How To Have the Best Weekend Ever: ‘Kelly & Cal,’ Remembering Joan Rivers

Juliette Lewis is perfectly cast as Kelly in Kelly & Cal, a former riot grrrl turned suburban mom in this genuine film that elicits sentimentality without veering into schlock. Lonely in her new town, detached from her colicky six-month-old, and too weird to bond with the local moms group, Kelly befriends her 17-year-old neighbor Cal, a mouthy kid whose daredevil stunt landed him in a wheelchair. Their unlikely bond crackles with chemistry, and complicated supporting characters like Kelly’s husband Josh and her buttoned-up mother-in-law played by Cybill Shepherd, round out this rare film that was both written and directed by women, Amy Lowe Starbin and Jen McGowan respectively.

We’ve spent nine episodes getting to know the bizarre world of HBO’s The Leftovers (as well as Justin Theroux’s much-discussed private parts), adapted from Tom Perrotta’s eponymous novel. As the mysteries of the Departure twist and turn, we’ve been faced with more questions than answers. Perhaps this Sunday’s season finale will change that.

This book, edited by three of contemporary lit’s most compelling writers, is a veritable treasure trove of insight about style, clothing, and what fashion means outside of what fashion magazines tell us it means. Culling essays, photographs, and answers to their clothing questionnaire from more than 600 contributors—including well-known women like Miranda July, Lena Dunham, Molly Ringwald, and Cindy Sherman, as well as plenty of other less-known participants—these authors have provided a whole new way of looking at style and its oft-overlooked influence on who we are and what we find important.

Bands don’t often last two albums, let alone two decades, but after 21 years together, this trio’s released its ninth studio album, Barragán. Continuing an evolution that’s spanned from noise rock to shoegaze, vocalist Kazu Makino along with twin brothers Amedeo (vocals/guitar) and Simone (drums) Pace offer a stripped down atmospheric album full of swirling guitars, languid jams, and the biggest draw, Makino’s moody vocals tying it all together. 

Until this 2010 documentary was released, many people associated Joan Rivers with snarky red-carpet commentary and QVC jewelry. But this intimate and eye-opening film reminded us that Joan Rivers was a groundbreaking star, a tireless performer who lived to work, and that every female comedian who takes the stage today owes her a heap of debt. The depiction of her influence is outweighed only by the revelation of her humanity. Plus she was damn funny. Rest in peace, Joan.