Page 2 August 29, 2019
Entertainment
Film Review
Brittany Runs a Marathon is
a Character-Driven Dramedy
on Body Image
By Kailee Andrews for Cinemacy
There isn’t one among us who hasn’t
passed through a period of dissatisfaction
with our lives and habits. And Brittany, the
titular character of the NYC comedy Brittany
Runs a Marathon, is 27, an age which
entails maximal levels of angst for many.
The thousand possible life paths can make
each step feel questionable.
The film digs into that persistent buzz of
dissatisfaction and how it wears a person
down, even a person as good-humored
and clever as Brittany. At first glance,
Brittany Runs a Marathon may look like
a typical party girl grows up comedy, but
its surprisingly rich exploration of anxiety
and self-worth, combined with Jillian Bell’s
note-perfect performance, makes this one
of the most character-driven dramedies of
the decade.
One element of the film that will surely
generate much celebration, as well as
some fair critique, is Brittany’s relationship
to her body and weight. As the film
opens, Brittany is a witty theater box office
attendant who parties hard. However, we
soon learn that, much as she loves to make
others laugh, her comic persona is born
from insecurity. As a self-described “fat
sidekick” to an Instagram influencer bestie,
she fights her discomfort with her physical
presence by perfecting her comic presence.
For Brittany, comedy is the key to
belonging and desirability. But her ability to
turn everything into a joke means that, while
she’s a fantastically entertaining protagonist,
she’s less fantastic at sincere conversations.
Brittany Runs a Marathon Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Once More We Saw Stars: A
Memoir by Jayson Greene
By Roz Templin, Library Assistant,
El Segundo Public Library
There is a terrible beauty in the grief-stricken
words of Jayson Greene as he describes the
accident that killed his daughter. In this
searing story, the author rewinds time and
describes in affecting prose what happened
to two- year-old Greta during a visit to her
grandmother one afternoon in New York
City. He and his wife Stacy rush to the
hospital and discover that Greta’s injury is so
severe that she will never wake up. Jayson
revisits the unimaginable and recounts their
last hours with their tiny daughter, shared
with both the loving assistance and also,
seemingly heartless treatment they receive
from medical staff.
This is not just a tale of misery and woe,
however. There are touching memories of
Greta in anecdotes of her short time on this
Earth: Jayson singing “Between the Bars,” a
song by Elliott Smith, to Greta every night.
The way Greta would pat his shoulder &
say” It’s OK, Daddy” when he felt frustrated
or tired. Greta’s “milk drunk” expression.
As a reader (or listener, as I experienced
the library’s book on CD format), it is easy
to smile but also easy to flinch from these
memories.
Jayson and Stacy’s travels through circuitous
pathways of anguish lead them to several
methods of dealing with their loss. They
attend a retreat seminar led by an author, a
yoga teacher and a medium named Maureen.
It is the portion devoted to Maureen that
captivates me: Maureen “works” the room
with a microphone, somewhat like a standup
comedian, pacing the room and spouting
rapid-fire stories. She explains that she is
coaxing her audience to laugh, cry, “…those
activities help bring our energies up, and that
helps me tune in to you.” No matter how
you might feel about “ghost whisperers”, it’s
difficult not to buy in a bit here. There is
much more impact when you listen to the
book on CD to Jayson’s description of fellow
attendee Peter and Maureen’s disclosures
about his recently deceased brother. Cold
reading? Perhaps. There might be a shiver
when Jayson and Stacy get their own “message”
from Greta.
The reader is carried along as Jayson and
Stacy navigate grief groups and their families,
friends and strangers as they seek to
find balance and healing. And there is the
Golden Willow Retreat: a place built by a
grief-stricken man who lost his entire family
in a succession of sad twists of fate. It is
a “resting place for those in deep grief.” It
is here that our valiant couple participate in
healing ceremonies administered by “Jim,” a
counselor schooled in indigenous shamanic
rituals. Finding themselves pregnant again,
Jayson and Stacy find a bridge to Greta and
the new life they carry, Harrison.
This is a book that will stay with you for
some time after you read/listen to it. You
will share in its humanity, cry in its sorrow,
and feel righteous anger for a mother and
father forced to continue on when their family’s
light has been extinguished. And you
will share their hope for a future that honors
the past without dwelling in it.
Ask our library staff for suggestions of
items like this and other available new books,
films and music. •
Check It Out Once More We Saw Stars: A Memoir by Jayson Greene
Roz Templin
El Segundo Herald* • Hawthorne Press Tribune*
Inglewood Daily News* • Lawndale News*
EL SEGUNDO OFFICE • 500 Center St. • El Segundo • CA • 90245
Phone: (310) 322-1830 • Fax: (310) 322-2787 • www.heraldpublications.com
Staff and Departments
Editor-in-Chief: Heidi Maerker
Classifieds: Clara Nilles • class@heraldpublications.com
DBA: Debbie Waite • dba@heraldpublications.com • For Fictitious Business Name (DBAs) filings
Display Ad Sales: Linda Cohen • enrichlife@aol.com
Graphic Design: Michael Gonzales • ads@heraldpublications.com
Legals: Debbie Waite • legalnotices@heraldpublications.com
Letters to the Editor: letters@heraldpublications.com
Marketing: Debbie Waite • marketing@heraldpublications.com
Press Releases: pr@heraldpublications.com
For press releases, Herald In travel photos and general photos
Real Estate: Clara Nilles • graphics@heraldpublications.com • For new realtors, contracts, ads
Website contact: web@heraldpublications.com
For comments or announcements (weddings, engagements, obituaries)
Contributing Writers: Haleemon Anderson, Derrick Deane, Greg McMullin, Duane Plank, Brian Simon
Our newspapers are adjudicated of general circulation accordance with the laws of California. El Segundo Herald, Case Number 372819;
Hawthorne Press Tribune, Case Number 187530; Inglewood Daily News, Case Number 601550; Lawndale Tribune, Case Number 479346.
See Film Review, page 7
Classifieds
The deadline for Classified Ad submission and payment is Noon on Tuesday to appear in Thursday’s paper. Advertisements must be
submitted in writing by mail, fax or email. You may pay by cash, check, or credit card (Visa or M/C over the phone).
Errors: Please check your advertisements immediately. Any corrections and/or changes in an ad must be requested prior to the following
Tuesday deadline in order to receive a credit. A credit will be issued for only the first time the error appears. Multiple runs will only
be credited for the first time the error appears. No credit will be issued for an amount greater than the cost of the advertisement.
Beware: Employment offers that suggest guaranteed out-of-state or overseas positions may be deceptive or unethical in nature. If
you have any doubts about the nature of a company, contact the local office of the Better Business Bureau, (213) 251-9696. Herald
Publications does not guarantee that the advertiser’s claims are true nor does it take responsibility for those claims.
Employment
Software Development Engineer
in Test - II (Torrance, CA; and
client sites) Develop and maintain
automation testing across UI, Services/
API and mobile. Automate test data
management and execute tests.
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in
Computer Science or closely related
field required. 3 years of relevant
work experience required. Must be
proficient in Java, JavaScript, Python,
Selenium, SoapUI, Jenkins, and SQL
Server. Mail resume to Numentica
LLC, 3868 W Carson St Suite 300,
Torrance, CA, 90503.
Help Wanted
California MENTOR is seeking loving
families with an available bedroom in
their home to share their lives with
an adult with special needs. Receive
a competitive, monthly stipend and
ongoing support. Join us for our next
info session Wednesdays at 2pm.
Call Juan 424-750-9631 Ext 203.
For Rent
1BD/1 BTH, upper, immaculate,
ocean view. 707 E. Grand, El
Segundo. $1800. 310.365.1481 or
310.641.2148.
For Rent
El Segundo, 2 bedrooms, 2 parking
spaces, with new paint, carpets,
shutters, stove, good area. $1,995.
310.322.2837.
For Rent
Fairview Heights, Inglewood;
1 BDRM house, 1 BTH, huge
back yard, pet ok, plenty parking,
2 rms off garage, workshop.
Renter pays utilities, $2350/mth.
310.795.3586.
Apartment for Rent
147 Whiting Unit 6, One.
Bedroom, One Bath. Completely
remodeled in 2017. This is a
gorgeous free-standing apartment-
NO COMMON WA L L S.
Enclosed single car garage.
On-Site laundry room. Walk to
the beach, parks, shopping, and
downtown El Segundo restaurants.
We are located away from LAX and
near downtown El Segundo- a big
advantage with less aircraftnoise.
Gas and water paid. Sorry, no pets
allowed. Available September 1.
$2,495. 310 422 9595.
Wanted
WANTED. Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl records,
anything musical. Collectibles/
antiques. Typewriters, sewing
machines, military, silver, Japan,
records, stamps, coins, jewelry,
Chinese, ANYTHING. Buy/Sell/
Trade. We sell for you on EBAY. Studio
Antiques, El Segundo. 310.322.3895.
Garage Sale
Bicycles, scooters, wet suits,
snowboard, tennis raquets, clothing
and more. 420 W Oak Ave., Saturday
Aug 31st. 7:00am-11am.
Employment
Part-time Sales. Looking for motivated
part-time workers. Inside sales: work
from home and make sales calls.
15% commission on all sales. Outside
sales: territories are Torrance and
El Segundo. Includes walking and
interacting with business owners. 20%
commission on all sales. Seniors and
students welcome. Send resume to
management@heraldpublications.com.
To appear in next week’s paper, submit
your Classifed Ad by Noon on Tuesday.
Late Ads will incur a $20.00 late fee.