December is always ripe with end-of-year movies hoping to get their foot in the door before awards season takes hold. Usually, the talk is of which Oscar-worthy performances we should consider checking out over the holidays, but this year, all eyes are on Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt‘s big budget space movie Passengers. Unfortunately for the pair, news isn’t great. First, Lawrence got raked through the coals for her awful story about filming in Hawaii, and now, people are talking about the movie and its stars because of the terrible plot twist making this movie a must-not-see for us. Warning, there will be spoilers below.
The trailer for the movie makes it seem like something (possibly evil) is at play when their characters get woken up from cryogenic sleep 90 years too early in this space thriller. And while that feeling isn’t entirely wrong, it’s not a nefarious robot or space monster lurking behind the scenes but Chris Pratt himself, who decides after he gets accidentally woken up that his obsession with sleeping beauty Lawrence means that he deserves to have her as his companion in space.
Gross, right? The movie is basically a stalker tricking his prey, and some people can’t help but point out that this plot device is… well, kind of unsettling.
Why is the plot for Passengers so gross?? Really sad they had to spoil a cool setting with a gross male fantasy romance plot 😠
— Kapua (@toastydoodles) December 19, 2016
So apparently Passengers is just a bad romance movie that totally downplays stalking and gaslighting instead of being Shining IN SPACE. Lame
— Darick Friese (@OrangeHarrier91) December 18, 2016
Psssst. Don't go see Passengers. Don't support media that normalizes abusive behavior.
— Hayley (@hailstormhay) December 20, 2016
What’s scary, though, is that not one single person involved in the movie even thinks that there’s anything wrong with the plot device of having the male lead secretly stalk and then trick the object of his desire into being with him, trapped, for the rest of her life. Pratt himself calls the movie “beautiful.”
I'm so proud of this movie. It's beautiful, moving, original, entertaining, controversial and you see my butt. What else can you ask for? https://t.co/k1ODQlSEqD
— chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) December 18, 2016
Maybe one day Hollywood will stop making blockbusters where women are regularly abused and used by their male costars while passing it off as romance. Until then, many women filmgoers may just opt to see a kick-ass female lead saving the day (like in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) instead.
What is the worst bait-and-switch you’ve seen from a Hollywood movie? Tell us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Sony Pictures)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.