EL SEGUNDO HERALD December 24, 2020 Page 5 Seniors Burkley Brandlin BBS & Swatik LLP LAW AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW Lifetime El Segundo Residents Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation 310-540-6000 *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Wishing You A Happy And Safe Holiday Season Entertainment Promising Young Woman Tells a Twisty, Gritty Tale of Female Revenge By Morgan Rojas for cinemacy.com It was the haunting orchestral arrangement of the Britney Spears song “Toxic” that did it for me; I knew at that moment that Promising Young Woman was something special. Both a cautionary tale about a dark side of bro culture and how repressed trauma can turn into boiling vengeance, Promising Young Woman tackles a sensitive conversation with sprinkles of irreproachable charm to create an intoxicatingly dark comedy. Not all superheroes wear capes. In this case, it’s just pink lipstick. When Cassandra (Carey Mulligan)–a once aspiring medical student– isn’t working behind the bar at the local coffee shop, she’s living a double life as a single, helpless frequenter of dive bars and nightclubs. Much to the surprise of the pervy men who try to take advantage of her in her drunken state, Cassandra’s disheveled appearance and slurred speech aren’t the results of too much liquor. This is all an act; sober as a judge, Cassandra gets men to their most vulnerable before unveiling herself as a fully functioning feminist who highjacks the night by teaching these men a valuable (and sometimes violent) lesson about their ignorance of rape culture. But why go through all of this trouble? It’s clear that she gets some satisfaction from teaching these creeps how to treat a woman with decency and respect, but Cassandra doesn’t bear this cross for herself; her justification is something she keeps close to the vest. As she continues to go through the motions of her “questionable” daily routine, Cassandra hesitantly entertains a real relationship with her old medical school classmate Ryan (Bo Burnham), a sweet guy who seems like the perfect complement to her introverted self. However, his re-emergence in her life brings up a traumatizing event from her med school days which reignites Cassandra’s deep-rooted desire for revenge, making her double-down on her savage antics in an attempt at retroactive retribution. Under Promising Young Woman’s poppy bubblegum surface is a story so dark and twisted, it makes Nurse Ratched look tame. Director Emerald Fennell’s genre-blending world finds the right balance between entertaining romantic comedy and horrifying revenge thriller, which is even more impressive considering it’s her feature film debut. Also doubling as the screenwriter, Fennell’s confidence in creating a story so sensitive yet relevant in today’s dating culture and #MeToo movement is an unforgettable cinematic experience. Carey Mulligan’s Cassandra is an untraditional heroine. She’s quiet, cold, and suffers from mental anxiety, yet her determination to rid the world of misogynists is admirable. She is a flawed individual with pure intentions, the underdog of her own story, but not for long. Bursting with wall to wall vibrance and violence, Fennell & Co have created a gritty tale of revenge in the modern age. Phenomenal performances aside, also worth noting is the film’s soundtrack which is exclusively made up of female artists, including Paris Hilton’s infamous debut single “Stars Are Blind.” If there’s a succinct message to take away from Promising Young Woman it would be this: don›t underestimate the strength of a woman, quiet doesn›t equal weak, and you can always count on an ex-nursing student to give offenders a taste of their own medicine. Distributed by Focus Features, Promising Young Woman is playing in select theaters on Friday, December 25, 2020. Coming soon to VOD. • Obituaries Leslie Clifford Simons Family and friends are mourning the loss of Les Simons on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2020. We are giving thanks for his life of dedication and service to the communities where he lived. We are thankful he is now in the arms of his Heavenly Father. Leslie Clifford Simons was born on January 7, 1946, the son of Dale and Lucille (Leslie) Simons. He is survived by his wife, Lois (Oberschelp), two daughters, Christine (Andrew) Diamond and Elizabeth (Chris) Grover, three sisters, Diane Simons, Jeanine (Bert) Hart, and Laurie (Tim) Donahue, and two grandchildren, Zachary and Spencer Diamond. Les was a gifted teacher. He taught primarily at Lutheran day schools in the Los Angeles area. He and Lois also owned and operated Young Scholar, an educational supply store in Glendale, CA. for 23 years. He was a graduate of El Segundo High School and Concordia College in Fort Wayne, IN. • • Easy to use • Covered by Insurance • HIPAA Approved 325 Main Street El Segundo, CA 90245 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT 310-648-3167 Now Offering TeleHealth/Online Therapy Sessions Wishing you and yours a JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON full of LOVE AND HEALTH and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Promising Young Woman, courtesy Focus Features. Morgan Rojas Resolve To Achieve Healthy Sleep In 2021 (BPT) - According to a recent survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 85% of U.S. adults do not get the recommended seven hours or more of sleep every night. After a challenging and stressful year, the New Year provides Americans with the opportunity to refocus on the importance of making healthy sleep a priority. “Our survey findings show a worrying trend of national sleep deprivation,” said AASM president Dr. Kannan Ramar. “Insufficient sleep contributes to the risk for several of today’s public health epidemics, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. As such, it is critical that we incorporate healthy sleep habits and routines into our daily lives to be our best in 2021.” Why Should We Make Healthy Sleep a New Year’s Resolution? The AASM recommends that adults sleep at least seven hours each night to promote optimal health and well-being. In the same survey, slightly more than one-third (34%) of Americans said they sleep for seven or more hours only two nights - or fewer - each week, in line with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Regularly sleeping less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and frequent mental distress. Resolve to make 365 days of healthy sleep your goal for 2021 by keeping in mind its extensive benefits: • Sleep makes you healthier - Without good sleep, both mental and physical health suffer greatly, putting Americans at an increased risk of chronic disease. • Sleep makes you happier - Sleep has a positive effect on mood and overall sense of well-being and can improve relationships with others. • Sleep makes you smarter - Getting the right amount of sleep is conducive to learning, memory recall, creativity and cognitive function. What Is Inhibiting Us from Achieving the Recommended Seven Hours of Sleep? Despite evidence showing the importance of adequate sleep, it often can take a back seat to other behaviors we find important. According to the AASM’s July 2020 survey, a vast majority (68%) of U.S. adults lose sleep due to drinking alcohol past bedtime. Americans also report staying up past their bedtime to binge-watch a TV show or stream a video series (88%), read a book (66%), watch a sporting event (58%) and play video games (50%). How Has the Pandemic Impacted Sleep? With a change in daily routines, the COVID-19 pandemic is also disrupting sleep for Americans. According to the AASM survey, one in five Americans (22%) are sleeping worse due to the pandemic, and 19% are getting less nightly sleep. “Despite the fact that many Americans are no longer commuting to and from work, it is paramount to establish and maintain morning and bedtime rituals, such as getting up and See Seniors, page 11 VALID UNTIL 12/31/2020
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