Wendy and Lucy
Running time 80 minutes
Written by Kelly Reichardt and Jon Raymond
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
Starring Michelle Williams

Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, from a screenplay by Ms. Reichardt and Jon Raymond, who worked together on Ms. Reichardt’s previous film, Old Joy (2006), is another exercise in minimalist cinema about ultra-ordinary people. Wendy (Michelle Williams), a young Indiana woman, embarks on a road trip to Ketchikan, Alaska, where she hopes to find a well-paying job. She is traveling with her (and Ms. Reichardt’s) dog, Lucy. So if you were anticipating from the title still another film about two lesbians, fuggedaboutit.

In any event, she gets no further than a Portland suburb before her car breaks down, and she is forced to fend for herself through several traumatic experiences before she jumps on a freight train to resume her journey to Alaska.

When asked by Deborah Solomon in The New York Times Magazine of Nov. 30, 2008, what Wendy and Lucy cost, Ms. Reichardt replied: “A total of $300,000. We shot in 18 days with a crew of volunteers and used only available light. I cut for six months in my apartment in Astoria, Queens, occasionally making trips back to Oregon to shoot the kind of footage you can’t do with a crew in tow, like train yards.”

The interviewer suggested to Ms. Reichardt that “the film is oddly timely, reminding us of how people on the lower rungs of society are the first to fall off when times get tough,” and asked, “Are you trying to bring a jolt of social realism into American film?” The filmmaker responded: “Jon Raymond and I came up with the story, post-Katrina, and we did start with this idea: Say you have the gumption to set out and make your life better, but you don’t have the benefit of an education, a nest egg or a family net. Can you really improve your situation?”

The film does not answer the Reichardt-Raymond question conclusively, but the preponderance of the evidence is very decisively slanted to the negative, which should make the viewing experience more depressing than it is. Actually, I became extremely fascinated by Wendy’s travails, if only to marvel at her amazing resilience after every setback.

To her credit, Ms. Reichardt never allows her camera to become a voyeuristic witness to a young woman in distress. Instead, it remains focused on a largely indifferent American landscape of strangers in perpetual motion to nowhere. I suspect that there was more than the usual degree of rapport between the director and the actress, particularly in the mysterious realm of improvisation. Hence, I recommend the film as an artistic achievement, though not one unduly addicted to the pleasure principle.

asarris@observer.com

Project Runway contestant Christian Siriano has signed a deal with Payless to design a line of affordable shoes and handbags. [NY Post]

Designer Roberto Cavalli has been cleared of all tax evasion charges brought against him in Italy in 2002 when he attempted to write off taxes on renovations to his Tuscany home. [Vogue UK]

Louis Vuitton is re-releasing Marc Jacobs' collaboration with graffiti artist Stephen Sprouse for a new limited edition collection that the designer will advertise by posing nude painted in Mr. Sprouse's graffiti. [WWD]

Heidi Klum's father, Gunther Klum, who also acts as her manager, has sent a $275,000 bill to a German party promoter who used the supermodel's image on a flyer and on his Web site. [Vogue UK]

Italian video artist Francesco Vezzoli has created a fake ad for a perfume he named Greed, starring Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams filmed by Roman Polanski. [NY Mag]

With the exception of the most important election of our lifetime, this has been the slowest news week ever. When the casting of Jack Black in an adaptation of Gulliver's Travels makes headlines, you know we're close to the bottom of the barrel. So! Why don't we use this as an opportunity to check in with the kids from Dawson's Creek? In case you haven't noticed, this has been a banner Fall for the former residents of Capeside! Joshua Jackson is smirking his way through the successful Fringe, and seems to be on his way to a fairly excellent procedural television career. Katie Holmes has that whole Scientology/alien baby/Tom Cruise thing going on, but she managed to take time out of all that insanity to guest star on Eli Stone (aside: do you know anyone who actually watches that show?) and also star on Broadway in the revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. She even got a haircut! The biggest talent of the group, Michelle Williams, is well on her way to an outstanding film career; in addition to co-starring in Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York, she headlines Wendy and Lucy, a stark indie drama that could possibly land her an Oscar nom. And then there's James Van Der Beek. He's just signed on to co-star in the Fox television pilot Eva Adams, an hour-long drama about a sexist sports agent who turns into a beautiful woman after a witch puts him under a spell. (We are not making that up!)

Which of those careers isn't going well?

If you guessed Mr. Van Der Beek, you're right! It's not like he was ever that great as the navel gazing Dawson, but doesn't Mr. Van Der Beek deserve a little better? We always loved his work in Varsity Blues, a modern day classic of the TNT variety, and he was goofily charming as "himself" in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. We could go on for hours about Rules of Attraction, too! However since then, the Mt. Rushmore-headed star been relegated to guest appearances on shows like Criminal Minds and Ugly Betty. And now, while the rest of his co-stars have found fame and fortune, he's left signing on as the second or third lead in some ridiculous gender swap comedy that would have felt dated in 1989. Come on. There are witches involved in that pitch! Can you imagine what it's going to be like for him at the Dawson's Creek ten year reunion?

"Soooooo, James. What have you been up to?"

In an 11-year-old tape anonymously leaked to Page Six, Harvey Weinstein can be heard warning director Quentin Tarantino of potential "weird late night phone calls" from Robert De Niro, who was apparently angry about the salary he received for Tarantino's 1997 film Jackie Brown. [P6] 

Actor Shia LaBeouf will not be charged for a July drunk driving incident due to insufficient evidence. [TMZ] 

OK Magazine's Kent Brownridge may be putting a moratorium on the purchse of celebrity baby photos. Meanwhile, staffers are complaining that he seems "addled." [P6] 

Michelle Williams was the first donor to support an Australians in Film scholarship honoring Heath Ledger. [People] 

Tommy Hilfiger, who canceled his wedding to Dee Ocleppo in August, has moved back in with his wife, Susie. [BlackBook] 

Madonna's head flack Liz Rosenberg is insisting that the singer has no plans to adopt a three-year-old girl from Malawi in the near future, as had been reported. [Us]

Sources say actress Michelle Williams is taking extra steps to avoid the paparazzi in her Brooklyn neighborhood, reportedly "having a bodygaurd go around her block and make sure there are no photographers" each time she leaves the house. [P6]

West Villagers--including Amy Sedaris--are opposing the renewal of Beatrice Inn's liquor license, citing issues with noise, smoking, drugs, and taxis the club brings to the neighborhood. [Eater]

Joy Behar, Lorraine Bracco, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Alfie Fanjul, Pete Peterson, Sandy Hill Pittman, Marjorie Gubelmann, Debbie and Leon Black, and Tory Burch and Lyor Cohen all attended a special screening of Woody Allen's new film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in Southampton. [P6]

File under missed opportunities: Someone has purchased the domain name AshleyDupre.com for $30,000--and it wasn't New York's most beloved callgirl. (5th item) [NYDN]

Check out Simon Doonan's Weekly Video Fashion Tip

Courtenay Semel (daughter of former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel) and heiress Casey Johnson are no longer an item after Ms. Semel spent an  evening partying with Tila Tequila, Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson. [P6]

Michelle Williams is reportedly officially dating her close friend director Spike Jonze, who was previously married to Sofia Coppola. [Daily Mail]  

Vogue intern and New York Ranger Sean Avery, 28, is dating 51-year-old Kelly Klein, ex-wife of Calvin. [P6] 

In the ongoing custody battle between Ron Perelman and Patricia Duff, their 13-year-old daughter Caleigh is refusing to speak to her mother or go on vacation with her, according to the Manhattan judge handling the case. [NY Daily News]  

Not kosher: Former Real World contestant Kevin Powell, who is running for Congress, told an audience of Hasidic Jews Monday night that he would "bring home the bacon." [P6] 

Alex Rodriguez is working things out privately with wife Cynthia regarding visitation rights and alimony payments in order to avoid having to admit to his extramarital affairs in court. [NY Daily News] 

Katie Holmes has arrived in Manhattan to prepare for Arthur Miller's All My Sons, which will premiere on Broadway September 17. [Us Weekly]

NYC Council member Tony Avella is accused of receiving a bouquet of flowers from Pamela Anderson. Quelle scandale! [Politicker] 

Brasserie Cognac's owner Vittorio Assaf is having to introduce a children's menu because neighborhood couples like Brooke Shields and husband Chris Henchy; Jeff Gordon and wife, Belgian model Ingrid; and designer Eric Villency and wife Kimberly Guilfoyle keep bringing in their toddlers. [P6]

Michelle Williams is reportedly making a film about Heath Ledger for daughter Matilda starring his friends and co-workers, who will share anecdotes of the late actor. [NY Daily News]

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's model wife, Carla Bruni, reportedly said she'd like to be pregnant. [The Cut]

When Russell Simmons breaks up with you and makes you move out of his home, he'll help you find an apartment and take you furniture shopping first.[ NY Daily News]

Ethan Hawke's publicist confirms that he and girlfriend Ryan Shawhughes were married last month. [Us Weekly]

Brewery heiress Daphne Guinness will reportedly appear in a "scorching and controversial" fashion spread in Italian Vogue. [P6]

Kelly Ripa is once again talking about how hot her husband is. [P6]

Michelle Williams is reportedly feuding with Heath Ledger's family over the late actor's will. [P6]

Ron Perelman and his ex, Patricia Duff, are back in court because a court-appointed lawyer for their 13-year-old daughter says that the girl has been subjected to emotional abuse. [NY Daily News]

Ashley Dupre thanked her fans and critics on her MySpace page yesterday. [NY Daily News]

Helena Christensen will not shake your hand if you cross her. [P6]

Larry King's wife, Shawn Southwick King, has reportedly gone to rehab for her addiction to painkillers. [P6]

Bravo's Shear Genius stylists will give New Yorkers free blow-outs in Times Square today. [The Cut]

Even the gossipy bit—Who's That Girl?!?—that all of the tabs were after all day yesterday (us too, in fact) is broken first by The Times: Spitzer's prostitute "Kristen" is in fact known as Ashley Alexandra Dupré, though she was born 22 years ago as Ashley Youmans, in New Jersey. [The New York Times]

Anderson Cooper is shocked at the cost of hookers these days, but the King of All Pimps explains that Dupre was getting $1,000 an hour, so it's kind of a victimless crime. Also, the King of All Pimps thinks Dupre is the "girl next door," and exactly what you would expect for $1,000 an hour. Oh, and "they don't do it for the sex, they do it for the cash." [Gawker.com]

Michelle Williams speaks about Heath Ledger in Interview: "For as long as I'd known him, he had bouts with insomnia. He just had too much energy ... His mind was turning, turning, turning — always turning. He had an uncontrollable energy. He buzzed. He would jump out of bed.” [via PageSix.com]

Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell show up to buck up the spirits of Clay Aiken during his current Broadway stint. [JustJared.com]

Did George Clooney pop the question? [Marie Claire UK]

All this while he avows that he is "gay, gay" (and not "gay, gay, gay"): "That third 'gay' was pushing it."[People]

Matt Damon's rep confirms he and his wife Luciana are expecting. [People]

Tina Brown finds Hillary Clinton "resolutely effective" and "inspringly pedestrian" but not "magically delicious." [Newsweek]

Lindsay Lohan and her little sister, Ali, "partied" at the penthouse of her new apartment building, the Atelier, Thursday night—if by "partying" you mean showing up for 20 minutes, drinking Snapple bottled water, and heading home to bed at 10 p.m. [Gatecrasher]

Michelle Williams may have to fight for daughter Matilda's inheritance from the late Heath Ledger. [PageSix.com]

And in case you missed SNL's send-up of the Project Runway finale, click the video above to watch.