AT LEAST one guest of a themed hotel, which straddles the state line between California and Nevada, checks out of their room in a body bag in writer-director Drew Goddard's stylish 1960s-set thriller.Bookmarked into meaty chapters, Bad Times At The El Royale employs a fractured timeline and narrative sleights of hand to piece together an intriguing jigsaw puzzle of subterfuge, self-sacrifice and reckless abandon.Goddard was deservedly Oscar-nominated for his adapted screenplay of The Martian, and here he confirms a flair for snappy dialogue and eye-catching set pieces.His script withholds vital information about characters and their motives, and Goddard confidently revisits key sequences from multiple perspectives to illustrate how the grim fates of hotel patrons intersect.There is a delicious unpredictability to characters' demises, sometimes without warning.At least one tense interlude relies on incredible luck and split-second timing to thicken the air of intrigue but it's hard to … [Read more...] about Film review: Bad Times At El Royale
Closet by design reviews
Women say conditions at crowded Michigan prison ‘cruel and unusual’
Paul Egan Detroit Free Press Published 6:58 p.m. UTC Sep 6, 2018 LANSING Getting locked up in Michigan's only women's prison amounts to "cruel and unusual punishment" prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, say two experts who have studied the facility near Ypsilanti. The reports filed in federal court in Detroit say Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility is severely overcrowded and lacks proper ventilation and adequate space for recreation and exercise. Those deficiencies are contributing to mental health problems such as depression and helping to drive an increase in suicide attempts and violent incidents, according to the reports. The reports were filed by plaintiffs' attorneys in a proposed class-action lawsuit that alleges the roughly 2,100 women prisoners are "packed into former closets and other converted rooms," lack adequate clothing and medical treatment, and are confined to their overcrowded cells most of the time because … [Read more...] about Women say conditions at crowded Michigan prison ‘cruel and unusual’
Short Report: With the 2018 Atlas, Volkswagen builds a big crossover unlike all the rest
Full Car Details More Reviews Many people see Volkswagen's sparse, square styling as boring. I disagree. Like Audis, Volkswagens look grown-up, distinguished, and classy. In the case of the 2018 Atlas, VW's new entry in the family-sized crossover segment, the sober aesthetic works. It's big, square grille and horizontal lines look as if they were drawn specifically to attract the attention of people who buy pickup trucks, but need an SUV instead. Y’know, Americans. That may or may not be the case, but among other large crossovers, the Atlas faces stiff competition against popular alternatives like the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander. And Subaru is about to jump into the deep end of the pool with the 2019 Ascent. In terms of space and capability, the Atlas is larger inside than most of those models. It sets itself further apart with its unique look, which features sharp hood creases, angular … [Read more...] about Short Report: With the 2018 Atlas, Volkswagen builds a big crossover unlike all the rest
Gen Y shoppers, raised on e-commerce, still prefer in-store experience
Liz Derubertis browsed stores at Arundel Mills mall Wednesday in search of a dress to wear to a wedding. The 26-year-old bartender and University of Maryland, Baltimore County student never shops for clothes online."I'm too particular about the fit, and I don't want to take the time to send it back," said Derubertis of Ellicott City. "I like being out, being in the crowds and perusing and seeing what's being offered — and people-watching."Just as video did not kill the radio star, the Internet won't kill the shopping mall any time soon. The shopping habits of Generation Y show why.Buying almost anything online may be as much second nature as texting for many in the first generation to have grown up with e-commerce, but the millennials still do most of their shopping in stores, especially those that keep their offerings fresh and make the experience social, according to research from the Urban Land Institute.There are 80 million consumers between 18 and 35 nationwide. Collectively … [Read more...] about Gen Y shoppers, raised on e-commerce, still prefer in-store experience
2018 New York Auto Show Winners and Losers
The New York International Auto Show is traditionally the high-end show in the U.S. season, one where we see a lot of eye candy that only the high rollers will actually get to drive. Not this year: Mainstream, and particularly mainstream SUVs, was the tone of this show. Related: More 2018 New York Auto Show Coverage But there still was variety, and even — gasp! — cars, as well as SUVs. And as always, there were winners and losers among the big-bucks unveilings. Here's what we thought of 10 new or heavily updated vehicles that made their debuts in the Big Apple: 2019 Cadillac XT4 Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner The XT4 is a tidy little package that seems to make few sacrifices for its compact size. Employing mechanical buttons and keeping the touchscreen functionality are positive moves, though the display's swept-back design — and the fact that it wasn't powered up at the show — make me question if the Cadillac User Experience multimedia system is truly where … [Read more...] about 2018 New York Auto Show Winners and Losers