Babel

One critic is getting very critical of Hollywood's portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in film and television. Jack Shaheen, an American of Lebanese decent, told Reuters that in America, where it is politically incorrect to make derogatory comments about other groups like African Americans or Jews, there is no social taboo against reinforcing damaging Arab or Muslim stereotypes.

In his latest book, Guilty, Shaheen says that the an anti-Arab tendency was present before September 11^th. Disney's Aladdin (1992) and Father of the Bride Part II both fail the test. (Remember the Arab guy trying to buy Steve Martin's house?)

But, since September 11^th, the vilifying has picked up. Shaheen writes that
2006's The Kingdom presented some of the most damaging depictions of Arabs in which "even Arab children cannot be trusted." Movies that make the A-list? Shaheen says Babel (2006) and Rendition (2007) presented a more complex view of Arabs.

Do American movies and television shows rely on the "Arab bogeyman"? Why do you think American society tolerates such indiscriminate demonization?

Source

Now that we know who won at the 2007 Oscars, a lot of you are probably looking to catch up on your Oscar-movie viewing. Well, you're in luck, because most of the winning movies that aren't still in theaters are out on DVD and just waiting to be added to your Netflix queue. Here's a look at all of the Oscar-winning films now available for home viewing.

The Departed
Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Achievement in Film Editing, Best Director for Martin Scorsese, and Best Picture

Trust me: Just watch The Departed once, and you'll understand what all the fuss is about. The fast-paced drama isn't terribly deep: A good cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover with a mobster (Jack Nicholson), who has his own man (Matt Damon) inside the force. But the intricately woven plot and masterful performances, particularly by supporting cast members like Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin, prove that this movie deserves all of the Oscars it won.

Little Miss Sunshine
Oscars: Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin

Skillfully mixing pathos with absurd comedy, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of one family's quest to get bespectacled Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine competition on time. In an astounding cast (Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear), Steve Carrell is perhaps the most impressive as a suicidal Proust scholar forced to live with his sister's bizarre family. As a special bonus, the DVD features four alternate endings to the movie.

Four more, so read more

This week I've been breaking down the good and bad qualities of each 2007 Best Picture nominee. Just in case you need a refresher, here is a recap of all five Best Picture breakdowns; hopefully they will help you make an educated guess on the Oscar ballot!

Letters From Iwo Jima
The Academy are suckers for these historical dramas — and for director Clint Eastwood — yet there are no other big names involved and not many people actually saw it.
Chances of winning: Moderate

The Queen
Having already won tons of critics' awards, the film may or may not be just a vehicle for Helen Mirren.
Chances of winning: Slim to Moderate

Three more, so read more

All week, I've been breaking down each Best Picture nominee for the 2007 Oscars, which air this Sunday night. Yesterday we looked at The Departed, and today brings the fifth and final nominee, Babel.

The sprawling Babel isn't a critical darling; in fact, when the movie first came out, the reviews were decidedly mixed. But when the awards, nominations and spots on "best of" lists started rolling in, Babel became a serious Oscar contender. Now, with a Golden Globe in its pocket, Babel looks like the frontrunner for the award. For a look at its chances of taking home the Best Picture statue, read more

If you've seen Oscar Nominated Babel then you know that traveling in a foreign country isn't always fun and games. However, if you can put all of your fears aside, you'll realize that there are some mighty good eats to be had.

However, if after seeing Babel, you've decided to cross Morocco off of your list of places to visit, then you'll just have to learn to cook the food at home. Because from what I've experienced, authentic Moroccan food is absolutely amazing.

To check out a fantastic recipe for Sweet and Nutty Moroccan Couscous and see a clip where Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt argue over dinner (as in argue over it, not argue about it), read more

Have you filled out your Oscar ballot yet? I sure have! Some categories really are a toss-up — Best Picture, for example — while others are highly predictable.

Helen Mirren has already won about a gazillion awards for her performance in The Queen, and if anyone else gets the little gold man for that category, it will truly be shocking. The Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories, however, could easily end up surprising everyone. As for the visual categories, I have high hopes for Children of Men and Pan's Labyrinth in many of the visual categories and will be supremely disappointed if they lose.

As for the other categories, I present to you my predictions for this year's Academy Awards:

BEST PICTURE
Babel

BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese, The Departed

To see the rest, read more

Just in time for the Oscars this Sunday, several nominated films have come out on DVD! You can Netflix them now and have a totally Oscar-themed weekend. That way, you can make savvy, well-informed decisions when filling out your own Oscar ballot. And the new DVDs are...

Babel
Earning, among others, a Best Picture nomination, Babel has gotten a lot of buzz for its universal themes and good-looking cast. Set in three continents and featuring five languages, the film follows four different stories revolving around the aftermath of a shooting in the Moroccan desert. The strong performances, compelling story, and sharp cinematography make it an obvious Best Picture nominee. For a more in-depth look at Babel, check out my review.

Two more 2007 Oscar nominees, so read more

Salma Hakek woke up bright and early this morning to announce the nominations for the 79th Annual Academy Awards. There were some pleasant surprises (I didn't really think Dreamgirls was Best Picture worthy) and some total shockers compared with my predictions. To see how I did, use this key:

* BuzzSugar Shoo-In
** BuzzSugar Wild Card Pick

Wow, I'm actually really glad to see some surprises in there! No nomination for Leo for The Departed (he was nominated for Blood Diamond), but his co-star Mark Wahlberg got a much-deserved nod. Tune in later today for more analysis, and until then, check out the nominees and tell me what you think!

BEST PICTURE

Babel *
The Departed *
The Queen **
Little Miss Sunshine **
Letters from Iwo Jima

BEST DIRECTOR

Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima *
Martin Scorcese, The Departed *
Aljenador Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel *
Stephen Frears, The Queen **
Paul Greengrass, United 93 **

To see the rest, read more

• Alicia Keys is helping talented kids go to college by offering $5,000 scholarships to students in four cities. These days that will cover about half a semester, but every little bit helps, right? - AP
• Pam Anderson has written an angry letter to the Postmaster General demanding he turns down KFC's request to put its founder on a stamp because of the way they mistreat their chickens. We're sure the chickens appreciate it. - The Scoop
• Naomi Campbell lashed out at a cameraman in Brazil surrounding him with her girlfriends until he gave up his tape of her. At least she didn't throw her cellphone at his head. - R&M
• Former Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry is engaged to her boyfriend of six years, actor Cory Hardrict. But, does he have a friend for Tamera? - People
• Stomp the Yard retained its top spot for the 2nd week while the Golden Globes gave Babel a 500 percent sales jump to the 12th spot in its 13th week. We're sure it will get another boost after Oscar nominations are announced tomorrow. - AP

Source