good chance you’re one of the approximately 209 million people drinking tap water that contains added fluoride. Local governments have been putting fluoride in city water supplies for nearly 80 years. In many ways, its addition has been a remarkable public health success: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drinking fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25 percent.
But in late August, the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) published a long-awaited report declaring, with “moderate confidence,” that drinking water with elevated fluoride levels is linked to lower IQ in children.

Is there a winner in Bennifer’s divorce PR battle?
Jennifer Lopez’s and Ben Affleck’s reactions to their split are both very on-brand and kind of pointless.
An event as seismic as Bennifer 2.0 could only end in a PR showdown. After months of breakup rumors, real-estate news, and a canceled tour, Jennifer Lopez finally filed for divorce from her husband Ben Affleck on August 20, citing “irreconcilable differences.” That date also marks the second anniversary of their lavish wedding ceremony in Georgia. It seems like this breakup isn’t just a sad affair but a bitter one, too.
Their antics in the press say as much. If you pay attention to how celebrities use the tabloid press and their own lore to shape public opinion, a couple of narratives are forming.

Tuition: $9,400. Dorm Room Interior Designer: $10,000?
Some students arrive on campus expecting certain comforts. And they, or their parents, are willing to pay thousands to settle in.
For some students, the days of racing to Bed Bath & Beyond the day before college starts, clutching a 20-percent-off coupon to snag a colorful crate and a snap-on desk lamp, are long gone.
Today, a wave of undergraduates — especially in the southern states — are hiring interior designers to completely makeover their dorm rooms at a cost of thousands of dollars per room.
And the students are spending nearly double the amount they did just a decade ago, even if they don’t arrive on move-in day with a professional designer by their sides. This year, according to the National Retail Federation, college students spent about $87 billion, a drop from the high of $94 billion last year, but significantly more than the $48 billion they spent in 2014. This equates to an average of $1,365 per student, the group reports.

Born Into Fame, This Actress Could Soon Have More of Her Own
The daughter of a rock star, Eve Hewson is not yet a household name herself, but that could change in the coming months.
Eve Hewson keeps getting discovered.
The Irish actress, whose credits date back to 2008, started generating heat in 2014 for her performance as a reserved young nurse in Steven Soderbergh’s period drama “The Knick.” Her turn as the eerie, emotionally unstable wife in the Netflix mini-series “Behind Her Eyes,” in 2021, had fans stopping her on the street.
It happened again with “Bad Sisters,” the darkly comic Irish drama. Released in 2022 on Apple TV+, the show became a phenomenon in Dublin, Hewson’s hometown, where weekly watch parties in pubs turned her into a local sensation. And in 2023, she was the talk of Sundance, when the film “Flora and Son,” where she plays the titular role, sold for a record-breaking $20 million to Apple TV.
Yet, partly because streaming services have dramatically increased the volume of television while atomizing viewing habits, Hewson, 33, is not quite a household name. That may change in the coming months.

Adele announces extended hiatus from performing after Vegas residency: ‘I will not see you for an incredibly long time’
The singer called her past three years of performing “the longest I’ve ever done and probably the longest I will ever do.”
The 2011 Adele song “Don’t You Remember” begins with the words, “When will I see you again?” When it comes to the singer herself, we aren’t so sure anymore.
On stage during the final night of her Munich residency, the superstar chanteuse told fans that she has “ten shows to do,” referring to her ongoing Las Vegas residency, “but after that, I will not see you for an incredibly long time.”
She continued, “And I will hold you dear in my heart for that whole length of my break.”

This Tiny Central European Country Is a Food Lover’s Dream
Dandelion roots and pea greens, truffles and wild mountain thyme — a meal in Slovenia is like a walk in a fairy-tale forest.
I had been in Slovenia just a few hours when, walking along a forest path outside the northwestern town of Kranjska Gora, my partner, Dave, and I saw two women huddled around a spruce tree, harvesting the soft green tips of the branches. I wondered what they would do with them. By the time it occurred to me to ask, we had continued on our hike, and when we turned around, the women were gone.

[Photo Credit: noalounge.com.sg]

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