Latest news with #MaidinManhattan
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jennifer Lopez declares she's ‘done' with marriage after four divorces: ‘I've tried that a few times'
She's gonna be alright. Jennifer Lopez has revealed that she's not looking to say 'I do' ever again after racking up four failed marriage under her belt. The 'On the Floor' hitmaker, 55, addressed her thoughts on marriage during a live performance for her 'Up All Night' tour in Europe, where a fan held up that sign that read, 'J Lo, marry me?' Advertisement 6 Jennifer Lopez has revealed that she's not looking to say 'I do' ever again after racking up four failed marriage under her belt. GTRES / BACKGRID 'I think I'm done with that,' she quipped, per a fan video. 'I've tried that a few times.' While she didn't divulge on why walking down the aisle no longer interests her, the singer has famously been unlucky in love to-date. Advertisement The 'Maid in Manhattan' actress' first marriage was to actor Ojani Noa, 51. The pair tied the knot in 1997, however they called it quits the following year. Lopez went on to find love with Cris Judd, 55, in 2001. The duo tied the knot that year before ultimately filing for divorce in 2003. Her longest marriage was her ill-fated 10-year union to singer Marc Anthony, 56, which lasted from 2004 to 2014. The exes, who remain on good terms, share 17-year-old twins Max and Emme. Advertisement Lopez's love life took a trip down memory lane in the spring of 2021, when she and ex-fiancé Ben Affleck rekindled their romance. The pair, who initially broke off their engagement in 2004, went on to tie the knot in 2022 — but it didn't last. 6 Lopez's first marriage was to actor Ojani Noa. Getty Images 6 Lopez went on to find love with Cris Judd in 2001. WireImage Advertisement 6 Her longest marriage was her ill-fated 10-year union to singer Marc Anthony, 56, which lasted from 2004 to 2014. Getty Images In August 2024, the 'Selena' star pulled the plug on their marriage after they quietly parted ways earlier that year. The pair finalized their split in January 2025. 'I'm happier that I'm a step further along than I was a year ago, two years ago, three years ago… I'm proud of myself for that and I'm proud that I was able to navigate my children through difficult times, that they're stronger and better because of it,' Lopez said in May. 'So, it's a great time to go out there and dance and sing and have a good time with everybody.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters It wasn't the first time the Grammy nominee spoke candidly about their breakup. In October 2024, Lopez told Interview Magazine she has no regrets about their relationship. 'That doesn't mean it didn't almost take me out for good. It almost did,' she told the publication. 'But now, on the other side of it, I think to myself, 'F–k, that is exactly what I needed. Thank you, God. I'm sorry it took me so long. I'm sorry that you had to do this to me so many times.'' 6 Lopez shares 17-year-old twins Max and Emme with Anthony. jlo/Instagram Advertisement 6 Lopez and ex-fiancé Ben Affleck tied the knot in 2022, but divorced just two years later. Aside from her four marriages, Lopez was previously engaged to Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. The pair had dated from 2017 to 2021, during which time A-Rod popped the all important question. Lopez had also dated Sean 'Diddy' Combs from 1999 to 2001, choreographer Casper Smart on and off from 2012 to 2016 and had a rumored romance with rapper Drake in 2016.
Cosmopolitan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Read Lynn Painter's ‘Maid for Each Other' Excerpt
This is absolutely not a drill! A new Lynn Painter novel is on its way and yes, we are absolutely freaking out! The iconic author is back and bringing our Maid in Manhattan dreams come true with her latest novel that will certainly make us laugh and fall for this very unlikely couple who have to prove to everyone that their love story is very real. Cosmopolitan has an exclusive look at Lynn Painter's Maid for Each Other, which is set to be released on July 15, 2025. Abi Mariano is a professional cleaner, among other things, as she tries to get her life together. When an infestation in her apartment leads her to stay overnight at a billionaire's place, she is forced to lie to his parents who see her the next AM and believe her to be his girlfriend. To keep up the ruse, they start a fake relationship. But just how long will it take for them to realize that the sparks between them are very much real? Here's some more info from our friends at Berkley. Ready to find out how their first in-person meeting goes? Check out an exclusive excerpt below as well as a sneak peek to the audiobook! Just make sure to pre-order Maid for Each Other and maybe even pick up some of Lynn's other reads while you're at it! An Excerpt From Maid for Each OtherBy Lynn PainterRead by Saylor Bell Curda and Teddy Hamilton 'Would you like your receipt?' 'No,' the woman said, grabbing her Lululemon tote bag and heading for the exit of Benny's Natural Grocers without giving me a second glance. 'Have a good day,' I yelled before turning to ring up the next customer in line. I hated this job, this perfectly easy and mind-numbing job. I'd worked at Benny's since high school, so it was comfortable, not to mention necessary because it supplied me with my health insurance, but every shift just reminded me that my life was stuck in quicksand that I might never get out of. Hence my second go-round of college. Hence my need for this job and my three-times-a-week overnight job. Hence my propensity for thinking stupid words like hence. 'Hi,' I said robotically to the next customer, my mouth on autopilot before I noticed the person in line didn't have anything on the belt. I raised my eyes to the customer's face but then—wow. I might've actually gasped aloud. There were a lot of attractive men out there, but this man had to be The One they were inspired by. He was tall—like six and a half feet of tall—but no one would call him lanky. They would never. Broad shoulders filled out the impeccably tailored suit and he reminded me of a professional football player when they did the long walk from the bus to the locker room. Expensive. Built. Perfect. And not to be messed with. His face made that point even more than his impressive physique, actually. He had brown eyes—no, green—that were trained on me and absolutely butterfly-inducing with their directness. It was like the man was staring into my soul, I swear to God, and his lips were turned up like he wanted to smile. I usually didn't notice mouths on men, to be honest, but the bow on his top lip—or maybe it was the fullness of the bottom—drew my eyes downward as if it were a magnet and my irises were flecked with steel. I could picture that mouth speaking French. Or Italian. I forced my eyes back up and offhandedly thought that this well-dressed man could actually be the cover model for any romance novel about mob bosses, racecar drivers, or grumpy billionaires. I opened my smitten mouth to say 'how can I help you' without drooling when he said in a midnight-rich voice, 'Hello, Abi with an i.' 'Hi . . . ?' I narrowed my eyes, biting my lip so I didn't smile like a lovesick schoolgirl as his eyes dipped to my nametag. 'You don't recognize me?' he asked, tilting his head. Did I know him? There's no way I could've forgotten that face, right? I tried not to seem too flirty, but Joey Tribbiani's how you doin' was totally in my tone when I said, 'Should I?' 'I would think so, since just this morning you woke up in my bed and told my parents you're my girlfriend.' 'Oh. Shit.' Oh, shit, oh, shit, oh, shit. 'Oh, shit, indeed,' he repeated, his eyes judgmental under slashing dark brows as he watched me like I was a bug he was about to squash. My heart started pounding and I was hot everywhere as this man stared me down with pure disdain. 'Benny,' I yelled, not taking my eyes off the guy's face. 'I need to go on break.' 'You just had a break, Mariano,' I heard from behind me, where Benny was ordering produce at his desk. He'd been hunched over the antiquated computer for hours, rotating between grunting, sighing, and scratching his bald spot, so I knew he wasn't in the mood for this. 'Mariano,' the man in front of me quietly repeated, as if memorizing that morsel of information. 'I'm taking a break, Benny,' I said through gritted teeth as I turned off my aisle's light. 'Whether you okay it or not.' I pulled off my Benny's apron and gestured for the guy in the suit to follow me as my pulse skyrocketed. I'd been panic-watching the door all morning, expecting the police to show up and arrest me for breaking and entering. It wasn't until an hour ago, when I ate my lunch at the table beside the big green dumpster, that I foolishly convinced myself no one would ever know it'd been me. I'd been stupid enough to allow myself a deep breath. 'Swear to God I'm gonna fire you one of these days, Ab,' Benny yelled as I walked away from my register. 'No, you're not,' I yelled back as I tried not to hyperventilate. 'No one else would put up with you.' 'At least hurry, will ya?' 'I'll see what I can do.' I could sense Mr. Suit following behind me as I led him through the back of the store and out the door that led to the alley. Bright sunlight, warm air, and the faint smell of garbage flooded my senses as the door slammed behind us and I turned to face the guy. Declan was what the royal couple had called him, right? 'Please let me explain. Declan.' That made his eyes narrow—oops, should not have used his name—but he didn't say anything. 'I'm not some sort of criminal, I promise. I work a few overnights for Masterkleen as a maid—I'm actually the maid who cleans your apartment on the nights when you aren't in town. So even though I was there, I didn't break and enter or anything like that.' Good point, Abi. I gave him what I hoped was a sweet smile, an expression that would confirm my innocence. He frowned. 'I had a key card,' I said, 'so it wasn't like—' 'You moved into my bedroom.' His voice was calm, but he definitely wasn't interested in understanding. His scowl made that abundantly clear as he said, 'You baked muffins in my kitchen. I don't believe that's part of your job description. I believe that's called trespassing. Abi.' Okay, the mocking way he said my name was straight up insulting and made my teeth hurt. But I needed to keep my cool. I tried again. 'I know, but it was only because my apartment building has an infestation—I promise I didn't bring any critters to your place. See, the property management company—who are total slumlord jackasses, by the way—said I had to find somewhere else to stay for a few days so they can take care of it, but I don't have anywhere else.' My cheeks got hot as soon as I said it because it was so pathetic. He stared at me like I was picking food out of my teeth, and any hope of him somehow showing a little empathy for my situation completely dissipated when he said, 'Hotels are a thing, you know.' 'I can't afford a hotel,' I snapped, mortified. I wanted to disappear, but I forged on out of desperation. 'But when I was cleaning your place last night, I thought, who would it hurt? I knew that you were in London for the week—I mean, apparently you came back early but I guess you forgot to tell Masterkleen—so I just thought I could crash for a few hours and no one would be the wiser.' His jaw flexed, but he remained quiet. I really wanted to believe he was considering my defense, but he looked like one of those über-controlled types who enjoyed keeping his mouth shut so his adversaries could bury themselves with their own words. Which meant RIP me, because I was the world's worst rambler. 'And I'm sure you don't care,' I continued, 'but I'm really good at my job. I'm great at cleaning your apartment—you could eat off the bathroom floor. I mean, not that you would because that's disgusting, but you genuinely could because I'm just that thorough.' He cleared his throat and looked down at his expensive watch, the asshole, and I realized that no matter what I said, I was going to lose my job. Oh, God. This man was definitely going to fire me. And I needed that job so badly. There were a lot of jobs out there, but not many as flexible as the one I had with Masterkleen. I inhaled through my nose, gritted my teeth, and swallowed my pride, because what other choice did I have? 'I know I have no right to ask this, but please don't tell Masterkleen. I'm begging. I really need this job and literally can't afford to get fired. Please don't tell my boss.' His dark eyebrows knitted together, and he looked insulted by my request. 'Oh, I will definitely be telling your boss,' he said without even blinking. 'Because you trespassed in my home.' 'Or,' I countered, grabbing his right arm as I desperately tried to get him to understand, 'I fell asleep at my job. That's not a crime, right?' 'I'm not interested in your justifications,' he said, looking down at my hand so aggressively that I dropped it. 'I just came here to see who the hell had broken into my place and had breakfast with my parents. Now I know.' 'Please.' My voice cracked and I hated it. 'Can't you just forget it ever happened? Like, just pretend I never stayed there.' 'I wish I could,' he said, shaking his head. 'But you have no idea what you've done.' 'Come on.' God, why was he such a hard-ass? 'Who did it really hurt, though?' 'Me!' He barked out a mirthless laugh and said, 'Now my parents and my colleagues all think Abi is coming to the most important event of my life tonight because Abi told them she was.' 'Why can't you just tell them Abi's not going?' I paused, frowning. 'And why did they act like they knew me in the first place?' 'Because they think I have a girlfriend named Abi, for Christ's sake,' he snapped, his voice full of frustration. 'What are the odds my maid would have the same damn name?' 'So . . .' I was missing something, something that had nothing to do with my sleepover at his penthouse. 'You don't actually have a girlfriend named Abi?' 'I do not,' he said through gritted teeth, his eyes on the alley just beyond my shoulder, his thoughts no longer on me but on his apparently stressful situation. 'What did you do,' I said, watching him attempt to mentally formulate a plan. 'Make her up or something?' His intense gaze snapped back to me and I regretted the question immediately. His voice was dangerously quiet when he asked, 'Have you ever been arrested, Abi Mariano?' 'Of course not!' My cheeks were hot even though I deserved the inquiry. 'So if I ran a background check, you would—' 'Call the authorities on you for stalking? Yes,' I said in a near yell, frustrated he was treating me like a criminal after I'd explained the situation. Not everyone had piles of money for hotel stays or multiple residences, damn it, and it stung that my tiny questionable decision made him behave as if I'd stolen the family jewels. But then he smiled at me. He smiled and whoa—it was something. That grin packed a punch, sexy and dirty from the slide of his lips to the squint of his very green eyes. Declan's voice was silky smooth when he stepped closer, so he was towering over me. 'But you can't do that because you've been trespassing, remember?' 'Stop playing with me.' I swallowed hard and crossed my arms. 'What are you going to do?' 'I'm still working it out,' he replied as his eyes went down to my chest. 'What does that mean?' 'What?' His eyebrows went down and he gestured to my shirt with his chin. 'Your shirt. I don't get it.' Of course you don't. The custom T-shirt shop behind my apartment had a clearance rack where all their mistakes were 80 percent off, so my wardrobe was full of tops that were off-center, riddled with misspellings, or downright stupid. I didn't care when I could get a shirt for two bucks, but I'm sure that wouldn't make sense to someone like him. I raised my chin and said, 'What exactly don't you get?' The shirt—my favorite shirt, actually—had a picture of a squirrel wearing underpants. The letters above it read HAMILTON WON CHIP and the letters below it read Working for Underwear. I couldn't even fathom what the attempt had been, but it made me smile every time I pulled it out of the dryer. 'Does it mean something?' he asked, seeming irritated that he didn't understand. I made a face like he was an idiot for being confused and said, 'Obviously.' 'I don't have time for this today.' Those green eyes moved all over my face before he said, 'I'll be in touch. Answer my call.' And then he just turned and started walking away from me like a freaking king who had no more time for peasant interaction. I wanted to throw a rock at his perfect suit as he strode toward the parking lot in gorgeous leather shoes that surely cost more than my car. 'What are you going to do? What does 'I'll be in touch' mean?' I yelled, wanting to chase after him and force him to put me out of my misery. 'You don't even have my number.' 'I'll get it from Carl,' he yelled, not even looking back at me. 'Who the hell is Carl?' I said to myself, frustration filling every molecule in my body. I didn't need this; I had enough problems, for the love of God. 'My doorman,' he replied, apparently in possession of both supersonic hearing and privileged arrogance. 'According to him, you two are thick as thieves.' Damn it, Carl. I sighed and watched him disappear, my stomach sinking with dread as I wondered how long I had before the millionaire jerk destroyed my life. Excerpted from MAID FOR EACH OTHER by Lynn Painter, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright © 2025 Audio excerpted with permission of Penguin Random House Audio from MAID FOR EACH OTHER by Lynn Painter, excerpt read by Saylor Bell Curda. © Lynn Painter ℗ 2025 Penguin Random House, LLC. All rights reserved. Maid for Each Other, by Lynn Painter will be released on July 15, 2025. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice: AMAZON AUDIBLE BARNES & NOBLE BOOKS-A-MILLION BOOKSHOP APPLE BOOKS KOBO TARGET WALMART POWELL'S BOOKS HUDSON BOOKSELLERS GOOGLE PLAY
New York Post
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
We found the best prices on Jennifer Lopez Las Vegas concert tickets
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. We're calling it now. Jennifer Lopez winter is on the way. The ageless pop star is already generating Oscar buzz for her upcoming musical 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' due out in October and recently announced she's headlining a 12-concert Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace. Advertisement Titled 'Up All Night: Live In Las Vegas,' the dozen Sin City J-Lo shows are scheduled to take place from Dec. 30, 2025 through March 28, 2026. This run won't be the 'Maid in Manhattan' starlet's first in the Entertainment Capital of the World; from 2016-18, she performed 120 shows at Planet Hollywood as part of her 'Jennifer Lopez: All I Have Residency.' At those shows, she typically delivered a 20+ song, seven-act set that included classic hits like 'On The Floor,' 'Waiting For Tonight,' 'Let's Get Loud,' 'Jenny From The Block' and 'Love Don't Cost A Thing' among others. And, while we aren't sure what will go down at 'Up All Night' shows, we'd guess she'll likely work cuts from her 2024 album 'This Is Me…Now' into the live show. Advertisement If this sounds like the can't-miss concert of the year for you, tickets are available for all upcoming Jennifer Lopez concerts as of today. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one show was $142 including fees on Vivid Seats. Other gigs start anywhere from $148 to $176 including fees. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Jennifer Lopez's 2025-26 'Up All Night: Live In Las Vegas' residency at Caesars Palace below. Advertisement All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. Jennifer Lopez Las Vegas tickets A complete calendar including all Colosseum concert dates, start times and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here: Jennifer Lopez Las Vegas residency dates Ticket prices start at Tuesday, Dec. 30 8 p.m. $176 (including fees) Wednesday, Dec. 31 10 p.m. $167 (including fees) Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 8 p.m. $159 (including fees) Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 8 p.m. $174 (including fees) Friday, March 6, 2026 8 p.m. $155 (including fees) Saturday, March 7, 2026 8 p.m. $157 (including fees) Friday, March 13, 2026 8 p.m. $142 (including fees) Saturday, March 14, 2026 8 p.m. $168 (including fees) Friday, March 20, 2026 8 p.m. $148 (including fees) Saturday, March 21, 2026 8 p.m. $172 (including fees) Friday, March 27, 2026 8 p.m. $148 (including fees) Saturday, March 28, 2026 8 p.m. $165 (including fees) Lopez will also perform at Madrid's Movistar Arena on Sunday, July 13 and Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi on Tuesday, July 15. Advertisement (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. Jennifer Lopez set list As noted above, while it is likely that Lopez's upcoming shows will feature tracks from her latest album, we'd bet good money some of her hits from yesteryear make the cut, too. To refresh your memory, here are all the classic tracks she performed at Madison Square Garden on her 2019 'It's My Party Tour,' courtesy of Set List FM. 01.) 'Medicine' 02.) 'Love Don't Cost a Thing' 03.) 'Get Right' 04.) 'Dinero' 05.) 'I'm Real' 06.) 'Ain't It Funny' 07.) 'Jenny From the Block' 08.) 'If You Had My Love' 09.) 'Girls' 10.) 'Booty' 11.) 'Gravity' (Sara Bareilles cover) 12.) 'Limitless / Titanium' 13.) 'Si una vez' (Selena cover) 14.) 'Ain't Your Mama' 15.) 'All I Have' 16.) 'Te boté' (Nio García cover) 17.) 'Te gusté' 18.) 'El anillo' 19.) 'Waiting for Tonight' 20.) 'Dance Again' 21.) 'On the Floor' Encore 22.) 'Let's Get Loud' Jennifer Lopez new music Advertisement On Feb. 16, 2024, Lopez dropped her ninth studio album 'This Is Me…Now,' the follow up to 2002's 'This Is Me…Then.' The original record was dedicated to her new beau Affleck and how he inspired her. Sadly, their whirlwind relationship — which inspired the now infamous portmanteau 'Bennifer' — ended in 2004. 20 years later, the pair reunited and Lopez was inspired again to write about the rekindled romance (which, unfortunately, has since fizzled). Made up of 13 tracks, 'This Is Me…Now' is like a time machine to the mid-2000s; radio friendly Hip-Hop beats with J. Lo's unmistakable syrupy vocals giving them life. Advertisement 'Mad In Love,' the bouncy third track is a standout; we also dug the flirty, playful 'Can't Get Enough' and stripped-down 'Broken Like Me.' 'Hearts and Flowers' is the true MVP, though. Its equal parts cinematic, jaunty and urgent; surely, this track deserves repeat play. Want to listen? You can check out 'This Is Me…Now' here. Huge stars on tour in 2025 Advertisement Can't make it to Vegas? No need to worry. Here are just five huge artists hitting the road these next few months that you won't want to miss live. • Brandy with Monica Advertisement • Katy Perry • TLC • Kesha • Ashanti Who else is on the road? Check out our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
New York Post
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Materialists' review: Dakota Johnson goes from ‘Madame Web' to meh matchmaker
movie review MATERIALISTS Running time: 116 minutes. Rated R (language and brief sexual material). In theaters. Watching the new, unromantic, non-comedy 'Materialists' can feel like going on a shaky first date. There's something… off. Advertisement Is it 'Past Lives' writer-director Celine Song's love-triangle script, which is unnatural and stilted even by the standard of rom-coms such as 'Maid in Manhattan' or 'Two Weeks Notice?' Or is it star Dakota Johnson's stainless-steel 'tude as New York matchmaker Lucy? The always cool actress is auditioning to play the Terminator here. If you answered 'all of the above,' you're correct. Advertisement Yet our unease is partly by design. Song isn't so much trying to join the romantic comedy canon as she is firing a cannonball directly at it. 'Materialists' doesn't make you laugh or smile. Of this particular movie experience, Nicole Kidman might say, 'We come to this place to ponder, analyze and wince.' I flipped from being intrigued by the mysterious characters and tantalized by the luxury real estate to sitting there perplexed by the weird plot escalations that, while meant to drag rom-coms down to earth, drag viewers out of the film instead. On rare occasions, I was entertained. 4 Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal star in 'Materialists.' AP Advertisement At the start, the pieces are familiar to anybody who's seen 'The Wedding Planner' or 'The Wedding Singer.' There's Lucy, a love-averse young professional who's obsessed with her job in the relationship biz. Her sole criterion for her own future husband is that he be rich. Then — hello! — she meets a millionaire named Harry (Pedro Pascal) at a wedding at the Lotte Palace, and he sweeps her off her feet with his confidence and metal credit cards. Uh oh. At the same fete, she also reunites with a poor but hot former flame named John (Chris Evans). Whoever will she pick?! Advertisement 4 Lucy (Johnson) meets Harry (Pascal) at a wedding, and they start dating. AP The first half goes down as easily as a glass of 1990s bubbly, but there is an undercurrent of darkness. Song throws in cutting, albeit overwritten, observations about modern courtship — a k a you better have looks and money. Lucy adamantly insists, 'It's math,' and compares her job to working at the morgue. She finds matches for clients that 'check most of our boxes': Income, height, age, race, BMI. When Lucy hears about a surgery in which men get their leg bones broken to add six inches of height, she thinks it's a fabulous idea. Her matchmaking process is freakily clinical. It's practically the DMV — the Department of Marriage Vows. And the exercise mirrors the app-centric way people search for significant others nowadays. How depressing. 4 Lucy, a matchmaker, is an off-putting character, by design. AP Indeed, the men and women she works with are uniformly sad, vapid and shallow. There's not a single person in this movie you'll want to spend more than two minutes with. What we assume, of course, is that Lucy will learn that love is an intangible thing — a spark, not arithmetic. Advertisement That sort of happens. While one message is that people are more than numbers, the takeaway is far from upbeat or celebratory. What the statistics actually conceal are ugly, nasty qualities in people. Mostly that they're liars and creeps. Lucy herself is unpleasant-to-odious, again on purpose. The movie acknowledges that she's awful, and we're not meant to like her much at all. But off-putting characters must be more engaging than she is to justify the spotlight. 4 She's torn between Harry and John (Chris Evans). AP 'Materialists' lost me halfway through, admittedly, when it became more ambitious. A traumatic turning point is realistic and jarring; however, the film can't recover from it either. Advertisement Although I admired Song's aims to subvert a glossy Hollywood staple, I longed for the way her 'Past Lives' so simply and poignantly explored our 'what if?'s. Next to that, 'Materialists' is blunt and narratively messy. You can sense Song trying very hard to reach her ultimately unsatisfying and not-so-insightful end destination. En route, the acting is, frankly, ghoulish. Good for Johnson for breaking free from the embarrassing comic-book confines of 'Madame Web.' She still reads lines in a dreamy haze as if there is a crystal ball in front of her. And there's not much chemistry with Pascal or Evans, both of whom are fine, if a smidge somnambulic. Sadly, the follow-up from the director of 'Past Lives' had me dreaming about her past projects.
Tatler Asia
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
10 wealth-gap relationships in film that actually worked out
2. 'Titanic' (1997) James Cameron's epic uses the doomed voyage of the Titanic as a powerful metaphor for class division. Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), a struggling artist from the lower decks, and Rose (Kate Winslet), a young woman engaged to an aristocrat, come from worlds that rarely intersect. Their romance is propelled by the thrill of rebellion against societal expectations. Rose's yearning to escape her gilded cage and Jack's carefree poverty illustrate how class shapes identity and opportunity. The stark differences between their lives heighten the tragedy, as the ship's sinking parallels the collapse of the class system—if only momentarily. 3. 'Maid in Manhattan' (2002) In this romantic wealth-gap comedy, Marisa (Jennifer Lopez), a hotel maid raising a child alone, catches the eye of Chris (Ralph Fiennes), a rising political star. Their initial misunderstanding—he believes she is a wealthy socialite—sets up a narrative where class and identity intertwine with romantic possibility. The film delves into the awkward realities that follow when economic disparity is revealed, exposing insecurities on both sides. Marisa's dignity and Chris's idealism are tested by societal preconceptions about who belongs in whose world, highlighting the emotional toll of crossing class boundaries. 4. 'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018) Crazy Rich Asians explores wealth disparity not just as income but as inherited power embedded within cultural and familial expectations. Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a middle-class professor, confronts the extravagant lifestyle of Nick Young's (Henry Golding) family, who epitomise Singapore's ultra-rich elite. The film foregrounds the pressures faced by those entering such circles, where lineage, reputation and tradition govern acceptance. Rachel's outsider status forces her to navigate subtle class codes, from luxury consumption to social manoeuvring, making the romance as much about cultural capital as personal affection. 5. 'Notting Hill' (1999) William Thacker (Hugh Grant), a modest London bookstore owner, and Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), a glamorous Hollywood actress, negotiate the chasm between ordinary life and celebrity privilege. Their romance examines how fame and wealth alter perceptions of normalcy and intimacy. William's quiet, unassuming background contrasts with Anna's world of cameras and adulation, creating a tension between public identity and private connection. The film's charm lies in its nuanced portrayal of love struggling against the alienation caused by class and status disparities. 6. 'The Notebook' (2004) Based on Nicholas Sparks's novel, The Notebook centres on Noah (Ryan Gosling), a working-class man, and Allie (Rachel McAdams), a young woman from a wealthy family. Their passionate summer romance is stifled by social expectations, particularly from Allie's parents, who disapprove of Noah's lack of fortune. The film captures the enduring conflict between societal pressure and personal desire. It portrays how class can act as a gatekeeper to relationships, while illustrating the perseverance required to overcome such barriers. 7. 'An Education' (2009) Set in 1960s London, An Education tells the story of Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a bright but sheltered schoolgirl from a modest background, and David (Peter Sarsgaard), a suave older man with money and connections. Their relationship reveals the complexities of power, manipulation and class privilege. The film critiques how economic advantage can be wielded to exploit vulnerability, while portraying Jenny's coming-of-age struggle to reconcile romantic fantasy with harsh social realities. Class shapes not only romance but also education and opportunity. 8. 'The Great Gatsby' (2013) Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's novel depicts Jay Gatsby's (Leonardo DiCaprio) obsessive pursuit of Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan), a symbol of old money and social prestige. Gatsby's self-made fortune attempts to erase his humble origins, but the entrenched social hierarchy remains unforgiving. The film exposes the fragility of newly acquired wealth and the rigid codes protecting established privilege. The romance, idealised yet doomed, serves as a critique of the American Dream's class illusions. 9. 'Cinderella' (2015) This live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale focuses on Ella (Lily James), a servant girl whose kindness endears her to Prince Kit (Richard Madden). Unlike earlier animated versions, this adaptation foregrounds Ella's resilience and integrity within a rigidly stratified society. The wealth-gap romance directly challenges inherited privilege and questions the fairness of social structures. Their relationship imagines a love that can dismantle class barriers, though it remains firmly rooted in fantasy. 10. 'Brooklyn' (2015) Set in the 1950s, Brooklyn follows Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), an Irish immigrant navigating a new life in New York. Her romance with Tony (Emory Cohen), a working-class Italian-American plumber, is tender and understated, shaped by the immigrant experience and the constraints of social class. The film poignantly portrays Eilis's internal conflict between pursuing love and seeking upward mobility, reflecting the compromises immigrants often face. In this wealth-gap story, class and cultural identity are inextricable from her emotional journey.
