In Theaters This Weekend: Reviews of 'Pain & Gain,' 'Kon-Tiki' and More

So here we are at the finale, and while I don't think I'll be too upset if any one of these three designers win, I definitely have a favorite going in (which some of you who listened to the podcast this week already know).
As much as I appreciate some of Stanley's work, he seems to be stuck in churning out retro silhouettes for a consumer old enough when these looks were in the first time. I love that he has such an appreciation for quality fabrics and all the little details, but I suspect that someday there is a job at St. John waiting for him.
Patricia, well, I've never been much of a fan. While some of her designs have been interesting, too often she goes for boxy silhouettes or hippy dippy designs. The judges, though, just can't get enough of her for some reason. While it's wonderful that she makes textiles and pounds metal and spins her own yarn or whatever the hell, she's one step away from a scrapbooker or a middle school arts teacher with too much time on her hands. So, that leaves Michelle.
Although she needs to put down the accessories sometimes (and the messy hair thing last week was a fail in my book), she's made clothing I would wear as well as clothing I would never have an occasion to wear but wish I did. She has an aesthetic that's cool and edgy and is geared to a woman who is strong and independent. Stanley designs for a 65-year-old woman who lives in Beverly Hills, while I think Patricia designs for a crazy person or a Dead head. It wasn't hard for me to pick a favorite this year.
The finale is a two hour slog which spends WAY too much time in the hair and make-up room plugging product (Zzzzzzz…), and as expected, the show hits the usual beats. I won't even bore you with the stuff you've seen so many times before (the designers walk toward Bryant Park and think deep thoughts, check; they go to Mood, check; they run around frantically, check) but instead, we'll cut to the chase.
Tim comes by the workroom to offer advice. While he likes most of Michelle's designs, he hates her bleeding heart sweater. He warns her not to overstyle, and Michelle nods and smiles and ignores him. Constructive criticism is fine, but she doesn't want to make oatmeal. Or something. I think she can probably ignore anything he has to say, though, because Stanley and Patricia are such a mess.
Tim feels as if Stanley has picked up some of his designs at a vintage shop, and he's not a happy camper (his words, not mine) looking at what Patricia is up to. Patricia, by the way, is a disorganized mess. Stanley is organized, but so far behind he's sewing people into outfits as they hit the runway.
Helpers come, and helpers go. Amanda, who floundered so much in the competition, really needs to start a business with Michelle because they work perfectly together. And, more importantly, Amanda makes the point that, while she appreciates some of what Patricia is doing, she's also "a little like the hippie store in the mall." Someone, please write this down on a Post-It note and hand it to Zac Posen.

Anyway, after family visits and tears and really SO SO many time waster, it's time for the runway